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21 Cheap Las Vegas Restaurants Locals Love: 2022 Update!
Las Vegas is known for its opulent casinos, nightclubs, and expensive celebrity-chef restaurants. However, there are many budget-friendly restaurants that locals love! Here are our 21 favorite cheap restaurants in Las Vegas.
- Sarah
- Updated on January 28, 2022
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Las Vegas is known for its opulent casinos, nightclubs, and expensive celebrity-chef restaurants. However, there are many budget-friendly restaurants that that will leave your wallet — and your belly — full!
Here are 21 of our favorite cheap restaurants in Las Vegas.
Viva Las Arepas
Viva las Arepas is one of our favorite cheap restaurants on the Strip. (There are actually two locations in town. The other is on Rainbow.) Its inexpensive Venezuelan sandwiches – or arepas – are the stuff that dreams are made of.
What to order: Order up a #13 Cachapa (fresh corn meal mashed and fried with ooey-gooey cheese) — $8, #7 Reina Pepiada (chicken breast, avocado, cilantro, and mayo) — $7, #12 Pabellon (beef, black beans, slices of plantain, cilantro, and cheese) — $8.
Bajamar Seafood & Tacos
It takes quite a restaurant to get locals down to the Strip on a regular basis. Bajamar Seafood & Tacos is just that place. Here you’ll see Vegas locals and tourists alike enjoying delicious, fresh Mexicali seafood dishes like ceviche and octopus tacos and tostadas. They’re hands down one of the best cheap restaurants in Las Vegas.
What to order: Get the Spicy Octopus Taco and Tsunami Tostada or a Wipeout Tostada and wash it down with a refreshingly cold Michelada.
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Tacos El Gordo
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. When I’m feeling like I’m at a crossroads between “I should eat healthy and be skinny” and “Eff it, give me all the meats and cheeses and things,” one of these places is where I wind up.
This Tijuana taco chain is as authentic as it gets. But ordering can be a little daunting. There are multiple confusing meat-labeled lines. But here’s the secret, just pick the shortest one and order everything at that one.
You have to order at least one item that matches the sign of the line that you’re in. For example, one of the shortest lines is always for lengua (tongue) – even though it’s one of the best things on the menu.
Head over to the lengua line and order as many different meat items as you want, but you have to have at least one lengua item.
What to order: Get the Sopes – these are my favorite! — and orders of Adobada, Suadero, and Chorizo Tacos. And do try a Lengua Taco! You’ll probably really like it!
Fat Choy
Located inside the smoky Eureka Casino, this Asian American diner serves up delicious steamed bun sandwiches – or bao. Don’t let the glittery vinyl bench seats fool you. This place is seriously legit.
It is one of the best cheap restaurants in Las Vegas — but don’t just trust me.
Fat Choy has been covered by the Food Network, New York Times, and USA Today among others. And in both 2018 and 2019, Chef Sheridan was nominated for “Best Chef: West” by the prestigious James Beard Foundation.
What to order: Get the Pork Belly Bao – $8, the Fat Choy Burger – $14, and the Braised Beef Grilled Cheese – $13. Wash it all down with a Lucky Buddha beer – $5.50.
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In-N-Out Hamburger
Cult classic In-N-Out Burger is a must stop in Las Vegas. The menu is simple burgers and fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and delicious creamy milkshakes. This is some of Las Vegas’ best cheap dining!
What to order: Order a Double-Double Hamburger Animal Style, Cheese Fries, and a Chocolate Shake.
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Monta Ramen
Monta Ramen is our go-to ramen joint – and it doesn’t hurt that Kung Fu Tea is next door! The restaurant is small and there’s almost always a wait. Put your name down on the list inside – it’s worth it! At around $9 for a filling bowl of ramen, this is definitely one of Las Vegas’ best cheap restaurants!
Monta serves “kurume” style tonkotsu ramen which is considered the original tonkotsu ramen. This style of ramen is served with a thick and rich pork-based broth with thin, straight noodles. The popularity of kurume had an incredible impact on the ramen scene throughout Japan.
What to order: Drew and I order the Tonkotsu Ramen and the Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen. They are similar but different. The Tonkotsu Ramen has a creamy, rich broth. Top them both with Nitamago – a flavored boiled egg. If you’re not feeling ramen, grab an order of the Kimchi Fried Rice!
Zen Japanese Curry
We just got back from a trip to Japan and we made it a point to get a real-deal Japanese curry dish while we were there. It’s one of the most popular dishes in Japan and we wanted to see how our Japanese curry place in Las Vegas stacked up.
Zen holds its weight for sure! It was just as good as the places that we visited in Osaka and Tokyo.
If you haven’t had the chance to try Japanese curry yet – it’s a simple, homey dish that combines a thick curry sauce with a crisp fried chicken (or pork) cutlet and is then served over a bed of rice (or you can also get it served with vegetables at Zen)
What to order: I always order the chicken katsu curry, with a level 3 spice. They are serious about their spices here. If you like a hot that is noticeable, but not overwhelming, stay below the level 4. As for add-ons – I go between the corn and the spinach. Both are delicious additions! Also, ask for some picked radishes to go on top of your curry dish. They provide a wonderful tanginess to the meal.
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Habanero's
There are now eight Habaner’s across the Las Vegas valley…so there’s probably one near you! Unlike Tacos El Gordo — there’s nothing confusing about their lines! (There’s even a drive-through.)
What to order: Get the Nevada burrito (it has fries in it!) with adobada, nachos with ground beef, and the ground beef tacos. Also, give their cheese and jalapeno tamales a shot, they’re delicious! If you’re searching for a great breakfast burrito…look no further! They have a full breakfast menu, and one of the best breakfast burritos in town.
CrunCheese
Shanghai Plaza is where all of my food deams come true!
These Insta-worthy Korean hotdogs are budget friendly and tasty. Be a little daring a get some sugar sprinkled on your hotdog. The combination of salty and sweet is unexpected and quite delicious! And at about $4 a dog, CrunCheese Hot Dog is definitely one of the best cheap restaurants in Las Vegas!
What to order: Try the Rice Cake Hot Dog ($3), the Original ($2), the Squid Ink Batter with Mozzarella and Sausage ($4), or the Potato Hotdog ($5).
If you’re hungry for dessert, head to Somi Somi (it’s two doors down), where they serve delicious and creative Korean ice cream in a soft waffle cone shaped like a fish – taiyaki (the Korean dessert is called Ah-Boong). It’s definitely one of my favorite treats!
You could also head to 85°C Bakery and Cafe for delicious baked breads and confectioneries. I love the Marble Taro Bread and the Milk Butter Puff Pastry.
Xiao Long Dumplings
Xiao Long Dumplings is located in the heart of Chinatown, Las Vegas — right across the street from my favorite shopping center in Chinatown! The service can be a little slow but the soup dumplings are worth it!
What to order: Try the Chili Soup Dumplings, the Spicy Steamed Dumplings, the Wood Ear Mushrooms, the Scallion Pancake, and the Crab & Pork Soup Dumplings.
If you’re hungry for dessert, head across the street to Shanghai Plaza — where all of my food deams come true! Somi Somi, where they serve delicious and creative ice cream in a pancake shaped like a fish (taiyaki) is fantastic, is a must!
Tim Ho Wan
Hong Kong-style dim sum is now in Las Vegas! Tim Ho Wan, co-founded by Mak Kwai Pui –former chef of three Michelin-starred Lung King Heen in Hong Kong, is located in the Palms Casino across from the Rio.
While I don’t generally like to feature chain restaurants, this one is definitely worth a visit. Tim Ho Wan earned a Michelin star and now has 50 locations throughout nine countries. It’s one of the few Michelin star restaurants that you can pig out at for less than $30.
What to order: One of my favorite dim sum dishes is a Barbecue Pork Bun. You should also grab some Pan-Fried Turnip Cakes, Steamed Dumplings with Shrimp and Chives, and some Braised Brisket with Noodles. Click here for the menu.
Don’t want to mess with the Strip and near Summerlin? Head to Dim Sum Cafe! Don’t leave without ordering the Red Bean Sesame Balls, Baked BBQ Pork Bun, Pan-Fried Chive Dumpling, and the War Wonton Soup. Head home with an order of the Sweet Cream Buns.
Egg Works / The Egg & I
Egg Works is one of our favorite restaurants in Las Vegas. When we have friends visiting us, we always make a trip here because there is something for everyone. Even though they serve breakfast and lunch, we always wind up sticking with the breakfast menu!
With 7 locations around Las Vegas you’re bound to have one near you.
What to order: Grab an order of the Green Chili Hash (shredded pork and seasoned potatoes served over Spanish rice and refried beans – all topped with a fried egg), the Bandito Scramble (chorizo, diced green chilies, cilantro and shredded cheeses), or the Maple Bacon Cream French Toast. Do not miss out on the Habla Diablo seasoned potatoes. They aren’t your run of the mill, cast-them-aside, side of breakfast potatoes. You want these on your plate! Wash it all down with a Habla Diablo Bloody Mary or Habla Diablo Michelada.
Also don’t miss out on their banana nut muffin! Little insider tip…you can usually check in on Yelp and get it for free.
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Landini's Pizza
Landini’s Pizzeria is our go to neighborhood pizza joint. We’re love them for their New York-style pizza, but Landini’s also serves delicious Italian pasta dishes, paninis and appetizers.
What to Order: Go for lunch and get a slice of pizza, a salad, and a soda for $9. Or just order a whole pie — they have a lot of vegan/vegetarian options. We alternate between a plain old pepperoni but the “La Piccante” and the “Spinach & Ricotta” are also fantastic! Also not to miss is their calzone!
Yassou Greek Grill
Yassou is our favorite Greek restaurant in Las Vegas and is perfect if you’re trying to eat healthy and cheap.
What to order: We try to eat low carb most of the time, so we generally stick with the Deluxe Greek Salad chicken and gyro. But, Yassou’s hummus is so good — it is definitely worth a splurge every now and then! If you’re really feeling splurgy — grab an order of the Greek Fries ($4), and the Rice Pudding ($4) to end your delicious meal in one of Las Vegas’ best cheap restaurants!
Block 9: Thai Street Eats
Block 9’s Chef Nittaya Parawong’ grew up in Bangkok and was inspired by Thailand’s unique, flavor-forward cuisine. Everything included on Block 9’s menu is priced under $12!
Drew and I find ourselves coming back to this Summerlin favorite all the time because it’s a great fast-casual restaurant with addictive flavors — sweet, spicy, and sour!
What to Order: We haven’t been disappointed by anything from Block 9 — everything is fantastic! Our go-to move is to order a bunch of stuff and eat it family style — and have enough for leftovers. Our favorite dishes are the: Basil Chicken – Kra Pao ($12), Green Curry – Gaeng Khao Wan ($12), Pineapple Fried Rice ($12), World Famous Spinach Salad ($9), Beef Jerky ($10), and I love to wash it all down with a Thai Ice Tea ($3.50).
Herbs & Rye
Named one of the “World’s Best Bars,” Herbs & Rye is definitely a local favorite. And it’s also a dang good steakhouse. While during regular hours it can’t be considered a “cheap eat” in Las Vegas, Herbs & Rye offers two (TWO) happy hours (Monday – Saturday from 5-8pm and then 12-3am) where you can take half off drinks, steaks, seafood, pastas, and appetizers!
Get your phone’s flashlight ready because this place is speakeasy dark.
What to Order: I love the jalapeño cream corn, the truffle mac and cheese, and a New York Strip.
Broadacres
Part flea market, part amazing restaurants, and part dancehall….Broadacres has everything you need for a good time!
It’s one of our favorite places to go in Las Vegas — and it definitely has some of the most delicious and cheap food!
What to Order: My favorite things to eat there are the pupusas, machetes (basically a large quesadilla), sopes, and an assortment of the best tacos I’ve ever had at Taco Tijuana. For a refreshing drink, head to Coco Loco and try a strawberry or guanabana agua fresca — a delicious mix of fresh fruit, sugar, and water. For something sweet, get a bag of gummy candy covered in Tajin — a slightly spicy, limey, salty powder that’s so addicting!
Know Before You Go: There is a fee to get in but it’s just $2-3 depending on the night.
Magic Noodle
Magic Noodle is one of those places that I crave all the time. As the name suggests, noodles are a big deal here, and they make them right there in front of you.
What to Order: Our go-to items to order at Magic Noodle are Lan Zhou Noodle ($9.45), Chong Qing Style Spicy Noodle ($8.95), House Special Fried Rice ($9.45), Spicy Dumplings Szechuan Style ($5.95), Sweet and Sour Black Fungus Salad ($4.95), and the Onion Pancakes ($5.95).
SkinnyFATS
SkinnyFATS menu is divided into a right and a left side. One is healthy and one is indulgent. All the menu items on the healthy side are less than 600 calories…but what you miss in calories, you won’t miss on flavor!
What to Order: The AvocaToast ($9), Wake N’ Bacon ($11), the Blaze of Thunder — a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich on a Hawaiian roll ($13), and the Spud McCurry ($9) are my favorites at SkinnyFATS.
Original Pancake House
When we’re in for a real caloric splurge, we head to the Original Pancake House — not to be confused with the International House of Pancakes! Everything is so freakin’ good here, you simply can’t be disappointed.
If you have time to wait, give the Dutch Baby a try. It’s baked fresh in the oven, so it takes about 30 minutes from when you order.
One thing that’s definitely not cheap here is their drip coffee — it’s $4! The Original Pancake House has several locations around the country, so look to see if there is one near you!
What to Order: Like I mentioned, the Dutch Baby is fantastic, but also try the Pumpkin Pancakes (their season, I think) and the Danish Kijafa Cherry Crepes.
Know Before You Go: You can order a half order of pancakes — but the price is only about $1 cheaper. Also, the Original Pancake House has online and call ahead seating reservations so you don’t have to wait!
Graffiti Bao
Food & Wine winner Chef Marc Marrone shares quality interpretations of classic dishes and daring new ventures at his restaurant Graffiti Bao.
Graffiti Bao focuses on shareable items, noodles, entrees, sides and their signature bao buns.
There are two locations, one inside the T-Mobile Arena and the other located near the southwest area of Las Vegas.
What to Order: My favorite things to order at Graffiti Bao are the Kung Pao Chicken and BBQ Pork Bao (2 for $6), the Szechuan Chicken Dumplings ($4), Scallion Pancakes ($6), and the Vietnamese Crab Fried Rice ($12).
Hot & Juicy Crawfish
If you like seafood and you don’t mind getting a little dirty — head to Hot & Juicy (they’re a national chain…so there may be one near you as well!).
What to Order: If you want some seafood but don’t want to get your hands dirty, try one of Hot & Juicy’s crawfish po’ boys. Otherwise, grab a signature combo — like the “Get Your Feet Wet” Combo — which includes 1 lb of shrimp, 1 pound of crawfish, a dozen Andouille sausages, 2 ears of corn, and 2 new potatoes.
We found that the heat level of the “spicy” — especially after the ample and consistent warnings about how hot it was — to be a little disappointing. So if you like spicy food, go for broke and get the “extra spicy” heat level.
Saigon Baguette
I’m not sure why it’s so hard to find a great banh mi around Las Vegas, but the one from Saigon Baguette ticks a lot of my boxes. It’s definitely my favorite one in town!
What to Order: I love the simple BBQ Pork Banh Mi on a french baguette ($5.75).
About Sarah
Sarah hails from the land of fried chicken, sweet tea, buttered biscuits, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…Alabama! She loves exploring undertouristed locations and sharing them with you.
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