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    9 St. Louis Foods That Are Pop-Your-Top-Button Delicious

    St. Louis-style pizza: weird or delicious?

    Kirby Beaton
    by Kirby Beaton

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Kirby Beaton / Hannah Wong / BuzzFeed

    When you think of major food cities, St. Louis might not be first on your list. But for those of us who travel with our stomachs, we know that every city is hiding delicious secrets down every street.

    So we rounded up the most delicious eats you absolutely have to try while in STL, from pizza to pretzels.

    St. Louis-Style BBQ Ribs

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    These ribs are flatter and fattier than their baby back brethren, meaning more square space for browning and even more flavor. Don't forget to grab a plate with some sides, like baked beans, cornbread, or sweet potato fries. Try them at Pappy's Smokehouse, where they're slow-cooked for 4.5 hours until juicy and tender. Make sure to get there early because the line is consistently long.

    Gooey Butter Cake

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    This flat, dense cake is supposedly the result of a baking accident in the 1930s. With a crispy crust and ooey, gooey filling, it's one delicious mistake. Head to one of Park Avenue Coffee's many locations where you can try 73 different flavors of the famous dessert, like chocolate chip or coconut.

    St. Paul Sandwich

    St. Louis-Style Pizza

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    Some say it's pizza, some say it's more akin to cheese and crackers. We'll let you be the judge, but just make sure you try a slice of the crispy crust topped with signature Provel cheese: a combo of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. To try one, stop by the closest Imo's Pizza, which has been making the pies since the 1960s.

    Frozen Custard Concrete

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    This frozen custard is so thick, it's usually served upside down to prove its quality. It's the perfect treat to beat that STL summer humidity, although we'd gladly eat these year-round. Ted Drewes, a stop along famous Route 66, is the King of the Concretes. It's been around for 90 years, so you know it's good. Start with a simple vanilla base, and then add toppings to your heart's desire.

    Slinger

    Toasted Ravioli

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    Ravioli. Breaded. Fried. If those three words don't sell you, what else can I say? Oh, how about a side of marinara sauce for dipping these little pockets of deliciousness in. You can find T-Ravs (that's what the locals call them) all over the city, but why not get them from a St. Louis staple restaurant, like Imo's Pizza? Hint: They go great with a slice or two!

    Pretzel Stick

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    Think one of those giant freshly baked pretzels at amusement parks, but in stick form. Covered in coarse salt and best eaten straight out of the oven. Gus's Pretzels is a family-owned business that's been cranking out pretzels in St. Louis for almost a century. Stop by to watch the pretzels get made and then eat one (or two or three or...).

    Gerber Sandwich

    Kirby Beaton / BuzzFeed

    An enormous open-faced sandwich slathered in garlic butter and topped with ham, our old friend Provel cheese, and a sprinkle of paprika. It's then baked until the cheese is melty. For this one, you've got to go straight to the source: Ruma's Deli, where this sandwich was invented by a customer. Plus, who doesn't want their sandwich with a mountain of pickles on the side?

    Check out more here!

    Did we miss any STL staples? Let us know what we should try next time!

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    Did we miss any STL staples? Let us know what we should try next time!