Gateway Global Grub: Eating Around the World in St. Louis

Four WashU seniors embark on a culinary journey to discover the diverse international cuisine of their college city.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:46am

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Four Washington University in St. Louis seniors launched an ambitious project called Gateway Global Grub (GGG) to eat their way through the city's expansive and underrated international food scene before graduating. Over the course of their final months at WashU, the group has visited 14 restaurants so far representing cuisines from around the world, with plans to try dozens more. Their discoveries include standout spots like Balkan Treat Box, Fritanga, House of Jollof, House of India, Afandi Kitchen, Sameem Afghan Restaurant, and more.

Why it matters

St. Louis is home to a vibrant and diverse immigrant community, reflected in its rich culinary landscape. The GGG project showcases the city's underappreciated global food scene, allowing these students to relive past travel experiences and expose their peers to international flavors without leaving the region.

The details

The four friends - all busy college students with limited dining budgets - came up with the idea for GGG to eat their way through St. Louis' international restaurants once a week on Sunday afternoons. They've rated each spot on the food app Beli, with standouts including the Balkan cuisine at Balkan Treat Box (9.7), the Nicaraguan comfort food at Fritanga (9.4), the Ghanaian jollof rice at House of Jollof (9.0), and the Afghan dishes at Sameem Afghan Restaurant (8.3).

  • The GGG project began in the early months of the students' senior year at Washington University in St. Louis.
  • The group has visited 14 restaurants so far, with plans to try dozens more before their upcoming graduations.

The players

Gateway Global Grub (GGG)

A culinary exploration project launched by four Washington University in St. Louis seniors to discover the diverse international cuisine of their college city.

Balkan Treat Box

A popular restaurant among WashU students and St. Louisans that serves classic dishes from the Balkan region, reflecting the owners' Bosnian heritage and the city's prominent Bosnian community.

Fritanga

A no-frills Nicaraguan restaurant near Soulard that serves traditional comfort foods and has become a staple among St. Louis' Nicaraguan and Latin American communities.

House of Jollof

A Ghanaian restaurant in Florissant that specializes in jollof rice, waakye rice, and egusi, owned by the parents of a WashU student.

Sameem Afghan Restaurant & Catering

An Afghan restaurant that offers well-portioned meals celebrating the cuisine, with grilled meats and diverse appetizers like falafels and pakoras.

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The takeaway

The GGG project showcases the rich diversity of St. Louis' international food scene, allowing these students to explore global cuisines without leaving their college city and inspiring their peers to discover the underappreciated culinary gems that the region has to offer.