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The Guide · Birria Tacos

Best Birria Tacos in St. Louis (2026)

Twelve restaurants across St. Louis. Compare neighborhoods, price tiers and what to order, then read the full reviews.

Nico Marchetti
By Nico Marchetti Staff Writer · Top of St. Louis · Updated October 2026 · How the score is built
Best Birria Tacos in St. Louis (2026)
THE ST. LOUIS DINING GUIDES 12 restaurants
Compare all 12 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
RestaurantNeighborhoodPriceScoreWhat to order
01 Session TacoSt. Louis$$7.0Carne asada taco
02 Rosalita's CantinaSt. Louis$$Chile relleno
03 Lily's Mexican RestaurantSt. Louis$Steak ala mexicana
04 Chava's Mexican RestaurantSt. Louis$$Quesadilla
05 Chimi's Fresh-MexSt. Louis$$Nachos with shredded chicken
06 La CatrinaSt. Louis$$Chips and salsa
07 BLT's - Breakfast, Lunch and TacosSt. Louis$$Jalapeño Biscuit and gravy
08 Terror TacosSt. Louis$Carnitas tacos
09 La Fiesta Mexican RestaurantSt. Louis$$Pasole
10 Dos Reyes Mexican RestaurantSt. Louis$$Fajita Burrito
11 Carreta's Mexican RestaurantSt. Louis$$Carne asada
12 Condado TacosSt. LouisStreet corn guac

12 restaurants · In guide order

1 Session Taco Yelp

Session Taco

Mexican · St. Louis · $$
Insider Score7.0

A counter-service taco stop built for the weeknight rush, Session Taco keeps the menu tight around carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas. The format rewards speed over ceremony: order at the counter, get tacos fast, eat standing up or grab a stool. It is a solid stand-in for birria seekers who want a straightforward taco fix without a sit-down wait.

What to orderCarne asada tacoAl pastor tacoCarnitas taco Call Directions
Full review & visiting detailsRead the full review & visiting details

Counter Tacos With a Bar Program Attached

Carne asada taco

Grilled steak is the straightforward order for anyone measuring this taco lineup against the classic.

Al pastor taco

Marinated pork carries the char and the sweetness that separates a real al pastor from a shortcut version.

Carnitas taco

Slow cooked pork keeps this one on the richer end of the taco flight worth ordering alongside the others.

Session Taco runs the counter service format that has taken over the taco business in this metro over the last decade: order at the register, find a seat, watch the number come up. The three tacos that anchor the menu, carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas, cover the standard trio that any serious taco counter in this city gets judged on. Carne asada tests the char and the seasoning on the beef. Al pastor tests whether the kitchen bothers with the marinade and the pineapple, rather than just calling grilled pork by that name.

Carnitas tests the fat rendering, whether the pork comes out with any crisp edge or just steams in its own juice. A brisket birria taco also gets mentioned as a standout, which puts Session Taco in the birria trend that has spread through Mexican counters nationally, distinct from the older al pastor and carnitas lineup and worth watching as its own thread. The bar side matters here as much as the counter. A spicy margarita program gets specific praise, and that is notable for a taco counter, since most of this city's quick-service Mexican spots do not build out a real cocktail list.

That combination, counter ordering with a working bar, points the room toward a moderately priced weeknight dinner or a lunch that can stretch into a drink if the day allows it. Portion size on the tacos draws some pushback, with regulars noting three tacos at the going price feels tighter than it used to. That is worth knowing going in: the kitchen is not skimping on the fillings so much as keeping the format tight, which is standard for the format but still worth pricing out before ordering for a table. Kids get their own taco and a side of fries, which signals a room built for families as much as for a fast lunch alone.

Map showing Session Taco© OpenStreetMap
Address908 Lafayette Ave
St. Louis, MO, 63104
Insider tip

Order the brisket birria taco alongside one from the standard trio to compare, and budget for a spicy margarita since the bar program pulls as much attention as the counter.

2 Rosalita's Cantina Yelp

Rosalita's Cantina

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

Rosalita's Cantina built its name on chile relleno and enchiladas long before birria trended, and the downtown room still runs as a reliable loyalty-program regular's spot even as some longtime customers say the energy has cooled. The carne asada plate is the safer order here. Worth checking for a low-key dinner rather than a birria-specific run.

What to orderChile rellenoEnchiladasCarne asada Call Directions Scored from the full review record 1235 Washington Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103 · (314) 621-2700
3 Lily's Mexican Restaurant Yelp

Lily's Mexican Restaurant

Mexican · St. Louis · $

Lily's makes its case on food cooked to order, and the steak ala mexicana draws the kind of loyalty that keeps people waiting for a table. The chile con queso and camarones a la mexicana round out a menu built on Mexican home cooking rather than trend chasing. The salsa bar gets particular praise. A strong stop for anyone building a taco crawl with substance behind it.

What to orderSteak ala mexicanaChile con quesoCamarones a la mexicana Call Directions Scored from the full review record 4601 S Kingshighway Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63109 · (314) 352-1894
4 Chava's Mexican Restaurant Yelp

Chava's Mexican Restaurant

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

Chava's leans Tex-Mex, and the quesadilla and bean tostada reflect a menu built for American palates rather than a from-the-border traditional counter. Service gets singled out as a strength, with servers who know the menu well enough to steer vegetarian orders and first-timers alike. Go here expecting comfort food done competently, not a deep dive into regional Mexican cooking.

What to orderQuesadillaBean tostadaChile relleno Call Directions Scored from the full review record 925 Geyer Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63104 · (314) 241-5503
5 Chimi's Fresh-Mex Yelp

Chimi's Fresh-Mex

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

Chimi's built a following as a dependable neighborhood stop, with the nachos with shredded chicken and chile relleno anchoring a menu that favors consistency over ambition. The room draws repeat local trade, though recent visits note a slip in food quality and new charges for refills that longtime regulars would notice. A convenient pick, not a destination one.

What to orderNachos with shredded chickenChile rellenoEnchiladas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 2435 Woodson Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63114 · (314) 942-1038
6 La Catrina Yelp

La Catrina

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

La Catrina runs a Friday-night crowd well, seating groups fast even through the dinner rush. The chips run thin and cantina style, the salsa gets genuine praise, and the chile relleno and margaritas round out a menu built for a table of four rather than a solo counter visit. A group-friendly stop worth working into a bigger Cherokee-adjacent taco night.

What to orderChips and salsaMargaritaChile relleno Call Directions Scored from the full review record 5220 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109 · (314) 833-3357
7 BLT's - Breakfast, Lunch and Tacos Yelp

BLT's - Breakfast, Lunch and Tacos

Breakfast & Brunch · St. Louis · $$

BLT's runs a counter-service format built around breakfast and lunch, with the Jalapeño Biscuit and gravy earning the strongest word of mouth. Tacos share the menu with scrambled eggs and hash browns rather than headlining it, so this is a daytime stop for a casual crowd, not a birria-focused destination. Service speed varies depending on the rush.

What to orderJalapeño Biscuit and gravyScrambled eggsHash browns Call Directions Scored from the full review record 626 N 6th St, St. Louis, MO 63101 · (314) 925-8505
8 Terror Tacos Yelp

Terror Tacos

Tacos · St. Louis · $

Terror Tacos runs on theme as much as menu, with a horror-themed room that draws repeat visitors and a following that treats the place as a regular stop. Carnitas, al pastor, and carne asada tacos anchor the order, paired with a drink program that gets its own praise. A casual night-out pick built for atmosphere first, tacos close behind.

What to orderCarnitas tacosAl pastor tacosCarne asada tacos Call Directions Scored from the full review record 3191 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118 · (314) 260-9996
9 La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant Yelp

La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

La Fiesta built a following on pozole, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas, with service that gets consistent praise for quick seating and attentive tables. The room has been refreshed and regulars note the food quality holding steady or improving over repeat visits. A dependable Saturday lunch stop for a family meal with a full menu behind it.

What to orderPasoleChiles RellenosEnchiladas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 7439 S Lindbergh Blvd, Home Depot Plz, Mehlville, MO 63125 · (314) 892-1313
10 Dos Reyes Mexican Restaurant Yelp

Dos Reyes Mexican Restaurant

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

Dos Reyes runs a cantina atmosphere built around queso and margaritas for a casual Friday crowd, with the Fajita Burrito, loaded with chicken, chorizo, and caramelized onions, drawing the strongest word of mouth. Service reads as pleasant but the kitchen's consistency draws mixed notice. A fine stop for drinks and a burrito, less certain as a birria specialist.

What to orderFajita BurritoQuesoMargaritas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 5912 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109 · (314) 833-5550
11 Carreta's Mexican Restaurant Yelp

Carreta's Mexican Restaurant

Mexican · St. Louis · $$

Carreta's runs fast and clean, with carne asada, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas served hot and service that stays quick even for large groups. The room handles crowds well, with margaritas and draft beer keeping tables moving through a rush. A dependable pick for a group dinner that needs to turn around fast without sacrificing plate quality.

What to orderCarne asadaChiles rellenosEnchiladas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 11939 Olive Blvd St, St. Louis, MO 63141 · (314) 716-3248
12 Condado Tacos Yelp

Condado Tacos

Tacos · St. Louis

Condado Tacos runs a build-your-own taco format geared toward groups heading to a ballpark event or stopping in before a show. The street corn guac and queso dip anchor the shareable side of the menu, and the room fills fast before evening events. A solid pre-game taco stop, built more for volume and convenience than a deep regional taco program.

What to orderStreet corn guacQueso dipTacos Call Directions Scored from the full review record 601 Clark Ave, Ste 104, Saint Louis, MO 63102 · (314) 899-5155
What to know before choosing a restaurant

Best Birria Tacos in St. Louis: 1. Session Taco · 2. Rosalita's Cantina · 3. Lily's Mexican Restaurant · 4. Chava's Mexican Restaurant · 5. Chimi's Fresh-Mex. Addresses, prices and what to order.

Birria has not built a deep bench in this metro the way carne asada and al pastor have, so this list runs on the taco counters and cantinas across the city of St. Louis where consommé-braised beef shows up as a special or a menu regular. Judge these on the tortilla and the broth, not the name on the door.

Frequently asked

What is the best birria tacos near me in the city of St. Louis?
This guide covers Mexican restaurants and taco counters across the city of St. Louis with strong carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas programs. Birria itself has not built a dedicated following at any single address here yet, so these picks reflect the strongest overall taco menus in the record rather than a birria specialist.
What does the Insider Score mean on this list?
The Insider Score is a rating built from the public review record for each restaurant. No restaurant pays to be listed or to rank higher, and placement on this guide is not for sale.
Is birria a traditional St. Louis dish?
No. Birria is a regional Mexican dish with roots in Jalisco, and its popularity nationally is a recent trend. St. Louis has a longstanding Mexican dining scene centered on Cherokee Street and other corridors, but birria specifically has not become a defined local specialty the way toasted ravioli or the St. Paul sandwich have.
Do any of these restaurants serve consommé for dipping?
The review record for these restaurants does not confirm a birria-style consommé service at any of the twelve. Diners looking specifically for a consommé-dipped taco should call ahead and ask, since menus and specials change and this guide is built from the public record, not a site visit.
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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 →

About the writer
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.

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