Whether you’re a graveyard worker or a weekend warrior, these late-night dining spots are an upgrade from your nearest drive-thru
There’s a popular theory that eating after a certain time of the day is bad for you. Perhaps it’s true — which is exactly why you should make each late-night meal worth the damage. Just say no to the cheap chicken fingers and frozen French fries served at your nearest 24-hour video poker bar. Whether you want a midnight snack or a full-blown feast, the city has plenty of options for finding legit, flavorful food at any hour. Here are a few places to get your fix in the wee hours of the night.
The first and most obvious option is to visit the Strip. While I don’t normally endorse chains, a personal guilty pleasure is Grand Lux Café (Venetian, 702-414-3888, grandluxcafe.com, 24 hours). The menu is as encyclopedic as the one found at its sister restaurant, the Cheesecake Factory, but one particular standout is the pasta carbonara. Studded with nuggets of smoked bacon, its breakfast-like quality makes it the perfect pick at 4 a.m. For polenta past midnight (until 1 a.m.), try Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill (MGM Grand, 702-891-3000, wolfgangpuck.com, 11:30-6a) for a version made with spicy fra diavolo shrimp. A solid late-night menu includes proper entrées like flat iron steak and grilled salmon, but anyone with munchies will probably prefer the wild boar poutine or one of the celebrity chef’s signature wood oven pizzas. The Henry (Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com, 24 hours) also has a limited after-hours menu from 10p-6a. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but glimpses of the gorgeous patrons leaving Marquee come at no additional charge. For food that doesn’t require a trek through a casino, sink into a booth at The Peppermill (2985 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-735-4177, peppermilllasvegas.com, 24 hours). The freestanding coffee shop has been serving classic diner fare for more than 40 years — you’d be hard-pressed to find a local who hasn’t basked in the glow of its gaudy pink neon lights at least once in their life.
Surprisingly, some of the most creative Asian food is elsewhere in the valley. Stuff yourself silly with chicken skin skewers and sake at Kyara Japanese Tapas (6555 S. Jones Blvd. #120, 702-434-8856, kyaraizakaya.com, 5p-2a) or gorge on some of the city’s best á la carte sushi at Naked Fish (3945 S. Durango Drive, 702-228-8856, vegasnakedfish.com, 5p-2a). A selection of specialty rolls is available at happy hour prices from 10p until close. For street snacks from Seoul, head to Soyo Korean Barstaurant (7775 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-897-7696, weekends 11:30-4a). A taste for kimchi is not required; there are plenty of approachable items, including a platter of fried chicken that puts the Colonel’s to shame.
You can also dine on old-school classics at this hour. Expect Sazeracs and sizzling steaks at Herbs & Rye (3713 W. Sahara Ave., 702-982-8036, herbsandrye.com, weekends 5p-3a). The restaurant takes pride in its selection of sustainable and antibiotic-free meat, which is butchered in-house. It’s an unexpected but welcome detail for a joint that caters to locals. Sides like truffle mac and cheese and jalapeño creamed corn aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but they’re well-executed. In Spring Valley, Sedona Lounge (9580 W. Flamingo Road, 702-320-4700, sedonalv.com, 11-4a) has an $8 late night happy hour where you can nibble on items like beef carpaccio, shrimp cocktail and filet mignon meatballs. It may not be as cheap as a value meal, but the few extra bucks is a small price to pay for a midnight meal on a pretty outdoor patio.
Late, fast and cheap
It’s possible to eat cheap and onthe fly without settling for a fastfood chain. The not-so-secretSecret Pizza (Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7860, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com, 11-4a) has been a favorite for street slices eversince its debut. Or you can hitup the new Haute Doggery(The Linq, 702-430-4435, hautedoggerylv.com, 10a-midnight) for a fourth meal of poutine and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Henderson residents can grab stellar pizza pies at Carmine’s (445 Marks St., 702-434-4848, carmines group.com, noon-midnight) — the stuffed and seafood versions are standouts. In Southern Highlands, the recent opening of Distill (4830 W. Pyle Ave., 702-834-4700, distillbar.com, 24 hours) welcomes nocturnal noshers with an enormous bar food menu and happy hour special from 3-6a.