Lately, the Southside of Oklahoma City has been experiencing a true renaissance in casual dining.
For years, the Northside dominated the “finer” dining scene with more mainstream (read: white) establishments, driven by the ruling class’s tired stereotype of the Southside as a hub for poor landscapers, cartel kingpins, and sassy maids that only the bravest white men would dare confront.
Ahem.
Thankfully, those outdated perceptions have been eclipsed, and Southside restaurants have more than evolved. The once-overlooked hole-in-the-wall taquerias—some of my favorite places in the world—are now celebrated as equal contenders in OKC’s dining scene. In fact, the Southside now boasts some of the finest restaurants in the area, often eclipsing their Northside counterparts.
Take, for example, the gorgeous Chumitos Restaurant, located at 6722 S. Western Ave. With a bold and innovative take on the traditional cuisines of both Mexican and Guatemalan cultures, this spot sets a new standard. I stopped by last week to give it a try and left more than impressed.
As soon as we arrived, my fiancée and I started our visit at their in-house juice and coffee bar. She opted for the refreshing and healthy Mango Smoothie ($5.99), while I couldn’t resist the comforting Hot Horchata Latte ($5.99)—a delicious treat Starbucks will never handle.
Like a warm glove pressed to a cheek, as I looked over the menu I tried their house-made chips and black bean dip and it was a true mindblower. Move over bland salsa and cheese sauce. This is how you get a set-up right!
As we placed our orders, I took a moment to soak in the restaurant’s unique vibe—a charming mix of lo-fi rustic-glam. Decorative sun and moon wall fixtures seemed to watch over our table as we leisurely sipped our drinks, filling the space with a peaceful, easy feeling.
Before long, our appetites demanded attention, and we kicked off the meal with my fiancée’s choice: the Pambazo ($11.99).
This traditional Mexican dish features Telera bread—soft and slightly crusty—soaked in a spicy red sauce and stuffed with a savory mix of Mexican chorizo, potatoes, rice, sour cream, and cheese. Yes, please!
The Pambazo is no ordinary sandwich—it’s a fiery masterpiece. The bread is coated in a rich red guajillo pepper sauce, lending to a subtle, sadistic sweetness that perfectly complements the spicy chorizo and creamy potatoes. The result is a sandwich with an almost magnetic pull, making it the hottest and, even better, wettest sandwich in town.
While she was chowing down on that, I went back to the basics and, even better, my Guatemalan favorite meal, the Pollo Rostizado ($12.99). It’s fried chicken, done Guatemalan-style, with a side of rice, black beans, and a light salad. Fuck you, KFC!
With my bottle of Campero Tomato Sauce Ketchup Style—my new sauce to end all sauces—this meal was world-class. The pollo rostizado was firmer and tauter than it had a right to be, and the outside coating was unexpectedly crispy and deserves the highest praise.
This is definitely how you do chicken right!
Even though I was already full and should have paid the check quietly and calmly, I couldn’t resist dessert.
Craving something I hadn’t had in ages, I decided on the Ensalada de Fruta ($4.99)—or, as some might call it, fruit salad, though not the kind you’re imagining!
This delightful concoction featured bits of apples, citrus, and a touch of nuts, all drenched in a luscious mix of condensed milk, whipped cream, and sprinkles. It felt like the slightly healthier version of a chubby kid’s dream treat after a day at the public pool. And let me tell you—it was phenomenal!
Chumitos—and, really, other restaurants on the Southside—are riding the new wave of world cuisine in Oklahoma City. Get in your car, grab a fork, and start patronizing these genre-defying places, because, with or without you, there is a new taste in town.
Cómpralo ya!
-
Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
