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| - More adventurous Las Vegas tourists always want to know where the locals eat. I know, because I used to be one of those types before I got the crazy idea of moving here. For my first Yelp review I'm going to let you in on a local secret, if you're brave enough for the adventure. Forget the overpriced buffets on the Strip. Forget the fru-fru hipster nonsense Downtown. If you want to go where the real locals eat then strap in, snowflake, because you've got to take a trip down Boulder Highway.
The first thing you'll notice as you venture out of the tourist areas of Las Vegas is a palatable sense of despair. That's normal. It's the local color you were looking for. The only skinny jeans you'll encounter are on the tweaker screaming about the bugs under his skin and if you see a woman dressed as a hooker, chances are she's actually a hooker and not a girl on spring break on her way to a club. If you take Fremont Street south out of the Downtown area, it will eventually turn into Boulder Highway which runs straight down to Henderson (a separate city of its own, not a suburb). Boulder Highway is real Las Vegas, like it or not. It is lined with pawn shops, dubious weekly rental apartments, quietly rusting trailer parks and numerous local casinos that you missed on Expedia because they don't come up on the first page. One of these places that you'll encounter, just across from the much larger Eastside Cannery and next to a frightening Wal-Mart, is the Longhorn Casino. You can't really miss it because you'll see the large orange sign long before you get to the squat building next to the Super 8 motel. Plus the casino has a large Texas Longhorn painted above the door so there's that.
The Longhorn Casino itself is very much 'old school' Las Vegas in the truest sense in that it is a dank, dark, smokey dump. There are a lot of (decent) older video poker machines crammed in here along with some blackjack tables that you have to practically dodge around the moment you walk in.
Your first thought will most likely be, "Fuck this!"
Just keep moving ahead. The place is tiny and you can see the sign for the Chuck Wagon Restaurant right when you walk in. Make a beeline for that unless you want to try some very cheap blackjack with inexperienced dealers who might overpay you accidentally.
The Chuck Wagon itself is decorated in sort of an Old West style, with pictures of wagons and John Wayne all over the place. Not that it matters all that much, people aren't here for the decor. Considering that the place is basically a cross between a family restaurant and the typical casino diner, the menu is surprisingly large. They have everything from salads to lobster to a full breakfast menu available 24 hours. There's also the famous steak special. It's not listed on the menu, you just have to ask for it. I believe it's still $5.99. They also advertise the Monster Burger for $9.99. You get a certificate proudly proclaiming your gluttony if you finish it. I've eaten here dozens of times and I've never seen a single person order it but I guess somebody must. The normal burgers, by the way, are pretty great for the price and they are very large plus you get a ton of decent fries. You will not leave hungry. Other items I'd recommend off the top of my head: the fish and chips, the cobb salad, just about anything on the breakfast menu and something they call the pot roast sandwich which is similar to the prime rib sandwich only much more awesome despite the name.
The best part is, even though the prices have gone up a little over the years, two people can eat very well here for under $20. Yes, a couple of the entrees break the $10 mark but if you're looking to spend that much then why are you eating here to begin with?
Even though the casino is old and smoke filled, the odor of cigarettes doesn't carry over into the restaurant. I'm a non smoker, I can't stand the smell of cigarettes while I eat and it has never bothered me once at the Chuck Wagon.
If you show up at the wrong time, you may be in for a long wait. This place is very popular with the locals and you can end up waiting an hour if you chose to arrive at noon on a Sunday so plan accordingly. If you do have to wait you can always spend your time losing money on the penny slot machines.
Oh and for the love of God, don't stay at that Super 8. No, I've never been in there but no way can that be a pleasant experience. If you want to stay on Boulder Highway for some reason, go to Sam's Town. The rooms are decent and they will probably be cheaper.
So there you go. If you made it through this review you are now ready to have a real Las Vegas adventure. Or you can be a pussy and go to the Denny's.
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