The Top 8 Essential Foods You Must Try in St. Louis
From toasted ravioli to gooey butter cake, discover St. Louis’s iconic dishes and where to find the city’s most beloved flavors.
St. Louis, Missouri, is renowned not only for its iconic Gateway Arch and baseball heritage but also for its distinctive, hearty, and sometimes surprising local cuisine. Blending deep immigrant roots, innovative spirit, and an unabashed love for comfort food, St. Louis’s culinary identity shines through a handful of beloved dishes. Here are the top eight foods every visitor and local should experience, along with the stories behind them and where to enjoy them at their very best.
1. Toasted Ravioli
What’s to love: Crisp, meaty bites topped with Parmesan and served with marinara.
- Origins: Toasted ravioli is considered an edible emblem of St. Louis’s vibrant Italian-American community, especially from the historic neighborhood known as The Hill.
- Description: These aren’t your typical ravioli. Instead, they are breaded and quickly deep-fried (not toasted, despite the name), offering a crispy exterior and a warm, flavorful filling, often made with ground beef, cheese, or creative variations like buffalo chicken.
- Serving Style: Usually, they’re topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan and paired with a side of zesty marinara sauce.
- Best Place to Get It: Farotto’s has been serving legendary toasted ravioli since 1956. Many local Italian restaurants feature this as an appetizer.
2. Pork Steak
What’s to love: Juicy pork shoulder steaks, grilled and slathered in rich barbecue sauce.
- St. Louis Tradition: Pork steak is a grilling staple at backyard barbecues, especially during summer holidays. The cut comes from the shoulder and is especially tender after slow-cooking or grilling.
- Flavor Profile: The generous marbling makes the steak succulent, while the barbecue sauce adds tang and sweetness unique to the city’s barbecue scene.
- Best Place to Try: Try the expertly prepared pork steak at Hwy 61 Roadhouse, a perennial favorite for barbecue aficionados.
3. St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake
What’s to love: Buttery, decadently sweet cake with a tender crust and gooey filling.
- Backstory: Believed to have originated from a baker’s happy accident in the 1930s, gooey butter cake is now a beloved treat throughout the region.
- Description: At its heart, this dessert is simple: a thin layer of dense, buttery cake topped with a gooey, almost custard-like filling, dusted with powdered sugar.
- Serving Advice: Enjoy it fresh or with a cup of coffee for the ultimate St. Louis breakfast or snack.
- Best Place to Get It: Sample classic versions at renowned bakeries throughout the city, including neighborhood shops in South City that have perfected the sweet treat.
4. St. Louis–Style Pizza
What’s to love: Ultra-thin, crispy crust with gooey Provel cheese melted on top, cut into convenient squares.
- Unique Features: St. Louis–style pizza stands apart from other pizza styles thanks to its cracker-thin crust and the use of Provel, a processed cheese blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone found almost exclusively in St. Louis.
- Presentation: Instead of wedges, pies are famously sliced into three- to four-inch squares.
- Flavor: Provel’s low moisture and signature ‘creamy’ melt make it polarizing for newcomers but totally irresistible once acclimated.
- Best Place to Try: Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas is a family-owned spot offering the city’s classic pizza experience since 1988.
5. The Slinger
What’s to love: All your breakfast favorites, layered high and covered in hearty chili.
- Description: The slinger is an over-the-top diner essential: eggs (any style), potatoes (typically hash browns), and a choice of meat—all drenched in chili and, sometimes, topped with cheese or onions.
- Tradition: It started out as late-night sustenance for shift workers and party-goers but is now a celebrated part of St. Louis’s breakfast scene.
- Best Place to Get It: Chili Mac’s Diner remains a legendary spot to satisfy a slinger craving any time of day.
6. St. Paul Sandwich
What’s to love: An inventive East-West mashup: egg foo young patty between two slices of white bread with the works.
- Origin Story: Created by St. Louis’s Chinese-American chefs, the St. Paul sandwich layers egg foo young (egg and meat patty usually with bean sprouts and onions) with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo.
- Serving Style: Typically found at family-run Chinese takeout spots. The result is crunchy, rich, and wholly satisfying.
- Best Place to Get It: Local Chinese restaurants across the city carry their own distinct versions; check out neighborhood mainstays in north and south St. Louis.
7. Fitz’s Root Beer
What’s to love: Handcrafted, old-fashioned root beer served in classic bottles or creamy floats.
- History: Fitz’s has been bottling root beer in St. Louis since 1947. The brand experienced a revival in the 1990s, continuing its legacy with classic recipes and a lively bottling plant restaurant in the Delmar Loop.
- Signature Beverage: The root beer is known for its smooth, rich flavor and strong vanilla notes, served cold—often topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as a float.
- Best Place to Try: Visit Fitz’s Bottling Company in the Delmar Loop to see the soda bottled and enjoy classic American fare.
8. St. Louis-Style Ribs
What’s to love: Meaty, neatly trimmed ribs with a caramelized, slightly sweet barbecue bark.
- Unique Cut: Unlike baby back ribs, St. Louis–style ribs are cut from the belly and trimmed into a neat rectangle, creating a tender, juicy slab perfect for barbecuing.
- Preparation: Ribs are typically slow-cooked or smoked, then glazed in the region’s tomato-based barbecue sauce, which is a touch sweeter than Kansas City–style.
- Best Place to Try: Sample at classic barbecue joints and regional favorites throughout the city.
Where to Eat: Top Venues for Classic St. Louis Dishes
- Farotto’s (Toasted Ravioli): Generations have grown up on Farotto’s crispy ravioli, making it a go-to for both locals and visitors.
- Hwy 61 Roadhouse (Pork Steak): A showcase for St. Louis’s barbecue roots, serving pork steak with plenty of savory, smoky flavor.
- Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas (St. Louis–style Pizza): Arrays of Provel-topped pies in the heart of The Hill neighborhood.
- Chili Mac’s Diner (Slinger): Sit among regulars at the counter and dig into this famous overloaded breakfast plate.
- Neighborhood Bakeries (Gooey Butter Cake): Check out a lineup of beloved South City bakeries for authentic, house-made gooey butter cake.
- Fitz’s Bottling Company (Root Beer): Enjoy a float from the source and watch classic glass bottles travel the line.
Food Traditions: The Hill and Beyond
St. Louis’s food culture is deeply intertwined with its immigrant heritage. The Hill, the city’s historic Italian neighborhood, is famous for its family-run delis, bakeries, and trattorias that keep the city’s signature flavors alive. From toasted ravioli to hearty red sauce pastas and fresh bread, The Hill’s establishments have anchored local dining for generations. Outside The Hill, waves of new arrivals continue to reshape the city’s foodscape with influences from Mexico, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Ghana, and beyond—making St. Louis one of the Midwest’s most dynamic culinary cities.
FAQs About St. Louis Food
Q: What makes St. Louis–style pizza different from other pizza styles?
A: It’s all about the crust and cheese. The ultra-thin, cracker-like crust is topped with Provel, a uniquely St. Louis blend not found elsewhere, offering a creamy melt and tangy flavor. The pies are also sliced into squares, not wedges.
Q: Where can I try toasted ravioli if I’m visiting for the first time?
A: Farotto’s is a classic choice, but you’ll find excellent toasted ravioli at many Italian-American restaurants throughout The Hill.
Q: Is gooey butter cake served as dessert or breakfast?
A: Both! While originally considered a cake, it’s commonly enjoyed as breakfast or an afternoon snack, thanks to its sweet, indulgent texture.
Q: What’s inside a St. Paul sandwich?
A: The core is an egg foo young patty, typically with pork or chicken, and comes with crunchy lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo between slices of soft white bread.
Q: Which local beverage should I try with my meal?
A: Fitz’s root beer—a local staple since 1947—served ice cold or as a float, is a classic treat alongside many quintessential St. Louis dishes.
St. Louis Food Bucket List
- Sample toasted ravioli and pizza on The Hill.
- Order a slinger for breakfast at a traditional diner.
- Treat yourself to a slice of gooey butter cake from a neighborhood bakery.
- Savor pork steak or St. Louis–style ribs at a local barbecue joint.
- Wash it all down with a hand-crafted Fitz’s root beer float.
Table: Signature St. Louis Dishes and Where to Try Them
| Dish | Description | Where to Try |
|---|---|---|
| Toasted Ravioli | Fried, breaded ravioli with meat or cheese, served with marinara | Farotto’s, The Hill |
| Pork Steak | Grilled pork shoulder steak, covered in barbecue sauce | Hwy 61 Roadhouse |
| Gooey Butter Cake | Dense cake with a sweet, gooey topping | South City bakeries |
| St. Louis–Style Pizza | Thin crust, Provel cheese, cut into squares | Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas |
| Slinger | Eggs, potatoes, meat, and chili in a single breakfast pile | Chili Mac’s Diner |
| St. Paul Sandwich | Egg foo young patty on white bread with fixings | Neighborhood Chinese restaurants |
| Fitz’s Root Beer | House-made, classic bottled root beer | Fitz’s Bottling Company |
| St. Louis-Style Ribs | Meaty, rectangular, caramelized barbecue ribs | Local barbecue joints |
Final Thoughts
St. Louis’s best-loved foods are more than just a reflection of its history—they’re an invitation to experience the city’s warm hospitality and inventive spirit. Whether you’re delving into the legacy of Italian-Americans on The Hill, gathering for a backyard barbecue, or sitting at the counter of a classic diner, you’ll taste the city’s story in every bite. Bring your appetite—and your sense of adventure—on your next culinary journey to St. Louis.
