Best Lunch In St. Louis According To Me

Best Lunch In St. Louis

1. #1 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Union Loafers

   5/5 Rating $15.00/sandwich

   Union Loafers Takeaway. The Crown Jewel Of St. Louis. My favorite St. Louis restaurant. 8/10 Salad. 8.9/10 Sandwiches. 9.1/10 Pizza. 10/10 Sourdough Bread.

   The Simone Biles of STL food.

   Always order a loaf. Get anything with bread. ~$8 bread. $8 salad. $15 sandwiches. It's expensive. Ask your parents to take you when they come to town. Twenty minutes to an hour for pick up. Ordering pizza can be a pain. Parking is easy on side streets with a three-minute walk. Tip: Try a pizza rosa with chili oil at lunch. Note: Pizza review coming in the future.

   

   Website 1629 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 833-6111
2. #2 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Balkan Treat Box

   4.96/5 Rating $16.00/plate

   Balkan Treat Box Takeaway. Treat yourself to Balkan Treat Box whenever you're in the area, and they're open. One of the best restaurants in St. Louis with a general food score of 9.3 / 10 from me. Hard to classify exactly what food type a "pide" or "doner". Not a sandwich; it's more a Mediterranean delight. The pita may be the best I've ever had, and it's definitely the best in St. Louis. I order a bag to go every time.

   They even fixed the biggest downside - their hours. They're now open from 11-8 Friday and Saturday.

   Still closed on Sunday and Monday. You should check availability before making the trek to Webster Groves.

   Service is fine. You order at the counter, get a number, and go to your table. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to get your food; even if a long line runs, you only have fifteen minutes to wait. My favorite place to sit is outside when the weather permits. They have a dedicated lot in the back or street parking out front.

   

   Website 8103 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 733-5700
3. #3 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Blues City Deli

   4.95/5 Rating $10.50/sandwich

   Blues City Deli Takeaway. Happiness is family, friends, and Blues City Deli sandwiches. Hot Italian is my go-to. The best sandwich in St. Louis. Get anything with roast beef. $10.50 before tax and tip. Super fast service. Line out the door only means 15 minutes. Park on a side street. Limited seating. Get there before 11:30 a.m. for no line.

   Every staff member is perky, talkative, and helpful. People come from all around Saint Louis. Everything great about St. Louis in one deli.

   Update: After visiting another 15 sandwich shops in the past three months, I came back to Blues City Deli and it somehow managed to beat my expectations.

   

   Website 2438 McNair Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104 (314) 773-8225
4. #4 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Salt + Smoke

   4.91/5 Rating $18.99/plate

   Salt + Smoke Takeaway. My pulled pork place in St. Louis. 8.7 / 10 bbq score. The pulled pork, brisket, and chicken are all top-notch. Each plate comes with two sides and a pop-over. It's a ton of food, but on the relatively pricer side of St. Louis. $18.99 for a plate. I am partial to the mac-and-cheese and duck-fat fries. Every bite from start to finish is heavy, tasty, and filling. Just have a Tums on hand afterward.

   I ordered online for pickup this time, but I've been at the Delmar location for lunch and dinner. Never had an issue with service or time-to-food. For pickup, I park in the little parking lot next to the restaurant on the Loop or across the street on a side street. Parking is easily available behind the building.

   

   Website 6525 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130 (314) 727-0200
5. #5 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Corner 17

   4.85/5 Rating $12.99/noddles

   Corner 17 Takeaway. Truly awesome Chinese food. The hand-pulled and hand-shaved noodles are the star of the show. Order anything with dough. Expect a 30-minute+ wait at non-lunch times or order online. Standard Chinese food price. It feels small on the inside. Parking on the loop is easy, even at 8 p.m. on a Saturday. Extensive list of bubble teas, slushies, and milt teas I've never had. Everything is green.

   

   Website 6623 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130 (314) 727-2402
6. #6 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   El Guanaco Taqueria & Pupuseria

   4.81/5 Rating $7.99/burrito

   El Guanaco Taqueria & Pupuseria Takeaway. El Grand Guanaco Delivers With The Baleada Especial. Oh my god, was that delicious. Chorizo, steak, chicken, queso, eggs, avocado, and cream. I mean, come on. Where has this been all my life? And only $7.99?!?!!?!? The $3 pupusa was heavy on the bread, and the sauce detracted from the flavor. It wasn't a table favorite. Chips were a 4.8/10 for me, but free. Excellent red salsa > green salsa.

   Total hole in the wall on Page Ave. Barely enough parking for lunch.

   Friendly, fast service.

   No frills. No filler. Just totally amazing food. Currently in my top five best restaurants in St. Louis.

   

   Website 10633 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132 (314) 274-8022
7. #7 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Carl's Deli

   4.75/5 Rating $12.00/sandwich

   Carl's Deli Takeaway. My go-to in St. Louis when I have a pastrami hankering. Overloaded sandwich with at least half a pound of meat. 9.3 / 10 pastrami sandwich. 9.6 oz of meat is a behemoth. Not quite NYC quality, but close. Solid rye, mustard, and pickle. $11.95 for a sandwich pre-tax. Service is slow, so expect 2-3 minutes per person in line. Bagels for $1, but not fresh. Parking is a three-minute walk for free or closer with change. Tip: Bring cash to save 3%.

   Update: Went back today, and it was as delicious as ever. The weight varies per sandwich maker, but it should be at least half a pound. Super friendly service.

   

   Website 6401 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63117 (314) 721-2393
8. #8 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   Soup Dumplings STL

   4.7/5 Rating $9.00/soup dumplings

   Soup Dumplings STL Takeaway. Savory Soup Dumplings Steal The Show. The pork dumplings top my charts for single-dish Asian food in St. Louis. The accompanying vinegar and chili sauce complete the experience. Six dumplings ($9-12.75) aren't enough, and 12 are too many, so bring a friend and split 18. My preference is pork dumplings >> chicken > beef.

   Some notes. Chopstick only. I've never asked for a fork, but they might have some. The chili sauce on the table is A++. And try it with the recommended vinegar. I highly recommend putting your bowl under the eating operation to not let any soup get away.

   Service takes a minute as they only have one register. The dumplings are also handcrafted in the back, so they take another bit to cook. Give yourself 20 minutes to get food from the time you step in during lunchtime. There is plenty of parking. Solid hours for St. Louis.

   

   8106 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130 (314) 445-4605
9. #9 Best Lunch In St. Louis

   LeGrand's Market & Catering

   4.6/5 Rating $10.49/sandwich

   LeGrand's Market & Catering Takeaway. LeGrand's Legend Club is layers of legreat. A beautiful beast of a sandwich. 8.8/10 sandwich. More meats than I can remember. The antithesis of vegan. Meat on meat on cheese on cheese. Most affordable sandwich yet at $11.16 after tax and tip. Friendly and quick service. It weighed 11.4 oz with 7.6 oz of meat. Compact but delicious.

   Another sandwich that will make you happy inside. One of the best sandwiches in St. Louis, with a fierce following. Reddit recommended.

   A dozen tables of sitting. Attached grocery. Dedicated parking lot was empty at 11 a.m. Call ahead about twenty minutes to pick up.

   

   Website 4414 Donovan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109 (314) 353-6128
10. #10 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    El Burro Loco

    4.55/5 Rating $21.25/fajitas

    El Burro Loco Takeaway. I'm loco for El Burro Loco. My new favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. Best fajitas I've ever had. Top-of-the-line rice and beans. 8.4/10 unlimited chips. Above-average complimentary salsa. Amazing atmosphere and decorations. Good service. Gross bathrooms. The most expensive Mexican food I've had because it's in the Central West End. $21.25 for fajitas compared to $12-13 elsewhere in STL. Still great for families. Parking on the street. They have a second location downtown.

    

    Website 313 N Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108 (314) 224-5371
11. #11 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Parker's Table

    4.55/5 Rating $13.00/sandwich

    Parker's Table Takeaway. The Adult Sandwich Store. Surprisingly delicious salami sandwich cracked the top five best in St. Louis for me at 8.5/10. Small sandwich, but comes with chips and a drink. $13 for a 9 oz sandwich with 4.8 oz of meat, chips, and drink. The smoked brisket sandwich bite I stole from my father-in-law was also heavenly. Salad wasn't what I had imagined for $11.

    Loved the vibes. For being a wine, cheese, and fancy meat shop, it is incredibly unpretentious. The average age in the store with me in it was easily 55+, and I'm 36. Amazing seating area with museum-worthy art, at least IMO.

    Sandwiches are from 11 am - 2 pm. Service was a bit slow, taking over 20 minutes to get us our sandwiches, being third in line. Unfortunately, parking cost $.50 on the meter, and I didn't see a way to avoid it. From the vibes to the sandwich, just a surprisingly delicious experience from start to finish.

    Update: Went back with friends today. Time-to-sandwich was considerably improved to under 5 minutes. Also found free parking a block away, but you have to be careful not end up in a lot that will get you towed.

    

    Website 7118 Oakland Ave, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 (314) 645-2050
12. #12 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Tai Ke

    4.54/5 Rating $12.99/entree

    Tai Ke Takeaway. Delicious Taiwanese food at an affordable price. Everything up and down their menu is fantastic. 8.5 / 10 Asian food for me. I love the eggplant, bok choy, chili stir-fry chicken, beef noodles, pork belly bao, and braised pork rice. An entree still goes for under $15, which is a steal. My kids love the Taiwanese popcorn chicken. In fact, two 9 year olds who swore they didn't eat Asian food cleared their plates.

    One of the best Asian restaurants in St. Louis. It was my "last meal" before the Pandemic - I went at lunch the day my office closed because I knew it would be the last time I would get to eat out for over a year.

    I order online all the time, and it's always ready in under twenty minutes. The food tastes better hot in the restaurant, but it travels well. There isn't a ton of seating, so it can get packed at busy times of the week. Plenty of parking in Olivette's biggest strip mall.

    

    Website 9626 Olive Blvd, Olivette, MO 63132 (314) 801-8411
13. #13 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Fire Chicken

    4.52/5 Rating $14.00/meal

    Fire Chicken Takeaway. Affordable, Spicy, Delicious Chicken On Page. I've been a "long-time" customer as we started "coming" here during the pandemic when they first opened. My favorite Fire Chicken is Spice Level 3, which pushes me to my enjoyable limit. $14.00 for a serving, it's a solid 8.4 / 10 experience. My sons like the teriyaki, and I've also enjoyed their bulgogi.

    We ordered the ramen during the pandemic but haven't had it in four years. It was delicious, but they never got our order right back then. No such problems anymore.

    Not a sit-down restaurant. You can order online from any of five different sites. Plenty of parking if you go to pick it up, or they can deliver it.

    

    10200 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132 (314) 551-2123
14. #14 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Sides Of Seoul

    4.48/5 Rating $10.99/bowl

    Sides Of Seoul Takeaway. Sides of Seoul makes my soul happy with quality Korean food. 8.2 / 10 on my Asian food scale makes it one of my favorite Asian places in St. Louis. I normally go with the delicious bibim-bop, but I audibled today into the spicy pork bowl-bop. Both hit the spot for $12.99 and $10.99, respectively, making both a heck of a deal. Also a big fan of their kimchi, seaweed salad, and bulgogi. Just all-around great Korean food for the money.

    You can only takeout at S.o.S. At maybe 20' by 20' inside, they don't have an option for eating in the restaurant. I always call in my order, and they always give me a 10-minute quote. In the 10+ times I've been here over the last three years, they've never been late. The same, super friendly woman mans the front desk each time. Parking is easy in a dedicated lot with dedicated spots.

    

    10084 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132 (314) 942-8940
15. #15 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Milano Kabob

    4.38/5 Rating $15/falafel

    Milano Kabob Takeaway. Falafel donuts are hole-y delicious. My favorite falafel in St. Louis. A new spot in the Loop where Al-Tarboush used to be located. 8.2 / 10 overall, led by 8.6 / 10 falafel and 9.0 / 10 garlic sauce. The falafel has a unique donut shape and I could quite literally drink the garlic sauce. The fatoush, sides, fries, and chicken tenders rate out at average restaurant quality of 7/10. I didn't get a kebob…

    Milano's service was friendly. My sons and I were the only ones there on a Friday night, so we chatted with the owner. Although they have been in the restaurant business for a while, this is their first time in this location. They did a great job of renovating the frontage and space to bring it up to modern times. There's only a handful of seating in the restaurant, so expect more grab-and-go. Parking is available in the usual places on Delmar.

    

    Website 602 Westgate Ave, University City, MO 63130 (314) 261-4816
16. #16 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Vivola Express

    4.37/5 Rating $13.00/sandwich

    Vivola Express Takeaway. Fantastic local sandwich shop with top-quality meats, cheeses, and breads. The classic Italian sandwich was a 8.1/10 for $14. Expect a line of 20-30 minutes by 11:30 AM. I have no idea how Subway stays in business next door.

    

    Website 1911 Schuetz Rd Saint Louis, MO 63146 (314) 995-3900
17. #17 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Grassi's Ristorante & Deli

    4.33/5 Rating $10.69/sandwich

    Grassi's Ristorante and Deli. Grab Grassi's when you want to gorge on great chicken parma. A 7.9 / 10 sandwich for $10.69, this local institution delivers classic St. Louis hospitality in a family-friendly setting. Sandwiches come with a side salad drenched in dressing. Try the toasted ravioli. Get ready for parmesan cheese on top of parmesan cheese.

    You'll find Grassi's in a hole-in-the-wall building off of Lindbergh in Frontenac. Took them ten minutes from ordering to the table. I didn't expect the lunch line format with signature trays. You order from the sandwich man before moving down the line to pay. They said you can expect a longer wait during the lunch rush, but I had no one in front of me. Parking right outside in a dedicated lot.

    

    Website 10450 German Blvd, Frontenac, MO 63131 (314) 994-1111
18. #18 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Taco Buddha

    4.33/5 Rating $13/salad

    Taco Buddha Takeaway. I'd Rub This Taco Buddha's Belly Any Day. Fun, fresh, family atmosphere with mostly outdoor seating. 7.9 / 10 Mexican food overall. My favorite chips in the area with a score of 8.6 / 10. Unfortunately, the chips cost extra 🙁 at $4.25 and $11.25(!!) with guac. My kids and friends love the tacos, but I'm not a taco guy, so I go with the Baja salad with chicken for $13.50. All in all, $71 for lunch isn't cheap and lowers my overall rating for the Buddha.

    The atmosphere at Taco Buddha is hip and trendy. The kind of place where the chairs don't have backs, the tables have QR codes instead of waitresses, and it feels like you're eating family-style. They have a pretty extensive drink menu, but I mostly come with family or friends at lunchtime. Parking is easy on Pershing, and it's never more than a 3-minute walk. They have dedicated parking spots for curbside pickup.

    

    Website 7405 Pershing Ave, University City, MO 63130 (314) 502-9951
19. #19 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    The BAO

    4.31/5 Rating $16.99/lunch

    The BAO Takeaway. The BAO is a great lunch spot, and I have to go back for dinner. The BAO bun combo is delicious and at a solid price point. Parking is easy. Shoestring fries are an 8.5/10. Atmosphere was fun and hip, and the waiter was super helpful.

    

    Website 14 N Central Ave, Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 899-9089
20. #20 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Gioia's Deli

    4.3/5 Rating $12.00/sandwich

    Gioia's Deli Takeaway. A meaty marvel. 7.8/10 sandwich. Eating this sandwich is a joyous experience. 24oz total with 8oz of meat is one of the biggest sandwiches in St. Louis. $14.36 with tax and tip. Order ahead online to avoid a wait. Expect 1 minute per person in line and then another six for the sandwich to be made. Seating inside and outside. Fun Italian deli experience and decorations. Can be incredibly busy. Parking is simple in a dedicated lot or on the street, depending on the location. There's no L in the name despite what my brain says.

    

    Website 1934 Macklind Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 776-9410