Rib Crib

Restaurant: Rib Crib

Location: Sapulpa, OK

Number and Size of Rings: 6

Cost: $2.59 for a side order
Rib Crib's onion rings are especially good, I think, with their mustardy Carolina Honey BBQ sauce. Our server didn't think so, but she let us dip them in it anyway without making too many faces. They are big and have a crispy panko coating. It's a gentle, friendly panko that crumbles when its time to crumble, but holds the onion in like it should. My favorite thing about these onion rings is that they are probably one of the only things on the menu that don't contain MSG. Not kidding. Old-school Chinese food has nothing on the amount of MSG in Rib Crib's food. At this location, our server thought it was funny that we were asking for "Soda" instead of "Pop" and mentioned, "Y'all aren't from 'round here are ya?" Nope, but I'm enjoying my tour of Oklahoma's lovely abundance of onion rings!

Harden's Hamburgers

Restaurant: Harden's

Location: Tulsa, OK (this was the Sheridan location)

Number and Size of Rings: A huge pile- 19 large

Cost: Large side, $4.50
Harden's requires a flip-top head to eat its famous BOB burger, but as for its onion rings... it takes a bit of determination. These have a VERY UNIQUE batter coating, in that they some how cross the line of crispy into crunchy and then head in the direction of unyielding. They don't look it (they actually look kind of flaky), but these are so miraculously durable. So much so, that you can still get a crunch out of them after a day leftover in the fridge. I kid you not. Each onion is encased in a permanent, protective SHELL!
I asked one of the workers how they made them, and she said, "We cut up them onions and dip them in a fresh batter. Then we fry 'em up." I asked what is in the batter and she said, "We don't know none of that. Nobody knows that for sure 'sep the owners." Then other people in the restaurant started guessing, "Cornmeal?" "No, no cornmeal in there," she said. "Sugar?" "Maybe, dunno." I don't think it's much sugar because they're not THAT sweet. Maybe eggs? Maybe baking powder. It's unknown. They win the prize for the hardest and crunchiest onion rings I've ever experienced, though. Hmmm. HARD- ens. I get it!

Fronimos Greek Cafe

Restaurant: Fronimos Greek Cafe

Location: Tucson, AZ

Number and Size of Rings: A huge pile

Cost: still looking for my receipt!

These have got to be in my top three favorite onion rings of all time. Fronimos makes them by hand fresh when you order them. They have a sign that says, "We CRY FOR YOU"! They have a way of taking very thin onion rings and putting a very thick knobby batter on them, then cooking them perfectly. The salty seasoning is so addictive. The rings always come with plenty of what they call "fry sauce", which is a mayo and ketchup mix. They are heaven next to some moussaka and spanikopita. When I was pregnant with Paul (now age three), we would go to Fronimos after every ob visit. Therefore, Paul has had these since in the womb! Who knew the Greek folks were the best onion ring makers? I will visit again next time I'm in Tucson.

Dick Clark's

Restaurant: Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" Grill

Location: Phoenix, AZ (Sky Harbor Airport)

Number and Size of Rings: 9

Cost: As a side with an $8.99 sandwich entree
These are beer batter onion rings, but not typical or gross or greasy at all. These were fabulously crispy, perfectly done, not too thick, and not too sweet.