The streetscape project in Uptown 23rd is creating issues for many of the local restaurants in the district, so this seems a good time to offer a list of what you should be eating in Uptown, both because they have excellent options and they need intentional support right now. This isn't meant to be comprehensive, so no, there won't be recommendations for all the restaurants, not even all the locals. Think of it as a list of the food I've had in the district that I definitely think you should try.

Basil Mediterranean Cafe. This one is more western Asian than Mediterranean, but whatever the genre, the chicken bandari is a phenomenal dish with chicken thighs cooked in garlic sauce served over saffron rice. All the usual suspects -- dolmas, kebabs, hummus, etc. -- are done well, but I go for the chicken bandari.

Big Truck Tacos. This one is easy because it remains one of the best breakfast options in the metro, and it's great for lunch, dinner, snacks, brunch and catering, too. The Flaming Lips used to be the unrivaled best lengua taco in the city, and while they do have some serious competition now, it's still a great starting place if you've never tried lengua.

Boom Town Creamery. Angela Muir's original ice cream shop is still the best ice cream experience in town, thanks in no small part to Chef Kayli Bartnicki's creativity and skill. Hard to go wrong, and the flavor is personal preference, but when you can't decide, just get the mini flight.

Cheever's Cafe. Definitely the OG at this point, and I was reminded again recently -- by eating them -- how great the rolls are. If they'd let me, I'd just eat the rolls 'til I was full and leave, but the menu is full of solid options, including longstanding favorites Juan's Queso Chihuahua and the roasted chicken pepper jack strudel.

Chino's Mexicano. This is the new-ish spot from the company behind Cajun Corner. The food is gringo friendly, but they're also not afraid to crank up the heat. The birria wings are among my favorite in the city, and I'm a sucker for a rice side that is done well, and the Chino's rice is damn good. Green sauce has real heat, so slather accordingly.

Egg & CàPhê. Truong Le's Vietnamese coffee shop serves some of the best, most creative coffee drinks in the metro, and when they ask if you want to try the banana pudding matcha, the answer is yes. Try not to eat all the pudding instead of stirring it into the drink.

Formosa Street Food & Bar. Ivan Wong's Tower Theater spot has all the things you expect from a great Taiwanese restaurant: dumplings, fried chicken, spicy cold noodles (fantastic!), crispy tofu, etc., but the dish that won me over is the beef noodle bowl, and rather than the traditional Chinese soupy version, Formosa does a meat sauce, much like a Taiwanese bolognese. When I do noodle bowl lists, it's always in the top ten citywide.

Guyutes. One of the OGs of Uptown at this point. The food is straightforward stoner comfort food, and I'm fine with that. There is much to love on the menu, so while you decide, start with Tequila Sunfryz, because we need more waffle fries in our lives, and this version comes with tequila queso, pulled pork, over easy eggs, and all the things.

Maht. I don't think Chef Kevin Lee needs much help with publicity right now, and with Chefs Josh Valentine and Kazumichi Nakahara holding things down, the food is guaranteed to be good. The steaks are popular (rightly so), but the fried chicken, braised short rib and sweet shrimp carpaccio are the real standouts.

Mob Thai'd/Thai House. Same family, and while I've always liked Thai House, I love Mob Thai'd. Sometimes they post up at "home base," but usually they're at events or posted up elsewhere. The khao soi noodles are my go-to, but Benji and Amanda Sukmanee can't seem to make food that isn't great, including the wings -- maybe especially the wings.

Pizzeria Gusto. This one doesn't need much of an introduction. Chefs Kathryn Mathis and Marina Rabinovich consistenly produce some of the best, most reliable food in OKC. The soppressata pizza is my favorite in the city, and their non-pizza items are delicious, too, particularly the meatballs, roasted carrots and fennel, and wings.

Ruth's Creole Kitchen. Chef Reuben Carey's New Orleans-inspired dishes win people over as soon as they try them, but he still seems to fly beneath the radar somehow. Typically, I get the seafood gumbo and the chicken and sausage gumbo side by side, and I still can't decide which is better. Worth noting that his jambalaya is stellar, too.

Ser. The sister restaurant to Guyutes features Mexican with a modern twist. The sauces are all damn good, and the cazuelitas are my favorite thing on the menu. They're masa cups filled with cochinita pibil, and while they're technically an appetizer, they work great as a main if you add esquites and papas con poblano. Yes, they have a full bar with margaritas.

Urban Teahouse. More a grab 'n' go spot with limited seating than a cafe, Kristy Jennings's teahouse has a selection that is easily the best in the city, and she's a nationally recognized expert on tea, so if you want to deep dive nerd style, she's happy to answer guest questions about her dozens of teas in every imaginable category -- white, green, matcha, black, herbal, etc. The case has cookies, too, and every day is made better with an Earl Grey shortbread.