I have a bit of a reputation for my penchant for spicy foods — as in I keep a bottle of Sriracha* in my desk drawer at work, regularly snack on jalapeño peppers and occasionally make fun of people who can’t handle wimp juice like chipotle ranch dressing. (It’s the little things, really.)
Needless to say, I know my way around a Mexican/Spanish/Guatemalan restaurant, like which ones suck at margaritas, which ones have the best salsas and which ones have a kickass array of non-carnivore options. So without further ado, here are your best bets for spicy/veggie goodness in OKC.
Café Antigua
I like eggs. I like tortillas. Call me crazy, but sometimes I even put eggs on top of tortillas. If you’re with me on all of that, then I’d suggest checking out Café Antigua. It may not look like much from the outside (or from the inside, for that matter), but it’s a place to which I’ll drag any willing individual. This little Guatemalan joint serves up a mean plate of migas: two eggs scrambled with tortilla chips, tomatoes, jalapeños and cilantro next to black refried beans and fresh fruit drizzled with homemade mango sauce. The breakfast menu is where it’s at, but they’ve also got heartier lunch fare like chiles rellenos and flautas. And for real, make sure to come back in December to drink some horchata.
Iguana Mexican Grill
First things first: margaritas. Yes, with over 200 different kinds of tequila, Iguana guarantees to get you however you want to get got (true Okie vernacular, right there). Your priorities should then shift to securing a piping bowl of seven pepper queso, henceforth referred to as liquid gold. Next, either order the veggie quesadillas or the veggie burrito with ranchero sauce and proceed to dip said entrée into the liquid gold. Maybe order another margarita if you so desire. Ask for more chips for the liquid gold, and after that, step away from the table and wonder what sweet slice of heaven you’ve stumbled upon.
Big Truck Tacos
At this point, Big Truck is to OKC what Tim Hortons is to Canada. People are already aware of its existence, but let’s praise this local taco shop a bit more, shall we? Like Iguana Grill, its queso could easily be served with a straw, and like Café Antigua, its migas are dangerously devourable. But unlike anywhere else, its salsas will burn the roof of your mouth and just keep on going. I always ask for the green hot sauce and the orange hot sauce — at one point I knew what to call these, but now I prefer to order like a four-year-old picking out crayons. And with my salsa, I daringly order a side of tacos. You can never go wrong with The WoJo (mixed veggies, white bean dip and queso fresco) or the Crispy’cado (fried avocado, romaine, tomatillo salsa, pico and queso fresco). Also, Big Truck’s burritos are the size of my face, so feel free to go for that if you’re in the mood for a challenge.
Cantina Laredo
Maybe I deserve flack for including a chain restaurant on this list, but maybe I also don’t care. Cantina Laredo’s margaritas pack a hefty punch (just ask one of my family members who shall remain nameless), but it’s the unusual veggie-centric options that send me through the roof. I was hooked on the Tacos de Hongos — grilled portabello mushrooms in balsamic glaze with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and queso fresco — for a while. But lately I’ve been going for their Enchiladas de Avocado, stuffed with sliced avocado and artichokes, topped with tomatillo sauce and served on a bed of spinach. Cantina Laredo also offers sautéed veggies as a side option, which is cool. Rather than your typical bottom-of-the-barrel stuff, they give you green beans, carrots, red potatoes, onions and mushrooms, which is much more than I can say for a lot of restaurants’ definitions of vegetables.
Bolero
Bolero is unlike any other foodie spot in the city, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. It’s a Spanish grill and tapas bar and the perfect place to share a bunch of different stuff with friends. Start with a glass of their killer sangria, and then dig into their array of bite-sized apps. The infamous golden fried goat cheese drizzled with Tupelo honey is a must, but other than that, just go with your gut. Vegetarians, opt for the vegetable tortillas (a misleading name because they’re really like crustless mini quiches), braised crimini mushrooms, fried tomatillos with chimichurri or asparagus with roasted almonds.
*I do realize Sriracha is a Thai sauce, and I also realize it goes damn well with dishes from the aforementioned restaurants despite its non-Latin origins.
