The AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention and Expo runs October 11-14, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd. Rock N' Potato is at 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 207, Showcase Mall, approximately 0.2 miles north on Las Vegas Blvd. Four days of sessions, thousands of healthcare executives in attendance, and every restaurant inside Mandalay Bay charging resort prices to a captive audience. Rock N' Potato is the practical alternative: a short walk north on the Strip, counter service, no reservation, and a menu priced for professionals who have been watching conference expenses since day one.
The convention opens on Sunday, October 11. That first night, Rock N' Potato is open until 1:00am, which covers late arrivals, the after-reception crowd, and anyone who spent Sunday in transit and wants a real meal once they get to the Strip. Monday through Wednesday it is open until 11:30pm. The dinner window after each day's sessions is covered across all four days.
Why hotel restaurants are the wrong call for four days
Mandalay Bay is a large integrated resort, and the restaurant options inside it are priced accordingly. The sit-down options inside the resort are priced as resort dining. On the first night that is fine. By the third dinner it is wearing on the expense report and the patience for 45-minute waits with a convention badge still around your neck. The Strip is dense with options, but most of the ones near the south end of Las Vegas Blvd are attached to hotels and priced the same way.
Rock N' Potato is 0.2 miles north. The walk takes about four minutes at a comfortable pace. Counter service means you seat yourself, order at the counter, and eat on your timeline. There are no hosts managing table availability, no minimum spend, no drawn-out service pace. The Fleetwood MacDaddy at $35.95 is the most expensive item on the menu. Most orders land between $15 and $20. For a group of healthcare executives who have been in sessions since 8am and want food that is worth eating without an hour of overhead, the format is the right fit.
What to order at Rock N' Potato during AHCA/NCAL 2026
These are the recommended orders for convention week:
Fleetwood MacDaddy $35.95
The flagship loaded baked potato. Built large, built heavy, and priced at a fraction of what a comparable entree at a Mandalay Bay restaurant costs. Named after one of the great rock acts of all time and built to match that standard. If you are going to eat one serious meal during convention week, this is the one to order. It earns the top of the menu on its own terms.
Birria King $16.95
Slow-braised birria built into a full burger. A complete dinner at $16.95 that does not read like a compromise. Rich, filling, and the kind of meal that holds you through an evening networking event without flagging. The most practical order for anyone watching the per diem closely without wanting to eat down to it.
Lobster Roll $16.95
Real lobster, $16.95. On a hotel property two blocks south, the same protein runs $38 as an appetizer. The Rock N' Potato lobster roll is the clearest demonstration of what counter service economics can do on the Strip. Order it on the night the group wants something that feels like a splurge without being one.
Wings $10.95
Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, or Mango Habanero. The group order that works every night of the convention. Put wings on the table while the main courses come out and the post-session debrief takes care of itself. $10.95 for the order.
Cheese Fries $8.95
Crispy fries, melted cheese, easy to split. The add-on that rounds out any table order. At $8.95 it is the most efficient shared item on the menu for a group that wants something to pass around while everyone settles in.
Browse the full menu before leaving the convention center so you walk in already knowing your order. Counter service is fast when you have decided before you reach the front.
Night-by-night hours during AHCA/NCAL 2026
Sunday, October 11 (arrival and opening day): Rock N' Potato is open until 1:00am. This is the most important night for late arrivals, anyone flying in from the East Coast, and attendees clearing the opening reception before dinner. The 1:00am close covers the full evening.
Monday, October 12: Open until 11:30pm. Main conference day one. Dinner after afternoon sessions is covered with time to spare before close.
Tuesday, October 13: Open until 11:30pm. Main conference day two. Same window as Monday.
Wednesday, October 14 (final day): Open until 11:30pm. Closing day sessions typically end in the afternoon; the dinner window after wrap-up is wide open.
Getting to Rock N' Potato from Mandalay Bay
Exit Mandalay Bay Convention Center and head north on Las Vegas Blvd. Rock N' Potato is at 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd, Showcase Mall, next to M&M World. The walk is approximately 0.2 miles, about four minutes at a comfortable pace. Take the escalator up from street level to the second-floor food court. Suite 207. If the group is larger and walking is inconvenient, a rideshare covers the distance in under two minutes. No parking to deal with at either end.
Find Rock N' Potato
Rock N' Potato at Showcase Mall
Suite 207, 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Approximately 0.2 miles north of Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Las Vegas Blvd. Take the escalator up from street level to the second-floor food court. Suite 207.
Hours during AHCA/NCAL 2026: Sunday Oct 11: 8:00am to 1:00am. Monday Oct 12 to Wednesday Oct 14: 8:00am to 11:30pm. No reservation needed.
Phone: (725) 205-3293
Rating: 4.8 stars on Google, 4.9 on TripAdvisor.
The short version
Food near Mandalay Bay for AHCA/NCAL Convention 2026: Rock N' Potato is 0.2 miles north on Las Vegas Blvd at Showcase Mall, about a four-minute walk. Counter service, no reservation, no wait list. Open until 1:00am Sunday October 11 and until 11:30pm Monday through Wednesday. The Fleetwood MacDaddy at $35.95, Birria King at $16.95, Lobster Roll at $16.95, Wings at $10.95, and Cheese Fries at $8.95. Rated 4.8 on Google and 4.9 on TripAdvisor. The right dinner option for every night of the convention.
Check the full menu before the convention.
Rock N' Potato is not affiliated with AHCA/NCAL, Mandalay Bay, or MGM Resorts International. Event details are subject to change; confirm at official convention sources.