Those early chuck wagons might have served some hot dishes along with cold cuts. It may have seemed like no big deal at the time, but the casino buffet would become a Las Vegas signature restaurant.” Knowing that the hungry gamblers would be happy with good, plentiful meats and snacks, the El Rancho Vegas’s managers created the all-night chuck wagon.

“The buffet filled a need for the casino, which wanted to keep its late-night gamblers happy, but didn’t want the expense of keeping a full restaurant open all night. As UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research writes, “quantity was usually emphasized over quality.”

El Rancho Vegas, the Strip’s first resort, came up with the chuck wagon, the earliest version of the modern-day buffet to turn up in Las Vegas. For now, whether you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience or a budget-friendly way to fill up for a day or night out on the town, these Las Vegas buffets have something lots of things for everyone.Culinary trailblazers back in the 1940s found a way to keep gamblers inside the resorts with cheap food, and lots of it. Only time will tell how history treats the buffet experience in the long run. After closures, some buffets in town came back as big and bold as ever to meet pent-up demand, while others didn't come back at all. The golden age of the Las Vegas buffet hit a snag when the Covid pandemic briefly shuttered casinos and changed the way people think about food safety. But, as you'll soon see, there are budget-friendly options too. And the prices have followed suit: The most coveted buffets in the city are as pricey as they are opulent, with notable chef tie-ins, inventive plating, and live-action cooking stations.

Vegas buffets have grown ever more elaborate and over-the-top, competing to outdo each other with more stations, more dishes, and more square footage. Once upon a time, Las Vegas was known as the home of cheap breakfasts meant to lure gamblers into the casinos at all hours-but a lot has changed since Sin City's marquees billed 99-cent steak and eggs with a side of Keno.

29 casino breakfast buffet