From 50 Cents to 25 Million: The Story of Vegas’s Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktails and Vegas go hand in hand. On my first visit, the group I visited with make sure we sought it out, and we were coming from the Oregon Coast! That's how iconic they are. So, what's the story with this shrimp cocktail? 

How the Shrimp Cocktail Was Born 

While it didn't originate in Las Vegas, Vegas made it popular. In 1959, an Italian man named Italo Ghelfi had a brilliant idea. He was one of the managing partners at the Golden Gate, and some say he wanted to bring more customers through the door, and did so by introducing the shrimp cocktail... the shrimp coming over from the Bay. 

The cost, 50 cents. 

Seafood wasn’t common in the middle of the desert. Which made it exotic, mysterious and irresistible. It was something many people had never tried, and so it worked - people came to try it. 

Once word got out about the Golden Gate’s shrimp cocktail, everyone wanted to try it.So much they sold 20,000 in a single day. Locals loved it. Tourists raved about it. Other casinos noticed too. Soon, shrimp cocktails began appearing all over Las Vegas. But none came close to the original. 

In the ensuing decades, the Golden Gate moved over 25 million shrimp cocktails — it had become a part of Las Vegas history.

A genius marketing tactic 

When the shrimp cocktail first arrived in 1959, Las Vegas was turning from a sleepy desert town into a roaring tourist destination. 

Back then, most people considered Las Vegas a gambling destination. Fine dining? Not really on the radar. But the shrimp cocktail changed that impression. It was proof to visitors that Las Vegas could be about both thrills and fine food. And, over the years, this trend only intensified. Today, its filled with celebrity chefs and fine dini. And it all began with a simple bowl of shrimp.

Where can you try it today? 

While there are many places that serve this iconic dish, there’s something magical about being downtown, where it first made its appearance in the city. 

If you're looking for the closest to the original, stop by the Golden Gate, or Fremont Casino. For under $5, it’s still absurdly cheap compared to other meals on the Strip and it's almost as close to the original as it gets.