Southwest Diner

I was so happy to try this place out for breakfast! It exceeded all my expectations. The food is delicious and the staff is so nice. The biscuits and gravy were phenomenal- even just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Adorable little diner on the corner of a street! Beware that the only parking is street parking and it’s very is limited. We walked right in on a Sunday with a party of 7 and found a table. Waitress was super nice and quick with service. I had the chico plate with a half order of biscuits and gravy. Everything was delicious. The gravy was amazing and tasted a little bit sweeter than normal gravy. Home fries were to die for. The prices were also super reasonable here! The chico plate was only $9.50 with an up charge of $2.50 for the biscuit and gravy. Don’t see those types of prices at restaurants anymore. Definitely a great local stop in STL for some brunch.

Our new go-to for breakfast or brunch! The service was amazing! Staff are so nice and attentive! The food was absolutely delicious and you can tell they make it fresh! We can smell them cooking the bacon from where we sat! Lots of room groups of people too! We can’t wait to go back and try new dishes!

Highly recommend ;) Wait was long we went on a Saturday around 10a absolutely worth the wait, got us in quicker than expected! Ordered breakfast enchiladas & tamales Biscuits & gravy great! & on top of it all, amazing atmosphere & service!

Atmosphere was cool. The food was not very flavorful, although did come out relatively fast and hot which is a plus. I did enjoy the home fries.

New Mexico breakfast burrito is pretty good, we go here pretty often, my suggestion is to get on the waitlist before you arrive. Sometimes the wait can be up to an hour or more. One of the better breakfast spots in St. Louis. They have a new Mexican style menu, with a lot of spicy options. If you’re going on the weekend, plan ahead. Inside gets pretty busy, and they have an outside seating area. It’s pretty loud in there when talking with others, but the service usually moves pretty quick and they take care of you well.

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The atmosphere is uniquely southwestern in the middle of the country. The service is excellent. The servers are helpful, knowledgeable, and genuinely great people. The food is out of this world good if you like a spicy, peppery flavor to your food. This is my second visit and I love it even more now. The place was packed and we were still able to get a table within a few minutes. The food is made to order, so it takes a little bit of time. Sit back, enjoy some great conversation, and a good cup of coffee. The food is worth the wait. This is definitely one of my favorite breakfast spots in the country.

Our favorite spot for breakfast/brunch in the city. Everything I've tried on the menu has been great. I suggest the Jonathan's Firey Scramble, pancakes, or southwest slinger. The Paloma is amazing as well. Check in online, as it gets busy on the weekends. Dog friendly on the patio. They brought a water bowl for her.

This is the perfect place for a hearty meal that's sure to leave you full and satisfied. I went here with a friend for a Sunday brunch and left stuffed! When you walk in, it's bustling with conversations and lively decor. Our server, Charles, was very personable and attentive throughout. We ordered the sopapillas to start which were amazing and tasted like a hug. We also had a mimosa and bloody mary because who doesn't love a brunch drink. I was disappointed that the mimosa was like half the size of the bloody mary. I had the southwest slinger with sausage gravy and a mix of green and red chile. It was topped with 2 perfect runny eggs! My friend had the Carne Adovada with fiery scramble eggs. We both loved our meals and can't wait to go back. I might actually try something different!

The food is delish and consistently so. Coffee is Kaldi's. The building is quirky and (I think) they built the whole covered patio during the pandemic. It was remarkable warm with the heater when I was there on a 20 degree Sunday morning recently. Despite how busy they are I've never had trouble finding street parking.

I had heard about Southwest Diner and how good it was, but had never been. Yesterday was the day! We were a party of five and one in our group put us on the waitlist via Yelp. We got in very close to the time we were hoping for. There were a number of people waiting for tables at the time. We were seated at a table for four and they put a metal folding chair at the end to make it a table for five. It was fine, but the tables aren't overly large and we had food for five so it was full of plates and glasses and cups. All of the staff we interacted were great. The place was very busy, which I think is normal, and the staff keeps everything moving and they're friendly and helpful while doing so. Everything we had was yum! I tasted a bite of the other dishes at our table and would order any one of them when I go back - and I will be back! I wanted to take some photos of the interior because it is eclectic, but there were too many people in there and it would have been intrusive. If you haven't been - go!

I have a new favorite breakfast spot in STL. I truly can't believe how good the food tasted. I got the fiery egg scramble (so creamy and spicy and delicious) and my mom got the grits on fire. We were seated right away, and the service was very prompt and attentive. I honestly can't wait to go back. It didn't last long enough!

Great service and great southwest eatery. Enjoyed the biscuits and gravy as well as the grits. Would certainly recommend trying if you are looking for an inexpensive and tasty breakfast. They also have cocktails as well if you are looking to spice up the experience. Also to note: we ordered biscuits and gravy and were told that the gravy had run out and would not be ready for about 30 minutes after we had ordered. They ended up making us some and gave it to us for free for the inconvenience!

I was visiting family in St. Louis and have wanted to stop by this place for awhile! I was told its best to try and go earlier as on the weekends lines can form out the door! I went on a Thursday morning around 8am and it was perfect- only a few people in there! This place is super cute- it really reminds me of something you would see in New Mexico or Arizona. Its diner vibe but Sanfe eclectic. The staff is very friendly and we were told to just pick our own table. I was trying to avoid a lot of spice and asked about the red vs green chile. Our server let me know green is the pretty spicy and red is more mild but still has a kick. I opted for the Strawberry Alarm Clock Pancakes (short stack) and a side of bacon. The person I was with got the breakfast burrito add chorizo and red/green chile (which they call Christmas) haha so cute. I tried some of the burrito and the red chile was still a bit too hot for me but the flavors were great! The pancakes were really really good- they are made with buttermilk cornmeal. They had fresh strawberry sauce and that sweet cream cheese butter on top... yum!! I would absolutely come back here and try something else. Overall experience 4/5

Overall, a good hearty brunch place if you're feeling a more Texmex vibe. Join the waitlist before coming if you can! WAIT TIME: Came in for a 12pm lunch on a Sunday. HIGHLY RECOMMEND joining the waitlist before coming. We were told a 45 min wait when we walked in but were able to get seated on their heated patio within 5 mins of waiting thankfully. FOOD: We got the tamale breakfast plate and the huevos rancheros with a half order of biscuits and gravy. Everything was so delicious! You can taste the spices in the huevos rancheros meat and the tamale tasted pretty authentic. Potatoes were just crispy enough. Portions are large as well, we were pretty full in the end. SERVICE: Our waiter came by very very often, very attentive! He filled our coffees before we even ran out every time. DECOR: Very artsy decor in the patio, murals painted on the brick wall. Inside looks more like a diner but we weren't in there long. PRICE: Came out to roughly $25 per person. Reasonable for brunch and for all we ordered.

Just had the "sopapilla stuffed taco" again as good as it was last time(its been too long!) Heres to consistency, something else Southwest Diner is really good at.

Solid brunch spot! We were able to easily get a table outside for 6 around noon on a Sunday by putting ourselves on the Yelp waitlist. Outdoors was great vibes - there's a bar and colorful art/walls. Food was great, good portion sizes. Hot brewed coffee hit the spot (free refills). Very cutie vibes!

We went here for breakfast Sunday morning. This was by far our best visit to Southwest ever. Love that they've started using the Yelp reservation system again. We got in line at 27th and waited an hour and a half in the end. You have to check-in in-person once you're closer to the front of the line. Unfortunately, it was still a 20-25 wait from there. They have some plastic chairs set up on the patio for parties to wait. Once we were seated, service was so fast! A true first for me at Southwest. Our server told us he was new and he did a fantastic job. It was his first time making a milkshake and it was wonderful; not too liquid-y and not too thick. The cornmeal pancakes are indeed something to write home about. Make sure to order them with the house-made strawberry sauce. My fiancé was a fan of his grits and we got plenty of food for the price we spent. Love this St Louis classic and will be back.

Great as always but be prepared to wait! Definitely recommend joining the waitlist on yelp in advance and allow for an hour or so wait. Food quality is always consistent and great bloody mary!

First time here and it was awesome! We added ourself to the yelp waitlist which worked out smoothly. There's a bar inside and a bar in the patio area outside as well. The food was delicious and portion sizes are great for the price. Mural in the patio area is cute and vibey, will def come back

Went to brunch with a friend yesterday and enjoyed multiple great dishes. She had the slinger (add gravy of course) and I had the Carne Adovada with the fiery scramble as the eggs. We split the sopapillas for an appetizer, and I had a Bloody Mary to drink. The food never disappoints at Southwest Diner, and Charles was a lovely staff member. Make sure you join the waitlist to help cut down that wait time!

In town for the weekend from Kansas City and I found this place from other reviews from my trusty friends here on Yelp--and they did not steer me wrong! WOW! What a fun, outgoing, eccentric atmosphere. Fun decor, great personalities, upbeat music, but with a chill vibe. Johnny was our server, and he was great. He made some amazing Bloody Mary's and Proper Irish Coffees. Very attentive and friendly. We had four people; ordered the half order of biscuits and gravy with Egg whites on top (AMAZING), grande meal (eggs, sausage, pancakes (soooo good), and home fries; and the other two got the breakfast burritos that were massive and good. Seriously, check this place out! The food and drinks are amazing. We will be coming the next time we're in STL for sure!

I almost hesitate to review this spot, my favorite breakfast restaurant in St Louis, as I don't want it to become impossible to get a table! Smallish dining room and outdoor covered patio, unpretentious southwestern decor, reasonably priced, family-friendly. The diner offers green chili inspired breakfast entrees, and other interesting takes of morning food. It's a visit to Arizona or New Mexico without ever leaving St. Louis. Street parking only. A bit hidden; use your gps to get here!!

As a diner boy myself I wanted to try out a diner while on vacation. Great vibes, great staff, and delicious food! The grits on fire were perfectly cook, and I also got to try the biscuits and gravy and the biscuit was fluffy and the gravy was flavorful! Great experience.

We got here right before they opened and got to watch locals walk down to have their Sunday breakfast and read their papers Plenty of people like us, coming to check out the buzz. It's totally worth it. This seems like a local place that is focused on the food, rather than Instagram/hype. We got the breakfast tamale platter and the fiery scramble, along with the grits tots. The tots are airy and crispy. Delicious and a must try! The clear winner was the tamale breakfast. We got a pork one and a vege one, with red and green sauce, over easy eggs and potatoes made it great. Can't wait to come back soon and get this again! Very cool place with friendly people.

Inside out: Cute, comfy, amazing. Truly I just love everything about this location and the ambiance. The decorations leave you plenty to look at while you wait for one of the best breakfasts you could hope for. Food: I can't say enough good things, there were three of us and we sat at the breakfast bar. Every item was cooked to perfection and came with plenty of it. The fact I could get some *exciting* soda here to accompany breakfast was just next level. Truly a breakfast place worth traveling for! Service: speaking of traveling, we had all our suitcases with us and they kindly let us tuck them in the back while we waited. They were incredibly kind in every way and so freaking friendly. Again, above and beyond in every category! Overall: this was one of the highlights of our trip. We will be going back every year if we can help it!

Southwest always delivers! My dad and I wanted to get breakfast after running some early morning errands. We joined the waitlist on Yelp, timing was perfect as the estimated time which was going to be the travel time. Street parking is provided- this spot gets busy so it can be kind of tricky. We ended up parking a bit up on Southwest which was fine, extra steps never hurt! If you join the waitlist on Yelp, make sure to check in with the host/ hostess to let them know you're there! We were seated about 5 minutes after arriving at the bar. The server was prompt and attentive. We ordered water, hot coffee, and an iced coffee. If you go the iced coffee route, ask for extra ice :) they also offer cold brew in Kaldi's cans. Southwest has my absolute favorite pancakes in stl (cornmeal pancakes) so I knew going in I would be getting a side order. For my entree I ordered Jonathan's Famous Firey Scramble. This includes spicy, cheesy scrambled eggs either home fries and served with your choice of meat and bread. I ended up substituting my bread with pancakes (not sure if there's an upcharge but I would assume- which makes sense). I ordered bacon as my meat. The eggs were amazing- perfectly scrambled with just the right about of cheese and spice. Bacon is thick cut and the home fries were crispy. My pancakes lived up to my hype which I was so happy about. Could probably come here weekly. So delicious.

I enjoyed my first time at Southwest Diner! We had to wait a little long (on the heated patio), but to be expected from a very popular space. We had the pickle fries (fried pickles) to start that were very good with a chipotle mayo. I ordered the Carne Adovada that came with red chile braised pork shoulder, 2 over medium eggs, breakfast home fries and flour tortillas. The braised pork shoulder was so good, perfectly seasoned and tender. I also enjoyed my southwestern coffee, but it was almost ten dollars! Everyone enjoyed their food and had no real complaints. The space is cute too!

Love this place. We go there a lot. The wait staff is excellent and so is the food. Good food and service. Fun quirky ambiance.

Another weekend - another diner. We tried Southwest diner and was really happy with the flavors! The food was very particular to New Mexican food if you've never tried it before I would just ask the server to give you a run down of the flavors so you're not surprised.

Respectable spot for breakfast/brunch. Food is good but not great. I had the breakfast burrito on this visit. Definitely was a bit potato heavy. Service is always pretty quick and timely. This is my 2nd time here. Not sure if I'll return but worth a visit in any case.

An STL weekend brunch staple. Get in line on the app beforehand. There's a nice outdoor circle of chairs waiting area. Everything on the menu is great! The staff are so friendly!

This is THE BEST breakfast I have had in so long!! Literally everything was delicious. The pancakes and biscuits and gravy in particular were two MUST TRY items we had! It's a small, eclectic, casual place- not fancy but has a cool atmosphere and outdoor (but covered) seating available.

A cult-like stop in St Louis! The fun artwork alone is worth checking this place out. Love the New Mexico flavors, and its unique offering to the TexMex options you'll mostly find in the Lou. Good value for the portion sizes here, and the vibe and decor is perfect. Joined friends for a casual brunch on Labor Day. To kick off the festivities enjoyed one of their spicy Bloody Mary's , and ordered the Breakfast Tamale plate with Christmas (red and green) sauce. Quite a bit of heat but not overbearing, perfect for my palate! The tamales are covered in cheese, and the side potatoes perfectly crunchy on outside, nicely done on inside. It was a busy, but our server was attentive and we got everything we needed. One of the dishes came out quite a bit later than the others, but I understand busy kitchens do their best to get food out fresh and hot, so I appreciate that! This isn't a white table clothed restaurant where that kind of thing is important. A nice relaxed, great meal a

The best place! Food, staff, vibe, all of it. Our weekend morning (and any weekday we can pull off) go to.

We grew up in New Mexico and the Southwest Diner takes us back. We always leave happy and full. Service is great. Ordering different combinations is taken well, and done very well.

We've been with the SWD since their days at the Tower Grove Farmers Market. Jonathan and company never fail to please and the food, service, and ambience is perfect. Sopapillas are a memory from my native New mexico, and the Christmas huevos rancheros are Hidden Gem on the menu.

Such great food!! We will definitely come back here with our dog next time to sit out on the patio. We absolutely loved the food served here and are looking forward to returning.

The food is incredible here! The service is impeccable! Hands down one of my favorite brunch spots in St. Louis!!

Had an amazing time at Southwest Diner - the vibes are immaculate - it really does have a southwestern diner feel! I got the Blistered Sprout Hash and my group also split their pickle fries and a cornmeal pancake. The food was good but not anything to write home about - but that wouldn't stop me from coming back. It does get busy - consider checking the Yelp Waitlist before you go!

I can't believe it's taken me so long to brunch at Southwest Diner! From the minute you open the door, it just smells like good, home cooked weekend breakfast. Their menu is great- they make it almost impossible to decide what to order to eat or drink! We ended up going two weekends in a row (lol it's really that good) because we wanted to try everything! Our favorite are the New Mexican Breakfast Burrito (add the queso, of course), huevos rancheros (this was the first time I had tried them and the bar has been set high), and the barbacoa fries. We're also big fans of their drink menu! My husband loves their bloody, and I love both their traditional Irish coffee and their house version. Plenty of NA options as well! There's something for everyone here, I absolutely recommend trying this St. Louis institution for your next brunch!

Street Parking only, on southwest Ave. or Abbott Ave. fairly busy street/ intersection in the morning. Main door isn't fully accessible, but patio area would be. We were seated within 10minutes and the place was poppin'- we got there about 9:30. We thought the food was delicious and prompt. Everything was warm and came out with great presentation. We had been meaning to try this place for awhile- I'd defiantly recommend, unique take on southwestern breakfast, Tex-mex style! Very Happy

I had a great breakfast at the diner recently. I ordered the Grits on Fire and I quite enjoyed the layers of cheesy grits, Carne Adovada (red chili braised pork shoulder), a nd two over-medium eggs topped with a bit of cheese. There was plenty of very tender pork, the sauce was spicy (but not too much for this sissy), the eggs were perfectly cooked, and overall it was a great dish. I do wish there had been more cheese, but you can't really go by me, because I would put cheese on cheese. My friend had the Barbacoa Fries (shredded beef on top of some good fries, with guacamole, pico and bit of cheese) - she added extra for sour cream - and she said it was really good. Coffee was just right. We were able to accommodate my friend's one year old with scrambled eggs and sausage, so he was pretty happy. Cool place, fun decor, clean. There were plenty of tables (and some counter seating) - but they were totally filled by 9:45 on a Monday morning. Our waitress Charli was wonderful - attentive, patient, considerate, understanding that I was meeting my friend that I hadn't seen in five years.... So, clean place, great service, tasty food that came out fast. I'll be back! FYI, there is only street parking, but the diner is on a corner, so there are plenty of spots to choose.

Southwest Diner is always packed on the weekends and for a good reason, it's a diner atmosphere that serves a good, solid breakfast/brunch while also being a good value which is hard to find these days. I tried the "join the guestlist via Yelp" but I honestly don't believe that helped at all as we still waited an hour for a table. In short, the food is good, it is a good value, waitstaff is nice, the bathroom is clean but small and there is a long wait on the weekends. it's a place I would definitely come back to again.

Excellent food. Excellent service and nice place to go. I would have today a great place to always busy.

Breakfast tamales were great. Service was awesome. Busy even on a Thursday morning, so join the waitlist.

One of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis. Food is not your typical diner food, the decor is fun to look at and the service is outstanding.

Always fun to have breakfast at SWD. I especially like the cornmeal pancakes! Thanks for the great effort from whole staff to make it one of my favorite breakfast spots.

Orders: Bloody Mary + Bacon | Juevos Rancheros + Sausage + Avo There is really no need to deviate from the breakfast burrito because it's always made me so happy, but I was feeling wily and ordered the Juevos Rancheros & loooooveddddd it!!!! So much flavor and a little bit of a kick which I usually can't handle, but it was tempered perfectly by the sour cream and my avocado + cheddar cheese add on's. RECOMMEND! Love this place, the patio ambiance & the service always!! Thank you all!

Some of the best biscuits and gravy in Saint Louis! Great vegetarian options too for my girlfriend.

South West Diner is a delightful breakfast spot that hits all the right notes. The food is consistently very good, and the service matches the quality of the meals. The diner has a charming Tex-Mex vibe, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. One standout feature is their unique pancakes made with cornmeal, which are exceptionally delicious. If you're looking for a place that combines great food, friendly service, and a cute, distinctive ambiance, South West Diner is a fantastic choice.

Funky spot. It is really fun, but loud. The staff is friendly and the food is amazing! Be sure to seat ahead when you are within distance.

I lived in New Mexico and this is the only place near St Louis with good New Mexican cooking! They use Hatch chilies and have traditional breakfast and lunch food and some local specials. Want it hot? Get the " Grits on Fire"! Want it different but delicious? Get the"Buttermilk Corn Pancakes"! No reservations-super busy on the weekend but they have a school bus parked in the alley where you can wait and have coffee. We go only on the weekdays around 9AM and haven't had to wait. The walls are loaded with all kinds of New Mexico kitschy items and if you want the true diner experience sit at the counter. Service is fast and friendly!

It's a home away from home type dining destination. Finest diner in St. Louis due to the food, people, and aesthetic. It's a comfort shop. Worth any wait time. Tell Max he's awesome.

There's a reason why you can find a poster of SW Diner at the STL History Museum: this place is a St Louis institution. Amazing food, good vibes & reasonable prices. If you haven't been-RUN, DON'T WALK!

This is definitely a place you want to try. I arrived early on a Friday morning. Walked in and got to choose where I sat. The vibe is friendly with a quirky, neighborhood feel. Sit at the bar, pick a table or sit outside on the patio. I went with a small table inside. Choosing what to eat was tough but I went with the biscuits and gravy. When in Rome right? Turns out it was an excellent choice. The price to happiness ratio was spectacular for this dish. The biscuit was moist with good texture. Gravy was flavorful without being too salty. Choose between the small with 1 biscuit or large with 2. I would definitely recommend this dish. What would I do next time? Get there before 10am and sit outside on the patio. Inside can get a little loud when the place is popping.

The food is always amazing! The wait can take awhile but I promise it's worth it!! Highly recommend joining the wait list online before making the drive down. I love the decor there is no shortage of things to look at!