Restaurants with the Best Value in Las Vegas

This vintage Las Vegas bar and restaurant has been open since 1972, and this classic has retained its "Old Vegas" ambiance. Breakfast is always available, but the menu doesn't stop there. Burgers, sandwiches and steaks are just a few of the selections. Generous portions almost guarantee that you won't be able to clean your plate. In addition to its extensive menu, the Peppermill also offers a selection of large and delicious adult drinks, like its signature 64-ounce Scorpion. The décor here feels virtually unchanged from a prior era in Las Vegas, which is part of the charm. Instead of feeling dated, it's retro in the best way.

When Chef Jose Andres decided to combine flavors from Mexico and China, the result was China Poblano. This mash-up of cuisines works wonderfully, with offerings that are both traditional and new. It's not fusion, but instead an innovative mix. Guests enjoy a menu that offers chips and salsa, dim sum, tacos, noodles and more. Dishes like Dan Dan Mian show off Chef Andres' talent at combining the two cuisines: hand-cut wheat noodles with Szechuan ground pork sauce, toasted peanuts, cilantro, chile pequin and Chinkiang vinegar. The tasting menu is only $45 per person here, a real steal. Dim sum is under $20, and tacos are $6-8, all bargains for food from this chef and for dining on the Strip.

Nacho Daddy's signature dish is in its name, and you can depend on finding nachos with every kind of topping you can imagine, and then some. The average person might not think about making nachos with lobster and crab, but Nacho Daddy certainly has. Don't be fooled into thinking this restaurant only serves one thing, however. Nacho Daddy also offers a menu full of tasty non-nacho items like their great street tacos and Margaritas. This Vegas-grown restaurant started out in Downtown Las Vegas but has since opened locations in Summerlin, Henderson and at the Miracle Mile Shops on the Strip. Nachos were the original "shared plate" food, and the cheerful, laid-back atmosphere at Nacho Daddy invites hanging out with a group of friends.

In-N-Out is a burger place that hasn't strayed far from its roots as a basic drive-thru hamburger restaurant. The succinct menu is all about the burgers--you won't find chicken sandwiches or salads at In-N-Out. You also won't see the "secret" menu that In-N-Out devotees find so exciting: options like "protein style," with the patty wrapped in lettuce, or the most popular choice, "animal style," with pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions. (Most of the secret menu is posted on In-N-Out's website.) The number of specialized options should satisfy even the pickiest burger lover, but even if you never stray from the posted menu, all the burgers here are freshly prepared from ingredients that were never frozen or pre-packaged. In-N-Out makes their own patties and buns, and the restaurant's emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients pays off in delicious burgers, fries and shakes.

Beerhaus is located in The Park, the pedestrian area between New York-New York and Park MGM, close to the T-Mobile Arena. The casual bar and restaurant is a new take on the beer hall idea, with craft beer and food made with hormone-free meat and locally sourced produce. The food includes casual fare like burgers, ribs, hot dogs, brats, wings and soft pretzels with cheese. Prices here are quite reasonable, like the BBQ Rib Dinner which goes for $22--half a rack of ribs, fries, coleslaw and Texas toast included. Beerhaus also offers an impressively large beer selection that includes local and regional brews along with mainstream choices like Budweiser, Corona and Guinness. Cocktails are also available. The casual setting is perfect for getting together with friends and watching the game on one of the numerous TVs, or maybe playing some Connect Four or another game.

Tacos el Gordo on the Strip is one the most well-known stops for cheap eats in Las Vegas, perfect for a late-night snack after a night out. This small chain of restaurants is only found in California and Nevada and attracts devoted fans, and one taste of their Tijuana-style tacos explains why. There's nothing fancy here: it's a walk-up counter where you order and pick up at the same place. The focus isn't on décor--it's on the food. You could play it safe and order the carne asada or the adobada, but you can also get tripe (tripa), brains (sesos) and cactus on their handmade corn tortillas. No matter what kind of tacos you order, you'll enjoy food made from quality ingredients. Guacamole and salsa are made daily from scratch.

Downtown Las Vegas has some great restaurants, and Le Thai delivers on both taste and value. Its flavorful, moderately priced food is served in a casual, welcoming environment that almost makes you feel like you're having a meal at a friend's house. Servers are friendly and happy to give suggestions. The menu offers appetizers, soup, salad, stir-fry, fried rice and noodle dishes and the chef's well-known curries. Take out is available. Appetizers are inexpensive and easy to share, like the tasty chicken satay or the ever-popular crispy spring rolls. Le Thai is located close to many of the downtown area's attractions, making it a good choice for a stop if you're sight-seeing in Downtown Las Vegas.

The Village Pub and Café has been a favorite of Las Vegas locals and visitors for decades. Located inside the unpretentious Ellis Island Casino Hotel Brewery, the café serves up breakfast dishes, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, pasta and a host of other dishes. The King Cut Prime Rib is one of the restaurant's most popular items (and only $21.99), but the wide array of options gives guests a selection that can't be beat, and at some of the best prices in town. Since Ellis Island is also a brewery, as a bonus you can enjoy a local, hand-crafted beer with your meal. Since the café is open 24/7, it's a perfect place to stop for middle-of-the-night cravings.

The new hotel casino in downtown Las Vegas, Circa, is home to some of the city's most talked about restaurants, like 8 East. This notable new Pan-Asian eatery is from a well-known Las Vegas chef, Dan Coughlin, who also helms downtown's Le Thai. At 8 East, dishes are both delicious and reasonably priced, showing off influences from Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and Korean cuisines. Grab some tapas for sharing, like the ginger chicken dumplings or the pork belly bao. Entrees include brisket fried rice, Dan Dan noodles and lobster fried rice. Menu items are generally under $20. Guests will also find an impressive selection of Chinese tea, locally roasted coffee and dessert.

Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is so secret that you won't find it on the hotel's restaurant website listings. Although not as "secret" as it was when it first opened, this little pizza joint on the third floor remains unmarked. To find it, look for the hallway decorated with album covers. Slices start at about $7 and whole pies start at around $30. While the prices might be a higher than you'll find at a pizza place off the Strip, Secret Pizza is a deal in comparison to most dining options on the Strip. You won't find anything incredibly fancy here as far as flavors, but you will get a tasty slice of thin crust pizza, and as a bonus, you can stop in for a post-evening-out slice of pie until 4 a.m. on weekends. Beer, wine, soda and dessert are also available.