In St. Louis and the United States in general, Mexican-style food has become popular. While there are innumerable options for authentic Mexican food, Diablitos Cantina stands out among the rest. Not only is the food high quality and delicious, the atmosphere makes the customer feel as if they are stepping into true Mexico.

Located in the heart of St. Louis near the campus of Saint Louis University, Diablitos Cantina allows for a cultural experience. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant are incomparable as customers choose to sit either on the patio or inside the building. Inside, upbeat Mexican hiphop music flows through the rooms as steam billows from sizzling, spicy-smelling dishes. A lone candle dancing in a glass jar  in the middle of the sturdy table casts shadows onto the exposed, crumbling brick walls. Home-made chandeliers, antique doors, and crude shrines to the Virgin Mary line the perimeter, giving the customer a feeling of genuine Latin American culture. Although the lighting is dark and cozy, the brightly colored chairs of red, blue, and green flowers bring a fun, cheerful feeling.

Based on the authentic cantinas in Mexico, the menu at Diablitos Cantina is genuine and flavorful. With options ranging from sweet tamales to spicy fajitas, it is always difficult to decide between the delicious options. The fajitas, a traditional and popular dish consisting of strips of spiced beef or chicken and numerous vegetables wrapped in a soft tortilla, are not to be overlooked. While the menu itself allows for many choices, the real attraction is the salsa bar which could serve as an entire meal alone. The salsa bar, like a salad or soup bar, is a large table of many different homemade salsas, spicy or sweet, at which the customer can fill up small black bowls with whatever they wish.

Diablitos Cantina offers the customer an unparalleled experience. With the combination of both enjoyable atmosphere and quality food, this timeless restaurant earns five out of five “paws.”