Chef Tello Carreon, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, brought a high-flying, refined, ingredient-focused form of Mexican cuisine to this restaurant gaining national attention being both inviting and inventive.

Website: nixtastl.com

Address: 1621 Tower Grove Ave.

Phone number: 314-899-9000

Number of seats: 42 inside, 18 outside

Entrée price range: $8-$25

Popular dishes: crispy octopus, fried potato, charred lettuce, mole almendrado; cobia, shrimp and pineapple aguachile; pulled duck carnitas with apple-poblano slaw and house salsas

What others say: “The vibe is: that cool, colorful, always lively restaurant that everyone talks about in Oaxaca … except it’s in St. Louis.” — Bon Appétit

Beet salad

Another view of the interior

Sandwiches at their most elaborate and elemental are the sole focus of this fast-casual upstart, which makes meats in-house and uses local breads, all with the aim to make people muse on the finer points of the French dip.

Website: facebook.com/goeatsandwiches

Address: 3148 Morganford Road

Phone number: 314-797-8188

Number of seats: 25

Entrée price range: $8-$10

Popular dishes: French dip with shaved roasted ribeye, sliced red onion, horseradish mayonnaise and Prairie Breeze cheddar on a French bun; Cubano with roasted pork loin, Miller ham, sliced pickle, Kentucky Swiss cheese and yellow mustard; roasted teriyaki marinated tofu sandwich with Napa cabbage slaw and bean sprouts

What others say: “Balance is the best term for Eat Sandwiches’ aesthetic. The Cuban ($9.95) is straightforward: roasted pork loin and ham from St. Louis’ own Miller Ham Co. garnished with Swiss cheese, very thin pickle slices and yellow mustard and then toasted in a sandwich press. The pork loin mellows the ham’s saltiness, and the pickles and mustard serve as a mild inflection, not a strong accent.” — Ian Froeb, St. Louis Dispatch

Salami sandwich

The interior

Innovation comes in affordable handheld packages at this fusion spot beloved for its memorable flavors and fast-casual vibe.

Website: kalbitacoshack.com

Address: 2301 Cherokee St.

Phone number: 314-240-5544

Number of seats: 40

Entrée price range: $2.65-$8.95

Popular dishes: Boneless beef short rib rice bowl; sweet and spicy pork bánh mì sandwich; teriyaki chicken taco

What others say: “Kalbi follows the Korean-Mexican-fusion template made famous by Los Angeles chef Roy Choi and introduced to St. Louis by Seoul Taco. And if the idea of filling tacos and burritos with kalbi (marinated and then grilled beef short ribs) and other traditional Korean preparations isn’t new, at this modest, family-run spot, it doesn’t yet feel played out.” — Ian Froeb, St. Louis Dispatch

A Kalbi Taco Shack wrap

A selection of Kalbi Taco Shop menu items

The Stellar Hog

Operating as part of the beloved dive bar Super's Bungalow, this weekends-only barbecue enterprise has been a favorite in a city that does not lack for barbecue options.

Website: thestellarhog.com

Address: 5623 Leona St.

Phone number: 314-481-8448

Number of seats: 65 inside, 80 outside

Entrée price range: $10-$12

Popular dishes: Smoked beef brisket; smoked corned beef brisket; cheesy pulled pork fries with pit beans and spicy barbecue sauce; smoked brisket chili bowl

What others say: “When that glorious meat extravaganza hit the table, we'd be clear on one thing: This is what we mean by St. Louis-style barbecue.” — Cheryl Baehr, Riverfront Times

Barbecue fare

A Stellar Hog burger

This brick-and-mortar manifestation of a popular food truck focuses on Filipino-inspired street fare.

Website: guerrillastreetfood.com

Address: 3559 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo.

Phone number: 314-529-1328

Number of seats: 26 inside, 22 outside

Entrée price range: $7-$10

Popular dishes: Slow roasted pork asado with calamansi, hoisin, Sriracha, fried garlic, black sesame seeds, rice, sous-vide one-hour egg and scallions; pork belly with citrus, serrano pepper fish sauce, fried garlic and coconut milk rice; fried chicken thighs with chile braised cabbage, spicy hoisin and mango shrimp sauce

What others say: “Visual cues and reminders of the food truck experience fill the refurbished building, with the façade of the counter designed to resemble the mobile eatery’s service window. Previously established branding finds its way into the approximately 1,500-square-foot space, made up of dark walls and a signature orange logo amongst refinished wood tables and a fitting display of Boba Fett’s iconic helmet.” — Mabel Suen, Feast

Belly of the Beast

Flying Pig