The Las Vegas Oyster Bar David Chang Loves To Hit Up After A Long Night
No group of people on the planet knows late-night (or early morning) food better than chefs, so if David Chang recommends a Las Vegas oyster bar for some post-party eating, we're going.
Chang may be a world-famous founder of award-winning restaurants, but he's also a lover of no-fuss comfort food — not afraid to endorse everything from street tacos to Domino's Pizza — so it's not surprising that he would love a populist favorite in one of America's best food cities. Oyster Bars, in particular, are Vegas staples alongside buffets, and when Chang is done with a long night of gambling, he hits up the Oyster Bar at Palace Station.
In a TikTok video, Chang reveals the Palace Station Oyster Bar is "one of [his] favorite spots in Las Vegas." He hints to seafood fans that going in the morning after a late night is best, as it helps you avoid what are typically long waits for the popular spot. His order is a combo roast, a creole andouille sausage stew with shrimp, crab, and lobster at a medium-hot spice level. If you are forced to wait, Chang recommends leaving one sad soul behind to grab some seafood for your party while everyone else hits the nearby tables.
What can you expect to eat at Palace Station?
As you might have gleaned from Chang's order, the Oyster Bar at Palace Station specializes in Cajun and creole seafood, in addition to its fresh, chilled oysters and shrimp. The menu includes Louisiana classics like gumbo, jambalaya, and étouffée, all prepared fresh in an open kitchen surrounded by diners who can watch the meals get made. And it's not just Chang and other tourists who love it, as locals have repeatedly voted it "Best of Las Vegas" seafood restaurant for the Las Vegas Review-Journal over the years. In a city full of glam and new big-name restaurants from famous chefs, including Chang himself, the old-school Palace Station Oyster Bar has managed to stay in business since 1995.
But as Chang warns, the one tricky thing about this oyster bar is actually getting to eat there. The bar-style seating only has room for 18 and waits can be several hours. The casino it's in is on the older and smaller side; it opened in 1976 as the Bingo Palace and is located off the Vegas Strip, adding to its out-of-the-way charm. So if you find yourself in the early morning hours of a Vegas vacation, drag yourself to the Palace Station, and enjoy one of the city's best-kept (until now) secrets.