Balkan Treat Box has been a St. Louis favorite for nearly a decade. The restaurant, co-owned by Loryn Nalic, has been a staple of Balkan street food since its origins as a food truck in 2017.
On Monday, Nalic took home a James Beard Award for best chef in the Midwest. Nalic is also the co-owner of Balkan-inspired cafe Telva at the Ridge, both located in Webster Groves.
This is the first time in almost 10 years that a St. Louis-area chef has won the award, which recognizes culinary excellence.
The win brought new and returning customers to the restaurant on Tuesday. One of these customers was Brandon Smart, who came to Balkan Treat Box for the first time following the announcement.
Smart said he had heard good things about the restaurant before the award, and it seemed natural to give it a try.
Smart said the James Beard Award win is great for the St. Louis community.
"St. Louis just overall has a great culinary scene," Smart said. "[The award] just puts the spotlight on the amazing culinary scene in St. Louis."
Zoran Strbac, a regular customer at Balkan Treat Box, says the award will be "huge" for St. Louis.
"The culinary scene is awesome," Strbac said. "I have friends who aren't from St. Louis, and I always tell them when they visit that it's super underrated here. There's so many little pockets and neighborhoods; you can get cuisine from anywhere."
Strbac said he is Croatian and Bosnian, so the food at Balkan Treat Box is "right up his alley."
He said normally people have to go to south city neighborhoods like Bevo to get good Bosnian food, but since he's from Kirkwood, Balkan Treat Box is closer for him.
He said he's been to the restaurant 50 to 100 times. "They kill it," Strbac said. "The ćevapi are incredible, the doner is incredible. It's one of my favorite spots."
Copyright 2026 St. Louis Public Radio