Top Ten Values in Las Vegas

Almost no one  has a nice
word to say about the
steak special,  why is it#1

AC - take a peek at this one.  Through Nov 26, $2.99 All American breakfast, Tues - Thurs.   

Leaving for Vegas today. Going to try El Cortez and Siegel's 1941 for BOGO prime rib dinner with the Coupon Book. Get back to you next week on the deal. RIO must be desperate. They just sent me a new offer for 3 nights comped. They got the word were coming!       

MGM has room rates for some properties starting at $18. With the fees it is around $60 all in per room.  That's a better value than anything on this list.

The steaks we had at Ellis Island were terrible. Dry and tough. To top it off, the waitress was extremely rude. Will not back there.

This should be this months number 1 top 10. Ellis Island all Restaurants ,  50% discount Mon to Thur 4pm to 7pm

I have to agree 100% with Werner Warger. I also ordered my steak medium rare and it was totally well done, chewy and dry. The server was very nice and apologetic and offered to replace it, which I accepted. The remake was practically raw so I gave up. You would think I'd this is an ongoing special,  they could at least get the temperature right. Not worth $10 imo.

Vegas trip with breakfast,twice at Emerald Island,delish 

We had a great time at the Plaza show. Not quite as good and raw as when we saw Miss Behave at Cheap Shot a few years ago, but still highly entertaining. Box office girl said a bunch of LVA folks have already used the BOGO coupon.

The show at the Plaza is not very good,  besides  that you are being asked to throw money onto  the  stage while the show is on. This is rank amateur 

The show at the Plaza is not very good,  besides  that you are being asked to throw money onto  the  stage while the show is on. This is rank amateur 

I had the prime rib and snow crab buffet at the  palms on
Friday  night  everything  was good except for the  prime rib  it was mostly fat
the palms should correct  this situation 

I used to be a frequent subscriber to LVA.  Wow, the format has really changed for the better.  It's good to be back.

Saw reports that the South Point graveyard steak/eggs went up a buck. If I'm ever staying down there again, I can live with the extra dollar. 

After a year I gave it another chance. NO! Ordering rare it still was dry an chewy. For many years I have eaten this special, but I am done with it.

Chris Magee: the late night steak and eggs special at Southpoint is 6.45. :-)

$7.99 Steak and Eggs deal at Jerry's or Coronado Cafe Late Night specials at South Point should replace downtown grand hot dog/beer

Hi Deke et al.  I make this comment every few years...how about going to a top 15 values?  You have all that knowledge and I prefer LVA to youtube stuff.  My previous suggestion was for subcategories: 5 downtown, 5 strip, 5 off-strip.  

and I quote, "still the best prime rib  diner (nope, DINNER) in town."  I like dinners better than  diners, any day!@!!

How can "The Ellis Island complete steak dinner remains in the #1 spot" when it's number 2?  Same thing for the shrimp cocktail...is it #6 or #5? 

Your wish is our command. Other than this and whatever other comments are posted between now and when you see this, your post asking us to reverse the order of the Top Ten comments has been done, evidenced by your comment being at (or near) the top. Thank you for the suggestion. It's a good one. 

I wish you would reverse the order of your comments on the top 10 page. Your first comment goes back to 2017, with Frankie Moreno, (great show by the way)….How about you do a reversal and have most current comments 1st????
 I think I’ll send in a question of the day 😘

Hi LVA!  Arriving in two weeks and am curious.  Is the H.H.A.G.G coupon valid for the Plaza location?

Also, if Anthony, Andrew and Deke are available, I would like to buy you guys a drink.  I promise to not be rebarbative.  (Thanks Deke!)

The reason that LVA no longer includes South Point despite having $1.50 hot dogs, good low-cost buffets, NSU Deuces Wild VP, 3:2 BJ, etc is because South Point declined to be in the latest Member Rewards Book. LVA is petty, but that's why.

This has not been in the top 10 for a while, but the price for the prime rib special has gone up to $19.95.

The shrimp cocktail at the Fremont is now $2.99, I had it last week, I thought that it was still worth the price.

just curious, maybe something we don't know, but for many, many months the south point buffet and hot dog cart were staples of the top 10. won't argue that 'maybe' downtown grand has a better 'dog' but south point's buffet's still offers great value as does about every aspect of south point from free parking to vp selection, restaurant options, monthly promotions to just about everything that qualifies as value in today's inflated market. always give anthony and lva promps for making me a better vegas consumer, which in turn, turned me towards south point and away from stations and boyd post pandemic.

You should consider the El Cortez restaurant, Siegel's 1941,  prime rib special at 16.99 for the top 10 list. It was delicious with vegetables and a baked potato.

I am looking forward to returning to Las Vegas next month. The prices in the USA are not as good as here in Polska, but thanks to this newsletter, I will know where to go for the better deals!

Pretty good at 5.49. I got scrambled eggs, hash browns, 2 sausage links, biscuit/gravy and a slice of watermelon. I did order Orange Juice which was almost the cost of the breakfast at 3.99. On the plus side, the OJ cup was pretty big so no refill needed. Tax and 20% tip, my total was 12.32

Just had the steak special. It was excellent. I was blown away by the quality and thickness of the steak. I got the players card. Gambled just 5 dollars. Went to the kiosk and got the coupon loaded onto my card. When you get the bill for the 14.99 steak. You give them your credit card and players card and they adjust the price to 9.99 plus tax and plus drinks. Bargain with a salad, green beans and baked potato. I did lose 2.50 betting 5 so my steak was 9.99 plus 2.50

your content is vast and very informative but who needs comments from 2017   also not good making repeatedly dead lines i am coming to las vegas mid january i need bargains the best is the books

We checked it out. Deal is the same. If you have a players card and play $5 coin-in, it's $9.99.

This is no longer $9.99 ($12.99 - $3 with $5 slot play). I was there in September and October, and was charged $15.99. With the -$3 (with $5 play) with club card it was $12.99. First time I asked the waiter if this was the same special, and he said yeah, the price went up (again). Then I called their number to make sure it was right, because their site listed it at $9.99 still. And they told me it went up. When I returned there in October, I was again charged $15.99 - $3 = $12.99. Their site has still not been corrected. No idea why... but this is no longer the price. I believe this is the fourth time they've raised the price on this in the last three years?

Pass Casino has club member specials (free to join) - breakfast, 7-10am for $3.99 and prime rib dinner, 12pm to close, for $9.99. Both excellent deals.

 I recently ate there and had the steak special. The steak was under cooked, full of fat and gristle and the green beans smelled fishy - yes, I said fishy (tasted awful). I had the waitress come over and smell the green beans. She took one wiff and took my plate and asked if I wanted something else. By then, I had lost my appetite and told her no. She had her manager come over, I explained what happened and the manager apologized and comped the meal.  I left a tip for the waitress - what happened was not her fault. After this episode, I have decided not to go back for the "special".

The Skyline shrimp cocktail is now $3.45, according to their website.

I've gotten tough steaks at EI a couple times now. After the last one, I decided I won't order it again. 

My wife and I had the "famous" steak special (billed as "top sirloin") and found it so tough that my wife only ate half because her jaw started to hurt. I did better but still could not finish.We are from Florida and it reminded me of chewing alligator tail. We were disappointed as the seasoning and preparation were spot on (medium rare).I am surprised that no one else has commented on this. Our waiter also seemed surprised but did not offer to replace the steak. What are the odds that we were the only customers to get a tough steak??

why aren't the most recent comments first???

Emerald Island is such a hidden gem in the valley. Cheap food. Good gambling. Always some promotion going on in the casino. We visit every trip now. They are doing things right!

Thanks for the gaslighting, dear. With rare exception the house always wins. So yeah, it's a scam, but not as much as it used to be. You can opt out of losing $5 and pay the $13 plus tax, tip. beverage, small steak, and trimmings which leave you hungry. That's not how it used to be though. No ma'am. 

I'm glad to see some sensibility and non-denialism for a change. Ellis Island has been "losing it" long before COVID. Now they're serving even smaller portions and lower grade/cuts of beef.I can't understate the relevance of this which is typically ignored by many in this community.

Just FYI, the price went up to $24.99 last month

If it wasn't cooked to your specifications, then send it back and they'll cook you a new one (I had this happen 2 weeks ago; my server took care of it, brought the freshly cooked steak to me and it was good). Medium Rare is the best way to get their steak. If you have leftovers, it warms up very well and tastes just as good.

One word describes this, BARF The worst steak I have ever had. Can't believe this is #1 Po the top 10. It was so tuff that it was uneatable

do not repeat last years blunder of not being  ready on time and try to get boyd free play back  you are the hero of blue collar workers thank you get your ass out and keep up the great value you give the readers

guess i'm  or was 'SPOILED'  - lanai's in the fremont is NOT in the same ballpark as the 'GATES' ,  but you can;t eat 'MEMORIES '. 

 Removing/replacing the buffet at South Point for one that is more expensive at Ramparts (without coupon) makes no sense. I have eaten at both and the buffet at South Point is much better than the one at Ramparts -IMHO.

The Cromwell currently has $1 craps and $3 blackjack (digital)

The Prime Rib  at the Downtown Grand can be had for $10 if you spend $50 in  "a machine"? How is that value?
Sadly, social engineering is manipulating us into believing something is of value when it's not. That’s why we haven't been to Vegas in almost 10 years. We view social media content online, including this website to see how badly things have changed for the worst. I can say for certain, gaslighting has worse now than it has ever been. 

Today is June 8,2022, I paid $8.99 for the special at Boulder,with my card.

That should have been 

Really needs to be updated based on actual visits…personal opinion of course but I can’t see Ellis Island or El Cortez to be a value at any price these days …to each his/her own of course 

Recent changes to Skyline's video poker offerings, should remove them from the list. With nothing besides cheap food to offer, it is no longer worth the drive to Henderson. Such a shame because they went from the best place to nothing to offer in a very short time. 

I just ate at Arizona Charlie’s decatur and they charged me $6.99 even with players club card.  Did they raise the price?

tony top 10 deals are nothing versus the book my last trip 01/07/2022 w o  the coupons was the worst trip ever i bragged to my buddys how i could show them the bargains i have been buying the books for many years you let us down not having them ready but i will stillbe a member cause it saves me  me lots of money

They strive to have the $14.99 prime rib available 24/7 but due to pandemic it's weekends, with M-Th only 7AM - 11PM. Not too shabby. They don't have adult movies though. 

Upon calling the café it was determined Ellis Island prime rib is only available 11am to 11pm, not 24/7 as shown in the "Top 10"

Oh hell no! It's a Denver Broncos bar.  I've been a Raiders fan since 1966. I'd be obliged to kick my own ass if I caught myself hanging out in a Broncos bar.  I could never be comfortable in a place like that. Not even for a sweet $2 menu.  But hey, that's just me.

I am very happy to see Jake's on the Top Ten, though!  Super happy there's a cool place for Broncos fans to go to, too.  Broncos fans gotta party too!  I got nothing against Broncos fans.

But, nah, y'all go on ahead. I'm gonna find me a Raiders bar, even if I have to pay more for my munchies.

We just got back from a so fun trip that included Hot Dogs at South Point, 3 breakfasts at Arizona Charlie’s, and my husband enjoyed his $1.50 shrimp cocktail at Skyline.  We always get a car, (reserved mine 3 months in advance) stayed at the Wynn.  Highly recommend all 3!

Have to disagree with Ellis Island being anywhere on top 10
4 of us ate there last week and were very disappointed to say the least
SouthPoint breakfast buffet though was very good and a bargain at $9.95

After a late night poker session we went to Ellis Island for prime rib and were told it wasn't served after 11pm. Waiter says that's how it has always been, 

Last time I was there at 300 AM the menu is much smaller and does not offer the prime rib.  Not sure what the hours are for the prime rib, but it is not 24 hours!  Anthony - maybe check on this?

We went to the breakfast buffet at South Point a few weeks ago. Reservations are no longer required, and we were able to use the printable 2-for-1 coupon. They have everything you can want in a breakfast buffet, and at $9.99 for both of us, it's the best deal in town.

Just a heads up from the SPoint website

Price of lunch is $14.95 without a card, and $11.95 with a card. And, you must have a reservation.

Hey Patricia -  my husband and I went a couple of years ago and we are 60+ seniors -  we found the show to be quite entertaining for the price!!  

Surprised this is a top ten Not a very good show To me
Maybe a family with school age children I just thought silly

This is a dead in the corona virus top ten. Bring it back when the casinos are trying to lure customers back.

Not everyone loses when you play $5.00 thru the slots for the $7.99 steak deal. Last time there, 3 of us all were winning a couple of bucks, so technically our steak dinner was about $5.99 each. Not a scam as you have a chance to win money and still get a steak for $7.99 unless you lose all the time twentyonekid.

At Ellis Island the steak dinner is actually 12.99 instead of 7.99 due to having to play 5.00 in a machine first,and as said if you don't want to play the 5.00 then its 9.99,so there is not such thing as a 7.99 steak dinner,..what a scam

Well,it time for an update.
Some of these belong on the bottom 10 list.

we love the BBQ chicken dinner at Ellis island.   Very inexpensive for what you get

I have been getting my las vegas advisor in the middle of the month. the problem with that is that I go out to vegas in the first two weeks of the month and no Advisor to check things out. would be nice to get it a least in the first week of the month. I got the Advisor on Nov. 18th

The quality of the steak has declined considerably the last couple of years.  Although the price is nice,  I would not recommend it as a top deal anymore. It's no different than any other cheap steak deal.

Went for cheap steak and lobster
North Vegas
Very distasteful area Casino old fashion Vegas
Yet won’t go back due to location

I second this, I had this last Tuesday and everything was fantastic, the service, the food and the location. The PBR Bar and Grill, inside/In front of Planet Hollywood, has a wonderful breakfast served daily for about $5. Eggs, bacon or sausage, potatoes and Texas toast. and they don't gouge you on the price of coffee.  

I disagree with Capt. Bob … I tried the buffet on my last trip the end of May ...It was excellent... The new facelift with that hotel ... The new lay out, food & service top notch … With the 241 coupon its a no brainer ... Will definetly be back on the next trip !!! Also a shout out to the sports & race book ,very customer friendly... No mins. for drinks ...

The PBR Bar and Grill, inside Planet Hollywood, has a wonderful breakfast served daily for about $5. Eggs, bacon or sausage, potatoes and Texas toast. and they don't gouge you on the price of coffee.  

Just a suggestion most recent posts would be more  helpful. why lead with Frankie Moreno from 2years ago and  need to scan down? Or perhaps edit more often😎

@Airgreg. I'm from the east coast and I've never visited Las Vegas without a vehicle. I love exploring the non-tourist areas. Las Vegas is more than the Strip and Downtown. You are in the minority on this page.

 Perhaps you should consider making the top 10 values only businesses that are within walking distance of downtown or the strip. Most of us are not going to rent a car or Uber our way to a deal. Ellis Island is fine because you can walk right to it. I personally am not interested in "deals" that are in the greater Las Vegas area. Perhaps others feel the same?

I second Paul's comment on the value of Ocean One. The $5 lunch deals are not obscene plates of food, but it's good food and decent portions for the money. We found some meals are better than the others, but you can do worse, or spend a lot more for not much better. The mixed cocktails were weak. Go with the house wine or bottled beer if you're doing three drinks for $10. But they allow you to mix/match and bring them one at a time, so you don't have to get three of the same thing, served all at once. Great deal for lunch if you're in the vicinity. 

Have you considered Ocean One in Miracle Mile for your top ten? $5 lunch and 3 cocktails for $10 ( and you can take your drink(s) to go).

I'm sure there are more deals out there to be had in Vegas. How about an almost top 10? 

We just learned that the Crown & Anchor comp has been discontinued. We're determining a replacement.

For the lunch comp deal at the crown anchor is it a specific item off the menu or is it anything on the lunch menu for this deal? Thanks

as a local I go to EI regularly, so I had the steak special the other evening,very disappointing, plenty of good size fresh green beans (no butter or anything) a fair size baked potatoe and the smallest piece of meat I've evr seen maybe 2.5 inches across and mayne inch and a half high, service was REALLY SLOW, and the waiter TWICE gave me a bill for the higher price, if I hadn't read it over I would have been overcharged, I'll skip the steak and stay with the chicken parmigana and fish and chips, both still excellent especially the chicken

The Palace Station Buffet was one of the worst we've ever eaten at for dinner (on 12-12-2018). For the money, AZ Charlies Decatur is much better, or was. We're going there on the 17th of this month so we'll know for sure whether it's gone downhill since our last meal there, about a year ago. I hope that it hasn't.They had corned beef every Thursday and a live stir fry station that was excellent.

Just an update:  I LOVE the Flamingo $.05....er...$.25...er...$.50 beer happy hour.  For the record, the bar is now called The Bird Bar, and 12oz Miller Lite drafts are $.50 from 5-6.  Still a killer deal, but the list above is incorrect.  

Also, the 24-7 $3 Michelob products at Casino Royale should be an honorable mention.

I'm not one with deep pockets as seems to be the demographic in this forum. An average steak for $13 (8+5) and no beverages included but instead, you now receive a tiny salad or soup is not a deal to me. Adding the tips plus smokey atmosphere certainly doesn't warrant it being included on the top 10 list. Granted, the steak is better valued than eating McDonalds but that doesn't really say much in my opinion. The price of beers is also misleading because you have to add the obligatory $1 tip. Might as well bring your own water that you bought from ABC. 

What is a good value, in my opinion, is the Prime Rib at Klondike Sunset for the same price as EI. The Feast Buffet could also be the new number 1. 

Anyway, just my 1/2 cents since everyone is hyping up EI's Steak price. 

I get that price hikes automatically remove items from your list for at least a month, but others have told you the same thing, that 99-cent disaster is not worthy of the list. I'm sure some people like it, but nobody complains about a more traditional cocktail like that at the Skyline, or what we use to get at Golden Gate. More than a few people find the Lanai Express concoction to be unappetizing. The days of the cheap shrimp cocktail are over, clearly, and you shouldn't be touting one that gets negative reviews simply because it is 99 cents. 

The price of the shrimp cocktail served at the bar at the Skyline Casino is now $2.25, up from the $1.99 that it was previously. It's still a great bargain.

This buffet is now definitely the one to best besides the Studio B buffet at M Resort casino way south of town. Even though it is indeed further away from the mail drag than the Palm, it is also Much better than the AYCE buffet at the Palms.  Nobody in town yet can come close to the excellence of the quality and choices of food at around only $11 per person with the Station casino Rewards card. Of course the M buffet is still the best in town if you don't go weekends when the prices go much higher rivaling those at the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan or the Bachannal at Caesar's. 

have you been there?? read the reviews on yelp and trip advisor it's the pits from lack of service to staff attitude and sub quality food...I'll never waste my time or money there again

The prime rib is not on the menu, ask for it, only $5.50 and it was good.

Why no info about the rodeo dates and attendance. Advance info went from November to January. What happened to December?

Not impossible but inconvenient are some deals off The Strip. I am not gonna travel that far for just a hot dog. Palace Station is much harder to get to than The Palms. Get the (South) Point?

"Naturals pay even money on bets of $1-$4." I omit the calculations, but this adds 2.5% to the house advantage compared to a 3-2 game with the same rules. That's one whole percentage point worse than 6-5. How can LVA recommend a game like this?

We've found the cafe in the all-penny slots Emerald Island casino in the old part of downtown Henderson to be excellent.  It's very reasonably priced, especially for the quality of the food, and the servers are more than willing to accommodate your wishes.  For example, my friend loves cole slaw w/ his bbq, so instead of forcing sides on him he didn't want, the server seemed thrilled to let him have three servings of cole slaw.  Yeah, he's weird, but the cafe (Emerald Island Grille) isn't--it's great.  Also, they have terrific daily specials.  The challenge is to get there, but it's a great friendly place (albeit a little smoky) and well worth the drive if you can manage it.  We go at least a couple of times every trip we make to LV.

Just got back from Vegas and played a lot of the $1 Blackjack at Hooters.. lots of fun.. just a point of caution though that in the evening (not sure what time it begins) there is only one $1 blackjack table and I often had to wait an hour or more to get on.  The best time to go is in the morning or afternoon, when they are 2 or 3 tables with the $1 minimum

I won't say it's terrible, but as someone who really enjoyed the days of cheap shrimp cocktail at Golden Gate, and who found the Skyline's shrimp cocktail decent and reasonably priced, (albeit not really convenient for most Vegas tourists,) I found the 99-cent shrimp at Lanai Express to be vastly inferior. Again, your tastes may dictate otherwise, but I wouldn't include it on the list simply because it's 99 cents. If it was any good, it should have been on the list prior to Skyline raising its price. 

Has anyone actually tried this promo? How bad are the crowds? And what type of beer do you get? When prices get this low, sometimes it isn't worth the trouble. 

Why does $1-minimum blackjack at Hooters show a cost of $1.20, rather than simply $1?

There's no $1 blackjack at Cromwell. Hooters and Lucky Club are the only two at this time.

The Top Ten has been a staple of LVA since the first issue, so we wouldn't want to change the format now. If you read LVA front to back, you'll get recommendations for Top Ten-like deals in all the different areas in almost every issue. 

A plead for more top values information…I know LVA is still playing with new newsletter formatting.  I understand the desire to add visuals.  I don’t have much appreciation for a picture of shrimp noodle soup but I respect the choice to include it.  I have much greater need for input on values.

I see in the March issue, that the top ten values is loosing space.  As I have previously suggested—and I suggest here again—it is time to go to a sweet sixteen values section…4 for downtown; 4 for strip; 4 for near-strip; 4 for balance of county. Please consider changing to sweet sixteen top values.  What do you think?

According to onlineunitedstatescasinos.com, the Cromwell also has $1 Blackjack (like Hooters).  Can you confirm this please?

I spoke with the receptionist at Lucky dragon and she confirmed that they have closed their casino "for renovations" without a reopening date.  I just bought my 2018 membership and am sad to lose the use of those valuable coupons so soon into the New Year! Please let people know before they are purchased that there is the risk of such closings.

The special has not included a drink in quit a while now. I remember back when the price as $4.99, and it included your choice of beer or root bear, rolls and butter, and choice of soup or salad. I was totally impressed with the quality for such a low price. Those days are long gone, but the steak special is still a fantastic value for $7.99

Ref.. Drinks.. Sounds like maybe the drinks are not included now??? Well before you go eat take a seat on the casino floor order a drink while you play and take it with you when you eat. We actually do this a lot in the casinos when we eat they never say anything to us.

The food at Margaritaville is not my cup of tea (recently dined in Niagara Falls Canada and years ago in Sin City) but a nickel beer is very tempting!

Was just at Ellis Island on Sunday and the Steak Special no longer included beer or root beer.  My wife and I order the specials.  She had water and I had the root beer.  Was charge $3 for my drink. 

 Does the Ellis Island special still come with a beer or soft drink? 

My friends had similar experience at Mac King over Memorial Day.

When I went to see Mac King the weekend of May 5th the coupon for the $14.98 ticket/coupon was nowhere to be seen (not at Players Club, not at Box Office, not at front desk and not at ticket counter in lobby). The only thing they had was a coupon for a free upgrade to VIP Seating (easy to get anyway) and a free drink with purchase of a full price ticket. I went next door to Tix4Tonight to get half price tickets instead which still cost over $25 per ticket.

Eat one day on the Strip, and then the next day at Ellis Island.

Frankie Moreno is also a frequent headliner at the Smith Center's Jazz Cabaret. Tickets are $37 at the box office and $45 by mail. Clint Holmes plays there as well!