Lona’s Lil Eats is unlike any other restaurant in St. Louis. Owners Lona Luo and Pierce Powers bought the building as a home for themselves, their daughter, and their restaurant, where people from around the city stand around the block waiting for a table on summer nights.

Lona’s Lil Eats is a restaurant without peer in St. Louis, praise I don’t bestow lightly even on a list such as this. It begins with the fiercely personal cooking of chef and owner Lona Luo, who introduced her dumplings at a Soulard Farmers Market stall and since 2014 has overseen a restaurant menu that ranges from those mushroom or steak-and-mushroom dumplings to rice-paper wraps plump with exceptional smoked brisket or turkey in a lemongrass pesto as verdant as it is spicy. As specific as its cuisine is, Lona’s also aims to be broadly appealing, not only in its affordable counter-service model but also in how the menu carefully notes which items and individual ingredients are vegan, which contain gluten, and which those with peanut, sesame or shellfish allergies should avoid.

Lona Luo has an awe-inspiring knack for flavor, apparent in the mouthwatering sauces, succulent brisket, dumplings, and whole fish served at her Fox Park restaurant, Lona’s Lil Eats. It’s no wonder, then, that she nails her soup game in the form of the delectable Hill Tribe Soup, a delicate yet deeply flavorful beef bone broth–based concoction brimming with rice noodles, stir-fried veggies, bamboo shoots, green onions, and rice noodles. It’s the sort of warm, soothing nectar that stirs the soul.

Owner Lona Lao hails from the remote southwestern part of China — closer to Laos and Burma than Beijing — and her mother is Thai, and her father is part of the Lao Lao tribe, which boasts a rich barbecue culture. Lona's Lil Eats (2199 California Avenue, 314-925-8938) draws its inspiration from her paternal heritage, but those other influences are woven into its fabric as well. Lao and her partner, Pierce Powers, opened their fast-casual restaurant in 2014 and have been wowing diners since.

Lona Luo is originally from a “hill tribe” area of the Yunnan province, which is known for its combination of Chinese and Thai influences built around fresh foods with spicy flairs. When she met her future husband, Pierce, Lona had no idea that she would eventually bring these flavors to St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood, but that’s exactly what happened. Lona’s Lil Eats provides this Midwestern city with a variety of dishes that can be made friendly to just about any diet.

Lona’s Lil Eats provides farm-fresh ingredients that are accompanied by tasty Asian spices. Next, they have a highly skilled chef with an in-depth understanding and experience cooking the restaurant’s prized vegan and Asian dishes. In addition, their restaurant is always maintained and clean, providing their clients a pleasant place to enjoy flavorful Asian and vegan dishes.

Lona’s Lil Eats is home to authentic and delicious Asian-inspired cuisine made from fresh ingredients. This restaurant is most famous for its giant rice paper wrap (which, unfortunately, isn’t paleo-friendly) and its inclusivity of vegan, gluten-free, and paleo eaters. From protein to vegetables, Lona’s Lil Eats certainly offers a healthy and delicious dining experience.

LONA’S LIL EATS: In Chinese tradition, mushroom-filled dumplings bring good fortune and wealth to those who eat them—and that’s easy to believe when indulging in these hand-made, cooked-to-order pillows of deliciousness from a James Beard-nominated chef. For a heartier dish, order the spicy tofu with stir-fried rice inside a rice paper wrap. 2199 California Ave.

Lona’s Lil Eats is not only home to giant rice pepper wrap but also the place specializes in fresh Asian cuisine that serves as a part of soul cuisine. You can experience the best flavors of food and high sensitivity in the background. Dishes are prepared from freshly minced ingredients and precisely without MSG.

Inclusivity is at the forefront of this menu with options for pretty much every diet imaginable. It’s also home to the city’s original giant rice paper wrap, the basis of the menu. This wrap can be filled with a wide array of ingredients, from tofu to stir-fried rice to chopped salad.

Out of nowhere, for me, at least, delicious spicy tofu wrap. One of my favorite meals in St. Louis 8.7 / 10 is the combo of spicy tofu wrap and a side of spicy eggplant. We came before a concert at Chaifetz Arena on somewhat whim, and it totally blew us away.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (120 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, Asian- Price: $- Address: 2199 California Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63104- Read more on Tripadvisor

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (120 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, Asian– Price: $– Address: 2199 California Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63104– Read more on Tripadvisor

Lona’s Lil Eats – This asian fusion spot is currently my #1 fave healthy-ish spot in St. Louis. It is sooooo gluten-free accommodating, the owners are lovely, and you 100% feel like you belong there. Expect rice paper wraps, bowls, salads.

Located on California Ave by Fox Park, Lona’s Lil Eats is a cute vegan-friendly eatery that serves Asian-fusion fare. They are known for their custom rice-paper wraps and delicious plates. Support them by ordering curbside pickup.