Lola's

Today my husband and I decided to a take a trip to one of our favorite destinations – a food truck! Eric had noticed the Airstream Trailer for the last week or so and after he told me about it, we were wondering if it could possibly be the same Lola’s that we used to love and visit on Brady so long ago.  Turns out it is the same Lola’s, and they’re serving up some delicious street food right here in lovely little Tulsa!

Chic' Adobo With Goat Cheese

Once we arrived we looked over the menu and decided to order a few different options.  Something that caught Eric’s eye right away was the Chic’ Adobo With Goat Cheese ($7).  It is a combination of grilled chicken, chipotle and roasted red bell peper salsa sprinkled with goat cheese served on a bun.  This was by far our favorite item of the day! The creamy goat cheese was the perfect cooling element to the spicy chipotle chicken.

Route 66 Grilled Cheese

We also decided to try a good ol’ fashioned grilled cheese, but we were daring and decided to add some avocado to it on their suggestion!  It is called the Route 66 Grilled Cheese and sells for $5 (avocado added $1 extra).  For me I was really surprised that the avocado worked so well with the grilled cheese.  The buttery richness of it harmoniously melted away with the American cheese, and I was a happy girl in my gooey cheesy heaven.  The key to a great grilled cheese is the crispiness and boy, was it crispy!

Gypsy Caravan Tacos

Finally, with any street food trip, we had to the try the tacos.  Lola’s tacos are called Gypsy Caravan Tacos and sell for $2 each.  What a steal!  Adobe Chicken, cheese, onion cilantro, lime and romesca are perfect for a quick bite or a light lunch.

I’m so glad this food truck rolled in to our neck of Route 66.  There are some tables in front of the trailer for onsite dining, and the day we visited a very nice band serenaded us through our lunch.  I should also mention they offer some desserts such as a Black & Tan Sundae and Big Cookies, for those with a sweet tooth.  You can visit Lola’s at 1347 E. 11th Street & make sure to bring cash!  No credit cards accepted.

No related posts.

The Tropical

The Tropical was on the Tasty Tulsa to-do list because of one simple fact – the owners of Lanna Thai are responsible for creating it.  I can speak for myself, and my fellow Tasty Tulsa bloggers, in saying that Lanna Thai is one of our favorite restaurants in town with its comfortable ambiance and delicious cuisine.  Not only owned by the purveyors of Lanna Thai, The Tropical also has the unique allure of being “Asian seafood fusion”.

Fried Calamari

After debating between the Lettuce Wrap or the Fried Calamari appetizers, we choose to dig into the Fried Calamari ($9) by recommendation of the waitress.  The calamari was delicately breaded and seasoned with salt and lemon.  It was a unique presentation as it was served with both a sweet peanut sauce and a spicy Sriracha ketchup, but it started to make sense after I saw myself and my dining companions dipping squid rings into alternating sauces.  The squid had a very tender texture and light breading, which is now one of my favorite calamari appetizers in town.

Tonkatsu

After reading through the menu I really had no idea what I wanted, so I asked the friendly waitress for a recommendation.  She said if I didn’t feel like fish I should try the Tonkatsu ($12), which is a tempura fried pork sirloin, served with a garlic fried rice and Tonkatsu sauce.  I have had this type of dish at Fuji, and while I liked it at Fuji, I wasn’t in love with it.  However, The Tropical’s version of tempura fried pork sirloin was especially delicious and stole my heart.  I enthusiastically dipped every last bite into the honey mustard sauce, and gobbled up the garlic rice which was utterly magical to my taste buds.

Scallops with Lemon Butter

Christine is always looking for the “Top Scallops” of Tulsa and chose an entree off the “Fresh off the Grill” portion of the menu.  This portion of the menu features several seafood proteins to choose from, with several choices of sauces, to mix and match.  She had her heart set on trying scallops with a red curry sauce, as these are two of her favorite things.  However, when she ordered the waitress advised this would not be a good combination.  After discussion with the waitress Christine chose the Scallops with Lemon Butter ($17) instead, and luckily she ultimately really enjoyed it.  The large scallops were plentiful and deftly sauteed with the light sauce that didn’t overwhelm the scallop.  She also full-heartedly agreed with me the garlic rice was off-the-charts awesome!

Mee Siam

Jennifer ordered the Mee Siam ($10) which is a stir-fried rice vermicelli, eggs, fresh tofu, bean sprouts, and green onions.  The menu describes it mixed in a Tropicalian sauce, which appeared to be missing in action on this visit.  About 10 minutes after ordering the dish, the waitress came back and asked Jen if she wanted her Mee Siam dry or cooked with some sort of sauce.  She opted for sauceless and used a bit of my Tonkatsu sauce to doctor it up.  Overall, Jennifer enjoyed her dinner and described it as being similar to the Pad Thai at Lanna Thai.

Mango Crisps

We all felt that a dessert was in order and chose the Mango Crisps, which were more or less a mango donut hole.  Needless to say, I loved these fried mango bits drizzled in honey.

The Tropical surprised me with how delicately prepared the dishes are with such great finesse.  After a few minor mix-ups with the service and ordering dishes, I had my doubts that we would leave happy, but we ultimately did!  I can assure you we will return to The Tropical and try a other items we were curious about on the menu – even the elusive red curry scallops!

The Tropical Restaurant & Bar  is located at 8125 E 49th Street

Related posts:

1. KEO – Southeast Asian Fusion? Yes, Please!
2. Bali Fusion Cafe – The Best Calamari in Town! The Best!
3. SMOKE on Cherry Street – Woodfire Grillin’ & Classy Cuisine

La Hacienda

Sometimes I wake up craving Mexican food.  More specifically chips and salsa, with refried beans.  I can’t really explain it as it only happens once in a blue moon.  It is kind of like my 8th wonder of my foodie world.  So last weekend, it happened, the random morning Mexican craving, and luckily it was fulfilled at La Hacienda on Brookside.

My husband and I were late getting up and around this particular morning. We were looking for brunch and ended up making our way to Brookside. Having heard good things about La Hacienda, we decided to head in that direction.  It was now 11 o’clock, more lunch-ish than brunch-ish, but whatever.  As we were walking up we noticed they actually open at 8 am.  Breakfast Mexican – my new best friend!

Carnitas

I scanned the menu and thought about ordering one of the delicious sounding breakfast items such as Huevos Rancheros, but decided to go with the Carnitas instead.  Their version of carnitas is delicious pork that has been seared to perfection.  I choose to have mine served with corn tortillas and enjoyed making my own perfectly lovely soft tacos.

Chorizo

Eric decided to order the Chorizo breakfast which was a scrambled dish full of mexican sausage, eggs, onions and peppers.  The sausage wasn’t too spicy and the eggs were the perfect texture.  He tried out their house potatoes on the side and thought they were delicious as well.

Overall, we really enjoyed La Hacienda.  The service was fabulous, and the food delicious.  Eric and I both said we couldn’t wait to go back, during our meal!  Now that is saying a lot.  I must admit we were not a fans of the chips and salsa, but I think we may be too picky in this department.  Regardless, I will be back soon to try some more of what La Hacienda has to offer!

No related posts.

My Thai Kitchen

There is one Thai dish in all of Tulsa that I measure up against all other Thai restaurants, which is the Pad Se Ew at Thai Siam.  The eggy rice noodles mixed with chicken, broccoli, and cilantro present the perfect spicy treat for my palate.  It’s so delicious in fact, that it makes my mouth water every time I simply hear the name “Thai Siam”.  Can My Thai Kitchen produce those same tantalizingly awesome flavors that I am used to at Thai Siam?

Chicken Satay

We started with the appetizer of chicken satay.  Chicken Satay ($5.95) is a must for us when we go to any Thai restaurant.  Their version of the popular Thai appetizer was lacking the crispy grilled texture I have come to expect in the dish; however, the chicken was juicy and tender.  Also, the peanut sauce was a tad thin, but tasty nonetheless.

Pad Se Ew

Like I said before, the Pad Se Ew at Thai Siam is my favorite Thai dish in all of Tulsa.  Their version of Pad Se Ew consists of rice noodle with broccoli, straw mushroom, egg, a touch of garlic and white powder topped with garlic.  Unfortunately, My Thai Kitchen failed to capture the magic of the Thai Siam dish, but I was still happy with their take on it.

My Thai Kitchen is located @ 3023 S. Harvard, Suite C

Related posts:

1. Thai Siam – From Thailand to Tulsa
2. The Elegant and Affordable Bamboo Thai Bistro
3. Lanna Thai – A Spicy Adventure

Tacos El Rinconcito

Today my husband and I were headed to the midtown Best Buy for some early Christmas shopping, when we suddenly became quite hungry.  I find a hungry shopper is an angry shopper, so we had to nip that nonsense in the taste buds.  We pulled out our iPhones and checked Urbanspoon for nearby places to eat.  Luckily, Tacos El Rinconcito popped up as an option and we went with it hoping for a satisfying and affordable lunch date.

Gazpacho

We snaked our way down 46th street, through several neighborhoods in search of Tacos El Rinconcito.  After a couple turns we found ourselves parked outside the restaurant, which is sandwiched between a laundromat and a Mercado.  We walked into the crowded restaurant and were the only Gringos in the joint; however, the cashier was happy to oblige in English.  We started with an order of Gazpacho.  Their version of gazpacho is not a soup; however, it is layer upon layer of crisp pickled vegetables such as jicama and cucumber, served with sweet mango and sprinkled with tamarind.  A couple squirts of lime and I was in sweet and savory heaven.

Carne Asada Torta

I also ordered a Carne Asada Torta sandwich.  Tortas always bring me back to the time in my life when I worked in downtown Los Angeles and would walk to the Grand Central Market for lunch. That is where I experienced my first torta, and coincidentally my best torta. Pretty sure I mention that every time I write about tortas.  Oh the memories!  Having said that, Tacos El Rinconcito does a pretty damn good torta.  The Carne Asada was chopped into little pieces, which is different than what I’m used to, but that enabled for a sandwich with nice brown crunchy bits of meat.  The bun was fresh and the toppings of avocado, tomato, lettuce and onion plentiful.

Pollo Flautas

Eric decided to order the Pollo Flautas served with arroz and frijoles refritos.  Eric is not a fan of beans; however, I am and as I had read some rave reviews I had to try them.  He so kindly ordered the platter “as is” as opposed to his typical “double rice” so I could check them out. I am glad he did because they were quite creamy and flavorful!  The flautas were rolled with corn tortillas, stuffed with tender chicken and topped with avocado, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and cojita cheese.  This was a lovely version of flautas and Eric didn’t even mind “all the stuff” on top.

We left stuffed to gills and ready to shop. The entire meal with a large horchata was around $15 total.  I was a cheap happy date, and for that my husband was grateful.

Tacos El Rinconcito is located at 4705 S Braden Ave.

Related posts:

1. Tacos el Velvet Elvis – A Taco Stand with Soul
2. It’s All About the Brisket Tacos at Mi Cocina!

The Sushi Place

I hate this kind of blog post.  This is one where I feel guilty for writing it, but also feel like I have to because of the sheer disappointment of a dining experience.  I probably would have refrained from ever writing this at all, drawing on the old adage “if you can’t say something nice…” however my sister and fellow TT blogger, Jennifer, insisted I do as she states this is the worst dining experience she can remember.  So, here goes the long sad tale of our lunch…

My sister and I headed downtown to try The Sushi Place, in hopes of a great meal.  As we entered the restaurant two different servers engaged eye contact with us but failed to actually verbally acknowledge us.  I hate this type of greeting (or lack thereof).  After probably a minute or more of wondering if we seat ourselves we noticed a sign that stated to order at the counter.  Uh, what counter?  The counter is a space as approximately big as a bread box with a cash register that is apparently designated for ordering.  So we ordered, quickly, as we both felt pressured by the frazzled energy of the server.  As I was reciting my order to the server he started talking over me to another server.  It was quite rude, but I still tipped over 20% because having worked as a waitress for many years I thought maybe he was just overwhelmed or something.

I ordered the lunch special that consists of a small portion of the Ika Salad with two Gyoza and a 918 Roll.  Jennifer ordered a Spicy Tuna Roll and a full order of Gyoza.

Then it just all went downhill from there.

What's Missing From This Picture? Oh, the Food!

We waited, and waited, and waited some more for our food to come out.  Mind you it is a Wednesday at 11:30 and we’re both on our lunch hour.  The tables around us, probably 6 to 8 of two seaters, are also waiting with no food.  Over 20 minutes lapse and not one table has received any food.  Isn’t this a sushi place?  We smell food, but we don’t see it.  What is going on here?  Some people are now asking for their meals to go because of the delay.  Slowly, food starts to trickle out.  Finally, after an HOUR AND TEN MINUTES (seriously) we get our meals.  Oh wait, only part of Jennifer’s meal makes it to the table.  Jennifer didn’t receive her order of gyoza because I will now quote the server “We didn’t forget.  We just don’t have a big enough fryer and she (cook) said ‘I can’t make it fit, I JUST CAN’T MAKE IT FIT’”.  They can’t make six small pieces of gyoza fit in their fryer?  We were stunned at this but LUCKILY it was only about another 15 minutes to get the missing order of gyoza.  Hyuck, hyuck, hyuck.

Lunch Special

So the food finally comes and here is our take on it.  The 918 Roll is described as shrimp tempura, crabstick, avocado, topped with tempura flakes & sweet sauce.  Overall, it was pretty good but nothing was exceptionally exciting or intriguing about it.  However, at this point I’m just pissed so I’m probably biased.  I did enjoy the Ika Salad, so hooray for that.

Spicy Tuna Roll

Jennifer was not so lucky and thought the Spicy Tuna Roll was sub par.  The rice was undercooked and crunchy, and the tuna was various colors and oddly warm.  Perhaps sitting out on a warm counter somewhere?  Jen’s quote of the day “Can we go to Fuji after work?  I don’t feel satisfied.”  The long awaited gyoza were just… oh who even cares at this point?

After the food finally arrived the server actually came over to check on us (for the very first time).  He said ”is the food any good now that it finally came out?”  Feeling so over the whole experience we semi-voiced our annoyance to no avail.  After that he proceeded to say “I mean it is just crazy in here today, so crazy in here!” If by crazy you mean about 8 small tables dining for lunch, I guess so.

The Sushi Place is located @ 115 W 3rd Street Tulsa, OK

Related posts:

1. Sake Sushi Bar and Japanese Cuisine
2. A Pleasant Afternoon at The Flying Fish Sushi Bar
3. Fuji: A Tulsa Sushi Institution

Back Alley Blues & BBQ

BBQ restaurants in Tulsa are like Quik Trips – there is literally one around every corner.  From chains like Rib Crib, to the smaller mom and pop joint like Elmer’s, a great reputation is tough to achieve with so much competition around.  So, along comes Back Alley Blues & BBQ with their own brand of “Memphis style slow-smoked BBQ and seriously good music”.  Memphis style BBQ focuses on dry rubs as opposed to sauces.  We missed out on any live music this time around, but we tasted a whole lot of food and it goes a lil’ something like this.

Candied Bacon

This was a special Tasty Tulsa outing as we met up with our fellow food and wine loving friends Emma and Paul.  We had the pleasure of sharing our newbie impressions of Back Alley Blues & BBQ, as this was a first time visit for all of us.  The waitress, Nicole, seated us and casually sat down beside us to enthusiastically offer her recommendations for our dinner.  We knew right away that we wanted to try the Candied Bacon and the Jalapeno Poppers as our appetizers.  The Candied Bacon was a hit at our table – how could it not be? Crispy pork sweetened with brown sugar – yum! The Jalapeno Poppers were also blissfully executed as they were stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in a perfectly crisped pieces of bacon.

Jalapeno Poppers

We serendipitously each ordered a different entree from “The Classics” section of the menu which come accompanied by two sides.  Christine went with the Pulled Pork with sides of Fried Okra and Deviled Egg Potato Salad.  It was a roller coaster of ups and downs.  She thought the Pulled Pork was a bit too dry and salty for her liking.  The okra was everything she’d hoped for and quite plentiful, but the promising sounding potato salad was somehow flavorless and a flop.

Pulled Pork

Emma ordered the BBQ Bologna with sides of Fried Pickles and Mac ‘N’ Cheese.  The BBQ Bologna was smokey, tasty and tender.  The Fried Pickles were excellent and she thought perhaps some of the best in town!  However, Emma felt the Mac ‘N’ Cheese was a bit on the bland side.  Pretty much shells topped with a lack-luster cheese sauce.

BBQ Bologna

Paul decided upon a Two Meat Combo of Hot Links and 1/2 Slab Dry Rub Ribs with sides of Baked Beans and Smoked Corn on the Cob.  Paul wasn’t all that impressed with the dryness of the ribs; however, he enjoyed the subtle heat of the hot links that lingered on the palate.  Paul felt the baked beans “had too much stuff in them” such as red peppers, but Emma enjoyed them.  The “smoked” corn on the cob was lacking any real smokiness and pretty much…plain old corn on the cob.

Hot Links and 1/2 Slab Dry Rub Ribs

I ordered the Back Alley Brisket after being steered away from the Beer Can Chicken by the waitress.  The Brisket was much saltier than the brisket I am used to, but it worked well with the smokiness of the meat.  The brisket was probably the overall favorite meat of the night by everyone at the table.  My first side, Fried Green Tomatoes, were excellent with a nice, crisp breading.   I also choose Onion Rings and found them delicious as they were thin cut and easy to eat. This thinness did away with any of the dreaded taking-one-bite-and-pulling-out-the-whole-damn-onion-ring-thing that sadly sometimes happens.

Feelin' the Blues Decor!

The general consensus was mixed emotions of highs and lows.  Meats and sides were a toss up.  The fried sides and appetizers were a hit across the table and Christine pretty much nailed it by saying “well, at least they know how to fry things”.  We came for the slow-smoked barbecue and left thinking more about fried fare.  Maybe we’re just a bit more Tulsa than Memphis.

Related posts:

1. Yokozuna: The Newest Restaurant in Tulsa’s Blue Dome
2. Elmer’s BBQ – It Be Good!

El Rio Verde

After hearing many rave reviews from friends and coworkers about El Rio Verde, my husband and I decided to make our way north of Admiral in search of a satisfying south-of-the-border meal.  To be honest we had a bit of a tough time finding the restaurant at first.  Eventually we found it nestled in the midst of a modest neighborhood of old houses and what looks to be a string of run down warehouses on the horizon.  This could be interesting!

Wet Burrito

After locating El Rio Verde we stepped in the restaurant having no idea what to expect.  We were promptly and pleasantly greeted and noticed the restaurant had an eclectic mix of diners: young, old and everything in between.  I liked this dynamic.  As we looked over the menu I knew I had to order the Wet Burrito ($6) as it clearly stated on the menu “This is our claim to fame!”  My response was “bring it on, baby!”  I typically do not like burritos with beans and rice in them, but felt I needed to go with the flow.  I’m one of those pesky American-Tex-Mex sort of gals who like those on the side, or not at all; however, I thought “when in Rome” and went with it.  I ordered my big ol’ burrito stuffed with carnitas (fried tender pork) and loved every bite of that sucker (well, technically I finished about a 1/3 of it).  My God the pork was tender, and the flour tortilla was nice and soft as it was drenched in the hot salsa and melted cheese.  I say hot on two levels: an unobtrusive spicy hot, and sizzling straight out of the oven hot.

Carne Asada Quesadilla

Eric went for a more straightforward meal of the Carne Asada Quesadilla ($5.50).  It was basically three ingredients: grilled beef steak and pepper Jack cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.  Eric enjoyed the simplicity of it and thought it was very meaty.  I took a bite and thought it was a good quesadilla, but also a run of the mill quesadilla.

Overall, I would go back for another one of those burritos.  The chips and salsa on the other hand… left a lot to be desired.  We were pretty disappointed with the fact they seemed stale and cold, and Eric found the salsa to be too watery for his liking. Regardless, the prices are quite cheap and most importantly we left satisfied. We spent just around $20 for an order of guacamole, two meals, two drinks, and a fine tip for the good service.

El Rio Verde is located @ 38 N Trenton Ave. Tulsa, OK.

No related posts.

Charlie Mitchell's Modern Pub

Charlie Mitchell knows soccer.  Charlie Mitchell knows Tulsa.  You know, like Bo knows.  That said Charlie Mitchell combined this knowledge with his love for food and brought Scottish American Modern Pub fare back to Tulsa.  Mitchell is back after closing down his last restaurant in 1995.  Before that he had been in the restaurant business since 1981 and at one time was operating five Charlie Mitchell Restaurants.  With a little help from his friends, fellow restauranteurs Greg McGill and Hal Walker of McGill’s restaurants, Charlie Mitchell’s Modern Pub is in town ravamping the old and bringing the new.

Rochester Lancers Dip

We began our lunch by trying out the Rochester Lancers Dip ($7.95) which is “A Must-Have!” according to the menu.  Christine couldn’t resist the opportunity to hit up the spinach.  The cream spinach with Parmigiano cheese, cream cheese and artichoke hearts was so fabulous, fresh, and tasty that even I enjoyed the green stuff – now that’s saying a lot.  The chips were fresh as well and the spicy  salsa on the side was a nice touch.

The Rack

After knocking around several options of entrees I decided to put Charlie Mitchell’s Modern Pub to the test by getting the The Rack ($15.95) of Danish Ribs.  The waitress held these Danish ribs in high regard and recommended them full-heartedly.  This slow cooked perfection was basted with barbecue sauce and served with French fries and slaw.  I can easily rate these as some of the best ribs I have ever had.  The fries were superb and I ate every last one.

Fleet Street Burger

Christine bypassed her initial impulse of trying the Monte Cristo and took on the Fleet Street Burger ($6.95) instead.  This juicy burger is made of fresh ground chuck cooked medium rare and topped with bleu cheese, bacon crumbles, lettuce, tomato and red onions.  Christine is fickle when it comes to the proportion of condiments and she loved that the burger had the perfect dollop of bleu cheese on it – “not too overpowering” she said.   I stole several bites of the Fleet Street and each bite seemed the exact same as the other – simply perfect and so juicy!

Charlie Mitchell’s Modern Pub is located at 51st & Yale, in a stylish building with a great atmosphere.  We enjoyed the friendly waitstaff who served excellent food which was a cut above what most people would consider pub fare.  There were several college football games airing over the non-intrusive flat screens strategically placed, but as far as this foodie is concerned Charlie Mitchells scored the most valuable goal – a spectacular restaurant!

Charlie Mitchell’s Modern Pub is located at 4848 S. Yale Ave.

Related posts:

1. Kilkennys Irish Pub & Eatery – May Your Glass Be Ever Full
2. Baker St. Pub & Grill – Grub, Drinks, Sports, and More Drinks

Dilly Deli

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  It was Friday, very nice outside and both my husband and I had the glorious day off.  We decided to head to brunch at a good brunchin’ hour – around 10:00 am.  We hopped, skipped and jumped our way downtown and happened upon Dilly Deli.  I’d always been curious about the place but never actually been in because honestly, I’ve heard very mixed reviews.  As we arrived we were promptly greeted, seated and had our drink orders placed.  The inside is colorful and eclectic and we settled in as we pondered what to order for breakfast.

Green Eggs & Ham

I decided to order the Green Eggs & Ham ($7.50) which is a dish of hash browns, with spinach, ham, pesto, Parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes and fried two eggs; however, I choose to have my eggs scrambled instead.  I usually don’t like dishes all willy-nilly, haphazardly plopped on top of each other like the Green Eggs & Ham was served but this time I didn’t mind.  I’m more of a compartmentalized type of girl but on this dish the pile of breakfast fare just worked.  Everything blended so well together and the stars of the show were the heaping amounts of sundried tomatoes and the delicious pesto.  I would definitely order this one again!

Vince & Joel

Eric ordered the Vince & Joel ($7) which is a ½ order of French toast, two eggs & choice of breakfast meat.  He chose sausage and to have those eggs scrambled.  The sausage patties were a little on the sweet but we both really enjoyed that.  The french toast was nice and eggy, and Eric gobbled it up in a hurry.  Overall, he thinks it was a great french toast platter which is something he orders all the time.

Dilly Deli Kitsch

We also ordered an adorable little cheesecake tart topped with lemon curd from their pretty dessert case that I just happen to be eating while I write this.  I like the unique menu options Dilly Deli has to offer and I really want to go back and try their House Bloody Mary.  I hear it’s quite spicy which is right up my alley!

Dilly Deli is located at 402 East 2nd Street, Tulsa

Related posts:

1. Brunch at The Chalkboard
2. A Delightful Breakfast At Broken Egg Cafe
3. A Fabulous Brunch at La Hacienda!