Not that we’re implying that kitchens in Las Vegas bars are better than kitchens in the bars of other cities, but they just might be. The key is factoring in price. Las Vegas bars have gambling machines, which allows them to comp drinks to gamblers. That dynamic also affects pricing on food, as a good dining deal attracts and reattracts customers who play the games. Two prime examples are the burger at Jackpot Bar and Grill and breakfast at Kopper Keg West. Note that both of these bars are known for their good kitchens and rank high on our list of places for best bar food in general.
Jackpot Burger, Jackpot Bar and Grill (4485 S. Jones)
Served around the clock, the Jackpot burger ($13.99) is one of our favorites in town. No, it’s not tricked out with bleu cheese crumbles or strips of bacon (although, those versions are available for the same price), it’s just an old-fashioned half-pounder with the mixin’s of fixin’s that belong on an old-fashioned half-pounder—tomato, lettuce, onion, and pickle. Jackpot’s owner confirms, “It’s a full half-pound, that’s for sure.” As such, it can be cooked to order better than most. It’s served with choice of fries or onion rings. The one negative is the bun has a hard time containing its cargo—tread lightly, or be prepared to finish with a fork. An interesting side note: When we first wrote about this burger in 2017, it was $7.77 and came with a beer.
If you go on Mon., Wed., or Friday, Jackpot runs a play-$500-get-$50 promo. Designated a Kansas City Chiefs bar, the TVs are always tuned to sports, maybe because manager and swing-shift bartender Susan usually has a 3- to 10-teamer in play. Be alert and you might spot one of the Runnin’ Rebels from the ’90 NCAA Championship basketball team; a few of them hang out here.
Breakfast Special, Kopper Keg West (2257. S. Rainbow)
A bit farther north and west, Kopper Keg West checks in with one of the best breakfast specials in town. It’s the standard two eggs, choice of meat, potatoes, and toast, but this one’s a cut above. Get it with the thick-cut bacon and breakfast potatoes that are prepped in-house, not cracked out of a frozen bag. The best part, going back to the gambling/bargain dynamic, is it’s just $6—about as low as you’ll find anywhere for a full breakfast these days. And here’s a breakfast bonus. When we went in to try the special, KK’s resident Bloody Mary master, Shelly, said, “The special is fantastic, but Marco also makes the best omelets.” We had to try. Omelets, in general, are about as unremarkable as scrambled eggs, but not this one. As fluffy as an omelet can be and packed with your choice of three ingredients, it comes with toast and tots for $13. Kopper Keg gets it, the difference is in the details. The one negative is availability, the kitchen doesn’t open till 9 am.
Kopper Keg was for years one of Vegas’ top Cleveland Browns bars. They no longer have the NFL feed, so not all the Browns games are shown. But if the game is on network, the place will be full of “Dawgs.” If Shelly is behind the bar, be sure to get one of her famous Bloody Marys; they’re comped if you’re gambling (Kayla makes a pretty good one, too).
