Winter is Coming. Warm Up With These Hearty Dishes in St. Louis
When the temperatures drop below freezing, sometimes a chilled salad or a cool slice of sashimi won't do the trick when you want something that both fills you up and warms you up. While soups and stews come to mind as cold weather favorites, there are plenty of St. Louis favorites that will keep you cozy this season. Here are some dishes that will keep you satisfied until spring rolls around.
Chao Baan: Gaeng Som

If you like the kind of spicy food that sets in slowly until your scalp starts to sweat, you'll like the gaeng som at Chao Baan. This spicy red soup is made up of a turmeric and chile broth with slices of papaya and whole pieces of fried white tilapia, simmered together to lend its spices to every bite of the dish. (Photo courtesy of Chao Baan)
Chao Baan, 4087 Chouteau Ave., The Grove, St. Louis, Missouri, chaobaanstl.com
Louie: Roman Gnocco

Dive into this decadent Italian dish to not only warm your stomach but to warm your soul, too. Louie's roman gnocco features pork ragu baked with Béchamel and pecorino on top, promising a combination of carbs, protein and fat to leave you feeling ready to step back into the cold. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
Louie, 706 DeMun Ave., Clayton, Missouri, 314.300.8188, louiedemun.com
Stellar Hog: Brisket Chili

It's hard to go wrong with chili, but The Stellar Hog's version, loaded up with chunks of pitmaster Alex Cupp's acclaimed smoked beef brisket, adds another layer of warmth to this hearty dish. Plus, who can resist a layer of gooey cheese on top? (Photo courtesy of The Stellar Hog)
The Stellar Hog, 5623 Leona St., Bevo, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.481.8448, thestellarhog.com
Soup Dumplings STL: Soup Dumplings

Nothing warms you up quite like the burst of steaming soup that comes from the inside of a soup dumpling. Choose from pork, beef, chicken, shrimp or crab and pork dumplings at this specialty restaurant, all of which are guaranteed to make you feel a little cozier. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Soup Dumplings STL, 8110 Olive Blvd., University City, Missouri, 314.445.4605, facebook.com/soupdumplingSTL
Mike's Hot Dogs Soups & Sandwiches: Volcano

In University City, Mike's offers hot dogs, soups and sandwiches, but the hot dogs in particular are especially worth seeking out. The Volcano comes with Red Hot Riplets, peppered bacon, hot sauce, jalapeño aïoli, chopped onions, jalapeños, sport peppers, seared pineapple and celery salt. This spicy dog is sure to get your blood pumping while the pineapple takes your mind somewhere tropical. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Mike's Hot Dogs Soups & Sandwiches, 7293 Olive Blvd., University City, Missouri, 314.776.9225, mikeshotdogsstl.com
Pi Pizzeria: The Maplewood

What's more comforting than gooey cheese? The Maplewood at Pi Pizzeria features mozzarella, spicy sausage, cherry peppers, Fontina and basil on a thin or whole-grain crust. (Photo by Kelly Glueck)
Pi Pizzeria, multiple locations, pi-pizza.com
Masala: Beef Nihari

Masala's beef nihari is a house specialty cooked with beef shanks, yogurt, spices and special gravy. It's the perfect kind of dish for eating while wrapped in your winter shawl. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Masala, 6170 Delmar Blvd., Delmar Loop, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.899.9909
The Fountain on Locust: Polish Dill Pickle Soup

The Fountain on Locust's famous Polish dill pickle and potato soup takes a cool dill pickle and turns it into a soup that will warm you up from the inside out. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
The Fountain on Locust, 3037 Locust St., Midtown, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.535.7800, fountainonlocust.com
Eat-Rite Diner: Slinger

Nothing says "this meal will stick to your bones" like potatoes, chili and eggs. Whether it's consumed late night or early morning, this plate will warm you up before you head to your next destination (or home for a nap). (Photo by Jonathan Gayman)
Eat-Rite Diner, 622 Chouteau Ave., LaSalle Park, 314.621.9621
Lombardo's Restaurant: Lasagna

No pasta is quite as comforting as lasagna. Sheets of pasta layered with cheese and a thick tomato sauce create a perfect winter dish at Lombardo's Restaurant. You'll want to go home and take a nap after polishing off a slice of this savory treat. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
Lombardo’s Restaurant, 10488 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.429.5151, lombardosrestaurants.com/rest-about-us.html