For some people, and especially those new to the Oklahoma City area, I’m sure City Bites is a little mundane. It’s a pretty large local chain with over 15 Oklahoma City locations. It’s lived past its days of being exciting and new and is now just a common part of the Oklahoma City life.

But I grew up just a couple of blocks from the original City Bites location and I was there when it first opened in 1986. For about four years, this tiny little shop in a strip mall on NW 23rd Street just east of Council Road was the only City Bites location, and man was it something. It overwhelmed you with zany interiors including mismatched paint and clever props like road signs that said “Keep Right” but had an arrow pointing left. And it satisfied you with a style of sandwich that was completely unique.

City Bites was quite possibly my first introduction into the value of a quality, local, neighborhood restaurant. At age eleven, I was pretty struck by the hard work of the owners who, legend has it, painted in mismatched colors because they were stretching their dollars by using whatever paint they could find laying around. And I was pretty smitten with the BBQ beef sandwich (grilled sirloin steak with grilled onions, green peppers, BBQ sauce and provolone) which they still serve today. I hadn’t had anything like that before.

Through my high school days at Putnam City West just down the road, City Bites was a staple of our “open campus” life. I also had several friends who worked there. It was just all an all around great place.

So, of course, City Bites has a lot of great memories for me, but the question now is, how has their growth impacted what they offer? Their 17 locations are, all but one, still in the Oklahoma City area, so they are very much still a “local” restaurant, though they are a chain and opening up to franchising. So, do they still offer something unique to our city?

I think they do. I still visit City Bites semi-regularly. The quality of their food remains high, in my opinion. Their pricing has gone up, naturally, and now you don’t get as much value as you used to in the early days, but they still serve a great, unique sandwich in their signature zany style.

I still love signature sandwiches like the Philly Cheesesteak with grilled sirloin, grilled onions and green peppers, crushed cherry peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo. I know it’s not not an “authentic” version, but I don’t mind so much when it is so good. Another, healthier option is the California Club with fresh alfalfa sprouts, bacon, turkey, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and sliced avocado. They’ve kept items like these consistently good from the beginning, while adding and inventing new sandwiches and new items like loaded salads and potatoes over the years.

And of course, every sandwich comes on that amazing bread. I remember first trying the City Bites bread and realizing I’d never had anything like it. Fresh baked, sub-shaped, but flatter and easier to get your mouth around. Their bread just seems perfectly engineered to hold a ton of sandwich contents. They’ve added some neat bread options over the years, like sun-dried tomato (my favorite), and jalepeno … etc. But all of them relate to the classic City Bites style. The bread alone is worth the visit.

They’ve also got giant cookies and brownies you can’t find anywhere else. And, they’ve recently equipped all of their restaurants with reliable, free wifi. This last point has driven me back to City Bites more than anything as I know I can get good food, some good iced tea, and free wifi whenever I have the need for a working lunch or dinner.

Though my personal feelings for City Bites are influenced heavily by my long history with them, I still feel they continue deliver a quality, unique Oklahoma City dining experience almost 25 years later. I’m sure many of you have tried City Bites at one time or another. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Several years ago, some friends who live in Norman introduced me to a gem called Tarahumara’s Mexican Cafe. After one visit, it easily catapulted to a spot as one of my top five Tex-Mex eateries in the metro. With so many Tex-Mex places from which to choose, that’s no easy feat.

Tarahumara’s is located on Porter, just south of Norman Regional Hospital and a few miles north of the OU campus. Years ago it was a Mazzio’s, but the owners have totally redecorated it in sunny hues of yellow and orange. While the parking lot is almost always full and there is often a line, the wait (like most Tex Mex places) goes pretty fast. A covered patio and a small indoor waiting area exist for diners waiting for their pagers to buzz. Now that summer is here, they have the misters running to cool the patio area.

One thing that sets Tarahumara’s apart from other restaurants is the flat screen TVs. In addition to regular programming, some of the TVs feature views of the kitchen so that a diner can see food as it is being prepared. It’s nice to see such a clean kitchen where the staff is working quickly to prepare the meals. Another big surprise came on my last visit a few weeks ago. The menu at Tarahumara’s now features color photos of most if not all of the dishes. This new full color menu can also be viewed online.

Tarahumara’s brings the standard fresh tortillas, cheese sauce, chips and salsa as soon as diners are seated. They also offer carrot, jalapeno and onion relish upon request. There is some kind of herb or spice in the relish that I cannot pinpoint. All I know is that it gives a slight smoky flavor to the relish, setting it apart from other places. The flour tortillas are nice and fluffy while the corn tortillas are thin and tender — just the way I like each. The “house salsa” is your standard tomato blend with just enough kick. On my last visit, I requested their green salsa which is a creamy avocado dip with lots of spicy peppers blended into it. One more thing on the set up, the chips are thin and crispy, not oily or chewy at all.

They also have tasty selection of Mexican-style cervezas and margaritas for those who choose to partake. The beers come with lime in a chilled salt rimmed glass, which is perfect for the sweltering Oklahoma heat.

While Tarahumara’s has been a long time favorite, I went twice in the span of two weeks to write this review. On my first visit, I ordered the Guiso Mexicano ($11.85) which is a dish comprised of very tender beef tips in a sauce made from tomatoes, onions and bell peppers. It comes with rice, beans and guacamole. I particularly enjoyed the tenderness of the beef and the spiciness of the sauce. The next day I reheated my leftovers along with some of the tortillas and made my own burrito for lunch.

My friend Nancy had the Tacos al Borrego ($11.85 for 2, $13.75 for 3), which is comprised of Mexican-style tacos with soft corn tortillas rather than hard shells. These tacos come with rice, beans and avocado slices. While Nancy said she enjoyed her meal, she said “I did have a bit of gristle in the steak in my taco, but I would let that slide — they can’t always get all that cut out.”

On my next visit, my mother ordered the Camaron al Mojo de Ajo ($12.60 single or $18.35 for double shrimp or scallops) which is shrimp cooked in garlic butter. While the shrimp were good size, Mom commented they could have had a little more garlic and the sauce could have been better. In reviewing the menu, I see that this dish was supposed to come with Mexican corn. She didn’t receive corn with her meal, but with the ample rice, beans and avocados, it wasn’t missed.

In keeping with a promise I made to myself to order something different this time, I ordered the Bistec Ranchero ($12.75), listed on the menu as a new item. This thinly-sliced, marinated and grilled strip steak had a good flavor, but it was a little on the tough side. In the future, I think I will stick to thicker cuts of meat.

Of note for both of my recent meals — I love it that nearly every single entrée comes with either a side of guacamole or some sliced avocados. To me, that’s an added bonus. I also appreciate that they have an ample lunch menu with lots of great items at value prices, and a low-carb menu for those who are looking for something healthier.

Tarahumara’s stands out to me as a cut above the standard Tex-Mex fare. They offer some unique dishes in addition to the standards and most everything they do is done very well. If you live close by, it’s definitely worth your attention. Even if you live farther away, you might find, like me, that it’s worth a special trip now and then. So check it out, and tell us all about your impressions in the comments below.

So, there’s been a few Southern California-style fro-yo places popping up in the metro recently. This, plus the fact that we’re heading into summer and in need of cool treats, inspired me to create a little series where we review and compare the fro-yo options. Since Passionberri was the first one I heard about, they will get the first review. But stay tuned as there will be more fro-yo smackdown published in the days ahead.

I heard about Passionberri through the grapevine and decided to give it a try when I was down at OU for the weekend for grad school.  I’ve been surprised that fro-yo places haven’t hit OKC until just recently.  I’ve been to one in Tulsa called FreshBerry that was pretty decent, but I’m not gonna drive all the way up there to get my fro-yo fix.

On my several trips back to L.A., I’ve been to Pinkberry, Red Mango, Yogurtland and a few other wannabe Pinkberrys. I guess you could say that I’m a fro-yo afficionado.  So, in true afficionado style, let me offer a little history. 

Pinkberry, aka “Crackberry,” actually started the fro-yo craze in the U.S. back in 2005, and it is one of the fastest developed franchises I’ve ever seen.  Red Mango was already a well established franchise in South Korea and I’m pretty sure the owners of Pinkberry (also started by two Koreans) thought it would be wise to open up something like it in L.A. and eventually other cities across the U.S.  Now, there are several dozen (at least) spin-off versions of Pinkberry in existence. It’s like people are crazy for it, but with good reason. Who doesn’t love that perfect union of fat-free dessert topped with healthy fruit?

So, four years after the U.S. craze begins, Passionberri boldly goes where no other fro-yo shop has gone before — to Norman.  On my visit, I was kind of in a rush to get back up to OKC, so I focused on my usual fro-yo order: a medium-sized plain yogurt topped with strawberries, kiwi and dduk (small balls of soft rice cake).  The price came out to $4.27 — a steal compared to the $8-10 you’d pay for a similarly designed cup at Pinkberry. Green tea and pomegranate are the other yogurt flavors at Passionberri and other toppings include blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, nuts and a few more I just can’t remember.  I’m just glad it’s strawberry season again because the fruit they had was perfectly ripe and delicious.  Although their plain yogurt isn’t as tangy as Pinkberry’s, I actually prefer my fro-yo to be a little more plain and enjoyed what Passionberri had to offer.

Tim, on the other hand, told me that he visited Passionberri and was pretty disappointed. That was primarily because he went there with his kids who were looking for things like chocolate yogurt and crazy, kid-friendly toppings. In his opinion, it wasn’t the most kid-friendly place and the mild flavors weren’t what they were looking for. 

I’m sure that most people who venture here for the first time will get the fro-yo, but they also offer smoothies, teas and coffees. Honestly, I glossed over the entire right side of their menu. Tim said he did have the “Passionberri” smoothie — a mixture of fresh fruit blended up with plain yogurt for around $4.50. It was tasty and fresh and more tart than sweet, which he liked. One negative is that it only comes in the one size which is really big. But, hey, I guess you could share it if you weren’t there with people under seven years old.

Passionberri has ample seating and also have free wi-fi so once summer arrives you can just lounge around and spend your entire afternoon here.  Now, if the owners of Passionberri were smart, they would open up a few more in Edmond, OKC and Moore so everyone can conveniently enjoy fro-yo goodness! However, I’m afraid some others may be beating them to it as we’ll see in future fro-yo reviews.

My favorite fro-yo joint in L.A. has got to be Yogurtland.  Why?  It’s because they actually charge you by the ounce, weighing your yogurt and toppings all together. They also have 10 different flavors of frozen yogurt and their choice of toppings was more than I can count with my hands.  In contrast, Passionberri has only three, mild yogurt flavors, and they’ve gone for the full service model, charging based on dish size and how many toppings you choose to put on. So, if you’ve been spoiled by the pay-per-ounce model of some other fro-yo places, prepare to be disappointed. On the other hand, if you’re used to the Pinkberry/Red Mango model of business, you’ll be happy to find the pricing substantially cheaper at Passionberri.

Bottom line: Passionberri is a decent fro-yo option with quality ingredients and competitive pricing. But, its limited selection of flavors and toppings combined with a non-pay-by-the-ounce pricing model may leave it vulnerable when compared to other fro-yo options we’ll explore in this series.

Stay tuned, and let us know what you think about Passionberri in the comments.

PLEASE NOTE: we’re sad to say the Turquoise American Bistro is now closed and it appears it is not returning.

I always enjoy a good field trip to Norman because I think college towns excel in great little hideaway restaurants.  So recently, when my husband needed transcripts from OU, I tagged along in hopes of finding the perfect place for lunch.  The registrar made an excellent suggestion to try the Turquoise American Bistro right down the street from Campus Corner.

Chef Giovanni has loaded the menu with tasty-sounding items, and I had trouble deciding what to try.  It finally came down to either the Siracha Chicken Tacos ($9) or the Sunburned Trout ($12), and I went with the tacos.  The menu description says, “Spicy chicken grilled with onions and bell peppers, served on fire-roasted tortillas with pineapple jasmine rice, pico de gallo and adobe creme fraiche.”  It was as good as it sounds.  In my opinion, if one is going to serve rice on the side, please do something with it.  And they did.  The pineapple and jasmine were great additions to plain old rice.  The two tacos were very large, making this dish easy to split with someone, especially with a salad or appetizer.

My husband had the Green Chili Chicken Club sandwich ($7.50) accompanied with organic, homemade, blue corn chips.  The sandwich included  roasted chicken, fired green chilis, smoked bacon and jack cheese.  Of course, my “plain” husband had to hold the chilis and cheese, but he said it was still delicious.

Other “yummies” on the lunch menu include Sesame-Wasabi Pea-Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna ($10) (sushi-grade Ahi tuna crusted in a sesame seed and wasabi pea puree) and the Duck Quesadilla ($11) (paper-thin slices of medium-rare duck breast served between grilled flour tortillas with onion, fire-roasted chilis, jack cheese, fresh pico and sesame barbecue sauce).  Yumm-o!

The dinner menu is separate and entrees include a pair of Bacon-wrapped Farm Raised Quail ($16) and Crab Alfredo with Roasted Garlic and White Wine Cream ($12).  I wish I had room to list every item on the menu, as everything sounds delicious.  Brunch is available on the weekends.  One of the more unusual items is the Turquoise Breakfast Chowder for $7.50 (asparagus, baby spinach, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms and Yukon gold potatoes in thyme-infused miso broth and Southwest 5 spice.)  This is topped with a choice of poached egg or grilled tofu.

Something else that really appealed to me is their selection of hot teas ($3).  Flavors include Sweet Chamomile Citrus and Fragrant Oolong.  Iced teas include Fiesta Fria and Blackberry Jasmine ($1.75).

Owner Emilio Salinas has done a great job in not only providing some delicious and unusual entree selections, but also with the simple and tasteful decor.  Turquoise-colored Venetian glass lamps hang over most of the dining tables, and the walls are decorated with art which is for sale.  The restaurant opened in 2006.

I wondered about their close proximity to the campus and whether they have many college students who can afford their offerings, which are just a little more pricey than your average restaurant.  We were there for a late lunch, and there were at least two tables of college students in our vicinity.  Yet, when we went into a t-shirt shop on the way back to the car, the student working there said she had never been and was wondering about the menu and prices.  Personally, I think the prices are reasonable for such unique and tasty fare, but I am also way past my college days.

This is exactly the type of restaurant I wish someone would open on the west end of NW Expressway in OKC.  I get glazed over and numb thinking about the string of chain restaurants that litter the landscape along that stretch.  The residents in Norman are lucky to have such a great place.  If you have eaten at Turqoise, please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

PLEASE NOTE: This restaurant is now closed.

It wasn’t long ago that I noticed Gaijin Sushi’s bright awnings going up on a storefront at the Park Harvey building downtown. Naturally, this caught my attention every time I visited the downtown library. I was very excited to see this new eatery opening in the downtown space. As soon as it was open, I wanted to try it, but since I am personally a bit of a sushi novice, I invited Andrew and Greg along to provide their more experienced sushi insights. This article includes thoughts from all three of us.

We are all unanimously in favor of the atmosphere and the location. We got to sit right by the window, looking out at all the people shuffling around downtown at lunch time. The corner storefront space offers a great view. The interior decor is very hip yet soothing. Nothing wild or harsh but just great lighting, good colors and modern accents. Congrats to the owners for creating a brilliant, urban experience that truly adds to the downtown landscape.

Another unanimous winner was the crab cake appetizer we shared. Andrew claims that “they were possibly the best crab cakes I’ve had in OKC. The crab mousse really gave them a light and fluffy texture.” Greg adds, “The presentation was beautiful, and I was especially enamored with the stripes of sauces on the plates, which provided a delicious flourish on the already tasty dish.” I have to agree. They were very good and quite possibly worth the trip just by themselves.

Now, onto the sushi. Even though I am a sushi novice, I was able to pick up on the fact that this isn’t a very “traditional” sushi place. I think the name Gaijin (which, from what I can tell, is a slightly derogatory Japanese term meaning “outsider” or “non-Japanese person”) is an odd choice, but it did seem fairly appropriate as we noted that the people around us, including those who were preparing the dishes, were predominantly non-Asians. It seems that Gaijin aims to provide a more “American” spin on sushi or at least a non-traditional spin. This results in the creation of some very unusual rolls.

The rolls are very special, indeed. The Devil’s Advocate is the top-seller according to general manager, Cristian Clay, and it’s easy to see why. At $9.50 for 8 pieces, it packs a good punch with salmon, cucumber, avocado, masago, cream cheese, spicy pistachios and a spicy aioli drizzled on top. Also interesting was the upscale Geisha roll at $12.95 with lobster salad, avocado and cucumber inside and lobster claw, caviar and miso on top. Both of these were very complex rolls and like nothing we’d tasted before.

We were all less impressed with the Spider roll ($8.75) which was a bit fishy. It did have bits of kaiware, which is a radish sprout, to give it some spice. Usually, kaiware is more of a garnish so we thought putting it in the sushi was a cool use of the ingredient.

The favorite roll for all of us was the Rock and Roll ($8.25). At Gaijin, the rock and roll is an eel roll. The eel is laid across the top with a sweet sauce and toasted sesame seeds while cucumber and avocado are wrapped up inside. This was really tasty and we highly recommend it.

We also sampled some Nigiri sushi — rice balls topped with fresh fish — and we found them less appealing than the rolls. As Greg puts it, “I don’t know if the Nigiri lacked flavor or if the rolls were just so full of flavor that the fish paled in comparison. Regardless, I’d opt for the rolls.” I have to agree and I think that’s par for the course at this non-traditional sushi place. Their creativity and presentation serves them well. When you come here, look to try those unique items that really set them apart.

The pricing at Gaijin is on the higher end of Oklahoma City’s sushi offerings, though perhaps not quite as high as Sushi Neko or Kang’s. Given the location, the atmosphere and the experience, we all felt the prices were reasonable and as expected.

Overall, our experience was really positive and both Greg and Andrew claim they will be going back. Andrew says, “I’m particularly excited about the coming lunch additions such as duck breast. Can’t wait to try those. I also look forward to taking my wife there, without kids, and gorging on those delicious crab cakes.”

Greg adds, “I will likely go back for a Rock and Roll and maybe a chance to try their Veggie or Gringo rolls. But I would also like the chance to try the full flight of sake that Cristian recommended. I did have a few sips of the fruity Gekkeikan plum sake and sweet, milky Momokawa pearl sake.”

Will I go back, you ask? I would love to, but I’d have to find the right occasion and really do some convincing to my wife, who is not a sushi lover at all. Perhaps I can coax her with some crab cakes.

Gaijin Sushi is new to downtown, so give them a try if you’re in the area, and let us know what you think in the comments. Also, if you’ve been to the Norman location, we’d love to hear your thoughts on it as well.

When Tim asked if I would write a dinner review of a bed and breakfast on the south side of Norman, I had to stop and think. “Do bed and breakfast places serve dinner?” I wondered. He assured me this one did and, since I’ll try anything once, I agreed. It was a wise choice because hidden in this unlikely hideaway, I found a delightful dinner experience — one that offers great food in a beautifully relaxing environment.

The restaurant’s location made for about a 50 minute drive from our northwest Oklahoma City home. Sure, it’s a bit out of the way, but actually it was nice to relax in the car and gather some thoughts following an extremely busy week at work. Although the place is hidden from the highway, we found the entrance with no problem, and the tree-lined driveway was really quite lovely. Being a gardener myself, I appreciated the attention the owners have given to the beautiful landscaping. The hydrangeas were in full bloom and they were gorgeous.

The restaurant entry is very welcoming with its wrap-around porch. We stepped inside and were immediately seated at a table for two overlooking the porch and out through a sea of oak trees. As I sank into the oversized chair and gazed out at the view, I also took in the white tablecloth, the softly flickering candlelight and what appeared to be an old set of fancy, yet understated, flatware on the table. I felt my body relax yet one more notch. “This is nice,” I thought to myself. Really nice.

Rany, the owner (and our waiter), appeared quietly at our side with a wine list and a refreshing glass of iced, lemon water. In a minute, menus appeared and he politely explained the evening’s special dishes. Most everything on the menu is served with a French flair, which delighted us as we had just returned from a week in Paris. Dave chose one of the specials — a bone-in veal steak with a blueberry glaze. I opted for the potato-encrusted salmon. We also decided to try the corn-crab bisque and a spring mixed salad (I had overheard one of the other diners in the full dining room saying how much she was enjoying the soup).

Now, one thing I would have liked to have seen is a pasta or vegetable option on the menu for those of us not really into meat. Maybe they occasionally offer something like this as a special, but all of the entrees I saw were meat dishes. Anyway, back to our food …

The house salad was better than most with its fresh spring leaves, bite-sized tenderized vegetables and drizzled champagne vinaigrette. I wish more local restaurants offered a champagne vinaigrette. It’s nice because it’s not as pungent as the balsamic vinaigrettes, and it’s not as full of fat like the creamy dressings. Dave also loved his corn-crab bisque. It was very mild and not too heavy for a hot and humid summer evening. The accompanying hot rolls were delicious enough that they tasted homemade. Even if they weren’t, they were wonderful with a dab of the fancy, herbal, sweet-cream butter served on the side.

As we waited on our main course, I looked around and decided I was glad I had noticed the business casual dress code on the website. Nobody was in jeans. Nobody was in a tie either, but we would have felt a little under-done in jeans.

The main course arrived in a beautiful, French presentation. The whole week I was in Paris I didn’t want to eat my food because it was too pretty. Our plates at Whispering Pines reminded me of those dinners in Paris. The meat was accompanied by two different styles of potato. One was a rosette design which was baked crisp and sported a fresh sprig of rosemary. The other was a new potato, cut in half with a fancy dollop of a twice-baked-potato-like mixture. Additionally, a nice assortment of vegetables, including asparagus cooked perfectly crispy and in a cream sauce, accompanied the meat. The presentations and flavors blended perfectly for a rich, winning taste.

After the main course, we were presented with three dessert options: a flourless chocolate cake, creme brulee and, as Rany stated, “good ol’ Oklahoma bread pudding.” We kept with our French flair for the evening and chose the creme brulee. Good choice. I like my creme brulee with a thick, carmelized, flavorful topping, and this was great. The custard was nice and thick also.

I was disappointed that there was no fruit dessert option. In the summertime, I like to see something like a sherbet with a fresh fruit topping. Something cold and tart is always good when it’s so hot outside. But I also know that places like Whispering Pines are going to have more abbreviated menus simply because of the nature of their businesses.

To me, service is as important as the taste of the food, and Rany could not have been more gracious. He was never intrusive, yet stayed at least two steps ahead of our needs. Perfect. Rany’s son, David, also helps to run Whispering Pines and they were the only two waiters on the night we visited.

At the end of our meal, Rany even offered to take us on a tour of the whole grounds, which we gladly accepted. We saw an additional dining area that’s great for large meetings or receptions. Plus, out in the back, there is a gazebo and a large pond that opens out onto the grounds where one can see rows and rows of grapes in the vineyard they keep. The whole complex is set on rolling hills and is very lovely. Rany said that from April to October they host a wedding just about every Saturday.

Rany has a fascinating life story to tell. He and his wife escaped the killing fields in Cambodia and eventually found a sponsor in Oklahoma, making it possible for them to immigrate in 1981. He started work as a dishwasher at The Oaks Country Club and proceeded from there to work in other fine restaurants such as The Coach House, where he picked up his culinary skills. He eventually opened his own restaurant, Lindochine, which was located around NW Expressway and I-44, before moving his family to Norman and purchasing Whispering Pines. He is a very humble man, an extremely hard worker, and he has the life experience to be able to say, “If you were born in the United States, then do not ask God for another blessing because He has already given you the biggest blessing of your life!” This was a profound and steadfast reminder to me. I appreciated his boldness in proclaiming that to us.

So, here is my advice to all of us busy people — make a dinner reservation at Whispering Pines, or better yet, a Friday night getaway and Saturday breakfast. Sometimes we must be intentional about slowing down and relaxing, and this is a perfect place to do so. You’ll not only discover some great food, but you’ll also feel the worries melt away as soon as you pull into Rany’s driveway!

Confession time. I am a huge fan of Chipotle Mexican Grill and finally, yes finally, we shall have one in the Oklahoma City metro (the Edmond location opens on January 18, 2008).

UPDATE: the Oklahoma City NW Highway location opens on January 28, 2009 making two locations in the metro.

Now, I know Chipotle is a chain and this site is about local Oklahoma City restaurants, but I make a very emphatic exception to my “no chain” rule when it comes to Chipotle, and for some very good reasons.

Passion. Even though Chipotle Mexican Grill is a corporation, they manage to keep passion alive all the way down to their local stores. If you study them and the emphasis they put on employee satisfaction, you will see that they do about as good a job as can be done at maintaining passion in spite of rapid expansion.

Simplicity. They only do a few things, and they do them extremely well.

Style. Chipotle puts a lot of thought into their design, which is a fusion of ancient and modern utilizing stainless steel mixed with earthy tones and modern sculptures of quasi-Incan figures.

Taste. Everything they craft is fresh and flavorful. They go out of their way to utilize ingredients like farm-raised pork and organic vegetables. They whip up loads of fresh guacamole each day. Every item on the line has a bold flavor so when you combine them, the results are always spectacular.

At the very least, Oklahoma City’s first Chipotle is worth a try. At most, you’ll end up like many others who visit at least once a week because it’s affordable, quality fast food that you just can’t find many other places.

The only complaint I have ever heard from people about Chipotle is that “it’s confusing.” I can understand this because most other restaurants spell out what you are going to get so visiting a place like Chipotle, which gives you so many options, can be overwhelming. So, to alleviate that concern, I’m going to give Oklahoma City my overview of Chipotle’s menu and my guide to landing that perfect meal.

Oklahoma City’s guide to Chipotle

1. Enter the restaurant and take your place in line.
2. Look up and you’ll see the menu.
3. Choose a “vehicle”
   1. Burrito: a very large tortilla stuffed with your choice of meat, rice, beans and whatever else you want. Don’t get this. It’s too big and heavy with all of the rice and stuff. I will say that I’ve known people who do get the burrito to order half rice and half beans and that seems to make it better.
   2. Fajita Burrito: like a burrito, but with onions and peppers. Don’t get this.
   3. Burrito Bowl: all the stuff of a burrito without the tortilla. Don’t get this.
   4. Salad: like a salad. Don’t get this.
   5. Tacos: This is the one you want! But there’s a choice of soft or crispy. You don’t want crispy (the fillings don’t fit well in there). You want to get soft tacos. You get three of them in an order.
4. Choose a meat (or go vegetarian if you like). The beauty of soft tacos is that you can experience three different meats in one meal, which you should do according to the list below:
   1. Chicken. Grilled, seasoned, and very tasty. Get one taco with chicken.
   2. Barbacoa (shredded beef). This stuff is amazing. You have to try it. Get one taco with barbacoa.
   3. Carnitas (shredded pork). Farm-raise pork that’s fresh and flavorful. Get one taco with carnitas.
   4. Steak. Honestly, this is the only thing at Chipotle that I just don’t think is very good. It’s never very tender. Don’t get steak.
   5. Vegetarian. If you choose this option instead of a meat, you’ll get rice, beans, and guacamole (guac is an extra charge otherwise). I prefer meat, but if you prefer veggies, I do condone substituting the vegetarian option for one or more of the meats (my wife always gets all three veggie tacos).
5. When you get to the front of the line, the tortilla-press person will ask you what you want. You say “three soft tacos.”
6. Tortilla person will then put three soft tortillas in a press, warm them up, and then hand them to the next person and they will ask “what type of meat?” You say “one chicken, one shredded beef, one pork” (or if you’re feeling fancy, use the Spanish words instead).
7. Then say, “can I also get onions and peppers in those?” They will add grilled onions and peppers, which are awesome!
8. Then, you’ll go on down the line and get to pick from the rest of the ingredients. Here’s what you want — corn salsa (trust me), lettuce, and cheese. That’s it! No more.
9. Then you’ll get to the person at the register who will ask if you want anything else. I always get iced tea (which is great), and often I get chips and guacamole. The chips at Chipotle cost extra but they are freshly made, and the guacamole is INCREDIBLE! You have to try it.

That’s it! If you follow the simple plan above, you will get to experience the very best Chipotle has to offer. Then later, if you want, you can experiment with other combinations and choices, but they won’t be as good. Trust me, this plan is the result of many visits. It is fine-tuned to perfection.

Get ready, Oklahoma City. January 18th is a monumental date when we will forever be able to get Chipotle any time we want, so long as we are willing to drive to Edmond.

Let me know your thoughts on Chipotle Mexican Grill in the comments.