Why People Call Chris’ Pancake and Dining the Best Breakfast in St. Louis

Some restaurants come and go. Chris’ Pancake and Dining is a constant on the corner of Southwest Avenue in South City, and in the rotation of basically every St. Louis local who takes breakfast seriously.

Since 1987, this has been the place. Not just for a special Saturday. For any Tuesday you need eggs. For the office that finally stopped ordering the same tired catering. For whoever just moved to St. Louis and asked a local where to go.

The answer is usually Chris’. 

What St. Louis Has Said About Chris’

Okay, So What’s Actually on the Menu?

Both breakfast and lunch, served all day until 3 PM. Breakfast just happens to be what we’re known for.

The Pancakes

The restaurant is literally named for them, and they hold up. Made to order, golden, short stack or tall. Gluten-free available. The Riverfront Times readers voted them the best in the city. Hard to argue.

Breakfast Fried Rice

Smoky bacon, cage-free eggs, sweet chili sauce. This one comes out of left field and becomes the thing you tell people about. A Chris’ original that has no business being as good as it is.

French Toast

Dipped, griddled, lightly crisped. People travel from out of state and build their St. Louis itinerary around this plate. True story — the reviews say so.

Classic Breakfast Combo

Cage-free eggs any style, choice of meat — bacon, sausage, salsiccia, Canadian bacon, turkey options — with hash browns, fresh fruit, and toast or pancakes. The honest, satisfying plate that never lets you down.

Tower Grove Omelet

Named for the neighborhood, finished with St. Louis’ own cheese blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. You can’t get more South City than this.

Salsiccia

Fennel-spiked Italian sausage links, two at a time, with eggs and hash browns. A nod to the South City Italian-American heritage right there on your plate. Order it once and you’ll never skip it again.

Shakshuka

Zesty North African tomato sauce, peppers, jalapeños, feta, cage-free eggs. Not what most people expect at a diner. That’s exactly why it’s worth ordering.

Biscuits and Gravy

House-made biscuits, thick gravy, and a Bloody Mary on the side. Peak Sunday morning.

And That’s Just the Start

There’s also a full lunch menu, an omelet bar you can bring to your office, breakfast casseroles in twelve different varieties, soufflés, specialty mimosas; honestly, the variety is half the fun. Whether you’re eating in or ordering for a crowd, there’s no shortage of great options.

What People Are Saying

“I travel from Chattanooga to St. Louis once a year on business. Chris’ is always my only choice for breakfast. Their French toast is the best I’ve ever had.”

— TripAdvisor

“This place is GREAT, and everyone knows it. It snowed the night before we went and the place was still PACKED. The food was great and there was a lot of it.”

— TripAdvisor

“SO fluffy and pure pancake perfection. The pancakes stole the show. 10000/10!!”

— TripAdvisor

“True story — we asked the cashier at Home Depot where a good breakfast spot was. She recommended Chris’. The locals always know.”

— TripAdvisor

Come Find Us

5980 Southwest Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139  •  (314) 645-2088  •  Open daily, 6:30 AM – 3 PM

Full menu — breakfast and lunch — served all day from the moment we open. Private dining room available for events. Parking on Southwest and behind the building.

Location & Hours

Catering Menu

Private Events

Rewards Program

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