Courtesy Diner • 1935

The Slinger—hash browns smothered in a hamburger patty, two eggs, and chili—reigns as the signature dish at this 24-hour St. Louis institution that traces its roots back to 1935 as part of a once-sprawling chain of Courtesy Sandwich Shops. Between 1 and 5 a.m., college students and late-night revelers pack the booths for cash-only comfort food and the kind of greasy, judgment-free sustenance that's earned this diner legendary status in a city that knows its Slingers.