6 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada

Fans of the bygone Pink Taco will smile in recognition when they see its replacement's layout is much the same, including the convivial center bar. New operators still offer a Mexican menu and Día de Los Muertos decor, and the place is arguably even more fun now, thanks to greatly expanded outdoor patio seating against the backdrop of the pool area that keeps the 3–5 pm happy-hour crowd buzzing with hibiscus margaritas and sangria (special prices are in the bar area only). You have to comb the corners of the menu to find anything more adventurous than tacos and burritos, but they come in every form, from the standard chicken and carne asada to grilled fish and cauliflower. A Sunday brunch offers day-drinkers the tantalizing combination of mariachi bands and a $45 "bottomless" mimosa.

You'll forget you're in Las Vegas after a few minutes in this relaxed and unpretentious Downtown cantina. All the combinations and specials are good, but the best play here is to order the house-made tamales. There are five tamale options in all: pork, chicken, beef, cheese, and a sweet dessert tamale with pineapple and raisins. You also won't go wrong with the Mexican sandwich, served with guacamole, tomatoes, and fries. Stop in on a Wednesday night, and you might see a crowd gathered for the fútbol game on satellite-provided Mexican TV. There is another area location at 3250 North Tenaya Way in Summerlin.

Every day is Día de los Muertos at this chic, skull-festooned cantina in Tivoli Village, where a pair of brightly colored calacas guard the entryway. Once inside, prepare to encounter a different kind of spirit: namely, a vast selection of tequila, with over 100 varieties available in this eye-popping, high-end Mexican eatery. The menu is as inviting as the rose-covered walls, ranging from gourmet filet mignon tacos to lobster fajitas to signatures like their cedar chipotle salmon. Brunch is served all day, and there are family packages to feed the whole brood. The focus here is on using organic and non-GMO ingredients made fresh daily, meaning there's not a microwave in the house.

Javier Barajas, the congenial owner and host of this colorful cantina group, named it after his birthplace in Mexico. He presents outstanding specialties that he learned to cook while growing up in the culinary capital of Michoacán. Don't miss the carnitas and try the cabrito birria de chivo (roasted goat with red mole sauce). Guacamole is made tableside, and the flan is a silken wonder. There's no reason to stick to Mexican-restaurant basics when the menu is so expansive—the lunch menu alone offers 37 choices. Two newer locations are in Henderson and Summerlin, but the original is a singular experience: A dense labyrinth of rooms with arched ceilings and brightly colored walls covered in bric-a-brac, and table visits from strolling mariachis.

Although popular namesake and founder Bobby Mercado is enjoying his retirement, Bobby's sister Carolina is the new owner and operator of this Mexican restaurant that’s been a steady draw with locals and visitors in one location or another since the early 1990s. This colorful, comfortable spot (with patio dining when the weather's pleasant) features 10 house-made salsas and a well-executed, seafood-heavy menu. Dishes include a shrimp ceviche salad; tostadas with shrimp, langostino, tilapia, calamari, and avocado; and Ensenada-style fried fish tacos; plus steak picado and veggie fajitas.