3453 Hampton Ave, Lindenwood Park, St. Louis, MO 63139
Chef-owner Steven Pursley’s commitment to house-made noodles scratches the surface of his approach to Menya Rui, a low-profile concept that invites you into the sensory experience and steady pace of the shops in Japan where he spent three years honing his craft. Wait your way to the front of the ever-present line out front, and you’ll be rewarded with a few blissful minutes inside spent hovering over one of Pursley’s delicacies. The menu focuses on Shoyu, Mazemen, and Tsukemen styles—each composed with such taut attention to detail that it’s impossible to name a favorite. There’s considerable buzz about his upcoming second concept, Kishimoto Mendō, which Pursley plans to dedicate to the exploration of the Tonkotsu style.
8106 Olive Blvd, University City, St. Louis, MO 63130
You can’t get more bare bones than Soup Dumplings STL, and the minimalist decor feels right for a shop where the menu takes the same approach. Here, the only frills you’ll find are the pleated soup dumplings that diners can watch being constructed from their tables. Although the restaurant has a handful of other items, the dumplings are what to plan your visit around—the pork variety in particular will make you marvel at how much richness and complexity one can swaddle in dumpling skin. Although takeout is an option, it’s best to sit in to experience the soup dumplings at their peak temperature; it’s not a place where most linger, so tables turn over regularly.
2800 Shenandoah Ave, Fox Park, St. Louis, MO 63104
There may be no restaurant in St. Louis more universally beloved than Little Fox. The allure lies in its ability to subtly and consistently exceed expectations. Cocktails are sophisticated but familiar; dishes are gracefully complex but never showy; the extra napkin or second spoon you need materializes out of nowhere. It’s a restaurant where everything—from potato churros to sea scallops to baked eggs—will be your favorite thing. Although you’d never know it by the cozy neighborhood feel, Little Fox routinely lands at the top of “best of” lists for both its beverage programs, hospitality, and chef Craig Rivard’s exquisite menu.
3279 Hampton Ave, Northampton, St. Louis, MO 63139
On its surface, Mestiza could be mistaken for any other counterservice taco restaurant; what’s happening inside is anything but. Owners Angel Jiménez-Gutiérrez and Alex Ayala could have played it safe by sticking with familiar options like carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas. Instead, they chose a riskier route, offering up regional tacos like campechano (mixed meat) and cochinita pibil to the masses with the hope that the city would trust their vision. The gamble has paid off, and now, it’s as common to hear orders for tripa (beef intestines) as it is for birria. Carryout is easy here, but it’s best to sit in, cool off with a cantarito—a refreshing citrus-based tequila beverage served in a clay cup—and eat your way through the menu.
