For many hungry people in this bastardized state of ours, the prices of groceries, restaurants, and even the free-est of free samples have gone through the roof.
It’s too much, I say!
But after hearing sad anecdotes about the worries, misgivings, and sorrows from the more impoverished community of Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas, fear not, because finally there is a metaphorical balm that will ease your wallet, for the most part…
I recently discovered and fiendishly ate at the Ten Below Café, 1101 NW 23rd, where, amazingly, everything is ten dollars or less and, even more importantly, everything is impossibly good!
With plenty of accolades from friends, I went there last week after a rather good doctor’s appointment.
It was early afternoon as I was coming into the restaurant. Taking out some lights and a massive video-camera, apparently, the local news crew was leaving the spot, I suppose, having done a human-interest story about the record-setting high food prices around town and what Ten Below is doing about them.
At least I hope so…
With my girlfriend in tow, we got a table and looked over the somewhat simple menu. It was mostly Asian fare like sushi, ramen, and poke, propping up the culinary gravitas and how. We ordered a few items, starting with the Indonesian Chocolate Milk ($4.00).
It was a very indulgent pre-apéritif that takes the typical chocolate milk and gives it a slight tickle on the nose.
Concurrently, my appetizer of Fried Meatballs ($5.00) was presented to me, starting us on a wild adventure.
Consisting of four meatballs, doused in various sauces and cremes, the jumbo balls with all their meaty vim and vigor were incredibly tasty and quickly eaten.
For my next trick, I had their trademarked sushi roll called the Sooner Roll ($10.00). Featuring tempura shrimp, cream cheese, crabstick, spicy mayo and buttermilk sauce, it goes for the field goal—and it’s good!
And while I admit that I am not partial of the University of Oklahoma’s color scheme—or really any football team’s color scheme—the roll was out of sight, with the cream cheese and the crabstick doing their due-diligence in the reclamation of flavor.
Wanting something lighter than the pre-dinner sushi, my girlfriend went soupier route. What better than the Tempura Shrimp Ramen ($10.00), with filling shrimp and hearty ramen with corn, green onion, and a hard-boiled egg.
With spears of crispy prawns as the high-calorie filler of the dish, the ramen was high and tight but the shrimp was oh-so-right. She slurped up that soup to the last drop, the tempura acting like crackers in the warm broth.
As she was enjoying the rest of her soup, I had my own meal to contend with: the Smash Fried Beef ($10.00).
A burger without the bun, smash beef is just like sounds: a smashed hamburger patty is deep-fried and all the flavor is concentrated in the slight sizzling with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and cucumber, with fried rice on the side.
It was a true centerpiece of the meal, as the crispy but lean meat became extra juicy on the plate, with the fried rice taking up the normal slack. Even the tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers were touched by this mighty finger of carnal passion, taking them in one-by-one.
And it was only $10 dollars!
While I wanted to try their French treat of crepes for dessert, I was more than full by the time our check arrived. With their fully compact yet filling delicacies, Ten Dollar Café is easy on the wallet and even easier on the stomach.
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
