Restaurants

Current

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Address: 1222 N. Penn
Phone: (405) 408-2858
Hours:
Development:
Status:
Links:
Official Website
Menu
Facebook Page
Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-rafitas-oklahoma-city)
Urban Spoon (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/46/1758877/restaurant/Inner-City-Northside/Taqueria-Rafitas-Oklahoma-City)


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rafitawiki1.jpg


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Absolutely love this place for authentic Mexican on the north side!

Cool thanks for posting. Definitely will check it out! Do they have a homemade hot sauce/hot salsa? And not sure I'd call this "north side" :)

This is my fav taqueria on the north side. Muy sabroso!

This is where Ouy Lin used to be!

This is where Ouy Lin used to be!

Same strip center but don't think it is the same actual space. Ouy Lin was in the middle a few doors down and this place is on the end.

The owners of that little strip center did a nice job of remodeling.

It was pretty atrocious before.

I like this place, been here a few times. The red sauce is pretty serious, heavy on the chiles.

Prices are right and it is very clean for a Taqueria.

Same strip center but don't think it is the same actual space. Ouy Lin was in the
middle a few doors down and this place is on the end.
You are correct. Ouy Lin's was in the main portion of the center.

Thanx.

Had this for dinner yesterday..my partner grew up in California and had recently said he hasnt' found a good taqueria especially with breakfast burritos.. he misses that about Cali.. well he was impressed as was i.. great food and very friendly and clean. he is excited about trying the Breakfast tacos or burritos next.

Tacos are ok but really good quesadillas.

And as Pete said, nice job on the redevelopment of this center.

The property is owned by the Corsair Cattle group who have been slammed for buying properties in the central core then not improving them.

But certainly not the case here:



http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320001sA.jpg


http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320001oA.jpg


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http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320003SA.jpg


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http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320004oA.jpg

I like. Those upgrades are terrific.

Yeah been eating at Rafitas for month's now, like the other poster said, favorite Taqueria on the north side. That strip center also has had a major overhaul and glad to see the Ten-Penn area coming around. To give perspective, the famous Nic's burgers is across the street, and the Plaza District is just blocks away. I'm eager to see this area continue to improve and connect to Plaza District.

Went Friday and had the platillo carnitas w/ chile verde. VERY good!

I've got to check this joint out. Sounds good.

This is where the Oui Lin restaurant was located.

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320002XA.jpg

This is where the Oui Lin restaurant was located.

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/searches/sketches/picfile/2715/R063342320002XA.jpg

I am confused as I could have sworn this was the right storefront. However, looking at the picture in Pete's 4/23 post and it shows Ouy Lins in a different location immediately to right of the white stucco storefront. Look at the stucco one and on the right you will see the pillars for the next storefront with a green trim at the top. Then look at Pete's pics to the one with the Ouy Lins sign and you will see the pillars with the green trim.

Not arguing with you as I thought the stucco front is the location but the pics say different. Maybe they moved or expanded at some point?

The building in the center is a theatre, not a former restaurant. It's currently being renovated and would make a killer indie / punk rock venue.

Not arguing with you as I thought the stucco front is the location but the pics say
different. Maybe they moved or expanded at some point?
This is definitely the store front of Oui Lin's Chinese restaurant. I can't tell you
how many times I ate at that restaurant. I believe it closed in the late 80's.

They were still serving meals on silver. Very elegant. Hey, they still served warm
rye bread, too!

Yes, it was definitely a movie theater. It wasn't on my regular list of places to go but I definitely saw a number of movies there.

This is definitely the store front of Oui Lin's Chinese restaurant. I can't tell you
how many times I ate at that restaurant. I believe it closed in the late 80's.

They were still serving meals on silver. Very elegant. Hey, they still served warm
rye bread, too!

I know the guy doing this renovation. Was the restaurant space you're talking about a former theatre? Because this is a former theatre space.

My office is nearby and the crew from work go here at least once a week. Good food at a decent price. Love their asada tacos with a side of Guac!

I am confused as I could have sworn this was the right storefront. However, looking at the picture in Pete's 4/23 post and it shows Ouy Lins in a different location immediately to right of the white stucco storefront. Look at the stucco one and on the right you will see the pillars for the next storefront with a green trim at the top. Then look at Pete's pics to the one with the Ouy Lins sign and you will see the pillars with the green trim.

Not arguing with you as I thought the stucco front is the location but the pics say different. Maybe they moved or expanded at some point?
I'm seeing what you are seeing. The picture dated 07/27/2010 pretty clearly shows the restuarant further down.

Prunepicker,
I have to disagree, I first went to Oui Lin's in 1965 and went there often until we had a bad experience. It definitely is South of the theatre. Look at the facade to the right (South) of the theater) on Pete's dated Oct 24 2005 and the picture of Oui Lin's dated 07/27/2010, they are exactly the same.
C. T.
This is definitely the store front of Oui Lin's Chinese restaurant. I can't tell you
how many times I ate at that restaurant. I believe it closed in the late 80's.

They were still serving meals on silver. Very elegant. Hey, they still served warm
rye bread, too!

Yeah, it was definitely further south from the theater space. I used to live a couple of blocks away and lusted after that strip on near daily drives past it.

You all inspired me to eat there today. Sooo good. Sampled 4 meats (asada, carnita, al pator, lengua. Asada was just ok. Lengua had a great flavor. Al Pastor was divine.

You all inspired me to eat there today. Sooo good. Sampled 4 meats (asada, carnita, al pator, lengua. Asada was just ok. Lengua had a great flavor. Al Pastor was divine.

Like. Have to disagree on the asada, it is very good, albeit somewhat different than the taqueria norm. Don't forget that they serve breakfast tacos and burritos all day every day as well. I like to get the egg, potato, bacon burrito and add grilled jalapeno and sliced avocado. Their verde sause is made fresh daily and is super good.

Went again today. Ordered a carnitas burrito, and two asada tacos. DON'T DO THIS! (unless you're Steven Adams). It was way too much food. This place is a great value!

I was there for lunch today... Glad to see the lunch crowd growing and it appears the hipsters have found it too. That's always a good thing... Look at what they did for Franklin BBQ.... Not that I expect Rafita's to ever have people forming a line to get in 3 hours before they open but still a good thing.

I went once, and they gave me lemon wedges with my tacos. Maybe that was during the Great Lime Shortage of 2014?

$ 1.50/taco is pretty good deal, and they seemed to make their own tortillas, or had some fresher made ones than that place over on 23rd. Good tortillas at taco joints are a huge plus in my book after spending some time in San Antonio.

I went once, and they gave me lemon wedges with my tacos. Maybe that was during the Great Lime Shortage of 2014?

$ 1.50/taco is pretty good deal, and they seemed to make their own tortillas, or had some fresher made ones than that place over on 23rd. Good tortillas at taco joints are a huge plus in my book after spending some time in San Antonio.

They are serving limes now.

Went here yesterday for my special Fathers' Day lunch (testament to how much I like this place). I made a mistake in ordering the California Burrito and then eating almost all of it. Thing was as big as my head, and my head is large!

That burrito ruined me for the rest of the day. Not Rafita's fault though. My bad for being a hero...

Went here yesterday for my special Fathers' Day lunch (testament to how much I like this place). I made a mistake in ordering the California Burrito and then eating almost all of it. Thing was as big as my head, and my head is large!

That burrito ruined me for the rest of the day. Not Rafita's fault though. My bad for being a hero...

Ordered one for lunch one day and had to tapout about half way through it... It is indeed a massive burrito.

Took the wife this time, for breakfasty time. I had the chilaquiles, with machacado. She got barbacoa. This place is, to mexican food, what Nic's(across the street) is to hamburgers! I hope they don't change anything except their beverage license status.

^

The Nic's comparison is the highest of praise!

Sounds like a real gem.

My wife and I went again. This time I tried the juevos rancheros. Delish

My friend from London and I went for lunch today, I had tacos and a burrito and Chris had a chicken torta and it was excellent. She also ordered a burrito to go and it looks really good as well.
C. T.

^

The Nic's comparison is the highest of praise!

Sounds like a real gem.
That's right!

This is my go-to when nics is closed which seems pretty normal these days. I went a few days after they found a dead body in Nics parking lot (http://kfor.com/2014/06/08/okc-police-investigating-suspicious-death-after-naked-body-found-near-popular-burger-joint/) (Nics was closed) and was not disappointed at all. Great food and great prices.

This is my go-to when nics is closed which seems pretty normal these days. I went a few days after they found a dead body in Nics parking lot (http://kfor.com/2014/06/08/okc-police-investigating-suspicious-death-after-naked-body-found-near-popular-burger-joint/) (Nics was closed) and was not disappointed at all. Great food and great prices.

I haven't been disappointed by any of the bodies I've found in Nic's parking lot either.

I haven't been disappointed by any of the bodies I've found in Nic's parking lot either.

:tiphat:

I haven't been disappointed by any of the bodies I've found in Nic's parking lot either.

I heard a story once about a chicken shack in a rough part of Tulsa where a man was shot while standing in line to get chicken and people were stepping over the body to get their chicken.

I would step over a body to get into Nic's for a burger! :cool:

I heard a story once about a chicken shack in a rough part of Tulsa where a man was shot while standing in line to get chicken and people were stepping over the body to get their chicken.

I would step over a body to get into Nic's for a burger! :cool:

They have a BoBo's chicken in Tulsa?.. who knew
I love BoBos BTW

I heard a story once about a chicken shack in a rough part of Tulsa where a man was shot while standing in line to get chicken and people were stepping over the body to get their chicken...

He was probably visiting from OKC and made the mistake of telling the people in line.

He was probably visiting from OKC and made the mistake of telling the people in line.

Or a stereotypical OU fan who failed to grasp T-town is not Sooner East, not at all.

Going in the morning for some chilaquiles. The wife now knows to order just one taco. I hope they get a beer license (not for Sunday mornings, thank you), but love the place just the same. Dead bodies would not deter me from Nic's OR TR!

Ate here the other day for lunch...

I ordered the carnitas burrito, which is just pork, refried beans and rice.

It was huge but the tortilla was too small... Was barely even wrapped up and there was absolutely no way to pick it up. And they just give you the cheapest of plastic utensils, so it was very hard to eat.

The burrito was okay but nothing special. The only thing that saved it for me was a mixture of the green sauce (mild) and red (quite spicy) that I used to cover the whole thing, enchilada style. That red sauce is bomb and served in a big squeeze bottle instead of a tiny bowl that you quickly empty.


What am I missing here? I've read largely raves but I either ordered the wrong thing or caught them on an off day.

I don't know what happened. Never had that experience there. Try again. The carne asada is awesome, quesadillas are super tasty and easy to eat. The California Burrito is too big for two.

I've never had anything but the tacos here, and I've never been led astray. This place, along with el Dolar down the street and el Rey on 10th and May are my holy trinity for tacos in the metro, all for different reasons.

echoing above, maybe, but that gas station taco truck is where I've been going lately, think its a valero maybe, 10th and Penn, but there's at times a bit of a street people vibe roaming around, they are usually solid and open till like 10pm.

they used to be $1.25 a taco, but then another truck opened across the street and they lowered to $1.00 a taco. i guess it makes sense since the truck says taqueria el dolar. i usually get 4 or 5 tacos b/c they are a little smaller and not like big truck taco sized.

Every time I drive down 10th I see about a dozen no-name pretty authentic-looking taco trucks along the length of it, between maybe Penn and MacArthur. I say authentic-looking because their target audience is obviously working folks and the Hispanic market, NOT hipsters, Instagramming "foodies", food truck park customers and 40-something white-collar fat guys. I've been intending to stage a multi-day crawl to see which one(s) I like the best.

My fave here is the verde burrito. Eat half with a fork before you even try picking it up.

Urbanized...try Taqueria Sanchez at 10th and Tulsa. Damn near impossible to beat.

^^^^
Thanks!

I can vouch Sanchez. Rafitas is not on my good list.

I eat there often. generally the carna asada taco plate or pick up breakfast burrito.. never a bad meal. the family is from Chihuahua the same area as my mother in law and her family. when she visits she always likes to go there says the rice and beans are the closest to her family she has ever had.
I was sad when I went to eat Friday night they had closed early due to weather.

What am I missing here? I've read largely raves but I either ordered the wrong thing or caught them on an off day.

This....

14033 14034

Take an appetite, or a friend, and get the California Burrito... Just unwrap it... Don't even try to pick it up... Smother it in their salsa verde and chow down.

Now don't expect mind blowing but it is a very good burrito and my favorite in town.

This....

14033 14034

Take an appetite, or a friend, and get the California Burrito... Just unwrap it... Don't even try to pick it up... Smother it in their salsa verde and chow down.

Now don't expect mind blowing but it is a very good burrito and my favorite in town.

That burrito doesn't look bad. I went recently and ordered 6 tacos to try and as much as I could. I enjoyed the breakfast tacos. The beef in the asada/some other beef based taco wasn't seasoned.

Every time I drive down 10th I see about a dozen no-name pretty authentic-looking taco trucks along the length of it, between maybe Penn and MacArthur. I say authentic-looking because their target audience is obviously working folks and the Hispanic market, NOT hipsters, Instagramming "foodies", food truck park customers and 40-something white-collar fat guys. I've been intending to stage a multi-day crawl to see which one(s) I like the best.

Hey....some of us 40-something (ok...50) white collar fat guys go to the real taco trucks. My favorite if the Dolar on SE 29th across from Cat Ballous. Used to be Tony's but went downhill when he moved into the old Del Rancho

Staying on topic.....tried Rafitas and wasn't impressed. No flavor.