"St. Louis is home to a multitude of stellar Mexican restaurants serving tacos and freshly fried chicharrones, but for truly beautiful and monstrous tortas, head to El Toluco. Situated in a nondescript strip mall in the West County suburb of Manchester, facing away from the street and attached to a small tienda, the restaurant has become a destination dining spot. Tortas are made with football-sized freshly baked loaves of bread and filled with meat, queso fresco, Oaxacan cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños, all punctuated by a smoky chipotle sauce. If that’s not enough justification to make the lengthy drive to West County, the pollo con nopales and lengua tacos are also exceptional." - Holly Fann