A little different slant than pure favorites... What dining establishments do you regularly patronize?

Of course, I can't dine at any of the OKC area places on a regular basis but still I would say my list would include:

Republic
Tucker's in Uptown
Kitchen No. 324
Cheever's (but less often than the previously mentioned Good Egg concepts)
The Mule (love the atmosphere)
Chuck Wagon (have to get my CFS fix while in town)
Abel's and/or Casa Perico (the locations for both are sentimental to me, but great food too)
Joey's (more for the atmosphere and setting)
Hideaway on Auto Alley (same as above)
The Wedge in Deep Deuce

Place's I've yet to try and strong candidates for being added:
Urban Johnnie
Guernsey Park
Empire
Garage in Midtown
Chiltepes

Good idea.
( in no particular order )
Hideaway AA
S&B AA
Kitchen 324
Chiltepes
Rafitas
Empire
Mule
Big Truck taco
Golden Phoenix
Taj

Right now during the summer months my non-BBQ lunch time rotation is:

Neptune Submarine Sandwiches
Chiltepes
Red Dirt Burrito
Nic's Grill
Zorba's
La Brasa
Tucker's
The Mule
A Family Affair
Taqueria Rafitas
B-Won
Ingrid's

And I guess really the only thing that changes is in the winter I will hit up various pho restaurants... Pho Lien Hoa, Pho Ca Dao, Pho Cuong, Mr. Pho

I am constantly rotating through different area Q-raunts to monitor quality/consistency and such.

Not so much a rotation, but I try and get to these places at least once a year…I don't get to dine nearly as often as I'd like.

Signature Grill
Cheever's
Pizza Zone
Guernsey Park
Empire
Ranch Steakhouse
RePUBlic
Big Truck
GoGo Sushi
The George

Here's 10 that I really really like.

Lol…and I just had Nic's…don't know how I left that off.

Hideaway AA or Campus Corner
S&B
The Garage
Tacos Don Nacho
Victoria's Campus Corner

Gogo sushi
Coney Island
Chelino's
Knuck's Wheelhouse
Zio's
Irma's
Kaiser's
Hibachi Buffet
Fudrucker's (when in Tulsa)
Pat's Drive-In (when in Wichita Falls)
WOW! Burger (when in Portland)

Sushi Neko
Grand House
Picasso's
Iron Starr
S&B
Upper Crust/Wedge/Jo's
Tommy's
Yucatan

Great thread! We stick close to home for our regular rotation:

Picasso's
Tucker's
Shartell Cafe
Rafita's or Hugo's
Cous Cous Cafe
The Mule
Empire
Tom Yum (new, and awesome Thai)
Iron Star (I get the chicken, which is barely BBQ, but very good)
VZD's (happy hours)

S&B (all locations)
Cattlemen's
Vito's (love it) and Sean Cummings' Irish Pub
Barry's Old Fashioned Burgers (31st & N. May)
Cheever's
The Boulevard Cafeteria
Mutt's Amazing Dogs
Zio's
Someplace Else Deli
Jamil's

Heavy favorites in my rotation:

Back Door BBQ
Tucker's
Saturn Grill
Iguana Cafe
Mutt's
T-Delph
Fuzzy's
Empire
Upper Crust

I live too far out to have a decent regular rotation.

Harley's Cafe in Choctaw

My regular haunts are (as in, I regularly patronize a few times a month)....

1.) Subway (various locations)
2.) The Garage (Edmond)
3.) Thai Delight (Edmond)
4.) Lee's Sandwiches (OKC)
5.) Fire House Subs (Edmond)
6.) Leo's BBQ (OKC)
7.) Urban Johnnie (OKC)
8.) Waffle Champion (OKC)
9.) Empire Slice (OKC)


My semi-regular haunts (as in, I patronize maybe once a month - most I would like to patronize more often though).....

1.) 1492 (OKC)
2.) Cheevers (OKC)
3.) Red Prime (OKC)
4.) Iron Starr (OKC)
5.) The Mule (OKC)
6.) Pie Junkie (OKC)
7.) Los Arcos (Edmond)
8.) Metro (OKC)
9.) S&B (AA location only)
10.) Paseo Grill (OKC)
11.) Guernsey Park (OKC)
12.) Missy's Doughnuts & Bakery (Guthrie)

My rotation.

Often
1492
Garage midtown
Louie's midtown
Ludivine
Mickeys
Knucks
Tucker's
Flint

Monthly
Red
Cheevers
Grand house
Ranch
Packards
Various pho places
La brassa
Yucatan
Rococo

No love for Hillbilly Po Boys? I ate there for the first time last week and really liked it. The fried pickles and onions were amazing!

Moved a bunch of posts here:

http://www.okctalk.com/general-food-drink-topics/29564-best-bbq-okc-metro.html

Iron Starr
Tucker's (both locations)
Red Prime (once a year or so)
Cheever's
RePUBlic
Upper Crust (CC)
Cool Greens (Nichols Hills)
Mama Rojas
Red Rock
Louie's (Lakeside)
Panera Bread
Patty Wagon
McAlister's
Buffalo Wild Wings (Expressway)
The Mule
Empire Slice House
Caffe Pranzo
Hideaway (Expressway)
S&B's Burger Joint (AA)
Paseo Grill

Ph Thai Nguyen (I'm there constantly)
Empire Slicehouse
NEBU
Ol' Gyro (seriously people should be talking about how good this place is)
Backdoor BBQ
Tucker's
SB Burgers
The Mule
Fung's Kitchen
Golden Phoenix
Cheever's

Cafe 501
Gabriellas
Republic
Mantel
Louie's Edmond
Hideaway Edmond and AA
Paseo Grill
Park House
Backdoor BBQ
The Garage
Bricktown Brewery Edmond
Upper Crust
Los Arcos
Iguana
Flint
Red Piano/O Bar/Flint (drinks after work)

(no particular order)

In my immediate area, I love the Iguana Grill and Deep Deuce Grill is good. Urban Johnnies is just allright. I like the Wedge and S&B, Packards, Joeys, McNellie's. Those are probably the restaurants we frequent the most. Guernsey Park I really like but my husband doesn't. Red Prime and the Ranch for better occasions.

We live a little far out so don't get to a lot of places we would if closer. Mainly thoug

LaLuna (both locations)
Chelinos Bricktown
Las Vaquiros Mustang and 89th
Empire
Thai House
Dot Wo
Bella Vista
Grand Palace on Meridian
Due to kids...Chilis and Wing Stop
Red Prime
Waffle House (breakfast with my son on weekends)
Hobbys
Annas Gyros or Sweiss

Rafita's
Kabob n Curry
Carican
Thai House
Cous Cous Cafe
Lees
Those are my only regular steady places.

Occasional places.
Ables
Kazana
Grand Village
Saii
Chows
Pho Thai Nguyen
BWWs

lunch
Nd foods
Brown Bag
Shartel Café
Some Place else Deli

Dinner
iguana café (Nh plaza location)
Michael's
tuckers
johnies
urban johnie
hideaway downtown
backdoor BBQ
Iron starr
texadelphia

Casa Perico
Ingrid's Kitchen
Sean Cummings Irish Pub
KhaZana
Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler
Kim Wah
Tana Thai . . .
Custino's =)

(Sorry . . . I'm a hobby cook, so we usually dine at home . . .
All the good at half the price . . . =)

I tend to pick a few favorites and stick to them for a while, and at the moment those are Mutts's and Urban Johnnie, with The Garage in Midtown subbing in as a third if I've already been to one of the other two inside the week.

We only eat out about 5-6 times/month, our "to eat" list of places is far longer than we'll ever get to unless wife's schedule changes so she's home in the evenings, which won't happen until she changes jobs. Having said that...

Lemongrass Thai
Irma's
S&B on May/Memorial (more often than Irma's just 'cos it's closer)
Jimmy's Egg
Ludivine
Red
Casa Perico (122nd)
China Chef ('cos we can walk to it, not 'cos their food's great)
Iron Starr
City Bites (she eats at the downtown one, I eat at the MacArthur one)
Hideaway
The Wedge
Vito's will probably become our regular Italian place, loved it the first time we went a few weeks ago
Joey's Cafe (when we don't get out before 2 PM on Sat to do Jimmy's)

Alfredo's
5 Guys
Go Go Sushi
Asian Cuisine

Travellers:

Next time you dine at Vito's, you might think about popping into the place right next door. Literally: Right next door. =)
Sean Cummings is an amazing human being an amazing human. =)
As is his wife, Cathy. (The only liberal Democrat for whom I'd ever vote.)

I left Oklahoma Station BBQ off my list.
Go for the BBQ . . . Stay for the train pictures. =)

I drove by Nic's on the way into town this morning at about 9:30 am.
There was no line.

I wandered around in the vicinity of Nic's 2 by The Big Glass Tube/IceSkatingRink/UrbanMomKidSplashPark until the Memory on my camera was full.
It appeared to be open at 11:00. No line.
Unfortunately I wasn't "jonesin'" for a Nic's Burger at the moment.
So I bought a Twenty Dollar steak, later, at Homeland instead. =)

(my visit to The Heart of OKC involved dropping off a check, just the other side of the Federal Checkpoint, and the usual Lady at the reception desk was on break when I arrived to make my contribution to the cause. So I had to wait an extra fifteen minutes or so. Yet, I still had enough time left, on one o' them new-fangled parking meters--to marvel at the ducks and the fish in the pond and the kindly park rangerette on a Segway who was concerned about interfering with my shot. Of the ducks and the fish. =)

All of a sudden, I regret my decision to not scarf down a pseudo-Nic's burger next to the splash park/ice rink. =)

I drove by Nic's on the way into town this morning at about 9:30 am.
There was no line.
.

I believe his hours are 10am to 2pm these days.

Regular rotation is:

Big Truck Tacos
Tuckers on 23rd
Wedge in Deep Deuce
Fuzzy's
Bricktown Burgers
Nebu
Chelino's in Bricktown

Enjoy but don't get to often enough:
Nic's
Iron Starr
Patty Wagon
GoGo Sushi

I believe his hours are 10am to 2pm these days.

Two youngsters sitting on a bench.
Waiting, I suppose, for the Castle Doors to be opened. =)
(my thought: Oh! There's the Famous Nic's . . . and no line . . . =)

I would never say that Iron Starr BBQ is on my "regular rotation list" . . .
I ate there once, a long time ago. It was very good.
Priced right, cooked perfectly, and for sure BBQ.

But I'm a "Dapper Dan"--rather than a "FOP"--man.
So . . . I just don't know for sure. =)

Oh (btw) . . . I thought Nic's was also known for their breakfasts--in addition to The Best Onion Burgers in The Universe . . .
Or does the Breakfast Menu stop immediately at . . . 8:00 am =)

Looking at all of our responses, I am wondering if we're all local food geeks on OKCTalk. How do chains stay in business? Obviously they wouldn't if they relied on us.

Ehh, I left chains out of my response. Nobody needs to know how often I hit up Taco Bell.

Oh (btw) . . . I thought Nic's was also known for their breakfasts--in addition to The Best Onion Burgers in The Universe . . . =)

Nic's was rumored, by me of course, to have a magical ham in the back of his diner. Many a morning I would walk in and sit down. Nic wouldn't even ask what I wanted. He just walked to the back with a knife and came back with several magnificent slices of ham to be served with two eggs over-medium, hashbrowns, and toast......

Unfortunatly health issues have stopped Nic from being able to serve breakfast on his own..... I sure do miss that magical ham.

And yes I know Nic isn't his real name but I've continued to use it to protect the innocent. ;+)

I usually go to:
Mamavecas
Thai Delight Norman (waitstaff are awesome)
Taste of China
Queen of Sheba
Khazana
Himalayas
City Bites (I like their pepper relish)
Sandros in Norman

Please allow me to take a moment to apologize for the excess verbiage, above.
(Spec.Ref.: #s 27 & 30)

They are off topic and difficult to comprehend.
My Sweet Wife and I don't have a "Regular Rotation of Restaurants."
But Luby's is OK once in a while . . . =)
When one is too lazy or whatever to do some Home Cookin' =)

If I could pick a restaurant to be in a "regular rotation" I guess it would be Stella.
And . . . if they get off their lazy CasadyAsses it would be the 1492 in The Village. =)
(next to the overpriced Diamond Purveyor =)

MacDonald's
Taco Bell
KFC
Arby's
Long John Silver's
Wendy's
Ihop
Sonic (for when I'm in the mood for fast food)

No love for Hillbilly Po Boys? I ate there for the first time last week and really liked it. The fried pickles and onions were amazing!

I ate there today for the first time! I was really impressed. I'm surprised people aren't talking more about the place.

Tucker's
Big Truck
Cheever's
Kitchen
Ludivine
The Ranch
Fuzzy's
Cafe Antigua
Taqueria la Original
Iron Star
Coolgreens Nichols Hills
Cafe Kacao
Red Prime
La Baguette
The Wedge
Irma's

Looking at all of our responses, I am wondering if we're all local food geeks on OKCTalk. How do chains stay in business? Obviously they wouldn't if they relied on us.


Ehh, I left chains out of my response. Nobody needs to know how often I hit up Taco Bell.

I didn't mean fast food chains. Isn't the lack of full-service chain restaurants in this thread glaring? I was speaking of Texas Roadhouse, TGIFriday's, Olive Garden, Applebee's, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, On The Border, Hooters, Mimi's Cafe, Red Lobster, and others. I meant they sure don't stay in business with our help looking at our responses.

I didn't mean fast food chains. Isn't the lack of full-service chain restaurants in this thread glaring? I was speaking of Texas Roadhouse, TGIFriday's, Olive Garden, Applebee's, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, On The Border, Hooters, Mimi's Cafe, Red Lobster, and others. I meant they sure couldn't rely on us by our responses.

We have all those out here and I can honestly say I haven't eaten at any of them in over 10 years; in fact the only one I've eaten at more than once is the Cheesecake Factory, but that was back when it was a big deal out here about 15 years ago.

The last chain adventure was at a Chili's probably more than five years ago (at the insistence of a visitor) and it was really meh. There is similar, small chain here called Islands that is decent but even still, that is a once every two years kind of place for me.

Probably the one chain I patronize more than once a year is California Pizza Kitchen, but only because the one nearest me has a glorious patio overlooking a small lake. They also have some good healthy options on their menu.

I eat at In-n-Out about once a year and I get McDonald's fries a couple of times a year -- they are still pretty great. And frankly, the new Domino's pizza is worth $8 for a 3-topping large once in a while.


I'm sure most people left chains off their list intentionally but even so, with all the great local choices OKC has added in just the last few years, there is less and less reason to give your money a big chain restaurant.

I only go to chains when I have no say in the matter.

Generally, I will never recommend eating at a chain if it's going to cost more than $10/plate. It's hard to beat places like Panera, and fast-food joints in general because they are generally super convenient. And most of the time, unless you're in the core, you have very little chance of encountering a non-chain that's less than a full sit down restaurant.

Forgot to add Birriria Diaz.

I'll play - about the only chain we go to besides looking for a fast burger or lunch time buffet is Charlestons. A family member is a long time employee and the extended family frequently meets there. That's why we started going but we continue on our own because the food is really good - love their vegetables. Mustang put in an Applebees and I like their salads but the service is psychotic, the availability of items sporadic, and it's overpriced for the product.

Jimmy's cafe on the southside
Panang (for lunch)
Los Vaqueros in Mustang
Himalayas

We have been trying out new restaurants, recently, so this thread is especially appreciated.

Republic
Hideaway
Packard's
Stella
Red
Kitchen 324
Hefner Grill
Iguana
The Garage

Empire
El Fogon de Edgar
GoGo
Pho Thai Nguyen

Cheevers, Stella and Packard are frequent haunts too but not weekly.

Forgot to add Birriria Diaz.

Oh, man, thanks for the reminder, we haven't been back to them in longer than it should be!

I didn't mean fast food chains. Isn't the lack of full-service chain restaurants in this thread glaring? I was speaking of Texas Roadhouse, TGIFriday's, Olive Garden, Applebee's, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, On The Border, Hooters, Mimi's Cafe, Red Lobster, and others. I meant they sure don't stay in business with our help looking at our responses.

We only go to them if somebody else wants to and can't be convinced otherwise. Never been to a Red Lobster in my life, the rest maybe every 3-4 years.

Travellers:

Next time you dine at Vito's, you might think about popping into the place right next door. Literally: Right next door. =)
Sean Cummings is an amazing human being an amazing human. =)
As is his wife, Cathy. (The only liberal Democrat for whom I'd ever vote.)

Oh yes, absolutely, we have Sean's Pub on our list. Unfortunately, our list is about 100 restaurants long, not sure where his position is on it. I need to make a layaway payment on my guitar at OKC Music, so it's probably either his place or Saii that we'll eat at when I do that.

His wife seems a bit too out there for me, but I'll vote for her because it'll be voting against all the other candidates...

Cathy Cummings? campaign video for Lt. Governor tries a little too hard? | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/06/05/cathy-cummings-campaign-video-for-lt-governor-tries-a-little-too-hard/)

Is it out of line to give this thread a bump in an effort to get an update on everyone's regular rotation?

Is it out of line to give this thread a bump in an effort to get an update on everyone's regular rotation?

Necro-bump!

I'm pleased to see that my from my OP on this subject all the places I mentioned are still going strong!

I have a meet-people-out version of this where I ask their Top 5 favorite places in terms of bars and/or restaurants.

Here are my Quick 5:

- Chick n Beer
- Powerhouse
- Slaughter's Hall
- Republic
- Yuzo

Perhaps a bit different than some because we are vegetarian, but our current Top 5 are:

- Sheesh Mahal
- Couscous Cafe
- Goro Ramen
- Pizzeria Gusto
- Big Truck Tacos

So many new places I really don't even have a regular rotation any more... Only place I still hit on a weekly basis is El Primo Loco for pollo al carbon and that addictive verde sauce they serve.

So many new places I really don't even have a regular rotation any more... Only place I still hit on a weekly basis is El Primo Loco for pollo al carbon and that addictive verde sauce they serve.

Please just list some of the places you like. Would be interested to know.

Slims chicken
Cafe Antigua
Tamashii
Scotties Deli

Currently considering
Sams Southern eatery
McClintock Saloon
ND foods

Old rotation
GRUB
Volcano sushi
Cafe7

BTW, I'm much more of a hang-out and drink and eat a little food type of person so there are loads of restaurants I really like but I strongly gravitate to the bar-heavy, fun atmosphere places.

Or at least places like Yuzo and Chick n Beer where you can have several food items over an extended period rather than one big meal.

Yuzo
Tamashii
Gopuram
Chick-N-Beer
Chows

Old places that were in the rotation that we need to get back to more often
Abels
VII Bistro
Camilya's
Quoc Bao
Guernsey Park

Please just list some of the places you like. Would be interested to know.

HAHA... Might be easier to list the ones I don't like... Much shorter list!

Edmond:
Muu Shabu
The Heat (Formerly known as Humble Pie)
Texlahoma

Norman:
The Diner
El Toro Chino
Das Boot Camp
Mama Veca's
Fantasy Chinese Cuisine
Ray's Smokehouse

Oklahoma City:
El Primo Loco
Chow's
Pho Lien Hoa
Slaughters Hall
Hugo's Taquizas
Nic's Grill
Family Affair
Bistro 38
Tamashii
Chae
Paseo Grill
Jones Assembly
Sherri's Diner
Texas de Brazil
The Flying Pig
George's Happy Hog
Maple's Barbecue

Yukon:
Miller Grill

Noble:
Tiffany's

Any hidden gems in towns like Purcell, Paul’s Valley, or other areas along I-35 you know about?

Any hidden gems in towns like Purcell, Paul’s Valley, or other areas along I-35 you know about?

Not really any gems left. Most have closed unfortunately..... Purcell does have a new Italian restaurant but I haven't tried it yet. Ruby's, Sonny's, and The Rusty Knot are all good if you are in Purcell but not quite what I would call gems.

Paul's Valley has Mimi's downtown which is a pretty good home cooking diner in their downtown area but I think they only serve breakfast and lunch. Bob's Pig Stand is ok but there is better BBQ a little further south in Wynnewood (Trails End) or Davis (Smokin' Joes)..... I've also been to Punkin's and Tio's in Pauls Valley, which have both been around for years, but personally I didn't care for either.

A little further south in Davis I really like 77 Grill and Burger Land. Both are litle hole in the walls but serve good food. I've also heard good things about Dougherty Diner in Davis but haven't tried it.

Oh and if you go SW out of Purcell on Hwy 74 to Maysville. Baker's Pizza is a slightly better version of the Purcell style of pizza that Jo's and Rodney's have been serving for decades.

Thank you for the heads up!