Oklahoma City Restaurants

This review is about the best Mexican-style tamales in town. I say that with absolutely no reservations. No “I think,” no “possibly,” — absolutely no trepidation. I speak with confidence because I believe I have eaten at every authentic-ish Mexican restaurant on the south side of Oklahoma City and, unfortunately, at my fair share of Okla-Mex places as well.

A Family Affair holds its own amongst OKC’s soul food restaurants with great food, tremendous value and, of course, brilliant shadiness. If you’re looking for all-you-can-eat soul food goodness, this might just be the place for you.

This review isn’t about revealing new truth, but rather about offering a reminder to us all. A reminder that all-you-can-eat seafood buffets located in Oklahoma City are likely not your best bet for quality dining.

Los Comales is worth the trip to Stockyard City for those wanting a good taqueria experience. If you are tired of being insulted by other “Mexican” joints in town offering bland flavors and “cheese” jelly, this will be a breath of fresh air (assuming there isn’t a cattle auction going on down the road, in which case you shouldn’t breathe too deeply).

Inside the bright orange, East-side shack with hand-painted, large, graffiti-esque, exterior signage heralding “Fish” and “Donuts,” you’ll find Geronimo’s. It’s a wonderfully shady place with a very simple, tasty and inexpensive menu.

That’s right, I’m going out on a limb and claiming Jimmy’s as the best chicken fried steak in town. But that’s not the only thing that’s good here. Jimmy’s is all around family friendly, work lunch friendly, and very friendly to your stomach and taste buds.

In the world of shady dining, most often you are simply celebrating the small things like not getting hepatitis or learning a new gang sign. But Florence’s gave me a reason to celebrate the glories of skillet fried chicken and real gravy all served up in a wonderfully shady atmosphere.

Just the name of Big Johnson’s Highway Grill and their world famous trucker burger was like music to my shady-loving ears. I was anticipating my lunch all morning. Unfortunately, the burger and the rest of the lunch fare left a lot to be desired at this wonderfully shady location.

For this month’s Shady Restaurant selection, I wanted to stay away from the southwest side of town. As shady and edible as the southwest is, I feel that other areas of Oklahoma City are being neglected. This month, I am choosing a place on on a particularly shady stretch at the southern end of N. May Avenue. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of my personal favorites, Shish Kabab!

Aside from the obvious dangers of consuming fatty foods wrapped in pastry and deep-fried, I can’t say anything bad about this place. There’s no doubt that tasty, unique morsels can be found inside including pies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

The biggest fans I have found of Coney Island are my kids. Though the food doesn’t really excite me, it’s not that bad and its worth choking down a few mediocre hot dogs to build some memories with the family at this piece of Oklahoma City nostalgia.

Sure, from the outside it stirs up fear and uneasiness with the best of them, but inside you feel pretty comfortable. Shady novices should stick with daylight hours, but for the more experienced shady adventurists, Taqueria Los Desvelados lets you adventure late into the night. After all, desvelados translates as “kept awake.”

If you can manage to score a place to sit (which requires arriving early), you are in for a treat at Nic’s. As I left my first Nic’s burger experience, I was wiping tears from my eyes, realizing that my life had just been changed.

This month’s pick, Macy’s Pancake House, was actually recommended by one of our shady-lovin’ readers. The only thing is, Macy’s Pancake House was sold, and the name changed. It is now 44th Cafe Pancake House. Nonetheless, there is shadiness and tastiness to be found here.

Though choosing the Shady Restaurant of the Month can often be a difficult task, the decision came fast and clear this time. The moment I heard myself actually say out loud, “wow, I’m eating goat meat in a gas station and it’s delicious!” — that was the moment I knew I had a winner.

They’ve got a great atmosphere and they deliver contemporary cuisine in a cool part of town. Still, I’m just not sold on Cafe Nova being one of the premier spots in Oklahoma City. When you’re a higher-end restaurant charging a premium for every plate, you’ve got to stand up to a much greater degree of scrutiny, and I think Cafe Nova falls a little short.

Brown Suga Cafe wants to, as they put it, “put a little class in your soul.” Through their northwest Oklahoma City location and their slightly upscale presentation, they bring one of the world’s tastiest cuisines, soul food, within reach of those on the northwest side of town.

Oklahoma City, it’s time to celebrate the shadiness of ordering food while standing on a street corner. Taco stands are cheap, convenient, and they offer a level of taco, burrito, and gordita goodness that most restaurants in town only dream of.

Anytime I am asked about finer dining options in Oklahoma City, I will report that Tom and Jerry’s Steak and Fish Grille is near the top of my list. It is fine dining but not too expensive or snooty. They have diverse menu options, and they can customize their service to adapt to your schedule.

One of my favorite things in life is a really good burger. One of my other favorite things in life is lunch. Every now and then I get real crazy and think, “I wonder what would happen if I had a really good burger at lunch?” That’s when I head to Johnny’s.

Sushi is one of my favorite types of food. I have eaten at most places in town, probably more than once, but there is one place I always seem to back to — Shiki. Sure, there are fancier sushi bars. There are more unique sushi bars. There are more eclectic, chic, nuevo, hip, and gourmet sushi spots in town. Shiki, however, is consistent, affordable, and convenient.

I know, March came and went without a Shady Restaurant winner, but I’m making up for it with a strong April recommendation brought to me by a loyal Shady reader. There may be shadier places in town, but Choice Cafe definitely combines great taste with plenty of shady surroundings and snatches up this month’s award.

Mi Familia Restaurante gives you the opportunity to try something different in the Bethany area. Are there better restaurants out there? Sure. However, this place definitely provides a unique take on Central American food that is worth noting.

Caesar’s Grill brings shady elements, and not so shady elements, to deliver a total Oklahoma City restaurant package that gets mixed reviews.

As the wife of the creator of Oklahoma City’s shady restaurant series (Andrew), you can imagine how often I have been pulled into strange, scary, and unsafe eateries. Sometimes I get tired of all these weird places and just want a pretty little sandwich on a non-disposable plate.

Attention Shady Restaurant lovers everywhere. From the makers of Max Pollo comes Oklahoma City’s newest burger and taco joint … Max Burger!

La Baguette Bistro has pleased Oklahoma City’s distinguished palettes for quite some time. Now, with La Boucherie next door, this is Oklahoma City’s premier supplier of meats and specialty ingredients for your next fine meal.

ZamZam has been open for a few months in Warr Acres bringing a whole new level of diversity to the Oklahoma City food scene. Be prepared for an unusual experience when you visit.

I was invited several months back to an Oklahoma Indian food place that changed my perception and opened my taste buds to dynamic flavors. If you have never had Indian food before, or even if you have and haven’t liked it in the past, try Khazana.

Have you ever wondered what “soul food” is? Visit Mama E’s and they will be glad to educate you. If you have never had soul food you are missing out on a passionate art form, tasty food, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

December’s “Shady Restaurant of the Month” award winner epitomizes everything that those who love shady spots look for in an eatery. I have chosen El Regio Loco and will implore anyone who reads this to work up the nerve to eat somewhere unconventional and try this place.

R-Way-Cafe is in a very diner-esque building and has breakfast, lunch and dinner. I went into it hoping it would be a great place. It wasn’t all that bad, but to enjoy it, I think you have to stick with the breakfast or the burgers.

Pappy’s food is unlike any other diner I have visited in Oklahoma City. Sometimes you just need a good fried pork chop. Pappy’s Diner fulfills that need. It also fulfills your need for fried veal cutlets, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, goulash, catfish, and burgers.

I recently posted about how I wish I could find a decent wiener schnitzel in Oklahoma City. Then it dawned on me that I had been told to visit Royal Bavarian Restaurant and Brewery in Moore. What I found was decent, but not worth the price or the drive.

It’s time once again to bestow the honor of “Shady Restaurant of the Month” to another questionable establishment serving good food to Oklahoma City’s food adventurists. There were several nominees that had compelling arguments as to why they should be chosen. But this month’s winner is 50’s Cafe.

I have seen El Pollo Chulo a hundred times sitting on the corner of Meridian and 23rd in Oklahoma City but have never stopped. If this is what Spanish food tastes like I want more!

I finally decided to try North Fork Bar and grill. It sits on what I call “chain restaurant row” on Memorial. North Fork filled the building that Applewoods used to occupy.

Since I feel it is my duty as an American to notify the public when my lunch time adventures cause me to stumble across a tasty hidden treasure, then it would also be my duty to inform the growing legion of Shady Restaurant fans of those places they should avoid.

Ever really craved a hot dog? You know, a real hot dog, like you would get at the carnival, or ballpark, or that hot dog you remember from your childhood? I do.

Oma’s Pantry is a food lovers paradise. Where else in town can you get a wide variety of imported cheeses, spices, imported meats, treats, as well as fresh pastries, soups, and sandwiches?

Have you ever had the chance to visit El Salvador? My guess is no. With that more than likely being the case you have missed out on some very good and unique cuisine. Lucky for you good El Salvadorean food is here in town, very affordable, and very tasty.

I’ve been searching for a great Italian restaurant in Oklahoma City, and I’m still searching. I’m not saying Bellini’s is bad, it’s actually quite good, but its not great.

I have eaten at most sushi restaurants in the Oklahoma City area and have yet to really be impressed so I packed up the entire family, toddlers and all, and prepared for perhaps an above average tuna roll and some fried rice for the kids. What I found when we walked through the door was a trendy, hip, sophisticated place with a dynamic menu and upscale atmosphere.

Authentic. Is there a word that is more mis-used among the general American public? I hear it every day at work, “Hey Andrew, we are going down to Tacoville for lunch. That place is crazy authentic, you will love it!”. After I hurt their feelings, unintentionally, by pointing out their ignorance in cuisine, I usually invite them to come join me in a truly authentic experience in Capitol Hill at Max Pollo.

Deep in the heart of Capitol Hill lies a little known gem of a restaurant called Jamie’s Grill. Although the line spilling out into the street on a Friday around noon would argue that it’s hardly “little known.”

Starting today we will start highlighting the Shady Restaurant of the Month. This will be a monthly award given to that restaurant with poor lighting, bad curb appeal, questionable clientele, dangerous parking lots, but good food.