Steve's Gastronomic Home Page

Oklahoma Station Bar B Q

7640 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 720-8433

Oklahoma Station's outside smoker spreads hickory wood smell throughout the neighborhood

Oklahoma Station B-B-Q has taken on a tough task by attempting to be one of the most popular barbecue joints in a state where the business is fiercely competitive and those who propagate "Q" with even the slightest imperfections can fall by the wayside in about the same amount of time it took the early settlers to make the Oklahoma land run. Having recently expanded from its original location at N.W. 50th & Meridian with a new restaurant on Northwest Expressway in front of Sam's Warehouse, Oklahoma Station must be doing something right judging from the long lines at both restaurants.

Oklahoma Station keeps it simple with a few types of meat available. The Sliced Beef Brisket is cooked for several hours in a smoker using hickory wood, giving it the smoked flavor for which Oklahoma barbecue is famous. My sandwich had excellent quality meat, excellent flavor, and excellent sauce. I really do not think they could do it much better in any of the backwoods barbecue places in eastern Oklahoma that I sampled in my younger days.

Half order of smoked turkey
Half order of smoked turkey

Brisket seems to be Oklahoma Station's specialty, but it is not the only meat available. In order to try to stay on a more healty diet, I have tried the Smoked Turkey several times. While the brisket passed one of my tests for good barbecue, that it could be enjoyed when eaten plain without sauce, I did not think the turkey passed this test. Compared to most other barbecue restaurants the turkey here was quite flavorful, and the smoke from cooking was evident, but it was not what I considered to be a great example of Oklahoma barbecue. It was a good healthy meal, though, about which I had no complaints.

I sampled the Polish Sausage and thought it tasted very good, but I still would not recommend it over the brisket. After eating sausage from a Czech town in Nebraska when I was younger, I will not go wild over anything I try now unless it is comparable. Like the turkey, though, just because the sausage at Oklahoma Station is not the best I have tasted does not mean it is not good.

The mild and hot sauce were both worthy of high quality meat here. Not surprisingly, I preferred the hot sauce.

The Beans were burned on one occasion, but are good when cooked properly.

One outstanding feature of Oklahoma Station, that is not available at all barbecue restaurants, is the excellent selection of side dishes. I have not determined which one I think is best, but probably the potato salad and okra would be on the list. Desserts and salads are also available, and Texas toast is served with all meals (except sandwiches). Many of the city's cafeterias have closed, and to me Oklahoma Station offers a good alternative, with a good choice of all types of dishes.

Half orders of meat are available, and this smaller portion along with the good side dishes make Oklahoma Station one of my favorite places to go on a regular basis.

I have discovered that high quality iced tea is an integral part to the full enjoyment of a barbecue meal, and the fresh brewed tea here is among the best.

It is quite difficult to practice any form of vegetarianism in Oklahoma, as any abstinence from meat deprives a person of some the best meals served in the state, among which the barbecue at Oklahoma Station would be included.

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RESTAURANT DETAILS

RATING: 23

Cuisine: Barbecue
Cost: $$
Accessible: No (parking and ramp are on opposite side of building)
Additional Location: 4331 N.W. 50th St.
Smoking: No Smoking
Alcohol: No

Most Recent Visit
Sep. 2, 2009

Number of Visits: 4

Best Item
Brisket

Special Ratings
Brisket:
Smoked Turkey:
Polish Sausage:
Potato Salad:
Beans:
Okra:
Sweet Cole Slaw:



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