Tulsa Top 5: Dinner is Served

I wish you could smell these pictures! If you could, I’m sure you’d drop everything and head to Wanda J’s in the Greenwood District of Tulsa. They’re serving up the best fried chicken I’ve ever had, and a massive selection of made-from-scratch side dishes that do not disappoint.

Seriously, everything we tried was amazing! We were shocked that they let us pick exactly the chicken pieces we wanted. We enjoyed their mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, fried corn, greens, yams, cornbread, and rolls… which were all perfect side dishes to our fried chicken and meatloaf.

There was a little bump at the door which was easy to navigate with some help, and we loved the neighborhood vibe that came from the steady stream of regular customers.

“Taco Heaven” These words and giant flying tacos fill a mural on the outside of Velvet Taco on Cherry St in Tulsa. I’m pretty sure they are right! We were a little cautious when we found out they are part of a small chain, because we love to search for local businesses wherever we go, but their funky atmosphere drew us in. And once we saw the menu, we were hooked. So. Many. Tacos.

The wheelchair accessibility was spot on. Smooth floors, wide aisles, an easy entrance, and spacious bathrooms. Clearly, word has gotten out because I wasn’t the only customer using a wheelchair the day I visited. You can choose between bar-height tables, low-top tables, and even an outdoor seating area. Dine in or order ahead to use their drive-up window.

We brought our tacos and quesadilla back to our Airbnb to enjoy. As soon as we opened the package and took our first bite, we regretted not ordering one of each of their 20 varieties of tacos. They even have a WTF “weekly taco feature” so you can try something new each visit. When you go, don’t miss out on their “picnic chicken” taco (what, potato salad in a taco??), slow-roasted Angus brisket, or their red velvet cake. Yum!

It may be called Hideaway, but this pizza place was no secret. We did a few media interviews in Tulsa (more on those later), and we asked each reporter and photographer what places they loved to eat, where they take their kids, and what places their neighbors loved. Thank goodness we did! One photographer shared that every day when he picks his daughter up at school she asks to go to Hideaway Pizza. So we knew we had to give it a try!

Whoa! Trust us… if you’re in Tulsa and you haven’t tried them yet, stop whatever you’re doing and go. Now! Don’t bother looking at the menu, just order a large, thin crust, double “cup and curl” pepperoni— and then sit back and wait for the deliciousness to arrive! It’s hot, it’s crispy, it’s greasy… it’s everything pizza should be.

We’ve eaten at their Cherry St location, picked it up to-go and enjoyed at our Airbnb, and also dined in at their Broken Arrow location while we were out exploring. Both locations we tried were easily accessible, with handicapped parking and easy-to-access bathrooms. Parking at the Cherry St. location can be tricky for non-placard users, but they do have small lots off the side street you can use.

We loved how each location was decorated with their signature mosaic art and kites hanging from the ceiling, both nods to the founder’s hobbies. We were also told to ask about “the game”, which they have available to play in the restaurant. It turns out the inventor of the board game Pente has a Hideaway Pizza connection. Pizza and board games?? Win. Win.

There’s something about a classic burger that can just make your day, right? If you’re craving one of these popular treats in a warm, welcoming environment… head on down to Society Burger.

We loved each of the burgers we tried, including their Classic Burger, Pim & Jam with pimento cheese and bacon jam, and Shroom burger smothered with mushrooms. The real star though was the truffle fries. We could smell them each time an order was taken to a nearby table… so we had to get our own order. Pro tip: No matter how much you love them, unless you want your entire Airbnb or hotel fridge to smell like truffles, these are leftovers best left behind.

We loved the vibe of the entire place as well. Society Burger says “everyone has their own perfect burger and they love to share it with the people in their lives. That’s what Society is all about – food and fellowship.” This comes through in their friendly service and accessible location. There were convenient placard parking spaces and a long covered ramp to easily navigate into the building. Total win.

Dilly Diner can be found in the Blue Dome District of Tulsa. We ended up loving everything we tried at this awesome, upscale, modern diner. While still very family-friendly, the menu consists of elevated classics. Think bourbon caramel sauce on your pancakes and pulled pork nachos with chipotle aioli. Everything is made from scratch and tastes so fresh. You can really tell they’re going out of their way to use quality ingredients in everything they do. Their bakery cases are also stacked high with giant cookies.

Service is great, and the space is easily accessible. They do have some seating that requires steps, but there were a good number of booths and smaller tables that were easy to roll to.