Once upon a time, the Cherry Street District on 15th Street was known for a few staple eateries, such as the Coffee House on Cherry Street, and the laidback neighborhood streets where artists and students often made their homes. But Cherry Street is a bit more booming these days, to say the least. Packed with new places to eat, shop, grab a drink with friends, and be entertained, Cherry Street has turned into the cool place to be.

In that spirit, we’ve decided to do a fun, festive look at some of its best haunts. We’ve mixed it up by highlighting a few oldies but goodies, while also mentioning some of Cherry Street’s newest offerings to give our readers the flavor of what’s happening in this part of town. And don’t forget about our “Also Check Out” list, which includes a full listing of the many great eateries that make Cherry Street so lively in the evenings and on weekends.

Of course, you’re also not going to go wrong by wandering down this part of 15th Street and visiting several spots on our list to enjoy a bit of an impromptu bar crawl — because many of these places have great bars and unique drink offerings.

If the weather’s nice, try wandering the neighboring streets on either side before or after your meal to peruse the creative landscaping of the homes there. It’s all part of what makes Cherry Street so much fun.

In 2012, according to the Harvard Business Review, 90 percent of the beer market was controlled by two companies: Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors. While their reign probably hasn’t changed much, one trend today is hammering hard at these two beer kings’ crowns — the emergence of neighborhood breweries, taprooms and brewpubs.

Micro-breweries have been hopping up all over the country for years, producing some of the best craft beers in the world. But it’s the taproom that’s making the most impact in the neighborhood setting. Here in Tulsa, we enjoy a surprisingly large number of breweries and taprooms. And it doesn’t look like it’s a trend ending anytime soon. Long live the revolution.

While it’s easy to toss back a six-pack at home, there’s nothing better than seeing where your beer was born with your own eyes and grabbing a fresh pint from the taproom bar.

What is a taproom? It’s a place where a brewery can serve its beer directly to customers, for the sole purpose of sampling and drinking the product. Taprooms serve beer directly from a tapped-in line to a brewery at the same location. Brewpubs typically do that too, but they also sell other trendy, specialty beers from around the world, as well as food. Bars certainly sell beer, but they do not have a direct tap to an on-site brewery. They also serve other liquors, wines, and food — the opposite of a taproom.

Brewers pouring, selling cans or filling growlers at their own taprooms make 40 to 50 percent more than they would if they sold their beer wholesale to a distributor. They’ve cut out the middleman.

From goses and stouts, altbiers and saisons, to the APAs, IPAs, biere de gardes and kölshes, Tulsa’s taprooms have any style of craft beer you could think of trying and more. The taproom is also a great place to meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, to share stories, to celebrate, to propose, to commiserate, to communicate.

There are more worthwhile spots than we can fit on this list, but drinking your way through the ones included here will give you a crash course in what Tulsa’s beer scene has to offer. Keep in mind that beer lineups and availability change frequently at most taprooms.

When you’re ready to have a wonderfully flavorful, palate-pleasing experience with your meal, you know you can count on Asian restaurants to deliver. Delightful dishes presented with artistic touches of flair and vibrant pops of color invite a foodie to linger over their plates and enjoy the experience of eating well. Tulsans know this to be true, which is why some of the best Asian restaurants in Tulsa have been around forever and aren’t going anywhere any time soon.

For the most part, Asian restaurants keep it simple — meat, rice, and veggies. But what sets it apart from the other food categories is the fantastic combinations of herbs and spices that send our taste buds into the heavens. Ingredient after ingredient is combined in complete harmony, in a way the average person at home in the kitchen can’t replicate.

The diverse flavors of Asian cuisine are abundant in Green County. The area is home to seemingly countless sushi bars, pan-Asian bistros, Chinese eateries, Vietnamese restaurants and beyond. If you’re in the mood for sashimi, makis, dim sum, pad Thai or pho, the choices are sure to delight. Asian dining establishments range from laid-back and casual to formal and high-end.

Check out any one of these Asian food establishments, and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.

It’s fair to say that Green Country has a church or a QuikTrip on just about every corner. It’s also fair to say that there’s a Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Southwestern-style restaurant on just about every corner too. Some of them are small mom-and-pop shops, some large and spacious, some focused on giving diners a fiesta, and others as relaxed as a siesta in the warm afternoon. But what they all share is a focus on serving up delicious food that makes you want to cry, “ole!”

In other words, if you love burritos, tostadas, salsa, guacamole, and margaritas, then Green Country is a great place. Around here, it’s possible to go to a different Mexican-style restaurant every day for at least a month without repeating the same place twice. Then again, there are a lot of places around here that you’ll want to visit over and over because they are so good.