La Vallesana is a street-food stop in Cherokee Street, St. Louis.
Editorially verified May 28, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: The al pastor tacos and the chicken chipotle torta are the orders. The patio and aguas frescas suit a warm afternoon.
Address: 2801 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
A family-run Overland taqueria, Durango is famous for the torta ahogada, a pork sandwich drowned in spicy red chile, with big portions for cheap.
Try: Torta ahogada and tacos
Tip: The torta ahogada is the signature; come hungry. Everyone can eat for under ten dollars here.
Founded by musician Steve Ewing, Steve's loads creative toppings onto griddled dogs on South Grand and has been voted the city's best, a cult counter spot.
Try: St. Louis-style loaded hot dogs
Tip: The over-the-top loaded dogs are the draw; the Get Down dog is a favourite. Counter service, fast turnaround.
Opened in 1920 near the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Gus' Pretzels hand-twists soft pretzels and pretzel-wrapped sausages, a Benton Park snack-counter institution.
Try: Hand-twisted soft pretzels
Tip: Get a fresh hot pretzel or a salami-stuffed pretzel stick. It is a snack stop, not a sit-down meal.
A drive-in near the airport, Woofie's has sold Chicago-style hot dogs since the 1970s, billing itself the home of the hotdog with dignity. A retro counter.
Try: Chicago-style hot dogs
Tip: Order it Chicago-style, dragged through the garden. It is a quick roadside stop near the airport.
A 16-stool roadside drive-in of six decades, Carl's griddles crispy-edged burgers and pours house-made root beer, a Route-66-era St. Louis time capsule.
Try: Crispy-edged burgers and root beer
Tip: Grab a stool, order a double with root beer. There are only 16 seats, so expect a short wait at peak.
Open since 1913, Crown Candy is the metro's oldest soda fountain, slinging hand-made malts, a towering BLT and chili in an Old North parlour frozen in time.
Try: Soda-fountain malts and BLTs
Tip: The malt challenge and the bacon-heavy BLT are the orders. Expect a weekend line for one of the city's oldest counters.
