Photo by Laurie Skrivan (Post-Dispatch)
Local Chef Kitchen
If fast-casual dining is the future, I hope it looks more like Local Chef Kitchen than another cookie-cutter burrito joint. At this unassuming Ballwin storefront, Rob Uyemura (likely best known for his work at YaYa’s Euro Bistro in Chesterfield) serves produce that he himself has grown and changes the menu weekly as he works through whole hogs and sides of beef. The menu always includes thoughtful beef, pork, chicken, seafood and vegetarian dishes, and the price ($7.99 per main dish, $13.49 for a main and two sides) is a steal relative to the quality.
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
Last year's ranking: new
Opened: 2016
Must order: Menu changes frequently