You might be here for a late breakfast of huevos rancheros or chilaquiles, or perhaps a dinner feast of chiles rellenos (poblano peppers filled with Chihuahua cheese), tacos and sopes (thick masa cakes topped with beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, tomato, onion, avocado and your choice of meat). Whatever brings you to Taqueria El Bronco, this Cherokee Street institution is a one-stop shop for a vast range of outstanding, flavorful Mexican food. The tacos can be ordered in soft or crispy shells, and the pick of the meats are the beef tongue and the carnitas. There are also seafood options, vegetarian substitutions, and Tex-Mex favorites like fajitas and nachos. Depending on the time of day, you’ll find us sipping either on a horchata or treating ourselves to a margarita.
2817 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.762.0691, taqueriaelbronco.com
The Sauce 75 is a photomosaic of the best in St. Louis dining. This list is a celebration of the diverse skills, techniques and culinary traditions that meet across our region. In sum, it tells a story about where St. Louis has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. Many great and good St. Louis restaurants have not made the cut. (Seventy-five is a lot fewer than you think!) Restaurants are constantly growing and evolving and go through ups and downs. Newly opened restaurants can take time to find their feet: There are a few exciting new places we’re cheering for, but which we feel haven’t yet fully hit their stride.
This article appears in January/February 2025.