These Missouri Food Phrases That Outsiders Have No Idea What They Mean
Missouri has its own delicious language when it comes to food, and if you’re not from around here, you might find yourself completely lost at the dinner table.
From mysterious sandwiches to oddly-named desserts, the Show Me State serves up culinary terms that leave visitors scratching their heads.
Get ready to decode the tastiest slang in the Midwest and discover what locals have been raving about all along.
1. Gooey Butter Cake
Imagine biting into a dessert so rich and decadent that it feels like a sweet cloud melting on your tongue.
That’s exactly what Gooey Butter Cake delivers, and despite its humble name, this St. Louis treasure is anything but ordinary.
Born from a happy baking accident during the Great Depression, this treat features a cake-like bottom layer topped with an impossibly gooey, buttery custard that’s dusted with powdered sugar.
Park Avenue Coffee at 316 Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104 serves up some of the finest versions you’ll ever taste.
One bite and you’ll understand why locals guard this recipe like a precious family heirloom.
2. Toasted Ravioli
Picture regular ravioli getting a crispy makeover that transforms it into the ultimate appetizer.
Toasted ravioli—or T-Ravs as locals affectionately call them—are breaded, deep-fried pasta pillows stuffed with seasoned meat or cheese.
Despite the name, nothing actually gets toasted in a toaster here; these golden beauties are fried to perfection until they achieve that irresistible crunch.
Charlie Gitto’s On The Hill at 5226 Shaw Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 has been serving these iconic bites for decades.
Dip them in marinara sauce and you’ll discover why this St. Louis invention has become a Missouri legend.
3. St. Paul Sandwich
An egg foo young omelet sandwiched between two slices of white bread with mayo, lettuce, pickles, and tomato sounds absolutely bizarre—until you try it.
This St. Louis Chinese-American hybrid has confused outsiders for generations, combining Cantonese cooking with classic Midwestern sandwich sensibilities.
Nobody really knows why it’s called a St. Paul, but theories range from honoring the Minnesota city to a chef named Paul who invented it.
Old St. Louis Chop Suey at 4600 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63116 keeps this quirky tradition alive and delicious.
It’s comfort food meets cultural fusion in the most wonderfully weird way possible.
4. Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken
When Springfield locals say “cashew chicken,” they’re not talking about the stir-fry version you’d find anywhere else in America.
This regional specialty features lightly breaded and deep-fried chicken chunks served over rice and smothered in a savory brown gravy, then topped with roasted cashews and green onions.
Created by chef David Leong in the 1960s, this dish became so beloved that Springfield declared it their signature food.
Leong’s Asian Diner at 2600 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65804 continues the family legacy with the original recipe.
Order this anywhere outside Springfield and watch servers give you a completely different dish.
5. Slinger
Only in St. Louis would someone stack hash browns, hamburger patties, eggs, chili, cheese, and onions into one glorious breakfast mountain and give it such a simple name.
The Slinger is the ultimate late-night or hangover cure, combining everything delicious into a single plate that requires serious appetite commitment.
This diner classic has fueled St. Louis residents through countless early mornings since the 1970s, and its reputation grows stronger every year.
1121 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139 serves up authentic Slingers that locals swear by.
Outsiders see chaos on a plate; Missourians see breakfast perfection.
6. Concrete (Frozen Custard)
Ask for a Concrete in Missouri and you won’t get building materials—you’ll get the thickest, creamiest frozen custard treat imaginable. This dessert is so dense that it’s traditionally served upside down to prove it won’t fall out of the cup.
Unlike regular soft serve, frozen custard contains egg yolks, giving it a richer, silkier texture that blends effortlessly with candy, cookies, or fruit until it reaches that famous concrete consistency.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, located at 6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109, has been perfecting this iconic treat since 1929, turning upside-down cups into a local rite of passage.
Watching tourists’ faces when their dessert defies gravity never gets old for St. Louis natives.
7. Provel Cheese
Mentioning Provel cheese to a non-Missourian often triggers confusion, disgust, or fierce debate—but locals absolutely adore this polarizing processed cheese product.
Created exclusively for St. Louis, Provel combines cheddar, Swiss, and provolone into a smooth, creamy blend with a low melting point and unique tangy flavor.
It’s the signature topping on St. Louis-style pizza, where it spreads into a gooey white blanket instead of forming traditional cheese strings.
Imo’s Pizza at 1000 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139 proudly uses Provel on every pie they make.
Love it or hate it, you can’t discuss St. Louis food without addressing the Provel phenomenon.
8. Red Hot Riplets
These aren’t your average potato chips—Red Hot Riplets are a spicy, tangy Missouri obsession that outsiders have never even heard of.
Made by Old Vienna, these thick-cut rippled chips pack serious heat with a vinegar-forward seasoning that’s become legendary throughout the state.
St. Louis Cardinals fans consider them essential ballpark snacks, and many Missourians stock up whenever they travel outside the region where these chips aren’t sold.
You can grab a bag at Schnucks Grocery Store at 5055 Arsenal St, St. Louis, MO 63139, among other local spots.
One crunch and you’ll understand why Missourians hoard these fiery treats like treasure.
9. Gerber Sandwich
Ask for a Gerber anywhere outside St. Louis and people will think you’re talking about baby food. In Missouri, locals know it means one very specific, very indulgent sandwich.
A Gerber is built on Italian bread, layered with garlic butter, ham, and provel cheese, then baked until the top bubbles and browns into molten perfection. It is not grilled, it is not toasted, and it is definitely not subtle.
This St. Louis original traces back to Italian-American neighborhoods and remains a beloved bar and lunch counter staple. The sandwich is rich, salty, and unapologetically comforting, often eaten with nothing more than a napkin and full commitment.
Ruma’s Deli at 1395 Covington Manor Ln, St. Louis, MO 63125 is one of the most trusted places to experience a classic Gerber done right.
Outsiders are confused by the name. Locals are confused why anyone would eat anything else.
10. Ski (Missouri Soda)
Ask for a Ski in Missouri and locals know exactly what you want. Ask anywhere else and people assume you are talking about the sport.
Ski is a bright citrus soda made with real orange and lemon juice, created in southeastern Missouri in the 1950s. It tastes somewhere between Mountain Dew and fresh citrus punch, but Missourians insist it is in a category of its own.
The phrase “grab a Ski” is completely normal across southern and central Missouri, especially at diners, gas stations, and drive-ins. Outsiders usually expect drink, sports talk, or a joke.
You will often see Ski paired with pork steaks, barbecue, or diner breakfasts, and many locals grow up treating it as a household staple rather than a novelty soda.
Leave Missouri and the name stops meaning anything. Stay long enough and Ski becomes part of the language.