Ian Froeb
Tacos al pastor at La Vallesana
The secret, I think, is the rub. The pork here is a deeper shade of red than I've seen in other al pastor meat around town. It's not just a matter of color. The taste is sharper, spicier. A bite of the pineapple that accompanies the taco's meat, onion (both sautéed and raw) and cilantro is sweet and cooling, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice intensifies every flavor.
If you like to top your tacos with salsa, you have two choices here: a smoky, very spicy red and a piquant, equally hot green. Because life is short and I don't know how many more tacos I'll have to eat before my time is up, I use a little of each.
La Vallesana
2801 and 2818 Cherokee Street*
314-776-4423
$1.75 (each)
* - Original location at 2801 Cherokee currently being rebuilt. Full menu available at La Vallesana 2 at 2818 Cherokee.
I'm counting down -- in no particular order -- 100 of my favorite dishes in St. Louis. Some are well-known, others obscure. Some are expensive, others dirt cheap. All of them, I guarantee, are delicious. Please do not hesitate to share your own favorites via the comments thread.
Previously:
#11: The Heath Bar concrete at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
#12: Beef tongue at Café Natasha's Kabob International
#13: The root beer braised short rib at Monarch
#14: The egg raviolo at Acero
#15: Pappardelle at the Tavern Kitchen + Bar
#16: Carnitas at La Tejana Taqueria
#17: Benne's Farm half chicken at Five Bistro
#18: Dátiles rellenos at Modesto
#19: Hot-and-sour noodles at Joy Luck Buffet
#20: Lamb vindaloo at India Palace
#21: Channa masala at Raj's Rasoi
#22: The blueberry scone at La Dolce Via
#23: Gang kua ped yang at Addie's Thai House
#24: Bánh xèo at Banh Mi So #1 - Saigon Gourmet
#25: Mojarra dorada at Garduño's Mexican Food
#26: "It" at Mammer Jammer
#27: Two eggs over-easy, bacon and hash browns at the Courtesy Diner
#28: Seafood at Farmhaus
#29: The "Edgar Allan Poe" at Dewey's Pizza
#30: The "Heart Stopping BLT" and a chocolate malt at Crown Candy Kitchen
