Best Vegas Spots Off the Strip

This is a guide to where Las Vegas locals actually eat, for visitors and residents willing to drive a few minutes past the casinos. The restaurants spread across Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road, the Arts District, Fremont East downtown, Sahara Avenue and the southwest valley.

Lotus of Siam, the Northern Thai institution in the Commercial Center, is the place for khao soi and nam khao tod crispy rice salad. Raku, a late-night robata grill in Chinatown, does charcoal skewers like Kobe beef tendon and bacon-wrapped enoki. Down the road, Partage serves French surprise tasting menus that change monthly. Milpa nixtamalizes its own corn for tortillas, and Golden Steer, open since 1958, still keeps the Rat Pack's corner booth along with a tableside Caesar. Book ahead for Lotus of Siam, and reserve or grab a bar seat for weekend brunch at Esther's Kitchen.