Sunnyside Diner
KNOW YOUR In a roll call of Oklahoma’s best-known dishes, American comfort foods like chicken-fried steak, catfish or lamb fries probably come to mind first. But the Oklahoma City metro is making a name for itself as one of the best places in America to get pho (pronounced “fuh”), a Vietnamese favorite that you can find throughout the city’s thriving Asian District. For the uninitiated, pho is a soup with a complexly flavored broth that is left to simmer for hours before serving. It arrives at your table piping hot and teeming with hearty ingredients like tender rice noodles, onion, ginger and strips of meat — usually varying cuts of beef. Customarily arriving with the pho are a plate of herbs and vegetables to serve as possible garnishes and small bowls of sauce for dipping the meat in. Sriracha and other sauces are generally available for those who want to kick things up even more. While many places offer a selection of ingredients so extensive it can seem intimidating, Oklahoma City pho favorites like Pho Lien Hoa and Pho Cuong have menus that carefully lay out all the choices, highlighting good options for beginners. Tulsa also has its share of delicious pho restaurants, though they’re more spread out than Oklahoma City’s. Popular options include Pho Nhi and Pho V-Nam. PHO LIEN HOA
PHO CUONG
PHO NHI
PHO V-NAM
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901 N.W. 23rd St., Oklahoma City | (405) 521-8087 Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
916 N.W. Sixth St., Oklahoma City (405) 778-8861 824 S.W. 89th St., Oklahoma City (405) 703-0011 9148 N. MacArthur Blvd. (405) 722-8262 eatatsunnyside.com Breakfast and lunch daily. It’s only been around since 2016, but Sunnyside Diner has quickly become one of Oklahoma City’s go-to breakfast spots thanks to its fresh ingredients and imaginative takes on breakfast favorites. The signature dish is the lemon blueberry French toast. The blueberries are grilled into the brioche French toast, and then it’s topped with blueberry compote, whipped cream and maple syrup. Another favorite, the Eggs in Purgatory, has more of an Italian flavor with three sunny-side eggs simmered in spicy marinara and smothered in Parmesan cheese. For the nonbreakfast crowd, there are also burgers, salads, sandwiches and wraps.
The Butcher BBQ Stand
3402 W. Highway 66, Wellston (405) 240-3437 butcherbbqstand.com Lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday, lunch Sunday, closed Monday-Thursday. What happens when one half of a father-and-son team starts a barbecue stand after eight years on the competitive circuit? Levi Bouska opened The Butcher BBQ Stand in 2015, and so far the results have been delicious meats and a growing popularity that has the stand selling out on many days. If you’re having a hard time choosing between the juicy, hickory-smoked ribs, tender brisket and other delicious meats, order the Meat Locker and try them all.
3016 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City | (405) 524-5045 Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
11514 E. 21st St., Tulsa | (918) 947-4388 Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sunday.
8122 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa | (918) 574-2888 Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday.
TravelOK.com
When it comes to barbecue in central Oklahoma, you cannot beat The Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston. This roadside restaurant on Route 66 operates out of a converted railroad car. It’s become a pit stop anytime we’re in the area!