AFTER WORLD WAR II, staple food shortages in Japan sparked something so ubiquitous that it’s as likely to be in a Japanese family’s pantry as the dorm room of a stateside college student. Instant ramen, the flash-fried noodle packet invented by Momofuku Ando, was inspired by the casual Japanese stalls serving versions of the noodles-and broth dish while requiring nothing from a home cook but the ability to heat water.
Instant ramen is but one end of a vast ramen spectrum. Variations stem from different regions, ingredients, cooking techniques, and toppings. In the past few years, restaurants in Oklahoma have tackled the laborious process of whittling down these options to assemble their own perfectly slurpable menus, bringing far-less-than instant ramen to the state.
For JeffChanchaleune, James Beard Award semifinalist and chef-owner and partner at Goro Ramen in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District, his restaurant is a manifestation of those instant noodles from childhood coming home to roost.
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Let Them Eat Cake, Cookies, Pie, Etc.
The Pastry Nook in Enid reigns supreme over northwestern Oklahoma’s sugar scene.
LIFE Of SLICE
OH, PIZZA. THAT MOST BELOVED OF ENTRÉES. WHILE THERE ARE AS MANY WAYS TO ENJOY PIZZA AS THERE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, THESE OKLAHOMA RESTAURANTS KNOW HOW TO DO PIE RIGHT.
SWEET LOVE
Drizzle it over biscuits, use it to sweeten a cup of tea, or just sneak a spoonful out of the jar every now and then—there’s nothing like Oklahoma honey.
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Though this historic restaurant may seem off the map, its antique charm, hospitality, and service proves why it’s been around for nearly a century.
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Oklahomans are adding plant-based items to their menus for a more health-conscious, colorful, and inclusive culinary experience.
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Reckoning with a return to restaurants, our mutual responsibility, and memories of shared tables long past
FOOD WORTH THE DRIVE 2021
FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR RUNNING, OKLAHOMA TODAY’S EDITORS TRAVELED TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE TO BRING BACK WORD OF THE MANY WONDERS OF OUR SHARED CULINARY SCENE. WHETHER YOU’RE CRAVING A CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK, CAJUN DELIGHTS, INDULGENT DESSERTS, OR JAPANESE SOUL FOOD, OUR GUIDE TO OKLAHOMA’S DRIVE-WORTHY EATERIES IS HERE TO HELP.
food fighters
AS A PANDEMIC THREATENED TO SHUTTER THEIR BUSINESSES FOR GOOD, OKLAHOMA RESTAURANT OWNERS MARSHALED THEIR COURAGE, GRIT, AND CREATIVITY TO MAKE DINING OUT A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.
Daily Special
Whether satisfying hunger or providing work experience, Special Kneads is making Shawnee stronger.
Bobbing for Apples
Though there may be apples on the brain at this cidery, a beer-like experience is in store for those who venture to OK Cider Co.
