Ocean One Bar & Grille, famed for being the most affordable eatery on the Las Vegas Strip for nearly two decades, has closed its doors permanently. Known for offering lunch at $5.99 and dinner for just a dollar more, Ocean One had become an iconic fixture for budget-conscious diners. The restaurant was a staple at the Miracle Mile Shops, adjacent to Planet Hollywood, for almost 20 years.
In a note taped inside the Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops, Ocean One’s management stated that its lease had expired and that they are currently searching for a new location. Despite this claim, there are lingering doubts about whether this is the entire truth. An eviction notice was posted on the restaurant’s door in September, and the name was removed from the Miracle Mile’s website. Nevertheless, Ocean One reopened the following Monday, seemingly unfazed by the prior week’s events.
Upon reopening, Ocean One adjusted its prices to $7.99 for lunch and $8.99 for dinner—still a competitive deal. Yet, it’s hard to fathom how the establishment could continue serving hearty half-pound sirloin burgers, Mexican wings, and tortilla salads for less than the price of a water bottle at Harry Reid International Airport.
This is not the only change happening in the Las Vegas food scene. Food critic Keith Lee, who gained fame for his TikTok reviews of Las Vegas restaurants, has relocated to Texas. The 28-year-old former MMA fighter first went viral in 2021 and has amassed a following of 16.7 million on the platform. In recent months, Lee raised eyebrows by reviewing multiple eateries in Dallas and Houston, hinting at his departure.
In his farewell Vegas video, Lee expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone he encountered in the city. Meanwhile, Texas-based Whataburger is expanding its footprint in Las Vegas with an application to open a second location on Nellis Boulevard, south of Bonanza Road. This follows the debut of its first site at the Waldorf Astoria in February. Whataburger currently operates over 930 outlets across 15 states.
Adding to the excitement is the opening of a dining and pickleball complex called Chicken N Pickle in Henderson, Nevada. This unique spot, which also has locations in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Wichita, and San Antonio, is reportedly backed by Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. The three-acre complex at 3381 Saint Rose Parkway features six indoor and eight covered outdoor courts, along with two levels of dining.
In downtown Las Vegas, Taco Escobarr is set to open at 509 Fremont St., filling the vacancy left by The Smashed Pig, which closed in May 2023. Across town, The Hush Puppy—a Southern restaurant that has been a fixture on West Charleston Boulevard for nearly 50 years—is expanding to the Neonopolis building at 450 E. Fremont St. The new location, slated to open next year, will occupy Suite 135, where Banger Brewing operated until it closed in March 2023 after almost a decade in business.
Finally, the popular Argentinian gelato shop Freddo Gelato Tradizionale has made its debut in Las Vegas, opening a location on South Durango Drive near West Warm Springs Road in the southwest part of the city.
