Summertime is well underway, so it’s high time for our (Late) Summer OKC dining guide! This roundup features a mix of hot new restaurants and some oldies but goodies. Let’s do it!
Yummy Noodles
There have been a lot of big restaurants in OKC lately, but you may not have heard about one of the best ones. Yummy Noodles quietly opened in the strip mall on NW 23rd housing a sushi joint, a Pizza Hut and a Jersey Mike’s. What looks like an unassuming takeout joint, is actually the latest project from a couple who used to work at Tsubaki Szechuan a few blocks away.
Tsubaki closed just days before I had plans to visit with friends earlier this year, so when I heard Yummy Noodles was open we made a point to check it out ASAP.
Szechuan is one of our favorite cuisine’s for its mouth-numbing, spicy and flavorful dishes and Yummy Noodles delivers on all those fronts. However, if spicy food isn’t your favorite you can still have a great meal here.
What to Order
My absolute favorite menu item is the Sichuan spicy cold noodles. They have a moderate but building spice, but the tangy vinegary sauce they sit in is just all kinds of addicting.
Other great bets are the little juicy pork buns, hand shaved noodles (with your choice of protein) and pork dumplings in special chili sauce. You will want to put that sauce on everything and then drink the rest.
Coolgreens
I have been a huge fan of Coolgreens since way back in the day. While we’re certainly getting more healthy restaurant options in OKC here and there, they were the ones that started it all. I love their fresh salads, tasty flatbreads and recently have been noshing on their seasonal goat cheese berry avocado toast.
What to Order
The seasonal toast is only available through September so get it while you can! We also love the Chipotle ranch salad, the G.O.A.T quinoa bowl and Margherita flatbread. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the delicious peanut butter energy bites.
Riviere Modern Bahn Mi
Did OKC need another bahn mi restaurant? Probably not. (We featured Magasin Table in our winter guide, and Lee’s Sandwiches will always be the bahn mi OG.) BUT, we’re digging Riviere’s modern take on the classic and the fact that they’ve got a full bar. It’s also pretty delicious, so we’re welcoming it with open arms.
What to Order
You’re here for the bahn mi. I would advise against the vermicelli noodle bowls (although they are MASSIVE and a pretty good deal if you’re hungry). I say this because I ordered a noodle bowl and then highjacked half of Tom’s Miss Saigon bahn mi. The thinly sliced, lemongrass marinated pork is a great balance of sweet and savory flavors and the pickled carrot slaw, jalapeños, cilantro, and aioli add nice depth of flavor. The actual baguette is from La Baguette and it’s a great chewy, crunchy roll.
Sushi Neko
New places are great, but Oklahoma City has plenty of long-time favorites and we’re still working out way through them all. When people talk about the best sushi places in the city, it doesn’t take long for Sushi Neko to be mentioned. This place is equally great for a fancy date night or a laid back happy hour. With sushi this good, we’ll take any occasion or excuse we can to stop by.
What to Order
Any of the Neko Special rolls, really. The Volcano roll is a definite go-to. It’s a California roll topped with baked spicy scallops, masago, green onion and sesame seeds. We know these are Americanized sushi rolls, but we love them anyway. Purists can expect a variety of fresh raw fish as well. Our favorite is the yellowtail hamachi.
Sushi Neko also has some of the best fries in OKC. That’s right, a sushi place with awesome French fries. Listed in the “Side Dishes” section, their Pomme Frites Neko Style are perfectly crispy fries tossed in a delicious Asian-style sauce and chopped jalapeño. You’d be surprised how well salty fries pair with fresh seafood.
The Collective
This roundup wouldn’t be complete without mentioning The Collective, OKC’s first (very ambitious) food hall. The Collective opened in Midtown earlier this month and is already changing the game.
The Collective offers a variety of concepts from Vietnamese/French fusion to stuffed doughnuts. There’s also a full bar, coffee shop, outdoor patio and a soon-to-open rooftop space. It’s likely to be crowded when you visit, but we were pleased with how well run each concept we visited was.
What to Order
It’s going to take us a while to work through all of the options available at The Collective, so we can’t give a full recommendation here. However, the fun thing about food halls is the ability to try a little bit of everything. We found portions to be a little on the small side for the price at most places, but that does allow more stomach capacity for trying all the things.
We’re both already fans of OH! Baby’s shakshuka dutch baby. In our opinion, OH! Baby has the most unique and cohesive concept, so I would highly recommend checking them out. And of course, Tom is enamored with Press Waffle Co. We’ll keep you updated as we taste our way through the rest of the offerings.
Frida Southwest
Frida’s take on Latin-American inspired cuisine has already become a huge hit in Paseo. The bar program is also one of the best in the city.
Read our full Frida write-up here.
Gun Izakaya
Gun is exactly what the OKC dining scene didn’t know it needed. The unique Japanese menu takes diners on a journey of flavors both new and familiar.
Read our full Gun write-up here.
That’s all for now, but there are so many more restaurants we want to try in OKC so stay tuned for our next dining guide installment. Happy eating!
Be sure to check out the rest of our OKC Dining Guides:
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