Rain Drop Turkish House — Local services in Oklahoma City

Went to the annual Turkish Festival for the very first time this year. In a sentence, amazing food, caring people, and a fantastic hidden gem in OKC’s growing cultural map! Now, for some context to help you plan for your visit and enjoy it to the full. I’ve grown up going to a lot of festivals like this and there are certain things to know going in: do plan time for parking, do bring a phone for searching out or researching dishes, and do prepare yourself for a bit of a hectic environment. They have a small lot on site with free parking and had several helpful people volunteering outside to help direct in addition to all of the side street parking, but this is not a custom built event center with a multi level garage—you might have to do a little searching to find a parking spot. When you walk in, there’s a ticket table where you purchase food tickets in advance, one dollar per ticket. They also have print outs of what’s available, the price, and a map of the space. From there, the main area is devoted to food vendors and is like walking into a small slice of heaven; warm spices, fresh bread, grilled meats, honey, coffee, and all the mixed smells of fresh food condensed down into a singular room. If you are expecting orderly, neat queues of people disengaged while they wait in line, think again. It’s a flutter with activity, kids, pans of fresh food going by, and all the hubbub that one might expect in a busy market or street fair. It was so fun and full of life! But if you find it a bit overwhelming, you might find one of the open tables to sit at and vote someone in your party the designated food getter if navigating a crowded space isn’t your jam. It was a tad bit warm inside due to the open doors and active cooking happening, so dress in layers if you find that you are sensitive to temperature. Everyone we met was incredibly helpful and so welcoming. I asked a ton of questions at booths to try and learn more about the food, and was met with such patience and enthusiasm to share a piece of Turkish culture. If you find though that you need more info, I would recommend finding a quiet spot in the building and using the food menu provided at the ticket table to Google and read up on any dishes you’re unfamiliar with. I personally tried the stuffed meatball, beef and onion flatbread, dumplings, and enough pastries to say that it’s truly all amazing and made with care. A personal highlight was watching the gentleman heat and prepare the ultra rich, sweet coffee that is a staple of the culture. He used a traditional vat of sand to heat the coffee, and it truly felt like a piece of Turkey brought to Oklahoma. I can’t wait to go back...

Kind of disappointed. The food was good but a little costly at the festival. I didn't realize that the festival was a fundraiser. I thought there would be some cultural activities, but didn't observe anything cultural except the loud music. It was difficult to talk to others because of the music. I had hoped to meet and talk with some Turkish people and maybe learn about normal activities at the center. Probably won't...

Good place to deepen your cultural awareness. You will find friendly, helpful members willing to answer questions that the have probably answered hundreds of times. Food festivals are awesome, making them a must visit. If you aren’t familiar with Turkish food, the selection is plentiful to give you good choices, but always leave room for some sweets to finish...