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.
Soulard $$
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A counter-service taco stop built for the weeknight rush, Session Taco keeps the menu tight around carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas. The format rewards speed over ceremony: order at the counter, get tacos fast, eat standing up or grab a stool. It is a solid stand-in for birria seekers who want a straightforward taco fix without a sit-down wait.
What to ordercarne asada taco, al pastor taco, carnitas taco
№ 02
Rosalita's Cantina
$$
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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 relleno, enchiladas, carne asada
№ 03
Lily's Mexican Restaurant
$
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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 mexicana, chile con queso, camarones a la mexicana
№ 04
Chava's Mexican Restaurant
$$
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Chava's leans Tex-Mex, and the quesadilla and bean tostada reflect a menu built for American palates rather than a from-the-border traditional counter. Service gets singled out as a strength, with servers who know the menu well enough to steer vegetarian orders and first-timers alike. Go here expecting comfort food done competently, not a deep dive into regional Mexican cooking.
What to orderquesadilla, bean tostada, chile relleno
№ 05
Chimi's Fresh-Mex
$$
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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 chicken, chile relleno, enchiladas
№ 06
La Catrina
$$
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La Catrina runs a Friday-night crowd well, seating groups fast even through the dinner rush. The chips run thin and cantina style, the salsa gets genuine praise, and the chile relleno and margaritas round out a menu built for a table of four rather than a solo counter visit. A group-friendly stop worth working into a bigger Cherokee-adjacent taco night.
What to orderchips and salsa, margarita, chile relleno
№ 07
BLT's - Breakfast, Lunch and Tacos
$$
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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 gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns
№ 08
Terror Tacos
$
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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 tacos, al pastor tacos, carne asada tacos
№ 09
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
$$
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La Fiesta built a following on pozole, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas, with service that gets consistent praise for quick seating and attentive tables. The room has been refreshed and regulars note the food quality holding steady or improving over repeat visits. A dependable Saturday lunch stop for a family meal with a full menu behind it.
What to orderPasole, Chiles Rellenos, Enchiladas
№ 10
Dos Reyes Mexican Restaurant
$$
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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 Burrito, Queso, Margaritas
№ 11
Carreta's Mexican Restaurant
$$
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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 asada, chiles rellenos, enchiladas
№ 12
Condado Tacos
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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 guac, queso dip, tacos
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 →
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.
