nce upon a time, St. Louis’ Mexican dining landscape consisted of little more than the chimichangas and pre-mixed margaritas popularized by Tex-Mex spots. While there's a time, with its outrageously delicious cochinita pibil, celebrate the Yucatan in vibrant fashion. is a love song to a chef ‘s family road trips down the Baja coast and all of the tiny roadside taco stands that they frequented along the way. At , a Oaxacan-born chef connects with her late mother through her family's recipes, including some of the best you can get in the bistate area, and is a venue for a longtime employee of Companion to finally show off the street tacos that are so popular in his hometown of Michoacán. Even the places that lean Tex-Mex have bucked the standard playbook to reveal their own unique touches, whether that's pineapple-stuffed fajitas at or traditional Mexican grilled meats at . The broader Central American region is represented by places such as , which serves not only as a culinary refuge for the city's Honduran diaspora but also as a way to introduce St. Louis diners to the Central American country's rich traditions, including its excellent tamales. Together, these restaurants create a stunning tapestry that captures the culinary vibrancy of Mexico and beyond.
