10 Northeast OKC restaurants you need to try now.
Recent developments — including a James Beard Award — have brought Oklahoma City’s northeast side into larger conversations about food, culture, access and justice. The truth is, NEOKC has been churning out great food for decades, but most people who didn’t live there didn’t take the time to pop over for Southern cooking, soul food, barbecue, Bobo’s or any of the other diverse options available for those who knew what to look for. The area is developing rapidly though, and there are plenty of new things to try and old favorites to cherish. Here are 10 NEOKC Restaurants to Try Now.
Bob’s Fish & Seafood, 3340 N Kelley Ave.
It’s in one of the city’s most nondescript buildings, but locals have been going here for many years to get catfish, frog legs, shrimp and even pork chops. Bob’s sells fresh fish, too — Monday through Wednesday, you can pick a fresh fish from the case and they’ll fry it for you.
Burritos el Tin-Tan, 3838 N. Lincoln Blvd.
The company purchased Taco Rico late last year and converted this site into its third location. The food hasn’t changed much, which is great news for longtime diners. The menu is built around Tex-Mex dishes, but there are more traditional options, too, like tamales and street tacos.
Carican Flavors, 2701 N. MLK Ave.
This rare Caribbean restaurant in OKC serves excellent food hot-line style. It’s also the rare place in OKC to carry curried goat, which is a must-try. Also sample the jerk chicken, including wings, smoked turkey legs, snapper, lamb stew and Jamaican beef patties. The latter are largely unfamiliar to most diners, but they are among the best things on the northeast side.
Eastside Eatery, 1708 NE 23rd St.
Located inside the Market at EastPoint, it’s set up lunch-counter style, with tables for seating inside the store. The draw is the burger and the fish dog — a fish sandwich on a hot dog bun that’s an absolute treat — but it does a solid job across the board, even carrying some vegetarian and vegan items as healthier options alongside fried chicken, catfish and wings.
Eastside Pizza House, 1724 NE 23rd St.
This welcome addition to the pizza scene is located in the EastPoint development along NE 23rd Street. Owner-rapper Jabee opted for a black crust as the restaurant’s telltale signature, but it’s not a gimmick; the pizza is excellent. The Deep Deuce pizza has shoulder bacon and sausage, and Jabee’s eponymous pizza is made with roasted corn and jalapeños. Eastside has build-your-own and solo-sized options as well.
Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St.
While the focus is often on live entertainment at this venue and restaurant, the food is justifiably famous in NEOKC, too, including the weekend brunch options where you’ll find chicken and waffles, pancakes, build-your-own omelets and burgers. If you throw an egg on the burger, it’s a brunch burger. The catfish basket is a best-seller for good reason.
Florence’s Restaurant, 1437 NE 23rd St.
Officially a household name in the metro thanks to its James Beard Award this year, its accolades are long overdue. Diners who are just now discovering the NEOKC icon have a lot of menu to work through, from the daily specials to the fried chicken, neck bones and pear pie.
Geronimo’s, 1817 N. MLK Ave.
Not just a donut shop, it’s an institution that’s been making donuts and burgers in NEOKC for more than 50 years — and can always be counted on to help support youth athletic teams, too. Ask for your burger “Geronimo style,” and get country ham added to what is already a delicious burger.
Leo’s BBQ, 625 NE 36th St.
The legend is not gone; the original building on Kelley is no longer occupied because it made the move to the beautiful new Homeland on NE 36th and Lincoln. Owners have been making barbecue since 1974, so the food is excellent across the board, including the staples, sides and the famous strawberry-banana cake.
Polk’s House, 2319 N. Lottie Ave.
It’s essentially two different experiences: Sunday and then the rest of the week. The tiny spot is a takeout joint, where you definitely want to grab soul food for Sunday supper. The pork neck bones are the best in OKC, and you can also order mac ’n cheese, fried pork chops, tangy greens and scratch desserts.
