There’s nothing little about the flavor of the hand-made dumplings at Lona’s Lil Eats. Steamed for chew, then pan-fried for crunch, each plump half-moon pocket holds umami-packed bites of minced mushrooms or a mixture of ’shrooms and tender steak. Order both varieties and dip them all in a vibrant house-made chile oil seasoned with garlic, cilantro, roasted spices and black vinegar. Why play favorites?
Lona’s Lil Eats, 2199 California Ave., St. Louis, 314.925.8938, lonaslileats.com
This article appears in February 2015.