10 Best Missouri Restaurants

Missouri is famous for two barbecue styles, St. Louis and Kansas City, along with toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake. The state's food identity is defined by these regional specialties. Missouri's food is set apart by the dual barbecue methods; Kansas City style involves slow-smoked meats with a thick, sweet, tomato- and molasses-based sauce, while St. Louis style centers on grilled pork ribs, cut into a rectangular "St. Louis style" shape, served with a thinner, more vinegar-based tomato sauce. Toasted ravioli, a breaded and deep-fried pasta appetizer, originated in the St. Louis neighborhood "The Hill" and is a staple at many famous restaurants in Missouri. Another St. Louis creation is the gooey butter cake, a flat, dense cake that resulted from a baking mistake in the 1930s.

A meal in Missouri at a budget restaurant costs between $15 and $25 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $60 and $100. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like The Crossing or Mainlander start at $100 per person and increase with different menu selections.

Missouri contains numerous national fast-food chains, with Sonic Drive-In and Taco Bell being popular across the state. Local and regional establishments like Lion's Choice and Steak 'n Shake also have a large customer base. These chains are some of the most popular fast-food restaurants in the state.

• Sonic Drive-In: Known for the drive-in model, an extensive drink menu with slushes and limeades, and American fare like burgers and hot dogs.
• Taco Bell: A popular choice in the state, known for Mexican-inspired menu items like the Crunchwrap Supreme.
• Lion's Choice: A St. Louis-based chain famous for slow-roasted roast beef sandwiches, served on buttered and toasted buns.
• Steak 'n Shake: Known for Steakburgers, which are made with a blend of steak cuts, and hand-dipped milkshakes.
• Culver's: A Wisconsin-based chain with a Missouri presence, popular for ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard.
• Andy's Frozen Custard: A Missouri-based chain specializing in frozen custard concretes and sundaes.
• Dairy Queen: A popular chain across the state, famous for Blizzard treats and soft-serve ice cream.
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: A Kansas-based chain known for thin, crispy-edged steakburgers, shoestring fries, and frozen custard.
• Jack in the Box: A national chain with a significant presence, offering a menu from burgers to tacos.
• Runza: A Nebraska-based chain with locations in Missouri, known for the namesake Runza sandwich, a baked bread pocket filled with ground beef, cabbage, and onions.

Missouri’s Kansas City and St. Louis are continually adding new restaurants. Recent additions in Kansas City include Green Dirt on Oak, an extension of a cheese farm, and Sushi Kodawari, an omakase-style sushi bar. These new establishments introduce different concepts to the state.

• Green Dirt on Oak: A new restaurant in Kansas City's Crossroads from the Weston-based cheesemaker Green Dirt Farm, offering cheese boards and a full dining menu. Located at 1601 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64108.
• Sushi Kodawari: An 8-seat, omakase-style sushi restaurant in Kansas City's Crossroads, offering a daily changing menu. Located at 2100 Central St, Suite #12, Kansas City, MO 64108.
• 1587 Prime: An upscale steakhouse in Kansas City from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, located inside the Loews Kansas City Hotel. Located at 1500 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108.
• Bar Medici: A new Italian restaurant in the Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City. Located at 1800 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108.

The downtown areas of Kansas City and St. Louis are centers for some of Missouri's best restaurants and contain a number of the state's acclaimed dining options. The best restaurants in these central urban areas are listed below:

• The Town Company: Located in Hotel Kansas City, this restaurant features a menu centered around a white oak burning hearth.
• Corvino: A restaurant in Kansas City's Crossroads district known for modern American tasting menus and live jazz.
• Broadway Oyster Bar: A St. Louis establishment near downtown, serving Cajun and Creole cuisine with nightly music.
• Lazia: An upscale steakhouse in Kansas City's Crossroads Hotel, offering Italian-influenced dishes.
• Trattoria Marcella: A long-standing restaurant on The Hill in St. Louis, known for acclaimed Italian cuisine.
• Jack Stack Barbecue - Freight House: A Kansas City barbecue restaurant located in a historic railroad building in the Crossroads Arts District.

Yes, Missouri has lunch spots worth trying, including St. Louis's Balkan Treat Box, Kansas City's Yoli Tortilleria, and Grace Meat + Three in St. Louis. Balkan Treat Box serves wood-fired flatbreads and grilled meats inspired by the Balkan Peninsula. Yoli Tortilleria, a James Beard Award winner, offers authentic stone-ground corn tortillas and Sonoran-style flour tortillas in lunch dishes like tacos and tamales. Grace Meat + Three serves a "meat and three" menu with items like fried chicken and catfish for a Southern-style meal.

Yes, Missouri has good places for dinner, such as Olive and Oak in Webster Groves, The Crossing in Clayton, and Sado in St. Louis. Olive and Oak is a neighborhood restaurant serving New American cuisine in an upscale-casual setting. The Crossing offers a fine-dining experience with a menu that blends French and Italian cooking, featuring seasonal tasting menus. Sado provides a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine with a focus on sushi and dry-aged fish in St. Louis's historic Italian neighborhood, The Hill.

Missouri has vegan restaurants, including Tree House Restaurant, SweetArt Bakeshop & Cafe, and Mattie's Foods. Tree House in St. Louis offers a globally inspired, plant-based menu with dishes ranging from ramen to tacos in an upscale setting. SweetArt Bakeshop & Cafe, also in St. Louis, is a family-owned spot known for its vegan burgers, sandwiches, and baked goods. In Kansas City, Mattie's Foods serves 100% plant-based comfort food, with popular items like the Mattie's Boneless Wyngz and the Big Mattie sandwich. The Happy Apple Cafe in St. Louis provides a menu of vegan comfort food classics. The Littlest Bake Shoppe in Kansas City is a cottage bakery specializing in vegan and gluten-free custom cakes and treats.

Restaurants in Missouri that serve gluten-free food include dedicated facilities like Prioritized Pastries and restaurants with extensive options such as Billie's Grocery. Prioritized Pastries in St. Louis is a 100% gluten-free and dairy-free bakery offering a selection of breads, donuts, and other baked goods. Billie's Grocery in Kansas City has a menu that is almost entirely gluten-free, focusing on nutrient-dense salads, bowls, and smoothies. Many restaurants offer gluten-free accommodations; for instance, fine-dining establishments like The Crossing can cater to gluten-free needs with advance notice.

Missouri's most famous cuisines are Barbecue and Italian-American. The state's food identity is shaped by regional specialties from its major cities. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Missouri.

• Barbecue: Missouri is home to two distinct barbecue styles. Kansas City barbecue is defined by its slow-smoking process and a thick, sweet, tomato- and molasses-based sauce. St. Louis barbecue is known for its grilled pork steaks and ribs, often served with a thinner, more acidic tomato-based sauce.
• Italian-American: The Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis, "The Hill," is the origin of unique dishes like toasted ravioli and St. Louis-style pizza, which features a thin, cracker-like crust and Provel cheese.
• Southern/Comfort Food: Southern-style cooking has a strong presence, with dishes like fried chicken, catfish, and the "meat and three" concept being popular throughout the state.
• Steakhouse: Kansas City has a long history as a cattle town, which has fostered a strong steakhouse culture. Restaurants specialize in serving high-quality, hand-cut steaks, particularly the Kansas City strip.
• Frozen Custard: This dessert is a significant part of the state's food culture. Establishments like Ted Drewes in St. Louis and Andy's Frozen Custard, which started in Osage Beach, are Missouri institutions known for their dense, rich frozen custard concretes.