Doña Maria Tamales on South Las Vegas Boulevard is the 1980 family tamale counter, three tamales with rice and beans for $11 to $14 in a no-frills room two blocks from the Strat.
Tip: Tamales sell by the dozen for takeaway; smothered in red chile and topped with an egg is the breakfast plate locals order.
Address: 910 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Roberto's Taco Shop on South Eastern in Henderson is the 80-location San Diego chain's local branch, where the California burrito (carne asada, fries, cheese, guac) runs $9 to $11.
Try: California burrito $9-11, rolled tacos $6
Tip: California burrito and a horchata for $13; drive-thru open until midnight, ask for the rolled tacos as a side.
Crown Bakery on Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas is the Korean-Chinese pastry counter since 2005, with red bean buns, mammoth bread and Asian cakes most under $6 a piece.
Try: Korean-Chinese pastries and buns $2-6
Tip: Pick up a mammoth bread loaf for breakfast and a tray of red-bean buns for the room; second-floor cafe seating, free wifi, holds quiet most mornings.
Monta Ramen on Spring Mountain in Las Vegas is the Chinatown tonkotsu specialist where a 16-hour pork-bone broth bowl runs $13 with a $3 kaedama noodle refill on the side.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen $13, kaedama noodle refill $3
Tip: Add the $3 kaedama (extra noodles) to finish the broth; lunchtime waitlists fill by 11:45, get on the Yelp queue from the car.
Shake Shack at New York-New York in Las Vegas is the Strip walk-up window where ShackBurger combos run $14 to $18 with crinkle fries and a concrete on the corner of Tropicana.
Try: ShackBurger $8, fries $4, shake $6
Tip: Outdoor corner window walks fastest after 21:00; SmokeShack with bacon is the upgrade, the Strip Concrete uses local mix-ins.
Tacos El Gordo on the Las Vegas Strip is the Tijuana adobada counter where every taco runs $2.40 to $2.60 and four with a Mexican Coke clears the room for under $15.
Try: Adobada, suadero, cabeza tacos $2.40-2.60 each
Tip: Four tacos and a soda for under $15; the adobada line is longest but moves fast, suadero and cabeza queues are shorter.
Earl of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas is the 24-hour Strip sandwich counter where hot sandwiches on fresh-baked bread run $9 to $12 any hour of the day or night.
Try: Hot artisan sandwiches around $9-12
Tip: The Original 1762 (roast beef, cheddar, horseradish) is the standard $9 order; queue moves fastest 03:00 to 06:00.
