8 Las Vegas Restaurants To Check Out During Hanukkah

Hanukkah is approaching, and some Las Vegas restaurants are offering special menus for the holiday. But first, some history. This is one interpretation of why Hanukkah is celebrated. There are others. This one comes from the Talmud, a central text in Judaism, courtesy of history.com.

Hanukkah is celebrated this time every year to remember a turbulent time in Jewish history. It started around 200 B.C. in Judea (AKA The Land of Israel), when King Antiochus III took control. He was the King of Syria who allowed the Jewish people to remain in their land and practice their religion.

Antiochus III's son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was not as nice as his dad. When he took over, he outlawed the Jewish religion and demanded that the Jewish people worship Greek gods. His soldiers invaded Jerusalem in 168 B.C. They massacred many Jews and destroyed their city's holy Second Temple. They sacrificed pigs within the sacred walls of the temple and put up an alter to the Greek god Zeus.

By about 164 B.C., the Syrians had been driven out of Jerusalem by a rebellion led by the Jewish priest Mattathias. The Second Temple was cleansed, it's alter rebuilt, and its menorah lit. The menorah was meant to be kept burning every night. But there was only enough oil to last a single night. Hanukkah, which is Hebrew for "dedication", lasts eight nights because of a miracle witnessed during this time.

The story comes from the men at the rededication of the Second Temple. They saw the menorah candles stay lit for eight nights on a single night's worth of oil. Believing this to be a miracle, the Jewish sages proclaimed a yearly eight-day festival. And thus, Hanukkah was born (history.com).

Hanukkah this year goes from the evening of December 18th and ends the evening of December 26. Here's where you can go in Las Vegas for a special Hanukkah menu around that time. –Wendy Rush

This looks so good, we might just stop by when it's not Hanukkah. They are a Jewish deli, so they're a good choice for your Hanukkah menu. They're offering a takeout menu that includes per-person options and family feast option. They will also have about two dozen ala carte menu items for takeout.

From their website, 138 Degrees in Henderson is offering a Hanukkah menu for 6, dine in or take out, for $199. The family-style menu includes:

Matzoh ball soup, heirloom carrots, chicken schmaltz, duck cracklings, Potato latkes , Granny Smith fermented apple sauce , cultured sour creme

Perigo farms brisket, wood grilled root vegetables , wild honey gastrique, Egg noodle kugel , dark chocolate, roasted zucchini, Oaxaca cheese

Fried donuts, wild berry preserves, and spiced caramel drizzle.

Available every day of Hanukkah, Hearthstone has a full menu of tasty choices. Some traditional, some with a spin.

Stop by the first two days of Hanukkah to enjoy their special menu.

Grab a Hanukkah dinner to go. They include matzo ball soup and choice of a whole roast chicken or a one pound brisket with gravy. Sides include potato pancakes with applesauce, fresh vegetables, two challah rolls and two jelly doughnuts. Latkes, blintzes and kugels are also available from the ala carte menu.

Stop by any day during Hanukkah for a menu that includes Long Island Duck Breast with potato rösti and a butternut squash purée. 

If you're looking for a quicker, more fun way to celebrate Hanukkah with food, stop by Pinkbox. They'll have Hanukkah Rings, Hanukkah Jellies, and Hanukkah Pee Weez, all decorated for the holiday.

The El Cortez Hotel website says the Hanukkah menu at Siegel's 1941 includes chopped chicken livers, matzo ball soup, green salad, beef brisket, roasted apricot chicken, and sweet raisin kugel for dessert.