Oklahoma City Restaurants

Buddha Tao does a lot of things very well, but prices itself at the level where they really need to do everything extremely well. So, while it brings a unique and quality offering to the Oklahoma City restaurant landscape, we’re a little unsure on whether that offering is worth the price tag.

PLEASE NOTE: Elephant Cafe has closed. Elephant Cafe, formerly Big! Rice and Noodle, has been taken over by a new owner offering many Thai, Japanese and other Asian choices. This downtown Bethany restaurant is a great spot for a quiet, relaxing meal.

PLEASE NOTE: This restaurant is now closed. The moment I noticed Gaijin Sushi’s bright awnings going up on a storefront downtown, I was intrigued. But being a sushi novice, I invited Andrew and Greg to try it with me and to provide their more experienced sushi insights for this review. Together, we discovered that Gaijin provides a creative and non-traditional sushi experience in an urban atmosphere.

The teppanyaki table is a favorite for almost anybody, but I liken it to seeing a great movie. It’s great the first time, kind of fun the second time, but if you don’t give it a rest for a while — maybe a year or so — the show gets boring. That said, if you’re looking for dinner and a show, this is my recommendation.

Kang’s has such a broad reach — from Thai to Chinese to Japanese to American foods — that it can be a little schizophrenic. Yet the unique qualities of the atmosphere and the excellent flavors of some dishes make it worth a try.

Pink Swirls is a strong fro-yo contender, with eight organic, nonfat, live culture fro-yo flavors, a huge selection of toppings, and a self-serve set up where you create your own cup and simply pay by the ounce. And if that’s not enough, they have a sushi bar too. That’s right … sushi and yogurt. You know you’ve got to try it.

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.

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.

By the end of the night, the job was done. The two of us easily consumed $100 worth of sushi for $40. Sumo’s all-you-can-eat sushi special and the quality of their offerings make them an amazing value for those with insatiable appetites for fish.

I know that Sushi Neko is one of those locations that you either love or hate. Many people talk about the quality of service, the pricing and other things that keep them away from this place. Personally, I am one who is quite fond of Sushi Neko, but I will remain as fair and balanced as I can possibly be.

It’s not as fancy as nearby Sushi Neko, but Tokyo Japanese Restaurant offers all the flavor and a bigger selection in a more relaxed and much more affordable package.