Submitted by [deleted] t3_xu6z9e in springfieldMO
Howdy there, I’ve moved here about 4.5 years ago and I haven’t really explored any of the restaurants because of how daunting it is. There are so freaking many that I need the opinion of the people in this sub!
Thank you! Will check them out.
I second cusco! Their pesto is 🔥
I third Cafe Cusco. One of our favs
Cafe Cusco, Van Gogh's, and Chabom, all on C-Street, are all owned by the same person.
Jimms Steakhouse and Pub has incredible steaks and fantastic service! It’s our favorite date night restaurant. That Lebanese Place on Commercial Street is one of our favorite places, too!
Now I have tried that Lebanese place and it’s my favorite restaurant so far!
The guy who owns it always comes out to chat if he’s there, such a nice dude and such damn good food!
He is! That was my last birthday feast with my family. The platter he gave us wasn’t even on the menu but man it was good!
Cesar’s Old Mexico and The Big Easy both on east Sunshine
Cesar’s is really great
Just here to say that anyone who claims it’s Mexican Villa is WRONG.
I like Cafe Cusco. It’s Peruvian cuisine, definitely a little different but good. Although thinking about Peruvian - go to Farmers Market of the Ozarks on Saturday morning and get some of Nellie’s empanadas and tamales.
Bawi is one of our favorite date nights - best food you’ll ever have to cook yourself. But seriously, it’s good, and I’ve been trying to recreate the veggie pancake things at home.
Van Gogh Eeterie is owned by the same people that own Cafe Cusco and for that matter, Chabom, the spice/tea store on Commercial. It’s focused on crepes. You can go sweet or savory - this is another thing I’d love to try replicating at home.
Tortilleria Perches over at Sunshine/Kansas is really good.
Sweet N Snow and the food truck in S Campbell with the bubble waffles and ice cream are two I’ve heard only good things about and want to try out.
Also, if you haven’t tried Pineapple Whip, you don’t get your official Springfield Resident Card.
> Just here to say that anyone who claims it’s Mexican Villa is WRONG.
I upvoted here. This is the most important part. Literally only one time in my life have I declined to eat otherwise safe food for preparation reasons. I'm a fancy eater, but not a picky eater. Mexican Villa is a travesty.
I get that Mexican Villa isn't for everyone, and that it's not "authentic" Mexican food, but I don't get the insane, blind hatred it gets on this sub. I like it for what it is: an Americanized, 1950s imitation of Mexican food.
There's an awful lot of snobbery on here for people that live in a podunk town in Missouri.
It’s kind of ridiculous. It is what it is and nothing more. I grew up on it so I enjoy it. Usually eat it a couple times a month.
Eating it a couple times a month is kinda crazy ngl. Not because its bad, but simply because there are so much better, cheaper options, or the most important point being that mexican villa is honestly so basic, you can replicate it with the most simple ingredients at home. I guess that's not really the point of. "eating out," though, I just know 10$ at mexican villa will never go as far as $10 at my favorite street taco stand, makes it hard to ever pick mexican villa.
I don’t choose it when I want “Mexican.” I choose it when I want Mexican Villa. It’s its own thing. I go to a lot of the other places too. I love Cesar’s, Jose Locos, used to hit Cantina Laredo and Maria’s when they were here.
Took the words out of my mouth. It's like saying it's crazy to go to a ramen place when there are so many good sushi restaurants. They're related, but different. Mexican Villa is comfort food for me.
I asked someone here why he hated it so much and he confessed that he'd never tried it. I don't care for most of it but now and then some tacos from El Taco hit the spot.
I will admit, I have tried pineapple whip once. And it’s not that bad!
I thought Sweet N Snow closed :/
I’m rarely on the east side of town these days so I didn’t know. Too bad.
I know! They were amazing.
I think Patrick Nett, the owner of Thai Express, has plans to buy it (or has already) and is going to revamp/reopen it
He announced those plans fell through, unfortunately.
Ah, gotcha. That's too bad because that place was really good
I agree
Sweet N Snow is gone.
Aww, bummer.
I’m not wrong. You are. Comparing Mexican Villa and Cusco? Or comparing it to any of the somewhat traditional Mexican restaurants is just trolling. Not even the same thing. No one from Springfield goes to MV for “traditional” Mexican food. It’s Springfield style Mexican like cashew chicken is Springfield style Chinese. Just stop.
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Sounds tasty!!
All of the Thai restaurants are great — you can’t go wrong. I also love Greek Belly, Koriya (for fast casual Korean), Skully’s Ramen, Zayka’s Indian (downtown), and Neighbor’s Mill for sandwiches, soup, and salad.
I’ve seen Tong’s and I’m always curious if that place is good
I crave Tong’s!
I’ve only had it once but it was really good! The only negative I’ve heard that you never know if they’re going to be open.
Look up (417foodist) on insta, Billy Dove is a great guy and does a good job of covering all of the unique restaurants in or around Springfield
Zayka for Indian food
Love Zayka!
Haruno’s is my go to sushi place
Yea I like nakotos for high end night. Cheap night celito lindos!
Nakato is my birthday choice every year. Prob my fav restaurant in town.
That Lebanese place is fucking great, order the nachos. Civil kitchen on the square is really good too, the fried kale is unbelievable
Druff's has a sandwich with slightly spicy pork, goat cheese, and a strawberry balsamic reduction. It's amazing. I order two because I consistently wanted another all day like five times in a row. And Sam's Southern Eatery will send you an enormous box of good fried okra. I've had so much mediocre and some truly bad fried okra since leaving the south. I still ate it, because all but the worst fried okra (okra scented flour and cornmeal stones) is good food. And I haven't yet met a more pleasing bowl of vegetables in the wild than Koriya's bibimbap. I love that shit. I've only lived here for a year myself, but I love food and moved out of the god awful sticks. If you count fast food (and I'm inclined to count at least some of it given how on point the national/cherry taco bell usually is) I can walk to more restaurants than there were in the town we left. The restaurant density might be my favorite thing about Springfield. I'm currently looking for a sushi restaurant to be my go to for a while.
That's the same sandwich I always get at Druff's. Love it.
Here are my top picks: Burgers: Lindberg's Tavern (they sear patties in duck fat) Chinese: YumYum Bowl Mexican: Tortilleria Perches Greek: Greek Belly (The garlic spread is devine if you're a garlic girl like me) Italian: Nona's (it's an institution for a reason lol) Sandwiches: I love the Cheese steak Company or now it's called the 7th on Walnut. Really good sammies.
Civil kitchen. The pork belly bahn mi tacos are next level.
And their onion rings 🫠
Zayka, Bambino’s, Skully’s and Civil Kitchen
La Habana Vieja! C Street
Kai After Dark is pretty nice. It's downtown, plenty of free parking available around there.
I have a hard time equating “downtown” with “plenty of parking”.
There's a free parking garage with at least 4 levels on Campbell and Olive. I charge my car at that free parking lot all the time and see plenty of spaces open there. There's plenty of parking lots all over the place too. Just because you have to walk from the parking to a business doesn't mean there's not plenty of parking. .
South to Ozark is Salvatore's Italian. And in Nixa, Piccolo.
What kind of food do you like?
I’m a fan of Chinese food and any odd-ball sort of food
Idk what odd ball is to you, but for best Chinese you’ll want Bao-Bao in chesterfield and Corner 21 on sunshine. Corner 21 is super authentic, dishes you can’t get elsewhere in town.
I still haven't tried it myself yet, but a lot of people rave about Corner 21.
I really like the spring rolls at Thailand Station, but the entrees I've tried weren't very impressive. I stopped by there on my birthday just to pick up a to-go order of spring rolls.
For "cheap eats," I like the $1 carnitas tacos at Tacos El Champu on Tuesdays.
Corner 21 is absolutely like you flew to Shanghai or Taipei for a meal. Keep in mind it'll cost about the same. Bao-bao does a 'traditional' style on many of their dishes. Pho Kim if you want to try Banh Mi sammies. Best hidden Mexican: Taqueria Cachanilla or Leslie's
Hell yea! I love my cheap eats!
Karaii Ramen and Handroll
Bambu if you like pho! Thai Express has an amazing dish called Magic Noodles.
The Wheelhouse and Skully’s are probably the best places in town.
Half of the places other have mentioned… I’d look up their health inspections before going if I were you. Food culture in Springfield has really gone downhill in the last several years, along with most things.
For Italian, the drive down to Nixa is worth it to go to Piccolo.
Piccolo is sooo good!
Rama Thai and Wayo are my favorites
So if you have insta there’s this foodie in Springfield that posts all of the good eats! Hope this helps!! https://instagram.com/417foodist?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Weirdly enough that link doesn’t work, what’s the profile called?
417foodist his name is Billy Dove
Sweet thanks! Also am a horror fanatic!
As someone who has lived here for 11 years, no, there really aren’t many.
What kind of food are you looking for? I would recommend Rama Thai for Thai, Bambinos for “Italian” or toasted ravs, Gilardi’s for “seasonal Italian”, Nicola’s for Italian better than Gilardi’s, Cafe Cusco for not-quite-Peruvian (they have a fair vegan/vegetarian menu), Greek Belly for Greek/vegetarian food (amazing falafel), SBC for beers and chicken tenders, and Cheddars for better chicken tenders.
Still haven’t found a good onion rings place since Cheddars stopped offering those.
ETA: Haruno for sushi. The only place in land-locked Springfield I actually trust their fish. It can get a bit large and saucy and flame-y, but if you stick to the simple stuff, it’s delicious and, so far, parasite free.
Second ETA: For Mexican: Los Garcias Michoacanos. They have two locations now, both on Sunshine. Took me over a decade to find Good Mexican and they are my favorite. Pro tip: if it’s a dude with a Latin accent taking your order, ask him what his favorite is. You cannot go wrong.
Any good Chinese restaurants?
Triple 8s, use the menu by the register instead of the Americanized menu
I know this post is specifically about SGF, but the best onion rings in the 417 are at Pop’s Dari Dell in Reeds Spring. Literally ruined all other onion rings for me. Worth the 45 min drive south on 13
Mimi’s soul food downtown
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China King off Republic is some of the best American Chinese I’ve had. I live next to Bao Bao and while it is good, China King is better in my opinion. They’re also a bit cheaper.
Jimm’s, Cafe Cusco, and Nawab Indian Cuisine is also really good. I love the wings at Coyote’s Adobe Cafe.
90 percent of Springfields eateries are chains or junk... whats left is a toss up of pricey spots or local favorites, and those come down to opinion on if you like that place or style or not. Ive seen Skullys mentioned a few times in here and Cafe Cusco... and I know plenty of people that like those, Im not a fan... but they are worth a try to see what you think. Caesar's Old Mexico is one my favorites... (but SHHHH a secret... I also like Mexican Villa about once a year because I grew up here and like a few things they make and I know its not real Mexican), the Dug Outs twilight burger and fries are a great dive bar indulgence, Bambu's pho broth is on the top of my list... not as sweet as some of the other places broth and the interior is just ok. Caspers, Georges, Taylors... something I love at all these old school joints. I couldn't stay away from the Wheelhouse for a while... love it, really miss the breakfast burritos from their food truck on St. Louis. Im going to miss having the Neighbors Mill on Sunshine. I don't agree with half the burger or pizza opinions on here... so I wont go there. Just remember that old school Springfield people know that Mexican Villa isn't real Mexican and cashew chicken isn't real Chinese... we like them for a different reason and both have a cool history and place here.
I disagree that 90% are chains and junk. We have a pretty great food scene for this sized town.
90 might have been generous…. McDonalds, cheddars, Applebees, subway, meh meh meh. Chains account for at least 8 out of ten In this town…. How many Chinese places do we have that are just ok? How many cheap taco night Mexican places? We are bloated with mediocre crap here. Maria’s downtown just closed, chameleons brick front looks closed, how many dominoes are there compared to 3 or 4 decent pizza places? We have too many crap places and not nearly enough good local ones. Edit: was salty last night, have a better one and enjoy springtowns offerings. Cheers
[deleted] OP t1_iqu6gyw wrote
Cafe Cusco & Rama Thai are a couple that are always at the top of my list.