East Tulsa - Tulsa, OK Area Guide

Beginning as a manufacturing community, East Tulsa has maintained its manufacturing workforce even while the industry in other parts of the country declines. With 49.7 percent of working residents employed in manufacturing, East Tulsa exceeds 99.3 percent of US neighborhoods in this industry. While most of the Tulsa arts scene is located in downtown, East Tulsa is home to the VanTrease Performing Arts Center, which hosts the Tulsa Signature Symphony – Tulsa’s only remaining symphony – as well as touring shows and student productions.

A franchise of the downtown favorite originally called Junkyard Dawg, a restaurant operated out of a repurposed garage, Gnarley Dawg recreates that atmosphere in East Tulsa. Specializing in hot dogs and locally made sausages, Gnarley Dawg offers everything from their Bare Bones Dawg, a basic hotdog with mustard and optional grilled onions, to their signature Gnarley Dawg, a half-pound hotdog served with nacho cheese and house gnarley sauce. Most dogs cost under $5, with no menu item over $6.50. For your next event, Gnarley Dawg offers catering packages, including the option to hire a server and hot dog cart. For another casual dining option, order a burrito from Tacos San Pedro. One of Tulsa’s many authentic Mexican restaurants, Taco San Pedro stands out for its fast service, uncrowded space and consistent quality. While the carne assada burrito is always a favorite, the restaurant also offers an extensive menu of enchiladas, tacos, tamales and desserts. The family-owned Korean Garden operates as Tulsa’s only authentic Korean restaurant. Open Tuesday through Sunday, a buffet is offered daily, with the most elaborate buffet on Sundays, along with individual menu items. An appetizer of kimchee followed by spicy beef bulgogi is an ever-popular pairing, while potstickers and teriyaki dishes provide less spicy options. Also offering dishes such as spicy tofu, bean sprout soup and tempura vegetables, the Korean Garden serves one of East Tulsa’s most extensive selections of vegetarian foods. Mr. Lucky’s Pub and Grill offers a casual bar environment in an unassuming and uncrowded location. Featuring weekly karaoke nights and live bands, music fans will appreciate this venue. With six pool tables, Mr. Lucky’s hosts league nights as well as casual nights for those who are trying to improve their game. Open spring through fall, the Admiral Twin Drive-In remains an East Tulsa landmark. A classic drive-in movie theatre, long-time residents all harbor fond memories of the drive-in. When a fire consumed the movie screens in 2010, residents quickly rallied around the owners, organizing fundraisers to rebuild the historic cinema. Now reopened, the theatre once again features two nine-story movie screens and a full kitchen.

Six bus routes operate in East Tulsa; however, the buses run hours apart from each other so traveling via bus requires planning and long commutes. Uber and Lyft both operate in the area, as well as traditional taxi services. With minimal public transit options, cars are necessary in East Tulsa. Fortunately, the neighborhood has a strong carpooling culture. 23.7 percent of residents regularly carpool, a number higher than 97.1 percent of US neighborhoods. Commuters can find free parking readily available everywhere in East Tulsa. OK-51/Broken Arrow Expressway and US-244 both provide easy commutes into downtown Tulsa. If you aren’t in any hurry, take the time to explore historic Route 66, which runs right through East Tulsa. A spread-out neighborhood with limited sidewalks, East Tulsa earns a low walkability score. Biking is an option, though with no dedicated bike lanes, cyclists who ride along the city streets should do so cautiously.

Spanning 53.4 acres, McClure Park offers a variety of amenities for East Tulsans of all ages and interests. Providing a disc golf course, soccer field, football field, four tennis courts and two basketball courts, McClure attracts athletes of all sorts. With easy access to bike routes, McClure is also a popular meeting place for the Tulsa Bicycle Club. A kid-friendly park, the park provides a playground and picnic areas, while the community center houses one of Tulsa’s five city pools, open seasonally for a $2 entrance fee. Every July, McClure hosts the annual Tulsa Parks Kids Triathlon. The Carl Smith Sports Complex, operated by the Tulsa Amateur Softball Association in partnership with the Tulsa Parks and Recreation Department, features nine softball fields. TASA includes men’s, women’s, co-ed, church and senior leagues, each offering a 10-game season for an annual fee between $220 and $325. The park is accessible only through membership in these leagues, with fields opening half an hour before game time.

The cost of living in East Tulsa is lower than the city average, with housing costs being the largest contributing factor. Median East Tulsa one-bedroom apartment runs for $525 per month, compared to the Tulsa area’s $714 average. A one-way adult bus ticket runs at $1.50 per ride while children can ride for $1 and seniors for 75 cents. One-day, 7-day, 10-day and 31-day bus passes are available, providing unlimited rides for the specified time period. Gas prices average 8.5 percent less than the national average. A beer a neighborhood bar will set you back $2, with many $4 and $5 pitchers available.

East Tulsa houses Oklahoma’s largest used bookstore, Gardner’s Used Books and Music. A 23,000 square foot retail space, Gardner’s selection includes books, music, VHS and DVDs, and games. Customers can sell or trade any of these items. With bookshelves reaching the ceiling, customers can spend hours exploring the stacks. Seasoned cyclists and casual neighborhood riders could ask for no better bike shop than Bicycles of Tulsa. A knowledgeable staff will direct you to the ideal bike for your needs, and to help with your maintenance needs, they offer the services of on-site bicycle mechanics. For a more comprehensive retail selection, the Woodland Hills Mall offers several stores, including national chains and a small selection of local boutiques. Local chain supermarket Reasor’s serves as the area’s primary grocer, while Natural Grocers provides a selection of organic produce, and the Middle East Market offers specialty groceries. While no farmers’ markets operate in the East Tulsa neighborhoods, residents can shop the Cherry Street and Brookside markets in the nearby Midtown neighborhood.