Side Street Inn to open first Las Vegas restaurant at The Cal

Overview

Updated 28 minutes ago

Side Street Inn, a Honolulu restaurant and sports bar open since 1992, is bringing its first Las Vegas location to The California Hotel & Casino, KLAS reported. The outpost would put a Hawaiian comfort-food brand inside a downtown Las Vegas casino.

The report did not give an opening date or lease terms. That leaves the timeline and scale of the build-out open.

Why it matters

A Honolulu comfort-food brand is testing whether its family-style format can travel to a Las Vegas casino floor.

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Key Indicators

1992

Honolulu opening year

Side Street Inn opened its first location in Honolulu in 1992.

First Las Vegas restaurant

The Cal location would be the brand's first in Las Vegas.

2026

Announcement year

KLAS reported the plan on Nov. 11, 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Organizations Involved

Side Street Inn

Restaurant and sports bar

Announced first Las Vegas location

Honolulu restaurant and sports bar known for family-style local comfort food.

California Hotel and Casino

Casino hotel

Planned host of Side Street Inn's first Las Vegas location

Downtown Las Vegas casino hotel that would house the new Side Street Inn.

Timeline

1992 November 2026

2 events Latest: Yesterday

November 2026
Side Street Inn plans first Las Vegas restaurant
Latest Expansion

KLAS reports the Honolulu restaurant will open at The California Hotel & Casino.
Yesterday
1992
Side Street Inn opens in Honolulu
Origin

The restaurant opens its first location in Honolulu.
1992

Scenarios

Side Street Inn opens at The Cal by end of 2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: KLAS reporting on the announced plan

The restaurant follows through on the announced Las Vegas outpost and begins serving customers at The California Hotel & Casino. An opening date, construction schedule, or lease details would signal progress before the deadline.

Side Street Inn Las Vegas opening slips beyond 2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: No public projection; tracked against the announced plan

The project remains announced but does not open by the end of 2027. Delays could show up as a pushed-back opening date, stalled construction, or silence from the restaurant and casino.

Side Street Inn cancels Las Vegas plans

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: No public projection; tracked against the announced plan

The restaurant or The California Hotel & Casino publicly drops the planned outpost. A cancellation would likely appear as a statement from either party or a replacement tenant announcement.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1992

Side Street Inn's Honolulu origin (1992)

Side Street Inn opened its first location in Honolulu in 1992. It became known for large portions of local comfort food and a sports-bar format.

Then

The restaurant built a local following in Honolulu.

Now

The brand is now using that format for its first Las Vegas outpost.

Why this matters now

The Las Vegas plan tests whether a Honolulu comfort-food concept can work in a casino setting.

2018

Best Friend at Park MGM (2018)

Chef Roy Choi opened Best Friend at the Park MGM in Las Vegas in 2018. The restaurant later announced an Orange County location at OC Vibe for fall 2027.

Then

The Las Vegas restaurant became a base for a later expansion.

Now

It shows Las Vegas can serve as a test and expansion platform for regional restaurant brands.

Why this matters now

Side Street Inn is making a similar move from Honolulu to a Las Vegas casino property.