Al pastor is the marker dish on any taqueria menu in this city, the one that separates a kitchen running its own trompo tradition from a counter just filling out a taco list. This roundup covers Cherokee corridor mainstays, south city counter-service rooms, and the newer taco-hall crowd, all judged on the pastor, the salsa bar, and whether the regulars keep coming back.
Soulard $$
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The al pastor taco sits alongside carne asada and carnitas on a short counter-service menu built for a fast weeknight stop. This is quick-turn taco food, not a sit-down cantina, and the format works because the kitchen keeps the fillings consistent order after order. A dependable lunch stop rather than a destination meal, and it does not pretend otherwise.
What to ordercarne asada taco, al pastor taco, carnitas taco
№ 02
Rosalita's Cantina
$$
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Rosalita's built its name on chile relleno and enchiladas rather than al pastor specifically, and the downtown Washington Avenue room has drawn mixed word on the atmosphere lately, with some regulars noting it has slipped from its earlier run. Loyalty program aside, this reads as a room coasting on reputation more than a taco-forward kitchen worth the detour for pastor specifically.
What to orderchile relleno, enchiladas, carne asada
№ 03
Lily's Mexican Restaurant
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Lily's leans on steak ala mexicana, chile con queso, and camarones a la mexicana as its calling cards, made to order rather than plated in advance. The wait reflects a kitchen cooking fresh rather than holding a steam line, and the salsa bar gets singled out often enough to matter. Not a pastor specialist, but the made-to-order standard carries the whole menu.
What to ordersteak ala mexicana, chile con queso, camarones a la mexicana
№ 04
Chava's Mexican Restaurant
$$
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Chava's plays it straight as Tex-Mex, with quesadillas and a bean tostada built for American palates rather than a pastor-and-trompo tradition. The chicken quesadilla and attentive table service get called out consistently, and the room works well for a group that wants comfort over specificity. Anyone chasing true al pastor should look elsewhere on this list.
What to orderquesadilla, bean tostada, chile relleno
№ 05
Chimi's Fresh-Mex
$$
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Chimi's keeps a nachos with shredded chicken and chile relleno as its steadier draws, with service quality holding up better than the kitchen's recent consistency. Regulars have noted the food quality dipping even as service stays reliable, and a new refill charge has not helped goodwill. A convenient neighborhood option, but not where the pastor conversation starts.
What to ordernachos with shredded chicken, chile relleno, enchiladas
№ 06
La Catrina
$$
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La Catrina turns tables fast on a Friday even through the early dinner rush, and the cantina-style chips with a well-made salsa set the tone before the chile relleno and margaritas arrive. It reads as a group room built for turnover rather than a single-dish showcase, useful for a casual night out more than a pastor pilgrimage.
What to orderchips and salsa, margarita, chile relleno
№ 07
BLT's - Breakfast, Lunch and Tacos
$$
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BLT's is a breakfast and lunch counter first, built around a jalapeño biscuit and gravy and straightforward eggs and hash browns rather than any trompo program. The self-seat, order-at-the-counter format can back up when the room fills, with slow ordering reported on off days. It belongs on a brunch list, not an al pastor one, but the biscuit earns its keep.
What to orderJalapeño Biscuit and gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns
№ 08
Terror Tacos
$
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Terror Tacos runs carnitas, al pastor, and carne asada tacos inside a horror-themed room built for a fun group night rather than quiet study of the trompo. The atmosphere and drinks draw repeat visits from regulars in the neighborhood, and the decor gets as much attention as the food itself. Worth a stop for the scene as much as the tacos.
What to ordercarnitas tacos, al pastor tacos, carne asada tacos
№ 09
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
$$
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La Fiesta's pasole, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas carry the menu more than any pastor program, and the room has drawn praise for a recent refresh alongside steady service on weekend lunches. It seats fast even on a Saturday rush and holds a clean, family-friendly dining room. A solid all-around Mexican stop, not a taco specialist.
What to orderPasole, Chiles Rellenos, Enchiladas
№ 10
Dos Reyes Mexican Restaurant
$$
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Dos Reyes trades on queso, margaritas, and a fajita burrito loaded with chicken, chorizo, and caramelized onions rather than a dedicated al pastor line. Word on the food has been uneven, with some visits landing flat despite pleasant service, though the cantina atmosphere and drink program hold up. Go for the margs and queso, not expecting pastor specifically.
What to orderFajita Burrito, Queso, Margaritas
№ 11
Carreta's Mexican Restaurant
$$
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Carreta's runs carne asada, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas through a kitchen that turns plates hot and fast, with service consistently called out as quick and courteous. The room handles large groups without slowing down, and the margaritas and draft selection round out a dependable night out. Reliable execution across the board, even without a pastor specialty to anchor it.
What to ordercarne asada, chiles rellenos, enchiladas
№ 12
Condado Tacos
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Condado Tacos builds its menu around a build-your-own taco format, with street corn guac and queso dip as the table starters before the tacos arrive. It is a high-volume room near the ballpark, prone to a wait even when tables sit open, built for pre-event groups more than a slow taco crawl. Order the guac first.
What to orderstreet corn guac, queso dip, tacos
Frequently asked
What is the best al pastor near me in St. Louis?
It depends on which side of the city or county line is nearest. This guide covers rooms across St. Louis proper, and each entry is scored with an Insider Score built from the public review record, not paid placement. No restaurant on this list paid to appear here.
Is al pastor a specialty at most St. Louis taquerias, or is it one item among many?
Most rooms on this list treat al pastor as one taco option alongside carne asada and carnitas rather than a dedicated trompo specialty. A few, like Terror Tacos and Session Taco, build it into a broader taco-first menu rather than a full sit-down Mexican menu.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these restaurants?
The Insider Score is built from the public review record for each restaurant, weighing consistency and volume of feedback over time. It is not a star rating pulled from a single source, and no restaurant pays for placement or a higher score.
Are chain restaurants like Condado Tacos included fairly alongside independent taquerias?
Yes. Condado Tacos is included because it meets the same review-record standard as every other entry, though it operates as a multi-location build-your-own taco concept rather than a single-kitchen taqueria. The writeup notes that distinction plainly.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Nico Marchetti
Staff Writer · Top of St. Louis
The Hill and Heritage Editor. Third-generation Hill family who grew up bagging hot salami on Saturday shifts. Covers the red-sauce canon, St. Louis-style pizza, and the kitchens of Cherokee Street, South Grand, and the Olive Boulevard corridor. His standard: the regulars would notice.
