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20 Things to Eat in St. Louis Before You Die

By on Fri, Aug 9, 2019 at 9:30 pm

From toasted ravioli to the sweet treat that gets served to you upside-down, these are all of the St. Louis specialties that you must try before heading off to that great Cardinals game in the sky.

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Slinger A hamburger smothered with eggs, hash browns, chili and cheese may sound like a bad decision, but head to any greasy spoon at 3 a.m., and you won't be the only bleary-eyed patron trying to soak up the booze with a slinger. Photo credit: courtesy of Eat Rite
Slinger
A hamburger smothered with eggs, hash browns, chili and cheese may sound like a bad decision, but head to any greasy spoon at 3 a.m., and you won't be the only bleary-eyed patron trying to soak up the booze with a slinger.

Photo credit: courtesy of Eat Rite
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Gooey Butter Cake Legend has it that gooey butter cake came about because a baker made the mistake of accidentally doubling the butter in a yellow cake recipe. It may have been unintentional, but the gooey result has become the defining dessert of St. Louis. Photo credit: courtesy of Park Avenue Coffee
Gooey Butter Cake
Legend has it that gooey butter cake came about because a baker made the mistake of accidentally doubling the butter in a yellow cake recipe. It may have been unintentional, but the gooey result has become the defining dessert of St. Louis.

Photo credit: courtesy of Park Avenue Coffee
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Toasted Ravioli It's hard to understand why such a perfect finger food has failed to make a splash outside the Gateway City, but for now, these golden-fried, meat-filled pillows we call "toasted ravioli" remain a St. Louis-centric dish. Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
Toasted Ravioli
It's hard to understand why such a perfect finger food has failed to make a splash outside the Gateway City, but for now, these golden-fried, meat-filled pillows we call "toasted ravioli" remain a St. Louis-centric dish.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
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St. Louis-Style Pizza Unless you're a native St. Louisan, you're likely to greet the city's beloved thin pizza with a raised eyebrow. Suspend your closed-minded certainty about what pizza should be and surrender to this molten, thin-crust Provel-covered beauty. Photo credit: Jaime Lees
St. Louis-Style Pizza
Unless you're a native St. Louisan, you're likely to greet the city's beloved thin pizza with a raised eyebrow. Suspend your closed-minded certainty about what pizza should be and surrender to this molten, thin-crust Provel-covered beauty.

Photo credit: Jaime Lees
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Concrete No, this delicacy has nothing to do with pavement. The frozen custard dessert from Ted Drewes (two locations including 6726 Chippewa Street; 314-481-2652) gets its name from a texture that is so thick, you can turn it upside-down after it's served, and not a drop will drip out — that is, if it's done right. Photo credit: Ian Froeb
Concrete
No, this delicacy has nothing to do with pavement. The frozen custard dessert from Ted Drewes (two locations including 6726 Chippewa Street; 314-481-2652) gets its name from a texture that is so thick, you can turn it upside-down after it's served, and not a drop will drip out — that is, if it's done right.

Photo credit: Ian Froeb
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Gerber Sandwich What's better than cheesy garlic bread? Cheesy garlic bread topped with ham, of course. This open-faced sandwich is a molten mess of buttery garlic bread, Provel cheese, ham and a paprika garnish. Photo credit: Mabel Suen
Gerber Sandwich
What's better than cheesy garlic bread? Cheesy garlic bread topped with ham, of course. This open-faced sandwich is a molten mess of buttery garlic bread, Provel cheese, ham and a paprika garnish.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen
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Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets These chips punish the soft palates of devotees with searing spice even while rewarding them with tangy, barbecue-flavored bliss. These smoking-hot St. Louis-made snacks are also salvation for bland sandwiches. Photo credit: Mabel Suen
Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets
These chips punish the soft palates of devotees with searing spice even while rewarding them with tangy, barbecue-flavored bliss. These smoking-hot St. Louis-made snacks are also salvation for bland sandwiches.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen
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Crown Candy Kitchen's malt With just the right amount of frosty chill, the malts at Crown Candy Kitchen (1401 St. Louis Avenue; 314-621-9650) deliver flavor without overload or brain freeze. Even the base vanilla option delivers an astonishing, elemental satisfaction. Photo credit: Kelly Glueck
Crown Candy Kitchen's malt
With just the right amount of frosty chill, the malts at Crown Candy Kitchen (1401 St. Louis Avenue; 314-621-9650) deliver flavor without overload or brain freeze. Even the base vanilla option delivers an astonishing, elemental satisfaction.

Photo credit: Kelly Glueck
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Gus' Pretzels These classic pretzels are baked daily in the same family-owned shop that opened in 1920, they are blessedly free of grease or wayward mustard, and they provide dense and salty nourishment. Photo credit: Mabel Suen
Gus' Pretzels
These classic pretzels are baked daily in the same family-owned shop that opened in 1920, they are blessedly free of grease or wayward mustard, and they provide dense and salty nourishment.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen
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Pimped Out Pickles Pimped Out Pickles opened with a menu selection that's as comprehensive as it is eclectic — including flavors like piña colada pickles, the popular "Sweet-n-Spicy," and fruit-flavored pickles including strawberry, pineapple and black cherry. Photo credit: Jessica Lussenhop
Pimped Out Pickles
Pimped Out Pickles opened with a menu selection that's as comprehensive as it is eclectic — including flavors like piña colada pickles, the popular "Sweet-n-Spicy," and fruit-flavored pickles including strawberry, pineapple and black cherry.

Photo credit: Jessica Lussenhop
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Billy Goat Chips Billy Goat Chips so effortlessly crunchy and substantial that you won't even be tempted to tilt that brown bag into your maw. You'll want to savor these babies chip by chip. Photo credit: Deborah Hyland
Billy Goat Chips
Billy Goat Chips so effortlessly crunchy and substantial that you won't even be tempted to tilt that brown bag into your maw. You'll want to savor these babies chip by chip.

Photo credit: Deborah Hyland
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Mayfair Dressing Downtown's famous Mayfair Hotel may have come and gone, but the salad dressing concocted at its five-star restaurant remains a St. Louis tradition. Enjoy this rich, anchovy-laden cousin to Caesar at many restaurants around town. Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
Mayfair Dressing
Downtown's famous Mayfair Hotel may have come and gone, but the salad dressing concocted at its five-star restaurant remains a St. Louis tradition. Enjoy this rich, anchovy-laden cousin to Caesar at many restaurants around town.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
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Bread-Sliced Bagels from the Bread Co. If you're from St. Louis, you know that "Panera" is really the St. Louis Bread Company (multiple locations including 2375 Lindbergh Boulevard; 314-831-9100), and that they pioneered the "bread-sliced" bagel. Instead of just one cut across the middle, these bagels are sliced vertically, and we swear they taste better that way. Photo credit: Daniel Hill
Bread-Sliced Bagels from the Bread Co.
If you're from St. Louis, you know that "Panera" is really the St. Louis Bread Company (multiple locations including 2375 Lindbergh Boulevard; 314-831-9100), and that they pioneered the "bread-sliced" bagel. Instead of just one cut across the middle, these bagels are sliced vertically, and we swear they taste better that way.

Photo credit: Daniel Hill
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Fitz's Root Beer Float The menu at Fitz's (6605 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-9555) contains dozens of float options, although you can't go wrong with a classic root beer with a mountain of ice cream slowly melting atop of stein full of root beer. Photo credit: Mabel Suen
Fitz's Root Beer Float
The menu at Fitz's (6605 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-9555) contains dozens of float options, although you can't go wrong with a classic root beer with a mountain of ice cream slowly melting atop of stein full of root beer.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen
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"Famous Barr" French Onion Soup This soup that was served at the cafe inside shuttered St. Louis department store Famous Barr was so beloved that many local restaurants have a recreated version on their menu. Try the version at Circa STL (1090 Des Peres Road, Des Peres; 314-394-1196) — the restaurant in Des Peres that serves classic St. Louis dishes. Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
"Famous Barr" French Onion Soup
This soup that was served at the cafe inside shuttered St. Louis department store Famous Barr was so beloved that many local restaurants have a recreated version on their menu. Try the version at Circa STL (1090 Des Peres Road, Des Peres; 314-394-1196) — the restaurant in Des Peres that serves classic St. Louis dishes.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske
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Pork Steak A staple of south-city barbecues, this marbled cut of pork shoulder is the definition of St. Louis-style barbecue. The pork is smothered in tangy, tomato-based sauce that's usually both beer-spiked and paired with a Bud Heavy. Photo credit: Mabel Suen
Pork Steak
A staple of south-city barbecues, this marbled cut of pork shoulder is the definition of St. Louis-style barbecue. The pork is smothered in tangy, tomato-based sauce that's usually both beer-spiked and paired with a Bud Heavy.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen
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St. Paul Sandwich Duck into one of the city's hole-in-the-wall chop suey joints to try this simple egg sandwich: an egg foo young patty topped with pickles, white onion, iceberg lettuce and mayonnaise. Photo credit: Eugene Kim / Flickr
St. Paul Sandwich
Duck into one of the city's hole-in-the-wall chop suey joints to try this simple egg sandwich: an egg foo young patty topped with pickles, white onion, iceberg lettuce and mayonnaise.

Photo credit: Eugene Kim / Flickr
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Dad's Cookies Dad's Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookie is, to put it lightly, the perfect cookie. Unadorned by raisins, it's sized conveniently for popping into your mouth, but also holds up to light nibbling without leaving you covered in crumbs. Photo credit: Deborah Hyland
Dad's Cookies
Dad's Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookie is, to put it lightly, the perfect cookie. Unadorned by raisins, it's sized conveniently for popping into your mouth, but also holds up to light nibbling without leaving you covered in crumbs.

Photo credit: Deborah Hyland
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Vess Soda Vess sodas have brought joy to St. Louis for generations, and the fact that these iconic cans and bottles still fill the shelves of local gas stations and corner stores is a minor miracle. Photo credit: Phil Roussin / Flickr
Vess Soda
Vess sodas have brought joy to St. Louis for generations, and the fact that these iconic cans and bottles still fill the shelves of local gas stations and corner stores is a minor miracle.

Photo credit: Phil Roussin / Flickr
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Switzer's Licorice While Twizzlers may own the supermarket aisles, in St. Louis, Switzer's is king: The candy's founder was peddling the stuff by cart in 1888. Switzer’s licorice twists and bites are shipped out fresh so they burst with flavor. Photo credit: Katherine Johnson / Flickr
Switzer's Licorice
While Twizzlers may own the supermarket aisles, in St. Louis, Switzer's is king: The candy's founder was peddling the stuff by cart in 1888. Switzer’s licorice twists and bites are shipped out fresh so they burst with flavor.

Photo credit: Katherine Johnson / Flickr
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