13 New St. Louis Restaurants You Should Try ASAP

Burger Champ

At Burger Champ, the new sister restaurant to Maplewood’s Pizza Champ, Chris Kelling has created a casual, family-friendly burger restaurant that aims to please. Smash burgers are the style, but flexibility is baked in, with a build-your-own option that includes beef, turkey and plant-based burgers. However, the house specialties are the ones to try, like the mushroom Swiss and the white cheddar jalapeno burgers. Don’t miss their milkshakes for a sweet finish: Flavors like the peanut butter & strawberry jelly or the s’mores with graham cracker crumbs and toasted marshmallows are sure to impress, but the classic cookies & cream was exactly right. 2704 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, burgerchampstl.com

Neon Greens

This new spot in the Grove offers many salads featuring super-fresh lettuce grown on-site in a hydroponic farm and an impressive variety of interesting cooked and pickled veggies, grains and more. Start with the delicious chewy cheese bread, inspired by Brazilian pão de queijo. On a recent visit, we enjoyed the chilled curry salad with various greens and vegetables, wild rice, pickled green tomatoes, peanuts, roasted chicken breast, Madras curry ranch, fresh herbs and a lemon wedge. The Southwestern-inspired Chouteau includes oak leaf and sweet crisp lettuces, along with black beans, farro, sweet corn, fire-roasted red pepper, leeks, smoky almonds and roasted red pepper vinaigrette. 4176 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, neongreens.com

Three Sixty Westport

The massive new Three Sixty Westport exudes luxury, from the velvet-covered furniture and lavish floor-to-ceiling window treatments to the dim mood lighting and fire features throughout, plus a stunning bar and rooftop patio. The excellent cocktail list was conceptualized by local bar consulting company Bangers Only. We were partial to the tropical Stone Cathedral and the mezcal-based Ankle Breaker. On the food side, we enjoyed the cheddar and chive drop biscuits, the grilled broccoli and the shrimp tostada. The housemade Kit Kat is an absolute must for dessert. The bar doesn’t accept reservations, so get there early to secure a spot. 111 W. Port Plaza Drive, Suite 1200, Maryland Heights, 314.683.2337, 360-stl.com

Amaizing Arepa Bar

Venezuelan cuisine is still in short supply in St. Louis, so we were thrilled when Tower Grove Farmers’ Market vendor Amaizing Cakes Latin Food opened Amaizing Arepa Bar in Downtown St. Louis. We enjoyed the namesake arepas, of course, and the empanadas, but the cheese-laden cachapas (massive sweet corn pancakes) are the star of the show. Pay an extra $1.50 to upgrade your filling from mozzarella to the queso de mano, a soft white cheese typical of Venezuelan cuisine. For variety, order the sample platter. The menu items are fully customizable, allowing you to choose your own adventure – just be sure to order extra sides of the verdant cilantro-garlic sauce. 500 N. 14th St., St. Louis, 314.925.8423, Facebook: amaizingarepabar

Stews Food & Liquor

The laid-back, friendly vibe at Stew’s Food & Liquor is immediately contagious, thanks to co-owner and bartender Nate Burrows’ bright personality and knack for hospitality. From cheap lagers to craft brews, well-made classics to fresh new cocktails, the concise drink menu has something for everyone. Come with an appetite, because the eclectic Asian fusion food menu is also not to be missed. An order of edamame “hummus” for the table is mandatory, and there’s also a respectable roster of hearty mains, noodle dishes, savory grilled skewers, a decadent pork burger, and popcorn chicken with an assortment of sauces to choose from. 1862 S. 10th St., St. Louis, stewsstl.com

Jinzen Fusion Cuisine

Clayton newcomer Jinzen Fusion Cuisine puts you at ease even before you’re seated, with an attractive, calming interior. The design reflects the restaurant’s Japanese, Korean and Chinese influences, and the menu celebrates that trio of cuisines with similar style. There are crowd-pleasers like the bibimbap, black pepper garlic steak bites and squid karaage, as well as various ramen options. The Volcano Fried Rice blends the addictive flavors of kung pao chicken and fried rice with a dash of theatrical flair, as beaten eggs are poured onto a sizzling plate to encircle the mound of rice. Mix and match the cuisines however you please, but don’t miss out on the luscious, creamy matcha pudding. 8113 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.354.8086, jinzenstl.com

The Biscuit Joint

In Midtown, chef-owner Elliott Brown has opened The Biscuit Joint, where buttermilk biscuits are baked fresh in-house and utilized in an assortment of interesting and unique applications. We particularly enjoyed the biscuits and mushroom gravy, as well as the roasted chicken sausage gravy, imbued with a hint of paprika oil. Don’t miss the sandwiches: The GOAT features a juicy piece of succulent fried chicken and tangy bread and butter pickles along with a divinely spicy Calabrian chile aioli. 2649 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.769.9434, thebiscuitjoint.com

Manileño

The menu at this Tower Grove South restaurant spotlights homestyle Filipino cooking, with dinner portions designed for sharing – three or four diners can comfortably split the pork adobo. Rice is so often under-appreciated, and it’s worth noting that Manileño’s is excellent, both on its own and as a foil for any leftover sauce. The Lechon Kawali is another highlight: This deep-fried pork belly has a crispy exterior, but once you bite through to the meat, its succulence is something to relish. Brunch and dinner service takes place upstairs, while Manileño’s ground level serves as a daytime cafe and bakery. Stop by for a range of beautiful ube-based creations – from lattes to cream-filled ensaymadas – as well as strong coffee, pandesal and other sweet treats. 3611 Juniata St., St. Louis, 314.296.3131, Instagram: @manilenostl

Telva at the Ridge

The new counter-service restaurant from the Balkan Treat Box team is housed in the same building as Rolling Ridge Nursery with its own suitably plant-filled space. Start with the wood-fired Bosnian coffee or an espresso drink like the chocolate- and coconut-accented cupavac latte. On the don’t-miss list is the Cilbir, Telva’s take on Turkish eggs: Warm garlic yogurt and gently cooked eggs make for a rich base, a tomato-chile brown butter sauce adds a little acid for balance, and a flurry of herbs provides a fresh finish. It’s a thoughtful dish, served with Telva’s buttered, toasted somun. The avocado toast was similarly layered with flavor, from thin ribbons of cucumber, roasted tomato, kalamata olives and avocado to salty feta, tzatziki and a nutty sesame crunch garnish. Telva also impresses with deft pastry offerings like the sesame-oat-coconut cookie, with a delicately crisp texture, and the unforgettable baklava, generously packed with roasted nuts, flaky pastry dough and ajda, a sweet Bosnian syrup. 60 N. Gore Ave., Suite A, Webster Groves, 314.395.2760, telvastl.com

Vegan Deli and Butcher

Whether you’re vegan or not, the latest incarnation of Chris Bertke’s Vegan Deli and Butcher aims to make sandwiches you’ll crave. The cevapi shows off Bertke’s plant-based adaptation of a southeastern European grilled sausage sandwich. The menu also features vegan spins on classic sandwiches like the Reuben and the Philly cheesesteak, and the hot salami is delicious, with housemade aged vegan salami served on a fresh Marconi Bakery hoagie. The Maine lobster roll is a genuine surprise: The creamy “lobster” salad gets its texture from roasted hearts of palm and shredded jackfruit, which also brings a touch of sweetness. It’s served on a buttered and toasted bun, with Old Bay seasoning, green onion and crunchy celery all showing up to the party. Top it with potato chips for a salty, lip-smacking finish. 5003 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, stlvegandeliandbutcher.com

Tikka Tangy

Start your order at this Indian spot with the naan tacos. Two fresh pieces of naan are stuffed with your entree of choice – we recommend the rich dal tangy masala (lentils in masala curry) or the chana masala (chickpeas in gravy) – and topped with crisp veggies. It’s not exactly a taco, more a simplified way to eat naan with a delicious saucy curry. Other standouts include the traditional Mediterranean plate with chicken shawarma, hummus, pilau rice and butter naan, or the chole bhature (weekends only). Here, the bhature, a delightful puffy fry bread, serves as a vehicle for the chole, a chickpea stew from the Indian state of Punjab.13441 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, 314.682.6066, tikkatangy.com

Amrut Fusion

The standards are safe bets here, from appetizers like the samosas and the pillowy soft garlic naan to the paneer tikka masala or charred and juicy tandoori shrimp. But fun is where the fusion is, and at Amrut Fusion that usually involves cheese: The dosa quesadilla, a traditional rice flour crepe served with mint sauce and tamarind sauce, comes stuffed with American cheese; the paneer gulistani tikka sees melted mozzarella served between slices of charred paneer squares, all coated with a zesty sauce flavored with grilled peppers and onions. Meanwhile, the crispy momos (fried veggie dumplings), an assortment of chaat snacks and loaded french fries all partner well with the bourbon-focused bar program. 17392 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.778.9380, amrutfusion.com

Urban Kitchen

The sister restaurant to Olivette-based Share Sweet builds on its forerunner’s boba tea-and-dessert formula with a lengthy menu that includes shareable hot pot-style soups for the center of the table, Cantonese dim sum, the occasional Chinese American takeout favorite like crab Rangoon, and more. The shredded pork with bao is Urban Kitchen’s take on “fish fragrance” pork (don’t be misled – the dish doesn’t actually contain fish), a classic Chinese dish that offers an addictive blend of sweet, gently spicy and sour notes. It’s equally enjoyable with rice or stuffed into the pillowy bao buns that are served on the side. Also, don’t miss the wontons with red chile sauce: pork dumplings bathed in a sharp, spicy and slightly smoky chile oil and topped with chopped cilantro and green onion. 17409C Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.778.0178, urbankitchenstl.com