In the Raw 200 S. Oklahoma 702-1325 New owners took over in January, and chef Ashley Nguyen is pulling out all the stops in sushi making. Don’t pass up the Rock Star roll, done with fresh tuna, asparagus, bacon and cream cheese, or the Thunder roll. In the Raw serves lunch and dinner, and general manager Anna Levy will do her best to make sure you get what you want, even so far as custom-made rolls.
$$ Sushi
44 Diner 1000 N.E. 63rd 475-0299 Opened just a little more than a month, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner each and every day. This place will treat you right with tasty burgers, nachos and a good BLT. Entrées include steak and shrimp, country-fried steak, barbecue ribs and fried catfish. And get this: A halfchicken and a house waffle with two sides comes with a very modest price. So there you have it.
$$ Diner
Matthew Kenney OKC 5820 N. Classen Blvd. 842-1050 Tucked in among the newest and hottest spots in Oklahoma City, 105 Degrees has changed its name to Matthew Kenney OKC. Kenney, a chef and restaurateur, has authored several books on sustainable living. He is coming out with a new cookbook and more, but plans to put in a stove have changed. He is sticking to his original concept: nothing cooked!
$$ Healthy food and drinks
Mutts 1400 N.W. 23rd 525-3647 Mutts is packed-out all of the time. Although there could be a little wait, don’t give up. I know you will race right back again to try every dog variety Mutts is offering, from subtle to complex — an intriguing spectrum for a simple hot dog. These sumptuous dogs are dressed to kill. The culinary whiz kids that own and operate Big Truck Tacos are behind this one, too.
$$ Hot dogs
The Golden Phoenix 7199 S.E. 29th, Midwest City 455-3956 The Golden Phoenix might teach us a few things about eating Asian food, with a menu just filled with spring rolls, chicken wings, plus unusual items such as an egg, asparagus and crabmeat soup, sizzling Korean ribs, a salt and pepper pork chop and curry, too. It serves rice vermicelli noodle soup, and for dessert, a mango-coconut mousse cake and blended smoothies, including papaya and soursop.
$$ Asian
The Cupcake Lounge 304 N. Telephone, Moore 703-0000
Calling itself a “gourmet cupcake lounge,” the bakery opened in the middle of May with no boxed mixes and no “bucket” frostings — everything is real and made from scratch. Owner Alecia Horner is geared up for graduations, weddings, rehearsals and more. Just don’t try calling on Sunday or Monday, when she keeps the doors shut. She’s probably using those days to do research for more clever cupcake ideas.
$$ Cupcakes
Shawn’s Sushi 5612 Northwest Expressway 792-2211
Open daily with room for more than 40 people, is a new startup that opened in March. The menu includes some more unusual items like green mussels and house noodles, plus classics such as edamame and tempura shrimp. For your sweet tooth, the kitchen makes deep-fried bananas and a very good cheesecake.
$$ Asian
—Carol Smaglinski, photos by Mark Hancock, Shannon Cornman and Lindsey Cooper
$$: Up to $15 $$$: $15-$30 $$$$: Above $30
This article appears in Jun 1-7, 2011.