Las Vegas Has some of the best restaurants in the world. It’s also got stand after stand offering $15 greasy pizza slices. If you’re heading to Sin City soon and wanting to navigate the space between those cuisines I’ve got you covered.
This rundown isn’t just for vegetarians. There aren’t any pure vegetarian restaurants included here. But as a frequent visitor on a meatless diet these are the best options I’ve found under $25, which is what counts as cheap eats on the Strip.
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
Various Locations View Menu
Capriotti’s can be found in various cities but is headquartered in Las Vegas and has several locations around the valley. For my money the Impossible cheesesteak is the best sandwich you can get in Vegas or anywhere else. They also make a fake chicken cheesesteak and feature two subs with a turkey substitute so they’ve got the Vegas cheap eats game locked down.
The easiest point of access is inside the food hall at New York New York but prices here are inflated. Although the last time I ordered here the sandwich did come with fries. Other accessible locations are on Sahara Ave a block west of the Strip and on West Flamingo or next to the Virgin resort.
Sayulitas
3999 S Las Vegas Blvd Opposite Mandalay Bay & 616 E Carson Ave Downtown View Menu
Guy Fieri has restaurants here in Vegas but if it’s a trip to Flavortown you’re after pass right by those and head to Sayulitas. This small chain bills itself as Mexican with a Filipino twist and it’s a combination that renders their menu unique. Burritos can run north of $20 but they’re the largest I’ve ever seen and easily big enough to share for two people.
Sayulitas is serving up the best Vegas cheap eats morning noon and night and their breakfast burritos are the stuff of legend. Think death row last meal type of quality.
Roadside Taco
Fontainebleau Food Court View Menu
Sicking with Mexican, check out the nachos at Roadside taco in Fontainebleau. You can add your protein of choice to the top of these including their mushroom taco filling but the serving size is so large I’d advise you to skip it. I’ve had these twice now and wasn’t able to finish them either time.
A meatless order of nachos will run you a mere $13 which is one of the best deals in the world of Vegas cheap eats. Or you can sign up for the casino’s players’ club and receive a $15 food and beverage credit to enjoy these nachos for free.
Earl of Sandwich
Inside Planet Hollywood View Menu
I walked past Earl of Sandwich many times before finally going in during my first stay at Planet Hollywood (review). That was a mistake. This is the single best casino eatery for fast casual.
A ‘whole’ sandwich here is two individual six inch loaves of bread. To have a half (pictured) along with one of their sides of pasta salad is a perfect sized meal. They’ve got a few meatless options here but the veggie meatball sub is the standout. Can be made with regular or vegan cheese. They also do a great cheap breakfast. An egg sandwich, banana and large coffee is $13. The coffee alone is $3 and refillable, far easier on the wallet than an $8 cup from Starbucks.
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches
Fashion Show Mall View Menu
If you’ve got an Ike’s in your town congratulations. You already know how good it is. If you don’t, it’s a must-try when you’re looking for Vegas cheap eats. Look at those fries. They speak for themselves. They’re also not Ike’s. They’re from the hot dog stand next door.
Known for its sweet-ish Hawaiian style rolls Ike’s features dozens of inventive sandwich combinations including a lineup of 9 different vegetarian subs. You could try one every day and not make it through all of them by the end of your trip.
Istanbul Mediterranean
Grand Bazaar Shops at Horseshoe View Menu
You’ll probably see a long line when you approach Istanbul Mediterranean. Don’t chicken out. People line up here because it’s that good. Authentic Turkish street food with fresh ingredients and very generous portions.
Falafel is the star of the show here for vegetarians and you can get it in a pita, wrap, rice plate, etc. But you should really try the chikofte, which is an uncommon menu item in the US. Their flavorful mix is heavy on spices without being actually spicy and has a consistency similar to hummus rather than the thicker rolled balls you might be used to. This was probably the healthiest thing I ate on this trip.
There’s a pizza shop next door and a ramen restaurant next to that making Grand Bazaar shops a top destination for Vegas cheap eats.
Viva Las Arepas
1616 S. Las Vegas Blvd View Menu
An arepa is a little grilled corncake type thing and also the name of any sandwich made on an arepa. They’re ubiquitous throughout Venezuela and Colombia and you can find some great ones exploring Bogota or Medellin. These arepas are of the Venezuelan variety and they’re as good and authentic as you’ll find anywhere. It remains a mystery to me why these haven’t had their moment as the next hot US food trend.
Two arepas here will definitely fill you up and may even be too much. Opt for one with the yucca fries unless you’ve really brought your appetite. For the meat eaters in your party Viva Las Arepas offers empanadas and some impressive roasted chicken. The whole restaurant is full of split wood for their chicken-roasting operations.
Bang Bar by Momofuku
Block 16 Food Hall at Cosmopolitan View Menu
The food hall (food court) at Cosmopolitan is among the best on the Strip and for vegetarians chef David Chang’s spicy eggplant is a standout ingredient that stands in for meat. You can get it in a wrap or a bao bun but I recommend it topping a rice bowl as seen here.
This is another dish that actually feels healthy to eat, which is a rare find on the Strip and at only $13 the price is comparable to your last Taco Bell order. Nothing wrong with hitting up the Taco Bell Cantina across the street but don’t do it until you’ve tried Bang Bar first.
Binion’s Cafe
Binion’s Casino, Fremont Street Experience View Menu
While not strictly a ‘best’ in the world of Vegas Cheap Eats, Binion’s Cafe does have the best value meal in town. Ask for the chicken parm and have them serve it without the chicken. You’ll get a bowl of linguini in red sauce, garlic bread and a house salad for $10. Ten dollars! That’s not a promo price it’s available all the time.
This coffee shop off the casino floor is as old school as it gets and you get the impression the place hasn’t changed in 100 years. Even if this isn’t the best Italian in the world the price and the atmosphere definitely make it worth the trip.
Hot Noods
Inside El Cortez View Menu
I’ve had ramen all over the world including in Japan and believe it or not this is probably the best bowl I’ve ever had. The broth is rich and creamy and I added on fresh minced garlic and chili paste which made the whole thing an explosion of flavor.
The owners here previously had a Chinese restaurant in the Vegas suburbs and were recruited personally by El Cortez ownership to open a concept in their new expansion. After one visit it’s not hard to see that they made the right choice.
La La Noodle
Inside Park MGM View Menu
La La Noodle is not cheap and you can baaaarely get out of here for $25. But it’s very good. In my estimation it’s better than Park MGM’s popular Best Friend wile also being quieter and less crowded. If La La Noodle was in your hometown it would be making all the lists of best restaurant, best date spot, etc.
I got the salt and pepper tofu and added a side of rice which incurs an extra cost. It’s necessary though as the tofu is not quite a full meal on its own. But it is delicious. Similar to crunching into a hot piece of fried chicken, dinner here is going to be a clean plate situation for sure.
