food (the good kind) (St. Louis, Webster Groves: live, restaurants, versus)

[krismoshes]

I prefer answers from those who have eaten anywhere outside of Missouri.

Where can i get good mexican food (qdoba/tacobell doesnt count).

I also love pho (vietnamese noodle soup).

In the city or county but i prefer to stay away from saint charles and north city/county and i will definitely not drive over the river and into ESL or Illinois.

Thanks.

[billiken]

Originally Posted by krismoshes

I prefer answers from those who have eaten anywhere outside of Missouri.

This attitude will not make you many new friends very quickly.

Anyways, for more traditional, not-fancy Mexican, various places in Benton Park, St Louis.

There are a few trendier "modern" mexican places that get some hype and I think aren't bad like Milagro in Webster Groves, Chava's in Soulard.

In terms of fast food Mexican that isn't Taco Bell, I'm a fan of Nachomamas in Rock Hill.

I don't really get that excited about pho, but everyone raves/goes crazy over Mai Lee in Brentwood, including pretty much all the local restaurant reviewers/magazines.

[NewStLouisan]

La Tejana Taqueria (on Lindbergh) probably has the most authentic Mexican food in the STL area. Not fancy, though - food is served on paper plates and plastic forks, and half the restaurant is a liquor store. Amazing food. Besides that, try the places on Cherokee Street (La Vallesana, Taqueria El Bronco, Tower Taco). Mission Taco is nice too.

Mai Lee is probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis. Pho Grand is great for pho, and Little Saigon Cafe is a place you go on date night.

[jribe]

Originally Posted by krismoshes

I prefer answers from those who have eaten anywhere outside of Missouri.

Where can i get good mexican food (qdoba/tacobell doesnt count).

I also love pho (vietnamese noodle soup).

In the city or county but i prefer to stay away from saint charles and north city/county and i will definitely not drive over the river and into ESL or Illinois.

Thanks.

you will offend others by saying this- trust me i have! Depends on where you are from- but to me, being from CA, the food i cook is better than any restaurants i have tried out here (after 4 years). Everyone has their own opinions of what "good" food is- but the typical palate out here is not the same as elsewhere. I have tried restaurants that everyone say is awesome and it's bland and boring to me. Mexican is one of the worst offenders out here- unless you find a place that has actual mexicans cooking and ask them to make it "authentic" - i tried that a few times and its way better than eating off the menu.

[FrankMiller]

Originally Posted by jribe

you will offend others by saying this- trust me i have! Depends on where you are from- but to me, being from CA, the food i cook is better than any restaurants i have tried out here (after 4 years). Everyone has their own opinions of what "good" food is- but the typical palate out here is not the same as elsewhere. I have tried restaurants that everyone say is awesome and it's bland and boring to me. Mexican is one of the worst offenders out here- unless you find a place that has actual mexicans cooking and ask them to make it "authentic" - i tried that a few times and its way better than eating off the menu.

I've eaten at restaurants in cities all over the world. It's all about the same.

[Mzurie]

I often see the word "authentic" prefacing "Mexican food."

I'm curious:

1. Of those who use this qualifier, do you base your judgment on the fact that you have actually consumed Mexican food in Mexico? And if yes, was it in a venue that served mostly Mexican nationals?

2. Given that Mexico is a really big country, with a number of discrete regions, each with its own cuisine, and add to that, the fact that Americans of Mexican descent (from many parts of Mexico) have lived within what are now US borders for generations, does American-Mexican fare count as "authentic" Mexican fare?

Having lived in New Mexico for a year, I can tell you that there are debates about the merits of Northern New Mexico Mexican food versus Southern New Mexico Mexican food. And let's not even get started about the differences and pros/cons of Tex-Mex and Southwestern foods.

[FrankMiller]

My Mexican uncle likes Las Fuentes, so I guess you can try that place.

[RubyJune]

Pueblo Solis on Hampton is great for Mexican. I hear a lot of good things about places on Cherokee Street, but I haven't eaten at any of them.

Pho Grand or Mi Kong's for Vietnamese. Both are on South Grand.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by jribe

you will offend others by saying this- trust me i have! Depends on where you are from- but to me, being from CA, the food i cook is better than any restaurants i have tried out here (after 4 years). Everyone has their own opinions of what "good" food is- but the typical palate out here is not the same as elsewhere. I have tried restaurants that everyone say is awesome and it's bland and boring to me. Mexican is one of the worst offenders out here- unless you find a place that has actual mexicans cooking and ask them to make it "authentic" - i tried that a few times and its way better than eating off the menu.

I had to make my own mexican food, too. It wasn't perfect, but still very good.

I found nothing in Saint Louis (and the surrounding area) that would come close to what you find in the Southwest. The taste buds are very quirky in Saint Louis and everything just tastes a little "off".

[inahandbasket]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

I had to make my own mexican food, too. It wasn't perfect, but still very good.

I found nothing in Saint Louis (and the surrounding area) that would come close to what you find in the Southwest. The taste buds are very quirky in Saint Louis and everything just tastes a little "off".

Just go away, DP. You add nothing to any conversation about St. Louis except your biased perspective from when you lived some 30 miles from the city. You thought Lake Saint Louis was more happening than STL. Sheesh.