You’re driving through Shawnee, Oklahoma, maybe headed down Highway 177, and your stomach starts doing that thing where it demands something heavy, salty, and culturally significant. You aren't looking for a burger. Honestly, if you’re in this part of the woods, there is really only one thing that hits the spot: the Firelake fry bread taco. It is a massive, pillowy, golden-brown disc of dough that defies the laws of traditional sandwich physics.
Most people who aren't from around here call them "Indian Tacos." That’s the common shorthand, but at FireLake Discount Foods—the spot owned by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation—it’s just a staple of life. It’s not just food; it’s a specific kind of Oklahoman edible architecture.
What Actually Makes a Firelake Fry Bread Taco?
If you’ve never had one, forget everything you know about a Taco Bell chalupa. This is different. The base is the fry bread, which is a simple dough of flour, sugar, salt, and lard (or shortening), deep-fried until it puffs up like a savory cloud. When it's done right, the outside has this precise, shattered-glass crunch while the inside remains airy and tug-at-your-teeth chewy.
At FireLake, they don't skimp. They pile on the seasoned ground beef, pinto beans, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and a mountain of cheddar cheese. It’s heavy. You’ll need a fork. If you try to pick this thing up like a regular taco, you’re going to end up wearing your lunch, and nobody wants that kind of mess on their shirt before a meeting or a long drive.
The sheer scale of it is what usually shocks people. It's basically a dinner plate made of bread.
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The Bread is the Secret Sauce
The fry bread isn't just a vessel; it’s the main event. Most commercial kitchens mess this up by making the dough too dense or letting it sit under a heat lamp until it turns into a leathery frisbee. The cooks at FireLake have this down to a science because they’re making hundreds of these things. It has to be fresh.
Fry bread has a complicated history in the United States, rooted in the mid-1800s when Indigenous peoples were forced onto reservations and given meager rations like white flour, processed sugar, and lard. It was a survival food. Today, it’s a symbol of resilience and a centerpiece of community gatherings. When you eat a Firelake fry bread taco, you’re participating in a piece of living history that has been refined over generations.
Why the Location Matters
FireLake Discount Foods isn't a fancy bistro. It’s a massive grocery store. But inside, the deli section functions as a community hub. You’ll see tribal members, construction workers, and tourists all standing in the same line.
There is something authentic about getting world-class comfort food in a place where you can also buy a gallon of milk and a socket wrench. It lacks the pretension of "fusion" restaurants in OKC or Tulsa. It’s just honest.
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The Citizen Potawatomi Nation operates several enterprises in the area, including the FireLake Arena and the Grand Casino, but the grocery store deli remains the grassroots favorite for the taco. It’s affordable. It’s consistent. It’s local.
The "Correct" Way to Eat It
Look, everyone has their own strategy. Some people go for the "fold and hope" method, but that’s rookie behavior.
- The Perimeter Attack: Start by breaking off the edges of the fry bread that aren't covered in toppings. This gives you the pure flavor of the dough.
- The Center Plunge: Use your fork to mix the beef and beans into the cheese. You want a bit of everything in one bite.
- The Salsa Variable: FireLake usually provides packets or small cups of salsa. Use them. The acidity cuts through the richness of the fried dough.
- The Napkin Prep: Grab more than you think you need. Seriously.
Sometimes they offer a "dessert" version—just the bread with honey or powdered sugar. If you have any room left in your soul after the taco, that’s the move.
Common Misconceptions About Fry Bread
A lot of folks think fry bread is supposed to be healthy. It’s not. It’s delicious. It is high-calorie, high-carb comfort food. If you’re on a keto diet, stay far away from Highway 177.
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Another mistake is thinking all fry bread is the same. Navajo fry bread is often thinner and crispier. Potawatomi-style bread, like what you find at FireLake, tends to be a bit thicker and more "bready." It’s meant to hold up under the weight of a pound of toppings.
Real Talk: The Health and Nutrition Factor
We have to be real here. A single fry bread taco can easily clock in at 700 to 1,200 calories depending on how heavy the hand is with the cheese and meat. In recent years, there has been a push within Indigenous communities to offer "healthier" versions using whole wheat flour or leaner meats like bison.
However, for most visitors, the Firelake fry bread taco is a "sometimes" food. It’s a treat. It’s what you eat when you’re celebrating or when you need a literal hug in the form of a meal.
Beyond the Taco: Exploring FireLake
If you’re making the trip, don’t just eat and leave. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center is nearby. It’s one of the best tribal museums in the country. It gives context to the people who make the food you just enjoyed. You can learn about the Trail of Death—the forced removal of the Potawatomi from the Great Lakes region to Oklahoma—and see how the tribe has built a massive, successful economic engine in Shawnee.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Check the Deli Hours: Don't just show up at 8:00 PM expecting a fresh taco. The deli usually peaks during the lunch rush (11:00 AM to 1:30 PM).
- Bring a Friend: Unless you’re a competitive eater, finishing one of these alone is a daunting task. Share the wealth.
- Explore the Grocery Store: FireLake Discount Foods often carries local products and specific brands you won't find in big-box stores in the city.
- Visit the Cultural Center: It’s free, it’s educational, and it’s right down the road. It’s the perfect way to walk off some of those calories.
Getting a Firelake fry bread taco is a rite of passage for anyone living in or traveling through Central Oklahoma. It’s messy, it’s huge, and it’s arguably the most satisfying meal you can get for under ten bucks. Just remember to bring your appetite and a solid stack of napkins.