Football is back at Allegiant Stadium, with the Las Vegas Raiders taking on the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason game this Saturday. And football fans have more than touchdowns to look forward to on their next visit to the “Death Star,” because some of the city’s most popular restaurants will be on hand to serve up pizza, tacos, burgers, skewers, burritos, and more.
On this week’s Food and Loathing podcast, we run down some of our favorite offerings from restaurants we already love, and interview the people behind them. From Fremont Street legends to club-level exclusives, here’s a look at the stadium eats worth arriving early for. You can read more about each in the Neon Feast dining guide (links included).
Evel Pie (Section 315)
For Evel Pie manager Samantha Bandy, football season is the highlight of the year.
“You can never go wrong with football, pizza, and beer,” she says. “Vegas is really special when we can get the whole community together… It’s a big, giant party at the stadium.”
Up on the 300 level near Section 315, Evel Pie serves a thicker, hand-tossed version of their Downtown Las Vegas location’s New York–style pizza. Choices include the Cheesy Rider, Extreme Pepperoni, and the vegan-friendly 420 Mushroom. If you like what you taste, make the trip to Fremont Street to experience the Evel Knievel-themed original.
Pizza Rock (Sections C137, C109 and 341) & Slice House (Sections 118, 140, 206, 230 and 308)
Thirteen-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani has two of his brands represented at Allegiant: Pizza Rock (which has outposts in Downtown Las Vegas and Green Valley Ranch casino) and Slice House (a national chain with a location in the Green Valley Ranch food court). And you can find at least one of them on each of Allegiant’s concourses, and inside the Modelo Cantina Club and Twitch Lounge.
According to Chef Anthony Andreason, who oversees Gemignani’s local operations, they’ll be limiting Allegiant’s pizza offerings to New York and Sicilian styles. The Slice Houses will offer both, alongside typical stadium snacks like pretzels, popcorn, nachos and nuts. In contrast, Pizza Rock will offer New York pizza, salad, French fries and a new style of wings each week, dedicated to that week’s visiting team.
“We’ve always had wings for the Raiders,” Andreason says. “Now we’re taking on the other teams’ best wings to see how well we do.” For Week One against the San Francisco 49ers, that means a sweet-and-spicy Asian wing.
For those who have Club Level seats, Pizza Rock, located in both the Modelo Cantina Club and the Twitch Lounge, will offer a much larger menu. In addition to New York-style Pizza and wings, you’ll also be able to get several new menu items.
“We’re going to keep the existing menu that we have there, but we’re adding quite a bit,” says Andreason.
“We have a dessert tiramisu that we’re adding. You can come and get a single serve of tiramisu. We’re adding sausage and peppers, and an Italian beef sandwich with or without the giardiniera.”
Border Grill (Sections C115 and C131), BBQ Mexicana (Sections 122 and 314) & Pacha Mamas (Section 120)
The Border Grill family of concepts — created by celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, and locally run by Yancy Perez — has expanded its already large Allegiant footprint this year. And all of their offerings are made with hormone-free meats, and organic rice and beans.
BBQ Mexicana and Pacha Mamas remain fixtures on the 100 and 300 levels, offering smoked brisket or chicken burritos, Peruvian skewers, and other portable favorites.
Perez describes BBQ Mexicana as “American barbecue with Mexican flavors.” They roll brisket, coleslaw, and barbecue chips into a single tortilla for their signature Smoked Brisket Burrito. Other options include a B.L.T.A. Wrap, Avocado Chicken Burrito, and BBQ-dusted chicharrones.
The Peruvian-inspired Pacha Mamas offers skewers of various proteins. You can get jerk chicken over coconut rice with a Caribbean bean salad. Al pastor pork belly and charred pineapple come with salsa verde, over chimichurri rice. And beef tenderloin comes with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and crispy potatoes.
The significant change this year is that Border Grill itself joins the lineup, with stands located in the Modelo Cantina Club and Twitch Lounge. Expect Mandalay Bay–quality dishes, such as carne asada, as well as original offerings like birria tacos with consommé, churros, ceviche, and Latin-spiced chicken fingers.
Soulbelly BBQ’s Burgersmith (Section 128)
In the Arts District, chef Bruce Kalman is known for smoked meats at SoulBelly BBQ. Inside Allegiant, he’s all about the burger under the Burgersmith brand.
“At Soulbelly, we have a burger on our menu that’s been really received well,” says Kalman.
“And it got me thinking, what if we did sort of a smashburger brand of Soulbelly, not smoked, but just the with the same vibe, same type of ingredients that we use at Soulbelly. And so that’s what we’ve done at Allegiant.”
The double-patty smashburgers are available in four styles: Classic American, Hatch Green Chili, Veggie, and Barbecue. And Kalman is proud to use premium ingredients, such as New School American cheese, from chef Eric Greenspan.
While it’s located near the Twitch Lounge at Section 128, Burgersmith is on the main concourse and open to all ticket holders.
Plan Your Play
From pizza to Peruvian, Allegiant Stadium delivers an authentic taste of Las Vegas on game day. Skip the standard concession fare and explore these local favorites — they’re proof you can watch NFL football in one of the league’s most exciting venues and eat like you’re at a top Vegas restaurant.
