Las Vegas Cheap Eats and Drinks

Other posts by DesertMama

When I was a kid, long before my first trip to Las Vegas, I heard about the cheap buffets and 99-cent shrimp cocktail Vegas offered. But years later my first trip there was a sore disappointment. Not only did I lose a few bucks, but the buffets were pricey and I didn’t see any 99-cent shrimp cocktail. (Hey when you’re in your early twenties a dollar is a dollar.) It ends up, I was just in the wrong areas. 

Today, I can’t even guess how many times I’ve been to Las Vegas. Between road trips, vacations, weddings, girlfriend getaways, visits to see family (my husband’s), and of course overnights with the airline I worked for, it’s well over 50.

After a little research on the ‘net recently I did find that the “cheap eats” are still in Vegas, you just have to know where to look.

The Super 8 Motel Ellis Island casino (located on Koval near East Flamingo) has a 10 oz steak, baked potato, vegetable, bread and get this - a microbrew (or an EO rootbeer) of you choice all for $7. It’s served 24 hours a day, but it’s not on the menu, so just ask. Think I’m kidding? I’m not.

Terrible Herbst Hotel and Casino (located on Paradise and Flamingo) has a cheap buffet, last I heard it was $5 for the breakfast buffet and $9 for the dinner buffet and on Sunday evenings the main course is prime rib and shrimp ($15). I stayed here many nights while serving peanuts and Cokes as a flight attendant. The multi-flavored fries (jalapeno, garlic, and cajun) in the bar on the main casino floor are pretty good for a late night fried-treat with a pint and the breakfast crepes were quite tasty.

Sadly, it looks like Chapter 11 for Terrible Herbst. Yikes! So get give ‘em some support and throw a few nickels and quarters in the slots while you’re there.

I know you’re wondering - What about the shrimp? The famous 99-cent shrimp cocktail is still in existence at the Golden Gate Casino downtown on Fremont Street or you can go big with the “Big Shrimp” for $2.99.

And yes, free drinks are normally offered to gambling patrons. To keep the cocktail waitress coming your way always tip at least $1-3 a drink if you tip more you are guaranteed to never go empty.

Now, go throw the money you just saved into the slot machines, just don’t let the money you brought to Vegas stay in Vegas.

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April 7, 2008 | Filed Under Budget Travel, Destinations, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways, The Cookie Jar, Travel News 

Comments

12 Responses to “Las Vegas Cheap Eats and Drinks”

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  1. Winning Wednesday - SmartyPig « Traveling Mamas says:
    April 9, 2008 at

    [...] Posts Financing a Vacation - Contest GiveawayAnthologyLas Vegas Cheap Eats and DrinksFunny “Do Not Disturb” Hotel Door HangersTop 10 Travel Destinations List « Where to Eat a [...]

  2. Carnival of Cities for 09 April 2008 » TravelBlog Archive » Family Travel says:
    April 9, 2008 at

    [...] Vegas, Nevada, USA Beth Blair helps you save your money with Las Vegas Cheap Eats and Drinks; she’s the Desert Mama at the Traveling Mamas [...]

  3. Another Carnival of Cities says:
    April 9, 2008 at

    [...] at traveling Mamas tell us about some places for Cheap Eats in Las [...]

  4. Fox says:
    April 28, 2008 at

    Hi Mamas

    We’ve just posted an update on our story about the possible bankruptcy of Herbst Gaming.

    You can read it at
    http://1031netex.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/more-terrible-news-for-terrible-herbst-bonds-ratings-lowered-and-still-no-deal-with-creditors/

    Thanks!

  5. DesertMama says:
    April 28, 2008 at

    Thanks for the update.

  6. Carnival of Cities for 09 April 2008 | Free Travel Agent says:
    April 28, 2008 at

    [...] Vegas, Nevada, USA Beth Blair helps you save your money with Las Vegas Cheap Eats and Drinks; she’s the Desert Mama at the Traveling Mamas [...]

  7. Travel on a Shoestring Carnival: SUPERCARNIVAL #1 « Less Than a Shoestring says:
    May 19, 2008 at

    [...] Vegas. Beth Blair presents Las Vegas Cheap Eats and Drinks posted at Traveling [...]

  8. Fox says:
    June 4, 2008 at

    Here is another update on the Herbst Gaming saga — and the financial crisis at other Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos:

    http://1031netex.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/terrible-news-again-for-herbst-and-the-casino-industry/

    Thanks Mamas!

  9. Ric Garrido says:
    October 3, 2008 at

    Ellis Island Casino and Brewery is a great place for a simple meal of outdoor barbeque grilled Ribs and/or chicken, located one block off the strip at 4178 Koval Lane. It is across the street from the Westin Casuarina.

    If memory serves me right, I was there two weeks ago (BlogWorld 08, Sep 2008), the price of full rib plate is $12.00 and full chicken plate is $9. Discount if you sign up for a casino card.

    This small place regularly wins awards for Best of Las Vegas. There is usually a wait of 30 minutes to an hour for a table since there are fewer than 20 tables, however Ellis Island is also a microbrewery serving $1.00 pints of beer. And of course the slot machines can fill your wait time for the restaurant.

  10. Border Grill - Great, Authentic Mexican Food Santa Monica Las Vegas says:
    December 4, 2008 at

    [...] are two Border Grills; one in Las Vegas, the other in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Border Grill, on 4th Street, is always bustling and [...]

  11. hauteroute says:
    March 3, 2009 at

    At NileGuide, we’ve got a bunch of good suggestions for kid-friendly cheap eats in Vegas. Try using our filtering tools to filter Las Vegas restaurant recommendations by cost and preference at http://www.nileguide.com/destination/las-vegas/food

  12. Jamaica West Indies vacation says:
    May 23, 2009 at

    Jamaica West Indies vacation…

    In Port Antonio Jamaica I found this cool bungalow hotel called Great Huts. Stayed in a tree house right in front of the beach in total comfort. Met some cool people who had been traveling all over. Will be back for this Jamaica vacation again….

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