This is an acknowledgment of sorts that Edmond is not what we make fun of it for being — except when it is — but it’s no longer fair to pretend Edmond is hopelessly bland when it comes to their food scene. (Pretty much every other criticism is fair, especially traffic.) This post might bee too early by several months, because what we’re focusing on are restaurants worth the drive to Edmond, but it’s hard to know what will survive the year, and no, I’m not saying anything on this list is in trouble, at least no more than nearly all local restaurants are struggling right now. Those qualifications in place, it’s time to admit that Edmond has some damn good food, and I tried a spot today that inspired this story, so they’re first on the list of a dozen great options.  This will be the first in a series of where we ought to be eating in our suburbs, exurbs, and districts. In all of the posts in the series, I’ll omit excellent options available outside of those areas, so for example, I won’t be including Empire Slice House and Press & Plow in the Edmond list, even though they’re both two of the better options in Edmond.

Don Tapatio Taqueria. Finding a traditional taqueria is not a surprise. They’ve had a few over the past several years, including the now closed Matachines (RIP). What Don Tapatio has, though, is quality and flavor that I’m pretty sure puts them in the top 5 in OKC overall, not just Edmond. The al pastor was second only to Trompudo’s Tacos, the lengua is top 3, and the asada is one of the best I’ve had anywhere. You can also choose mulitas and sopes instead of tacos, and they put cheese on their mulitas, so when I say it’s like a mini quesadilla, it really is, and the flavors are delicious punches in the mouth. Bonus points for excellent horchata.

Birdie’s by Chef Kevin Lee. Pretty sure Chef Kevin Lee doesn’t need a ton of publicity currently. The flavors at Birdies always make me miss Chae, but what he’s doing is very different, and something the metro badly needed, a steakhouse with some heat and creativity. It’s impossible to go wrong with his menu, and it helps that Chef Jessie Gomez is holding down the kitchen most days, because if you didn’t know, he’s the best chef in the state under 30, and one of the best at any age. Emma Prilemma oversees an excellent bar program that features a nice wine list and creative, adventurous cocktails. The winners for me are the sticky ribs, bibimbap and galbi-marinated wagyu short rib.

 

Oozie. Downtown OKC will always lament the day Charlie moved north. Way north. So you north Edmond folks be sure to support the best Lebanese food in the metro. It truly doesn’t matter what dish you get, because everything on the menu is a delicious, traditional dish made with recipes that go back generations. The shawarma is a favorite, and that is largely because there is something magical about the dressing they serve on the side salad. The hashwa is phenomenal, and so is the mujaddara. Check the menu for the current “home-style” dish, because they were among my favorites when they were down here in civilization.

Twisted Tree Baking Company. The morning bun is so ridiculously great, it’s hard to order anything else. They get bonus points, too, because I can buy a small selection of their pastries at their sister spot, Cafe Evoke. Co-owner and Pastry Chef Kassie Joslin does savory and sweet with equal expertise, and trying the sausage-cheddar roulade side-by-side with the glazed yeast donut will make the point better than 100 words here. So do it.

 

Zambrano’s. The number of non-gringo options in Edmond is impressive…finally, and finding great Peruvian food is one of the benefits of the town’s expanding palate. The Zambrano family (Naylamp, Tayta) have been serving Peruvian food in OKC for more than 20 years, and we’re lucky to have them. The food at Zambrano’s is traditional, and the parihuela is the reason I go. The tama peruano deserves your attention, as does the pollo a la brasa.

Creme de la Crumb. Owner and pastry chef Nicole Nugent opened her brilliant viennoiserie on the northeastern edge of Edmond, which makes it damned inconvenient for downtown dwellers like me, but easy to access off I-35 for you northeners (OKC Yankees?). I need to say right up front that the pepperoni “pizza” was my favorite thing, but that’s only because it was so deliciously unexpected. We got about dozen different pastries, and devoured all before the day ended. It would have been embarrassing if anyone had been watching. Cruffins, cronuts, tarts, sausage rolls…it doesn’t matter really, because all of it is fantastic. The daily pastry menu is posted on her website.

Boulevard Steakhouse. The first name in hospitality is Holloway. Has been since Pete Holloway (RIP) opened his first spot. The family internalized all the lessons, and this is still one of the city’s gems (not hidden — nothing is hidden in the internet age, so stop it). This classic steakhouse serves outstanding prime steaks, chops, and sides (mac ‘n’ cheese!) with a stellar wine list. Their wine dinner format is my favorite. Make your reservation. Show up. Eat your dinner with the paired wines with the people you came with and no strangers (unless you bring one with you). Their approach to customer service is a model for the rest of the city.

Signature Grill. Owners Jessica and Chef Clay Falkner have been serving upscale modern American cuisine since 2008 in their north Edmond spot. Space is very limited, leading to an intimate dining experience, and Falkner excels at all the wine-pair staples: duck, pork, chicken, steak, and fish. He’s old school in the best way, and the service is topnotch.

Mt. Everest Cuisines. Years ago Chef Kevin Lee asked if I had tried the goat curry at this Nepali spot tucked into an extraordinarily busy part of Edmond. He didn’t realize I’d drive all night for curried goat, and this one is absolutely worth the short trip up the Broadway Extension. If you’re not a goat fan (I assume you were born without a tongue.), try the chili chicken, curried lamb, or kadai chicken. Yes, you can get Indian and Pakistani dishes, too, but don’t just go with your usual choices.

Mochibake. I love mochi donuts. I don’t think I’m in the majority, but mochi donuts don’t leave you feeling gluten-gross thanks to the rice flour. And I’m thrilled to see spots like this and Momocha introduce Asian flavors to our donuts. I popped in the first time because I saw them on my way to Birdie’s, and someone had told me I could find a pandan (my current obsession) donut here. I did. It was excellent, but so is pretty much everything they do. Cute shop. Lovely people. Great tea options, too.

 

Noodleology. The chili oil noodles are worth the trip. They’ve only been open for a few months, but they’re already winning over the town with their delicious noodle options and approachable prices. The curries are made in house, but I usually opt for braised beef noodles, spicy braised beef dry noodles, and dan dan noodle bowls. I’m treating it like a noodle house, even though they have many more options, but it’s the noodles that will bring you back.

Mocha House. A former Bangladeshi student told me a couple years ago that Edmond has a Yemeni coffee house. I didn’t believe it at first. We have more than four dozen ethnicities and nationalities making food in the metro, but Yemen had never been one until Mocha House. You want the special coffee service, but all the coffee options are excellent, and the desserts will speak to your personalized cravings, so once you get past how beautiful they are, you can let your preferences guide you. By the way, rule of thumb: Teetotalling cultures (Muslim, LDS, Southern Baptist) have great desserts!