Private Food Tasting Walking Tour in Saint Louis Downtown
Satisfy your culinary curiosity with a private tour that takes you on a flavorful journey through some of the city's most beloved dining spots.
Hodak's Restaurant & Bar is a fried chicken restaurant in Benton Park, St. Louis.
Editorially verified May 28, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: The fried chicken dinner with sides.
Tip: The fried chicken is the only thing most regulars order; pair it with the slaw and a cold draft. Expect a wait on Friday nights.
Satisfy your culinary curiosity with a private tour that takes you on a flavorful journey through some of the city's most beloved dining spots.
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Address: 2100 Gravois Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
David Choi's 2011 food truck grew into a small Korean-Mexican chain built on bulgogi tacos and kimchi-fried-rice bowls. The Chouteau kitchen is the original.
Order: The Seoul taco and the gogi bowl with bulgogi.
Tip: The gogi bowl feeds two if you are light eaters; add the chips and queso. Counter service, fast turnaround.
Rick and Elisa Lewis run this Grove meat-and-three around some of the best fried chicken in Missouri, ordered at the counter. Rick is a James Beard nominee.
Order: The fried chicken and a rotating trio of vegetable sides.
Tip: It is counter service; the half chicken plus three sides feeds two. Smoked meats sell through, so come early on weekends.
Lu Lu has run cart-rolled dim sum and Cantonese seafood on the Olive Boulevard Chinese strip for years. The weekend dim sum draws regulars to University City.
Order: Cart-rolled dim sum at lunch and the salt-and-pepper shrimp.
Tip: Come for weekend dim sum before noon for the fullest carts. Salt-and-pepper dishes and steamed fish are the standouts off the menu.
The Bahrami family has plated Persian kabobs, fesenjan and herbed stews on South Grand for decades, anchoring the restaurant row of Tower Grove South.
Order: Fesenjan and kabobs over saffron rice with eggplant dishes.
Tip: The vegetarian stews and the eggplant dishes are as strong as the kabobs.
Sameem plates Afghan kabuli palaw, aushak dumplings and grilled kabobs in The Grove, an affordable kitchen that has fed the city Afghan classics for years.
Order: Aushak leek dumplings, kabuli palaw and sambosas.
Tip: The aushak leek dumplings under yogurt and meat sauce are the order to lead with. Plenty of vegetarian dishes too.
STL Toasted took over the old Mama Toscano's space on The Hill and built a counter entirely around toasted ravioli, the breaded-and-fried dish born here.
Order: Toasted ravioli, the dish the shop is built around.
Tip: Hours are limited to the weekend, so plan a Friday-to-Sunday visit. Order the t-ravs by the dozen with marinara.