In Oklahoma City, the fusion of Mexican comida and ichiban sushi is practically nonexistent, usually taking form in the most rank buffets this side of I-240. I’ve been there, I’ve tried them, and it was not very appetizing.
But, on a recommendation, I went to Sonora Querida, 3608 N. May Ave., Suite A, and, truly, I have seen the holy mountain—and it was glorious!
Probably my favorite restaurant selection of the year—or really any year, for that matter—Sonora Querida properly fuses these two seemingly disparate cultures into a meal-ready, south-of-the-border robotic defender that wants to blast your edible blues away. Pow!
It was a drizzling and dreary Sunday afternoon, but their dining room was two-thirds full, primarily lined with Mexican families. Just as my girlfriend and I sat down, we were treated to bowls of spicy beans with ham by the waitstaff.
This complimentary taste was already delicious and filling, and it was only the grand beginning of our encounter with Sonora Querida!
We continued with a most gregarious appetizer, the Melted Cheese ($6.00). True to form, it was basically a cast-iron bowl of melted mozzarella cheese loaded with Anaheim green peppers and bacon, with a round of corn tortillas as the operating function of queso-based transport.
So simplistic in its function, it was a tasty way to imbibe all the cheese!
Next up, I had the gargantuan Burros Percherones ($15.00)—a stuffed carne asada burrito with the unusual combination of mayonnaise, avocados, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, bacon, cream cheese, and chipotle sauce.
Compacted, pressed, and accompanied by multiple servings of different salsas from Sonora Querida’s beatific salsa bar, this was the meatiest, juiciest, and most flavorful burrito. The tender meat, combined with the mixture of cheese, avocado, and, yes, mayo, gave this a new flavor to remember.
I then turned my attention to the item I came for—Oven-Baked Sushi ($15.00).
The Sky, Sea, and Earth selection of their hand-rolled sushi, which already contains shrimp, beef, chicken, cream cheese, avocado, and cucumber, is then oven-baked with cheese, bacon, and chopped green onions, and served with a trio of jumbo battered shrimp.
Hijo de la chingada! This newfound flavor sent my tastebuds running. The crisp taste of the premium sushi roll mingled with the green onions and bacon, creating a new sensation that made me rethink everything about the Japanese and their pedestrian sushi.
Everything.
Without chopsticks, I gobbled every piece of oven-baked sushi on my plate, with brief nibbles on the golden shrimp. With no sauce or condiment needed, I devoured every bite of this substantial meal, leaving me wanting more.
Of course, such a well-regarded meal deserves a well-regarded dessert in the form of three Cajeta Stuffed Cookies ($4.50), a Mexican new-wave variation of a classic caramel treat. Three of those cookies, and I was done for!
Finally, it’s prime time for culinary fusion without the drama and pretension that most restaurants would kill for. No matter what you do, take the time to try Sonora Querida and add it to your roster of deserving eateries in the next week or two.
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
