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

    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
11. #11 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
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

    Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant

    4.54/5 Rating $20/entree

    Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant Takeaway. Sultan's selection of Mediterranean specialties satisfies. Based on a strong recommendation from a friend, we went on a date night with some friends. Sultan did not disappoint. It deservrers a solid, round 8.5/10. An 8.5 is a very good score for me, putting it in the top 20% of restaurants.

    The restaurant setting is practical, but the food is awesome. The Baba Ganoush was exceptionally garlicky and smoky, and the Ali Naza beef kebab was fantastic. The vegetarian rice pilaf didn't taste quite as good as it looked, an the same could be said for the pita.

    But those are nit picks, Sultan was great.

    For anyone seeking high-quality Mediterranean food in St. Louis, Sultan is a must-try. It's a place that's been around for a while, surviving the pandemic, yet had somehow flown under our radar. Parking on, or around, Manchester should be easy, even during prime time.

    

    Website 4200 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 390-2020
14. #14 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Kazu Sushi To-Go

    4.53/5 Rating $10/sushi

    Kazu Takeaway. Kazu goes all out with knockout, takeout-only sushi. Spicy Tuna, Hamachi, and Rainbow rolls for the win. I give it an impressive 8.1 / 10, which makes it worth a ten-minute drive.

    Kazu is a tiny, two-person operation that delivers high-quality sushi. The ingredients are fresh, the fish melts in your mouth, and the price comes in lower than other sushi spots in St. Louis.

    The catch? It's takeout only, and the wait times on weekends are no joke. You need to plan ahead and order early. They also have St. Louis hours and close on Sundays. But if you're looking for top-notch sushi without the fancy restaurant experience, Kazu is a fantastic choice.

    

    Website 1237 Tamm Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139 (314) 349-1637
15. #15 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
16. #16 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
17. #17 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Afghan Kabob House

    4.45/5 Rating $20/entree

    Afghan Kebab House Takeaway. Afghan Kebob House has authentically awesome Afghan flavors that mostly deliver on taste but stumble on execution. I'm giving it an 8.1/10 for the food, but a lower overall score because of the service.

    The chicken kebabs are cooked to absolute perfection, juicy and tender in a way that kebabs almost never are. The aushak (leek-filled dumplings with yogurt and meat sauce) is a standout dish with unique, complex flavors you won't find anywhere else in St. Louis. The tikka masala has a great creamy sauce, and the meat kebabs won over most of my group.

    But here's the thing: the logistics are rough. They missed part of our order, the timing was off by 10-15 minutes, and I had to make a 40-minute round trip to get the rest of our food. If you're in the area near Lindenwood Park or Ted Drewes, it's absolutely worth stopping by.

    But I wouldn't make the 25-minute drive from across town specifically for it.

    

    Website 3500 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63139 (314) 449-1110
18. #18 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Bar Moro

    4.4/5 Rating $30/entree

    Bar Moro Takeaway. A taste of Spanish tapas and delights on a fancy date night. I don't have a great local comparison on roast rabbit, so go with my overall score of 4.39 / 5. The food is an 8.2 / 10, but it's super expensive for the area. The price always brings down my overall score because you can get similar quality food for less elsewhere -- just not rabbit.

    The service was excellent. It's an upscale, modern space that puts a premium on service and quality. My big nitpick is that it's too dark. I couldn't see my food, which negatively impacts taste, in my opinion. I would rather come at 6:30 in the summer than in winter because you could see your food.

    With limited seating, we got 2 bar seats at 6:30 pm on a Saturday. You would have needed a reservation to sit at a table. Parking on Wydown means you find a spot within a three-minute walk.

    

    Website nan
19. #19 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Thai Mama

    4.39/5 Rating $15/plate

    Thai Mama Takeaway. Thai Mama was quite good. I'd give it a 7.5 / 10 overall. It's solidly above restaurant-quality Thai food, but nothing to blow you away. A good neighborhood joint for Curry and Pad Thai.

    If you live within like a five-minute drive, this is the kind of place you could get on a Friday night and be happy with it. I've had better Thai food in my life, so it's not going to break any records there, but it fit the bill.

    Online ordering made it easy. Food was ready faster than expected from their website. Parking is easy in a big strip mall parking lot.

    

    1932 McKelvey Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (314) 548-6151
20. #20 Best Lunch In St. Louis

    Motor Town Pizza

    4.39/5 Rating $20/entree

    Motor Town Takeaway. Motor Town makes some majorly good pizza. This spot is all about the Detroit-style, and I'm giving their Margarita an 8.3/1.0, with the plain cheese just behind at an 8.1/1.0. It's a fantastic entry in my search for the best St. Louis pizza, coming in only behind classic NY Style joints.

    However, the New York style? Honestly, it was just a standard pizza, a solid 7/1.0, but nothing to write home about.

    But that Detroit crust... man. It's the real reason you go. All in all, I was very impressed with this fantastic focaccia feast.

    

    Website 8029 Dale Ave, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 (314) 514-5392