Cancel

Open app

Search

Southwest Diner

4.5 (1.2k reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Waitlist - Southwest Diner

Live Current wait: 13 - 23 mins

Southwest Diner Photos

Business Info

SOUTHWEST DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Southwest Diner

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Inside
Travis P.

If you're craving an old-timey, classic diner then Southwest Diner has to be at the top of your list. The outside is very unassuming; I'd driven by this place sooooo many times and never even noticed that it was a diner! It looks just like many old-timey STL buildings which just adds to the charm. Once you walk in, it's like teleporting to the past. It isn't fancy, but it is packed (and rightfully so). It was just myself when I went, so I was able to be immediately sat at the bar which was a nice surprise considering it was packed on a holiday (Labor Day) morning. The server was very nice and attended to whatever I needed efficiently despite juggling a lotta different folks. For the food & drinks, I started off with a nice cold brew. I didn't love the taste, as it was almost tea-esque, but to be fair I don't drink a lot of cold brew so maybe that's just how it is. I decided to get some Sopapillas as an appetizer as I'd heard they were good and they definitely did not disappoint. They arrived very quickly, were hot out of the fryer, and tasted amazing! They were pillowy soft and just sweet enough while not being overbearing. I added a little honey on top and it was like I was in heaven. There were 5 in the order and I had to stop myself after quickly devouring 3 within 2 minutes. That's how good they were. Onto my entree, I went with the Breakfast Burrito with homemade sausage. I am a big breakfast burrito guy, and a pretty tough critic, but I've gotta say that this was one of the best breakfast burritos I've had in recent years for sure. There was just enough cheese to add flavor and make it the perfect texture without being too much. The sausage had an incredible flavor that complemented the egg, home fries, and chiles perfectly. After devouring half of the burrito in under 90 seconds, I once again had to restrain myself and opted to take my leftover home before I made some really good but bad decisions (aka eating wayyyy too much). Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here. The vibes & food were immaculate despite the location and decor feeling very unassuming. I'd be excited to come back and try some of their other popular dishes, and I'll be sure to bring along some friends to share the experience next time!

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.

Biscuits & Gravy with Two Eggs Sunny Side Up

To start off, I'm not a St.Louis native, but my girlfriend is and the first time she showed me around we stopped in here for breakfast. I've had B's & G's before back in Chicago, but none of them ever really stood out. From the first bite of the chunky flavorful sausage gravy, to the last bit of the fluffy biscuit that I was wiping off my face, the Biscuits and Gravy at Southwest diner are at the top of the list. I'm pretty sure the server was impressed at how quickly I cleared my plate that morning. Anytime we come visit friends and family, I make it a point to stop here at some point. The service is great, it's a super low-key diner with the perfect ambiance and price point right off the highway. You'd be doing yourself a disservice to not come here.

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!!

See all

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 5
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 18
Thanks 7
Love this 20
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sara M.
133
206
2102

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Liz C.
2
73
73

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe T.
0
25
1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rick T.
696
1574
17243

1 year ago

Breakfast pork tamales with red and green chile sauce Christmas style. Cool coffee mugs !

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 30

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!

You might also consider

Carl's Drive In - Double Cheeseburger

Carl's Drive In

3.9(376 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$

We finally tried Carl's Drive In after years of hearing about it online and by word of mouth…read more.. It's not bad! I'd give it a 3.5 stars overall. We walked in and were instantly overwhelmed. This place is small but mighty. There's no more than 12 places to eat inside, and it's very intimate with the staff preparing the food right in front of your face. It was nice to see that everything looked clean and fresh, but we opted for the "patio" (a couple tables in the main parking lot). The food was alright. We skipped their famous root beer and ordered two shakes - a Chocolate one and a Vanilla one, in addition to 2 cheeseburgers, two orders of fries and mini corn dogs for my younger cousin. The shakes were really creamy but lacked flavor. They definitely tasted more "natural" than say, a McDonalds shake. The burgers were fine but their patties are SO thin, I wish I ordered a double or even a triple because my single was NOT filling. I did enjoy the caramelized onions on top, but that was about the only flavor I could taste! The fries were seasoned perfectly and super crispy, and my cousin enjoyed his mini corn dogs. The service was fine, not overly friendly whatsoever, but cordial enough not to be rude. Would we return? Maybe for the nostalgia, but definitely not for the burger quality. I'd go to Hi Pointe or Shake Shack for that ;)

The best there ever was. And now they even take cards! Nothing better than Kelly on the grill…read moreholding down the fort. I've been coming here my whole life and now my kids are in tow. They love it as much as I always have. Pro tips: go off hours and check out the menu ahead of time! Order chili to dip your fries in! Go visit today, keep this classic going strong! PS take out is an excellent choice as well! Food holds up on the drive home.

Photos
Carl's Drive In - So sorry about this

So sorry about this

Carl's Drive In - Double cheeseburger and onion rings

Double cheeseburger and onion rings

Carl's Drive In - Exterior

See all

Exterior

The Piccadilly at Manhattan - Classic Cheeseburger with fries. I mean... c'mon! It is great! Simple.

The Piccadilly at Manhattan

4.3(409 reviews)
0.8 mi•Ellendale
•$$

I got the Chicken Pot Pie. It was amazing! First, it came out so quick. I thought that we would…read morebe waiting for a lot longer. The pastry was light and flaky, and a perfect golden brown. This filling had lots of chunks of chicken, and the vegetables and gravy were a flavor bomb. This was the best that I've had in a long time. We went on a Saturday evening and we had to wait around 20 minutes for a table, so if you are planning to go on a busy time, definitely try to get a reservation ahead of time. Our waitress was outstanding, helpful, and kept our drinks refilled constantly. The restaurant is small(ish), but has indoor dining, a four seasons type of room, and outdoor seating. We'll be back!

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!

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

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

The Piccadilly at Manhattan - Patio area

See all

Patio area

The Crow's Nest - Breakfast burger aka sandpaper.

The Crow's Nest

3.9(394 reviews)
0.7 mi
•$$

Went to The Crow's Nest for the first time for their Metal Brunch, and it did not disappoint! We…read moregot there right when they opened and had no trouble getting a seat. Absolutely loved the atmosphere. We grabbed a booth near the bar, which was a great spot to take it all in. Now, let's talk about the corned beef hash. I'm only slightly exaggerating when I say it was the best corned beef hash I've ever had. Full stop. I honestly could have ordered a second bowl. Absolutely delicious and the perfect food for a generous helping of hot sauce. Great atmosphere, great food, and Metal Brunch? What's not to love? Definitely looking forward to coming back!

The crows nest has been a long time favorite of mine--I used to go to their weekend brunch at least…read moreonce per month. It is such a unique vibe, especially if you're into the horror or metal aesthetic. Most of the servers and bartenders are phenomenal as well. This particular visit, I popped in with a friend for a quick lunch. I have tried far less from their lunch menu, but oh boy! We decided to split the French dip and the fried pickles appetizer. This sandwich was easily the best one I've had all year! It is not your basic French dip--this one comes with marinated red onions and horsey sauce, on the most PERFECT crunchy ciabatta bread. Give it a try!!

Photos
The Crow's Nest - Heated patio

Heated patio

The Crow's Nest - Brunch Burger Beef patty(veggie option available), cheddar, bacon, fried egg, garlic pepper Mayo on muffin

Brunch Burger Beef patty(veggie option available), cheddar, bacon, fried egg, garlic pepper Mayo on muffin

The Crow's Nest

See all

Chris' Pancake & Dining - Greek yogurt parfait

Chris' Pancake & Dining

4.0(532 reviews)
0.9 mi•Clifton Heights
•$$

Came here for breakfast on a Sunday late morning. They have a few tables for outside dining or you…read morecan sit inside. The parking lot was filling fast. I'm glad I entered from the opposite way google maps wanted me to add the lot isn't as big as it should be. The seating inside is a little cramped to me, at least where they sat us. It was a 2 top next to the wall across from a 4 top. Between our table and the next was a tiny path to the bathroom area which is too close. Next time, I'll be specific with where not to seat me. Outside of that, the service was really good. Great staff, very attentive. Menu had a nice option so it took us a minute to fully review the menu. The food was delicious. Cinnamon roll was very sweet as expected so brace yourself. My menu mimosa was pretty good. A lot of pulp from the mango and not enough champagne but still enjoyable. We will definitely.

My husband and I wanted to try a new breakfast spot. We stopped by another spot in the area but the…read morewait time was over an hour. So we pivoted and came across Chris' pancakes. Upon arriving, the parking lot appeared jammed pack, and you could tell there was a wait. I checked us in to be put on the waiting list. Our wait was about 30 minutes. We were sat at a two top table. A server came over to grab our drink order, and our actual server came over to introduce his self. Our server was polite and willing to answer any questions I had. We waited about 30-40 minutes for our food to come out. I ordered short stack pancakes (w/strawberries and blueberries), bacon and eggs. The pancakes were huge, fluffy, and savory. Bacon was crispy, and eggs were cooked perfectly. My husband ordered a country omelet that came with a side of pancakes. He stated his pancakes were rubbery, but his omelet was good. This place is not very big and can feel quite cramped when full. There's not much room to stretch out, and when people are walking past it feels as if they are all up on you. The building was extremely cold, even with a jacket on. Very filling, and the prices are reasonable!

Photos
Chris' Pancake & Dining - Clean, large dining areas

Clean, large dining areas

Chris' Pancake & Dining - Fish sandwich

Fish sandwich

Chris' Pancake & Dining - Mimosa w mango

See all

Mimosa w mango

Southwest Diner - diners - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...