A taste of Native cuisine at your fingertips

What do you do when you get laid off from a job you hated?

You open a business. Challenging? Yes. Rewarding? Absolutely.

At least that's what Miko Barber has found out since diving into Miko's Native Cuisine, his own mobile Native food truck.

"I am the first Native American food truck around and it's kind of cool to be in my own lane right now, not really competing against anyone for business," Barber stated.

At the age of 23, Barber, Choctaw/Comanche, said he has always loved to cook. His favorite television shows are about cooking and he is the chef in his home.

"My wife and I, Terra, we would talk about having a Native food truck, you know, like a wish list something that you talk about, but don't ever think it will happen, but it did. When I got laid off in February my wife encouraged and supported me to go after my dream. I opened on July 20th of this year," Barber's said, his smile evident of the joy he feels in owning his own business.

Barber's passion for cooking, along side his interest in the role of food in Native history, combined together has motivated him to utilize many ingredients Oklahoma tribes used on a regular basis.

One of Barber's regular menu items is, of course, the NDN taco, "I have a green chili I make with pork that I debuted for the first time a few weeks ago and everyone loved it, so will be making that a regular item," he said.

Growing up Barber didn't see many Native American business owners and he hopes he inspires others when they see a Native American living his dream.

"I have a 6 year old son, Christopher, (Topher) who goes with me to set up and watches me, and without my wife and him, I don't know if I could have done all this … they have been behind me 100 percent and has really encouraged me to pursue my dream," Barber said.

Although the idea of a brick and mortar restaurant is something Barber will keep open for consideration, for now he enjoys traveling to different places, meeting different people, and hopes to expand his Native Cuisine Food truck fleet as time goes by.

So if you are in downtown Oklahoma City some Friday or Saturday night, from 11 p.m. – 2 a.m., look for Miko's Native Cuisine Food Truck. He is a regular at Edna's, 5137 Classen Circle in Oklahoma City.

Miko's Native Cuisine Food Truck is available for events and catering. Call 405-924-2398 or email him at mikonativecuisine@gmail.com.