Explore St. Louis names seven emblematic local foods (slinger, toasted ravioli, St. Paul sandwich, St. Louis-style pizza, pork steak, gooey butter cake and concretes) and lists restaurants for each.
Each row below was read on the page named in its last column on October 30, 2026. Prices, hours and rules change, so confirm with the operator before you go. Items we could not read are listed under What We Could Not Verify.
1964Imo's founding year per Explore St. Louis
almost 100Imo's franchise locations per Explore St. Louis
1959Year concretes were created per Explore St. Louis
Background
- Explore St. Louis says toasted ravioli is deep-fried, beef-stuffed pasta, and says it dates to a 1950s fryer accident. (explorestlouis.com)
- The Hill restaurants named for toasted ravioli: Favazza's, Mama's on The Hill, Rigazzi's and Zia's, plus Charlie Gitto's. (explorestlouis.com)
- The page tells a legend that gooey butter cake came from a baker who accidentally doubled the butter. (explorestlouis.com)
- St. Louis-style pizza is described as a thin, square-cut crust with Provel cheese. (explorestlouis.com)
- The St. Paul sandwich is an egg foo young patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo on white bread, said to be invented at Park Chop Suey in the 1940s. (explorestlouis.com)
- Ted Drewes is described as on historic Route 66. (explorestlouis.com)
Where to Go
| Place | Town | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Gitto's on The Hill | St. Louis (The Hill) | Named for toasted ravioli with housemade pomodoro sauce; the page calls its version the original. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Anthonino's Taverna | St. Louis | Toasted ravioli stop that the page says appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| STL Toasted | St. Louis (City Foundry Food Hall) | Toasted ravioli in sweet and savory flavors. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Imo's Pizza | St. Louis area | Thin, square-cut, Provel-topped St. Louis-style pizza, the page says founded 1964. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Pirrone's Pizzeria | St. Louis area | Another St. Louis-style pizza stop named by Explore St. Louis. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Courtesy Diner | St. Louis | Slinger (potato, egg, chili, cheese, protein) spot. | open 24 hours as printed | explorestlouis.com |
| Park Chop Suey | St. Louis | Tied by the page to the 1940s origin of the St. Paul sandwich (egg foo young on white bread). | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Mai Lee | St. Louis | St. Paul sandwich stop. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Gooey Louie | St. Louis | Gooey butter cake shop with seasonal flavors and individual servings. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Park Avenue Coffee | St. Louis | Gooey butter cake sold at several locations and shipped worldwide. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery | St. Louis | Ice cream shop with a gooey butter cake flavor. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Ted Drewes Frozen Custard | St. Louis (Route 66) | Credited with serving concretes, thick upside-down shakes, for more than 90 years. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Rooster | St. Louis | Slinger stop with two locations and a vegan version. | not stated | explorestlouis.com |
| Soulard Market | St. Louis (730 Carroll St) | City-run market for fresh food shopping. | Wed-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-5pm in one section and 7am-5:30pm in another (page conflicts); phone (314) 622-4180 | stlouis-mo.gov |
What We Could Not Verify
- explorestlouis.com/top-five-st-louis-signature-foods (HTTP 504, not read)
- Addresses, prices and hours for restaurants: the guide prints none (only Courtesy Diner 24 hours)
- Individual restaurant sites not fetched
More Missouri Guides
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Questions People Ask
What is toasted ravioli?
Per Explore St. Louis, a deep-fried, ground-beef-stuffed pasta.
What cheese is on St. Louis-style pizza?
Provel, on a thin square-cut crust.
What is a slinger?
A mix of potato, egg, chili, cheese and a protein, called a midnight snack.
Sources
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: It’s Missouri (https://itsmissouri.com/things-to-do/st-louis-food/), checked October 30, 2026. Free to quote with a link.