I'm no professional chef, but I do like some good eats (Alton Brown reference, anyone?) tickling the palate. And being no stranger to St. Louis, I can say that the good ol' West of the Mississippi can deliver some delicious food. Whether it's our very own toasted ravioli or a take on Chicago dogs, the local restaurants always satisfy with quality. But sometimes I need a little kick in a foreign direction. St. Louis is a very diverse city, so it's no wonder that we have some of the best non-Western restaurants I've ever had the delight of experiencing. So, without further ado, I give you this mouth-watering list. And by the way, this is by no means in any order of quality; they're all to die for!
1. The Vine Mediterranean Café and Market
Situated in the heart of South Grand, this hidden gem will reel you in multiple times a week. They boast an affordable appetizer combo for $14.99, which is a four for three appetizer deal! You can pair tangy stuffed grape leaves with sweet, acidic baba ganough. Finish with falafels and a plate of makdoos! This is, of course, my personal favorite combo. Another favorite of mine, the sautéed veggie sandwich, overflows with cauliflower, tomatoes, green pepper, and onions, all sautéed and marrying in rich, well-seasoned harmony. And the best part? Everything I've mentioned so far is completely vegan! But if you're a meat eater, don't be deterred! You can also get some juicy shawarma on a thick bed of beautifully cooked rice, or go with many other options featuring lamb, chicken, and beef. And if you like hookah, then you're in luck! You can sit on their beautiful patio, sipping your mint smoothie and puffing on a cloud almost as delicious as your tender chops. If you're looking for quick service and a great atmosphere (featuring squishy couch seating and what sounds like electro middle eastern house music), go to one of my St. Louis favorites!
2. Joy Luck
Move over, other buffets! Joy Luck is an immensely popular Chinese joint right off of Manchester in Brentwood. Their buffet features sushi, a custom stir fry bar, ice cream, and standard buffet products that step up in quality (read: less grease and more seasoning). And if you aren't looking for regular Americanized Chinese food, then there's a little secret they have- a literal secret menu. You have to ask the host/hostess when you first enter, or else they will always assume you're visiting for the buffet. I recommend a hotpot, which is kind of like a customizable stew. You choose the broth you want, and it comes with loads of different surf and turf proteins. There's even a sauce station where you can customize your perfect chef-like kick to your Chinese food paradise. Great service, and even greater food!
3. King & I Thai
South Grand really does have some amazing restaurants, so here's another delicious spot from said street. A two minute walk from The Vine, if you're not in the mood for some pita and hummus, then get ready to immerse yourself in veggies and noodles! Their Pad Thai has to be the best I've had in St. Louis, and their tofu? Cooked to perfection. But my absolute, hands down favorite: fresh rolls. I have never had a bigger, more flavorful roll in my entire life! If you don't know what a fresh roll is, it's like a lighter, unfried spring roll. There's almost always vermicelli, cabbage, and tofu in them, but different places add different ingredients. And then, it's all wrapped up in sticky rice paper and served with peanut dipping sauce. The fresh rolls from here are huge. And the spices infused into every dish lends to an overall aroma that keeps tugging you back from the moment you first walk in. The best part is they let you customize almost everything. Want noodles instead of rice? No problem! No mushrooms? As you wish!
4. Truc Lam
The name, if you don't speak the language, doesn't really indicate what nationality this restaurant represents. Let me give you a hint: if you like pho, you're in for a treat. This Vietnamese wonder is little known compared to some of its bigger competitors like Bahn Mi So, Mai Lee, and Pho Grand.
Let me give you some background on pho. It's a broth-y treat made traditionally with rice noodles and either beef or chicken. The people of Vietnam eat it like we eat cereal. It's a very common morning delight! And they sell is as street food too, like we sell hot dogs in New York. The main thing that sets a pho from good to bad would be the broth. You need the perfect seasoning, juice, and heat all at the same time. Umami is critical (fun fact: Doritos are said to have the most umami from culinary experts. Can you imagine?) in making the perfect pho.
Truc Lam has the best broth I've had the delight of tasting out of all the pho-selling places I've been to. Their spring rolls, while not being King & I style, are still worth every penny as well, especially if you don't want one that can't fit in your mouth. So head to Gravois for a foreign chicken noodle soup!
5. Troy Mediterranean Cuisine
I know what you're thinking: She already covered Mediterranean! Well, I did. But it's such an expansive, generalized term. This restaurant, rather than covering all things falafel and shawarma, delves into gyros and delectable khachapuri. Do not gloss over the gyros, especially. They feature meat carved straight from the spit and fluffy, flaky, airy, and buttery homemade bread. And they're HUGE! It takes me all day to finish one gyro, which is about as big as my head. But don't let that deter you from ordering a feast fit for a king, because everything on this menu is worth even more than they sell it for- did I mention the food is astoundingly cheap? $5.99 for said gyro!
Before I finish though, I would like to make one thing abundantly clear. Make sure you don't leave without ordering a somsa (also called samosa) or two. They're like biscuits with filling. Basically, an eastern empanada. The ones featured at Troy are stuffed with spinach and cheese, ground beef, or squash (which may or may not also be pumpkin). My personal favorite is the spinach and cheese, but if you're a complete carnivore, the ground beef is seasoned with a special kick. And if you're needing something to hit the sweet spot without going overboard, the squash is a perfect, warm, and gooey concoction. If you need super cheap ethnic, then go to Troy, located off of Big Bend in Valley Park!
Even if you're not a fan of ethnic food, every place I've listed offers dishes that don't involve shrimp heads or fried spiders (a Cambodian treat). Don't just stand in line at that normie chain restaurant. Go out and explore St. Louis cuisine once in a while! It's not just gooey butter cake or toasted ravioli that makes our city a culinary delight, but it's also all the cultures that are the foundation of this diverse melting pot.
