The Whole Enchilada Cafe – Whole Lotta Good!

July 6, 2010Katie

4 Santa Fe Plaza
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.239.3624
Website: None available
Taste Factor:  ***
Dollar Factor: *
Open Mon-Fri 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW SADLY CLOSED


I took work off Friday.  Mr. Wonderful and I headed downtown to run some errands.  We were waiting for 11 a.m. to hit, because Lesley from Paseo Grill had mentioned that they had a new street taco place that they’d opened.  Problem is, it’s only open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday -Friday and I’d never normally be able to make it there on my lunch hour.

She had mentioned it was across from the Skirvin Hotel so we approached the plaza area around the Skirvin and looked.  And we looked, and looked.

Then we called information and got the restaurant’s number and asked, “Where in the heck are you located?”

There is no commercial sign yet out front, so you’ll have to look for this.

Located on the bottom floor of the parking garage, there is a picnic table outside holding clipboards with bright fluorescent green menus.

Here is the concept of The Whole Enchilada.  You pick up a clipboard and select your order from it by marking it with one of the pencils.  Then you proceed on inside of the restaurant, where you stand in line, wait your turn, and present your order to one of the two girls at the cash registers.

The girls will ring your order up, give you a cup for your drink, a bag of complimentary tortilla chips, and direct you to get drinks and visit their salsa bar around the corner.  Not long after this, someone will bring your order to you.

So, we headed on over to the salsa bar.

Here you will find a range of salsas that are labeled with not only what kind of salsa they are, but also what they are in heat on a range of 1-10.  These ranged from plain ol’ traditional salsa (1), to mango habanero (10).

There are also several other things on the salad bar, like fresh chopped cilantro, sliced radishes, a mango/jicama sort of pico, pico de gallo and lime slices.

**Side note – Joe from Paseo Grill used to partner in Redrock Canyon Grill and this salsa verde  (from the Stuffed Pablano) is served here as well…and I want the recipe cuz it’s amazing!

I think we got one of everything to try.

I thought this was a fun thing too…

Silverware dispensers.  Pull a lever, and out pops a fork, knife or spoon.

Okay, it doesn’t take much to entertain me does it?

If you’re unfamiliar with what a “street taco” is, they are usually composed of a double stack of small (usually white) corn tortillas filled with some sort of meat, cilantro, perhaps some queso fresco cheese, and onions.  They’re also usually served with a lime wedge and some sliced radishes and some sort of salsa.

And they’re delicious.

The Whole Enchilada goes a little gourmet on this by offering up several varieties of street tacos including pork, beef and items like fried jalepenos, which I loved.

The different street tacos are listed by Streets on the menu.

Mr. Wonderful opted for the Sixth Street ($2.25) that had beef, pablanos, jalepenos, red bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms, queso fresco, cilantro and fried jalepenos.  He also ordered a First Street taco ($1.50) consisting of beef brisket, onions and cilantro.

I ordered the Fifth Street  ($2.25) which had pork, carmelized onions, queso fresco, cilantro and fried jalepenos.  Did I mention I really liked the fried jalepenos? And I don’t typically care for fried foods. I also went for the First Street classic street taco as well.

When you’re an “adventurer eater” you never order the same thing as the person you’re eating with. That way you can taste multiple items on one trip.

We also ordered a side of guacamole ($1.00!! What?) and a bowl of black beans ($1.25).

The guacamole was fantastic and tasted a lot like my homemade version, and the black beans were filled with veggies and tasted smokey and wonderful.

The decor at the Whole Enchilada is pretty cool as well.

It is kind of like a cross between retro-New Orleans and Spanish.  And I truly adored these lights.

And forgive me, but if you’ve paid attention to the image header at the top of my blog, you know I had to take a picture of these.

Mexican dishes.  Gorgeous!

Street tacos aren’t the only fare at The Whole Enchilada.  They also have a Burrito menu and a “Create Your Own Combo” section of the menu as well as salads, enchiladas, etc.

We arrived right as the place opened, and literally, within 15 minutes the line was out the door and every table was full.

This is a good sign for a great place to eat.

There is also patio seating out in a charming courtyard with a fountain, if you can’t find a place inside.

If you’re downtown between 11 and 2 during lunch hours, try The Whole Enchilada.

It’s fantastic.

You are either a street taco fan, or you aren’t…it’s usually cut-n-dry.  Are you?

The Whole Enchilada Cafe on Urbanspoon

2 Comments

  • Beth Zimmerman

    July 6, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    Believe it or not ... I have never tried a street taco! May have to rectify that one of these days! (And I LOVE fried jalapenos!)
  • Toby Hohm

    August 10, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    Your post is very interesting. Thanks for the post.

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