When searching for places to experience local cuisine in a destination, it’s tempting to focus in on restaurants. But sometimes there’s great food to be had in surprising places (including some restaurants). Our Hospitality Editor, Ron Stern, visited Laughlin, Nevada, and found a bunch of places to suggest to Real Food Traveler readers.
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8 Great Places to Eat in Laughlin, Nevada
Situated about 90 miles south of Las Vegas at the southernmost point of Nevada, the resort town of Laughlin has a sweet and savory side that will appeal to food lovers of all ages. With the Colorado River as the watery boundary line dividing the states of Arizona and Nevada, this family-friendly city has many delightful attractions, not the least of which are its diverse dining options.
Conceived by Don Laughlin in the 60s, he built the first casino hotel called the Riverside in 1964. The main drag stretches north to south and is now dotted with eight casino hotels. In addition to gaming, Laughlin is home to a classic car museum, abundant river activities, live entertainment, and forty restaurants and eateries.
An aerial view of Laughlin, NV courtesy LVCVA.
Browsing the various properties is easy via the scenic Riverwalk or River Passage Water Taxi Service. The latter will glide you along the river to many locations near the hotels and offers quick service for one-way tickets or an all-day pass for $25 per person. This is a convenient way to visit most of the casino hotels and their culinary delights. Here are just a few of these that should be on your dining shopping list.
- Pinkbox Doughnuts- Edgewater Casino Resort
It’s hard to ignore Laughlin’s Pinkbox Doughnuts outlet. The gigantic Instagram photo op doughnut sits just outside the Edgewater Casino doors. Inside, the vibrant pink and white color scheme framing more than 100 varieties of doughnuts is lit up like Christmas with high-intensity lights.
Of course, that’s just to attract your attention. Having started in Las Vegas, they now have ten locations in Nevada. With every sort of shape, size and topping, these tasty circles of joy can result in long lines forming but trust me, they’re worth the wait.
Their proprietary recipe is what brings back loyal customers with playful names such as Doughcros® The Plain Face, Sprinkle Face, Pinkbox, Golden Knight, Flaming Red Head, and Pretty in Pink. My advice is to get there early and stock up with a dozen or so, just in case you get the sweet tooth urge later in the day!
The Pink Box Doughnut sign in Laughlin, Nevada outside of the Edgewater Casino. By Ron Stern.
- Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop – Edgewater Casino
Now that my wife and I already had our dessert, it was time to think about lunch. As we dug deeper into the Edgewater, we stumbled across one of their most delicious lunch options – Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop.
This franchise of 175 nationwide eateries has a 40-year tradition of doing things the old-fashioned way. This includes slow-roasting their turkeys each day and using freshly prepared ingredients.
Looking over their menu and graphic signs, I decided upon “The Bobbie®,” made with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on a roll. I would describe it as an entire Thanksgiving feast for your mouth! It was also no surprise to discover that this humble meal was voted “The Greatest Sandwich in America,” by “thousands of readers as reported by AOL.com.”
The popular “The Bobbie” sandwich at Capriotti’s. Photo by Ron Stern.
- Laughlin Sunset Dinner Cruise – Laughlin River Tours
For more than 25 years, Laughlin River Tours has been offering scenic cruises (90-minute narrated) and jet boat tours (6 hours to London Bridge, AZ) on the blue waters of the Colorado River. Their Sunset Dinner Cruise, however, is the one to pick for what I would consider the ultimate fun and romantic experience.
We boarded the Grand Celebration, a beautiful 150-passenger yacht at the Aquarius Casino Dock along the pedestrian walk. The two-hour journey takes you up to the Davis Dam and back with scenic views of both sides of the river.
The cabin is air-conditioned and has a full-service bar and well-trained staff. After booking, you pre-select your meal. We went with their slow-roasted prime rib of beef with potatoes and vegetables.
An ample prime rib meal upon the dinner cruise on Grand Celebration in Laughlin, NV. Photo by Ron Stern.
The boat ride was smooth and quiet, allowing us to have some nice conversations with our fellow passengers. Dinner was served and I have to say, this was one of the largest and tastiest portions of prime rib I have ever had. Quite enough for two but one manages these fortunes of fate.
Time goes by fast on this trip, and reservations are a must. If you only do one river activity while you are here, I recommend this be it. Note: They are closed for the season from late November to early February.
The Grand Celebration boat docked outside the Aquarius Casino. Photo by Ron Stern.
- The Cove Bar and Lounge – Aquarius Casino
Following our cruise, we were invited by our host to join her for a “nightcap” at the Cove Bar and Lounge, steps away from where we docked.
It was nighttime by now but during the day, the large windows afford great river views with plush, comfortable seating. Serving cocktails, wine, and spirits, this was a perfect way to end our evening. Since everything in Laughlin is close by, it was just a short walk to our hotel.
- Poolside Cafe, Tropicana
For breakfast, we popped into the Poolside Cafe at our hotel. They had a surprisingly large selection of freshly baked bagels, pastries, and smoothies. We ordered a couple of egg and cheese on bagels which was quite satisfying.
As we were enjoying our meal, I saw a sign saying that they also served Thrifty Ice Cream. I grew up in Southern California and my local Thrifty Drug Store with their ice cream counter was my “go-to” back in those days. Back then a single scoop only cost 15 cents but I was happy to pay the current adjusted-for-inflation price of ($3.49), which I thought, was still quite reasonable.
Using fresh milk from local dairies has kept Thrifty’s in business for almost 95 years and this was the first time I have seen it since I was a kid. So, breakfast time or not, I had a couple of scoops of Rocky Road and it was every bit as cool, refreshing, and tasty as I remembered.
The Poolside Cafe inside the Tropicana has pastries, bagels and ice cream.
- El Burro Borracho – Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino
The backyard of Harrah’s has 500 feet of soft sand in a protected cove, complete with palapas, similar to tiki huts, under which you can relax with a cool cocktail. The Mexican-themed El Burro Borracho restaurant, created by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The menu features a variety of creative drinks and menu items prepared with homemade ingredients.
My hands-down favorite is his signature Trash Can Nachos made with crispy corn tortilla strips, black beans, crema, melted queso casero, pickled onion, Cotija cheese and cilantro. The presentation features a small, sharable bucket that diners are encouraged to “shovel” right onto their plates. Viva la delicioso!
Trash Can Nachos at El Burro Borracho. Photo by Ron Stern.
- Laughlin Ranch Grill, Laughlin Ranch, Bullhead City, AZ
Located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River in Bullhead City, Laughlin Ranch Golf Club offers the ultimate in desert luxury. You can play a round of golf (rated as one of the top courses in the nation by GolfPass Magazine), spend time in their full-service spa or dine in their Ranch Bar and Grill, all at prices lower than you might expect at similar upscale resorts.
From a classic breakfast to lunch specialties, the Ranch Bar and Grill has a modern ranch feel. Exposed wooden beams, large comfortable seating and large windows all add to the casual ambiance. I tried their hatch chili burger with grilled onions and pepper jack cheese and found it flavorful and filling. Their elevated venue above the valley allows nice views of the manicured greens and nearby mountains in the background while dining.
- River Rock Pizza and Pasta, Aquarius Casino Resort
For our last dinner in Laughlin, we chose River Rock Pizza and Pasta inside the Aquarius Resort. The décor is pure fun with the entrance covered in rock and roll-themed albums and framed records. One reviewer captured the feeling perfectly when they wrote that it had “an old school Italian vibe from the movie ‘Lady and the Tramp’ with the red checker tabletops.”
We ordered the Margherita pizza which came out crispy on the edges with a harmonious melange of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. We enjoyed our last evening conversing with our server and hearing all the reasons he loved living in Laughlin.
A wall of memorabelia in the rock and roll-themed River Walk in Laughlin. Photo by Ron Stern.
Other eateries include the Claim Jumper inside the Golden Nugget, the Brew Brothers at the Tropicana, and Bumbleberry Flats within the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall. The latter serves up American comfort food such as their Southern Pecan Bananas Foster pancakes. For any fast-food-deprived, transplanted west coasters, there’s an In-N-Out Burger right on the main strip.
Laughlin today is something akin to Las Vegas 50 years ago – only with a host of activities and culinary options that the whole family can enjoy. Many who visit say that they didn’t know that Laughlin offered so much more than just gaming. All of this awaits at this easy-going, budget- friendly, little undiscovered gem with unexpected charms in southern Nevada.
Things to Do in Laughlin, Nevada:
Some activities are temporarily closed in the winter months and start up again in the spring/summer. Be sure to check their websites for available dates.
The Colorado River offers some beautiful recreational water activities all year long. Even during the winter months, the average temperature is a mild 65 degrees. The 1,400-mile-long river makes its way from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez, providing plenty of fun for all ages. Sea-Doos and jet skis can be rented during the warmer months for some high-octane aqueous fun.
Fishing, boating, and dinner cruises are also popular, but be sure to book a ride on The London Bridge Jet Boat Tour. The 6-hour round-trip excursion takes you on an unforgettable high-speed journey (42 mph) to Lake Havasu City. You’ll travel 58 miles through some of the most beautiful sections of the Colorado River that are only accessible by water, including spectacular rock formations and emerald-green water.
As you arrive in Lake Havasu City, you will see the magnificent London Bridge with its iconic arches stretching across the river. The bridge was painstakingly transplanted to this location brick by brick and dedicated in 1971. Even the lamp posts are original to the extent that the metal was recast from canons that originally lined the bridge. To complete your London experience, try some fish and chips at Shugrue’s Restaurant & Bar, then browse the shops at the English Village.
One day trip you won’t want to miss is to the historic town of Oatman, AZ. Located along the old Route 66, Oatman is a throwback to the Old West’s days of mining and gold fever in the 1800s, and at one time, as many as 3,500 people were living here.
But what secured this former ghost town in history was a lady by the name of Olive Oatman. Coming west with her family as a young girl, by wagon, they were ambushed, and Olive and her sister were taken by a tribe of Southwest Indians. Her brother survived the attack and later was able to reunite with her after a ransom secured her release in 1857.
Today, the town is more popular than ever. Burros, descendants of the ones the miners used, stop traffic and freely roam the streets, coming up to tourists looking for food. (Pellets can be purchased for this purpose.) Rustic shops sell local handicrafts like handmade knives, rocks, and souvenirs.
The turn of the century Oatman Hotel Restaurant and Saloon is still standing, and here is where Clark Gable and Carol Lombard spent their honeymoon in 1939. Their room has been preserved, and some believe that their spirits haven’t left. There is a photo over the door showing a ghostly apparition above the bed – spooky!
Where to stay when visiting Laughlin, NV:
The Tropicana offers clean, comfortable rooms with river views at very affordable prices. Lit up emerald green at night, this is conveniently located within walking distance of most restaurants and attractions.
The Tropical illuminated at night. Photo by Ron Stern.
For more information about visiting Laughlin, Nevada, check out their website, and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority site.
-Story by Ron Stern, Real Food Traveler Hospitality Editor
Hungry for more? Check out this list of great eats in Ames, Iowa.
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