Guerilla Street Food, described on its website as “Filipino-American fast casual restaurant,” has four locations in St. Louis, including one that opened last year on the Delmar Loop. The relatively new restaurant has made waves in the city’s food scene, earning the 25th spot on Ian Froeb’s “Top 100 Restaurants in St. Louis” rankings.

The Loop location fills a niche that doesn’t exist otherwise in the area and does so with style. The exterior of the restaurant features large banks of windows, allowing diners to look out across the street to the Pageant, perhaps even catching a glimpse of the Loop Trolley. The interior, meanwhile, utilizes a bright orange and grey color palette, along with unconventional and playful elements like arcade machines, to create a welcoming, laid-back environment.

The decor of the restaurant sets the tone for the overall experience. This food can be pretty, but more than anything else it’s flavorful, filling and fun. The menu features slightly Americanized takes on Filipino classics, heavy on meat and featuring influences from both Asian and European cuisines.

The Lumpiang Prito appetizer, for example, imitates a spring roll and uses pork, onion and carrot to provide a fresh, hearty teaser for what’s to come. The menu also features empanadas, showing the various influences on Filipino cuisine with a twist.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

Top: 800-pound Guerrilla,
Bottom left: Arroz Caldo, Bottom right: Chicken Adobo

Where Guerrilla Street Food really shines, however, is in its entrees. Their dishes are divided into two sections—old school and new school—the difference being their adherence to traditional Filipino recipes. One of their signature dishes from the old school section, the 800-pound Guerrilla, features chicken and pork adobo over jasmine rice with paprika cream and green onion. The effect is nothing short of spectacular, with a savory, filling and satisfying combination resulting. From the new school portion, the Arroz Caldo, a porridge with a wide variety of fresh vegetable flavors, satisfies just as well.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

800-pound Guerrilla

All of this comes at an incredibly affordable price point. Most entrees are $10 or under, and are hearty portions. For students looking for a fast, fun and different meal on the fly, Guerilla provides a fantastic option.