Going All In on Las Vegas' BBQ Scene
Here are some of the top barbecue restaurants and bites in the Las Vegas metro area that you should know about.
This week’s guest article is written by Ed Reilly, a self-described “BBQ-ologist” who has worked in the industry for 35 years, including in sales for Weber, Char-Broil, Sunbeam, Old World Spices, and B&B Charcoal. You can reach Ed on Instagram and Facebook. If you want to write a guest article for The Smoke Sheet, please get in touch.
The National Hardware Show, held in Las Vegas annually, showcases the newest barbecue grills and accessories for the coming year. I went in 2023 and joined the millions of other visitors each year who make Vegas the most traveled-to city in the U.S.
Las Vegas is the undisputed entertainment and shopping capital of the U.S. But what about their barbecue? Is there a place for this classic American cuisine anywhere in this gambling paradise?
From the beginning, Las Vegas has always been an oasis in the desert. In 1829, Spanish explorers called the area ‘the meadows’ or ‘Las Vegas’ in Spanish due to the vast underground springs that create a wetland where plants can flourish.
Ironically, the construction of the nearby Hoover Dam in the 1930s helped increase the population and reputation of Las Vegas with free-spending construction workers who couldn’t wait to spend their money on local entertainment.
Barbecue in Vegas has deep roots. In 1946, the first inexpensive all-you-can-eat buffet took place in the El Rancho Hotel casino resort when Herb McDonald put together an array of “barbecued meats and cheeses” to keep hungry gamblers at the casino as long as possible. The Buckaroo Buffet was advertised as a chuck wagon service filled with “barbecued delicacies” and only cost the guest one dollar. It wasn’t long before other hotel casinos followed, and Las Vegas became home to the 24-hour buffet. Those buffets are largely gone now, part of Vegas’ ever-changing scene.
Las Vegas has over 5,000 restaurants today, and they are as gastronomically diverse as the 41 million visitors who flock to the city annually. One thing that hasn’t changed is the love of anything cooked over fire and smoke.
Here are some barbecue joints that grabbed my attention during my most recent visit.
Blood Brothers BBQ is across the street from the old El Rancho, inside Resort World. Based in Houston, it brings a fearless combination of Vietnamese flavors to Texas barbecue with its gochujang ribs and smoked turkey banh mi.
If it’s fun and the Wild West you’re looking for, then try Gilley’s at the Treasure Island Resort. You’ll find old saddles as bar stools, bull riding, and barbecue.
Hog & Tradition is located in Henderson and is a fine example of traditional Texas barbecue with some fun additions like brisket grilled cheese and ube cornbread.
Project BBQ offers an absolute next-level barbecue experience. It is home to the ultimate tailgate experience, where they go big and burn it down all night, every night. You can sit in their “backyard” and try the $100 BBQ sandwich or even The Hogstravaganza, an entire roasted pig that feeds up to 35 people.
Jessie Rae’s BBQ was off the strip, but it has since burned down. It has another location in Hendersonville and bills itself as having authentic Las Vegas-style BBQ. If Vegas has a style, then Jessie Rae’s would be it. Everything from the location to the outrageous size and portions of this place screamed, “Las Vegas, baby!”
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