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Southwest Diner

4.5 (1.2k reviews)
Closed • 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?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Southwest Diner

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Reviews With Photos

Omelette with potatoes
Gabrielle J.

Unpretentious, cozy and always a great time. The staff here are always great, even during a rush. I love coming here for a good Sunday brunch; and always leave pleased. They are accommodating to my gluten allergy and I've never left disappointed. The potatoes are always super tasty and filling; and even their iced coffee is great with a pinch of sugar and... hear me out... a squeeze of lemon! I'm telling you, if you're an iced coffee fan, you gotta try it once. Always worth a visit!

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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13 days ago

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

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6 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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4.2(140 reviews)
1.8 mi•St. Louis Hills, Lindenwood Park
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I like this place a lot! I hope it finds success here. We were sat very quickly, they have indoor…read moreand outdoor seating. The staff was very kind and attentive. The menu was vast and they had a large drink menu and full bar. We got a margarita pitcher, peach flavored, which was very good. We got tacos, a chicken quesadilla, and fajitas. All were excellent, we will definitely be coming back!

I have been here twice but this is about my most recent visit (08/2026). I am not the margarita…read moreimbibing guy I used to be, so I'm not the best authority on that part. My friend and I stopped here for a last minute drinks and dinner. We each had the house special, I think it was called the Cadillac margarita with salted rim, iced not frozen, and we got the jumbo. OMG I couldn't even finish the jumbo. It was very strong and big, had to take it home to try and finish it. A wait staff dropped off chips and salsa and the chips were just not that good. I asked my friend what she thought and she said the same thing I did. The salsa did help but if I opened my own Mexican place I would serve the best chips I could find. I know they're free but many places offer some kind of free snack (Helen's has popcorn, some places still offer salted peanuts...) and I think it should make one think the chips are good the food will be better. As I was drinking I wanted some food and we got two chicken burritos, they were large and very good!! They were 2 for $14 if that gives an idea on cost. While I live just a few minutes from here, I haven't seen enough in 2 visits to say I'll keep coming here for Mexican, there are many other places in South St Louis to try. Oh and I swear the bar "stools" are big enough for two people. I probably look comical on one as my friend and I may have been able to fit into one stool.

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Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Seating with beautiful artwork

Seating with beautiful artwork

Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Mixed fajitas

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Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Dining room

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Adelita’s Restaurant - Texas fajitas!

Adelita’s Restaurant

4.3(64 reviews)
17.3 mi

We've never had a bad experience at Adelitas…read more Theres plenty to choose from on the menu. The chips and salsa are plentiful and if you add a bowl of queso, it hits the spot. We were here for a birthday and had a group of 7. Our server was good but seemed to be covering the entire back room which meant longer wait times. It wasnt a bother however. The birthday girl got sung to and a shot of tequila to celebrate.

Service was great, walked in and was seated right away. The waiter spoke English, and communication…read morewas easy. The lighting and music were at a good level to keep a conversation and see the menu. The menu is huge, and you can find anything you want on it. The chips were typical corn tortilla chips, but the salsa was outstanding, not too hot, and plenty of cilantro for your taste buds. The main dishes arrived in a decent time. I had the spicy Tacos with chicken and chorizo; it was fantastic, a little spicy. The chorizo had a smoky flavor, and the chicken was not tough. Side dishes, rice, and beans. The rice was not sticky at all, and the beans had a smoky flavor unlike that of other Mexican restaurants. They were very tasty. The extra beef taco was filled with beef, no shortcuts there. Wife had the pableno dish. I tried the beef, which was very tender, and the pableno was excellent. My daughter and my wife said the shrimp were bigger than at most restaurants and had a great flavor. ( I'm allergic and could not try the shrimp) My daughter's dish was the spicy Nachos. Again, the beef was the most tender I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant, and I loved the white cheese queso and chorizo. It all just came together. This Mexican Restaurant is definitely a winner in my book. I will be back to try many other dishes. By the way, we went on a Monday night around 7:00 pm, it was not very busy at all.

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Adelita’s Restaurant
Adelita’s Restaurant - Street corn

Street corn

Adelita’s Restaurant - Margarita

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La Calle

3.4(36 reviews)
3.1 mi•Forest Park Southeast
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Food is good but could be better. It just lacked more flavor . The restaurant itself is a huge…read morespace with beautiful interior. Lots of cool paintings and stuffs. Tbh it's perfect for everything like date night, get together, birthday party and all. I went there at daytime to try Mexican food so it was little slow. I hope their business really grows well since it's recently opened . Nothing but best wishes to the teams and I will def be back

Honestly my experience here felt like a fever dream. My partner and I were looking somewhere to eat…read morea late dinner on a Thursday night, and we stumbled upon this place. When we walked in, the place was empty, besides the singular bartender standing behind the bar. She told us to sit anywhere we wanted, so we chose a table near the bar. Then, she politely asked us to move to the bar. She apologized and said she was new and that she didn't know what was going on. We started with an order of chips and salsa and shared a mango margarita on the rocks. Let's just say our marg was missing the rocks. The bartender forgot to add ice, so our margita was warm. She gave us a cup of ice to pour in. The marg itself wasn't very strong and tasted pretty syrup-y. Although the chips and salsa only cost us $2.50, I probably could've gone without. I don't think I would've liked them even if they were complimentary. The salsa was decent, but the chips were saltless and flavorless. We ordered two tacos and the arroz con pollo plate. My tacos came out at different times. Both were tiny and disappointing. I had the Hemp Avenue taco and the Sarah Street taco. The black bean juice was everywhere. The tortillas were dry and fell apart. They brought out a quesadilla instead of our arroz con pollo plate. We were confused, but the bartender insisted the order was correct. Then, a few minutes later, the correct plate was brought out. I guess I can't be mad that we scored a free quesadilla. However, it was quite soggy and the cheese was almost a rubbery texture. While we were there, a DJ started playing. The volume of the music went back and forth between increasingly loud and extremely quiet. None of the other staff members acknowledged us whatsoever. It felt like we weren't even there. I hate sounding so pessimistic, so I will say two positive things: their outdoor patio looks like a fun spot in the summer, and I bet this would be a great option if you've been out partying all night and need some food in your belly. Overall a bizarre experience from start to finish!

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La Calle - Lounge area

Lounge area

La Calle - Vegetarian burrito

Vegetarian burrito

La Calle - Bar and lounge area!

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Bar and lounge area!

Southwest Diner - diners - Updated October 2026

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