There are drive-thrus you hit when you’re in a hurry. Then there are drive-thrus that are destinations in their own right. With its emphasis on farm-to-table cooking and from-scratch baked goods, Crestwood’s Yolklore falls into the latter category.

Yolklore is owned and operated by Chef Mary Hancock.

When it comes to quality breakfast, there are limited options in many areas. Chain restaurants, fast-food restaurants, and diners are the go-to places, most of which offer limited variations from the typical breakfast fare. However, Yolklore, located in the St. Louis suburb of Crestwood, is quite different, with its fast-casual concept that features local farm-raised ingredients, made from-scratch baked goods, and specialty in-house crafted drinks. Furthermore, its cuisine can be enjoyed either in its restaurant or, for those on the go, by picking it up at its drive-thru. 

Yolklore is owned and operated by Chef Mary Hancock, who used to work in the catering department at the University of Missouri in Columbia while she earned her degree. The restaurant has been open now for eight years and enjoys a loyal following. Mary has also worked at some high-end establishments such as the Four Seasons Resort in Vail, Colorado, and the Westwood Country Club in St. Louis, where she was a pastry chef. She was also the corporate chef at Strange Donuts, and during her time there she opened three new locations (Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, and Maplewood). 

The Chickpea Scramble is prepraed with spinach, roasted beets, crispy chickpeas, and avocado cream scrambled with locally raised farm-fresh eggs.

Yolklore serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch and is open Wednesdays through Sundays. The menu features some not-so-ordinary items such as its extremely popular Breakfast Burrito made with house-made turkey chorizo, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheddar cheese, and in-house pickled jalapeños. Another interesting item is the Chickpea Scramble prepared with spinach, roasted beets, crispy chickpeas, and avocado cream scrambled with locally raised farm fresh eggs. Try finding something like that at a chain breakfast joint! 

However, for the not-so-adventurous, the menu offers more standard items such as the “build your own breakfast sandwich” made on either ciabatta, biscuit, or whole wheat bread along with farm fresh eggs and your choice of proteins and toppings. The restaurant also offers its version of pancakes, six petit pancakes, which Mary calls “Dippers. ” They are meant to be dipped in syrup and eaten by hand. Other popular brunch and lunch options are the Yolklore Smash Burger, which comes on a ciabatta roll with bacon, garlic aioli, and in-house pickles and is topped with a medium-fried egg, and the frittata, which is made with spinach and locally raised mushrooms and topped with a lemon-herb goat cheese. 

Yolklore offers a build-your-own breakfast sandwich, where guests can choose from house-made bread, protein, and toppings.

Beverages at Yolklore are something special. Its handcrafted cocktails include a spicy bloody mary, breakfast margarita, and freshly squeezed mimosa! Chef Mary explained that staff squeeze fresh lemons and oranges and use ice cubes made with frozen coffee, tea, and lemonade in all the drinks that they serve. “[It’s] a great way to make sure we waste nothing and keep our drinks from being watered down,” Chef Mary says. Wow, what a cool idea! 

Yolklore offers its own version of pancakes that Chef Mary calls “Dippers.” They are meant to be dipped in syrup and eaten by hand.

Last, but definitely not least, are its baked goods that feature one of my favorite regional cakes, none other than the famous St. Louis specialty, the Gooey Butter Cake. There are three varieties of this treat, classic original, blueberry, and bacon, which can each be shipped nationwide directly to your home. Other recently added menu options are the Blueberry Coffee Cake, Granola Bar, and Slab Pie. Additionally, custom-layered specialty cakes can be ordered with a 72-hour notice. The standard options feature a vanilla cake with vanilla or strawberry buttercream and your choice of sprinkles or the Chocolate Cookie Cream, a chocolate cake with cookies ’n’ cream buttercream and sprinkles, which includes a custom message. 

Being able to get quality breakfast food at a drive-thru is new. So next time you are in St. Louis and have a hankering for a unique, high-quality breakfast or brunch, visit Yolklore. In the words of Chef Mary, “Yolklore is special. There’s nothing like it.” 

Visit Yolklore at 8958 Watson Road, Crestwood, and check out their latest specials at Yolklore.com. 

All photos courtesy of Yolklore.

Article originally published in the September 2024 issue of Missouri Life.