5+ Must-Try Black-Owned Restaurants in Saint Louis, Missouri
There's a lot to do in the greater St. Louis area between the 90+ cities in St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. Of course I made time to find some Black-owned restaurants in STL. Below are some Black-owned restaurants in St. Louis, Missouri worth checking out.
STL Steak and Cheesecake - Biggest Overall Selection
STL Steak and Cheesecake, in St. Louis City, has a massive selection to choose from:
- Burgers
- Cheesesteaks
- Chicken wings and strips
- Sandwiches
- Loaded fries
- Salads
- Cheesecake, of course
- Cookies
- Cinnamon rolls (sadly no honey buns)
- And much, much more
They introduced me to STL-based Black-owned barbecue sauce (BBQ) company Freddie Lee’s Gourmet Sauces and their Ghetto Sauce. Available in mild and spicy, I re-up on Ghetto Sauce every time I visit the restaurant.
Customer service is great. Its always respectful sisters. The one brother I've seen is usually in the back. My largest orders usually take less than ten minutes to complete.
STL Steak and Cheesecake recently upgraded to a new location - 3172 Morgan Ford Rd - with space for dining in. Nearby parking is free but can be hard to find. Be careful about parking in the 7-Eleven parking lot beside the bar. They will tow your vehicle.
Dirty Vegan Shack - Unique Vegan Options St Louis
Dirty Vegan Shack, formerly Marie's Snack Shack, offers unique vegan food in STL City. I found this spot when it was still Marie's Snack Shack. I rarely think about vegan restaurants near me. I enjoy trying new foods. The vegan meals I've purchased were delicious. Marie is cool peeps, and patient. Her cheesecake and other desserts are "oh my stars" delicious. I don't know if those desserts are vegan.
Parking is free right in front of the restaurant or immediately across the street. There's no indoor seating for now, only two stools and a table outdoors. People usually sit there or wait on the sidewalk. Orders take ~15 minutes on average to finish.
Mandela Soul Food Cafe - Dine-In Soul Food in St Louis Missouri
Mandela Soul Food Cafe makes legit soul food that tastes like it was made with love. I know, that sounds excessive. If I were paid to say that, Mandel would be first on the list with glowing things around it. The dine-in interior has this gorgeous red and gold, Valentines day theme. I remember taking my first bite of my first Mandela meal and thinking "I must go back soon." I don't remember exactly what I got, just some banging macaroni and cheese.
Customer service was great. The sister taking my order answered all my questions. Since I arrived near closing time, she checked with the chef to ensure my request was available before paying. Those fifteen minutes were worth the wait.
The cafe parking lot is small. If you want soul food in St Louis, MO, check out Mandela in Berkeley, MO.
Your Place Diner - Nightlife
Your Place Diner is a bar in the city with ample seating - indoor and outdoor - and good food. The food was good but I what I remember most was the vibe. Dwayne, the owner, really means it when he says "your place." I walked in there looking out of place, asking 101 questions about the menu, and he made me feel welcome. I watched the NBA Finals there. The wait is ~15 minutes.
There's only street parking so you might have a minute walk to the entrance. The area seems sketchy but its a busy street with high foot traffic, a gas station on the corner, and the usual dose of gentrification in St. Louis City via boarded up buildings. Nothing new. I've had no issues out there.
Smoked Artisan Barbecue
Smoked Artisan Barbecue is inside the Sun Up Express gas station in Manchester. Kavin, the owner, makes a good smoked pulled pork sandwich. Chill brother. He's since leveled up to a Black-owned catering business. Double-check his hours if you plan to pay him a visit for a quick bite.
SweetArt Bakeshop + Café - Vegan Sweet Tooth
SweetArt Bakeshop + Café is a vegan lounge deep in the city. They sell burgers, sandwiches, tea, latte kombucha, and oh so many sweets. Still no honey buns, though. Check their Google Maps menu section for their full offering and new location in the Coronado Place and Towers. Whatever I ate had mushrooms and was different, but good. I waited the usual ~15 minutes. Its another option for those wanting restaurants with vegan options in St Louis.
They tote bags, aprons, and a recipe E-book online.
The Choice Restaurant
The Choice Restaurant is another Black-owned restaurant deep in STL city. The Choice serves ready-to-eat soul food in a spacious interior setting. Customer service was good. I never had an issue with street parking.
In Da Loop in University City, MO would've been on this list for its overall atmosphere but its apparently closed.
