Come and travel Oklahoma with me.

Archive for the ‘Oklahoma food’ Category

Food Friday: Nashbird

So if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that there are a lot of burger places in Oklahoma. Recently there have also been a lot of chicken places popping up as well. I just was introduced to one of my favorites just a few months ago. As mentioned in the past, my husband works in Edmond and likes to try new places for lunch. He discovered the Edmond location, tried it, and loved it. So now it was acceptable to take me to try it as well.

Located just off Broadway on E 5th Street on the bottom floor of a modern building is seriously one of he best restaurants for a chicken sandwich. The interior is light as you walk up to the desk to order. There is plenty to choose from on the menu, you can go with a chicken sandwich or chicken baskets with either tenders or still on the bone. There are also four heat levels or if you don’t want anything too spicy, two breading flavors. I went with a Nashvillain- a chicken sandwich on a brioche bun topped with bacon, onion rings, ranch, and mac and cheese. Since I wasn’t in the mood for heat I tried the buttermilk ranch breading and I wasn’t disappointed. The chicken breast is coated with the buttermilk ranch mix and fried to perfection. Now if you’re not sure about mac and cheese on a chicken sandwich, set your concerns aside this is a great topping to this sandwich. The mac and cheese pairs nicely with the chicken and when the bacon and onion rings are added, just brings all the flavors together in each bite. This is one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve had in years (since the chain PDQ left the metro). I had fries for my first visit which were good but went with the mac and cheese the second visit. This is the same mac and cheese on the sandwich and it is equally delightful by itself as it is on the sandwich. Creamy, lots of cheese for the pasta to soak. My husband had the same sandwich but with some heat to it, he went with the kickin temp. I tried a bite and it has a good spice to it, not too hot but enough to keep your taste buds alive.

To start with we had both the starters- fried pickles and fried mac and cheese. As good as the sandwich was the starters are better. The dill pickles are cut lengthwise and fried up crisp for a nice appetizer. The mac and cheese is almost the same as the side with the addition of bacon bits into the mix, then fried. Both are served with ranch and exceptionally good, the highlight of the trip (and remember I really liked the sandwich as well). Nashbird does sell frozen drinks, haven’t tried them yet but it’s on my short list. They also have wraps, salads, chicken tacos, and baskets with just chicken. Overall I recommend Nashbird, the food is great as is the service, they totally deserve 5 strips of bacon. They do have 2 other locations in the metro area- Norman and downtown Oklahoma City.

Locations: 1 NW 9th St., Oklahoma City.

Category:

Edmond Oklahoma, Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

2021 Goals

So if you’ve been reading me for a while, I try to support local restaurants whenever I’m out. I really prefer them to the big national chains. If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that the small local businesses are what makes our economy thrive. I’m not going to get into the politics and debate over what has occurred over the past few months, what I am going to do is focus more on these small restaurants who need our help. I’m going to spend 2021 going to as many locally owned restaurants as possible and get the word out about all- the good and the bad. If you have any suggestions, just comment on my Facebook page and I’ll check them out. Also go back through my previous posts, you’ll find some great suggestions and I do update each restaurants status. So get your taste buds ready as I go out and test the waters to see if a restaurant is worth your time and money. Let’s eat our way through 2021 and help keep our small businesses afloat.

Category:

Oklahoma, Oklahoma food, Oklahoma history

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Abel’s Mexican Restaurant

 

So on many Friday and Saturday nights the parking lot of Abel’s at NW 50th and MacArthur is packed.  Usually that’s a sign that the food is good, so one Saturday afternoon we decided to try it.  I have to admit, I walked away unimpressed.  So on a weeknight, I stopped again to see if my opinion would be different.  I was wrong.

They serve just standard fare Tex-Mex, tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and burritos.  Nothing really fancy or creative.  I was seated quickly on both visits and brought the typical chips, salsa and queso.  The chips were nothing really special and the queso was way too runny for my liking.  Both times I ordered beef chimichangas with sour cream sauce with beans and rice on the side.  The beans and rice are ok.  The chimichanga just lacks flavor, the hamburger meat just has no spice at all.  The worst though is the sour cream sauce, very runny with no tang.

The service is good, just the food is lacking.  So I’m going to give them 2 strips of bacon.  I’ll go back but try something different.

Category:

Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Ichiban Sushi Bar and Poke

20200207_121853While down on SW 3rd Street, I saw a new sushi restaurant I wanted to try so a few days later I stopped in for lunch.  Ichiban Sushi Bar and Poke has only been in town a few months but is becoming a well known place for good sushi.  Located in a strip mall on the south side of SW 3rd street, it almost blends in with the other businesses but has a great atmosphere inside.

I stopped on a chilly Friday for lunch.  The restaurant is very clean with many Japanese decorations all around for a fresh look.  I was greeted immediately by a very pleasant young lady who also took my drink order.  I sat and reviewed the menu, I’m not familiar with poke yet so I just stuck to the sushi.  I did start with the Fried Calamari.  Served with a mango type sauce (and a beautiful purple orchid), this was delightful.  The calamari rings were larger than what I’ve had in the past and the panko breading was light, didn’t weigh the calamari down but the highlight was the mango sauce.  Just added a different dimension to something that I’ve had in dozens of restaurants before.

Next I was brought my sushi.  I went with a Spicy Scallop roll and a Cowboy Roll, a roll with tempura shrimp, cream cheese and avocado, topped with a crab stick.  Took down the spicy scallop roll first, not too spicy but just enough to clear the sinuses.  It was good but the cowboy roll was the star of the sushi.  There was enough shrimp and cream cheese that I didn’t notice the avocado.  Topped with the crab stick and spicy mayo, this quickly became one of my favorite rolls.

The food was excellent and the service was incredible, every lady who came to my table was friendly and ready to help.  I really enjoyed the experience and will be back.  5 strips of bacon.

20200207_11585220200207_115050_hdr

Category:

Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Patty Wagon

patty wagon 3

I’ve said it before, there are lots of burger places in the Oklahoma City metro.  Almost too many, most are just ok but a few are my favorites.  Patty Wagon is tied for first place in my burger world along with Tucker’s Onion burger.

I was first turned on to this place by a friend who had been coming here since it opened.  So one night we tried it and I fell in love.  Located on May Ave just south of NW 36th Street in what was an old Whataburger, this is just a straight up no-frills burger joint.  A good sized menu with burgers featuring different toppings and weekly specials that are always original but my go to burger is the Jailhouse Blues- big beef patty, lettuce, tomato, sauce, big chunks of blue cheese, and a couple of slices of thick cut bacon.

Service is always quick- wrapped in foil, my burger is just peeking out of the spaces just waiting for me to devour it.  Bun is of a sweet bread variety, toasted so it has that buttery goodness that mixes well with the big chunks blue cheese.  The sauce has just enough kick to it but it only accentuates the taste of the burger.  The think cut Applewood bacon is also a delicacy when placed on the burger, really brings the flavors together.  My only real complaint is sometimes the veggies can be a bit overwhelming but I can remove them if I think it’s too much.  Since I’m burned out on fries, I get onion rings.  These are more of a tempura based coating than the typical Sonic type onion rings.  Always a big pile of them to sit aside my burger.

My husband has tried many of the other burgers and even some of the specials.  He always likes them.  Now Mae has to order a kids corn dog every time, just don’t get it- take the kid to a burger place and she wants fair food but at least she’s eating.  So I highly recommend a stop giving it 5 strips of bacon.

 

Category:

Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: The Lokal

 

Last Friday was a cold and rainy day, which meant time for some comfort food.  So I braved the water and drove to Yukon to experience The Lokal, a new restaurant on old Route 66.  Tucked away on the western most corner of an old grocery store is where you’ll find this new location for culinary delights.

Being early lunch time, I was seated immediately.  Nice large wooden table but I hate those metal chairs that are everywhere now, just not comfortable.  My order was taken quickly and yes I started with some of their famous deep fried deviled eggs.  Regular deviled eggs are great (especially when my husband makes them) but bread and deep fry them, better than anything at the fair.  The egg whites themselves are the only thing deep fried, the yolk is mixed with other ingredients and placed on top.  The 6 eggs (yes I ate 2 before I took the pic) come with a side of jalapeno ranch that really gives a spicy kick to an already wonderful appetizer.

Next up was my lunch sized chicken fried steak.  If this is lunch sized, then dinner sized must take up the rest of the plate because it was huge (not that I’m complaining).  Along with my side of mashed potatoes, the steak was generously drowned in cream gravy.  So much so that my fried okra came in a bowl, just to keep them dry.  After I polished off those eggs, I started on the steak.  Fried to a crisp gold brown perfection, the breading was light and took nothing away from the flavor of the steak.  The steak itself was very tender and easy to cut.  The mashed potatoes were great as well, complete with some actual potato chunks and skins.  As good as all of it was, the cream gravy was the star.  They must use real cream in it, I made sure every bite I took had some of that gravy on it including my okra.

Then for dessert I took home a slice of red velvet cheesecake.  The red velvet part was perfect as was the cheesecake.  The service the entire time was wonderful and my food was delivered quickly.  I highly recommend that you check it out while in Yukon.  Go for the deep fried deviled eggs, stay for the cream gravy, 5 strips of bacon from me.

Address: 10 W. Main St., Suite 165, Yukon; 1036 E. State Highway 152, Suite 112, Mustang.

Category:

Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Cheever’s Cafe

(more…)

Category:

Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Baba G’s

baba g's

It’s not often that I get my ideas for dinner from a movie but that is just how I discovered shawarma.  So if you’ve seen the first Avengers movie you know there is a scene near the end when Tony Stark wakes up from being beaten up by the Chitauri, he suggests to his fellow Avengers that he wants shawarma for dinner.  Then the post credit scene has the Avengers sitting at a table eating shawarma.  This scene is totally hilarious and got me to wondering, what in the hell is shawarma?  After some research, I decided I wouldn’t mind trying it and found a place on Memorial Road that serves it up.

On the Northeast corner of Memorial and Meridian (across the turnpike, north of the Mercy Hilton, I mean Mercy Hospital) is a rather large strip mall with all types of businesses.  Baba G. Mediterranean Grill is on the very end of the mall, closest to Memorial Road.  They have a good selection of other food such as gyros and salads but I was there for shawarma.  You can get it in a pita, plate or bowl.  I always get mine in a fresh-baked pita which they fill with your selection of steak or chicken.  Then you get to put in some veggies, I highly recommend the Arabic pickles.  I’m a pickle lover and these are so different, not sweet or kosher, almost a dill taste but not quite.  Then add some tzatziki sauce and it’s ready to eat.  I always get a combo that you can get with seasoned fries or you can go for their homemade hummus.  Now if you’re like me, I was skeptical of hummus.  Tried some at a work party many years ago and hated it, swore I would never put it in my mouth again.  My husband changed my mind on a visit, he got the hummus and it was great.  Had a fresh taste that I just can’t find with the store-bought stuff.

The staff is always great and the place is clean.  They have opened a location in Edmond recently, I haven’t tried it yet.  So if you want to pretend you’re an avenger, stop by and get some shawarma.  I give it 5 strips of bacon.

Address: 4401 W. Memorial Road, Oklahoma City; 1165 E. 2nd St. Edmond.

 

Category:

Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Hideaway Pizza

hidaway pizza

I have found myself getting picky about my pizza recently.  Back when I was pregnant with my daughter, I was perfectly happy with Ci-Ci’s pizza.  I could damn near eat a whole pizza all by myself and I enjoyed it.  I also liked Pizza Hut and Mazzio’s but now 15 years later I have become a pizza snob.  I shed no tears when Ci-Ci’s on NW Highway closed, I can’t stand the taste of Pizza Hut, have no desire to stop at Mazzio’s, and refuse to go back in Pizza Inn.  So in NW Oklahoma City, that doesn’t leave many options.  Initially, I didn’t want to try Hideaway because it was founded in Stillwater and for a die-hard Sooner (I was also born in Norman, so there’s that as well), it was hard for me to want to stop but my persistent husband finally talked me into it.

I know their pizzas are legendary, but I wanted to try the fried mushrooms to start.  The server brought a bowl with a big pile of steaming fried mushrooms along with ranch and marinara for dipping.  Honestly, these are the best fried mushrooms on the planet.  I was immediately in love with them and have to get them every time we visit.  The crunchy batter is fried to perfection while not over-cooking the mushroom inside.  The homemade ranch that is served with them is a perfect addition to help cool the temperature for eating, plus you can also save it to dip the crust in after you’ve eaten the rest of the slice.

Now for the pizza, our first visit we got the pepperoni palooza.  Three types of pepperoni piled on top of the hand-tossed crust (there is also a thin crust but I haven’t tried it yet).  It was wonderful, there was the proper amount of grease from the pepperoni but not too soggy.  The crust is almost biscuit like, very flavorful but not overpowering.  We got a large and had enough to take home for later.  So needless to say we’ve been back many times now, always trying a different pizza.  We’ve now tried The Boz, Cimarron, the Capone, and the Sicilian.  Every pizza has been great.  There are about 20 different pizza’s to select from plus sandwiches and pasta.  They also have some deserts that look really good but I’m always too stuffed to try them.

The service is always good and we are seated quickly.  Never a problem with cleanliness either.  The price is about the same as the chain pizza places but the quality is much better.  I know the original location is Stillwater has been around since 1957 but they have been spreading out over the state the past few years.  The best part of Hideaway is that there are many locations to try even though I’ve only been to the NW Highway location.  I give it 5 strips of bacon plus a couple of fried mushrooms just for fun.

Addresses: The original in Stillwater at 230 S. Knoblock; Downtown Oklahoma City- 901 N Broadway Ave.; Northwest Expressway Oklahoma City- 5501 NW Expressway; West Memorial Oklahoma City- 5950 W. Memorial Rd.; Western Avenue Oklahoma City- 5022 N Western Ave.; Edmond- 116 E 5th St.; Moore- 835 SW 19th St.; Norman Campus Corner- 577 Buchanan Ave.; Norman University Town Center- 1353 24th Ave. NW; Yukon- 1701 Shedeck Pkwy.; Enid- 2201 W Owen K. Garriott Rd.; Bartlesville- 100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd.; Tulsa Cherry St- 1419 E. 15th St.; Tulsa 51st & Memorial- 7877 E. 51st. St.; Tulsa 61st & Yale- 5966 S. Yale Ave.; Tulsa Hills- 7549 S. Olympia Ave.; Broken Arrow- 1150 N. 9th St.; Owasso- 12903 E. 96th St.; Bixby- 10461 S. Memorial Dr.; North Little Rock, AR- 5103 Warden Rd.; Benton, AR- 20260 I-30; Conway, AR- 1170 S. Amity Rd.; Fort Smith, AR- 8302 Phoenix Ave.

Category:

Food, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma food

Tagged with:

Food Friday: Sid’s Diner

sid's diner

I’ve gone through El Reno many times and have always seen Sid’s Diner sitting on a corner of Route 66 but never stopped.  Finally, this past summer, the crowds looked manageable so on a hot afternoon we stopped for lunch.  This is place is a straight up diner, so it is very small but we got a good seat at a small table in the back.  They do have other items to order but since they are known for their onion burgers, that’s what at least 2 of us got (my daughter doesn’t like fried onions, no she’s not human).  The burgers were good, lots of fried onion mixed with the meat.  A downside was that I couldn’t find the condiments so it was a bit dry but not a deal breaker.  The sides are just standard fare- fries and onion rings, nothing really special.  The service was good but like I stated, it is small, so if you are claustrophobic like me, this isn’t the best place to be on a busy Saturday afternoon.  One of the main reasons it gets so busy is because it does sit on a corner of Route 66 though El Reno.  This diner has been on many different national tv shows which has boosted it’s popularity.  It opened in the late 1980’s and was previously the location of the historic El Reno Hotel, which now sits on the grounds of the Canadian County Historical Museum.  I will give it 3 strips of bacon, because I thought with all of the hype, it could have been much better.

Address: 300 S. Choctaw Ave., El Reno, OK

Category:

Oklahoma, Oklahoma food

Tagged with: