The Fabulous Jewish Food of Las Vegas

We sing, we dance, we cook — how could Jews not have some part in Las Vegas becoming “The Entertainment Capital of the World?”  

While Jewish contributions to show business are diverse, vast and often unexplored, this article shines the spotlight on their impact on a different type of theater: the kitchen. Lavish all-you-can-eat buffets and celebrity chef restaurants have turned Vegas into a place tourists go to eat as well as to gamble, but those in the know understand that some of the most enviable (and Jewish-inflected) dining destinations are outside The Strip.  

Investigating the Jewish influence on the Vegas food scene in between rounds of roulette can be quite a delicious journey, so loosen your belt and your purse strings and prepare to be dazzled. 

Visitors to Sin City in search of Jewish (and Jew-ish) fare are likely to notice three salient themes:  

1. Glam Takes on Deli Staples 

Given Vegas’ reputation for glitz and innovation, it’s fitting that at Siegel’s Bagelmania, for example, customers can tuck into pastrami fries, curlicues of crunchy spuds adorned with cured meat, nacho cheese, chili and coleslaw, or realize their (Jewish) Jiro sushi dreams with “Jewshi,” a hand roll comprising nova, cream cheese, cucumber, avocado and pickled onion, dusted with toast sesame seeds. Classic beverages are similarly jazzed up: Siegel’s adults-only egg cream adds a splash of bourbon and their over-the-top Woah Mary, features the bloody brunch bevvie garnished with half an everything bagel, salami, Swiss, lemon, olive, celery and a pickle spear. 

Saginaw’s Delicatessen similarly puts a sexy spin on the Reuben with their Reuben Poppers, deep-fried battered spheres of sauerkraut, corned beef and Swiss cheese. Greenberg’s Deli, located conveniently within the New York, New York hotel and casino for those looking to nosh in-between slots, also plays the fusion game via their Deli Burrito with eggs, corned beef and cheese enveloped in a giant tortilla. And so, too, does Jerusalem, which takes Israeli food south of another border with shawarma tacos stuffed with shredded fire-roasted chicken and a citrusy pico de gallo.

2. Mouthwatering Winks to Criminal Masterminds

See Fisher’s Deli (formerly Weiss Deli & Bakery), where an edible tribute to Las Vegas’ reputation as mecca for mob activity comes in the form of the Kosher Nostra omelet, a criminally delicious combination of eggs, salami, bologna, onions, tomatoes and Muenster cheese. Fisher’s also dedicates an entire section of their menu to sandwiches inspired by Who’s Who in New Jersey, called “Bradley Beach Legends.” Notable options include the Mickey Ansell (chopped liver, salami, roast beef, lettuce, tomato, horseradish sauce) and the Phil Yanowitz (tuna salad, egg salad, Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato).

3. Edible Homages To Hometown Heroes

Customers at Siegel’s can throw their dollar bills toward a platter of chicken strippers (served sans pole, but they do come with fries and ranch, honey-mustard and barbecue sauces dipping (stripping?) sauces). Or chase away the cocktail flu with The Hangover burger, a carnivorous cabal of double beef patties, over-easy egg and bacon crowned with cheddar cheese, hollandaise sauce and a hash brown cake. Patrons can also show their love for the state’s governor Joe Lombardo by ordering the eponymous bagel sandwich, which layers fried eggs with pastrami, Swiss cheese, onion rings, hash browns and barbecue aioli. 

Those who follow sports rather than politics, can pledge support to the Raiders’ head coach with the Mark Davis sandwich (lean corned beef, deli mustard, horseradish on rye). Sides at Saginaw’s show their Vegas flair, as well; you can hit the Fruit Jackpot (seasonal fruit salad), or indulge in some Gambling Chips (house-made potato chips with Russian dressing).

In Sin City, luck may not always be a lady, but as you can see, is definitely a latke. You may leave Las Vegas broke, but if you go home hungry, you’re doing it wrong.