The Vegetarian Tacos at La Manganita  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

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*REstaurants * Bakeries * Sweets & Snacks * 

Latino Americana Grocery Store  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Minerva Lopez outside Latino Americana grocery store & Mariscos El Gato  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Minerva Lopez —one of the community leaders on Cherokee for many years — also called this store home. She handled the bookkeeping for Latino Americana. Lopez moved to La Calle Cherokee from San Diego in 2005. Through the years, she held many positions in the neighborhood, including head of the Cherokee Street Latino Business Owners Association. At her core, she’s a community builder.

“People who come to Calle Cherokee with the intent of opening businesses sometimes don’t always have the knowledge or a business degree to tell them how to run a business, but they are here putting in the effort and all their heart,” said Lopez. “They have intent and work their a%$es off.”

Lopez recommends a bag of the store's homemade chicharrónes (pork rinds) with hot sauce on the side. While no one has held an official competition, these chicharrónes have to be some of the best in the state.

The Chicharrónes at Latino Americana  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

The exterior of Taqueria El Bronco | Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

The El Bronco Lunch Special at Taqueria el Bronco featuring steak and eggs |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Located at 2817 Cherokee, Taqueria El Bronco’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 10am to 9:30pm, and Friday and Saturday, 9am to 10:30pm. Visit www.taqueriaelbronco.com for the menu and more information.

Manny Garcia mans the Trompo (vertical rotisserie) used for cooking Tacos Al Pastor outside La Manganita  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Go for: The vegetarian tacos; Tortillas made to order

For made-to-order, handmade tortillas, some of the best vegetarian tacos on the street, and Mexican-inspired pasta dishes, visit Manny Garcia and team at La Manganita.

For years, Garcia was a cook at several restaurants in town before he decided to open La Manganita. With a culinary background at Italian restaurants, Garcia has introduced a variety of innovative pasta dishes and large plates to his menu. His favorite thing about the job is treating new customers and bringing them back.

“La Manganita is like a little house,” Garcia says. “When you come here, if you don’t like something on the menu, we’ll make something different for you, as long as we have the items in the restaurant.”

A recommendation? La Manganita’s vegetarian taco, a deconstructed chile relleno with poblano peppers, onions, squash blossoms and melted cheese on a house-made tortilla. *Chef’s kiss*

La Manganita is located at 2812 Cherokee, across from Taqueria El Bronco. The restaurant is open everyday except Wednesday from 11am to 7pm. Follow La Manganita’s Facebook page for updates.

The lunchtime crowd on the patio at El Torito  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Barbacoa, Pollo and Al Pastor Tacos with all the toppings from the El Torito taco stand |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

La Vallesana Exterior  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Go for: Patio drinks & dining; Quesadillas + Tortas

The locals rave about La Vallesana’s quesadillas, tortas, tacos, and ice cream. 

The restaurant started as a hole in the wall compared to the fortress it is today. Over the years, La Vallesana has grown from a small ice cream shop into one of Calle Cherokee’s largest and most bustling restaurants, with a large outdoor patio.

La Vallesana’s patio is one of the best spots on Cherokee for drinks and people watching on a warm afternoon. Go ahead and get the margarita served in a big pineapple. It comes with two straws but there’s no need to share.

La Vallesana is located at 2801 Cherokee on the corner of California Ave and Cherokee St. Visit the restaurant’s website for the menu and more information.

 Drinks with chips and salsa on the patio at La Vallesana  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Pollo con tajadas (chicken with plantain chips) from Sueño Latino   |  Photo By Emily Thenhaus

Go for: Pollo con tajadas; Honduran sodas & imports

Sueño Latino is the dream of three brothers and their mother. Jolman Nunez and brothers moved St. Louis all the way from Honduras and opened their restaurant in February of 2020. Sueño Latino literally translates to “Latin Dream.”

As one of the few restaurants in Saint Louis specializing in authentic Honduran food, Sueño Latino has visitors from all over the region coming to La Calle Cherokee to try its food. The brothers credit much of their success to their mother, or as they describe her, “the one with the magic hands who created all of our recipes.”

The most popular dish on Sueño Latino’s menu is the Pollo con Tajadas — chicken served with plantain chips topped with a specialty sauce. But that’s not to speak less of the other menu items, including such delicious plates as the Chuleta Asada (a Honduran grilled pork chop dish) and Tamales Hondureños (Honduran style tamales).

Crepes & Treats offerings  |  Photo By Crepes & Treats

Go for: Build-your-own crepes; sweet & savory breakfast & lunch

Family-owned Crepes and Treats offers mouthwatering sweet and savory crepes, breakfast sandwiches and more from its shop in the heart of Cherokee Street. Owner Saul Juarez, a professionally trained pastry chef who helped build the kitchen for the Angad Arts Hotel in Grand Center, is excited to bring his love of baking to the Cherokee Street community.

“I’d like to invite everybody to give us the opportunity to serve you some great crepes and housemade desserts,” Juarez said. “Everything we make, we make it with love. As we said, ‘Mi casa es tu casa,’ and now you are welcome to our kitchen.”

The menu features luxury style, hotel-quality crepes and pastries, including Juarez’s personal favorite, the cinnamon roll crepe. Crepes and Treats also offers open-faced breakfast sandwiches, seasonal items like homemade vanilla custard, and house made banana bread and buns served alongside coffee. 

Fans of the store, which opened in July 2023, are already hooked. As one recent online review said, “These crepes are the stuff of your dreams.”

Located at 2752 Cherokee, Crepes and Treats’ hours are Thursday and Friday from 10am-6pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am-6pm. Learn more on Instagram.

Banana cream crepe with brulee bananas, dark chocolate sauce, and shortbread cookies.
|  Photo By Crepes & Treats

The exterior of Lilly’s Panaderia  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Go for: Mouthwatering window shopping; Pan de Muerto

Directly across the street from El Torito is Lilly’s Panaderia, one of three Mexican bakeries in the neighborhood. It’s hard to walk past this bakery and not be lured inside. Owners Luis & Lilly have their delicious pan dulce, donuts and cookies displayed in the window, tempting even the most disciplined of keto dieters. 

Tip: Grab the tongs by the door and stock up on a variety of Mexican sweets. Lilly's is also known for their delicious pan de muerto, traditionally made around Dia de los Muertos in early November, and customers rave about their tres leches cake.

Located at 2752 Cherokee Street, Lilly’s is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Follow the bakery’s Facebook page for the latest updates.

Conchas in the window at Lilly’s Panaderia  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Diana’s Bakery Cases  |  Photo By R.J. Hartbeck

Go for: Cakes for any celebration; Warm churros

Diana’s is a classic panaderia. The bakery brings visitors from all over the region, including the occasional Cardinals baseball star. Conchas, Churros, Tres Leches Cake and Milhojas — Diana’s has more than 100 sweets within its shiny, alluring dessert cases. 

The bakery is also known for it’s beautiful Dia De Los Muertos Altar, which is on display each November.

Diana’s is farther west up the street at 2843 Cherokee. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 6am to 8pm, and Sunday, 6am to 7pm. Follow Diana’s on Instagram for the latest.

The Dia de los Muertos altar outside of Diana's Bakery | Photo By Emily Thenhaus

El Chico Bakery Exterior  |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

Go for: Fruit-filled empanandas (or catch them at a local farmers market)

A family-owned and operated Mexican bakery, El Chico opened in La Calle Cherokee in 1998. Locals love El Chico for its watermelon cookies, pan dulce, conchas, hot lemon empanadas, and the low prices.

You also might find El Chico Bakery’s bread and sweets at one of several farmer’s markets in the Saint Louis region.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:30am to 7:30pm, and Sunday, 8:30am to 3:30pm. For more info, check out El Chico Bakery on Instagram. 

El Chico Bakery Case |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

Wall of Candy and Snacks Inside Botanas La Michoacana  |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

Go for: Elote (mexican street corn); Fresh mango with Tajin

Opened in 2020, Botanas La Michoacana is a Mexican snack shop, specializing in fresh fruit, street corn, juices and other grab & go snacks. Don't miss the turn; the shop is just south of Cherokee next to Lilly's Panaderia.

You can’t go wrong with the Elotes, which is street corn in the form of corn on the cob, charred on the grill, then slathered in chili, garlic, and Cotija cheese. 

Botanas La Michoacana is open every day except Tuesday, 10am to 7:30pm.

Elotes at Botanas La Michoacana  |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

Dulceria Medina Exterior  |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

Go for: Hard-to-find Mexican candies

Last on the list (but not least!) is Dulceria Medina, a Mexican candy shop. Before you question the writer, yes, candy is food. 

Dulceria Medina offers a large selection of imported Mexican sweets, plus piñatas and other party supplies.  Here’s where you get that piñata for your next party, and the candy to go inside it. Ever try a Ricaleta lollipop? How about Vero Mango? There’s never been a better time than now. 

Dulceria Medina is open every day except Thursday, 10am - 8pm. Follow the shop’s Facebook page for more info. 

Shopper inside Dulceria Medina  |  Photo By Tiffany Melecio

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