It's no surprise that the majority of Vegas Seven's 2106 cheap eats can be found in DTLV: we have the best food without having to pay Strip prices. Here is your Downtown-only list. You can view the whole shebang here.
Daily Soup Specials
The Beat
The food menu at The Beat Coffeehouse is a relic. Save for a few additions such as a breakfast burrito, the offerings are largely unchanged since the café/record store opened in 2010. Owner Jennifer Cornthwaite likes to keep the menu the same for the regulars, but for some of those regulars, lunch is a love/hate relationship. That’s where part-time rocker and full-time culinary badass Eric Scott comes in. His compelling daily soup and sandwich specials rescue the Beat’s regulars from menu malaise without us having to say goodbye to the stalwart items that have been loved (maybe to death). Chief among our requests are Chef Eric’s silky cheesy potato soup, his chicken noodle and his spiked tomato bisque, all served with slices of baguette. Please, sir, may we have some more? $5, 520 Fremont St., 702-385-2328, TheBeatLV.com.
Cold Brown
Goodwich
Now that Las Vegas’ top sandwich shop has finally found a traditional brick-and-mortar home on the ground floor of the SoHo Lofts, they’ve added a few new combos to the menu in celebration. This one—a combination of pulled turkey that’s been seasoned and brined overnight, house bacon, tomato, Gruyère fondue and paprika—was inspired by the open-face, baked hot brown sandwich that was invented in Louisville, Kentucky’s Brown Hotel in the roaring ’20s. Chef Josh Clark was a big fan of the American classic, but wanted something a bit lighter. Thus, his close face cold sandwich (with toasted bread) was born. Enjoy it indoors under a mural by Jerry Misko or al fresco on the sidewalk café. $9, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. South., 702-910-8681, TheGoodwich.com.
Smoked Salmon Toast
PublicUs
PublicUs is Downtown’s undisputed hangout for urban dwellers and a millennial workforce too antsy to stay in their cubicles. It also serves some of the best coffee in the city, but the food here is just as refined. Skip the drive-thru breakfast and opt for the smoked salmon toast, which sits atop sourdough bread with a dill spread, scallions, onions, olives and a sliced boiled egg. This configuration changes slightly, depending on what the chef has on hand, but it’ll power you through lunch—guaranteed. $7.50, 1126 Fremont St., 702-331-5500, PublicusLV.com.
Burritos
Los Tacos
Sure, you can stop in any taco spot along Charleston Boulevard for a bargain meal, but the burritos at Los Tacos may give you the biggest bang for your buck. These hefty burritos come packed with your choice of carne asada, carnitas, chorizo, chicken, marinated pork, lengua, buche (pork stomach) or veggie with whole pinto beans, tomato, sour cream, cheese and pico de gallo all wrapped up in a soft tortilla with a side of red or green sauce. $4.25, 1710 E. Charleston Blvd., 702-471-7447, LosTacosLV.com.
Build Your Own Pizza
Stoned ’N’ Baked
With designer pizzas becoming more commonplace, a simple slice can cost more than what most are willing to spend on a whole pie. At Stoned ’N’ Baked in Container Park, diners can build their own 12-inch personal pizza with their choice of red, white, barbecue or pine-nut-free pesto sauce, topped with traditional meats and veggies, for $10 or less. $10 for unlimited toppings, 707 E. Fremont St. 702-480-0007, StonedNBaked.com.
Banh Mi
Le Pho
It says Le Pho on the door of Downtown’s newest dining hot spot, but the banh mi sandwiches are where it’s at. Owner Khai Vu traveled to Vietnam to learn the ways of banh mi-making, all the way down to how to bake the perfect baguette. The classic version, which also happens to be the special of the house, comes loaded with layers of sliced cold cuts, pork pâté, mayo, pickled daikon and carrots, jalapeños and cilantro. But it all starts with that good, crusty baguette. $9, 353 E. Bonneville St., 702-382-0209,LePhoDTLV.com.
Yellow Duck Noodle Soup
Laos Market
Family-owned and operated since 1989, Laos Market provides Downtown with fresh produce, imported goods and—much to the surprise of many—delicious food. At first glance it looks like your standard market, but just around Aisle 3 you’ll find two tables and a small kitchen where you can order soups including pho and curry noodle soup. But our favorite by far is the yellow duck noodle soup: boneless chunks of roasted duck with toothsome egg noodles and fresh Thai basil in a rich broth. $6.50. 629 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 702-366-0881.
Cabernet Mushrooms Grilled Cheese
Bin 702
The charcuterie game has always been strong at Downtown wine bar Bin 702, but it has since evolved into a full-blown sandwich program that features seven varieties of grilled cheese, four of them for $10 or less. Of these, the must-try is the Cabernet Mushrooms ($10). Beneath a crispy outer layer of buttery griddled bread lies a layer of smoked Gouda that holds on tight to a generous portion of thinly sliced mushrooms sautéed in wine. Have commitment issues? Try a smaller version, served on a crusty mini baguette from the Montaditos menu—eight tiny gourmet sandwiches you can mix and match for just $2.50 each. $10, in Container Park, 707 Fremont St., Suite 1220, 702-826-2702, Bin702.com.
Black Bean Chili Stuffed Sweet Potato
Vegenation
It sounds simple enough: a piping-hot baked sweet potato sliced across the top and overflowing with a heap of savory, slightly spicy black-bean chili. On the menu, it’s just a side dish at VegeNation, Downtown’s premier destination for the plant-based dining set. But this humble side, with its blast of Vitamin A, potassium and iron, and zesty play of sweet and heat, is all together satisfying enough to be a lunch unto itself. $7, 616 E. Carson Ave., Suite 120, 702-366-8515, VegeNationLV.com.
Pupusas Revueltas
Salvadoreño Restaurant
The mighty Salvadoran pupusa revuelta—a ball of masa stuffed with cheese, chicharron and beans, flattened out like a thick tortilla then grilled crispy, served with cold cabbage slaw and tomato sauce. After about two (three if you’re a savage), you are usually full, and for less than $2 each, that’s a real deal. Vegetarian? Try them with just beans and cheese or the traditional queso con loroco (cheese with Central American flowers). Two for $3.50, 720 N. Main St., 702-385-3600.
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Zydeco Po-Boys
For a deal that is both filling and thrifty, move right past the po’boys on Zydeco’s menu and go straight for the gumbo. The broth is thin-bodied but incredibly flavorful, with a medium-level spice that mounts incrementally as you make your way through the chunks of chicken and house-made sausage. Having scooped out and polished those off, you’ll want to move on to the firm white rice that sops up all the broth-y goodness. It’s available in two sizes, neither of which will break the bank, even if you opt to spring for the suggested side of house-made potato salad. $5.50 small, $8.50 large, $1.50 potato salad, 616 E. Carson Ave., Suite 140, 702-982-1889,ZydecoPo-Boys.com.
Tree of Life Pita
Bronze Café at The Market
Since taking over The Market grocery store on Fremont Street in April, Bronze Café chef Peter Bastian has added some new selections to the hot and cold bar menu. But that doesn’t mean Bastian has abandoned the Bronze classics at The Center. The Tree of Life Pita—made with roasted red peppers, avocado, greens, pickled onions and house-made vegan cashew crema topped with Brazil nut and mango-cilantro vinaigrette—is a staple on Bronze’s vegan-friendly menu. It’s good for your health as well as your bank account, and is available at both Bronze locations. $10, 611 Fremont St, 702-586-3401; 401 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-202-3100,TheMarketDTLV.com.
Flippin’ Good Cheeseburger
Flippin’ Good
The little burger joint in Fremont East serves up a quality specimen for the same price as any greasy drive-through. There are six burgers on the menu as well as veggie, chicken and turkey options that are all under $7, but we suggest you stick to the signature. The Flippin’ Good Cheeseburger is a single 4-ounce Angus beef patty topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and Flippin’ Sauce, which is similar to Thousand Island. Add two more patties or a side of fries, chili-cheese fries or onion rings and you’re still coming in at leas than 10 bucks. $5, 505 Fremont St., 702-776-7991, FlippinGood.com.
Mundo Street Tacos
Mingo
Mingo, a tapas restaurant in Art Square, has adopted the menu from Mundo, an upscale American and Latin comfort food restaurant in the World Market Center, when Mundo closed in December. The original Mundo prices dropped to fit in with the area, making the street tacos a true steal. Choose from chicken or steak with chili salsa, onion, cilantro, soft white cheese and avocado, or vegetarian tacos made with the same ingredients as the meat street tacos, but with black beans, poblano corn, rice and lettuce. $10, 107 S. First St., 702-685-0328, EatMixMingo.com.
Antipasto Salad
Pizza Lotto
El Cortez might seem the unlikeliest place to find authentic New York pies, but tucked in the back is Pizza Lotto, which ups Downtown’s pizza game considerably. While pizza gets top billing here, the rest of the menu deserves a closer look, particularly the antipasto salad. It’s a hearty plate of greens, Genoa salami, ham, provolone, marinated peppers, olives and tomatoes, with a dressing that’ll make you forget you came for pizza in the first place. Paired with the homemade garlic rolls, it’s the perfect summertime lunch. $9.50, in El Cortez, 702-474-3677,ElCortezCasinoHotel.com.
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