Las Vegas Strip's latest residency might surprise you

In Las Vegas, the term “residency” has long been associated with iconic performers such as Celine Dion, Britney Spears, U2, and Donny and Marie Osmond (the Osmonds hold the record for the longest Las Vegas residency, including 1,730 shows starting in 2008 and wrapping up 2019).

More recently, the same concept has also taken root in the city’s culinary scene, where restaurant residencies are becoming a new kind of headliner.

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Instead of committing to permanent locations, chefs and food brands are setting up shop in short-term runs at resorts, food halls, and curated spaces across the Strip.

So is it a residency or a pop-up?

It’s in the eye of the beholder, I suppose, but for restaurants, the model makes sense because the stakes for setting up a temporary joint are much lower than they are for committing to a permanent home.

The model offers flexibility for everyone: Chefs get to test new concepts or expand into Vegas without long leases, and resorts get the buzz of rotating, limited-time attractions, often featuring celebrity chefs.

Some recent standouts include Alon Shaya’s Israeli cuisine residency at Majordōmo Meat & Fish, Naughty French by Bruno Pati at Resorts World, and guest pop-ups at David Chang’s Momofuku. A smaller venue, Durango Casino, has the Eat Your Heart Out food hall, which has dabbled in soft-launch residencies for trendy L.A. brands like Irv’s Burgers and Uncle Paulie’s.

The menus are usually only available for a few months, which can make them bucket-list stops for the kinds of foodies who follow chefs.

NADC Burger will kick off a three-month residency on July 10.

Image source: Shutterstock

Coming soon: NADC Burger’s Vegas residency

The latest to join this growing trend is NADC (Not A Damn Chance) Burger, which is kicking off what it’s calling a three-month residency at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Starting July 10, NADC will take over the “Suns Out Buns Out” stall inside the property’s Famous Foods Street Eats food hall.

NADC is the brainchild of Michelin-trained chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams. What began as a pandemic-era side hustle in Austin has evolved into a cult-followed smashburger brand with national ambitions. The Vegas residency is their first official foray onto the Strip.

The menu is focused: a signature NADC Burger made with double wagyu patties, grilled onions, cheese, pickles, jalapeños, and a secret house sauce.

There’s also a Vegas-exclusive Breakfast Burger, topped with a fried egg, bacon, and all the fixings. Sides include beef-tallow fries and “Beast Mode Fries,” loaded with cheese, pickles, jalapeños, and sauce.

Lee calls the Vegas residency a “full-circle moment.” He says he dreamed of opening a restaurant in a casino as a kid, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. And for Williams, it’s proof that a good idea and a great-tasting burger can take you from pop-up to prime time on the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas has the most vibrant dining scene in the country

NADC Burger’s debut comes amid a red-hot streak for Las Vegas restaurants. The city’s culinary scene has exploded in 2025 with new openings, expansions, and a growing focus on food halls and fast-casual innovation.

Over at the Venetian, the new Via Focaccia Food Hall brings in cult-favorite brands like Howlin’ Ray’s, Ivan Ramen, and Scarr’s Pizza, giving the Strip a mix of East Coast credibility and West Coast spice. Meanwhile, The Hat, a legendary Southern California pastrami eatery, just opened a drive-thru patio location in Southwest Vegas. It's The Hat's first location outside of California.

Las Vegas is also turning into something of smashburger central. Love, Always launched in Las Vegas with a single location but just months later had multiple stores across the city. Naughty Patty’s, another smashburger player, is planning a late summer debut at The Cosmopolitan, complete with a giveaway offering free burgers for a year.

Even long-established burger brands are getting in on the action: In-N-Out is working on its largest location yet as part of the BLVD development.