Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) has great dining and food options across its three terminals that rival the city’s famous restaurants and buffets. With over 1,600 daily departing flights, LAS offers travelers excellent spots to grab a quick bite or sit down for a nice meal before jetting off.
This comprehensive guide covers all the best LAS airport restaurants, food courts, cafés, and lounges. Get to know the top-rated spots across Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to maximize your airport dining experience.
A Quick Glance at LAS Airport Terminals and Food Options
McCarran has three terminals, each with restaurants before and after the TSA security checkpoints. Here is a simple breakdown:
Terminal 1 – A variety of fast casual and upscale choices like La Tapenade, Paradise Stakes, and more.
Terminal 2 – The widest selection featuring the Vegas Eats food court along with bars and grills. Terminal 3 – Offers specialty cuisine at places like Nacho Daddy, Einstein Bros Bagels, and Panda Express.
Below we dive deeper into the specific dining details terminal-by-terminal so you can find exactly what you crave.
Terminal 1 LAS Airport Restaurants, Lounges, and Bars
Terminal 1 contains two levels of food spots, with restaurants like La Tapenade dishing up nice meals and quick-service kiosks providing grab-and-go options.
The Best Terminal 1 Restaurants
These Terminal 1 restaurants consist of locally loved concepts and national chains to suit any traveler’s needs:
La Tapenade
An airport outpost of chef Mark Tarbell’s popular Las Vegas bistro. It’s earned 4.5 out of 5 stars on Facebook from over 300 reviewers. Enjoy flatbreads, paninis, salads, and more tableside or packaged to-go.
Paradise Stakes
For classic diner fare, Paradise Stakes hits the spot with hefty portions of breakfast plates, burgers, sandwiches, steak dinners, and more. It’s open early so you can get a full belly before an early flight.
Villa Pizza
When that pizza craving hits, Villa Pizza bakes up piping hot New York-style pies loaded with melty cheese and savory toppings. Grab a quick slice or a whole pie to enjoy at your gate.
More Terminal 1 Spots for Quick Bites
In a rush? Grab snacks, meals, or drinks to-go from these spots:
- Starbucks
- Villa Fresh Kitchen Express – salads, snacks
- Vegas Slice Pizza
- Villa Pizzeria Express
- Sunset Lounge
Terminal 2 LAS Food Options
From fast food to gourmet sit-down spots, Terminal 2 gives travelers diverse dining choices. The Vegas Eats food court links all concourses here.
Top Terminal 2 Restaurants
Ruby’s Diner
This 1950s-themed diner promises old-fashioned burgers, shakes, and malt shop fun. It’s a great option for families.
Einstein Bros Bagels
Pick up fresh-baked bagels and breakfast sandwiches perfect before an early flight at Einstein Bros. Their cold-brew coffee and espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos also shine.
Panda Express
When that Chinese food craving strikes, this airport location of the popular Panda Express chain hits the spot with favorites like orange chicken, fried rice, noodles, and Beijing beef.
More Quick Eats and Food Court Fare
- Vegas Eats Food Court with Carl’s Jr., Villa Pizza, Starbucks, Quiznos, and Asian Box
- Wendy’s, Nathan’s Famous, Smashburger, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A
- Jerry’s Nugget Casino Food Court
- Gonzalez Y Gonzalez Mexican restaurant
- Sunset Strip burger and beer bar
Don’t forget the Terminal 2 bars like the Vegas Strip Craft Beer Bar, Sunset Lounge, and Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina to enjoy a drink before flying.
Terminal 3 LAS Airport Restaurant Guide
Terminal 3 features great airport dining establishments after passing through security. High-quality meals, quick snacks, and everything in-between are available here.
Best Terminal 3 Restaurants
Nacho Daddy
Nacho Daddy serves award-winning nachos fully-loaded with chips, meats, beans, salsa, guac and more Tex-Mex deliciousness. It’s garnered 4+ stars on Facebook and Yelp.
La Bonita Gordita’s
Authentic Mexican street eats like gorditas, tacos, tortas and quesadillas can be found at La Bonita Gordita’s. It uses traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients.
Wild Cat Pizza
This pizzeria bakes pizzas fresh daily in addition to calzones, pasta, sandwiches and signature garlic rolls. Grab a whole pie or a quick slice.
More Terminal 3 Food Options
- Einstein Bros Bagels
- Geno’s Philly Cheesesteaks
- Gino’s Brewing Company sports bar
- Gourmet Street Kitchen for crepes, waffles, and rice bowls
- Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ and Hot Pot restaurant
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cafes across Terminal 3 also serve light breakfast and lunch items if you just need a small bite.
Overview of Airport Lounges at LAS
McCarran International Airport has over a dozen airport lounges across its terminals. You can gain access by:
- Purchasing an airline club membership
- Flying certain premium cabin airline tickets
- Booking passes for Plaza Premium lounges starting at $45
Benefits vary by lounge but commonly include:
- Comfortable seating
- Free food and non-alcoholic drinks
- Complimentary alcohol
- WiFi
- Flight information screens
- Private bathrooms
- Business amenities like printers
So if you have lounge access, take advantage of the relaxations and complimentary perks before your travels.
Pre-Security vs. Post-Security Terminal Comparison
McCarran gives you food options both before and after passing through security. Pre-security spots like Villa Pizza allow meeting family and friends at the gate arrivals and departures halls. Post-security restaurants lie right near your gate so you can dine up until boarding time.
You’ll have to go through security first to access most nicer table service restaurants. So factor that wait time in if you want a proper sit-down meal. Fast food chains and cafés usually have locations on both sides.
Saving Time and Money at LAS Airport
To make the most of LAS airport dining:
- Check expected TSA security wait times and go through earlier for more dining time
- Bring an empty water bottle through security to fill for free afterwards and stay hydrated
- Avoid sit-down restaurants with table service if you’re rushed to lower wait times
- Download each terminal’s dining guide to view all food options in advance
- Sign up for travel loyalty programs with chains like Einstein Bros and Panda Express to earn future discounts
Getting to and from the Strip is easy using the terminal-to-terminal airport shuttles or rideshares. [Public transport](https://www.rtcsnv.com/transit/fares-passes/ strip-airport-express/) like The Deuce bus is cheapest at just $8 per ride to the central Strip.
Frequently Asked Questions About LAS Airport Dining
What types of restaurants are available inside LAS airport terminals?
McCarran International Airport features fast food chains, casual eateries, upscale table service restaurants, bars and lounges, dessert shops, and coffee cafes. So whether you need a quick snack or full sit-down meal, LAS can satisfy your needs with quality dining establishments.
How can I figure out which terminal has my departure gate to find nearby food?
The fastest way is to look at your boarding pass or check airport flight display monitors. Alternatively, go to the airport’s website, click on your airline logo and see which terminal is assigned. This lets you locate restaurants closest to your gate.
Do Las Vegas airport restaurants take reservations?
Most quick service eateries and casual spots do not take reservations. But it never hurts to call higher-end restaurants ahead to request seating if you want a leisurely gourmet meal before your flight.
