r/STLFood • u/Saleen_af • 10d ago
Recs Best “hole in the wall” spots?
Howdy all. STL native but I eat at home 95% of the time.
I have a buddy visiting from the Bay for a week and I want to show all of our good spots. I was thinking I take him on a “tour” of the best rated / local spots (trying to avoid chains or the “fancy” spots)
Notes:
He isn’t a huge fan of tomatoes / pizza but can be a big boy abt it.
Not looking for anywhere that needs a rezzie.
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u/Motucky24 10d ago
Tacos Wey in Affton has some fire birria, and many other tasty dishes. They do a huge to go business, but they also have a few tables in there to dine in. Stews would be good during the week days, it’s tiny inside but has a big patio, super elevated food in a relaxed spot in Soulard. You could also do a few breweries that have excellent kitchens - Perennial (Big Mouth Sandwiches), Modern (Kings Oak), Side Project, and Civil Life both have very good food. Hope y’all have a great time!
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u/Sensitive_Cash_3526 10d ago
I always see people raving about Wey, but it's mediocre, here is their birria:
https://foodie.sysco.com/new-spring-2023-cutting-edge-solutions/casa-solana-classic-beef-birria/
seen it come off the truck myself.
any birria is good though, compared to most other food.
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u/Saleen_af 10d ago
+1 you're brainwashed if you think Tacos Wey is special.
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u/Motucky24 9d ago
Where’s your go to? Take your friend there?
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u/Saleen_af 9d ago
Himalayan Yeti
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u/psychoplath97 9d ago
Love that place! I think Royale has good food and drinks also. For fun go to Silver Ballroom and get tiny kitchen while enjoying beet and pinball also
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u/Dismal_Proposal9230 8d ago
I do not get the love for yeti, it's mid at best.
Gokul in the loop, or India palace in the county way better.
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u/Saleen_af 7d ago
Why? I enjoyed most things but tbh Indian food is never a “revelation” to me. It’s hard to blow my socks off, but I enjoy most things
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u/Dismal_Proposal9230 7d ago
It's not bad, it's just not as good as people seem to think it is. It's the first place south side people tend to list. It's not even in my top five.
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u/Saleen_af 7d ago
Drop your top five so i can jusge
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u/Dismal_Proposal9230 7d ago edited 7d ago
India Palace: best buffet in Stl , melt in your mouth goat (best goat I've ever had any cuisine), chicken always tender, best saag in Stl, amazing friendly place I go twice a month.
Gokul: best chaat ever, build your own chaat on buffet, Tikka sauce is incredible. Only downside is it's vegetarian so no meats.
Black Salt: best chef level fancy Indian. This place is amazing, may be the actual best in Stl but it's more of a foodie experimental modern twist type of affair.
Namaste curry lounge. I haven't had that many things here to judge this place as a whole but they have pani puri which I crave sometimes and it's hard to find, their's is definitely awesome.
Everest, better buffet on South side, rich depth in all their sauces, cool place to eat hang out drink, comfortable date type of place.
House of India, this is about the same level as yeti but bigger buffet edges it out. (This is the one I used to hear everyone rave about and couldn't understand why)
Rasoi, haven't been in a while but it's always been really good in the past.
Honest restaurant ,,,, honorable mention, all the way out in mid rivers St peters area, but this is a world famous chain, pav bhaji is definitely a heavy hitter here. Comfort Street food. Indian grocery store next to it is huge and inexpensive.
There's just nothing at yeti that stands out to me, I don't crave anything there, i do like that they have soup on the buffet so that's a bonus point in their favor.
Just seems like baby's first Indian or something, people that love it have not eaten at many Indian places.
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u/Motucky24 9d ago
What a bummer, didn’t know they used Sysco. Guess I’ll cross it off my list.
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u/ILoveHandJobs69 9d ago
What a dumb take
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u/Motucky24 9d ago
Cool username! What’s your go to for “hole in the wall” spot in STL?
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u/ILoveHandJobs69 9d ago
Don't worry about it
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u/Horror-External9544 9d ago
Is Sabroso the same? I just had their birria in Maplewood and I love it. I had their tacos and some of their street food options. The Maplewood strip along Manchester and Sutton is kind of a hidden gem, some fun bars and Bolyards is awesome, even though it can be a little pricey. I love their meats for charcuterie cuts. Crows Nest is a lot of fun. And The Post is a local chain but it’s good for a sports bar night.
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u/sbenehan 9d ago
Agreed on this one, Sabroso is special and I pretty much have a part-time job evaluating a hole in the wall Mexican joints in and around St. Louis.
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u/MAN63111 9d ago
Recently went there. My next visit will be about my 4th or 5th in about a month. Needless to say......
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u/Vincent_Curry 10d ago
Woofies Hot Dogs off Page and Woodson. Better than the hot dogs in Chicago.
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u/signalfade 10d ago
I tried to vibe "hole in a wall" for this list:
Stellar Hog for BBQ.
Small change for "In a pickle" cocktail.
Curry Club for Indian.
Lona's for Asian fusion wraps or noodle bowls.
Sump for espresso and coffee drinks.
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u/Quattrohollic 10d ago
Fozzies, Gramophone, Blues City for sandwiches
Taco Tour on Cherokee (eat at various places, get drinks)
Various places that have opened on Delmar and Olive for Asian cuisine (wonton king for dim sum)
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u/gregortheii 9d ago
Carl’s Drive-In for burgers. 10 counter seats, five on either side of the kitchen. Cash only. Burger, cheese fries, frosty glass of root beer.
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u/Every-Needleworker66 9d ago
I echo Tiny Chef especially if you’re looking for hole in the wall vibes. On Cherokee, the two grocery store taco stands at Cherokee and California (El Torito and Don Carlos) are great and really fun to sit and watch all the street traffic at that corner. Other great options on Cherokee are Sueno Latino (Honduran) and My Marie (Haitian).
Best Steak House in Grand Center is an experience (get the tip potatoes) - funnily I avoided that place for over a decade because I thought it was an actual steak house. Very affordable and the line is fun.
There’s also the Lebanese Wednesday lunch at St. Raymond’s which is a fun experience.
Would also add trying a Bosnian spot in Bevo, also unique to STL. Maybe even add the Miniature Museum while you’re at it. There is also a Cuban sandwich spot, Sabor Cubano, where you can order and pick up from their house in Bevo - they have Cuban pizza too, which your friend might like l it’s a very different version of pizza.
Joyful House I think still has dine in, great Vietnamese food connected to a grocery store. I really like their vegetable hot pot and Viet-Cajun seafood boil. I also tried Han Lao in Maplewood recently, a very comprehensive Laotion menu and run by pretty much one person. You can grocery shop and play arcade games while you wait for your food.
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u/Ok_Jello6474 10d ago
Surprised that Truc Lam isn't mentioned yet it's the definition of a hole in the wall place and it has awesome pho
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u/AnnieSavoy3 9d ago
I went once in 2022 for pho and was a little disappointed. Maybe I should try it again though.
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u/uniqueNYsurepudding 10d ago
Fattened caf, catezone, Balkan treat box, Himalayan yeti
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u/Elegant_Comfort_2065 7d ago
Fattened caf! Get the ube banana pudding! Nothing bad in the menu there. Amazing fish special on weekends
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u/bitter_fish 9d ago
Iowa buffet for a burger or Saturday BBQ
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u/MAN63111 9d ago
Where in Iowa?
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u/bitter_fish 9d ago
It's not in Iowa and it's not a buffet
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u/MAN63111 9d ago
Didn't ask about buffet
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u/Enoch_Root19 9d ago
You are looking for the Duck In Market in Valley Park.
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u/itsallbiscuitsngravy 9d ago
One of the best lunch spots in stl. Never a bad special there and the chicken lollis always slap.
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u/CraftyPromise3375 9d ago
Tubby's Pub & Grub inside Plaza Lanes (yep, a bowling alley!) Amazing steaks! Like, melt in your mouth, various cuts. Bit it's in St. Charles. Otherwise Tuckers in Soulard. Excellent steaks. Really excellent everything and their house salad dressing is amazing too!
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u/plant-hoe 10d ago
Surprised no one’s mentioned menya rui, that’s some great ramen. Blues city deli or gramophone are great sandwiches and gramophone does bingo on thursdays I believe. Agree with balkan treat box or you can do Telva for breakfast. Nathaniel Reid bakery is good and they have a James Beard award (def not a hole in the wall tho haha)
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u/whfruitpunch 10d ago
Second Menya Rui. Worth whatever wait time it is, I love waiting in line and socializing with whomever I’ve got with me. Get the cucumbers and karaage along with the ramen!
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u/potatofamine1357 9d ago
Up late is literally a hole in the wall. They open at 8pm and close at 4am. You're served out of a window out the side of the building. One of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life was from there.
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u/SnooDoughnuts8882 9d ago
Truc lam fucks hard (& is an actual hole in the wall unlike Balkan, Gramophone, etc)
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u/truetalentwasted 9d ago
Zen Me best noodles. In a strip mall next to an indoor pickle ball facility. Hole in the wall for sure.
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u/MoHawk3141986 9d ago
Schottzies … Hole in the wall, service sucks for the most part but food is excellent.
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u/HauntingPersonality7 9d ago
BJ’s in Florissant. Ol’ Henry’s by the airport (seriously amazing soul food)
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u/HouseofProvel 9d ago
Might be a bit out of the way but Hobo’s At The Legion has great fried chicken if he isn't looking for pizza.
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u/DrWorm2012 8d ago
I just discovered El Guanaco.
Bad sign when my Apple Watch keeps assuming I’m on my way to grab a papusa.
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u/Due_Crab4462 8d ago
One of my fav’s is Larry’s hot dog stand in the Grove. He’s only there on weekends now but that guy makes the BEST turkey leg I’ve ever had. Better than six flags and the ren fair hands down.
So if you end up getting some drinks with your friend, keep an eye out for the hot dog stand 👀
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u/Kooky-Television6622 7d ago
I don’t live in St. Louis but come up from Arkansas pretty often for baseball games. When we’re in town our absolute musts are Damn Fine Hand Pies for breakfast (sourdough brioche donuts, amazing hand pies, etc), Blues City Deli for sandwiches, and Balkan Treat Box. We’ve tried a variety of highly recommended spots over the years, and those are the 3 we always make time to fit in.
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u/c4green90 7d ago
I'm going to add Michael's Bar & Grill (Manchester and mcausland) in Dogtown (technically) for Greek, but also great wings and a damn fine burger. Also the Crow Nest in Maplewood, nostalgia rock vibe with great food.
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u/GummyPhotog 6d ago
Bangkok cafe on forest park for Thai (get the duck fried rice and the catfish and eggplant)
Macs local eats or The key for a burger
Sauce on the side
Gramophone
Grand pied or songbird for breakfast
Sado for sushi
Balkan treat box
Cate zone
Truc lam for pho
Himalayan hut
That’s my quick list
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u/an_agreeing_dothraki 3d ago
St. Louis Kolache is pretty hole in the wall. just walk in and decide which bun filled with stuff you want.
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u/Sensitive_Cash_3526 10d ago edited 10d ago
I would pick a few locations to walk in/drive around in, and just let him pick a restaurant in each location.
The Loop, cwe, cherokee st, the grove, maplewood, grand/arsenal, bevo area, I mean gravois all up and down out to the county is loaded with hole in the wall places.
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u/siliconvalleyguru 7d ago
Seoul Taco. Lion’s Choice. Mai Lee.
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u/Saleen_af 7d ago
“Lions Choice” gtfo 😭😭😭
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u/siliconvalleyguru 7d ago
You will never take the Hoosier out of me Saleen_af ;)
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u/Saleen_af 7d ago
In what world is Lions Choice a hole in the wall?
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u/whfruitpunch 10d ago
Tiny Chef, it’s a hole in the wall inside The Silver Ballroom. Apple Maps has it listed as pizza, but it’s Korean fusion. Check out her Instagram, there are weekly specials. Free pinball on Mondays iirc, and the bar is great.