Las Vegas' Rio Hotel and Casino to replace its Carnival World Buffet with a new food hall

The Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas has announced that a new culinary marketplace is set to open next year, taking over the space previously occupied by the Carnival World Buffet. The casino, in a media release, said that the Canteen Food Hall will open in January with a "dynamic lineup of first-to-market concepts and Las Vegas favorites that invite locals and visitors alike to explore, indulge and savor in a lively dining experience."

These concepts include a Sonoran-style burrito restaurant called Southland Burrito Co, described as "a love letter to the rich culinary history of the Southwest, Baja, and Northern Mexico." It will additionally house a ramen establishment from restaurateur Takashi Segawa and Master Ramen Chef Foo Kanegae called Shogun Ramen, and a Philadelphia cheesesteak chain called Tony Luke’s.

The Canteen Food Hall will also feature Tender Crush, a new chicken concept by Chris Barish and Julie Mulligan, founders of Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer; a sushi restaurant called Nama Nama that aims to capture the spirit of communal dining spaces and the social atmosphere of street food stalls throughout Japan; and a  burger restaurant called Attaboy Burger by Chef Alex Resnick.

“When we started planning the revitalization of the resort, one of the first things we wanted to deliver was an approachable yet exciting dining destination that appealed to a wide variety of people, much like the Carnival World Buffet did back in its heyday,” said Trevor Scherrer, President and CEO of Rio Las Vegas. 

“With a balanced mix of familiar favorites and some amazing first-to-market concepts, Canteen Food Hall is going to be a lively space where vibrant flavors and approachable cuisine unite. Our partners behind each of these restaurants have been nothing short of exceptional in their commitment to create food experiences that represent the future Rio and we are excited to introduce them to our guests.”

Earlier in August, Dreamscape, the property’s new operators, told FOX5 that Rio’s famous buffet would not be returning. “Almost industry-wide, peoples’ behaviors post-COVID have just changed,” said Eric Birnbaum of Dreamscape. “We really just need to adjust to the times.”