St. Louis enjoys an endless number of restaurants featuring cuisine from every region of the globe. From Chinese to Mexican, Bosnian to Nicaraguan, these international restaurants are embraced by diners looking for something unique, traditional, and delicious. This month celebrates the variety of world cuisines available for us to experience and enjoy without the need of a passport.
1. THE ENCHILADAS AT EL TOLUCO
Hidden in a small strip mall on Manchester ave., not facing the street, is El Toluco Taqueria & Grocery. Unless you were already in the know, you would have no idea that this unassuming place serves some of the best Mexican food in St.Louis county. The empty storefront that connects to the grocery store serves as the dining room which is really just a large room with 5 or 6 tables and chairs and a freezer tucked into the corner. Recently El Toluco added enchiladas to their menu of tortas and tacos and they are absolutely exceptional. Filled with chicken and queso fresco and topped with a smoky red salsa, they are savory and vibrant and remarkably light, devoid of the greasy cheese that's the bane of other enchiladas. A platter of three is served with a ripe sliced avocado, a side of rice and beans, and is priced at $9.99. 14234 Manchester, 636-686-5444.
2. HOT AND SOUR NOODLES AT JOY LUCK BUFFET
The servers at Joy Luck Buffet in Brentwood don shirts printed with “Ask us about our secret menu” on the back. The secret of the not-so-secret menu is a lengthy printed alternate menu of regional Szechuan dishes. In the appetizer section you will find hot and sour noodles. The bowl of cellophane noodles, slick with crimson hued chili oil and topped with roasted peanuts, green onion, and ample amounts of Szechuan peppercorns will absolutely ignite your tastebuds and numb your lips in the most appealing of ways. The generously sized bowl of noodles is $5.99. 8030 Manchester, 314-645-9982
3. SIS CEVAPI AT ZLATNO ZITO BAKERY & DELI
Zlatno Zito Bakery and Deli on Gravois bakes all the Bosnian style breads used for the sandwiches that they serve in the deli. The bread is unique with a thin, crisp crust that gives way to a spongy, slightly chewy but ethereal crumb. The scent is vaguely sour and pleasantly toasty. It’s the bread that makes the traditional sis cevapi so uniquely delicious. Two skewers of spiced beef sausages are tucked into a split flatbread and served with onions, banana peppers, and sour cream. The sandwich style dish is big enough for the hungriest of appetites and priced at $7.50. 4573 Gravois, 314-752-3004.
4. LENTIL SOUP AT THE VINE
Lentil soup is a modest dish. Even among other soups, lentil soup can seem like a lackluster choice. At The Vine Mediterranean Cafe and Market on South Grand however, lentil soup is a sophisticated, glamorous, and remarkably satisfying choice. Served with a few aromatic, fresh-from-the-oven pitas, this soup is the perfect example of a lowly legume lifted to illustrious heights. The Vine charges a meager $2.99 for a bowl, making it an extraordinarily delicious value. 3171 S. Grand, 314-776-0991.
5. PUPUSAS AT FRITANGA
Fritanga is the only traditional Nicaraguan restaurant in St. Louis and often the first introduction for many diners to the flavors and dishes of the country. Among the carne asada and chicken and beef chimichurri listed on the menu are the stuffed, puffy, pita-like, flatbread pupusas. The round “oversized tortillas,” as Fritanga calls them, are filled with your choice of meat, beans, or zucchini and then toasted on a griddle until golden. Served with a side of your choice, the dinner plate is priced at $10 even. 2208 S. Jefferson, 314-664-7777.
