Big Chicken

Everything is big at Big Chicken, including proprietor Shaquille O'Neal. Yet this fast-casual dining spot doesn't rest on being a celebrity vanity project. The NBA legend enlisted local chefs Matt Silverman and Matthew Piekarski to create what Rob Kachelriess from Thrillist calls the "best chicken sandwich in Las Vegas, made with the best ingredient possible, most notably plump, all-natural breasts from cage-free chickens."

The menu is rounded out with elevated but affordable takes on quick-serve Southern-style comfort food like spicy, cheesy Dirty Fries, mac n' cheese topped with Cheetos dust and banana pudding ice cream sandwiches. A full bar is an added bonus.

It will be interesting to see if the quality can be maintained as the brand explodes across the country with franchises, ghost kitchens, sports arena counters and even a presence on the Carnival Cruise line. Just remember, Vegas was first.