The Bottom Line
Quality fine dining restaurants are available throughout Oklahoma City, and the metro has become much more cosmopolitan in recent years. But there are some restaurants that really capture the true spirit of the people here in Oklahoma, a simplicity in which the only necessary fineries are genuine people and a comfortable place to sit. Add to that authenticity the best fried chicken you'll find in the state, and you have the memorable Eischen's Bar in Okarche, one of several metro restaurants featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."
Pros
- Perhaps the best fried chicken in the state
- Simple, comfortable and original
- Good prices for large portions
- Friendly service
Cons
- I only wish Okarche was closer
Description
- Location: 108 S. 2nd St.
Okarche, OK 73762 - Directions: Follow NW Expressway (Highway 3) out of OKC to Highway 81 in Okarche. Turn right on Oklahoma to 2nd Street.
- Phone: (405) 263-9939
Guide Review - Eischen's Bar
At some restaurants, you receive a plate, not exactly a novel concept. Drinks often come in glasses, and the handing out of menus is a common activity across the land. At Eischen's Bar in the small town of Okarche northwest of the Oklahoma City metro, though, they dispense with trivialities such as that, rather offering a square of parchment paper for a dinner "dish." A can of soda pop or bottled beer should suffice, and menus don't seem to exist. There isn't exactly a variety of offerings anyway, so the short list is laminated upon the tabletop. Sound like a simple experience? It is, and it's wonderful.
Eischen's Bar is just that, a dark, old-fashioned tavern with booths lining the outside and a large bar area in the middle. Pool tables are available on the west end, and televisions are mounted for sports-viewing pleasures. It's a rural atmosphere with mounted animals and cowboy paraphernalia adorning the walls, a comfortable and simplistic place to grab a meal.
And that meal is what sets Eischen's apart from all the others. Their specialty, and by that I mean just about the only thing they offer, is fried chicken, whole birds crisped to perfection. With the bird comes a side such as a nachos, chili, or some fantastic fried okra as well as a tray of fresh pickles and white bread. You can get a sandwich as well, but I'm not sure why you would. The chicken is juicy and delicious, so good that you'll forget for just a moment how bad it must be for you.
For the amount of food you receive (an entire bird will likely leave leftovers with two people), the price is very reasonable, $15-20 plus drinks. It can take a bit of time to cook the chicken, but sides are brought in advance by very friendly employees, just one more thing that makes you treasure this true Oklahoma original.
Eischen's Bar is just that, a dark, old-fashioned tavern with booths lining the outside and a large bar area in the middle. Pool tables are available on the west end, and televisions are mounted for sports-viewing pleasures. It's a rural atmosphere with mounted animals and cowboy paraphernalia adorning the walls, a comfortable and simplistic place to grab a meal.
And that meal is what sets Eischen's apart from all the others. Their specialty, and by that I mean just about the only thing they offer, is fried chicken, whole birds crisped to perfection. With the bird comes a side such as a nachos, chili, or some fantastic fried okra as well as a tray of fresh pickles and white bread. You can get a sandwich as well, but I'm not sure why you would. The chicken is juicy and delicious, so good that you'll forget for just a moment how bad it must be for you.
For the amount of food you receive (an entire bird will likely leave leftovers with two people), the price is very reasonable, $15-20 plus drinks. It can take a bit of time to cook the chicken, but sides are brought in advance by very friendly employees, just one more thing that makes you treasure this true Oklahoma original.
