5 more chain restaurant expansions we’d like to see in Las Vegas

A view of a Chick-fil-A restaurant under construction at 9925 S. Eastern Avenue in Henderson Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

With the opening of Giordano’s late last year and two Chick-fil-a restaurants today, Las Vegas continues to attract notable eateries to the valley.

Katherine Jacobi, president and CEO of the Nevada Restaurant Association, said that as the national and local economies continue to grow, so should the Las Vegas restaurant scene.

“Las Vegas as a whole is a culinary destination,” Jacobi said.

In December 2015 when Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced it was expanding to the area, the Sun complied a list of 10 restaurants we’d like to see here. Chick-fil-a was part of the list.

Here’s an updated list of restaurants we’d like to see in Las Vegas. Of course, please share the establishments you’d like to expand here.

Portillo’s: Las Vegans looking for a signature beef slider or hot dog from the Chicago area-based chain must drive over three hours to Moreno Valley, Calif., to the closest Portillo’s. The chain recently announced the expansion of its 45th restaurant to Woodbury, Minn. But with relatively new Portillo’s owners Berkshire Partners planning to open five to seven new restaurants each year, Las Vegas could very well soon be on the map.

Waffle House: Ah yes, who could forget one of the country’s most popular 24-hour breakfast joints, known for greasy waffles, down-to-earth staff and candlelight service on Valentine’s Day? A seemingly ideal spot for post-party munchies, a midnight snack or even a stop for those driving through the valley, Waffle House’s Southern charm would be a welcomed fit in transient Las Vegas.

Chicken Delight & Pizza Man: While the Winnipeg, Canada-based chicken, pizza and rib joint once had more than 1,000 restaurants across the U.S. and its home country in the 1960s, that number has since dwindled to less than 200 in 2017. Most people saying “Don’t cook tonight, Chicken Delight,” must live in Manitoba to find their closest Chicken Delight & Pizza Man. But California residents have three of their own locations across the state. The closest to Las Vegas? 275 miles away, in Los Angeles.

Noodles & Company: A staple of university towns and strip malls across the country, the Broomfield, Colo.-based chain boasts 510 locations across 39 states. Unfortunately, Las Vegas isn’t home to one of them. Locals hoping to chow down a hearty bowl of Penne Rosa or Wisconsin Mac & Cheese currently have to drive to Phoenix or Los Angeles to find a Noodles & Company.

Texas Roadhouse: In a city with seemingly every American sit-down chain restaurant imaginable, it’s perhaps a surprise that Texas Roadhouse hasn’t been able to successfully plant its roots here. With more than 500 restaurants in 49 states, the Louisville, Ky.-based chain has only one Nevada location, in Reno. It also has restaurants in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. Just not Las Vegas.

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