A picky eater tries the unique foods Owasso restaurants have to offer

By Alivia Williams 

Picture of me about to try a Hapa sushi roll, full of fear, taken by Alivia Williams 

As a kid, I typically refused any new food that was offered to me, even if they were from a close relative or friend. I could tell when my mom was trying to trick me into eating something with beans, onions, peppers, or any other vegetable I found revolting. While my relationship with food has evolved plenty since then, I still struggle with certain textures and strong, unfamiliar flavors. So, to further break out of my sheltered mindset toward food, I decided to eat/drink dishes I would normally find unpleasant.

Photo of Hapa Japanese Cuisine taken by Alivia Williams 

Restaurant: Hapa Japanese Cuisine 

What I ordered: Fried calamari w/ Hawaiian sauce and sushi roll, named, “brown-eyed girl”

Initial reaction: I was most nervous for these foods compared to other dishes on the list

Going into the first foods I tried, I was feeling pretty nervous as there were a lot of textures going on, and MANY flavors in the sushi roll. I tried the fried calamari first, and surprisingly, I liked it! The texture was a  bit rubbery, but I knew to expect that, and the Hawaiian sauce that came with it was very good! However, things were not looking so promising as I was preparing to eat the sushi. Prior to this experience, I’d only ever had a California roll and a Crunchy roll. “Brown-eyed girl” features shrimp tempura, garlic cream cheese, habanero and avocado, then is topped with roasted salmon, mango, eel sauce, and a tangy berry reduction (whatever that is). The salmon was the most intimidating, and when I proceeded to take a bite, my feelings of fear were confirmed. I then took the salmon off, grimacing, and ate a few pieces without it. It was alright, but the flavors were inconsistent with each bite I took, as some tasted heavily fruity while some bites were full of habanero. 

Overall rating: 4.5/10 The sushi roll was my least favorite food of the bunch, but I’m sure I’d enjoy something a bit more simple. I did enjoy the fried calamari- which brought the rating to a 4.5, rather than a 4. 

Photo of Bricktown Brewery’s Bacon Guacamole Burger taken by Alivia Williams

Restaurant: Bricktown Brewery

What I ordered: Bacon Guacamole Burger 

Initial reaction: I was most nervous about the textures, as well as the mayo-based sauce included. 

This burger features guacamole as the main star, along with bacon, a large tomato, lettuce, chipotle mayo and onion. Upon taking my first bite, it felt as if the burger was in between deciding to be crunchy or soft, which was only a little off-putting. Although as I kept eating, I enjoyed the flavors, except the tomato. It made the burger too juicy as it was paired with the sauce and guacamole. I don’t really prefer my burgers to feel drenched (actually, I’m not a huge burger person at all, so this was branching out too). So after a couple of bites with the tomato, I took it off and ate almost the rest of it. I ended up somewhat liking the chipotle mayo, but if it had been regular mayo, my rating would be lower. I’m not sure why the difference matters so much, but it does. Albeit, I’m proud of myself for trying something unfamiliar, as I typically order chicken tenders or pizza from Bricktown Brewery. 

Overall rating: 6.5/10 After I could get past the textures and tomato, I liked the flavors and ate most of the burger.

Photo of Lavender coconut milk tea taken by Alivia Williams 

Restaurant: Lacaboba Tea Shop 

What I ordered: Lavender coconut milk tea

Initial reaction: Shocked, as it was a lot stronger than I expected 

I know this establishment isn’t a restaurant, but rather a tea shop. I wanted to include an order from here that’s out of the ordinary for me, because I often get comfortable ordering the same drink. I’m a huge fan of Lacaboba’s coconut milk tea, and I figured this might not taste much different as there’s only some lavender added. When I took my first drink, the lavender was much stronger, and while I tried to convince myself I liked it, I didn’t even drink half. I kept thinking to myself that it tasted exactly the way a lavender essential oil smells– however, I tried to keep drinking it. Later on, I cut my losses and threw it away, reluctantly, as I’ve liked every other tea I’ve tried from Lacaboba. So, I will be returning, but you will not see me drinking anything with lavender. 

Overall rating: 5/10, because I love Lacaboba, and this is actually a popular drink; I really am just picky.

Photo of Mad Eats tacos taken by Alivia Williams 

Restaurant: Mad Eats

What I ordered: Fried avocado tacos

Initial reaction: I thought the presentation was beautiful, but I could tell that flavor-wise, there was a lot going on. 

The fried avocado tacos are made with flour tortillas and are filled with avocado mash, shredded cabbage, sriracha lime mayo and mango salsa (but there were just mango pieces on the taco. I think the salsa walked out during the cooking process). On the side was street corn salad, made with a mayo sauce that I steered clear of after the first bite, and cilantro lime rice, which I did actually like. When I first took a bite of the taco, it was clear that the mango shouldn’t have been in the party with everyone else, so after I picked those off, I felt that it tasted more like a taco and less like a forbidden fruit salad. The taste wasn’t too bad after that, and I powered through their sriracha lime mayo (it still reminded me strongly of regular mayo). The texture was mushy and a little soggy after a bit, so I didn’t finish them. 

Overall rating: 5.5/10 This meal was a better fit for a millennial, I fear.

Although I most likely would not order any of these dishes again, this experience helped me realize that I definitely need to get out of my comfort zone every now and then when it comes to trying new food, not in a completely outrageous new dish, but in little steps like trying a new sauce or unfamiliar topping. There is so much out there for me to experience, and I won’t let negative experiences influence my mindset on breaking out of familiarity– because they won’t all be like that.