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Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Food Friday: Haydeh’s Bistro

I am a big fan of Greek and Mediterranean food, so I was interested when I saw a new place pop up on Hefner Road just west of Rockwell. After a couple of visits, it’s now one of my favorite places for a gyro in the OKC metro.

This is a small family run restaurant that opened just a few months ago, its location is hard to overlook. In a small strip mall near a gymnastics training center, the parking lot looks busy because of the parents at the gym. They have a basic Mediterranean menu, with salads, gyros, falafels, and kebobs. I have gotten the gyro meal every time, so far. The pita is filled with gyro meat, onions, tomatoes, black olives, and feta cheese. It’s just the right size to pick up and eat, not too big. The meal comes with a side of either tater tots or fries, I have tried both and they were good. I finish off the meal with dark chocolate baklava. I love regular baklava, so putting a topping of dark chocolate on it is an extra special treat.

Overall I feel that this is a hidden gem in Oklahoma City, I know more will discover it. The service is great and the restaurant always clean. I will give them 5 strips of bacon with that dark chocolate baklava.

Address: 7202 W Hefner Rd., Oklahoma City.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

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Food Friday: The Butcher BBQ Stand

A few weeks ago we had a nice weekend, so we went east on old Route 66. After a quick drive through Wellston, we found The Butcher BBQ Stand where 66B joins Route 66 on the east side of town. I had read about them online and knew if you weren’t in line early, you might not get any food. It was already after noon but we decided to stop anyway.

There was no line outside, so I thought that was a good sign until we got inside and saw the line that went around the dining area. Since we had come that far we decided to stay and see how long it would take. Now to be honest, the line did move pretty well but it still took us 30 minutes before we got to the front to order. Fortunately, they still had quite a bit of food still available, Big K got the rednexican nachos and I got a 2-meat plate with sausage and burnt ends. Before we even got to a table, our dinner was ready. I was surprised by the amount of food on the plate, there was a lot. Not just the 2 meats but sides of potato salad and mac and cheese as well as a huge piece of Texas toast. I jumped right in with the sausage, it had a smoky flavor, quite good. Now the burnt ends were great, melted in my mouth. Perfect combination of fat and meat, and crisp but tender. These were true meat candy and I highly recommend them. The potato salad was good as well but the homemade mac and cheese really stood out. Spiral pasta in a rich cheese sauce that had a sharpness to it that gave it a bit of a kick. Now the rednexican nachos that Big K got were the same way, lots of food piled on a tray. He got his nachos piled high with pulled pork, with creamy queso and barbecue sauce over top. He thought they were some of the best nachos he had ever eaten. Very flavorful with the different combination of food.

So I will highly recommend a drive up old Route 66 to Wellston for The Butcher BBQ Stand. It’s even worth the wait to stand in line. This was easily the best barbeque I’ve had in Oklahoma in a while. The service was great, very friendly employees. I will give the 5 strips of bacon with some of those burnt ends.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food, Route 66

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Food Friday: Donut Man

Imagine sitting at the light to turn from May to NW 36th, as you start to turn you see a cute van in red and white. I had just enough time to read Donut Man on the side, when I got home I looked it up. There was the cute van and it was a food truck. I started following the Facebook page right then and kept track of their location. Problem was, there was never a point that we would be in the same area at the same time. For years I have wanted to try these donuts and finally the stars aligned last Saturday. Normally he parks somewhere in Mustang on Saturday mornings and I was going to be in Mustang for the Old Volks Show.

We hunted the Donut Man van down at Highway 152 and Mustang Road, he was parked in a commercial parking lot. The line wasn’t long, so I had time to take pictures of this adorable little van while Big K and Mae ordered. We had already decided to get a “bucket”, 35 mini donuts and we just mixed and matched the flavors. These are made fresh in the van, so it was a short wait but it was worth it. Served up warm, these donuts are the best donuts I have ever eaten (and I will call myself a donut expert). They aren’t quite as light as a Krispy Kreme but much lighter than most at “regular” donut shops. Not too sweet either, the toppings take care of that part. We got blueberry, maple, Oreo, and caramel as our toppings. The 3 of us had no trouble taking down these mini donuts and had to leave before we got more.

Looks like the Donut Man has been around for about 4 years. As for his van, it’s name is Kirby and it’s a 1956 International Metro. These vans were produced in different variations by International from 1938 to 1975. They were mostly used as delivery vans, this one in particular was a mail truck in California.

I will say these are definitely the best donuts in the OKC metro, and for that matter, the state. Follow the Donut Man on Facebook to find out where he will be each weekend. I have seen that he travels all over the metro area. I will give him 5 strips of bacon as long as they come with some donuts.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

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Food Friday: Basic Knead

I don’t often get to eat on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, but when I get to Norman, I try to stop by Basic Knead. This is a small university run cafe that specializes in personal pizzas and pastas.

I learned about it last year when Mae was a freshman. She was trained to work there just in case someone called out. Soon I was hearing about the pasta she was eating almost every night and I wanted to try it. So one Saturday night last year, we drove down and got our own personal pasta dishes. The have several options but I went with a penne pasta, drizzled with alfredo, then added pepperoni, mushrooms, and olives. After a topping of cheese, the dish is placed in a brick oven to be fired. After a wait, my pasta dish was delivered and it was glorious. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the cheese was melted crisp. On my next trip, I got a personal pizza. This was prepared similarly, personal sized crust, with alfredo, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and topped with cheese. Baked in the same fired oven, this pizza was just as good as a pizza you would get at Hideaway (and much better than the national pizza places).

Basic Knead was her go to dinner spot for the fall semester but it was shut down in the spring due to not enough employees. Mae was anxious when she went back to campus this fall, would her beloved Basic Knead be open again. Fortunately it is and she says it’s just as good as last year. So if you find yourself on campus and looking for some pasta or pizza, try Basic Knead. You can find it south of Lindsey in Cross Village.

Address: 1695 Asp Ave., Norman.

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Food, Norman, Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma

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Food Friday: Not Cho Cheesecake

I love cheesecake. Not going to lie, one of my favorite desserts. It is hard to find a decent cheesecake though, most are just ok (even though my daughter makes a really good mint chocolate cheesecake). I have been hearing about Not Cho Cheesecake for a while and on a beautiful Friday night, I decided to stop and try it. Everything I had heard was right, this place is good.

We got some personal cheesecakes to go, I got the Tennessee Whiskey and Big K got the chocolate chip cookie dough. We tried them after we got home and WOW!! So much flavor!! Mine had a graham cracker crust that was perfect. Gave the cheesecake a crunch that I had never had before. Then the cheesecake itself was so creamy, the cheese flavor really popped. Then the homemade caramel sauce on top was just the best. The owner could bottle it and sell it for topping or just spoon straight from the jar. As for the chocolate chip cookie dough that Big K had, after only a couple bites he looked at me and said, “if I die while eating this, put it in the coffin with me. I’m taking it with me.” He thought it was rich and decadent.

This small cheesecake bakery has only been around since 2020. The co-owner passed away not long after the opening and now her husband runs the cafe in her honor. He was the one running the register when we stopped in. He was so nice and friendly. He obviously takes pride of the product he delivers. He has a large variety of cheesecakes from plain to fancy. If you need dessert and want a good cheesecake, stop and see what he has in the case. I guarantee you’ll find something you love. A definite 5 strips of bacon.

Address: 3934 N College Ave., Bethany.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

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Food Friday: HD’s Onion Burgers & Gyros

hd's onion burger

There are so many good places to eat in Oklahoma City that you can drive by and never notice. HD’s Onion Burgers & Gyros is one of those places, I know it’s there and love their food but forget about them. I need to be reminded that when I want a good burger, they’re close to home.

HD’s sits on the corner of a large strip mall on the NW corner of Rockwell and NW 122nd. Just a small restaurant with a big menu and flavor. I always get the bacon cheeseburger, perfectly seasoned beef patty with cheese melted on top. They chop up the bacon and pile it on top, while a pile of fried onions is under the patty. The lettuce and tomato are fresh, and the bun has been toasted to a buttery perfection. This is a good-sized burger, so bring your appetite. We also got the onion rings and bacon cheese fries to share. The onion rings are fried nice and crispy. The bacon cheese fries are a true work of art, crisp fries with shredded cheese and chopped bacon on top. No, not bacon bits, chopped bacon, most pieces were about an inch long. They were so good.

The service was great, plenty of places to sit. This place is a true hidden treasure in NW Oklahoma City. They have lots more on their menu that I haven’t tried, sandwiches, gyros, salads, and lots of burgers to choose. I give them 5 strips of bacon.

Address: 12417 N Rockwell Ave., Oklahoma City.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

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Food Friday: Mother Road Market

This is going to be a bit different but then again the Mother Road Market is different. The Mother Road Market is one of these newer food hall concepts of having lots of small restaurant owners come together to offer their food under one roof. Really it’s like a big food court, like the kind you would find at the mall. The upside is that there are only a few stores to shop at, plenty of seating, and you don’t have to walk too far. It’s also great if you have picky eaters or if everyone wants something different.

So the three of us walked into the building with a plan, everyone was to get whatever they wanted but different. We split up and each got our own stuff. I got some pimento and cheese wontons from Salt and Vinegar, Big K stopped at Curds and Whey for some loaded fries, and Mae wanted a pickle pizza from Zasa’s Pizza and Wings. After the first round, I got some sushi from Akira Sushi & Ramen that I shared with Big K, he got a Brazilian savory pastry puff from Doctor Kustom. Lastly we all shared a sampler platter from Da Yolk. I wanted to try more places but we were all stuffed. There is a burger place, ice cream, barbeque, tacos, chicken, bread, pastries, and a bar. Everything was good, and the service was great at each location. I really like this food court set up, gives the small businesses a chance to shine while not having to worry about so much overhead.

It’s called the Mother Road Market because it’s about a block south of the current alignment of historic Route 66 at the corner of Lewis and E. 11th St. The building started it’s life as Scrivner-Stevens Grocery distribution center built in 1939, the non-profit Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation remodeled the warehouse in 2016. They then reached out to small business owners to set up shop and officially opened in 2018. There is more than just food, plenty of small local shops to browse and a mini-golf course. There is seating inside and out, when we were there it was over 100, so we stayed inside. If you are in Tulsa, stop by and check out everything they have to offer.

Address: 1124 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food, Tulsa

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Food Friday: Stella Nova

I know coffee places are all the rage now, we have a Starbucks on damn near every corner or a Scooters to drive up for a quick pick me up but I have been looking for local coffee shops. I was lucky to find Stella Nova a few months ago and with every visit they just get better.

Now I’m going to be honest, I’m not a coffee lover. Hate the taste of it just by itself but over the past year with my barista daughter I have learned to like it a bit. I really like it in the Frappuccino or frappe form. It’s really a coffee milkshake. I started liking them back when McDonald’s introduced the caramel frappe in 2009. Only in the past year did Mae introduce me to Starbucks and Scooters. So now I am actively seeking them out. In March during spring break, Mae needed a caffeine fix so we tried the location at NW 150th and Western. I had the chocolate chip frappe, which has now become my go-to drink when I visit. Another favorite of mine is the cheese danish. This danish is so good, first they are large and second, filled with cheese. So good that I have to get one when I visit, no matter what else I have. Their breakfast sandwiches and wraps are also really good. Much better than a quick breakfast item from a chain.

I have now visited the Crown Heights location as well and every time both locations are clean and the employees are nice. Even in the morning rush, they get my items out quickly. I will give them 5 strips of bacon.

Address: 1415 W. Main St., Norman; 119 N Robinson Ave., Oklahoma City; 4716 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City; 1041 NW 150th St., Oklahoma City; 6604 Snider Plaza, Dallas.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

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Food Friday: Hynson’s Classic Burgers

I talk about it all of the time but there are a lot of burger joints in the Oklahoma City metro. Most are pretty good, a new place on the scene is Hynson’s Classic Burgers in Yukon.

They started in 2018 with a small location in Penn Square Mall but moved to the east side of Yukon in summer of 2021. With the history of small burger joints along historic Route 66, Hynson’s fits right into its surroundings in a small strip mall. My first trip last year I ordered a patty melt, it was one of the best I had tasted in a while. The bread was toasted, buttery, the cheese melting off the patty. It was great. I’ve been back a few times since and their food is always excellent. After the patty melt, my second go to is the bacon cheddar burger. Perfectly toasted bun, cheddar cheese melted over the top of the patty, and a couple strips of bacon top off this burger. The flavor of their meat is also very nice, not too seasoned so you can taste the freshness. I got fries the first trip but now every visit I get the loaded bacon cheese tots. These are so good, tots are perfectly fried with cheese and ranch drizzled over the top, then bacon bits and onion to top it off.

I will give Hynson’s 5 strips of bacon. They have a friendly staff and were quick with our order. I am happy to see that they have opened a second location in Harrah, so hopefully they will continue to expand but keep their quality.

Address: 825 E. Main St. Suite 100, Yukon; 251 S. Harrah Rd. Suite 100, Harrah, 16325 N May Ave., Edmond.

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Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

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Fat Okie Far from Home: Spangles

When I’m out of town, I like to try new places to eat. I have a rule, if I can get it at home then I can’t have it out of state. One of my favorite places in the Wichita Kansas area is Spangles. I discovered this chain of Kansas based restaurants several years ago and always visit when I’m passing through.

The setting is a 1950’s style diner, complete with neon, records, and posters on the walls. The food is also throwback to the 1950’s style diner, you have burgers, fries, onion rings, and various milkshakes to choose from for dessert. This last visit I went with a sourdough garlic parmesan bacon steakburger with fries. Their burgers are really good, juicy with a nice flavor. I really like the buttery sourdough for their burger, pairs well with the bacon. Their fries are always good as well, crispy. I haven’t had a chance to try their shakes yet, I’m always too full from the burger and fries for dessert. They also serve breakfast, but I’ve never been through Kansas early enough to try it. Spangles is family owned and has been in Kansas since 1978.

Overall, I will give them 5 strips of bacon. I love their food, service, and decor. Gives me an option of someplace I like to eat when I’m in Kansas.

Category:

Food, Kansas, Oklahoma

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