Jeff’s Country Cafe
3401 N. Classen Blvd.
524-2023
One
of the best things about being an adult is eating whatever you want,
whenever you want. Here is an old-school diner with old-school prices —
and old-school, heart-clogging, hair-on-your-chest breakfast selections
served all day. It’s impossible to beat the 10-oz. rib-eye steak with
two eggs and two side choices, including hash browns, grits, sliced
tomatoes or biscuits and gravy for $7.50. For $2 more, why not add a
side of bacon? Might as well finish the job right.
Pizza Zone
3618 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
pizzazoneokc.com
525-5500
Sure,
Pizza Zone is known as that pizza joint on 36th Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue that’s always open when the clubs and bars let out at 2 a.m. —
who hasn’t drunkenly devoured their Greek Pizza? But for a
cost-efficient, satisfying dinner at a decent hour, try the gyro
special: a gyro packed with meat, veggies and sauce for $5.99. It comes
with fries and a drink, too. Also noteworthy are the Philly cheesesteak
and meatball subs (both $5.99) that would even leave Jared asking,
“Subway who?”
Hugo’s Taquizas
3409 NW 23rd St.
601-1244
Why
spend twenty minutes trapped in a car, idling in a Taco Bell drive-thru
for something as boring and bland as a corporate bean burrito when this
place is right up the street? First, all tacos are a buck on
Tuesdays. Next, the monster Burrito Impossible ($8.99) will put any
piddly fast-food item to shame. It is three pounds of pure culinary machismo: two flour tortillas stuffed with three meats (steak, tongue, cabeza, chorizo, chicken or barbacoa), rice, beans and salsa.
Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili
4723 N May Ave.
ronschili.com
943-7667
Ron’s
has perfected a Caligula-worthy combo of hedonistic delights with its
Jumbo Chili Cheeseburger ($7.25, or $9.50 for double meat). It’s a
one-third pound all-beef patty topped with Ron’s exclusive pepper cheese
and fried onions on a fresh bun and then drenched with his
award-winning chili. It’s truly the best of both worlds. And as a bonus,
if there’s room, a half-order of fries ($2.00) makes the perfect mop-up
tool for that chili leftover on the plate.
Ray’s Cafe
2727 NW 50th St.
942-4100
There
are few places left in OKC like Ray’s. It’s a no-frills relic of a
bygone era that seems like it could’ve been the basis for the ’70s
sitcom Alice. With their prices — and quality home-cooked
Southern food — they don’t need to be swanky. The food does all the
talking: “Shut up and eat.” Try the Sirloin Steak and Jumbo Shrimp
Dinner ($8.99). The steak is juicy, the shrimp is plump and the sides
are abundant: salad, bread and two veggies. The fried okra is especially
recommended.
Zamzam Mediterranean Grill & Hookah
3913 N. Macarthur Blvd.
zamzamgrill.com
789-8008
One
of the premier Middle Eastern restaurants in the metro, Zamzam offers
twists on traditional favorites. The Zamzam Quesadilla ($8.99) is an act
of genius. But what makes the eatery stand out are the vegetarian
options that will satisfy even the thriftiest vegan. The Signature
Veggie Sampler ($9.99) is an embarrassment of riches: creamy hummus,
tangy baba ganooj, zesty grape leaves, tart tabouli, piping-hot falafel,
rich yogurt salad and plenty of fresh pitas.
Mr. Sprigg’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
1017 S. Air Depot Blvd.
733-8578
Will
Ferrell once said that Mr. Sprigg’s made him want to move to Oklahoma
and eat it for “breakfast, lunch, dinner and Taco Bell fourth meal.”
While Ferrell isn’t hurting for money, he’d be just as impressed with
its prices. The sandwiches are inexpensively tops, but the real deal
here is half BBQ chicken ($5.95), slow-cooked and covered in signature
spices. Add a small side of potato salad ($1.95) and, for dessert, a
slice of the best sweet potato pie ($2.70).
— by Louis Fowler, photos by Mark Hancock and Shannon Cornman
This article appears in Jan 1-7, 2014.