CuisineChinese
Price$$
NeighborhoodUniversity City
HoursMon-Sun 11:00-21:00
Last verified

Why locals love it: Off the Olive Boulevard Chinese strip far from downtown, Lu Lu runs cart-rolled weekend dim sum that draws Chinese-food regulars who know to drive out.

Tip: Come for weekend dim sum before noon for the fullest carts. Salt-and-pepper dishes are the off-menu standouts.

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Location

Address: 8224 Olive Blvd, University City, MO 63132, St. Louis

More hidden gems in St. Louis

Cocina Latina ★ 4.1

$$ PeruvianCentral West End

Cocina Latina (Peruvian) in St Louis: Order the aji de gallina or ropa vieja with a pisco sour; it is an easy, affordable CWE meal a block off the busy core.

Why locals goAround the corner from the Euclid restaurant strip, Maritza Rios's modest Peruvian-Cuban-Colombian kitchen turns out aji de gallina and ropa vieja most visitors never spot.

TipOrder the aji de gallina or ropa vieja with a pisco sour; it is an easy, affordable CWE meal a block off the busy core.

Coffeestamp ★ 4.2

$$ CafeBenton Park

Coffeestamp is a tiny south city micro-roastery near cherokee street, coffeestamp roasts honduran-focused beans that quietly rank among the city's best.

Why locals goA tiny South City micro-roastery near Cherokee Street, Coffeestamp roasts Honduran-focused beans that quietly rank among the city's best.

TipAsk about the Honduran lots the brothers source directly. The cafe is small, so it is more a quick stop than a hangout.

Federhofer's Bakery ★ 4.1

$$ BakeryAffton

Federhofer's Bakery (Bakery) in St Louis: Its gooey butter is a denser, old-school style than the cream-cheese versions. Come early for the freshest cases.

Why locals goA suburban Affton bakery off the tourist map, Federhofer's makes a distinctive gooey butter cake without cream cheese or powdered sugar that locals adore.

TipIts gooey butter is a denser, old-school style than the cream-cheese versions. Come early for the freshest cases.

Woofie's Hot Dogs ★ 3.9

$$ American dinerOverland

Woofie's Hot Dogs on Woodson Rd in Overland is the 1970s drive-in near the airport that has sold more than a million Chicago-style dogs to date.

Why locals goA modest Overland drive-in near the airport, Woofie's has sold a million-plus Chicago-style dogs since the 1970s with almost no tourist attention.

TipOrder it Chicago-style, dragged through the garden. It is a quick roadside stop most visitors never discover near the airport.

Venice Cafe ★ 4.2

$$ CafeBenton Park

Venice Cafe is a cafe room in Benton Park. The art-covered patio is the whole point; come on a warm evening with live music. Cash is handy here.

Why locals goA Benton Park bar covered floor-to-ceiling in mosaic and folk art, Venice Cafe is a surreal hidden world that few first-time visitors manage to find.

TipThe art-covered patio is the whole point; come on a warm evening with live music. Cash is handy here.

Mokabe's Coffeehouse ★ 4.0

$$ VeganTower Grove South

Mokabe's Coffeehouse (Vegan) in St Louis: The all-day vegan and vegetarian brunch is rare in the city. It fills after the Saturday Tower Grove market.

Why locals goA welcoming, longtime LGBTQ anchor across from Tower Grove Park, Mokabe's serves a rare all-day vegetarian brunch that visitors rarely find on their own.

TipThe all-day vegan and vegetarian brunch is rare in the city. It fills after the Saturday Tower Grove market.

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