Absolutely delicious! There was barely any wait time, and the service was quick. The portions are…read morehuge, and everything was also so flavorful:)

We came in about 40 minutes before closing (with the kitchen closing 30 minutes before close), and…read morethe staff was still incredibly welcoming. They got our food out surprisingly fast, and everyone was very kind. Place is kinda small but can seat groups for sure. We tried the sweet & sour pork, crispy shrimp, spicy beef turkey, and steamed buns. The sweet & sour pork was definitely the highlight! The crispy shrimp wasn't my favorite because the coating was a bit dry almost sandy for my taste, but I really appreciated the chance to try authentic regional Chinese dishes. Overall, a great experience, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

A family dinner and it was DELICIOUS. You need to order the crispy beef because it was the stand…read moreout dish for our meal. This place has a huge menu, so it was a little overwhelming, but I think we did a good job lol. This place shares parking with other businesses, so parking can be limited depending on time of day. They have the standard big, banquet tables inside, and a fish tank for your little ones to enjoy. The service was friendly and DIRECT - so if you need to be coddled, you will not get that here lol. Be ready to eat and know what you want. I want to come back because I want to get their dim sum, and we moved from AZ where dim sum was available all day... so that was a bummer.

Party of 6 for a birthday and we ordered a number of delicious plates…read more * pan fried dumplings * sweet and sour chicken * crispy beef * beef fried rice, Hong Kong seafood noodles I can't remember the rest but there were at least 2-3 more... and everything was delicious. I've been coming here since I was a kid and it's never failed to be a great meal and good times. I'll always come back! Also the wait staff was so nice. Like extra nice. You'd think we were VIP or something and some of the other guests they knew by name and hugged them. What a great restaurant:)

If you liked Tous Les Jours, this place is 100% for you! It has the same self-service gimmick then…read moreyou pay by the counter, so when it just opened I got super excited to try. It has incredibly nice vibes and is really spacious. There are some seating, and lots of trays and tongs. There is a wide selection of desserts and even drinks to choose from. I tried their mochi doughnut and brought a loaf of red bean bread. For anybody wondering, the bread expires in four days. Everything tasted good and wasn't too sweet. It was pleasing to eat taste and texture wise, and felt fresh. Olive Bakery is a nice place, I think about it a lot and I hope to come again even if it is a long drive. It is worth it.

Olive Bakery has quickly become a go-to for us. It's hard to order wrong -- everything we've tried…read morehas been fresh, soft, and nicely balanced without being overly sweet. The pork floss bun is my favorite: airy, pillowy bread with that perfect sweet-savory combo and creamy spread. The purple potato bun is just as good -- smooth, gently sweet filling wrapped in tender bread that feels comforting rather than heavy. Great variety, reasonable prices, and easy to grab a mix to share. We'll definitely be back.

Been here a few times now and it is one of the most authentic Chinese spots in the city. Brought my…read moreChinese friends along and they fully approved and you can tell just by the crowd in there. Weekday visits are pretty chill but weekend dinner time gets busy, just something to plan around. Also a heads up on parking, the lot isn't very big so when it's packed it can be tough to find a spot. Would recommend carpooling if you can. I have a pretty low spice tolerance but there are still so many delicious dishes to choose from if you look around the menu. The soups are so hearty and comforting. Insider tip: the tofu egg dish is not on the menu but ask for it anyway. It is so worth it and the best way I can describe it is like eating a savory cloud puff. So unique and so good. The service is always super efficient, food comes out fast, and the staff will get you in and out. Every single dish I've had has been full of flavor and nothing has missed yet. Would absolutely come back and highly recommend.

We stopped at Chilispot for a family lunch and overall enjoyed our meal…read more The dumplings were a favorite at our table, while the spicy chicken was my personal standout. It was excellent and had just the right amount of heat. I also enjoyed the smoky ham fried rice, although it lacked the distinct smoky aroma I was expecting. Some of the other dishes didn't quite land for me. The fish soup wasn't my favorite, and the beef noodle soup wasn't especially memorable. The cumin lamb, however, was better than expected and ended up being one of the stronger dishes we ordered. That said, the service was friendly, the portions were generous, and there are plenty of interesting options on the menu. I'd definitely come back to try some different dishes next time.

TLDR: Good Food, But A Lot of Red Flags…read more I had been wanting to try Shabu Day for a while and finally made it out. The food was honestly really good -- but there is a lot this place needs to fix before I can fully recommend it. The first thing that hit me when I walked in was the smell. And not in a good way. It smelled like a sewer. Not what you want when you are about to sit down and eat. It lingered the entire time we were there and was really hard to get past. The front of the restaurant looks okay at first glance. But once you sit down you start noticing things. The tables are wobbly and clearly rigged up with makeshift fixes. Extension cords are running visibly across the floor which looks bad and feels unsafe. The menus and sauce bottles were sticky -- like they had not been wiped down in a long time. Little things like that add up fast. I caught a glimpse of the back of the house and it looked grimy and dirty. That is a problem at any restaurant, but especially at a place where you are cooking your own food right at the table. The staff were not very welcoming either. They were hard to find when you needed something and did not seem very interested in making sure you were having a good time. Now here is the thing -- the food was actually fresh and delicious. The broth was flavorful and the ingredients were good quality. That part genuinely impressed me. But for the price they are charging? The total package is just not there yet. Good food can only carry a restaurant so far. They need to clean things up -- literally -- before I come back.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ UPDATE: One more thing worth mentioning that I think is really important. Shabu Day is strictly all you can eat -- and that is the only option they offer. For most people that is fine. But for anyone with a medical condition that limits how much they can eat, this format is a serious problem. You are being charged full all you can eat prices for food you physically cannot consume in that quantity. That is not fair and it is not inclusive. A lot of restaurants in this space offer a la carte or smaller portion options for exactly this reason. Shabu Day should do the same. It is a simple change that would make a big difference for a lot of people and would show that they actually care about all of their customers -- not just the ones who can eat the most. Clean things up, fix the smell, train your staff to be more welcoming, and give people a fair way to order. The foundation is there. Now build on it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Food was cool. We love ramen and the experience of "cooking" it right at our table. One very short…read moremenu with a few broth and meat choices. There were very few instructions and the place could use some TLC and thorough cleaning. I didn't use the restroom but my husband thinks black mold is growing in it. The waiter didn't wait very long to check if we were ready to order or not. That was a bit annoying. I don't think I'd go back buyy husband says he'd try it again.

This is easily a five-star review, and it's coming from someone who isn't a true BBQ lover. This…read moreplace was suggested by a local, and I am so glad that I went because it was the best BBQ that I have ever had. I wasn't sure what to order, but the friendly staff recommended that I have the brisket, and I'm so glad I heeded their advice. The brisket sandwich was the most tender meat that I have ever had. I had never had brisket before having that sandwich, now my mouth waters any time I talk about this restaurant! The cole slaw that I had as a side provided the perfect crunch and balance. My mate had the pulled pork sandwich, which was also very tender. I also loved having a variety of barbecue sauces on the table and was able to try each one. Everyone has a preference, I'm sure, but after trying each one, I am completely sold on the Carolina gold. Also, I do not typically have a fountain soda, but the cola that was on tap was some of the best that I'd ever tasted. 10 out of 10 for Sugarfire, and I will definitely be returning the next time I'm in St. Louis!

Father's Day! We stopped by later in the evening, but it is a popular spot most days and…read moreespecially on Father's Day! Join the line when you walk in, when you get to the front of the line, you tell the counter person your order, the guys behind the counter were upbeat and friendly. You move on down the line and pick your sides, proceeding to the register. Paying and getting drink cups. Go pick your table with your food if its ready or just yourself if your food isn't ready yet and they will come out and call your name. Raise your hand and they will bring it over, friendly as can be. At the location in Valley Park my standing order is brisket and tater tots , so good! But I didn't see tater tots on the menu so I switched it up and got smoked salmon with fries, and an order of hushpuppies. I got the salmon and fried up first and both were great. Salmon was smoky and flaky, the fries the hand cut style with skin on. Both tasted great with my favorite coffee BBQ sauce. The hushpuppies came out piping hot with a sweet sauce on the side. The hushpuppies were so good! I will be craving them, thinking about them now, mmm. Line moves quickly, friendly staff, good food, fantastic hushpuppies :)

I randomly drove by this restaurant on Olive and was like wait a minute... A BBQ place just opened…read moreright next to Shabu Day??? It was definitely unannounced but pleasantly surprising. I was able to find the name of the restaurant on Yelp and found out that it was Chinese BBQ restaurant. Needless to say, I hopped in my car and drove straight to it right after. They open until late (midnight) so it's a perfect spot for hanging out and gathering. The restaurant is not too big so I would imagine a little wait if it ever gets busy. We came on a Friday but it was not too busy. You will be given an iPad to look through the menu and send orders to the kitchen. The process was straightforward. Food was pretty good in my opinion. I can't tell if it's authentic or not since I'm not Chinese but the whole experience was so cool. Food was cooked but they brought out a stove to warm my food. I recommend getting the lamb skewers and the Taiwanese sausage. In addition, if you like seafood, try out the oyster and vermicelli tin foil. The oyster was really juicy and fresh. Price was a little high. Expect to spend about 30-50 per person. However, I do enjoy my experience and will return for sure.

I was driving by on Olive one day and saw that there was a bbq place open right next to Shabu Day…read moreand knew I had to investigate! I am a sucker for a good lamb skewer so when I walked in to visit I ended up order 6 of them. You can order at the kiosk or at the register. My total was $16.99 before tax and tip. The interior of the restaurant is pretty small, but there are a few tables for seating if you're not getting them to go. I enjoyed my skewers and the flavor but thought that they were a little small for the price. I might try some other skewers if I'm in the area but would likely not purposefully make a trip out of it unless going with friends.

As a Texas transplant, I am a huge fan of taco Buddha! It reminds me of Torchy's Tacos and makes me…read morefeel a little more at home. We stuck to fish tacos since it was a Friday during lent, but they did not disappoint. The margaritas & mad dog were very good as well and I would highly recommend! I like the idea of the QR codes to order at the tables. It felt like it made the process a bit faster, but it was still a hospitable environment. Everyone was very friendly and we felt taken care of. There was a short wait on a Friday at 6pm, but it was well worth it.

One of the best casual eateries in St. Louis…read more Food: always fantastic here. They have a monthly flavor that I almost always enjoy. Their permanent flavors are also excellent. I prefer the quesadillas with some of the more unique flavors, especially since the price point is very reasonable and you get a fair portion of food. Service: very good. They have QR codes at each table that you can order and pay straight from your phone, which is very convenient and the food always comes out pretty quickly. The staff here is always so nice. Ambience: the majority of the eating area is outdoors in a heated tent. It's a nice vibe and lets you feel like you're sitting outside without actually having to be outside. Parking isn't too bad here, there's a small parking lot right behind the restaurant and then there is typically ample street parking. It can get quite busy at peak times, but they have a great pick up option as well.