Japanese$$spring-mountain-chinatownSun 09:00-17:00
Monta Ramen on Spring Mountain in Las Vegas is the 20-seat Chinatown shop since 2010, simmering tonkotsu broth in-house and turning out kaedama refills.
Why locals love it: Twenty-seat Chinatown shop in a strip mall that locals queue at; tonkotsu broth simmered the slow way since 2010.
Tip: Get on the Yelp waitlist before you arrive; tonkotsu with a kaedama noodle refill is the standard, the seasonal limited bowls go on the chalk wall.
Mediterranean$$summerlin
Vintner Grill in Summerlin Las Vegas is the patio bistro at the back of a West Charleston office park, with a Mediterranean menu and a covered garden.
Why locals love it: Tucked at the back of a Summerlin office park, the garden patio is one of the valley's best-kept Sunday brunch rooms.
Tip: Sit on the garden patio if the weather holds; menu draws from Spain, France and Italy, the Mediterranean fish of the day is reliable.
Wine bar$$spring-mountain-chinatown
Ferraro's on Paradise Road in Las Vegas is the family Italian since 1985, named Gambero Rosso Tre Forchette 2024 and pouring Italian growers in a wine bar.
Why locals love it: Forty years of authentic Italian on Paradise Road, off-Strip behind Virgin Hotel; the wine bar pours growers most Strip lists ignore.
Tip: Sit in the wine room not the dining room; ask for the Gambero Rosso Tre Forchette tasting menu.
Cocktail bar$$arts-district
Velveteen Rabbit in the Las Vegas Arts District is the Dylag-sisters cocktail bar since 2013, with rotating drinks built around house-fermented syrups.
Why locals love it: Pamela and Christina Dylag opened this Arts District craft cocktail room in 2013, and it remains the off-Strip bar that Strip bartenders drink at after shift.
Tip: Sit at the bar and let the bartender pour off-menu; the rotating cocktail menu changes every few months and ferments a few of its own syrups.
Cajun & Creole$$summerlin
Lola's A Louisiana Kitchen in Summerlin Las Vegas is the Town Center Drive Cajun-Creole room, pulling Leidenheimer's New Orleans French bread for po'boys.
Why locals love it: Summerlin gumbo room on Town Center Drive that imports Leidenheimer's French bread from New Orleans for the po'boys.
Tip: Sit on the patio Wednesday through Friday for the 16:00-19:00 happy hour; po'boys are served on Leidenheimer's bread, the roast beef with gravy is the order.
Brunch$$henderson
The Original Sunrise Cafe on South Eastern in Las Vegas is the two-decade locals' breakfast counter where weekend Benedicts and the Brisket Eggs Benedict.
Why locals love it: Two decades of weekend lines at a South Eastern strip-mall counter, far enough from the Strip that no concierge sends you here.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations; ask for the Burnt Ends Brisket Benedict, the Crunchberry French Toast is the photograph but the savoury benedicts win.
