Las Vegas is always evolving. It’s part of the appeal.
Hotels, restaurants, sports teams—there’s always something shiny and new.
Sometimes, the newest transformations in Sin City are rooted in the past, like the new Horseshoe Las Vegas, formerly Bally’s Las Vegas, on the Las Vegas Strip. Its namesake is the vintage Binion’s Horseshoe (now Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel) in downtown Las Vegas, named in 1951 for Vegas gaming icon Jack Binion.
The new Horseshoe Las Vegas celebrates its rebranding on March 24, preceded by the opening of Pan-Asian restaurant M.Y. Asia from iconic James Beard-winning Chef Martin Yan on March 13, with even more changes to come.
The property has already welcomed changes inside, infusing new energy at the southeast corner of one of the busiest intersections of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, across from the Bellagio and its iconic fountains, and diagonal to Caesars Palace Las Vegas.
The corner—at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard—also has a storied past of its own. In 1980, it was home to a deadly fire at the city’s first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Bally’s Las Vegas later arose from the ashes in 1986 and grew until 2022. MGM Grand reappeared a scootch down the boulevard at Tropicana Avenue in 1993.
Though differences can be seen on the inside, the façade for the new Horseshoe Las Vegas is expected to undergo renovation in Spring. The 44-acre property consists of two 26-story hotel towers with more than 2,800 guestrooms, including refurbished Resort Rooms, and 244 suites.
The rebranded, 3,685-square-foot The Magic Attic showroom—once home to the classic, topless showgirl revue, Jubilee!—is now reserved for magic-inspired productions, another Las Vegas tradition. A new 7,000-square-foot arcade joins existing attractions such as Twilight Zone by Monster Mini Golf, Real Bodies, and National Geographic’s Rarely Seen photography exhibit, as well as The Cabinet of Curiosities, an eclectic lounge, and speakeasy, which opened in 2022.
Summer brings the opening of Celeb Chef Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen, a 6,540 square-foot restaurant and sports bar, replacing Burger Brasserie. The restaurant will show sporting events while serving American-style cuisine, capturing the restaurateur, author, and Emmy winner’s bold and funky style.
A former University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin’ Rebel, Fieri calls Las Vegas his second home.
“Like I always say, ‘Go Big or Go Home,’ and that’s exactly what we’re doin’ now by bringing Flavortown Sports Kitchen to Vegas, baby!” Fieri told the press.
Also in summer, Horseshoe Las Vegas will host the 54th World Series of Poker in its 70,000 square-foot casino poker room, along with neighboring Paris Las Vegas. The location honors the legacy of Caesars Entertainment’s WSOP; the first tournament was played at the original Horseshoe Las Vegas in 1970.
“Poker players and fans can now officially mark their calendars and maybe even book their loved ones or themselves a trip to the WSOP as a holiday gift,” said World Series of Poker Senior Vice President and Executive Director Ty Stewart in a press release.
“You can already feel the anticipation building at our resorts,” added Jason Gregorec, General Manager of Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Another new addition to Horseshoe Las Vegas is Jack Binion’s Steak, which opened at the property last year. A staple of Horseshoe properties across the country, it’s a hat tip to the man who founded the Horseshoe name.
The fine dining destination serves steak and seafood options, including filet mignon crab, shrimp cocktail, and a 24-ounce slow-roasted prime rib, as well as an inventive classic cocktail and steakhouse salad combo, the Bloody Mary Shaken & Stirred Wedge Salad. For dessert, the banana cream pie comes highly recommended. It’s made with the original Bally’s Steakhouse recipe.
“Infusing new food and beverage options is an important step as we transition to Horseshoe Las Vegas,” said Gregorec. “Jack Binion’s Steak is an iconic dining experience that guests have grown to love at Horseshoe Casinos, and we are proud to bring it to The Strip.”
M.Y. Asia is the property’s newest restaurant, featuring an exhibition kitchen filled with noodle-pulling action and the occasional changing face kung-fu dance performance, led by Chef Yan.
An international food ambassador with four decades in the culinary industry, Yan owns several restaurants and has written 30-plus cookbooks. He’s known around the world as a judge on the Food Network’s Iron Chef and for hosting his own cooking show, Yan Can Cook, since 1978.
“Having traveled through Korea and Japan in the North, to Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam in the South, and through the many fabulous food meccas in China and all over Asia, allowed me to fill my culinary treasure chest with unique, colorful, authentic and tasty dishes,” Chef Martin Yan told the press, noting that he aims to “educate and entertain with food.”
A preview of the M.Y. Asia menu includes traditional dishes with global influences and a whimsical twist, like Korean and Vietnamese-style kimchi dishes and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass, marinated in Jasmine tea.
The 5,300-square-foot space includes a retail area, noodle bar, dining room, private dining room, open kitchen, and Yan’s signature, The Lucky Bell Bar. Near the entrance, food lockers provide a non-contact, to-go option, where guests may order, pay and pick up orders.
“We are delighted to welcome an award-winning chef to our culinary roster at Horseshoe,” said Gregorec. “M.Y. Asia is a fantastic dining option, and we can’t wait to introduce Chef Martin Yan’s talent and cuisine to our guests.”
This content was originally published here.