Las Vegas has a wide selection of multicultural food options, and it reflects in their best grocery stores. You will find a wide range of grocery items to give you Latin foods, Indian ingredients, Ethiopian dishes, and enormous options for even Asian delicacies.
Las Vegas, Nevada, does not shine when it comes to grocery stores, at least not in the same way with hotels and casinos. The items in these grocery stores may be more expensive when compared to other stores nationwide. Regardless, you will not miss the best picks for your delicious meals. Moreover, grocery stores in Las Vegas also sell liquor if you want a one-stop-shop for party preparations.
We will look at a couple of stores you may want to frequent for your daily stomach-filling items. We have made a summary of the best overall, cheapest, and 24-hour stores that you may decide to visit right away.
What Makes For the Best Grocery Store?
Before we dive into the best list of Las Vegas Grocery stores, let us take a look at what makes them so great for Nevada shoppers. You may think there isn’t much to consider when grocery stores, but you will be wrong. Aspects such as convenient location, item availability, and prices play a crucial role in how successful and likeable a store is.
- Location
Many shoppers are loyal to specific grocery shops mainly because of their convenient location. Grocery stores in largely-populated areas are more likely to gain customer loyalty than those located in scarcely-populated areas or hard to reach places. The best stores are in large plazas and near residential areas. Online shopping has made location more important since customers need their goods as fast as possible.
- Cleanliness
Store ranking agencies such as Market Force focus a lot on cleanliness. Wegmans is currently the cleanest grocery store in the United States. Health risks are a huge factor, especially for food-related stores, so the best stores need to have the highest level of cleanliness among their competitors. This is in terms of clean floors, surfaces, shopping carts, and sanitization stations.
- Store Value
Value is in terms of the prices of items but also the experience. A grocery store that provides a nice shopping convenience includes easy access to items, great customer service, cashier friendliness, specialty department, and unique products. Competitive prices, as well as frequent discounts, will make a store more appealing.
- Availability of many products
The more items available in a store, the more likely it is to garner great customer satisfaction. Groceries such as Walmart and Wegmans are winners in this department since you can always get the items you would regularly use and some more. The more stocked the shelves, the more customers will want to buy and value.
Best Grocery Stores in Las Vegas: Summary
- Best Grocery Stores near Las Vegas Strip: Trader Joe’s
- Best 24-hour Grocery Store Las Vegas: WinCo
- Cheapest Grocery Store Las Vegas: Walmart
Our Top Picks: Best Grocery Stores in Las Vegas
1. Trader Joe’s
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: 7575 W Washington, Las Vegas, NV 89128; 5639 Centennial Ctr Blvd; and 2315 Summa Dr Ste 100 Las Vegas
- Operation hours: Every day from 8 am to 9 pm
According to a survey by Market Force in 2018, Trader Joe’s was ranked as the third-best grocery store in the United States behind Wegmans and Publix. Trader Joe’s had dominated this spot for a while up to 2016. After then, Wegmans took over due to its cleanliness and item availability. Regardless, Trader Joe’s remains the top grocery store regarding cashiers’ friendliness and fastest checkout lines.
Trader Joe’s has one of the low-cost items in Nevada with high quality private labelled goods. You will find the best prices here for items like turkey, corn dogs and cookie butter. They also offer Trader Joe’s label items like Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate and Mandarin Orange Chicken.
The store is also inviting with its staff that is dressed in Hawaiian shirts, which adds to the brilliant plastic lobsters that decorate the premises.
2. Whole Foods Market
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: 6680 Las Vegas Blvd, 7250 W Lake Mead Blvd, 8855 W Charleston Blvd, and 100 S Green Valley Parkway
- Operation hours: Varies by store. Most open from 8 am to 9 pm every day.
Items from Whole Foods Market are usually a bit more expensive when compared to items from stores like Trader Joe’s. In fact, it is about 10-13% more expensive than other grocery stores in the country. However, the products are better in terms of quality and availability. There are items that you may only find at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods is also a great option if you are looking for an array of prepared foods like chicken salads which go for $13 to $14 per pound.
3. Walmart
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: Currently 21 sites, nearest the Strip options are at 3075 E. Tropicana Blvd and 4505 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas
- Operation hours: 24/7
If you want to spend as little as possible on groceries in Las Vegas, then Walmart is the place to be. There are currently 21 locations, none of which is at The Strip. You can find brand items like the 16-ounce jar of Jif creamy peanut butter at just $2.22. The same item goes for $1 more in other stores like ShopRite.
The store also has a mobile app with the Savings Catcher tool that can help you compare their prices to other stores, including Target and Aldi. Spices are also cheaper at Walmart. All in all, food items are the best things to get at the store since they are well priced than other items, and their prices are competitive.
4. WinCo Foods
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: 6101 N Decatur Blvd, 7501 Washington Ave, and 80 N Stephanie St, Henderson
- Operation hours: 24/7
WinCo Foods has competitive prices that usually rival those of Walmart. This privately held chain of grocery stores has three locations in Las Vegas that sell 1 gallon of whole milk for as low as $1.88. However, when it comes to money, it is essential to note that WinCo does not accept credit cards, only debit. This is due to the transaction rates that may hinder the profits of the employee-owned stores.
Winco may not have the best item availability, but they beat the competition in terms of location, 24/7 service, and competitive pricing that takes on the likes of Walmart. WinCo meats are one of the best with USDA choice beef, Grade A poultry, Hormel Fresh Pork, and Regionally sourced Ground beef.
5. Sprouts Farmers Market
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: 11 locations.
- Operation hours: Every day 7 am to 10 pm
With four stars rating on multiple review sites, Sprouts is one of the customers’ favorite local grocery shops in Las Vegas. The store has the freshest and most delicious fruits and veggies you can get in Las Vegas. The store focuses on providing natural and organic foods, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy products, and packaged groceries.
Sprouts are the place to shop for minimally processed foods free of colors, artificial flavors, and synthetic additives. Almost 90% of their products are said to meet these requirements. You can also find beef products at the store, including grass-fed and choice cuts.
6. Smith’s Food and Drug
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: Currently 38-Smith’s affiliated stores in Las Vegas. Near the Strip is 4001 S Decatur Blvd
- Operation hours: Every day 6 am to 10 pm, depending on the specific store
Smith’s is a colossal brand that competes with the likes of Walmart and Publix. It offers a lot of discounts and promotions more than its competitors. Its Las Vegas stores have a huge range of products from reputable brands.
They get their fruits and vegetables from local suppliers and farmers, ensuring they are always fresh and stocked up. Their meat comes from their experienced butchers who provide you get the best USDA beef and the likes. The store also includes a pickup option that gives you the convenience of shopping from the comfort of your own home.
7. Sister’s Oriental Market
Grocery Store Details:
- Location: 1732 Fremont St, Downtown, Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Operation hours: Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 5 pm.
This convenient grocery store has become a local’s favorite, giving it an impeccable 4.5-star rating on Yelp. Sister’s Oriental Market is both a grocery store and restaurant where you can get authentic Lao food items. The place is locally owned and is small enough to make you feel cozy and at home.
The casual ambience is welcoming, and the atmosphere is relaxed with its down to earth staff. The prices are also affordable. Their best options are chicken noodle soup, sticky beef, and cooked papaya salads. You can buy grocery items like fish, seafood, rice, beef, and pork at Sister’s Oriental Market.
8. Stewart Market
Grocery Store Details:
- Locations: 2021 Stewart Ave, Downtown Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Operation hours: Market hours from Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday from 7:30 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm
Stewart Market in Las Vegas is an award-winning fresh local market that offers local produce and products. The company includes different departments apart from the grocery section like their bakery, wine and spirits, and garden center.
You will find out that this small marketplace has a lot to offer regarding basic fresh grocery items. There is also a mini liquor store on the premises for your accompaniments. The staff is super sweet and friendly to their esteemed customers, which adds to the great casual ambience of the store. You won’t get many products at Stewart Market, but you can be assured of the freshest and most flavorful items.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are groceries expensive in Las Vegas?
According to PayScale, buying groceries in Las Vegas is 4% higher than the United States average. This is in addition to the 8% higher in terms of housing and 14% higher for transportation. On an overall basis, you can expect the living standards to be more than 3% higher than the national average.
A loaf of bread costs around $3.46, a carton of eggs about $1.88, and a gallon of milk are about $2.02. This is fair compared to the cost of buying food in restaurants and hotels, especially near the strip. However, prices are standard across the country for store-bought products in countrywide grocery stores like Walmart and Whole Foods Market.
Is liquor sold in grocery stores in Las Vegas?
As per the Nevada Alcohol Laws, licensed businesses sell alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and distilled spirits (vodka, tequila, scotch, rum, bourbon) 24 hours per day. Therefore, groceries are permitted to sell liquor, but they mostly only stock up beer, spirits, and wines.
The 24/7 permission is great for those who want to drink till late, making Las Vegas and Nevada entirely an exceptional state. Places like Utah are in awe of Nevada since they can only sell liquor during business hours. And this is in state-run liquor shops and select stores.