Nelson's Buffeteria — Restaurant in Tulsa

Possibly the best chicken fried steak in the world. I have eaten a lot of chicken fried steak in Oklahoma and Texas and this is the best I have ever had. But let's digress.

I went to Nelson's late in lunch service on Tuesday. Right before they close at 2pm. They are only open Monday to Friday.

The service counter was out of chicken fried steak so they fried a fresh one just for me. The set I ordered came with 2 sides and a bread option.

I selected the chicken pot pie (daily special) and cabbage and their homemade dinner roll.

The chicken fried steak was thick and yet fluffy. The batter was perfectly coating the steak and when fried gave it an almost perfect balance of a crispy exterior. The steak was smothered in white sauce. Pro tip don't smother the steak with sauce or it n3

The pot pie was ok. The chicken was a little overcooked as it had probably sat there a little too long as it was the end of lunch service. It was loaded with so much chicken meat you had to dig around to find the vegetables fillers other places use.

The cabbage was excellent. Cooked down and flavor enhanced with a little of what I think was polish sausage and green peppers. If you like cabbage this side dish will not disappoint. If you don't like cabbage, this might make you a covert

The bread roll was very large, fresh and warm with a hint of sweetness. They also had cornbread as an option.

I would rate Nelson's as a must try location if you ever visit Tulsa. It is a hidden gem with old fashioned southern cooking. The only problem is it is only open Monday thru Friday and...

Editing - I see so many reviews saying people are angry that Nelson's isn't a buffet as the name states. No, the name is not Nelson's Buffet. It is Nelson's Buffeteria, and for a company to be around for 9 decades it would seem to me that people might have noticed the real name in that time. The name comes from the concept the original proprietor wanted - a buffet selection on a quick-serve cafeteria line. If you want a buffet, go to Golden Corral. If you want a Tulsa tradition, come to Nelson's. And seriously, try the baked chicken! A true Tulsa tradition! Fabulous chicken fried steaks, mashed potatoes, and the best mac & cheese on the planet. The waitstaff is superb - several of them remember us every time we go in and know what drinks we want! Live country/bluegrass music on Thursdays (I think, it might be Friday). Every day has a daily special. Try the baked chicken on Thursdays, it is by far the best I have ever eaten. I don't know what they season it with but it is HEAVEN. They have turkey & dressing around the holidays too. Desserts are also made in-house daily and the meringue pies are just like my grandmother used to make. If you need some comfort food, make sure you stop in. EARLY too, because they...

What can I say about Nelson's Buffeteria? The food is absolutely AMAZING!!! I always get one of two things. Either the Chicken Fried Steak or the Chicken Fried Chicken. My sides are always the same. Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and also the Cabbage. I choose the Roll, but they also have Cornbread.

Looking at the selections they have.....all the food looks good.

The only criticism I have is, they have LIMITED hours. If you aren't there before 2 PM, good luck come back tomorrow. But in all honesty, I think they do this to help keep costs down. Because they could easily charge $5 more and people would gladly pay it, just because the quality of the food is so good.

So the bottom line is.....if you like amazing food that doesn't cost alot and you aren't afraid of crowds (because this place is normally packed) and you can get there before 2 P.M., then Nelson's is DEFINITELY the...