New eateries and dining spots are sprouting up in Vegas, starting with the largest In-N-Out on record with 8,000 square feet of indoor dining space and an additional 2,500 square feet outdoors. This will be followed by another noteworthy food hall at The Venetian, with tenants like B.S. Taqueria, Scarr's Pizza, and Ivan Ramen, to name just a few.

Las Vegas is about to become home to the biggest In-N-Out Burger ever built, adding to the city's ever-vibrant food scene. The new In-N-Out, currently under construction, will be located on the roof deck of The BLVD, a 400,000 sq. foot entertainment, retail, and dining plaza rising at 3755 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, on the site of the former Hawaiian Marketplace.

A monumental addition to the Strip

The upcoming In-N-Out Burger will not only double the fast food chain's presence on the Las Vegas Strip but will also be a record-breaking location in terms of size. Spanning 8,000 sq. feet of indoor dining space, with an additional 2,500 square feet on its outdoor patio, it is expected to be the largest In-N-Out Burger in the world. The new restaurant is situated along with the broader development of The BLVD shopping plaza, a new project designed to revitalize a prime section of the Strip.

This marks the second In-N-Out location on the Strip, following the opening of its first at the LINQ Promenade, directly across from the Flamingo, in 2022. The fast food chain, famous on the West Coast and known for its fresh ingredients and simple yet iconic menu, has gained a massive following since its founding in California. The Las Vegas area alone now hosts almost 14 In-N-Out locations, and the company has expanded to more than 400 locations across the United States.

The evolution of dining on the Strip

The addition of In-N-Out's massive new location is part of a larger trend sweeping the Las Vegas Strip, where high-end and casual dining options are multiplying rapidly to cater to the increasing number of visitors seeking more than just gambling. While buffets once dominated casino offerings, the rise of food halls has taken center stage. These halls provide a mix of fast-casual and gourmet options, appealing to both food enthusiasts and those seeking quick but high-quality meals.

A prime example is Via Via, a food hall slated to open in the summer of 2025 at The Venetian's Grand Colonnade. The lineup of eateries already announced is impressive. The hall's tenants include:

  • B.S. Taqueria: A chorizo paradise originally founded in Los Angeles by Ray Garcia.
  • All'Antico Vinaio: A renowned sandwich shop in Florence considered the best in the world.
  • Ivan Ramen: A high-end ramen destination led by New York chef Ivan Orkin, who made his mark by bringing a new kind of ramen to Tokyo.
  • Howlin' Ray's: A hot chicken hotspot launched by chef Johnny Ray Zone.
  • Turkey and the Wolf & Molly's Rise and Shine: New Orleans favorites from James Beard Award-winning chef Mason Hereford.
  • Scarr's Pizza: A New York favorite from chef Scarr Pimentel.

This new food hall will be the fifth to open on the Strip in just two years, marking a significant shift in how casinos approach dining. The Venetian also announced last week that the Palazzo Tower will also be the home of Jose Andres' Bazaar Meat. The rise of these food halls is part of a broader strategy to replace traditional buffets with higher-end, more profitable dining experiences.

The demise of the Strip buffet

For decades, buffets were a cornerstone of the Las Vegas experience. Casinos offered cheap, all-you-can-eat options to keep guests from leaving their properties, as gambling generated the majority of casino revenue. However, the landscape of the Strip has shifted dramatically over the past 20 years. Today, only 25% of casino revenue comes from gambling, with 75% stemming from hotel operations, dining, entertainment, and leasing space to high-end third-party tenants. This shift has paved the way for more sophisticated, diverse dining options to replace the once-ubiquitous buffets.

The food scene in Las Vegas continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with both casual and upscale dining options expanding across the city. In Summerlin, the new Italian restaurant Brunello opened at 9320 Sun City Boulevard, taking over the space formerly occupied by another dining establishment, My Mother's House. Meanwhile, the Cosmopolitan appears to be preparing for a new hamburger joint, Naughty Patty's, following a recent trademark filing. This new concept is expected to replace Holsteins, though the space has already been pledged to Amaya Modern Mexican Restaurant.

As Las Vegas continues to redefine itself as a food and entertainment capital, these exciting new developments will only enhance the city's appeal. Whether it's grabbing a Double-Double at the world's largest In-N-Out or sampling gourmet sandwiches a'la Florence at Via Via, visitors to Las Vegas will find more dining options than ever before.