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Best chicken fried steak in Oklahoma? Readers say The Red B Restaurant!
Best Chicken Fried Steak in Oklahoma (2018)
Although the exact origins of the chicken fried steak or country fried steak are impossible to determine, it's strikingly similar to schnitzel and was likely introduced by German immigrants to the Hill Country of Texas. It takes an inexpensive cut of meat and turns it into a working man’s staple. No matter its origin, the state of Oklahoma has claimed it as their own. Sooners are so serious about their chicken fried steak that in 1988 the state legislature included chicken fried steak in the official Oklahoma State Meal along with fried okra, cornbread, black-eyed peas and pecan pie.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Chicken Fried Steak in Oklahoma are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Cheever's Cafe / Facebook
No. 10: Cheever's Cafe - Oklahoma City
An OKC favorite for its contemporary comfort food, Cheever's Cafe serves a stellar chicken fried steak with jalapeño cream gravy and a side of garlic red-skinned mashed potatoes.
Photo courtesy of Black Bear Diner
No. 9: Black Bear Diner - Midwest City & Oklahoma City
The Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak from Black Bear Diner (locations in Midwest City and Oklahoma City) is made with tender beef that’s breaded, deep-fried and covered in house-made country gravy. Still hungry? The steak comes with either soup or salad, as well as a freshly baked corn muffin, seasonal veggies or Italian green beans, and a choice of mashed potatoes, french fries, onion rings or a baked potato.
Photo courtesy of Charleston's Restaurant
No. 8: Charleston's Restaurant - Multiple Locations
The chicken fried steak is a house specialty at Charleston's Restaurant at its 10 locations across Oklahoma. The hand-breaded steak is fried up and served with black pepper chipotle gravy, mashed potatoes and glazed carrots.
Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
No. 7: The Pioneer Woman Mercantile - Pawhuska
The chicken fried steak at The Mercantile begins with a beef ribeye, pounded, breaded and griddled. It’s topped with creamy gravy and served alongside mashed potatoes, a salad, freshly baked dinner rolls and the Pioneer Woman’s Cowboy Butter. Smaller appetites can order a half portion.
Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Diner
No. 6: Sunnyside Diner - Oklahoma City
Breakfast is the name of the game at Sunnyside Diner in Oklahoma City, where big appetites can feast on a chicken fried steak with eggs and two sides, or a la carte.
Photo courtesy of Savoy Restaurant
No. 5: Savoy Restaurant - Tulsa
The kitchen at Savoy Restaurant in Tulsa only uses USDA choice top round beef, cut and tenderized in-house, for their chicken fried steak. Seasoned only with salt to let the natural flavors of beef shine through, the steak is cooked on the flattop and served with house-made gravy at lunch or with eggs and hash browns for breakfast.
Photo courtesy of Nelson's Buffeteria
No. 4: Nelson's Buffeteria - Tulsa
Each chicken fried steak from Nelson's Buffeteria is hand-cut, tenderized and breaded daily in-house. It comes smothered in creamy, peppery gravy with two sides and a roll or cornbread.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer James / Flickr
No. 3: Ann's Chicken Fry House - Oklahoma City
Housed in a former gas station, Ann's Chicken Fry House has been a Southern comfort food institution for decades. A pink Cadillac and vintage police car out front greet visitors to this Route 66 restaurant, where the chicken fried steak easily lives up to its reputation. Choose between a full or half pound of beef.
Photo courtesy of Kendall's Restaurant
No. 2: Kendall's Restaurant - Noble
Kendall's is famous for their Chicken Fry Challenge, where hungry diners attempt to consume a giant chicken fried steak, salad, mashed potatoes or fries, a biscuit, green beans and a cinnamon roll.
Photo courtesy of The Red B Restaurant
No. 1: The Red B Restaurant - Idabel
An off-the-beaten-path gem in the town of Idabel, The Red B Restaurant is known for its hearty three-course meals of made-from-scratch food. The hand-cut, tenderized and deep-fried chicken fried steak earns rave reviews and is tender enough to cut with a fork. It comes with gravy and two sides, or in sandwich form with lettuce, tomato and jalapeño ranch.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Chef Scotty Irani (In The Kitchen With Scotty), Katie Johnstonbaugh (Dishin & Dishes), Matt Payne and Elaine Warner were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the state's food scene.
Congratulations to all these winning restaurants!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Chef Scotty Irani
Chef Scotty Irani is a personal chef and owner of Read More
Chef Scotty Irani is a personal chef and owner of In The Kitchen With Scotty in Oklahoma City. He's an award winning food writer for EdibleOKC Magazine, OKLAHOMA Magazine and The Gayly publications, and has a weekly morning cooking segment on “Rise & Shine” KAUT43 TV.
Chef Scotty Irani
Chef Scotty Irani is a personal chef and owner of In The Kitchen With Scotty in Oklahoma City. He's an award winning food writer for EdibleOKC Magazine, OKLAHOMA Magazine and The Gayly publications, and has a weekly morning cooking segment on “Rise & Shine” KAUT43 TV.
Elaine Warner
Elaine Warner has been a travel writer for 25... Read More
Elaine Warner has been a travel writer for 25 years. In pursuit of her stories he has flown in helicopters, hot air balloons and even a glider. She has gone into the depths of the Dismals at night to see tiny glow worms. And she has eaten her way through any number of American cities and foreign countries.
Elaine Warner
Elaine Warner has been a travel writer for 25 years. In pursuit of her stories he has flown in helicopters, hot air balloons and even a glider. She has gone into the depths of the Dismals at night to see tiny glow worms. And she has eaten her way through any number of American cities and foreign countries.
Katie Johnstonbaugh
Katie Johnstonbaugh is the author at Dishin &... Read More
Katie Johnstonbaugh is the author at Dishin & Dishes, a popular Oklahoma food blog that features recipes and restaurant reviews. She is also is the author of The Food Lovers’ Guide to Oklahoma. Katie resides in Oklahoma City with her husband Mr. Wonderful and their children.
Katie Johnstonbaugh
Katie Johnstonbaugh is the author at Dishin & Dishes, a popular Oklahoma food blog that features recipes and restaurant reviews. She is also is the author of The Food Lovers’ Guide to Oklahoma. Katie resides in Oklahoma City with her husband Mr. Wonderful and their children.
Matt Payne
Matt Payne is an Oklahoma based travel... Read More
Matt Payne is an Oklahoma based travel photographer, writer, public speaker and filmmaker. He is the travel editor for 405 Magazine in Oklahoma City and produces Mosaic Oklahoma, a travel show for the statewide Oklahoma PBS affiliate. Matt has eaten his way Rwanda, Alaska, Galapagos, Iceland, Costa Rica and Panama with upcoming adventures to Thailand, Tanzania, Australia, the Amazon River and the Arctic. In addition to print, television and digital media, Matt teaches film courses at Oklahoma City University. He is a member the Society of American Travel Writers and the Writer's Guild of America. Follow Matt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Matt Payne
Matt Payne is an Oklahoma based travel photographer, writer, public speaker and filmmaker. He is the travel editor for 405 Magazine in Oklahoma City and produces Mosaic Oklahoma, a travel show for the statewide Oklahoma PBS affiliate. Matt has eaten his way Rwanda, Alaska, Galapagos, Iceland, Costa Rica and Panama with upcoming adventures to Thailand, Tanzania, Australia, the Amazon River and the Arctic. In addition to print, television and digital media, Matt teaches film courses at Oklahoma City University. He is a member the Society of American Travel Writers and the Writer's Guild of America. Follow Matt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.