by Bottom Line: The Spicy Shrimp Tacos from the Mug Scratch Kitchen in Oklahoma City may not set your mouth on fire, but they are quite tasty and worth trying.
Business has not been good for national casual sit-down restaurants in the last few years, with chains like TGI Friday’s, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and more either filing for bankruptcy or struggling to keep people coming through the doors. So when a new name tries to compete in that market and does a good job, it’s certainly worth taking note and supporting them if possible. I was recently visiting Oklahoma City, and Mug Scratch Kitchen & Tavern was just around the corner from my hotel, so I stopped by for dinner. The place has the very familiar look of a casual eatery (though not as much paraphernalia as TGI Friday’s), but the food they are cooking up is a notch or two above the standard chain from what I experienced.
I ordered the Jalapeño Cheese Bites as a starter, and our very friendly waitress had those out to us (along with our drinks) in no time. So quick, in fact, that we had to wait for the molten appetizer to cool down! These are battered and deep-fried balls of cheese and jalapeños, and they had a nice crispy crust holding everything together. The cheese inside is plenty ooey and gooey with a mild sharpness to it. You can also definitely taste the jalapeños, and these cheese balls have a kick, coming close to Medium on my scale. The ranch dipping sauce offered a nice counterbalance to the heat, and this appetizer got things off to a great start.
For my entrée, I ordered the Spicy Shrimp Tacos, which come with seasoned and grilled shrimp, fresh pico de gallo, freshly cut cabbage, cilantro, queso fresco, and a lime wedge. You can also get the shrimp beer-battered and fried, and the dish comes with one side. Fried okra is an option, and that’s a favorite of mine (it seems to be quite prevalent in OKC), so that’s what I chose.
The shrimp were plenty plump and very nicely seasoned, cooked just right without any of the iodine taste that can often throw off a shrimp dish. The seasoning resembled Cajun spice and was nicely seared into the shrimp. The fresh cabbage delivered a good crunch, and the pico de gallo had a nice citrus kick along with some heat. The crumbly queso fresco brought some sharpness and tang and blended well with the other ingredients. The tortillas were fairly standard and didn’t appear to be freshly made, but they held everything together well enough.
Heat-wise, the shrimp itself was approaching Medium on my scale, and the pico had a bite as well. But when it all came together, I’d put it a little above Mild. Still, the tacos delivered a nice warmth, with those shrimp really standing out. Next time, I might ask for a few extra jalapeños, but I was quite happy with the tacos as they were. And that fried okra was crispy and tasty, turning out to be a good accompaniment.
There is no calorie information since this is a stand-alone restaurant, but between the appetizer, tacos, and side, the meal certainly wasn’t diet-friendly. But it was worth the splurge, and they had a few local beers on tap (available in 16 oz and 22 oz sizes) that helped wash everything down.
The Mug Scratch Kitchen has been around since 2014, and I don’t know if they have any plans to try franchising beyond their current location. I certainly enjoyed the place, though, and will make it a point to return next time I’m in OKC to check out more items on their rather extensive menu. And if they do plan to expand, I’d be happy to scout out some locations in San Antonio!
The Mug Scratch Kitchen & Tavern
1800 S Meridian Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Phone: (405) 681-1900
Hours: 11 AM to 12 AM Mon – Sat, 11 AM to 10 PM Sun
Website: themugokc.com
