Jalapeno Grill: Street Tacos

California girl brings Baja-inspired cuisine to Ponca City

Story & photos by Trena M Jennings/Ponca City Monthly contributing writer

Summer Gregory has always had a dream of owning her own restaurant. It wasn’t until she and her family moved to Ponca City that Gregory was able to make that dream a reality.

The Gregory family left Southern California in January 2018, looking for a simpler life. She, her husband Jeff, and their four children quickly settled in and began to put roots down.

After a brief time working at Boomerang Diner, Gregory found the perfect spot to open her restaurant, 408 East Hartford Ave., opening for business in November 2019 serving up burritos, quesadillas, street corn, and street tacos.

If you’re not in the mood for Mexican food, you can also order a flavor-packed burger. Gregory describes her fare as L.A.-style street food.

“It’s what we’ve grown up eating. It’s what we love.”

She said that living in Southern California, so close to Baja California, Bajastyle food became the family’s soul food.

Gregory brought that Baja-style food and her own salsa-making expertise right here to Ponca City.

The fresh ingredients meld together to produce a salsa with a full, rich, flavor that has just enough heat to tingle, but not burn. The peppers, that Gregory roasts herself, add a slightly smoky depth. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, let me entice you some more. Most everything served at Jalapeño Grill is freshly made.

Thick, crunchy chips straight from the fryer make a sturdy foundation for the chunky guacamole brimming with cilantro and onion. The queso blanco is creamy with a touch of saltiness that complimented the earthy flavor of the chips.

The stars of the menu, however, are the street tacos – in particular, the fish taco. In true Baja-style, crispy beer-battered fish line the bottom of the corn tortillas. Next is a tangy slaw replete with thin slivers of jalapeño. Atop this glorious creation is a generous portion of Gregory’s salsa and a large dollop of her fresh guacamole. Beware, things might get a little messy.

Truly a family endeavor, Jeff, Cody, 21, Chase, 19, Cash, 11 and Goldie, 9, all work at Jalapeño Grill. Summer loves that she gets to work with her family and wants to share that sense of family with the community.

“We want this place to be a lighthouse in the community where people can tell us their stories. We want to hear their good days and even bad days. We want to contribute.”

Gregory assures everyone that if Ponca City experiences another shutdown due to COVID-19, you can still get your Jalapeño Grill fix via take-out or delivery. She also offers catering.

Currently, Jalapeño Grill is open Monday thru Saturday 11 am to 8 pm. Be on the lookout for expanded summer hours.

Find updates and the menu on Facebook at Facebook.com/jalapenogrillponcacity, or call the restaurant at (580) 576-0258.