Sweet deals
Luv-It Frozen Custard 505 E. Oakey Blvd. (Downtown), 384-6452, luvitfrozencustard.com
lunches under $10 and $13.99 dinner combos. The staff is friendly, and nothing costs more than $15. (JH)
Frozen custard is eggy, wholesome and Midwestern, all of which are categorically opposite to the faded glamour of North Las Vegas Boulevard. This small food stand looks like something from Wisconsin, but with a great view of the Stratosphere and of the pink Vegas sunsets. Custard is made fresh daily with a rotation of flavors. A regular scoop with chocolate jimmies is $3.46 and tastes like summer in a small town. (SK)
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Soyo Korean Barstaurant
Pinoy-Pinay Filipino Fastfood
7775 S. Rainbow Blvd. #105 (Southwest), 897-7696
1217 E. Sahara Ave. (Central), 893-6682, pinoy-pinay.com
“The fire chicken is very … challenging,” our server told us. “Bring it!” I said — or, rather, the Sapporo said. Fire indeed — but one with character and complexity, judiciously calmed a bit by the melted mozzarella that coated the grilled chunks. It’s just one of the inventive Asian tapas at Soyo, a Korean gastropub with décor that can only be described as minimalist cutesy rustic Lego chic — you drink cold tea from tin cups and eat from stone bowls and eat pretty incredible small plates of grilled squid and garlic and chicken gizzards from unwrapped foil for under $10. Challenging? Maybe. Intriguing? Definitely. (AK)
This California-based chain sells Filipino comfort food, with an emphasis on pig. Served cafeteria-style with no labels, you might need a guide to get past the dinuguan (pig blood stew) and sisig (pig’s head scrapple) to what you really want: lechon (deep fried pork belly) and inihaw (grilled pork belly). Lots of delicious beef, chicken and seafood are available if you don’t dig on swine. The menu rotates daily, combo plates start at $4.50 and $11 buys a ginormous togo container of whatever you like. Big balls of sticky rice on the side are only 50 cents. (JH)
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La Piazza
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The Black Bear Diner
Best Western Hotel, 1000 N. Main St., (Downtown), 382-6487
6180 W. Tropicana Ave. (Central), 368-1077 blackbeardiner.com
I never thought I’d find a cornhole league-hosting sports bar in all of Vegas. It’s a slice of the Midwest as saucy as its 14inch Chicago-style pizza ($10.95). Pile on fresh toppings (50 cents to $1.25, depending on pie size) while you watch or play a game — shuffleboard, anyone? Also try one of the 16-inch specialty pizzas ($14.99) and the house-made family recipe lasagna ($9.95). (MA)
This charmingly decorated franchise out of northern California specializes in heroic portions of home cooking like the Bigfoot: a huge chicken-fried steak with gravy, three eggs, potatoes and two homemade biscuits ($11.99), or the Volcano; a mountain of fluffy pancakes paired with bacon strips, two sausages and two eggs ($8.99). Breakfast is served all day, but there are also
d e s e r t c o m pa n i o n
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Ellis Island Casino & Brewery 4178 Koval Lane (University District), 733-8901 ellisislandcasino.com
The locals line up early for the 4 p.m. barbecue, where $12.99 scores a rack of ribs on a platter full of sides. The 10-ounce sirloin with three sides and a beer is always $7.99. Come early for the $4.99 steak and egg breakfast or show up late for the nightly specials with dessert and a drink for $10.99. The on-site brewery produces assorted quality brews, and 20-ounce. drafts are a mere $1.75. Old school! (JH)
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The Hush Puppy 7185 W. Charleston Blvd. (West), 363-5988; 1820 N. Nellis Blvd. (North Las Vegas), 438-0005, thehushpuppy.com
Here are a few reasons The Hush Puppy has lasted for more than 35 years: Tuesdays (all you can eat boiled shrimp, $12.95), Wednesdays (all-you-can-eat barbecue ribs, $14.95) and Thursdays (all-youcan-eat seafood platter, $12.95). Every day features endless fried catfish ($12.50); crispy outside, hot and moist inside. The namesake hush puppies (free with dinner) are perfect torpedoes of corn meal, deep-fried until hot and golden, served with honey butter. You won’t want to leave room for dinner. (JH)
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Bachi Burger 470 E. Windmill Lane #100 (Southeast), 242-2244
Bachi quickly defined itself as one of our truly unique
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Dealicious meals
neighborhood restaurants, a spot to share and sample Asianinspired eats at small plate prices. Don’t miss the homemade pickles, chili fried chicken, banh mi burger, and steamed buns filled with Peking duck, braised short ribs or succulent pork belly. (BR)
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Henry’s American Grill 237 N. Stephanie St. (Henderson), 898-5100
The mild pomp of the name refers to the menu, not the ambience, because this deceptively bland video poker bar/restaurant hides some surprising virtues. Among them, an ambitious wine list and plates that reveal a chef’s love and hustle, like a pretty mondo prime rib sandwich swimming in cheese and roasted peppers ($10.80) and an $8.99 custom burger menu that hosts such triumphs of the human spirit as the nacho burger and bourbon barbecue burger. This place deserves the pomp and then some. (AK)
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Chicago Brewing Company 2201 S. Fort Apache Ave. (West), 254-3333
Go ahead and feed the animals — feed ’em right into your gnashing mouth, that is. Chicago Brewing Company’s wild game slider menu takes creatures beautiful, untamed and free (awww!) and transforms