My Favorite Things to Eat in St. Louis Right Now
By: Timothy Kiefer
Tags: Food Pedaler, Foodies, Food, St Louis

There are some serious great eats in St. Louis. Wherever we go — whether a big city or an up-and-coming one with a reputation for a burgeoning food scene (but it’s actually very disappointing *cough* Nashville *cough*) — we always return home with even more love for what our city has to offer. In today’s post I’m sharing my current favorite dishes to eat in my favorite city.

Maybe it’s St. Louis’ inferiority complex that pushes chefs and restaurateurs to offer something remarkable. Or maybe it is the opposite — they’re not comparing themselves to hundreds of other hip, new offerings, emulating and keeping up with the hottest trends — instead simply giving their best every day. Or, it could just be that fine Midwest grit and hospitality.

Dirty Captain at Mac’s Local Eats

That smash-patty crisp.

This is my #1 choice burger in St. Louis, and I could write an entire post about burgers around town. Chris “Mac” McKenzie has been bringing pasture-raised, nutrient-dense goodness to families for 7 years. Two years ago Bob Brazell reached out to him to put a food program together for Tamm Ave Bar and Grill in Dogtown. It’s been glorious history ever since.

When I go to Mac’s I get the Dirty Sancho, which comes with 2 pork patties, molasses-pickled jalapenos, pepperjack cheese, onion, and salsa negra aioli. The combination of flavors is heavenly. I highly recommend at least 4 patties on a burger here if you’re a bigger eater — I accomplish this by adding 2 beef. The pork provides juiciness and I love the season and flavor of the dry aged grassfed beef. When a burger at Mac’s has 4 patties, it earns the title “Captain”.

Don’t forget the Rip Fries, and if you’re lucky a slice of hazelnut-crust cheesecake from Daniel Spicer of The Spice of Life.

Khao Soi at Fork & Stix

From Whiskey & Soba’s excellent review of Fork & Stix.

Fork & Stix is the closest restaurant to our home, nestled away on a side street at the East end of The Loop. But that isn’t why Khao Soi is likely the dish I’ve eaten more than any other.

This Northern Thai coconut milk broth-based egg noodle curry soup is modestly garnished with red onion and pickled mustard greens. The same egg noodles found in the soup are fried into the likeness of a bird nest and crown the dish.

I cannot say enough how magical this is. It even glistens with chili oil sparkles. This is one of the meals I feel incredibly fortunate to have in our city — since falling in love with it I’ve given Khao Soi a try in Chicago and San Francisco, and there isn’t any Thai dish anywhere I like more.

Ham & Cheddar at Union Loafers

The ham, also made in-house.

Simple sandwich perfection.

So perfect it was at our wedding. I didn’t marry the Ham & Cheddar, Union Loafers was awesome enough to cater our reception. Fresh bread with butter and oil, salad, mustard potato salad, and of course stacks of their incredible sandwiches.

Loafers breads are the best in St. Louis, maybe the world. Old world-style fermented sourdough meticulously crafted. The breads aren’t the only thing they make from scratch — nearly every ingredient you find here is carefully produced in their small deli on the edge of the Botanical Heights neighborhood. The dressings, real sauerkraut, whole grain mustard, butters, pickles, ham, smoked pastrami, and much more — they take no chance having less than the best, therefore making it all in their own kitchen.

This is how a sandwich with nothing more than ham, cheddar, mustard, and pickles on (recently made even better, now marbled) rye bread can be so unbelievably good.

Organic Ruby Oolong Tea at Blueprint Coffee

This isn’t eating, I know, but this tea is so delightful it required an honorable mention. Walk down Delmar after having some Khao Soi to sip on this for a while.

A natural sweetness sticks with you so much you’ll have a hard time fathoming it is nothing more than tea. As an oolong, it may be steeped 3, 4 or more times, and only gets more enjoyable.

It is my understanding that this is a seasonal offering. I already bought a bulk bag of it from Kilogram so I won’t miss it after it’s off Blueprint’s menu.