KITCHEN NO 324: Brunch At It's Best In OKC!
Taken by Will Harrison - FRIED GREEN TOMATO BENEDIC
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Written by Will Harrison KITCHEN No 324. Is a quaint little eatery located in Midtown OKC - It’s known as a seasonally inspired Café, Craft Bakery and Coffee Curator serving American Rustic Cuisine. However it’s also known for it’s wonderful brunch, which I got to enjoy the other day! Being located at 324 N ROBINSON AVE, it gets plenty of walk-in business as well as regulars and it’s not hard to see why, with it’s delicious menu item specialties like : CARROT HUMMUS, KITCHEN SALAD, KALE CAESAR, POACHED PEAR SALAD, LITTLE MIXED GREENS SALAD , AROMATIC CHICKEN SALAD, DOWNTOWN MONTE CRISTO, VEGGIE SANDWICH ,HAND CARVED, FANCY GRILLED CHEESE and HAND CARVED FRENCH DIP! Also there’s the main Brunch items: KITCHEN ‘GREEN’ EGGS & HAM ,CHICKEN AND GRITS ,FRIED GREEN TOMATO BENEDIC, OPEN FACED TOAST, SMOKED SALMON , DOUBLE-SMOKED PASTRAMI & SCRAMBLED EGG SANDWICH, HOUSE MADE GRANOLA, SCRATCH BISCUITS with SAUSAGE GRAVY, and GIANT BUTTERMILK PANCAKES! I had the FRIED GREEN TOMATO BENEDIC - poached eggs, fried green tomato, hollandaise, english muffin, crispy potatoes, I added Avocado to it , it was perfectly delicious! The place was better than I had expected it to be, I expected it to be pricier and a lot more fancier - however it was reasonably priced, relaxed and a friendly atmosphere! I highly recommend this place, it it very enjoyable! |
A PHO Delight Located In Shawnee, Oklahoma!
Photo courtesy of Will Harrison.
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Written By Will Harrison I recently took a trip out of town, and on the way there I stopped off in my home town of Shawnee, OK. While there I made a few stops, one of them was to Shawnee PHO, an eatery that has been in business since 2015! I was very happy when they said they had Vegan options! I ordered the Vegan PHO and the Miso Soup and was pleasantly impressed with both food and the service! Very fresh and cooked to order! I liked the choices for the veggies in the PHO, they blended perfectly! I can't say that of all places. Historically speaking - Shawnee PHO is located in the old Rainbow Inn building, which was a local diner when I was young. I highly recommend this place the everyone looking for some great food in Shawnee! And I plan on going back here soon! Shawnee PHO's location is - 603 Kickapoo Spur Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 |
BIG BIANG THEORY: Hand Pulled Noodles.
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Written by Will Harrison
I don’t usually write about food trucks, however this one really stands out above the rest and it has the namesake of one of my favorite TV shows! When I stopped to pick up groceries at Homeland just off Classen I noticed BIG BIANG THEORY: Hand Pulled Noodles was there. For ten bucks I ordered their Vegan option, which has onions and mushrooms cooked in with the noodles. It was cooked fresh to order, and they didn’t hold back, it was ready in eight minutes. Very tasty, great portions and great service! Please stop by and try these guys! I highly recommend It! |
Gun Izakaya: Japanese Fine Dining In OKC's Paseo District!
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Written by Will Harrison
Gun Izakaya is my new favorite eatery! The Vegan Mushroom Udon is to die for! I first heard about Gun on Facebook or all places!! People were boasting about the Vegan Mushroom Udon,(Udon is a popular Thick rice noodle) from pictures it looked delicious, and I thought to myself “why haven’t I heard of this place already?” Then I realized it opened in June or July. which happens to be the same time I opened my Vacuum repair shop.. anyways I decided that this would be a good place to try out! After leaving a concert that I was covering - I decided to head on over to 3000 Paseo Drive in the historic Paseo Arts District. Having my heart set on the Mushroom Udon I was quickly saddened, for they told me they had closed the grill at ten and were only doing the appetizers and drinks! I went ahead and ordered three different appetizers: The first one had sweet pickles, Kimchi and Mustard greens - the second was shiitake Mushrooms covered in a Meso sauce, then there was the sliced squash covered in a tasty sauce. All were perfect tasty and proportioned just right. I came back a different day earlier in the day, and ordered the Vegan Mushroom Udon and another or the sweet pickle appetizer. As I said before.. the Udon was to die for! It was wonderful, very filling and very tasty! I was eating with chopsticks but I asked for a spoon, because I didn’t want to make a mess, but I couldn’t waste the left over sauce! Yum Yum! If you can’t tell? I highly recommend this place. It has an amazing scenery, darkly lit for a romantic edge and club music in the background. The staff is amazing and very helpful, everything is made fresh and cooked to order. Another cool thing is that most of the menu can be adjusted for the Vegans. The prices are reasonable and the food is top notch! I found out that Gun is owned by the same people as Goro Ramen in The Plaza district, another of my favorite places to eat! For more information you can follow them on Facebook or check out their website: https://www.gunizakaya.com/gallery-2 |
Ichiban: Sushi Bar & Poke - It's time For A Good Poke!
Here is a picture of the bowl that I had! Courtesy of me.
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Written By Will Harrison Ichiban: Sushi Bar & Poke is a great idea for a date night, special occasion or just a night out with friends! It’s an opportunity to try something new or just to have Sushi in a new way, it depends on how you look at it? This delightful new eatery is located at 6308 SW 3rd, in between I-40 and Reno, right next to Five Guys I’ve had a ton of sushi in my life, so when I heard about this place through a friend, I was excited to try the Poke bowls. I’m glad I chose the bowls, they give you so many options on what to have in your bowl! They have two main types of bowls, Vegetable and Protein style. I ordered the Veggie style, it had a fresh mix of greens, mushrooms, seaweed, served with fresh sesame seeded Avocado, topped with crispy fried onion and a sweet sesame vinaigrette. Very tasty, I must say! Besides the bowls and sushi, they also have desserts and side items like springs rolls and appetizers. The food is great, the service is wonderful. The prices are affordable, I give this place an A+! I’ve had it once so far and I plan on going again here soon. Check it out yourselves! For more information, you can find them on Facebook and or check out their website! www.ichiban.com |
Goro Ramen: A Great Place To Explore Your Tastes in Ramen!
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Written by Will Harrison Goro Ramen is located in the Paseo District just off Shartel and Dewey right next to Gun Izakaya: Japanese Fine Dining, it’s a place I’ve been to several times and for some reason I’ve never written a review on. It’s time to remedy that. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Goro, darkly lit with relaxing asian music in the background, asian films viewed on their big screen. The staff is amazing and very helpful. They have many options when it comes to Ramen dishes as well as other side items. I’m always happy when a restaurant has Vegan options, because that means I get to eat more than just bread, potatoes or a plain salad! LOL! These are my favorite Vegan options so far! Nickuman - Hand made steamed bun / fried tofu/house pickled cucumbers / mushroom sauce /fried shallots /negi. I (t’s interesting, three different textures in one - soft,crispy and juicy all at on). Yasai Ramen - Vegan broth / tofu / roasted tomato / mushrooms / fried shallots / Negi If you haven't been to Goro Ramen, get yourself there an enjoy all the ramen delight you can handle! |
A New Vegan Eatery In OKC - Ready To Level The Playing Field!
This is a photo of the Mjadarah platter!
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Written by Will Harrison
NABATI Vegan Mediterranean, located off NW Expressway just had a soft opening on Monday July 29th, I’m glad I was able to make it out try all the delicious food! I took the liberty of ordering three different platters: The Sampler Platter - Fresh Humus with Pita, Baba Ganoush, Dolma, stuffed cabbage leaves, Falafal served with tabouli and fresh veggies. Sabanekh (suh-ban-ekh) - Fresh spinach cooked with sautéed onions, garlic, and olive oil and served with jasmine rice and lots of lemon Mjadarah (em-juh-da-rah) - Lentil beans are the star of this traditional dish cooked with jasmine rice and served with fried onions and tangy salata I enjoyed all of the platters that I ordered! Very tasty and affordable, I think I spent maybe a little over twenty bucks for three platters and drinks, That’s a great deal, and it’s fresh vegan food! The next time I drop by I will order the Shawarma and burgers, maybe a meat pie as well? They also have a ton of treats and dishes to take with you if you're on the go like, Meatpies, Humus, tabouli, Baba Ganoush just to name a few items! Overall I highly recommend this place! Great food, great service and friendly faces! |
The Thai Orchid: Yukon's Own Thai Food Paradise!
Tom Kah soup, photo courtesy of Will Harrison.
Find Tofu with dipping sauce, photo courtesy of Will Harrison.
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Written by Will Harrison
Thai Orchid restaurant in Yukon, Oklahoma, located at 340 South Mustang Rd. is my new favorite place! Not only is it child friendly but they can and will change most any dish to match your diet. I’m Vegan so as you can imagine How happy I was to find out that they would change the recipes to suit my dietary needs! Amazeballs. It’s hard to find places like that, trust me! The staff was amazing and friendly! The food portions were perfect, and the food was fresh and cooked to order, very tasty! Sometimes when you change a recipe, it can lose flavor or texture, but not with this food paradise, the flavor was astounding! I ordered the Tow Hu Thot (Fried Tofu) for appetizer, it had a sweet and sour dipping sauce, which worked perfectly with the tofu. For the main course I ordered the Tom-Kah Soup, A traditional thai coconut soup, served with onion, mushroom, tomato and peppers, I left out the chicken and added Tofu. And had a heaping of steamed rice. It was delish! I also ordered the Pad Krapow (Spicy Basil) stir fry traditionally stir fried veggies with meat and egg, I left out the meat and egg. It was also delish! My boys ordered the traditional Chicken Pad Thai – Traditional Thai street food, stir fried rice noodles served with egg, bean sprouts, green onion, crushed peanuts and a peanut style sauce. The boys gobbled it up fast and were happy! I had a great experience at Thai Orchid in Yukon and I plan on going back soon! |
Queen Of Sheba: North Side's Place For Ethiopian Cuisine!
Pictured is the interior of the restaurant.
The entree pictured is Messob.
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Written by Will Harrison
Queen of Sheba, is a quaint little place on north side OKC. In fact, you may have driven by it and not even seen it, because it’s kind of hidden; however being located at 2308 N MacArthur Blvd – it makes for a good central location. At Queen of Sheba, they serve authentic Ethiopian cuisine. When going there you will be greeted by happy, inviting faces; the center area has a giant screen T.V displaying ethiopian music videos. The walls are covered with authentic artwork, I found the environment relaxing. The kitchen may be small but they put out a ton of delectable delights, like their specialties: Sambusa – Thin dough shells with a balanced blend of minced chicken, green chili and herbs. Lamb tibs – Marinated tender boneless leg of lamb in a spicy red pepper stew. Messob – which is an entrée and sampler of seasoned beefs, chickpea, salad and greens. Don’t leave without having the Injera – A sourdough-like flatbread that is a staple in Ethiopian cusine, made from the smallest grains on earth, with its spongelike texture it is used as a plate and dipped into delicious stews. Price wise, expect to pay at least $10.00 per entree, the food is most similar to Mediterranean, however quite different. Both my children of various ages and myself enjoyed the tasty delights found at Queen of Sheba and will definitely be returning soon! |
Tucker's Onion Burgers: Onion Burgers That Rock!
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Written by Will Harrison
Tuckers Onion Burgers, isn’t a new eatery in fact it’s been around here locally since 2011. So they been slamming burgers out to loyal customers for a good hard six years! And they’re not stopping anytime soon. Their first success was their tasty onion burgers loaded with a patty of 100% beef! Then they went on to serving Turkey burgers, now they their newest and my favorite – The Impossible burger, which is 100% plant based! In the first week of their debut, they sold 1000 Impossible burgers; because of this, they have decided to have it as a regular at all their locations! Just in case you want to know – in order for the burger to be Vegan, you must order it with the kid’s bun and no cheese as of yet, but the rumor is that they will be getting a vegan cheese to compliment the Impossible! So I’m crossing my fingers! FYI, the fries are cooked in Peanut oil, making them Vegan as well, and they are amazing, In fact it’s hard for me to stop eating them! Whether you’re a Herbivore, Omnivore or a Carnivore Tuckers has a burger that you’ll enjoy! |
GOGi GO: Korean BBQ IN A Bowl - New To Midtown OKC!
Photo of the Vegetarian/Vegan bowl.
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Written by Will Harrison Gogi Go: Korean BBQ in a bowl is located in OKC’s Midtown district on north Walker Ave. surrounded by many businesses and local eateries like Waffle Champion, You’ll find it to be a unique addition to the Midtown area! It’s traditional Korean delights in new convenient options, for instance you can have your order in a bowl or wrapped in a tortilla like a burrito. The staff is friendly and helpful, you order and pick up in front unless it’s a special order, then they bring it out to you. They offer signature bowls in Chicken, Beef, Pork and they even have a Vegan/Vegetarian option. They have a build your own option as well, for both bowl and burrito. Even though I have only been once so far, I will definitely be coming back! For more info, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gogigookc/menu/ |
Grand House Asian Bistro: Great Food And Great Service!
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Written by Will Harrison Grand House Asian Bistro, is located in OKC’s Asian District just off Classen Blvd. surrounded by many good eats and Asian style restaurants, but after eating there you’ll notice a big difference from the other places! You can enjoy tastes from an extensive menu of Chinese cuisine in a warm, quiet and elegant atmosphere. Conveniently located in the heart of Oklahoma City. They offer lunch and dinner selections, a full bar, traditional dim sum on weekends and much more! They also offer live music on various nights. I highly recommend Grand House to everyone. My family has enjoyed many of their delights; Our favorites have been, The Thai Basil Chicken, Budda’s Delight, Green Beans with a side of rice. At Grand House you can always count on great food and a friendly atmosphere; I will definitely be back to Grand House Asian Bistro, to try more of their wonderful cuisine! For more info, follow them on Facebook and check out this link: http://grandhouseokc.com/blog/ |
TAJ: Cuisine Of India - OKC's Best Indian Food!
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Written by Will Harrison
Taj Indian Cuisine Buffet – has a fully loaded buffet of tasty Indian favorites, like Hummus, Chicken Masala, lamb Curry and much more! Indian dishes are traditionally Vegan, but overtime there have been Americanized dishes added that are not. The owner of Taj is Vegan and has made sure that everything on the buffet is marked clearly and detailed about what is in the dishes. For a vegan which I am – this makes the experience even better. My favorites so far are as follows: Eggplant Masala, Lemon Rice, Steamed Jasmine Rice, Potato Curry, Spinach Crisps, Fried and breaded Broccoli, and the Veggie Spring Rolls! You definitely won’t leave hungry! It’s also kid friendly, my kiddos enjoyed it and have begged to come back again! Taj is located at 1500 NW 23rd street in OKC – give it a try and you will see – that nothing beats their Indian cuisine! |
The Loaded Bowl: OKC's First All Vegan Eatery!
Mac and Cheese and a loaded Naked Burrito Bowl.
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Written by Will Harrison
The Loaded Bowl is OKC’s best kept secret, however even if you’re not living the vegan lifestyle, you will still appreciate the quality and the taste of their signature dishes. I must admit, the first time I went to this local eatery, I didn’t really give it a chance, in fact I didn’t figure that I would return, However I did return, and man was I wrong. I’m totally sold on this Vegan delight now. I ordered the Chili Cheese Fries and The Mac and Cheese – The portions were just right. The quality and taste were outstanding – the staff is friendly, helpful and they even give great suggestions. I was impressed! Here are a few signature dishes that you must try – The Layered Enchiladas, The Spaghetti Okie, Loaded Nachos, Southwest Quinoa Bowl, The Chicken Melt and the Sesame Rice Bowl! Not only is the food great but they also have a fully stocked bar, including all natural brews to wines and cocktails! Either way you can’t beat this local eatery! It’s always neat to find local eateries that are affordable, conscientious and environmentally responsible - this eatery is all of these things. To keep cost down and be eco-friendly, all of the cups, plates and utensils are all recyclable. Come out and support this local delight; it’s located in the OKC Farmers Market area at 1211 SW 2nd street. For more information you can call them at 405-820-9599 or check out their website: www.theloadedbowltruck.com |
The Press: Southern Comfort Food with A Vegan Kick!
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Written by Will Harrison
The Press, just opened in the Plaza District here in OKC, I’ve been hearing good things about the establishment so I thought it would be good to check it out for myself! Knowing that this place comes from the same people as The Mule and Anchor Down, I knew it was a worth-while venture. I was impressed with their array of choices and the environment all together. The Wait staff was amazing and helpful, I even asked the waiter for his opinion on which entree he recommended. I had the Indian Taco, Vegan style and it was grand, It’s been hard to find a good Indian taco around here in OKC and now I have. My older boys ordered the Bone in Fried Chicken - served with mac n cheese and green beans. They devoured it quickly with grease dropping enjoyment! My friend ordered the Meatloaf - Served with Butter asparagus and Mashed potatoes, she was impressed as well. My youngest boy had the Grilled Cheese - served with fruit. He seemed happy with his choice and that’s a lot to me. The Press is located at 1610 N. Gatewood just off NW 16th. I was happy and full when leaving and I know you will be too. |
The Drum Room: Drum Your Way To Some Great Fried Chicken!
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Written by Will Harrison
The Drum Room, is located at 4309 N Western in the historic Western Avenue District in OKC. It’s a small place, but it’s filled with great food and friendly faces. The parking lot is small and the eatery is right next to a dive bar, so parking is scarce, but you can park down the street, across the street or just watch for a good spot when driving by, however you want to swing it. Their menu is full of great fried chicken delights! Whether you order a whole chicken, a half chicken, chicken strips or a chicken sandwich, you won’t be let down, because this joint knows how to make chicken. I guarantee it! Also don’t forget about those wonderful sides – Fried okra, mashed potatoes, green beans or waffles either way you won’t walk away hungry. This is a kid friendly place as well, so that’s even better. If you have been looking for a great place to get your fried chicken on and not have a huge wait or have to, deal with a big crowd then The Drum Room is your place! Drop by and give it a try, you won’t be disappointed! Help support local eateries! |
Fung's Kitchen: Great Chinese Food For A great Price!
Shredded chicken with pan fried noodles.
Seafood and tofu hot pot.
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Written by Will Harrison
I found a really good Chinese restaurant that’s great for the whole family! Fung’s Kitchen is located at 3231 N. Classen Blvd. in the historic Asian district of OKC.They have a full menu of choices, loaded with all your favorite Chinese dishes, from Sweet and Sour chicken to Chop Suey or Chow Mein Noodles. They specialize in Dim Sum BBQ, and have featured times for that. Everything is fresh and cooked to order. The wait staff is friendly. The restaurant is kid friendly, that’s something I always look for when eating out. My favorite dishe so far would have to be the Hot Pot, the one I ordered this last time when dining in at Fung’s, was the Seafood Tofu Pot, It was yummy and unique (loaded with seafood, tofu and veggies soaked in a steamy beefy broth). I also enjoyed the Shredded Chicken with Pan Fried Noodles. Very tasty! My children shared and devoured the Sweet and sour chicken. Trust me that says a lot about the food. The food is great, the staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable, I highly recommend Fung’s Kitchen for your next dining adventure. |
Hy Palace: A Staple In Asian Cuisine For Oklahoma City!
Yummy Pho at Hy Palace.
Mini Hot Pot at Hy Palace.
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Written by Will Harrison
HY Palace - is my new favorite eatery. I have been there many times recently with the family, and have enjoyed the establishment each time! They have a great selection of food, and their wait staff is friendly and always helpful. They specialize in Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, but have food from many regions in Asia. Even though I have yet to order through the buffet, it always looks full of tasty food. And everyone I’ve seen eating from it seems very satisfied. I’m the kind of person that usually orders straight from the menu, that’s how I’ve always done it, with that being said they have a very wide selection on their menu, from Pho (which is amazing) to fresh roasted catfish (very tasty) to great appetizers like the Spring rolls, Fried Dumplings, Wontons and Crab Ragoon (all of these are my family’s favorites). My favorite - just happens to be their specialty – The Mini Hot Pot! A personal pot of goodness served over a blazing fire, loaded with specialty foods from major regions of Asia, simmering in a tasty spicy broth. My favorite so far is the Hong Kong: Mini pot - Its features delicious seafood like Crab legs, Octopus, Jumbo shrimp, Mussels, Scallops loaded with Mushrooms, Corn, Fried Tofu and baby Bok Choy! HY Palace also shares it’s spot with Boba Tea Café. – I have enjoyed their specialty tea after finishing meals there with the kiddos many times. Colorful and tasty. Hy Palace is located at 1133 NW 23rd street in OKC. Located next to my favorite grocery store Super Cao Nguyen! Both places are great and very affordable! If you have not tried Hy Palace, then stop by and give it a try – It won’t disappoint. |
Moon Thai Restaurant: A Great Experience In Thai Food.
Image of The Tom Kha Kai soup.
Image of the Three Musketeers entree.
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Written by Will Harrison
Moon Thai Restaurant is located at 2218 NW 23rd street in OKC just off Pennsylvania Ave. It has been a family favorite in my house for a while now. The food is always served fresh and cooked to order. The restaurant is family friendly so don't be afraid to take the kiddos with you. The owner always says he is happy to see good eaters (referencing our kiddos). Our family favorites are as follows:Tom Kha Kai soup (Mushroom, onions and chicken served in a red curry/coconut sauce). Three Musketeers entrée (three choices of meat served with rice and vegetables slathered in a sweet and spicy sauce). The Chicken Pad Tai (Savory noodles served in a sweet and spicy peanut sauce) is amazing, probably the best in OKC. The portions are just right and you will always be served with a friendly face. Moon Thai restaurant is conveniently located on the north side of OKC and is never crowded. Stop by for some great Tai food and a family friendly experience. |
Fuzzy's Taco Shop: Tasty Tacos In OKC!
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Written by Will Harrison
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Bricktown was a nice treat. We decided to go there on Labor Day after watching a movie. The line wasn’t long and neither was the wait for the food we ordered. The food was great quality and just the right temperature. The place was kid friendly, which is something we always look at when deciding on a food establishment. My kiddos are with me most of the time, so keeping them happy is important on the list. I ordered the Shrimp Tempura Taco with a flour tortilla and it was just right. My children ordered chicken and shrimp tacos and they were pleased. My partner had the chicken taco as well and she enjoyed it. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop originates from Fort Worth Texas. It was started in 2003 and quickly grew to surrounding areas. They are known for their Baja style tacos laced with feta and Fuzzy’s sauce. I highly recommend this place if you’re in the area and want some great tacos. While you’re there, enjoy the scenery and the canal. |
OKC's Waffle Champion: Not Your Traditional Waffles.
S'mores waffle plate with waffle fries, photos courtesy of Will Harrison.
Small Batch Lemon Curd Plate.
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Written by Will Harrison
Waffle Champion was quite the experience! When I was first told of it I had an image of a small level IHOP in my head – man was I wrong! When I entered the establishment at 1212 N Walker Ave. in OKC, I was greeted with friendly faces and an earthy-café vibe. I proceeded to look at the menu. It was not what I was expecting. It had a list of specialty waffles, Waffle-style sandwiches, soup, salads and they had all-natural soda and boxed water (apparently that’s the healthy way to drink it) which made me think about my order a little more. I decided, why not try something more than just regular waffles! So I splurged and ordered the S’mores Waffle Plate (covered with you guessed it – Chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers), and with that I ordered waffle fries and topped it off with an all-natural soda. I had to put something healthy in there, LOL. My significant other ordered the Small Batch Lemon Curd Plate (loaded with seasonal fruit/poppy seed cookie crumbles and Nutella syrup). My three year old had regular waffles with syrup. I have to say I was impressed and overwhelmed at the same time! The food was amazing but very rich. The S’mores was exactly what you would expect. The soda was good and the waffle fries were perfectly crispy. The portions were just right; I even had enough to save for later. I tried my girl’s order of Small Batch Lemon Curd and it was tasty as well. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and the friendly service. I recommend this place highly! Check it out for yourselves! Follow them on Facebook and check out their website, www.wafflechampion.com |
