Welcome to your Evo 2024 Food Guide! Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, has hosted the Evolution Championship Series for over 18 years. Thousands attend Evo annually to celebrate fighting games, find camaraderie in the community, and come hungry for victory in the largest open bracket esports tournament in the world. Hunger for victory goes hand in hand with a hunger for great food and on the world famous Las Vegas strip, you have thousands of eateries and restaurants available to cater to all tastes and preferences.

But access to all of those options can be quite overwhelming so your 2024 Evo food guide is here to provide you the information you’ll need to make some great food choices while being close to the action. Budget friendly, mid-tier and high tier options will be covered at the official Evo hotels as well as a handful of recommendations from the local eateries in the Las Vegas valley that are worth traveling to.

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Chipotle:

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Let's start off with our one and only Presenting Partner, Chipotle! You'll definitely need a place to use your free entree cards! from pools. The closest Chipotle location to the convention center is going to be in the Fashion Show mall! The location is a quick walk from the venue and in doors to keep you out of the Las Vegas heat. After you win your pool, you can head right over and claim your free entree!

There are also locations nearby at the Venetian and Harrah's. You can find the Venetian location in the Grand Cannal Shoppes, while the Harrah's location is directly outside the hotel!

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HOTELS:

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You should come well prepared as food prices on the Las Vegas strip are not cheap. Long gone are the days of $2.99 steak and egg deals, but in their place are dishes that are far more complex with depth, and restaurants are pushing culinary boundaries to entertain the new generation foodie crowd that travels to Las Vegas. Evo has chosen two fantastic resorts to partner with in Resorts World and the Westgate Resort. So many great food options at both properties!

The Resorts World:

Back in the summer of 2021, Resorts World opened on the Las Vegas strip with a great lineup of food options. Resorts World is one of the more high end properties on the strip, and so budget friendly options range higher, but you’re likely to have a great meal at Resorts World. 

‍Resorts World Budget Tier

The Famous Food Street Eats food hall has become one of the best food halls in Las Vegas with a fantastic mix of casual dining options. Located right next to the casino floor, The Famous Food Street Eats is impossible to miss and gorgeous to look at. A central bar studded with Asian signage sets the scene for a high ceiling open airy food hall concept with plenty of seating for diners. The inspiration taken from an Asian street market is undeniable with souvenir carts as well as a Boba Tea stand present in the border spaces next to the casino. You order from one of the many kiosks stationed around the food hall, and you will receive a text message as your food becomes available at the proper eatery. Sixteen different food stall options are available here with a wide range of genres and styles.

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And while you do have some “easy to satisfy most” options like burgers at the Burger Barn, Fish and Chips at Han’s Fish & Chips, and Nashville style chicken sandwiches at Streetbird, the majority of the food stalls at Famous Food Street Eats are Asian themed. Wu Zhang has great hand pulled noodle dishes. The Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup is fantastic. The braised beef is savory and tender. As the beef fat renders into the broth, it makes for a rich and satisfying flavor. A crunch from the bok choy offers a different texture as well as its slightly bitter and earthy flavors, and works so well with the savory broth. And the noodles are firm with a nice chew to them, adding the starch component to the bite.

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There’s definitely some spice to this dish so those that are not keen on heat may want to ensure you have some additional water handy. And together it makes for a delicious bowl of soup. Another star call out is the chicken clay pot rice at Geylang Claypot Rice. The rice is slightly sauteed in a claypot during cooking giving it a bit of a nuttier flavor as well as a bit of a crispier texture. The chicken is moist and seasoned wonderfully. Some earthiness in the mushrooms play contrast to the chili oil that the dish is cooked with and it is delicious. Salted cod in the dish provides bursts of salinity in the bite, and some cooked cabbage acts as a slightly crunchy element as well. It’s complex and marvelously flavorful. Now the majority of dishes at the Famous Food Street Eats food hall range about $20. I wouldn’t classify it as cheap eats or super budget friendly, but the food is so good it is worth paying the additional cost if you’re able.

If you’re looking for some cheaper options at Resorts World, Mulberry Street Pizza in the District shopping center has $10 slices, as well as Randy’s Donuts near the casino floor has donuts for a little under $4.

‍Resorts World High Price Tier

Resorts World is home to many high tier restaurants that easily clock in $100 - $200 a person. Though the quintessential Vegas experience has been the Las Vegas steakhouse, more and more upscale restaurants are starting to bring their own interpretation of the fine dining experience and one such genre of food is high end Japanese.

Having started with Nobu, the now worldwide known style of Japanese with Peruvian influence is well accepted as high end dining and Resorts World has a fantastic offering in that space with Kusa Nori. Located where the casino and entrance to the District meet, Kusa Nori is a stunning restaurant that deserves your attention if you’re looking for a fine dining experience. The restaurant has three distinct sections with a teppanyaki grill section towards the back, the main intimate dining hall in the center, and the open patio space in the front looking out into the District. The restaurant is truly beautiful. Koi fish are the main theme of the restaurant with both large koi hanging from the ceiling as well as spotlights on the floor depicting swimming koi in water. Dimly lit, soft music, and comfortable seating make for a great setting for your fine dining dinner. Kusa Nori offers a range of sushi rolls, robata meats and entrees for your dining pleasure.

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The 3000 LVBLVD roll at Kusa Nori is very good. Soft and sweet snow crab meat with a yuzu mayo makes for an incredible start. The salmon on the roll is aged perfectly and the flavor is robust and delicious. Some natural sweetness and tartness from the elements of yuzu round out the sushi roll making for a very good bite.

The robata grill at Kusa Nori is excellent. Yakitori is more commonly known for Japanese BBQ meat skewers however yakitori only refers to chicken whereas robata refers to all meats. The kurobuta pork belly with a yuzu wasabi tamari glaze is incredible. Rich and fatty, the pork belly is incredibly satisfying to eat. Grilled to perfection, with the smokey charcoal flavors providing accents to the pork, it’s so tasty. And the glaze is sweet, slightly spicy with a bit of acidity that really brightens up the kurobuta pork. The tsukune chicken meatball skewer is also very good. Ground chicken meatballs that have been well seasoned and cooked thoroughly make for a delicious bite. The meatball is toasty and lightly crisp on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The teriyaki glaze is carmalized and provides a bit of umami as well as its sweet and salty flavors, making for a very good chicken meatball.

Star of the show at Kusa Nori is the misoyaki black cod. The fish is so buttery and rich, with a mild flavor it’s truly delicious. A firm but flaky flesh to the fish makes for a satisfying bite. A shoyu miso glaze provides umami and sweetness. And because the glaze has caramelized, it delivers a bit of a nutty flavor as well. The wakame arare crust has a little bit of crunch. And the yuzu sake foam gives a playful hint of crisp acidity to the flavors as well. You can order the roll, the two skewers and the misoyaki black cod for a little over $100 and you’ll likely have a great time. High end Japanese restaurants like Kusa Nori also specialize in having real A5 wagyu from Japan. Kusa Nori sources theirs from Tokushima Gold and it is fantastic. Truly melt in your mouth, tender beef. But a 3oz cut is likely to run you $120-$150, so you pay for the experience.

Resorts World has a plethora of restaurants to choose from and all of them have something to offer that is delicious and memorable. If you’re staying at the Resorts World for Evo this year, hopefully this guide helps you narrow down some of those choices.

The Westgate Resort

The Westgate is the other official resort for Evo 2024, the onsite location for the tournament and there are some great food options at the Westgate to cover. One of the best aspects about the Westgate Resort is that it really is all on site. You don’t have to travel out to get the full Vegas experience and the range of restaurants is extensive. Options include: Italian food at Fresco Italiano, which was rated #1 on Tripadvisor’s list of Italian restaurants. Silk Road Asian Bistro offers a Japanese-Chinese menu with dishes like ramen, Kungpao chicken, chow mein and more. American classic comfort food can be found at Sid’s and much more throughout the property.

The Westgate Las Vegas is also home to the SuperBook, the largest singular space race and sports book in the world at over 30,000 square feet, 350 seats, and a staggering 2240 foot by 18 foot 4k video wall, allowing for 56 different simultaneous casts. Once you see it in person, it’s very impressive. It’s also home to the food court that we will be exploring as the budget tier at the Westgate Resort!

‍‍Westgate Resort Budget Price Tier:

The Westgate SuperBook’s food court has several cheaper options available. Drafts Express is the resident American sports bar and grill and offers all the classics like chicken wings and tenders, burgers, hot dogs, and philly cheesesteak sandwiches served with crinkle cut fries. Everything is under $20, made to order, and tasty American comfort food. I’d recommend going for onion rings over the french fries here. And the spicy chicken sandwich is the most flavorful dish on the menu.

Cordovano Joe’s New York Pizza is the SuperBook pizza shop and they serve pizza by the slice(s) as well as whole pies. The most expensive whole pie clocks in at $29 and two slices are priced at $14. Thinner crust, New York style pizza is served at Cordovano Joe’s and they have all your standard favorite recipes available. Cheese, pepperoni, supreme, meat lovers as well as a vegetarian garden pizza and the popular BBQ chicken style pizza rounds out the menu. Those watching their gluten can get gluten free cauliflower crusts at Cordovano Joe’s for an upcharge depending on the recipe of pizza. When you purchase the two slices, you are able to mix and match the toppings you prefer for the same price. So a pepperoni slice along with a supreme slice is still $14. The name is also a little deceiving. Those who have been to New York will instantly call out that the crust is not a New York thin crust pizza. It’s a relatively standard thickness pizza crust but there’s nothing wrong with that. Pizza is always a crowd favorite and I imagine Joe’s will be very popular come Evo weekend.

Westgate Resort Mid Price Tier:

I am most excited to share with you from this entire list, the mid-tier spotlight at the Westgate Resort. I’ve always enjoyed the food here, but the ambiance, the atmosphere, and the setting are absolutely incredible. I’m talking about the Benihana at the Westgate Resort. Now let’s get the obvious out of the way, yes it’s a chain restaurant. Yes, it’s likely you’ve been to the one in your town. But the Benihana at the Westgate in Las Vegas is unlike any other. You’ll be transported to a space and time in Japan both modern and traditional. A beautiful Japanese garden accented with blue evening lighting sets the theme. You’ll walk across wooden bridges over flowing water lined by vibrant cherry blossom trees. The teppanyaki grill stations are located beyond the Japanese garden in an intimate dining space lined with red walls and stone rock accents. The setting and ambiance alone are worth the price of admission.

If you’ve never had teppanyaki before, you’re in for a treat. Both a meal and a show, your teppanyaki chef will delight you with tricks and illusions during your dining experience as they prepare your food. Benihana has sushi, noodles, and rice dishes on the menu, but more often than not, you’ll want to eat from the teppanyaki grill and the specialty combos are what you’ll want to spend your focus on. Each of their specialities is a full meal from beginning to end. Grilled shrimp appetizer with sauteed vegetables and a garlic egg fried rice is served with every specialty meal, though the Emperor's Feast is what I recommend if you’re not sure what to try. Filet mignon cooked to your temperature preference and seasoned in front of you at the grill starts off the plate. It’s followed by a juicy chicken breast cooked to order. You’re served two dipping sauces to enjoy it with. A ginger based dipping sauce that has just a little bit of bite and a sweet note to it as well. You also have a creamier mustard based dipping sauce that works really well with the proteins. The whole combination is filling and delicious and runs $52. Though Benihana is a well established chain restaurant, you’ll still be amazed at the ambiance and decor of this particular Benihana at the Westgate Resort.

Westgate Resort High Price Tier:

When one thinks of Vegas and food, two distinct options come to mind: a steakhouse dinner and a visit to an all you can eat buffet. And the Westgate offers both of these options for fighting game fans. For our high price tier spotlight, we’re going to the resident steakhouse at the Westgate: Edge Steakhouse.

Edge Steakhouse is a classic Las Vegas steakhouse with intimate lighting, neutral tan colored booths and chairs, and classic white cloth topped tables. Complimentary bread service provides a delicious popover style mini-loaf that is incredibly airy on the inside while flaky and buttery on the exterior. It’s a perfect way to start off your steak dinner. On the note of great starts, the beef tartare is very good at Edge steakhouse if you’re looking for an appetizer. Ultra soft raw beef tenderloin in a bone marrow aioli topped with egg yolk served with grilled bread makes for a very rich and satisfying dish. 

Steaks are all prime cuts of beef and grilled to a temperature of your choosing. The cheapest steak on the menu comes in at $68.00 with the petite filet mignon but I personally recommend a bone-in ribeye that will cost $90.00 at the Edge Steakhouse. A beautiful amount of fat in the prime ribeye renders into the meat to create a rich and buttery bite of steak and a proper sear on the well seasoned steak makes for a fantastic crust. 

For those who would like to enjoy a tasting menu, the Edge Steakhouse does have a great six course pre-fixe dinner menu at $160 that is very good. Multiple choices for appetizers are available, as well as your entree and dessert. $160 is a very fair price for a Las Vegas steakhouse dinner and you may want to look into a reservation for the weekend if this is something that interests you.

Steakhouses are present at most of the mega resorts in Las Vegas and Edge Steakhouse at the Westgate Resort is a great restaurant that delivers on the Vegas steakhouse experience.

Buffets

The spotlight on buffets is starting to dwindle in Las Vegas. Though buffets used to be in every strip casino, the majority of them never reopened after the shutdowns, and tastes for the newer generations of Vegas visitors are finding themselves more attuned to upscale food halls with big celebrity chef names as opposed to the old school Vegas buffet experience. That said, the value at a buffet is hard to deny. All you can eat for one price with more variety makes for easy group dining, and those who find themselves hungry do not need to wait for the kitchen to cook their order. 

The Fresh Buffet at the Westgate Resort is still one of 10 operating buffets on the Las Vegas strip. The Fresh Buffet is open during the summer months every day from 7am to 2pm for brunch. Not only will you find your classic breakfast options like pancakes, French toast, bacon, eggs, and sausage, they also have an omelette station with made to order omelettes and eggs, as well as a well stocked Asian section and full salad bar. The Fresh Buffet also has all you can eat pizza at the buffet as well rounding out the brunch offerings at the buffet service. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Fresh Buffet also serves a seafood menu including all you can eat snow crab legs. This is likely going to be a popular option for Evo weekend so be sure you get in line early. 

While there are several brunch buffets on the strip, dinner service buffets have been severely cut. The only dinner buffet services on the strip left operating are the Bacchanal at Caesars Palace and the Buffet at the Wynn resort and both are exceptional. The Bacchanal is the largest buffet in Las Vegas with over 250 dishes to choose from, but entry is gated behind a whopping $85 price tag and you’ll need reservations to make it in as it is still the most popular buffet in Las Vegas. Be sure to get your reservation online before going if you’re interested in trying out either of these popular dinner buffets during your Evo weekend.

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Local Eats

Las Vegas has become a foodie paradise and there is no doubt about it. As chefs on the strip train in Michelin rated kitchens and eventually branch out into the valley to stake their own claim, the Las Vegas locals food scene has seen a huge rise in quality and popularity. Pair that with old school local businesses that have stepped up with the times and you have a recipe for a foodie town like no other. Though traveling off strip without a vehicle can be expensive, if you have your own transportation or don’t mind the rideshare/taxi costs, these local food spots are popular among locals and well worth your time visiting if you’re able. 

China Mama 2

Often regarded by locals as the best Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas, China Mama 2 is located in Chinatown on Spring Mountain and its popularity is reinforced by the long lines to get in. When the original China Mama restaurant closed due to a kitchen fire, Las Vegas locals were disheartened that the once crowd favorite was no longer available. Once China Mama 2 opened their doors, the restaurant was met with lots of fan appreciation and word spread quickly that China Mama was back and it has been popular ever since.

Though the food at China Mama is all excellent, I would highlight three dishes that are must-try offerings when you make your visit. Firstly, the crispy beef. Thinly sliced tender beef is lightly breaded and fried to a wonderfully addicting crispy texture. The beef is then tossed in a slightly spicy but sweet glaze that is incredibly delicious. You won’t be able to stop at just one piece.

The mapo tofu at China Mama is also a must try. If you’re a fan of spicy and savory, the mapo tofu at China Mama is some of the best you’ll taste. Served in a dish on top of an open flame, the mapo tofu stays boiling hot for your dining pleasure. The flavor in the spicy gravy is out of this world. It’s spicy, garlicky, rich and goes wonderfully on top of rice. The tofu in the dish has a medium firm texture, and carries the flavor of the spice very well. If you’re a fan of spicy food, you’re going to enjoy the mapo tofu at China Mama.  

Last, but certainly not least, I recommend trying the mala cubed chicken. If you’ve never had Asian numbing peppers, it’s a bit of an experience. You will break a sweat eating this dish but the flavors are extraordinary. Juicy chicken is breaded and fried leading to a super crispy bite. The chicken is then tossed with spices, peppers and a rich spicy oil that come together as a wonderfully salty and spicy treat. You have to give this dish a try if you make your way out to China Mama. It’s incredible.

China Mama also specializes in daily handmade dumplings that are very good. The xiaolong bao and pan fried pork dumplings are both delicious and worth trying as well. You’re going to get a good meal at China Mama 2. Just be sure you take into account that the wait could be quite long.

Shaking Crab

Though buffets on the strip have found themselves losing popularity in comparison to food halls, all you can eat options throughout the Las Vegas valley are picking up the slack. And one of the best all you can eat concepts in the valley has to be the introduction of all you can eat seafood boils. Shaking Crab in Chinatown offers a $60 all you can eat seafood boil option that is one of the best in the city. 

Included in the all you can eat price are delicious appetizers and fried seafood options. Mozzarella cheese sticks, fried catfish, shrimp and scallops along with chicken wings are just some of the options that are included and are all you can eat. All you can eat sides are also included here. Onion rings, french fries, corn, and garlic noodles are some of the options available and also all you can eat that is included in the price. 

The star of the show however is obviously the all you can eat seafood boil. If you’ve never had a seafood boil, you’re in for a treat. You first choose the seafood you want in your boil bag. Shrimp, crawfish, mussels, octopus and clams are all you can eat. Included in the price is one order of snow crab leg clusters as well! You can then add corn, sausage, noodles, potatoes and eggs to your seafood boil as additional add ons. Then comes the sauce and this is where the magic happens. Four different sauces are available for your seafood boil: the house Cajun, Louisiana Hot, butter and garlic, as well as lemon pepper. Though the options are all decent on their own, the true flavor comes when you mix all four together. You’re left with a rich, savory, spicy and garlicky sauce that is truly addictive. Your seafood boil is then well mixed in a bag and served openly on top of your wax paper prepared table. Be sure to bring a bib and be aware of your surroundings. Eating a seafood boil can be a messy affair but the flavors are well worth the price of the clean up afterwards. Shaking Crab also provides additional sauce for you to dip your seafood boil into as you eat and it’s quite the experience. If you love seafood and southern Cajun flavors, you’re going to have a great time at Shaking Crab.

Sushi Neko

The last restaurant I would like to highlight for you is Sushi Neko, an all you can eat Sushi restaurant located in Chinatown on Spring Mountain. All you can eat sushi restaurants in Las Vegas have an incredible advantage in that they all piggyback on top of the massive seafood orders from the mega resorts in the valley, resulting in much cheaper prices and quality ingredients.

While you may not find a lot of distinction between the different all you can eat sushi restaurants in Las Vegas, Sushi Neko stands out as one of the cheapest near the strip at $25 for lunch and $30 for dinner. Included in the all you can eat menu are standard Japanese appetizers like gyoza, edamame, takoyaki and more. You’ll be delighted to see that the nigiri rolls here have some of the best fish to rice ratio you will see at an all you can eat sushi restaurant. When you see the nigiri, you will come to appreciate the respect the restaurant is giving you as a patron, not trying to overstuff you with rice with a little bit of fish. The cut rolls are tasty with some very creative recipes in the mix. One of my favorites is the Snow in Vegas roll. Spicy tuna and spicy crab is topped with snapper. Some eel sauce provides a smoky sweetness and there’s also some mayonnaise providing richness. It’s a tasty roll and many others on the menu are just as good.

It’s hard to go wrong with most all you can eat sushi restaurants in Las Vegas but the pricing and popularity at Sushi Neko, ensuring a good turnaround on the fish, is one of the best to visit in Vegas.

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Bonus Information:

I know Vegas is expensive so I got some quick cheap eats/travel hacks for you all. The Westgate is connected to the rest of the strip via monorail and you can buy a monorail pass to travel to the MGM, Paris, the Flamingo, and the Linq. A 4 day unlimited pass is $37.00 and will cover your entire Evo trip. It runs from 7am to 3am Fri-Sun, and 7am to midnight on Monday.

Why bother with expensive taxis and rideshares when you could just have a single monorail pass that can get you from the top to the bottom of the strip? The monorail trains arrive every 4-8 minutes at each of the stations. And end to end on the line the whole ride is 14 minutes. For cheap eats, there are two stops I’d like to highlight and the first is at the Linq Hotel and Casino. 

The Linq Promenade is an outdoor mall with several cheap eats options. Haute Doggery serves big gourmet hotdogs for around $10-$15, and Jaburritos serves sushi burritos for roughly $16- $20. 

The next stop to highlight is the Paris Resort and Casino. Make your way to the Miracle Mile shops next door at Planet Hollywood for more cheap eats. Ocean One’s Bar and Grill inside the Miracle Mile Shops is the king of cheap eats for lunch as every menu item is $5.99. Spaghetti and meatballs: $5.99. Beef Tacos: $5.99. Half-Pound Sirloin Burger: $5.99. You get the idea. Lunch gets very popular for this reason and you’ll want to ensure yourself plenty of time to wait for a potential crowd, especially if you’re getting there later in the lunch hours. A quick one for you OMAD folks who look for calorie-dense foods for the one time a day: If you stop off at the MGM Grand, the Showcase mall next door has a food court. In this food court is an eatery called Rockin’ Potato and they serve jumbo potatoes stuffed with all kinds of toppings for around $15-$20. Very filling and calorie dense. 

My fellow fighting game enthusiasts, I hope this guide helps you in your trip to Evo 2024! Stay sharp! Good luck to all the competitors! Have a great time everyone making the trip out to Las Vegas! I hope you have a delicious and fantastic Evo 2024! 

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