Near where I grew up, there was a shopping center called Mayfair Village at the corner of NW 50th and May.
At the time, it was my whole world. Anchored by an IGA grocery store, the now demoed center was home to the Conoco where I bought all my comics and, tucked away in the corner, a down-home chili parlor that, even better, served burgers too!
That parlor was Ron’s Hamburgers and Chili, and it played an influential role in my love for all things meat and spice. I ate there whenever I got my small paycheck every two weeks, but sadly, it’s been around 25 years since then, and those memories had faded, never to return.
But…
During a recent cruise on social media, I saw an ad informing me that Ron’s is not only still thriving, but bustling all across Oklahoma Territory.
Intrigued, and concerned that algorithms are reading my suppressed teenage memories, I did a little bit of research, and I saw there's a Ron's near me by the old dollar theater at NorthPark Mall. (11956 North May Ave.)
Without haste, I trekked there for lunch the next day.
True to the expected trappings of a rundown mall, Ron’s was accessible from the mall's exterior, and my girlfriend and I were quickly seated. As a cadre of senior mall walkers zoomed past us, soon enough we were looking over the menu.
Decisions were made, and our food was ordered.
As I sipped my Diet Dr. Pepper, a squad of uniformed policemen sat down next to us—almost like there was an APB out for culinary satisfaction of the highest order. Moments later, our appetizer, the Spanish Okra ($6.50), was served, and let me tell you, it was a hit worthy of a police escort.
I had never heard of this salvation on a plate, but it turned out to be fried okra cooked with fresh sliced onions and jalapeno peppers. It was a true triumph—an explosive mix of salty okra, bitter onions, and semi-hot jalapenos creating an appetizer I could happily devour again and again.
A few minutes later, our main meals arrived, starting with my girlfriend’s 3-Way ($8.80), which featured cheese, beans, spaghetti, and Ron’s Award-Winning Chili. The chili was generously poured over the spaghetti, with shards of cheese creating a mouthwatering, almost erotic, lunch that I couldn’t resist digging into.
While I’ve had a similar dish in Cincinnati with their Skyline chili, Ron’s version, with its spices and flavors tailored to Oklahoma tastes, was downright delectable. The spaghetti was bland on its own, but the beans, cheese, and especially the chili elevated this dish to something truly impressive.
Another ladle, please!
My lunch was Ron’s Sausage Cheeseburger ($9.90), proudly touted on the menu as “Oklahoma's Best Burger” and even featured in Southern Living magazine. That’s a high bar to set, right?
This burger, a blend of half-beef and half-country sausage smashed together with fried onions, was topped with a melty duo of Pepper Jack and American cheese on a bun dressed with mustard, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. Paired with an order of Tater Tots ($7.00) and their trusty ranch dressing, I was more than ready to dive in.
On a toasted bun, the onion-fried meat combined with the sausage created a spicy—but not too spicy—sandwich that absolutely deserves its spot among the best burgers in the city.
I devoured the whole thing. I think Ron (RIP) would have approved.
To cap it off, I couldn’t resist a small dessert with a big flavor: Pralines with Pecans ($2.75). Seemingly homemade, it was the perfect ending to this homecoming meal, 30 years in the making.
While many restaurants have fallen by the wayside in the name of progress, Ron’s Hamburgers and Chili is still standing strong and still delicious. Do yourself a favor and reacquaint yourself with them as soon as possible.
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
