central-west-end
Maritza Rios runs a Peruvian-leaning Latin kitchen on Euclid, plating aji de gallina, ropa vieja and rotisserie chicken at quick-counter prices.
Try: Peruvian and Latin small plates
Tip: Order the aji de gallina or a chicken plate; mains stay in the low double digits and travel well for a walk along Euclid.
tower-grove-south
Grand Bistro relaunches the Trinh family's South Grand Vietnamese in the former Pho Grand room, ladling pho and com tam at counter-style prices.
Try: Vietnamese pho and rice plates
Tip: Pho dac biet is the order; eat in or grab takeaway and walk the strip. The Trinh family ran Pho Grand here before reopening as Grand Bistro.
the-grove
David Choi's Korean-Mexican counter griddles bulgogi tacos and kimchi-fried-rice gogi bowls, the brick-and-mortar original of a food-truck-born local chain.
Try: Korean-Mexican tacos and bowls
Tip: The gogi bowl with bulgogi feeds two; add the chips and queso. Fast counter service.
grand-center
An Art Deco soda fountain in Grand Center, The Fountain on Locust pours ice-cream martinis and plates retro sandwiches and over-the-top sundaes.
Try: Ice cream martinis and sandwiches
Tip: The ice cream martinis are the signature; pair one with a sandwich. A good pre-theatre stop in Grand Center.
botanical-heights
Baileys' Range griddles grass-fed burgers and churns house ice cream for boozy shakes, a build-your-own burger counter that moved to the Shaw area.
Try: Grass-fed burgers and house ice cream
Tip: Build a burger and chase it with a spiked milkshake. The house ice cream is made without artificial ingredients.
st-louis-hillsCash only
Serving since 1941 on old Route 66, Ted Drewes is the St. Louis frozen-custard landmark, famous for the concrete, a shake handed over upside down.
Try: Frozen custard concretes
Tip: Order a concrete and watch them flip it upside down to prove the thickness. Cash-friendly, often a summer line.