Photo by Christian Gooden (Post-Dispatch)
Mi Tierra Bonita
At Mi Tierra Bonita, Juan Sanchez has relocated and expanded his brother’s restaurant and grocery store Mi Tierra Tienda y Taqueria. The relocation is right next door. The expansion is significant: The old location was a small grocery store with the taqueria in back. In the new location, you pass through the modest market into a large dining room with a bar. The restaurant features Sanchez’s family recipes from Michoacán, Mexico. Dishes range from tacos and tortas to enchiladas, fajitas and other larger plates. I’m especially fond of Mi Tierra’s soups and stews, including mole de olla (beef, corn, potato and chayote in a broth laced with the smokiness and medium heat of guajillo chiles) and carne en es jugo (flank steak with pinto beans, bacon and a few small pieces of hot dog in a broth nearly as thick and rich as gravy).
Hours: Lunch and dinner daily
Last year's ranking: New this year
Opened: 2018 (expansion)