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    Southwest Diner

    4.5 (1.2k reviews)
    Open • 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Waitlist - Southwest Diner

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    Southwest Diner Photos

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    SOUTHWEST DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Southwest Diner

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    Queso
    Whitney S.

    Holy Breakfast Burrito! Southwest diner is an institution in STL and for good reason. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the vibe is laidback! Be sure to get the breakfast burrito. It's SO good!

    Syrup served in old Coca Cola bottles
    Teresa D.

    Such a fun place! Diner meets eclectic. The food is very diner-esk and it is very good. I had the Eggs, bacon, and biscuit (biscuit is house made and very savory). My friend had the eggs bacon and pandcakes....loved the pancakes..they are a cornmeal pancake - we loved it As you can see from the pictures there is a diner counter, but the decor is eclectic Our server was attentive and helpful. PS - they have sopapillas, I did not try them, but I will be back to try them.

    Tacos
    Maddie W.

    On a Saturday afternoon, I came by for a late lunch. I added my name to the waitlist in advance and I'm glad I did - it seems like the Saturday lunch rush lasts a while! Everyone in my party enjoyed their meals (I had the tacos). I do think they may have been understaffed in the front and back of the house on our visit as service was particularly slow, but all is forgiven when the food is so good! :)

    Sopapilla
    Mindy P.

    If your friends suggest it, just say yes. If you need a great diner/greasy spoon, make the plan. I was not expecting to like this place as much as I did. We were not able to make a reservation, which is fine, our wait was short. The space is small which is sad for the rest of STL, because they can only help so many people in one day. Service was very attentive, food was a great combo of breakfast with southwest flavors. Hopefully will be able to come back for lunch very soon!

    Rocket to Bacon Land
    Byron C.

    I've been meaning to eat southwestern-themed breakfast food since I saw the legendary "chorizo and eggs" scene from the movie Midnight Run. The opportunity finally presented itself when a member of my old man's bicycle group suggested this place for a Friday afternoon lunch. I was more than happy to step away from my responsibilities for an hour or two, and the only thing that would have made it better is if I'd been able to disappoint a group of people standing in line, like at the DMV. I'd been as far south on McCausland as a shopping center near the intersection with Manchester, for a drug test for a job, which I'll have you know I passed with flying colors. Consulting Google Maps on the way to the restaurant, I was surprised to see that it's on (er, kinda on) Southwest Avenue. Does it serve diner fare with a southwestern flair due to its address, or is that a mere matter of coincidence? According to a guy I know, who knows several people who work there (don't be jealous), it's the latter. Certainly, you wouldn't put a restaurant here for the ambience. This looks like the kind of place where you'd ditch a stolen car after using the backseat for a fried chicken dinner that somehow involved ketchup (why?) and an assignation with a lady of the evening. If you live nearby, I guess it's not off the beaten path, but who lives here? The menu is a veritable plethora of riches. You could have breakfast food, or you could have lunch food, even if you couldn't bring yourself to roll out of bed until after 10:30 AM. It's downright anxiety inducing! I toyed with the idea of a torta or a burger, and I also saw that they had milkshakes. I ended up going with breakfast food, because I love breakfast food and I don't get it as often. Specifically, I went with something called the Rocket to Bacon Land. It's a bacon and goat cheese omelet with arugula and caramelized onions, served with home fries and your choice of bread. I could have gone with various kinds of toast or a sopapilla. I went with a biscuit. It was amazing! It looked like something your mom would make with Bisquick when she's feeling especially lazy, but it tasted great. It may have been better than the biscuits at Popeyes--which is pretty much the highest compliment you can pay a food item. The omelet was also pretty good. I appreciated the generous helping of eggs, which must have run them, thanks to a certain individual who shall not be named. It was definitely an egg-forward preparation. The arugula didn't seem to add much, as I suspected, and I don't know that the bacon or onions were present in sufficient quantities as to be truly dominant. The goat cheese was definitely a choice. It was warm and soft (ahem), but not melty the way you'd expect cheese in an omelet to be. I liked it, but I don't know if I liked it as much as a regular ol' Denver omelet. I'm a close-minded individual. I buy vanilla ice cream for the taste. Would I feel the same way, to varying degrees, about everything else on the menu? There's only one way to find out.

    Lindsey P.

    The decoration of the restaurant is very cute. We went while they were busy, so things seemed a little tight in the space, but it was perfectly fine. We ended up sitting at the counter on stools and I thought it was really fun and cute with the older red style cushions. I got the Grits on Fire, and it's really funny to describe this, but when I took my first bite, I was a little disappointed. It had a nice flavor and a bright spiciness to it but was lacking a depth of flavor. It was so close to being amazing! My husband suggested adding salt, and it changed the dish completely. It became something incredible, but I did have to tweak the dish. My husband got a burrito, although I forget which one. It was good, but didn't reach "great." This place was really nice, but not quite what I'm looking for personally. It's way better than an average restaurant, though. I would suggest people try it.

    Breakfast burrito (Christmas style - red and green sauce), torta with chorizo, and grits on fire
    Sarah M.

    Finally made it to Southwest Diner on a chilly day recently! Due to the weather, it was not busy at all on a late morning Saturday but they were still open! Our server was really nice and attentive. We got the grits, a burrito, and torta. All were super good - big fan of the fries that came with the torta! The homemade chorizo was amazing. This is definitely worth the hype!!

    Art on patio
    Shauncei G.

    Came here as it was recommended by a couple of friends. To me the food was pretty mediocre, I had the breakfast burrito with green chili. I was expecting more of a chili rather than actual green chilis ontop. It was fine but lacked flavor in general. And the portion was pretty small, tho it was inexpensive for the portion size. I LOVED the artwork on the patio, and I loved that they offered patio seating. It didn't take too long to get sat even tho they were busy. But our service was pretty slow, I also had the coffee which I didn't care for but I did drink the cup, our waiter never got us a refill on our coffee at all either. The pancakes were truly the best part of the entire experience, very unique and not too sweet which I love! I also had a bite of my husbands heuvos rancheros, the portion was also very small, and it was just okay not great but not bad either.

    Build Your Own Burrito
    Alli N.

    A must-try Southwest-meets-St. Louis gem! Every bite here is bursting with that bold Southwest flair -- perfectly spiced, comforting, and absolutely delicious. The food looks as good as it tastes -- from crispy tater-tot bites topped with queso fresco and green onions, to the hearty plates piled high with eggs, gravy, and golden potatoes, to that incredible smothered breakfast burrito that's pure flavor heaven. The service is just as awesome -- friendly, attentive, and quick even when the place is buzzing. And the vibe? Totally unmatched. It's bright, eclectic, and full of energy, with the coolest outdoor setup featuring a converted school bus bar for drinks. It's the perfect place to kick back with brunch, a cocktail, or both. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Southwest Diner is one of those places that leaves you full, happy, and already planning your next visit.

    J David H.

    A highlight of my recent trip to Saint Louis was a brunch outing at the Southwest Diner with my son. Located in the Ellendale community outside of Maplewood. Ellendale began to thrive with the addition of electric street cars in 1896. The Southwest diner is in an early 1900's brick building. It was several businesses in its past, but most well known as a grocery. Parking is off street and free. Southwest offers a covered outside patio for additional space with frequent waits especially on weekends. The dining room vibe is spectacular and will deceive customers into believing it has operated for many decades. In reality, Southwest has only existed since 2012 and was formerly a breakfast taco stand at Tower Grove Farmers Market. A sharp eye of their retro tables and chairs may reveal the former identity as 1950's Jack in the box. A cool looking bar compliments their space. They also have interior group dining that seats eight. Table service was top notch, the coffee delicious and a classic diner menu with a flare of New Mexican cuisine superb. The owner Johnathan was on hand too. We both wanted eggs which is a specialty, so for me the "Rocket to Bacon Land" omelette with three eggs goat cheese, arugula, caramelized onions and bacon. Side of potatoes. My son opted more basic with a three egg omelette, sausage and fried potatoes. Our waitress Kate suggested a side order of French Toast to split instead of toast which proved an excellent choice. She also included a biscuit to try that was yum. Put Southwest Diner on your list for a visit in Saint Louis. For families the prices are affordable as well. Jump on their waitlist for a smoother experience on weekends when they get clobbered. Can't wait to return.

    Coffee!!
    Madhura J.

    Went back today after a bit . The pozole was warm and comforting and the sopapilla was just the right amount of sweet. My husband loved his hueveos rancheros and our friends loved their black bean burger and veggie tortas as well . Our server was great , friendly professional and gave us the space we needed . The ambience is so relaxed and welcoming. My only regret is that I didn't take more pics .

    Carne adovado
    Sara M.

    We ate at this place last Thursday for the first time in a while. I had the rocket to Baconland, my partner had the carne adovado and grits on fire. The service was fantastic and we like the vibe of the place a lot. He liked his dishes. As for the rocket to Baconland omelette, it felt more like a salad wrapped in an egg crêpe, which was not for me. There was also not much bacon for a dish with the name implied. I did not leave hungry though, and I would definitely give them another try.

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    Southwest Diner never disappoints! The food is terrific and the service is always friendly and efficient.

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    5 months ago

    Delish! We got the sopapillas. Yum. Good coffee. Kind waitress. Great patio. We love this place!

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    Southwest Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Southwest Diner

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes! 🙂

    What types of menu items are gluten-free and does Southwest Diner accommodate those with Celiac disease?

    This place is pretty carb forward but maybe an omelette and sub the toast for a salad?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Last minute decision to go here for dinner as we hadn't been in a while. Lots of full tables but…read moreit was unseasonably hot so no one sitting outside. We were seated quickly and our waitress, Karen, stopped by for drink orders and asked if we had dined there before, that was an affirmative. Karen was no nonsense and efficient, telling us about the special and answering questions about the pot pie. We happened to be seated next to a table from someone I knew, so we didn't have to pretend not to stare at the food they ordered, lol. We just talked about all that we ordered. Their Piccadilly fish looked amazing as did the rib special. I ordered the chicken pot pie, I had been thinking about it, and craving carbs to boot and it didn't disappoint. Karen informed me that it had lima beans and corn, so I wasn't shocked by that. Came in a bowl draped with puff pastry. Pastry was flaky and lightly browned, the base was creamy with lots of chicken chunks, carrots, corn, and lima beans. I haven't had lima beans before and I liked them. I had ordered the soup of the day, Tuscan white bean that sounded great, but I thought it was just ok. Husband ordered the fried chicken with slaw and mashed potatoes. The chicken was HOT! I enjoyed the leg piece I snagged off his plate, the breading is thin and adhered well to the chicken, the slaw was creamy, I didn't try the potatoes. Great home-style food, nice atmosphere, efficient service. Try the pot pie!

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    The Piccadilly at Manhattan - Fried Chicken - ample portions, great green beans, marvelous mashed potatoes, good gravy, and crispy tasty fried chicken...

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    4.4(699 reviews)
    1.7 mi•Cheltenham
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    I was finally able to go here yesterday and I loved it. It feels like a true American burger joint…read more When you enter, you order at the counter and the food is then brought to your table. Service was great at both the counter and the table. I had the Split & Melt which was delicious. Crispy smash patties, gooey cheese, buttery bread. I also opted to add heirloom tomato to it which added a nice brightness to it. My mom ordered the double, which she said was amazing. We ordered a variety of sides to share. The mac and cheese was amazing, the onion rings were flavorful and crispy, and the fries were also very well seasoned and crispy. Overall, everything was a 10/10. Also, I loved that their fountain sodas are Excel sodas. Will definitely be back to try their draft beers and more burgers!

    Food: The burger? Excellent. One of my favorite smash burgers in the city. The fries? Just ok…read more Maybe it was an off day, but they didn't taste much different to me than a regular fry. Price: All together, with a dollar tip, I paid $27 and change, which to me is incredibly pricey for counter service. $2 for a dipping sauce is steep, and for a small container. Next time? I'd skip the dipping sauce and homemade lemonade to save $7. I'll be back but not running to pay this much again. The storefront: the direct out front, small parking lot was packed and people were going into the gated lot to find parking. Only one person working the counter when you first walk in which lead to a long line at the dinner rush that seemed to be moving pretty slow. We got in before the rush and got our food quickly after. Staff were kind and very helpful! Fairly clean with the food runners circling tables often to remove trash.

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    4.5(185 reviews)
    2.8 mi•Forest Park Southeast
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    For a cocktail bar, I give this place 5/5 stars. The alcoholic and alcohol free cocktails are…read moredelicious and the vibe is immaculate. I particularly like how the menu has illustrations of the cocktails so you know how they are served. Plus everything is seasonal! For food, I give it a 4/5. The appetizers, including the cauliflower, onion rings, and poutine are excellent but the entree menu is limited to mostly sandwiches and I've found the entrees just ok-to-good for the price. It's easy to walk in for lunch but I recommend a reservation for dinner to avoid the chaos!

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    Carnivore - Arancini

    Carnivore

    4.3(668 reviews)
    1.7 mi•The Hill
    •$$

    Sunday brunch is a great stop @Carnivore! The adults each got the seasonal brunch punch- you can't…read morego wrong with that! Mariah was a super sweet server who was friendly knowledgeable and attentive to our table. We didn't feel rushed or pressured, it was a relaxing brunch to sit and talk and catch up! We ordered the biscuit & 3 butters- light, fluffy, buttery biscuits and the butters were delicious! After that we got the farm fresh omelets, Italian slinger, breakfast burrito and steak and eggs with grits. The steak was delicious, melts in your mouth, the eggs were perfectly cooked... the Italian slinger was phenomenal! I cleaned my plate- delicious salsiccia and over easy eggs cooked exactly right! This wasn't our first time stopping in after church and it sure won't be our last!

    6:30 Saturday reservation for two. Many tables empty, maybe 1/3 empty. Waitress not very engaging…read moreor interested in us. Poor attitude but it matched the quality of the food. Asked for a list of specials but, even though menu said ask for starter/chef special, she didn't seem to know about it. The Caprese flatbread was underwhelming. The tomatoes were not red or flavorful, they looked like tomatoes on a Subway sandwich. The base/bread of the flatbread was prepackaged and tasted like nothing. Ordered a $68 bone in ribeye. Undercooked which had to be a challenge given the thin cut. The best part about the steak was the crunchy sea salt that topped it. Even Cracker Barrel fills your water. Our waters were never refilled. The menu prices did not meet the low bar standards for every part of this dining experience from the service to the poor quality of the food. Unfortunately this place was a bust.

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    4.5(71 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Tower Grove South

    The BF and I came here for date night and also stayed for amateur comedy hour…read more A small dive bar in south city with friendly employees and a limited cocktail menu. The worst aspect is the ventilation which needs much work. We came out smelling so greasy and smokey. We seated ourselves and waited a minute for our waitress to assist us. She kept saying she was new, that it was like her second day or something and didn't quite know the menu. She also didn't know how to make a drink, with that being the case why are you allowed to make any cocktails. If you have a limited cocktail menu but an extensive bar selection you would think their cocktail specials were on point. Nooooo. The BF tried a margarita special and it was awful. I tried a special crafted cocktail that was cool that our waitress asked the guy bartending to specially make because she had no clue about what I was talking about. I hate going to a spot where I make drinks better than the bartenders on hand and that's your job. The BF ordered the the garlic burger and I ordered the Korean wings which NEVER came out because our waitress forgot to order them. So I shared food with the BF. The burger was extremely underwhelming, not seasoned at all. How do you specialize in burgers and mess that up. The best item we ate was the fries and the comedy show was good. I love dinner and entertainment. We are burger enthusiast and if this what your restaurant specializes in I expect to be wowed. We saw all the social media hype surrounding this place and were so excited to try them. To find out it was ALL just hype is a real let down. No we will not be returning, the burgers and service speak for themselves.

    Rip Tres Equis; Bienvenidos Smash Em's…read more After much anticipation and an impromptu visit, I was finally able to check this place out. They're known for their smash burgers and seasoned fries. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the food bc I had dinner plans, but I did stay for a couple drinks. They have a great selection of spirits and cocktail specials. My friend got a tequila sunrise, so I followed suit. The pour was quite generous, I must say, and I'm def not complaining. The drink was smooth, with the perfect amount of tequila and sweetness. The bartenders working were both friendly and sociable. The vibe was relaxed and is a great alternative when things get too crazy at the dam. While I only got drinks, I'll for sure be back. The smells alone (all good of course) will have you lingering back!

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    Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Menu

    Menu

    Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Kitchen

    Kitchen

    Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Bar

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    Bar

    Southwest Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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