What do Lola Falana, Frank Sinatra, and barbecue all have in common? Las Vegas’s Smoked Burgers & BBQ.
It all started with Ryan Klaasen and Dave Mangual; they wanted to bring something new to one of the best foodie-cities in the US. Not just something new, something that Las Vegas hasn’t seen before. Coming from the glitz and glam of The Strip’s hospitality, they saw an opportunity to bring a new spin to the food-trends and Rat Pack classics. As a result, Smoked Burgers and BBQ was born.
Resting just on the cusp of Henderson, Dave and Ryan found their new eastside home. Outside the surrounding Paradise area, barbeque is far and few between, especially on the eastside. With the help of Basketball stars Alan Anderson and D’or Fischer along with his wife, they opened the local burger and bbq joint just ahead of the city’s shutdown. Ever since, they’ve hit the ground running, supplying juicy curbside and delivered barbeque to the valley. The red-bricked walls and patio games remind you of a backyard barbeque, and the heart-warming food drives it home. Though you might be far from the strip, splashes of Las Vegas history and pop culture painted across the walls bring it right back to you.
Homemade Harmony
Great service and atmosphere make an incredible restaurant; but, the food is obviously what you came here for. Chef Dave’s menu is freshly prepared to perfection every day. You can hear his passion for cooking when he talks about his process. It’s no wonder visitors are already raving about this smoked and saucy wonder!
From homemade dry rub and sauce down to the buttermilk batter and salsa, Dave loves his food and wants you to love it just as much. So he keeps perfecting. In the process, the leading trio (Ryan, Dave, and their Marketing Director, Tony) created one of their newest menu items: the BBQ Porker. Stacking a ½ pound Angus patty, a grip of pulled pork, bacon, cheese, and Dave’s own mustard BBQ sauce, this both-hands burger goes ham (pun intended). That’s not the only star of the menu, however. Reminiscent of a family cookout are the World Famous Blueberry Chicken Sliders. Homemade blueberry jam, pepper jack cheese, fresh jalapenos, and a buttermilk batter piece of chicken in a Hawaiian sweet roll make for a delicious and effortlessly instagramable meal.
Their ribs, however, are the real prized jewel. The St. Louis Style Ribs, cut from the belly of the hog, are the claim to fame with more flavor and meat than Baby Back Ribs. Shareable, messy, and flavorful are what you should look forward to. With a regular cast of friendly famous faces and a homey-feel, Smoked is a mouth-watering must for any barbeque lover.
Eastside Smoke
You can find Smoked Burgers & BBQ near the corner of Pecos and Russell. Order curbside, delivery, or even dine-in following current COVID safety protocols. Be sure to check out their Fourth of July Red, White, and Blue special. Follow Smoked to keep up with the best new burgers and barbeque in town!
Keep watching Culture is Food for the best that Las Vegas foodie culture has to offer. Let us know if we tried any of your favorite places or dishes. If not, let us know what it is and maybe you’ll see it in a future episode!
