Favorite Cheap Eats, Strip edition
Sometimes, you need to step away from the poker table.
In this edition of #CallRaiseAllin, I’ll talk about some of my favorite places to eat, specifically near Paris and the Horseshoe, the casinos that host the WSOP.
Vegas offers a myriad of entertainment opportunities, from music concerts to comedy shows to feasts for the eyes in many, many ways, all the while selling different liquid and chemical enhancements to make the night more (or less) memorable. While I’ve partaked in bits and pieces of these experiences, I usually focus my pleasurable moments towards the culinary delights. Any food you’d like to indulge in, Vegas offers; and at many different price points, though it has skewed towards the very spendy the last few years.
(This reminds me of a conversation I had with some old college friends recently. They’ve always wanted to go to Vegas with my wife and me, but I know they are on the more frugal side - mostly because they have children while we do not. Now that their kids are older, they have the opportunity to travel without them. But in our talk about Vegas, they were under the impression that “cheap Vegas” still existed. The $10 buffets and the 99¢ shrimp cocktails are relics of the past. When I gave them an estimate of what we’d normally spend on a weekend on the Strip (including hotel, food, entertainment and gifts), it squashed any future vacation talks. They’d rather spend the same money at a theme park, like Disneyland or Universal Studios, which is not our first choice for vacations. To each their own.)
While the coupon books and discount meals of our parents’ generation may be a relic of the past, there are ways to eat well without having to sacrifice any poker buy-ins. And if you’re playing (or working at) the WSOP, sometimes you need to leave Paris and the Horseshoe behind to clear your head and find a nice meal. Here are my three favorite cheap eats within walking distance of these casinos.
Call: In-N-Out, Las Vegas Strip
Located in the LINQ promanade, it’s a quick walk north on Las Vegas Blvd from the Horseshoe. There are plenty of reasonable restaurants in this area, but In-N-Out is by far the least expensive.
In 2012, we were having drinks at a speakeasy on the Strip and met a newlywed couple from the East Coast on their honeymoon. The wife had come out to Vegas a few times for work, but this was the first Vegas visit for the husband. I asked them what was the first thing he wanted to see or do after they checked into their hotel, and he said “I took our rental car to In-N-Out.” (At the time, there was only one location in Vegas, just west of the Strip.) I asked him if it was worth the effort, and his face lit up, like he was savoring that double-double again.
This California staple has grown from its humble origins to spread across the Western United States. What used to be a special treat when vacation in Southern California when I was a kid, it’s part of my regular fast food rotation nowadays. (Though I did buy some swag at their Baldwin Park company store on my last LA road trip.) And it’s also a nice taste of home when I need a break from work. You can check out their menu here.
One caveat: I would not try to get In-N-Out during a dinner break at the WSOP. While the walk isn’t that far, Vegas blocks are larger than you think, and this location is quite busy all day long. You might be blinded out by the time you get back to the table!
Raise: Dirt Dog
Located in the Grand Bazaar Shops in front of the Horseshoe, this is very convenient for players and staff at the WSOP. Just outside of the Hall of Fame Poker Room, down the escalator, the Grand Bazaar offers many food options. As far as the quicker meals go, Dirt Dog is my favorite out here.
Another LA transplant, Dirt Dog offers different types of street hot dogs, tacos, wings and loaded fries. My favorite is the Elote Dog (with corn and bacon bits), and I usually share an order of D.U.I. Fries (with pastrami and carne asada). I guess that you can get them both for yourself, but you might have a hard time staying awake at the table after your meal.
While Dirt Dog is not as cheap as the other 2 entries in this post, it’s still quite reasonable for the Strip. You can check out their menu here. Dirt Dog has several locations in Vegas, including one near MGM Grand, another on Fremont Street, and two stand inside Allegiant Stadium.
All In: The Stage Door Casino
Located right across Flamingo Road, you can walk to the Stage Door from the Horseshoe food court. Just walk outside, and you can’t miss it.
This is the famous home of the $3.00 hot dog and beer. Which is the best meal after busting out on the stone bubble. Need to get away from the rest of the WSOP? The Stage Door will welcome you. Want to get some cheap drinks with your co-workers? I’ve spend plenty of nights with other dealers here. Need some time to contemplate life, but don’t want to get in your car just yet? The Stage Door is perfect for that. You make new friends here, or just be left alone… whatever you want. And there’s a convenience store next door, so you can continue your ruminations back at your hotel or AirBnb.
There are no frills at the Stage Door, just the best dive bar on the Strip. Who knows? Maybe you’ll win your next buy-in at the video poker machine!