Flavor Of Oklahoma: Flo’s Smokehouse Offering ‘Mexicue’ Fusion On Route 66

A small restaurant on Route 66 near 11th and Lewis is combining the best of two worlds-Mexican food and barbecue.

Flo’s Smokehouse Eats offers everything from brisket grilled cheese to street tacos and breakfast offerings with meats all smoked to perfection for hours.

Brandy Adkins owns Flo’s Smokehouse Eats and the other two Flo’s Burger diners in Tulsa and Catoosa. She calls this food "Mexicue" to combine two of her favorite things, and it works.

Flo’s Smokehouse Eats is nestled along Route 66 with outdoor seating, a small indoor restaurant space, and a drive-through.

The space may be small, but the food is anything but that.

“Flo was my mom,” she said. “My mom is Floette, dad is Floyd, grandmother Flora. I chopped them down to Flo.”

Brandy Adkins owns Flo’s Smokehouse Eats and Flo’s Burger Diner, which she opened several years ago.

It’s been successful, but she was ready to try something new with a smoker grill.

“I like barbecue, but I like south-of-the-border Hispanic Mexican food way more.”

She says she combines those worlds by smoking her meats instead of braising them for the same effect.

“Instead of braising it for hours, you smoke it for hours,” Adkins said.

The menu has a little bit of everything, from scratch-made biscuits and burritos for breakfast to taco and barbecue plates and then fusion burritos or sandwiches.

She starts her carne asada tacos by adding cheese to two layered tortillas to hold them together.

She adds a big layer of meat, seasons it with a house blend and tops the tacos with cotija, crema, pico and cilantro.

Once we add a squeeze of lime and house-made salsa verde, it's time for a big bite!

You can also get Mexican-inspired sides, like elote.

“A little more cheese on top, a little more cayenne, onion and cilantro, and a little lime.”

Or if you’re extra hungry, a massive burrito will do the trick.

“It’s hot link, mac and cheese, beans, queso and BBQ sauce,” she said.

Next up, Brandy brings out a showstopping slab of brisket that has been smoking for hours and hours. Unbelievably tender, not lacking any juice at all, and it tastes just as good as it looks.

She’s serving this brisket with a side of brisket, baked beans, baked mac and cheese and buttered toast.

“Paula Deen ain't got nothing on me,” said Atkins, with a grin.

She says that mac and beans are best when you eat them together.

There are different barbecue sauce options, like a blackberry Diablo and hot honey, but let’s be honest — this brisket is good enough on its own.

Brandy has been known over the years to give back to people in need and put customer service at the front of her mind to set her restaurants apart.

“It can be anything, from when they walk in, feeding them, to going down the street handing out meals,” she said.

Brandy says balancing her three restaurants is hard work, but cooking is what she loves. That love, and her delicious creations, is what bring customers back for more.

“I love it,” she said. “You’ve got to love what you do every day.”

Flo’s Smokehouse Eats is located at 2204 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74104.

Email Kristen.Weaver@griffin.news for recommendations, or follow @kristeats on Instagram for behind-the-scenes.