Mabel's BBQ

“Mabel’s is back open and in top form,” exclaims Thrillist Rob Kachelriess, who named this as one of his favorite spots in Las Vegas for BBQ.

He’s right. Celebrity chef Michael Symon used the downtime of the Palms’ closure to re-imagine what his local barbecue spot should be. The result is restaurant that’s a bit more Vegas, and a bit less Cleveland, than before the pandemic.

You’ll no longer find kielbasa on the menu. But there’s a section marked “Vegas Style,” that offers a pork shanks with horseradish gremolata, pork belly burnt ends with watermelon and mint and, for the vegetarians, smoked heirloom carrots with yuzu-honey vinaigrette and spiced yogurt. There are plenty of screens to watch whatever game you have money on, with Raiders tailgate parties when the team is playing at home (with free rides to the game for ticket-holders). They’ve also added live music.

The BBQ itself, remains strong: humanely raised, antibiotic-free beef, pork and chicken, smoked over a mix of post oak and fruit woods. There’s also a great whiskey program. And as Kachelriess notes, Mabel’s has “reasonable prices, considering its near-Strip location.” Other fans include Las Vegas Advisor’s Anthony Curtis and Snap-O-Razzo hotdogs founder Ralph Perrazzo.