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Have you ever wanted to eat a 20,000-calorie burger served by a waitress in a nurse’s outfit? Do you love greasy cheeseburgers and wine served in an IV bag? Then the Heart Attack Grill in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, is the place for you!
You can live large at the grill, which serves excessively high-calorie hamburgers, fries, and shakes. This controversial Vegas eatery has made headlines for years due to its unhealthy food and humorous name. It is open from 11 am to 10 pm, and individual items run between $7-$33 each.
Keep reading to learn more about one of the most interesting places to eat in Sin City, its history, what to eat while you’re there, how much it will cost you, and how you can eat for free. Plus, you won’t want to miss the photos!
Inside this article:
What Kind of Restaurant Is It?
The Heart Attack Grill (HA Grill) is a hamburger joint located downtown on Fremont St. It is a hospital-themed restaurant that serves hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries that come in at a whoppingly high-calorie count.
Customers are “patients” and receive a hospital gown when they first arrive. From there, “nurses” serve the food and will even publicly spank patients who don’t finish their food.
The diner boasts about its unhealthiness. The owner Jon Basso refers to himself as the “Chief Surgeon.” Jon (who is not a real doctor, by the way) has been very vocal about fast food and the adverse effects it has on people’s health.
Having said that, the artery-clogging good time provided by this unique spot to eat makes it a standout for tourists. The gluttony of the patrons is on full display, and everyone revels in the experience.
Cost to Eat at This Unique Restaurant
On average, it costs $25.40 for an individual to eat at the grill. This price includes a Double Bypass Burger, a side of fries, and a milkshake. The costs can go up from there if you want a bigger burger or choose to add alcohol or jello shots to your tab.
Menu & Prices at The Heart Attack Grill (Heavy on the Lard)
The dining options are all heart attack-themed, and the stars of the food choices are the many Bypass Burgers. These range from the Single Bypass, which has one patty, to the Octuple Bypass, which has eight patties.
If calories are your goal, you can’t go wrong with the Octuple, which comes in at nearly 20,000 calories.
Note: Click here to download a PDF of the complete menu (303 kb)
Burgers & Prices
The price of your Bypass Burger will be decided by how many beef patties you want.
- Single Bypass – $12.78 (add 5 bacon slices for $0.92)
- Double Bypass – $16.19 (add 10 bacon slices for $2.08)
- Triple Bypass – $19.56 (add 15 bacon slices for $3.00)
- Quadruple Bypass – $22.93 (add 20 bacon slices for $3.93)
- Quintuple Bypass – $25.37 (add 25 bacon slices for $4.85)
- Sextuple Bypass – $29.06 (add 30 bacon slices for $5.78)
- Septuple Bypass – $31.46 (add 35 bacon slices for $6.70)
- Octuple Bypass – $33.77 (add 40 bacon slices for $7.62)
No main dish would be complete without sides. You can enjoy a ½ pound (⅕ kg) coronary dog, some fries with or without chili, and onion rings. All sides are deep-fried in pure fat. A pack of no-filter cigarettes to go is also an option.
Of course, you’ll also need a beverage to wash down all those calories. You can choose an ice cream float or a classic milkshake, but the whipped vodka is optional.
You can also choose one of the many alcoholic beverages offered. Beers include:
- Modelo
- Stella Artois
- Pabst Blue Ribbon (classy huh?)
If you are feeling dehydrated, you can also get your red or white wine in an IV bag. There are also various spirits and liquors to choose from, but if doing straight shots isn’t your thing, you can get a Jello shot from a nurse that comes in a syringe and is ready to shoot into your mouth.
You can also add a side to your feast for less than $10 (except for the dog).
- Flatliner Fries – $2.21
- Chili Fries – $7.00
- Onion Rings – $8.86
- Coronary Dog – $12.78 (add bacon for $0.92)
Family-friendly beverages range from $2.50 to $7.00.
- Bottled Water – $2.54
- Soda – $2.54
- Dole Whip – $7.00
- Milkshake – $7.00
The alcoholic beverages are a little more expensive, ranging from $5.54 to $17.32.
- Beer – $5.49 – $6.46
- Jello Shots – $6.55
- Wine – $18.45
- Monster Shots 3.4 oz (100.6 mL) – $18.45
- Jose Cuervo TequilaJack DanielsTitos Vodka
- Whipped Cream Vodka
- Malibu Rum
- Captain Morgan
- Fireball
If you want a souvenir to take home, t-shirts are $23.80.
Important Note: Be sure to stop at the ATM before you visit because this cafe is cash only.
Famous For the Quadruple Bypass Burger Menu Item
The Quadruple Bypass Burger and the Octuple Bypass are two of the most notorious items at the world’s unhealthiest eatery and are famous for their extremely high-calorie content. Here’s some information about these monstrosities:
- Quadruple Bypass: Consists of four beef patties weighing a total of around 2 pounds (0.9 kg). It is topped with cheese, bacon, onions, and the restaurant’s signature high-fat sauce. It is served on a bun that is buttered and grilled. This hamburger contains almost 10,000 calories.
- Octuple Bypass: As the name suggests, this cheeseburger takes the concept to the extreme. It is essentially eight patties stacked together, weighing approximately 4 pounds (1.8 kg). It is also garnished with cheddar, bacon, onions, and the same high-fat sauce served on a grilled bun.
These beefburgers are offered as part of the grill’s “Bypass” line of food items, which are named after heart-related medical procedures. These beef towers have gained notoriety for their super-size and indulgently unhealthy (but delicious) contents.
It is essential to note that consuming such large quantities of food, especially high-fat items, can pose a serious health risk over time. Having said that, one time probably won’t kill you, though, right?
In case you’re wondering if the HA Grill is the real deal when it comes to the over-the-top calorie counts, this certificate (image above) from Guinness World Records is proudly displayed on the wall. It shows that the Quadruple Bypass is a whopping 9,982 calories and weighs over 3 lbs!
Just reading the calorie count on the certificate above is enough to give you heart palpitations.
RELATED: 9 Best Cheap Eats in Downtown Vegas
Getting Spanked at The Heart Attack Grill
One of the caveats for eating here (which you have to agree to before ordering) is that if you don’t finish your dinner, you will receive a public spanking.
Anyone not cleaning their plate has to hold onto the flogging bar and bend over to receive their swats.
You Can Eat For Free If You Weigh Enough
One of the most famous claims of the HA Grill is that all customers who weigh over 350 lbs (136 kg) and are willing to prove it via a weigh-in on their giant scale eat for free!
So the deal is that if you weigh over 350lbs and are willing to publicly weigh yourself in front of a rowdy crowd on a scale made for animal livestock, you can, in fact, eat for free.
If you qualify, you can have an unlimited number of free Single Bypass hamburgers, but you’ll need to order a drink with each one. To-go orders and meal-sharing are not allowed with this deal.
Can You Make Reservations?
Reservations are not accepted here. It is first come, first served. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting in with a small party during the week, but during busy weekends or with large groups, you may want to eat at slightly off normal eating times when it’s less busy.
Cash Only
It’s important to note that this establishment only accepts cash. No debit or credit cards will be taken. The grill jokes that the joint is “Cash only because you might die before the check clears.”
You can find an ATM machine nearby at the Fremont St. Experience before you head inside. You can see directions to the closest ATM machine here (google maps).
Location and Hours (Fremont Street)
The eatery is open daily from 11 am-10 pm. It is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner before taking advantage of all the other things this area of town has to offer. And since they are open until 10 pm, you can fuel up before you head to the many 24-hour casinos.
You’ll find the well-known grill downtown, just before the entrance to the covered pedestrian walkway (google maps). For reference, it is about a 13-minute drive from the Bellagio on Las Vegas Blvd.
History of the Heart Attack Eatery
Jon Basso first opened the HA Grill in Tempe, Arizona, in 2005. A second location opened in 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Both locations closed, and the Las Vegas location debuted in October 2011.
Before opening the grill, Jon Basso was a franchise owner at Jenny Craig. Surprisingly, his job was to help individuals lose weight and start an active lifestyle. Though you may think his turn to greasy food is a stark change of events, he claims the opposite.
Jon says the lunch and dinner spot is making a statement about obesity and coronary issues by poking fun at it.
Death at The Grill
It may not surprise you to learn that several individuals have had health issues and even died while eating at the restaurant. This death toll includes two of the company’s spokesmen.
Blair River, aged 29 and weighing 575 pounds (261 kg), passed away in 2011 due to pneumonia complications. John Alleman, a daily customer aged 52, died of a heart attack in 2012.
In addition to these two tragic events, another man had a heart attack while dining at the restaurant, and another woman collapsed while eating a burger and smoking a cigarette.
So heart failure from regularly eating at this establishment is a real possibility.
Frequently Asked Questions & Fascinating Facts
What happens if you don’t finish your food?
You don’t have to clean your plate at this quirky eatery, but you may be subject to a public spanking if you don’t. All in good fun, of course!
Is this location kid-friendly?
The grill is kid-friendly and welcomes families with children of all ages. However, be aware that the grill sometimes hosts bachelor and bachelorette parties and can get rowdy. A family visit during the day is your best bet.
How much is the Octuple Bypass Burger?
This giant hamburger costs $33.77. In addition, you can add 40 slices of bacon for an extra $7.62.
Is the owner of the grill a real doctor?
Heck, no! Not even close! Believe it or not, “Dr. Jon,” as he’s referred to, actually once owned a Jenny Craig franchise before becoming “disillusioned” by the entire weight loss industry.
Is this a fun spot to eat?
Many Las Vegas visitors find that the Heart Attack Grill’s a fun and unique dining experience due to its over-the-top theme and controversial cuisine. However, others may not enjoy the establishment’s shock value or unhealthy food options.
A Few More Heart Attack Grill Photos
Because there are so many cool things to look at inside the HA Grill, I couldn’t resist showing you a few more pictures I took the last time we were there.
Final Thoughts
The Heart Attack Grill is a one-of-a-kind location to eat. If you are looking for a full stomach, some hospital fun, and a good story to tell, be sure to stop by.
The HA Grill has truly earned its name. It is important to note that even the owner boasts about the associated health risks of eating at the grill regularly.
Have fun and enjoy a Quadruple Bypass next time you are in Vegas.
Disclaimer: While the food may be delicious, you should obviously eat these high-calorie and unhealthy meals in moderation and at your own risk or not at all.
Tip: If you don’t want to eat here but are still curious, you can see what’s going on inside just by looking through the large front glass windows.
Looking for a healthier hamburger? Check out Gordon Ramsay at Planet Hollywood.
