Here's how this list works: We eat. If we like where we eat, we write it up. Scroll down for the full list, or jump to a geographical section below. Capsules by Maureen Adamo (MA), John Hardin (JH), Andrew Kiraly (AK), Al Mancini (AM) and Brock Radke (BR).


View Desert Companion Las Vegas Dining Guide in a larger map

Central		China Town		University District
Downtown		West/Summerlin		North/Northwest
South/Green Valley/ Henderson		The Strip		Multiple locations

Carlito's Burritos
Five bucks scores a meal and a good beer at Carlito's. Voted 2009's best new restaurant by the Review-Journal, Carlito's offers up spicy, authentic New Mexican cuisine. Hit the daily specials like Monday's $1 Santa Fe Sliders or Tuesday's $1 beef tacos. There's a different special every day and a pinto or black bean burrito is $3.95 any time. Wash it down with a pint of Carlito's special lager ($1!). (JH) 3345 East Patrick Lane, suite 105, 547-3592

The Fat Greek
The Gourgousis family's Fat Greek has long been considered by many to be the finest Greek restaurant in town. And that reputation has only gotten stronger since their son Jerry, a veteran chef who's worked in fine dining restaurants such as Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Guy Savoy and Rick Moonen's rm seafood, joined the kitchen staff. He puts out delicious versions of dishes like moussaka, dolmades and seafood pasta, with no dinner entrée priced above $15. The real standout: braised lamb shank over orzo for $12.95. (AM) 4001 S. Decatur Blvd., 222-0666

Los Antojos
Tiny, brilliant Los Antojos serves ultra-authentic, mind-blowing Mexican food. A giant bowl of delicious consommé loco (chicken soup with rice and cilantro) is $4.99. Tiny meat-filled tacos are $1.39 each (go to hell, Taco Bell). And for about three bucks, rich little corn cakes (gorditas) stuffed with fried pork skin, cilantro, onion and salty cheese will change your life. (BR) 2520 S. Eastern Ave, 457-3505

Magura Restaurant
This east-side eatery sells the best Bulgarian food west of the Rockies. Salads, grilled meats and veggies dominate the menu, complemented by cheese, yogurt or both. Fight the heat with tarator, a cold cucumber, yogurt and fresh dill soup that will have you wishing your bowl was a swimming pool. Throw your arteries to the wind with the wonderful kashkave pane – battered, pan-fried cheese that's sinfully good. Everything is fresh and nothing costs more than $11. (JH) 1305 Vegas Valley Drive Ste. C, 702-693-6990

Nora's Cuisine
Sip a signature $9 cocktail at the lively bar (try the sweet, potent Sicilian martini) to steel yourself for an extensive menu of Italian classics. Sure bets: chicken carciofi ($13.95), baked ziti ($10.50) and the always-generous Pasta Alla Nora ($10.50), a flavorful mashup of spaghetti, eggplant, ground beef, pesto, tomato sauce and cheese. (AK) 6020 W. Flamingo Road, 365-6713

Oiga, Mire, Vea Colombian Cuisine
There's lots of room para bailar when the karaoke machine runs Saturday nights. Try to follow the cumbias in between crispy bites of empanada ($1.25 each) or the steamed, hand-wrapped tamal ($9.99) filled with juicy meats and veggies. The arepas topped with shredded beef ($6.99) come with an imported soda, while the aguas frescas help put out the fiery peppers dancing on your tongue. (MA) 2580 S Decatur Blvd., 221-4359

Simon
When Kerry Simon opened his restaurant at Palms Place, he expanded beyond the comfort food that made him famous at The Hard Rock to also include sushi. And if there's one dish that combines both those worlds, it's his delicious tuna dynamite. This $17 dish could serve as a light meal on its own, combining, tuna, lump crab meat and red chili aioli in layers that are alternately hot and cold. (AM) Inside Palms Place, 4381 W. Flamingo Road, 944-3292

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Bosa 1
Our wondrous Chinatown is awash in cheap eats of all Asian origins. Bosa 1 has my favorite deal, Com Tam Dac Biet, a $9 Vietnamese combo plate of broken rice, barbecued shrimp, shredded pork skin, sweet shrimp cake and peppery egg-pork patty with an additional meat of your choice (such as barbecued pork chop or Chinese sausage). It's a ton of food, and each bite will blow you away, especially once drizzled with homemade fish sauce. (BR) 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #2A, 418-1931

Crown Bakery
Nothing punctuates a China Town foodie crawl than unleashing your ravenous sweet tooth at Crown Bakery. Buns shot full of cream, breads infused with honey, rolls injected with jerkified hot dogs … yeah, there's definitely a forcible flavor-insertion theme going on. There are mainstream goodies, too, from pecan tarts ($1.95) to nut bars ($2) to madeleines ($2.50). (AK) 4355 Spring Mountain Road, 873-9805

Hue Thai
Stop patronizing the visored sub sandwich brigade and try the cheaper, tastier Vietnamese bite called banh mi. The house special at Hue Thai ($3.49) is a soft, flaky French baguette stacked with cold cuts, pate, daikon, carrots and peppers – so good you'll disavow your brown-bag lunch. If you're really hungry, pair it with some pork and vegetable rolls ($4.75), and secede from the nation of turkey sandwich-eaters forever. (MA) 5115 Spring Mountain Road, Ste. 223; 943-8872

Ichiza
You don't need a fat wallet to eat at Ichiza, but you do need a strong finger – 'cause you'll be pointing manically at the walls of this clamorous Japanese beerhall, ordering from the hand-scrawled fliers that hype everything from wasabi octopus to fried crab rolls to seaweed salads – many under $5. On the menu, the $4.50 half-bowl of ramen is a surefire drunk-banisher, and the chefs will cheerfully skewer pretty much any kind of meat on a stick for $1.50. (AK) 4355 Spring Mountain Road, 367-3151

Ronald's Donuts
For vegans: Donuts that won't kill your soul. For non-vegans: Donuts that won't ruin your day. Bonus: They're truly tasty! Airy, soft and with just the right amount of icing, the regulars (75 cents each) from the top two shelves have never even seen an animal's shadow. The flaky vegan apple burrito ($1.10) is mom's apple pie rolled into breakfast. Bring cash, though, or you'll be digging for loose change for the donut holes ($1 a dozen). (MA) 4550 Spring Mountain Road, 873-1032

Shuseki
Tucked into a hive-like strip mall west of China Town proper, the low-key Shuseki boasts cheap eats galore for the luncher or late-nighter, from standards such as pork dumplings ($2.99) to green tea-infused rice with salmon ($4.99) to a generous bowl of crispy, lightly battered fish cakes ($3.99). (AK) 5115 Spring Mountain Road, 222-2321

Tea Station
Like your tea chewy? Hit this brightly lit China Town teahouse popular with the otaku hipsters. If slurping tapioca nodules through a cartoon straw isn't your idea of a meal, skip the boba and leap into the menu for novel yums such as the sticky rice tamale ($3.75) or tea-infused eggs ($2.75). The hot and cold flavored teas are a bargain, too, served in generous mugs for under $5. (AK) 4355 E. Spring Mountain Road # 106, 889-9989

Tofu Hut
For the preposterous price of just $16.99 (even cheaper if you eat after 11 p.m.), you can engage in one of the most flavorful all-you-can-eats in Vegas. The grill on your table is roomy enough for tender, marinated bulgogi, chili- and sugar-laden pork belly and other Korean barbecue treats, but the real deals are the infinite side dishes: great kimchi, sesame oil salad and the molten tofu soup that gives this laid-back joint its name. (BR) 3290 Spring Mountain Road, 257-0072

Veggie Delight
After double-taking at every "chicken," "beef" or "pork" on the menu (no real meat is served in this café), you could probably order any of the fairly-reminiscent-of-meat dishes and be pleasantly surprised. The vegetarian black pepper steak sandwich ($4.50) is a tofu-substitute banh mi, and the crunchy and spicy cucumber salad ($3) is perfect for hot summer days. Ordering vegan will break your budget, but only by parking meter fare. (MA) 3504 Wynn Road, 310-6565

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Cottage Café
Las Vegas has no shortage of Ethiopian restaurants. What sets the quaint Cottage Café apart from the crowd are its location and its prices. It's located within walking distance of both The Hard Rock and the large concentration of gay and alternative watering holes just to the south of the resort, perfect for those looking to grab a cheap, delicious meal before a night of partying. None of the nearly 20 vegetarian and meat dinners is priced above $10. (AM) 4647 Paradise Road, 650-3395

Ferraro's
A deliciously lugubrious piano-and-vox duo croons while you're sipping a bargain syrah ($10 a glass) and sampling the exhaustive antipastini menu – tender gnocchi pomodoro ($8), arugula-topped beef carpaccio ($10) and grancini al tartufo (fried rice balls infused with truffles, $8) – after which you retire next to the patio firepond to sip some port. Barside or fireside at Ferraro's gorgeous new location only feels expensive. (AK) 4480 Paradise Road, 364-5300

Merkato Ethiopian Cafe
Don't let the "neutron-bombed strip mall" vibe put you off. Hey, the countless cabbies who frequent Merkato gotta be on to something. Entrees tend to run under $10, but you can forge a feast from appetizers, whether it's the humongous selata (tomato salad, $3.50) or yemisir sambusa (lentil-stuffed pastry, $1). Brekkie? Try the chechebsa (scrambled bread, $5), or kinche (cracked wheat with butter, $3.50). (AK) 855 E. Twain Ave., 796-1231

Pho Thanh Huong Restaurant
A godsend for the University District, Pho Thanh Huong is Vietnamese for "OMG, that hit the spot" (we think). The grilled chicken banh mi ($2.75) is the usual French roll filled with shredded meat and veggies, but great for the price and a little spicy with extra peppers. A small iced coffee with milk ($3.23) and small pho khong (rice noodle soup, ($4.49) won't break a student-sized budget, but service can be spotty. 1131 E. Tropicana Ave, Ste. D; 739-8703

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Aloha Specialties Restaurant
You might feel overwhelmed by the menu wall, but don't panic. The fare is simple but solid – and anything with the teriyaki chicken is delightful. The saimin ($4) is a bowl of brothy noodle heaven with eggs and green onions. Have a rice bowl ($2.95, $3.25) with your choice of teriyaki, or any of the teri sandwiches ($5.00) and a gooey side of mac salad ($1.45). Just make sure to bring cash. (MA) Inside The Cal casino, 12 E. Ogden Ave., 382-0338

Kabob Korner
After your night of downtown rawker mayhem, Kabob Korner is cheap, filling, tasty and, best of all, within stumbling distance of your favorite bars and tattoo parlors (forgot to tell you: Look in the mirror). Fuel up on the fat menu of pitas. Standard: the formidable gyro pita ($4.99). Adventurous: the chili chicken pita ($4.99). For grazers: Decent hummus ($4.50), falafel ($2.99) and 99-cent samosas. (AK) 507 E. Fremont St., 384-7722

é Lola's Louisiana Kitchen
Lola's in the Holsum Lofts offers a wide variety of Louisiana cuisine for under $15. But it's the oysters that will keep you coming back. The best in Vegas, they're brushed with lemon butter marinade and Parmesan cheese, then grilled to perfection. You can get a half-dozen for just $11.49. Another surefire bargain hit is the chef's own creation: a crawfish version of hushpuppies known as crawpuppies for $5.99. (AM) 241 W. Charleston Blvd., 227-5652

Los Tacos
You can get tacos on the cheap anywhere, but only at Los Tacos will a single taco qualify as lunch. It'll cost $3.50, it'll be wrapped in two large, soft, corn tortillas, it will include your choice of meat (get the pork carnitas or marinated al pastor) along with whole simmered pinto beans, melted cheese, avocado and pico de gallo, and it will seriously recalibrate your concept of tacoism. (BR) 1710 E. Charleston Blvd., 471-7447

Mamacita's
Dinner and a show, downtown-style: Watching tourists stop outside Mamacita's to vamp to the pop music the waiter/DJ sprays onto the sidewalk while you sample Cuban standards like fried yucca ($3.95), crispy beef croquets and fried plantains ($8.95) served with bread, black beans and white rice – or one of the countless Mexican combo plates under $10 – you vow to return in the morning to cure that margarita hangover with the under-$10 breakfast menu. (AK) 611 E. Fremont St., 474-7033

Second Street Grill
You're downtown. You're hungry and you've tried every shrimp cocktail as far as the neon stretches. This slightly geriatric dining room offers a tender, tasty T-bone steak dinner ($18.99) well worth the time spent wondering how far a Social Security check stretches these days. Lighter options: The Peking duck and shrimp tacos ($14) or the pan-fried crab cakes ($15). So what if they pour the fancy water from plastic bottles? (MA) Inside the Fremont Casino, 200 Fremont St., 385-6277

Tinoco's Kitchen Express
Okay, so it's a glorified casino snack bar, its brand-name appeal deflated a bit by barstool seating that offers you an up-close view of shambling and muttering downtown casino denizens. Still, the food fills you up, cheaply and quickly, whether it's a (surprisingly spicy!) $2 soft taco, Tinoco burrito (chicken, pork or carne asada, $5.95) or more lumpen fare that ranges into hot dogs and club sandwiches in the $5-$7 range. Want ambience? Get it to go and eat in your car. (AK) Inside the Las Vegas Club, 18 Fremont St., 380-5735

Uncle Joe's Pizza
The classic walk-in-and-grab-a-slice pizza joint will never get old, and Uncle Joe's boasts the added benefit of the charms of East Fremont. At lunch, five bucks on the dot will get you two tasty slabs of cheese pizza, glistening with just the right amount of grease and ready for a generous dash of red pepper and dried oregano, and an ice-cold can of Coke. (BR) 505 Fremont St., 385-2162

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Bamboo Bistro
For a Vietnamese feast like no other, head to Bamboo Bistro. While the menu boasts countless affordable Southeast Asian delicacies, the crowning jewel is Bo 7 Mon Hang Nong. This $21 indulgence (which could easily satisfy two moderately hungry diners or one ravenous one) features seven separate courses of beef. You even get to cook your own meat in the fondue-style bho numg dam, and wrap several of your courses in rice paper yourself. (AM) 8560 W. Desert Inn Road, 838-6770

Eddie D's Famous Italian Sandwiches
This unheralded Italian neighborhood deli is joyfully throwing together some of the best sandwiches in town, including chewy hard rolls stuffed with slow-cooked pork and beef that should cost way more than seven bucks. Eddie D's may serve the best homemade meatball sub in town, they've got all your favorite imported ingredients from prosciutto to capacola, and their signature sandwiches are named after Sopranos characters. What more do you want? (BR) 8410 W. Cheyenne Ave. #102, 541-8792

Hachi
Hachi's chef Linda Rodriguez and her husband and sushi chef Martin Swift were both trained under Nobu Matsuhisa, with Martin working at Nobu in London, and Linda working there and at Nobu New York. They offer similar fusion cuisine and sushi at Hachi, but at a fraction of the price. In fact, 38 separate menu items cost $8 each or less, including tempura, fried rice, sashimi, dumplings, ribs and five different specialty rolls. (AM) Inside The Red Rock Casino, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 797-7576

TC's Rib Crib World Famous BBQ
The sammies on this beloved barbecue joint's $4.99 lunch menu all sport the prefix "Jr.," but between the sandwich (choices, choices: pulled pork, rib tips, brisket) and the bonus side (Dare you ask? Gotta get the sweet potato fries!), it's a filling bargain. For a buck more, get a pancreas-taunting cup of cobbler or banana pudding. Full yet? (AK) 8470 W. Desert Inn Road, 451-7427

Vintner Grill
You, too, can join the train of society ladies and suited execs that seems to run nonstop through Vintner Grill on an invisible stopwatch. The trick: Request the surprisingly hefty half-orders of anything off the lunch menu, from the lamb Bolognese to the crab ravioli to the generous entrée salads, and you've just scored a bargain power lunch. Seal the deal with a frothy cappuccino. (AK) 10100 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite 150, 214-5590

Waffles Cafe
As if you needed another excuse to pile an original single waffle ($3.95) miles high with sweet confections and gooey sauces (50 cents each), fresh cut fruit (75 cents each), powdered sugar and whipped cream. A made-to-order waffle at the colorful counter is a sweet freak's heaven with a calorie-to-cost ratio that will render your blood sugar levels spikier than the Dow Jones. 5165 S Fort Apache Road, Ste. 160; 597-9775

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Baladie Cafe
Envy the residents of the north, for they have Baladie, where falafel is made the way Greeks intended – soft and moist inside and fried to a sesame-crusted crisp outside. Have the platter ($7.99), stacked with Mediterranean delights, or the pita ($5.99) and add the herb fries ($1.60) or the utterly satisfying and larger-than-usual side Greek salad ($2.99). The Mediterranean platter ($8.99) is a generous tour of the treats the mom-and-pop shop has to offer. (MA) 4872 W. Lone Mountain Road, 658-0024

Camacho's Cantina
The beautiful and often empty Aliante Station resort in North Las Vegas has some solid eats, but the best deal in the house is Taco Tuesday at Camacho's. Starting at 4 p.m., shockingly delicious street-style tacos of grilled chicken, carne asada or tender marinated pork in small, warm, corn tortillas are a buck each. (BR) Inside Aliante Station, 7300 Aliante Parkway, 692-7777

Indian Curry Bowl
ICB is a true hidden treasure, an ethnic food gem lost in an underdeveloped shopping center in the great northwestern Vegas sprawl. It deserves your love, particularly for some of the best samosas and naan bread in town. Elaborately spiced curries and fresh vegetarian options abound, in share-with-the-table friendly portions for crazy low prices. (BR) 5643 Centennial Center Blvd., 233-2695

Retro Bakery
Cupcakes are super-trendy, but not to Retro's bakers. Cupcakes are deadly serious here, and the flavor explosion from just one of these crazy-moist, buttercream-mountain-topped beauties ($2.65 each) might be too much for a Retro rookie to handle. Break yourself in with the signature Hop Scotch, vanilla dipped in butterscotch ganache, and work your way into extremes like Chocolate Covered Banana and Peanut Butter Cup. (BR) 7785 N. Durango Drive #130, 586-3740

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The Bootlegger Bistro
At the Bootlegger Bistro you can get a pasta dinner and a show for $15 or less. The restaurant, which has been in the family of former showgirl and ex-Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt for generations, features live music nightly, with several generations of Strip performers performing regularly. It's a taste of old Vegas included in the price of the meal. And the menu features eleven different pasta dishes under $15. (AM) 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 736-4939

Caña Latin Kitchen & Bar
Ceviches and tiraditos, combining fresh raw fish with intense citrus flavors, are the specialty at this hip new Town Square haunt. They're all delicious, and the priciest selection might be the stunning hamachi tiradito at a reasonable $16. Caña's menu of delectable small plates also includes a creamy-rich, secretly spicy serving of mac & cheese for $8. It's a steal. (BR) In Town Square, 6599 Las Vegas Blvd. South #210, 722-6060

Dad's Grilled Cheese
Once the culinary province of harried moms and dorm kids, grilled cheese has gotten an aggressive gourmet makeover at Dad's Grilled Cheese, resulting in more than a dozen tummy-coating sandwiches such as The Gondolier ($5.99), with hard salami, pepperoni, olives and peppers aswim in melted provolone, and The Executive ($5.99), a veggie number on a bedrock of muenster, Swiss and cheddar. Whatever 'wich you choose, it's guaranteed to be toasty, cheesy and comforting. (AK) 5255 S. Decatur Ave. #115, 247-6640

Hank's Fine Steaks and Martinis
It would be hard to find a nicer place to start a night out than the chandelier-draped bar at Hank's. Pre-party noshing is good at the neighborhood eatery and martinis taste twice as nice during half-price happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Try the mixed berry with candied pecan salad ($13) or the jumbo lump crab cake ($18). The buttermilk fried chicken ($28) is perfectly crispy and moist, large enough for two, and paired with an earthy, spicy mustard. (MA) Inside Green Valley Ranch Casino, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, 617-7075

Johnny McGuire's
This Colorado-bred joint shoots for maximum satisfaction by really packing it in between the bread. A "regular" sandwich is $7.50, but there's nothing regular about the Olympian, grilled corned beef, turkey, pastrami, grilled onions and peppers, tomato, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and dressing. That's one sandwich, people. Hot or cold, salads, breakfasts or hot dogs, Johnny McGuire's does it all. (BR) Town Square, 6599 Las Vegas Blvd. South #209, 982-0002

The Mac Shack
This latest venture from Marcello Mauro, whose family owns both Nora's Cuisine and Nora's Wine Bar, is an extremely casual pasta house. You can start with your choice of 15 pastas topped with your choice of nine sauces for $6, then add ingredients for between 50 cents and $1.50 apiece. Or you can choose from more than a dozen of the chef's own creations, none of which are more than $9. (AM) 8640 W. Warm Springs Road, 463-2433

Pizza My Dear
The per-topping regime at this two-table neighborhood spot is heavy with gourmet ingredients, and a basic 8-inch pie with one topping ($4.99) has just the right crust-to-sauce-to-cheese ratio. Pizza by the slice ($1.99), a garden side salad ($3) or the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. lunch special of a one-topping 12-inch pizza will leave you enough dough for the tiramisu ($3.25). (MA) 1725 E. Warm Springs Road, #9; 368-3327

Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana
It's real Neapolitan-style pizza, oil and vinegar are on the table and a Peroni comes with a chilled glass. The caprese ($6.99) is aromatic and a misto platter ($11.99) sampling meats, cheeses and olives is a meal in itself. But the inventive pies are the real draw. Move beyond the menu and try the pizza of the week (usually $11.99), like the Pizza Siracusa with Sicilian tuna, thin-sliced onion, crushed tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil. (MA) 140 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 222-3556

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Andre's
For the most decadent drink in town, head to the bar at Andre's in the Monte Carlo. The Marti-Gras is essentially a foie gras martini, created by Chef Gary LaMorte by using roasted foie gras, vodka, vanilla bean, honey, huckleberries or other seasonal garnish, and topped with shaved seasonal truffles. At $18, it's accompanied by a tray of four desserts. (AM) Inside The Monte Carlo, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 798-7151

B&B Ristorante
At his downstairs restaurant in The Venetian, Mario Batali shocks a lot of customers with pricey exotic dishes that include tongue, tripe, lambs' brains, oxtail and beef cheeks. But you can actually experience a handful of his more traditional, approachable pasta entrees for $25 or less. And if you dine here from 5-6 p.m. or 10 p.m. to midnight, a 20 percent discount brings more offerings under the $25 mark. (AM) Inside The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 266-9977

Border Grill
There is not a more innovative Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas at any price, which makes it so much sweeter that the fiery, flavorful cuisine of Border Grill is so reasonably priced. Smoky beef brisket taquitos ($18) and chicken chilaquiles ($19) are my lunch favorites, and – to break the rules for a sec – getting the superior grilled fish tacos Ensenada for $23 or orange-and-cinnamon infused cochinita Pibil for $24 feels like stealing. (BR) Inside Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 632-7403

Bradley Ogden
Ogden is one of America's most celebrated American chefs. And his signature dish is his Maytag blue cheese soufflé. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, pay a visit to the bar, where you can get the appetizer on its own for $19. Or, if you want something more casual, a special bar menu offers fish and chips, a chicken sandwich, or a burger that famed critic Alan Richman once called "the best burger I ate this year" – all for under $20. (AM) Inside Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 731-7110

Country Club
If you're missing the sweet Southern hospitality of brunch at the former locals' Strip favorite Commander's Palace, Chef Carlos Guia is doing an updated version in his well-appointed room at Wynn. Go Saturday to skip the live jazz and all-inclusive Sunday price ($59) and revel in the delicious affordables, which include French toast bread pudding with glazed bacon, sweet corn chowder and a smoked Chipotle burger. (BR) Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 248-3463

La Creperie
Sometimes it pays to wade through the fannypacks, especially when seeking out a delicacy as heavenly as the crepe. Whether savory or sweet, all crepes here are $9.99, and plenty for two. The du soleil is soooo French countryside with fresh veggie ratatouille, scrambled egg, mozzarella cheese and basil, topped with béchamel. The peanut crepe is a Chantilly cream-covered treasure hunt of fresh bananas among peanut and caramel sauces that even Elvis would approve of. (MA) Inside Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 946-7000

CUT
Wolfgang Puck's Palazzo restaurant is pricey, but it's also the most innovative steakhouse in town. So if you want to get a taste of Puck's genius at deconstructing the classic steakhouse, drop by the bar and order his bone marrow flan with mushroom marmalade and parsley salad. It's only a few bites for $17, but even if you think you don't like marrow, this dish alone should be enough to convince you to start saving for a full dinner here. (AM) Inside The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 607-6300

First Food & Bar
New York expatriate Sam Demarco offers up some of the most decadent upscale bar food in town. Among the best: a plate of Philly cheese steak dumplings. At $14.44, these potsticker-style dumplings are stuffed with a glorious combination of steak and cheese, and accompanied by siracha ketchup. Other snacks in the price range include a duck reuben eggroll and Indian tandoori chicken wings. (AM) Inside The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 792-8900

Fleur de Lys
Hubert Keller's Fleur de Lys is both delicious and pricey. Fortunately for those who want to sample the Top Chef Masters finalist's cuisine without breaking the bank, Executive Chef Steve Wolf has created a lounge menu. Seventeen dishes are priced below $15, with five desserts just $5 each. A set of four truffle onion soup shooters will only cost you $6, while the spicy rock shrimp with glass noodles and Asian vegetables is just $12. (AM) Inside Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 632-9400

Julian Serrano
Again with the Spanish tapas? Absolutely, yes, especially when the master is calling the shots. Everything from the paella to the béchamel-laced croquetas is just a little bit better than the neighborhood joints at this Aria hotspot, and everything but that paella and the supreme Pata Negra ham can be yours for less than 15 bucks. Pure and simple joy: sautéed padron peppers for $8, or creamy mushroom risotto for $10. (BR) Aria, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 590-8250

Morels Steakhouse
On Morels' dinner menu, salads start at $16, and the least expensive appetizer is $19. But those looking to at least sample the cuisine have a unique opportunity every night from 9 p.m. to midnight. That's when the bar offers nine separate items for $9 each. They include pancetta-wrapped shrimp, stuffed red peppers and miniature beef Wellington. They're complex, delicious dishes, and the portions are surprisingly large. (AM) Inside The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 607-6333

Payard Patisserie & Bistro
You can enjoy coffee and carefully crafted chocolates for about twenty bucks, or you can wise up, sit down in Payard's quaint little café, fork over $19, and partake of one of the best lunch deals on the Strip. Start with a goat cheese onion tart or lobster salad, choose a delicate salmon en papillotte or snazzy couscous with lamb sausage for your entrée, and still eat your cake, too – since dessert is included. (BR) Inside Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 731-7292

Rao's
The Las Vegas incarnation of New York's legendary Harlem restaurant offers several things the original doesn't. For one thing, it's possible for normal humans to get a reservation. For another, it serves lunch. And the so-called "Lunch in the Park" menu is the only time they offer their delicious thin-crust pizzas. Chef Carla Pellegrino offers five different versions that are among the best pizzas in the city, all priced between $7 and $17. (AM) Inside Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 731-7110

Restaurant Guy Savoy
This Michelin two-star temple to gourmet dining is one of the town's most expensive restaurants. But you can get an affordable sample of French master Guy Savoy's cuisine from the "Bubbles and Bites" menu in the Bubbles champagne lounge, which offers "small bite" portions of any two of 10 different dishes for $25. Options include signature items such as oysters in ice gelee, crispy veal sweetbreads with potato and black truffle chips, and the restaurant's famed artichoke and truffle soup. (AM) Inside Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 731-7110

Sea Blue
Sunday through Friday, Michael Mina's MGM Grand seafood restaurant hosts a daily happy hour from 5:30-7 p.m. Oysters and shrimp are priced at $1 apiece, and Stella Artois drafts are $4. If you want something a little more substantial, the restaurant's signature salt-and-pepper calamari are available at half price, just $5. And you can purchase a chremoula chicken skewer for $3. (AM) Inside The MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 891-1111

Society Café
Taking the casino café to a new level, Society is one of the best places in town for breakfast: the food is great and the décor is stunning. Highlights include pumpkin and buckwheat pancakes with pumpkin butter and candied pecans, and Frosted Flake French toast with caramelized bananas and chocolate cream – both $15. If you want to avoid the sweet, go with the trio of mini-quiches. You'll get ham and gruyere, salmon and chive, and asparagus and goat cheese, all for $14. (AM) Inside Encore, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 770-3463

Spago
Wolfgang Puck's original Las Vegas restaurant is arguably the place that started the Strip dining revolution. While it's routinely packed with celebrities for dinner, it's also the power lunch spot for Las Vegas' movers and shakers. Yet surprisingly, 75 percent of the lunch entrees are priced at $25 or less. They include free-range chicken breast, pancetta-wrapped meatloaf, and Puck's signature smoked salmon pizza (adding caviar, of course will push it past that price point). (AM) Inside The Forum Shops, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd S., 369-6300

The Steakhouse at Circus Circus
When you're looking for a classic old Vegas steakhouse, nothing compares to Circus Circus. Even the prices seem to be trapped in time, especially during happy hour, which runs from 3-5 p.m. daily. Nine different items come in at less than $10. But the real bargain is the prime rib, which diners cook themselves on a hot stone. It's delivered au jus and accompanied by toasted bread. Another $5 surprise: the trio of chicken lettuce wraps with two sauces. (AM) Inside Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd S., 794-3767

Tender Steak & Seafood
Sundays through Thursdays, Tender hosts two "power hours" from 5-7 p.m. when the bar offers eight different items priced between $5 and $10. Enjoy micro-brew-fried onion rings with homemade ketchup and mustard aioli, "Kobe" beef foie gras meatloaf sliders with caramelized truffle onions and blue cheese, or shrimp cocktail with basil-pesto cocktail sauce and mango salsa. Hell, you can have all four of them for $30, and wash them down with one of nine specialty martinis for just $6 more. (AM) Inside The Luxor, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 262-4778

'Wichcraft
One of our best sandwich shops shouldn't be on the Strip, but it is, an old-school lunch with modern flavor as conceptualized by the great Tom Colicchio. Try rare skirt steak with fried eggs and oyster mushrooms on a roll. If you're real hungry, you want a thick slab of meatloaf with cheddar, bacon and tomato relish on a roll. This food is too good to be on a roll, but lucky for us, it is. (BR) MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 891-7777

Zine Noodles Dim Sum
Noodles are really the best bet in this luxe and lovely pan-Asian restaurant, named one of the country's top 10 Chinese restaurants by Chinese Restaurant News. The Singapore Style Curry Rice Vermicelli ($16.80) is a fried noodle dish piled high and stuffed with shrimp, pork, eggs, red and green peppers, and green onions. Add a little chili sauce for some fire and put it out with the Thai iced tea ($5.50). Skip the spring rolls ($7.25) and try the pork and shrimp dumplings instead ($6.95). (MA) Inside the Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 607-2220

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Archi's Thai
Vegas foodies know we've got the goods when it comes to Thai cuisine. The thing about Archi's? It's just as great – for a few dollars less. Spicy lime larb salad is just $7.95, and coconut-based tom yum or tom kha soups are just under $10, even with big juicy shrimp in the mix. Get Archi's specialty pad thai at lunch for under $7, or my favorite, spicy basil chicken. (BR) 9350 W. Sahara Road, 363-9699; 6360 W. Flamingo Road, 880-5550; 6345 S. Rainbow Blvd., 870-5558

Boardhouse Serious Sandwiches
This local chain's grilled portabella is a messy, savory miracle at $7.65, exponentially better than anything you'll find at those $5 foot-long shacks. The Del Mar is roasted, hand-pulled turkey with cranberry sauce, candied pecans, lettuce, mayo and cream cheese on thick slabs of wheat bread; budget decadence at $6.45. Others, including the classic roast beef, pastrami, etc., are also beyond the ordinary. (JH). 4626 S. Maryland Parkway, 736-2537; 170 N. Boulder Highway, 565-3526; 1513 W. Craig Road, 633-4006

El Taco Fresco
It's hard not to wish you were already hungover ordering from the window inside this four-table dive. Everything is cheap, large and – guess what? – fresh. Order carne asada, carnitas or fish tacos (all $1.99) a la carte or have a taco plate with rice and beans ($4.99 for beef or chicken). The 24-hour joint's daily dollar add-ons, like Thursday's chicken finger taco (ask for it "hot"), are too good a deal to miss. (MA) 4755 W. Flamingo Road, 247-6633

Firefly
There's a reason Firefly continues to grow as other tapas joints keep popping up all over town: value. But low prices mean nothing if the food isn't reliably delicious, and that perfectly describes the menu at Firefly. Only about five of some 40 mini-dishes reach the $10 mark. Don't tell, but we'd happily pay more for cool gazpacho, crisp empanadas, a great Thai beef salad and cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers. (BR) 3900 Paradise Road, 369-3971, or at the Plaza, 1 Main St., 380-1352

Slidin' Thru
Following a nationwide trend, Slidin' Thru is Las Vegas' first mobile food truck that invites fans to follow its movements via Facebook or Twitter. Its legion of hardcore devotees routinely travel across town when they hear about an unscheduled stop, anxious to grab one of the truck's large and constantly evolving variety of delicious mini-sandwiches. Sliders are $3 apiece or two for $5. (AM) Various locations, Slidinthru.com

Smashburger
This bustling burger joint is snagging buzz for serving gourmet slabs at bargain prices. The Sin City Smashburger – a blur of egg, bacon, beef, cheese and haystack onion – is less a burger than some decadent, unrelenting initiation rite, and a host of smashsalads, smashsides, smashthis and smashthat round out the menu. Burgers of sundry weight classes run $4.99-$6.99, sides $.99-$3.99. A must-taste: the rosemary- and olive olive-coated fries – uh, smashfries. (AK) 7541 W. Lake Mead Blvd, 982-0009; 9109 W. Sahara, 462-5500

Super Mex
It's Mexican, it's open 24 hours, and it's not Roberto's, which means you can feast late-night minus the mating cries of drunken frat mooks. Super's 24/7 value menu has a glut of $4.99 deals. The best: the Super Burrito or the taco salad with shredded chicken. Stuff yourself, share or doggie bag 'em. (AK) 3455 E. Sunset Road, 436-5200; 6450 S. Durango Road, 312-8000