3 Best Restaurants in South Strip, Las Vegas

Fried-chicken sandwiches are all the rage now, but this is the OG, having started back in San Diego in 2015. This more recent outpost in The Park, between New York–New York and Park MGM, serves the brand’s nearly irresistible sandwiches, such as the "Coop Deville" (chicken breast with pickled Fresno chiles, lime mayo, and Napa cabbage on brioche), and the "Cali Drip" (pollo asado piled with fries, chipotle-bacon mayo, pickled onions, jalapeños, and melty Oaxacan queso on a crunchy torta roll). Whole fried chickens in half or whole birds, sides including fries and Mexican poutine, and bowls and meals fill out the flock.

This casual spot from James Beard Award–winning chef Shawn McClain puts the emphasis on "social." The food's fun but seriously good: try the caviar fried egg, in which fish eggs are paired with a chicken one and corn pudding, or boards like charcuterie, house-baked bread or pretzels. Among the entrées are a roasted chicken and pappardelle with oxtail ragu. There are conversation-inducing seating areas and a cocktail program that includes a house old-fashioned with Calvados and cinnamon, and a refreshing pisco sour. Grab-and-go lunch is available at the window on weekends.

This fast-casual favorite born in New York City now has seven locations in Las Vegas, and the only thing different about it is that the lines aren't so long. It's a great place to stop for a Shack Burger and fries, and don't forget the shakes and frozen custard. The Strip location has been joined by others around town and at Harry Reid International Airport.