French bistro and wine shop$$$summerlin
Marche Bacchus in Las Vegas is Rhonda and Jeff Wyatt's Summerlin lakeside French bistro since 2007, a wine shop with retail bottles drunk on-site at $10 corkage.
Signature: Steak frites, Escargots, Lavender creme brulee
Order: Pick any retail wine from the 950-bottle wall; pair with steak frites or escargots on the lake patio.
Tip: Lakeside patio is reservations-required; ask for sunset 19:00 to 19:30 in winter and earlier in summer.
Japanese ramen$spring-mountain-chinatown
Monta Ramen in Las Vegas is the Chinatown Hakata-style tonkotsu shop next door to Raku, a 35-seat counter that codified Vegas's ramen scene from 2009 onward.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Tsukemen, Gyoza
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with chashu and a soft-boiled egg; ask for kotteri broth and extra noodles.
Tip: Counter-only seating and cash preferred; the line builds from 18:00 onward and they sell out by 23:00.
Edomae omakase sushi$$$$spring-mountain-chinatown
Kabuto Edomae Sushi in Las Vegas is the Chinatown 14-seat omakase room since 2013, fish flown from Toyosu and traditional aged nigiri at the counter.
Signature: Edomae omakase, Aged tuna, Otoro
Order: Full omakase at the counter; the aged tuna programme runs longer than most US sushi rooms.
Tip: Counter seating only; reservations open 30 days out at 09:00 and fill quickly. Closed Mondays.
Authentic Mexican$$arts-district
Letty's de Leticia's Cocina in Las Vegas is the Arts District Mexican kitchen on South Main, a fast-casual room with Jalisco tortas, birria and weekend breakfast.
Signature: Tortas ahogadas, Birria tacos, Tres leches
Order: Tortas ahogadas: Jalisco-style pork sandwich drowned in tomato salsa.
Tip: Weekend birria runs out by early afternoon; come before 12:30 for a Saturday lunch.
Fried chicken$$the-strip
The Crack Shack at Park MGM in Las Vegas is Richard Blais and Top Chef alums' Strip Jidori chicken shop, a counter-service room for sandwiches, oysters and breakfast.
Signature: Jidori fried chicken sandwich, Chicken oysters, Schmaltz fries
Order: The Senor Croque: fried Jidori chicken, bacon, fried egg and miso-maple butter on brioche.
Tip: Breakfast menu runs 09:00 to 12:00 with chilaquiles and biscuits; the line is shortest at opening.
Italian food hall$$the-strip
Eataly at Park MGM in Las Vegas is the Strip's 40,000-square-foot Italian food hall with two sit-down restaurants, a dozen counters, three bars and a marketplace.
Signature: Cacio e pepe, Affettati boards, Roman pizza al taglio
Order: Cacio e pepe at La Pasta counter, finished tableside in a wheel of pecorino.
Tip: Manzo (downstairs steak room) takes reservations; the upstairs counters are walk-in only.