Menu and venue changes, closures and more: OKC dining news roundup
Keeping up with everything that happens in food and dining across the Oklahoma City Metro isn’t always easy. Between openings and closings, expansions and events and the list of products recalled due to health concerns, there’s a lot for me and you to take in.
Here are some of the latest coming and goings in food and dining for Oklahoma and beyond.
Not always such an open and shut thing
The season of change in Oklahoma dining marches forward as restaurants continue to welcome guests for the first and last time across the metro, but sometimes the last time isn’t really the last time.
Mexican Radio closed up shop in the Plaza District and is moving to Midtown. The restaurant’s ownership group have signed a lease on the former Louie’s space, 1215 N. Walker Ave., and are hoping to be open by July.
Also coming to Midtown, Lori Burson, proprietor of Stella Modern Italian, 1201 N. Walker Ave., has signed a lease on the adjacent building, formerly 1492 New World Latin Cuisine, 1207 N. Walker Ave. Burson is keeping her concept under wraps for now, but when I know more, so will you.
You may have noticed a vacancy in the former Bricktown building that recently housed Bibb’s Smokehouse following the close of The Mantel. Bibb’s has relocated to 9900 NE 23 St. in Midwest City, and a for lease sign is up on the former space. Time will tell who might take the space over, no news as of now on that front.
Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse is set to reopen in Automobile Alley on March 29 nearly six months after a kitchen fire forced the Provisions Concepts restaurant to close its doors for renovations.
Speaking of Provisions Concepts, Hatch Early Mood Food, opened it’s location in Will Rogers World Airport in January, marking the completion of renovation and revamping of the airport’s terminal offerings. The restaurant joined other local hospitality and retail brands including Osteria, Tin Lizzy’s, Elemental Coffee and Plenty Mercantile.
The city’s northeast side is saying a sad goodbye to Spiked. A Coffee Concept, which will cease operations at its 1732 NE 23rd St. location March 29. Owner Brittani Hunter said in her closing announcement that it would not be the last that Oklahoma City saw of Spiked, so we will be watching for what’s next.
Kyuramen, a New York-based ramen shop, recently opened an Oklahoma City location at 2740 NW 140 St. According to its website, the chain was founded by a ramen lover who took it upon himself to learn about the dish from “ramen masters” before opening his own ramen shop, which now includes 30 locations across the United States.
Moore is slated to get a new Panera Bread location at 2101 S. Telephone Road. The location’s grand opening is set for April 3 and will include free samples and giveaways. The first 100 guests will receive “Free Bagel & Cream Cheese for a Year” (one bagel and cream cheese per month to be redeemed through the app) and a free tumbler.
New menus, items popping up for spring across town
From entrees to desserts menu revamps are common in spring and several chains have introduced new items to their menus for the season or a limited time.
Starting with dessert, you can head to Andy’s Frozen Custard locations through April 13 to try the the Frozen Custer Concrete, a collaboration with NASCAR drive Cole Custer. The treat features Andy’s vanilla frozen custard blended with Custer’s favorite toppings: Heath Bar, melted chocolate chip and smooth peanut butter.
Looking to celebrate National Carrot Day on April 4? Or perhaps you just want an excuse to eat carrot cake for breakfast. Metro Diner, 3000 W Memorial Road, has you covered with their new Carrot Cake Griddles lineup available through April 22. Choose from pancakes, waffles or bread pudding all infused with carrot cake and topped with cream cheese icing, cinnamon butter, candied pecans and powdered sugar.
Wayback Burgers, with locations in OKC (3301 SW 104 Street) and Edmond (3217 S. Broadway) is bringing diners three new menu items for spring, available through May 31. New options include the cheesy bacon cheese curds, cheesy bacon ranch cheesesteak — both featuring Wayback’s recently released apple cider cured, double applewood smoked bacon — and chocolate chip cookie dough shake.
Bakery-chain la Madeleine, 1954 24 Ave. NW in Norman, has a full lineup of baked goods for spring featuring flavors to put a hop in your step. Priced between $3 and $10, spring menu offerings include lemon poppy seed muffins, lemon white chocolate chunk cookies, blueberry and lemon Danishes and individual cheesecakes, blueberry cheesecake crepes and individual carrot cake slices.
Must-watch shows and can’t-miss events
The Big Bite Food Festival will return to downtown Tulsa on April 20 for its second year. The 2024 festival will feature a one-stop destination to taste Oklahoma James Beard nominees, New York Times best of winners, plus local restaurants, bars, and breweries. Slated to take part so far in the festivities are favorites and newcomers from Oklahoma City, Tulsa and beyond, including Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Mr. Kim’s, Valkyrie, Sedalia’s, Natv, Noche, Wanda J’s Next Gen, American Solera, India Palace, Heirloom Rustic Ales, Provisions, Cherry & Bark, Devil Seam, and more. For tickets and more information visit flywheeltulsa.com/big-bite/.
Food Network can’t seem to get enough of Oklahoma. Kevin Lee is still in the mix on “Tournament of Champions V” — tune in Sunday to see his next round of competition — and soon two new episodes of Food Network shows will feature Oklahoma ties.
First up, Zach Hutton, executive chef of GHST will appear on “Chopped” on April 9. Keep your eyes peeled for more on the episode and what Hutton is up to in an upcoming story.
Then, in an episode of a brand new Food Network show called “Best Bite In Town,” a “Bite Club” comprised of Noah Cappe and two two chefs from among Tiffani Faison, Shota Nakajima, Joe Sasto, Aarti Sequeira, and Jet Tila will come to Tulsa, explore the local food scene, visit six restaurants and nominate three dishes to present to a panel of culinary judges to determine the “Best Bite In Town.” The air date for the Tulsa episode has not yet been released, but the show premieres at 8 p.m. April 12.
Recalls on cinnamon, cashews, cheese and more
Recent recall advisories for illness and heavy metal contaminants have been published on the United States Food and Drug Administration website for cinnamon, cashews, cheddar and ricotta cheeses and more.
The original FDA recall on Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese from Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. of Modesto, California, distributed nationwide, has been expanded to include several other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and sour cream, including ricotta cheese sold under the Whole Foods 365 label with best by dates through April 2. These products are being recalled due to a risk of listeria contamination.
The contaminated cotija cheese also may have been used in the production of several Trader Joe’s items, which are now recalled for safety. Recalled products include all lots of Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing, Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit and Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad, distributed at stores nationwide.
In another recall, Trader Joe’s recalled specific lots of Trader Joes Nuts – 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews, due to potential salmonella contamination. Recalled lot numbers include T12139, T12140, T12141 and T12142 with best by dates between Feb. 21 and March 10, 2025.
Cotija and ricotta cheeses are joined in recent recalls by a food safety alert on original and jalapeño flavored raw cheddar cheese from the brand Raw Farm
due to the product being linked to an E.Coli outbreak. The CDC recommends consumers do not eat any Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese and wash items and surfaces that may have touched the contaminated cheese using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
Finally, following months of recalls and investigations that saw recalls on cinnamon applesauce due to lead contamination, multiple manufacturers have also recalled ground cinnamon due to risks. Manufacturers with current recalls include La Fiesta Food Products
(La Fiesta Brand Cinnamon Ground), Raja Foods LLC (Swad Brand Cinnamon Powder), El Chilar Rodriguez LLC
(El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida”) and Colonna Brothers (1.5oz Marcum Ground Cinnamon & 2.25oz Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon).
For more information on current recalls, visit the FDA’s recall website at www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-marketwithdrawals-safety-alerts.