Undercover goodness: unique places to eat in Shawnee

By Chelsea Weeks, Assistant Features Editor

It is common knowledge that one of the best motivators for college students is quality food. In the city of Shawnee, there are many different local restaurants that are waiting to be uncovered. Here is a list of five locally owned restaurants that are less than 10 minutes away from OBU.

Daliyah’s Greek House

Daliyah’s Greek House is located two minutes from campus, on the north-east corner of Kickapoo and Federal. They are open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Their provide salads, kabobs, shawarma wraps, gyros, Greek burgers, hummus and much more. Their prices range from $4.99 for an appetizer to $21.99 for a kabob dinner.

Their most popular item is the Supreme Gyro Wrap which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the sunroom, patio or dining room.

“Daliyah’s Greek house had a very homey and welcoming atmosphere around it. I really enjoyed the screened in porch,” freshman nursing major, Hannah Rodriguez said. “They had all the windows open so it was very airy and open. The food was very authentic and great. They had a lot of options ranging in prices. Our waitress was very welcoming and was very attentive to our needs. We also were able to meet the owner. He was going around table to table checking and making sure each of the customers had everything they needed.”

Fratelli’s

Fratelli’s is located two minutes from campus, on the south-east corner of Kickapoo and Federal. They are open Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday:11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

They have a wide range of options including pasta, seafood, veal, steak, pizza, soup, salad and specialty plates. Their prices range from appetizers starting at $3.50 and steaks at $18.95.

Their most popular dishes are the chicken alfredo and the baked lasagna.

“[I] highly recommend the spaghetti meat sauce. It was a very nice setting,” sophomore early elementary major Amanda Kincaid said. 

Shawnee Pho

Shawnee Pho is located four minutes from campus on the south-west corner of Kickapoo and Kickapoo Spur. Although closed every Tuesday, they are open Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to  9 p.m. and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Their options range from pho, salad, sushi, eggrolls, daily combos and appetizers. Their prices range from a small soup for $6.95 to a roll of sushi for $19.95.

Their most popular item is pho, which can be made spicy and with different kinds of meats like brisket, meatball or chicken.

“I loved both of my experiences eating their food,” said junior sociology major, Bella Chiareli said. “The ambiance is nothing to write home about, but I was surprised to just how delicious the food is. There is a ton of variety in meal options, and the pho is totally authentic. I loved the presentation of the pho and all the toppings you get to add. I can’t quite describe all the flavors, but it’s super unique and all around delicious.”

Don Ciros Tacos

Don Ciros Tacos is located seven minutes from campus, on the south-west corner of Harrison and Dewey. They are open Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They have a wide range of options from tacos, tamales, carnitas, enchiladas, fajitas, flautas and special combo plates. Their prices range from $1.69 for a tamale to $16.99 for a specialty plate.

From the wall mural to the Spanish menus, the restaurant is very authentic.

“They had better Mexican food than most of the places I’ve been to in Oklahoma,” sophomore secondary English education major Jessica Styles said. “It may have looked sketchy, but the people were nice and the food was great.”

Benton’s Café

Benton’s Café is located eight minutes from campus, on the south-west corner of Broadway and 9th Street. They are open Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Their options range from breakfast, sandwiches (hot and cold), salads, burgers, soups, veggie plates, chicken fried steaks and pie. The price ranges from $3.25 for a piece of pie to $13.49 for fried chicken. Their most popular item in the Chicken Fried Steak.

There is an old-fashioned juke box at different tables and food fresher than Eminem.

“It was really cute. It felt like an old mom and pop shop. It was very old fashioned,” sophomore psychology major Kay Howell said.