Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

America’s Most Underrated Food City: Here Are the Best Restaurants in OKC

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We’ve spent the equivalent of a month in Oklahoma City spread throughout five visit, and you know there’s one thing we love to do on our urban travels: eat our way through any city. It was high time we create the ultimate dining guide to restaurants in Oklahoma City, as determined by us.

The Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

With so many repeat visit to Oklahoma City over the past few years, we’ve been able to eat at several of these restaurants two or three times now—and desperately crave a lot of them when we’re gone.

This post was last updated July 2021.

The greatest hits of restaurant in Oklahoma City

Don’t have time to read a full-on food guide? I’m giving you the bullet points below:

  • Best restaurant of all: Grey Sweater
  • Best brunch if you’re an early riser: Cafe Kacao
  • Best atmosphere: Jones Assembly
  • Best Mexican food: Barrio’s
  • Best pizza: Hall’s Pizza Kitchen
  • Best weekend brunch: Black Walnut
  • Best steakhouse: Red Prime

If you’d like more in-depth reviews of each choice above and then some, read on.

 

The best restaurants in Oklahoma City by neighborhood

Below are 30+ places where we have dined and fallen in love; in a city so large, note that this is by no means a comprehensive round-up of everywhere there is to go—in fact, it just scratches the surface in a destination where the food scene is on the brink of explosion. But it’s a pretty tasty sampler platter of everything there is to eat in OKC, if we do say so ourselves, so tuck in your napkin, pull up a chair, and toast to Middle America’s most underrated and delicious food city.

The Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Deep Deuce

Grey Sweater

One of the newest creations of the entrepreneurial Chef Andrew Black, this top-shelf establishment features an interactive dining experience with an open kitchen. The concept is simple, yet elevated and allows for foodies to dive deep into the process and ingredients of the three-tiered tasting menu that is based on Chef Black’s international travel and roots in Jamaica; the multi-course adventure will forever set the bar sky-high for all future dining excursions.

This is a completely immersive experience from the time you book when a Grey Sweater staffer is assigned to get to know you prior to your arrival so the team can customize your visit and blow your socks off with their research. (Celebrating a special occasion? They’ll know. Have an aversion to cucumbers? They’ll know that, too, and make sure one never touches your plate!) If you have just one dinner in Oklahoma City, do yourself a favor and make sure it’s Grey Sweater.

Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

Best for: groups of friends and special occasions. Grey Sweater is one of the hardest tables in OKC to land due to the intimacy of the experience so be sure and make a reservation far in advance. The restaurant has a capacity for 52 people and is willing to do a buyout for business groups or other occasions.

La Baguette Deep Deuce

This delightful lunch spot is every bit as visually appealing as it is tasty. In the space adjoining Black Walnut and Grey Sweater—it’s owned by the same pair of partners—La Baguette Deep Deuce is a bistro-style cafe serving breakfast and brunch in the morning and lunch foods until 7pm daily except for Sunday when it closes at 4pm.

La Baguette Deep Deuce: The Best Restaurants in OKC
La Baguette Deep Deuce: The Best Restaurants in OKC

I opted for quiche and SVV and I shared the salad trio—the restaurant has a heavy Mediterranean influence, so expect sides like couscous—though after taking a peek at the breakfast menu, I feel like I need to go back for the sweet potato pancakes with marshmallow caramel sauce, the Avocado Bennie or the creme brule French toast. La Baguette also has a bakery section filled with decadent cakes and pies, ideal for when you’re hosting an event and need to bring a dessert or simply need to satisfy a sweet craving, as well as wine and local beers on tap.

Best for: a casual lunch or late breakfast. La Baguette can do catering orders for takeout if you have a large group and are dining off-site. If you’re looking for more of a buyout situation, the adjoining Black Walnut is a great option to host a group. Inquire via parent company Culinary Edge’s website.

Downtown/Film Row

The Jones Assembly

Occupying a set of historically significant automotive manufacturing buildings and tastefully redesigned into a very large and efficient food and entertainment center, this destination dining spot is often credited with revitalizing the district that it anchors. In keeping with the Film Row theme, the Jones Assembly is industrial marquee with a monstrous dining room, two high-end cocktail bars—one that overlooks the floor below—and some of the best wood-fired pizzas and main dishes in Oklahoma, spanning contemporary American and Italian entrees.

Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC

Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC

Jones Assembly: The Best Restaurants in OKC

Definitely order the burrata, a selection of apps, a pizza and an entree or two to share. The live music line-up, which closes down the restaurant, features the hottest touring acts of the day (think: Jenny Lewis, Father John Misty, Old Crow Medicine Show, etc).

Best for: group events, date night, special occasions, mid-afternoon weekend brunch. The upstairs cocktail bar T Room is available for rental for cocktail receptions, showers, happy hours, etc. from Tuesday through Sunday and fits a total of 150 people. The Jones Assembly Patio is available to rent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday based on seasonal availability and has a capacity up to 500 standing or 175 seated. The entire Jones Assembly is available for a buyout on Mondays only.

Stitch

Formerly Okay Yeah and the Plante Shoppe, the cutest little spot down the street that housed a cafe, Airstream and a plant shop, Stitch is run by the same husband-wife team and now housed in the West Village mixed-used development right by the Jones Assembly and 21c Hotel. Don’t worry, it’s every bit as Instagrammable as its predecessor—I mean, how can you go wrong with a decor scheme made almost solely out of plants?

Stitch plant shop: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Stitch plant shop: The Best Restaurants in OKC

Stitch plant shop: The Best Restaurants in OKC

But while the aesthetics are definitely the selling point, don’t discount the food: Avocado toast, acai bowls, fresh juice and smoothies, house-made pop tarts, street tacos and other Millennial favorites populate the menu, each item better than the last. Stitch, which is equal parts coffee shop, bar and restaurant, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Best for: a quick breakfast, a midday catch-up on work or a casual meeting.

Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge

Named in honor of the previous owner’s wife, Mary Eddy’s takes up an entire corner of the 21c Hotel and contains part of the extensive collection of artwork within the adaptive reuse building. Fred Jones, who worked his way up the corporate ladder at this Ford manufacturing facility, eventually bought the building on his way to becoming one of the largest automotive dealers in the world. The scene is totally posh and a lovely fusion of postindustrial and modern décor. The food leans hard into a trend of fine dining that we’ve noticed in the last few years: French-inspired American, which means steak, seafood, farm-fresh ingredients and healthy portions.

Mary Eddy's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
Mary Eddy's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
Mary Eddy's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Mary Eddy's in Oklahoma City

Mary Eddy's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
Mary Eddy's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Best for: groups or date night. In addition to a communal table that seats 14 and a private dining room for up to 24 guests, Mary Eddy’s also has a covered outdoor space dubbed “Train Shed,” as well as access to 14,000 square feet of bookable space in the adjoining hotel.

Cheever’s Cafe

Like much of OKC, Cheever’s Cafe is housed in a repurposed building with a history. Founded by one of the children of the 89ers, a sub-group of folks that settled this area of the country in the run of the Unassigned Lands in 1889, it stood tall as a family-run floral business until 2000. Now, converted to an Art Deco culinary outpost that features roast quail tostadas, shrimp and grits, and a short rib melt that’s to die for, among other delights, it serves as one of the culinary scenes anchors, going strong for nearly 20 years.

Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City
Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City

Best for: a business lunch or a classy dinner. The back part of the house has been converted to a private dining space used almost exclusively for business groups. Call for details.

Vast

The view at Vast is what this 49th-floor restaurant is most known for, but it also happens to be Oklahoma City’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant (which is a fancy way of saying it’s worth the expense). Located inside one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the Devon Energy Center, Vast features sweeping views of OKC’s flat surrounds, meaning you can see for miles on a clear day. The daily lunch costs $22.50 a person and is a mind-blowing embarrassment of riches by way of a buffet spread while dinner features locally-sourced game and seafood flown in fresh that day.

Vast: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Vast: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
Vast:

Vast: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Best for: a lunch with coworkers. The expansive space houses seven separate venues perfect for meetings or other private events with a maximum capacity of up to 240 in the Infinity Room, and bonus: It’s a stone’s throw from the new convention center.

Flint

On our first visit to Oklahoma City, we stayed in the Art Deco dream, the Colcord Hotel, and dined in its resident restaurant, the Flint. Like most hotel restaurants, it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it a convenient spot to grab a bite no matter when you’re roaming downtown (it’s poised directly across the street from Myriad Gardens).

Flint at the Colcord in Oklahoma City
Flint at the Colcord in Oklahoma City
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC
Grey Sweater: Best Restaurants in OKC

The patio is a great place to dine on balmy summer evenings, though the fire pits make for cozy fall dinners, as well. Sunday brunch features live jazz in summer months, and there’s live music weekly on Thursdays and Fridays, as well.

Best for: date night or a quiet, low-key dinner with an associate. There are various options for private dining and meeting space in the adjoining hotel.

Kitchen No. 324

Conveniently located in the downtown district surrounded by many of the city’s top hotels, Kitchen 324 is a classic establishment that appeals to the business crowd with its elegance and consistency. As big fans of brunch, we were happy to find that Kitchen 324 offers an extensive breakfast menu every day of the week, featuring such entrees as fried green tomato Benedict and Green Eggs & Ham. Though it may be most recognized for its breakfast and brunch, its lunch and dinner options are equally as enticing with items like fried chicken pot pie and coffee-crusted beef tenderloin gracing the menu. The historic 1923 brick-and-limestone building in which it is housed was once the headquarters for aviation pioneer Paul R. Braniff’s airline company.

Kitchen No. 324: Best Restaurants in OKC

Kitchen No. 324: Best Restaurants in OKC
Kitchen No. 324: Best Restaurants in OKC
Kitchen No. 324: Best Restaurants in OKC

Best for: a classy business breakfast. Call to reserve a space large enough for your group.

StellaNova

One of four locations of this local coffee company, StellaNova’s downtown address is right smack in the center of town and a convenient respite when you need to rest your legs and caffeinate up. With cold brew, nitro, frappes and every kind of espresso drink imaginable, your options are many. There’s also a bakery component that serves decadent fresh-baked bites like scones and cronuts.

StellaNova coffee shop in Oklahoma City

Best for: a quick cup of coffee to go or a pick-up order for your group. StellaNova offers different sizes of coffee packages for larger orders, like a coffee traveler (2.5 gallons) that serves 12, giant tank of coffee (5 gallons) that serves 25, in addition to pastries by the box. Whether you’re having a meeting at your hotel or elsewhere off-site, it’s a delightful catering option that incorporates a bit of local flavor.

Asian District

Café Kacao

Anchored by the Guatemalan tradition, which is essentially a fusion of Old-meets-New World cuisine, this south-of-the-border and single-mindedly-focused ethnic restaurant is a hip spot to grab authentic Latin American comfort and street food. With an all-day breakfast menu featuring house-made tortillas and ingredients you can’t pronounce and a lunch selection that highlights this 1500s fusion of tastes, there’s nary a dish that we wouldn’t scarf down in an instant.

Cafe Kacao in Oklahoma City
Cafe Kacao in Oklahoma City

Cafe Kacao in Oklahoma City

Best for: brunch, brunch brunch. The non-alcoholic beverage options like horchata lattes, papaya smoothies and aguas frescas absolutely slay.

Classen Curve / Western Avenue

Osteria

An extensive list of reds and whites mixed with a craft cocktail bent behind the bar is always a good place to satisfy internal cravings for, let’s say the “elevated Italian.” Avocado toast with a bacon tomato jam, fresh pasta and traditional dishes like osso bucco, gnocchi or wood-fired pizza round out the duo of Chefs Fabio Viviani and Jonathon Stranger.

Osteria: Best Restaurants in OKC
Osteria: Best Restaurants in OKC
Osteria: Best Restaurants in OKC

Best for: a casual meal out with a group of friends who don’t mind sharing. Osteria offers off-site catering, as well as the ability to rent out the restaurant for 76 seated or a couple hundred in a cocktail hour format.

Republic Gastropub

Sometimes it’s football season and you’re just in the mood to settle in for the long haul, but you don’t want to sacrifice a good meal at the same time. Enter: Republic Gastropub. This gourmet pub takes pub grub to the next level—the bacon-wrapped meatloaf or Impossible Burger made with sweet and spicy pepper relish, arugula and avocado cream cheese served on a brioche bun are prime examples of that—and adds 300 beers to the mix, too. There’s a second location of Republic out at Chisholm Creek.

Republic Gastropub in Oklahoma City

Best for: a meal while watching the game with your buds or business associates. While there’s no private dining room on the inside, groups can reserve the patio, which roughly accommodates 52 people.

Paseo Arts District

Holey Rollers

Who doesn’t love donuts? Better yet, who doesn’t love donuts that are vegan, meaning egg-free, dairy-free and relatively guilt-free? Gluten-free options are also available. Holey Rollers was born out of a 1962 Zipper Camper Trailer when the founders started selling donuts from it back in 2016. A brick-and-mortar location to sell the cake and yeast donuts in fanciful flavors like Earl Gray, Vanilla Lavender, Almond Joy, S’mores, Chocolate Chai and Salted Caramel soon followed. Your biggest dilemma is inevitably going to be which one(s) to choose. We recommend trying a little bit of everything.

Holey Rollers: Catering in Oklahoma City
Holey Rollers: Catering in Oklahoma City

Best for: a quick grab-and-go, diners with restrictions who still want to indulge. If you’re traveling with your family or a business group, you can pre-order cake donuts, yeast donuts or donut holes by the dozen (you must order at least a day in advance).

OSO Paseo

There’s one thing you need to know about SVV and me and that’s that we never pass up a gourmet taco joint. In fact, when we’re not traveling, we whip up gourmet tacos of our own a couple times a week. All that to say, we’re pros, and we have standards. And OSO Paseo lived up to them—and more. And I don’t just say that because I was glamoured by the tots monstrosity with red chile butter, goat and cheddar-jack cheese, avocado crema, bacon and a sunny egg that we ordered to start. The street tacos were equally as impressive, as were the margaritas and tiki-style cocktails. We dined at OSO on an uncharacteristically rainy evening, so we sat inside, but there’s a great patio space for drier days. Happy hour runs from 2 to 5pm on weekdays and is a perfect time to sample the Baja Tiki Cocktail menu, frozen drinks and tots of which we speak.

Oso Paseo in Oklahoma City
Oso Paseo in Oklahoma City

Oso Paseo in Oklahoma City

Best for: weekend brunch, a casual lunch or dinner out. OSO Paseo doesn’t take reservations or accommodate large groups because it’s such a small space.

Paseo Grill

Intimate nooks encapsulated by sheer curtains, private dining rooms with hushed servers and decadent French cuisine mark Paseo Grill as a posh spot to entertain your significant other or a high-power executive in search of a sublime scallop. Private groups up to 80 guests can book this dimly lit locale here.

Best for: a fancy dinner with your significant other or business partner. If you’re dining in a larger group, Paseo Grill has a separate private dining space, the Reserve, across the street that can accommodate 80 people.

23rd Street

Tucker’s Onion Burgers

Every city has its iconic burger joint, and Tucker’s is Oklahoma City’s—for good reason. Don’t know what an onion burger is? It actually dates back a century to the 1920s when cafes in Western Oklahoma needed to stretch ingredients as far as they could and realize an easy (and delicious) way to do so was to press thinly shredded onions into the ground beef; this helped them stay afloat during the Great Depression. Today, trying an Oklahoma Onion Burger is a rite of passage. Tucker’s offers a pared-down menu of this beloved favorite in single, double and cheese form. For the most ambitious of diners, the Mother Tucker is a pound of beef with triple the meat, triple the onions. Need something to combat that oniony taste? The hand-dipped shakes will do the trick. There are now four Tucker’s Onion Burgers locations in the greater OKC area, though we love the 23rd Street outpost for convenience alone.

Tucker's Onion in Oklahoma City
Tucker's Onion in Oklahoma City

Best for: a midday bite or a to-go order; Tucker’s doesn’t host private events, but it does offer both online ordering and call-ahead options.

The Drake

Oklahoma City is as about as far away from an ocean as you can get in the middle of the United States, and yet seafood options are surprisingly easy to come by. The Drake is our personal favorite with a sustainable seafood program and raw bar featuring a rotating, daily selection of oysters. For those who don’t care for seafood, don’t let that deter you; there are plenty of other options on the menu, too. We dined in a big group for Sunday brunch and shared a smattering of oyster platters, hush puppies dipped in honey butter and hot sauce, fried oyster Benedict, French toast baked in coconut and plenty of cocktails with which to wash it all down.

The Drake in Oklahoma City

The Drake in Oklahoma City
The Drake in Oklahoma City

The Drake in Oklahoma City

The Drake in Oklahoma City
The Drake in Oklahoma City

Best for: brunch with friends or a smaller business lunch. The Drake is set up as one large open room and kitchen, so there isn’t private dining space, but there is banquette seating along the back brick wall for groups up to 20 if you make a reservation in advance.

HunnyBunny Biscuit Co.

I’m the first to admit I often prioritize a restaurant’s ambiance to the actual food, and from the moment I stepped into HunnyBunny’s blush-and-tiled interior, it was love at first sight. Luckily, the food was every bit as dreamy as the setting. Featuring made-from-scratch biscuits, HunnyBunny is my idea of the perfect restaurant: a place that serves breakfast all day, every day (well, at least during its opening hours, which is 7am to 2pm daily). With more than a dozen biscuit sandwich options—including the Nashville, which you know at least one of our group had to order—as well as a biscuit Benny, biscuit French toast, chicken pot pie topped with a biscuit, there’s something for every diner (provided, you know, you like biscuits!). There’s also plenty of coffee and a full-service bar, so you can sip your cold brew or Bloody Mary as you dine. HunnyBunny has walk-up service, so if there’s a line, don’t hesitate—it goes quickly.

Hunny Bunny Biscuit in Oklahoma City

Hunny Bunny Biscuit in Oklahoma City
Hunny Bunny Biscuit in Oklahoma City

Best for: breakfast any day of the week. In addition to biscuits by the box, which can be a great option for groups dining off-site, the restaurant hosts private events and buyouts outside of its regular business hours. Inquire by calling.

Midtown / Automobile Alley

Waffle Champion

If the name of this blog alone didn’t make it apparent enough, I have a sweet tooth. And I love breakfast. So an all-day breakfast joint that caters to my love for sweets and features boozy breakfast drinks to boot is a win all around.  We’ve been to Waffle Champion three times now and always split a couple of sweet waffles like the Waffle French Toast or the Blueberry Waffle—you can choose classic buttermilk or Belgian-style yeast dough for all waffles—but there are both gluten-free and savory options, too (think: buffalo chicken, bacon cheddar egg, BBQ pulled pork). As if I couldn’t love Waffle Champion anymore, it has an “All You Need is Love and Waffles” mural on the exterior.

Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City

Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City
Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City

Waffles mural in Oklahoma City

Best for: an indulgent meal. Waffle Champion frequently hosts fun events like rehearsal dinners for those looking for a different kind of vibe, and while they don’t have a private event room, they do offer buyouts with a scaled-down menu and custom cocktails. Email to inquire about pricing and availability.
Elemental Coffee

Conveniently located in Midtown right on Hudson Avenue, this cozy coffee shop serves weekday breakfast lunch—with brunch on the weekends—as well as fuels all your coffee needs, no matter the time of day. The vegan chocolate chip cookies are on a whole level of their own and are kid-tested and -approved.

Elemental Coffee in Oklahoma City
Elemental Coffee in Oklahoma City

Best for: breakfast with the whole family. Elemental Coffee is another charming local option for when you need to bring coffee and pastries to a team meeting or event.

Iguana Mexican Grill

With a Día de Muertos skull right at the front door that is gaily painted in the Mexican tradition, this Tex-Mex fusion outpost brings dishes like street tacos, tamale and elotes (grilled corn) to the forefront. The service is efficient so large groups searching for a quick fix of Mexican staples need not look elsewhere.

Iguana in Oklahoma City
Iguana in Oklahoma City

Best for: a casual early dinner when you can also take advantage of the weekday happy hour. For groups, Iguana offers several catering options, like taco, fajita or enchilada bars, in addition to add-ons like queso, guacamole, brownies and a margarita machine.

Ludivine

While it has a hipster-forward bone marrow luge—for the uninitiated, this is a whiskey shot poured down the split bone, resulting in a pairing of meaty oils and booze—as an option to accompany the crudité platter, this is a fancy restaurant with high-backed chairs, Wagyu beef, rabbit sausage, on the charcuterie and flaky fish and drinks on the menu. Known for sourcing local and seasonal ingredients, this restaurant—and Chef Russ Johnson—have racked up the awards across the culinary world.

Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City
Ludivine in Oklahoma City

Best for: when you want to impress a client. Ludivine is ideal for an intimate business dinner, but if you really want to wow your associates, you’ll book one of the various private dining venues. For the ultimate event space, The Garage & Lounge at 800 is Ludivine’s off-site venue on Film Row that houses a private collection of hot rods.

Coffee Slingers

Oklahoma City isn’t hurting for good coffee shops, but last winter I stumbled upon my favorite, which is conveniently located right on the streetcar line. I’m always looking for my next favorite latte, and Coffee Slingers delivered just that: a S’mores latte made with graham cracker milk. Talk about yum! The fresh pastries and donuts only made the morning that much sweeter. For those of you who are more coffee purists than I am, note that Coffee Slingers is also a roastery.

Coffee Slingers in Oklahoma City

Best for: a creative latte and a dang good pastry to match. Pick up a variety of Coffee Slingers’ blends for your next group function.

The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen

Yet another food truck-turned-restaurant, Hall’s Pizza Kitchen is without a doubt one of my top three restaurants in Oklahoma City. From its delicious starters like the Quinn’s Burrata and bacon jam and Pimento board to the melt-in-your-mouth wood-fired pies—Russell the Goat and Sweetness are my two go-tos—right down to the ethereal rooftop seating option, everything about this Midtown eatery is completely on point. Save room for dessert as this is not yo momma’s pizza joint; the Hall’s Strawberry Shortcake is worth writing home about, and the salted caramel chocolate chip cookie is the perfect excuse to ask for a to-go bag so you have something sweet to nibble on later.

Hall's Pizza Kitchen in Oklahoma City
Hall's Pizza Kitchen in Oklahoma City

Hall's Pizza Kitchen in Oklahoma City

Hall's Pizza Kitchen in Oklahoma City
Hall's Pizza Kitchen in Oklahoma City

Hall's Pizza Kitchen in OKC

Best for: all occasions. Hall’s rents out its rooftop (capacity: 110), as well as the Family Room (accommodates up to 43). The restaurant also can arrange a combination of the two private dining options to accommodate up to 150. Hall’s also still has its pizza truck, which it rolls out for business meetings bookings, weddings and other special occasions, as well as numerous catering options.

Barrios

Good Egg Dining Group owns the market in Oklahoma City for bold, inventive and oftentimes quirky restaurants, and Barrios is just that: the kind of chic place you want to take a friend or business associate to prove that you’re cooler than you may seem. Forget #basic tacos; Barrios gives you the whole enchilada. It’s elevated Mexican cuisine with a twist: braised beef short rib with mole negro, roasted chicken with poblano cream and smoked tomato pico, short rib tinga chalupa, just to name a few standouts. Whatever you do, don’t pass on dessert; with dishes like a grilled pineapple tres leches, banana cream churros, mini sopapillas and cactus fruit granita, you’ll want to save room.

Barrio's: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Barrio's: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Barrio's: The Best Restaurants in OKC
Barrio's: The Best Restaurants in OKC

Best for: Barrios is a good decision for literally any occasion. It’s often packed with a lengthy wait for both lunch and dinner, and the restaurant recommends making a reservation. While there’s no private dining per se, Barrios can accommodate parties up to 20 both inside or out on the patio with advance notice.

The Bleu Garten

The Bleu Garten was the O.G. food truck park before every city realized it was an easy and economical way to feed the masses while also providing substantial cool factor. The Bleu Garten occupies almost an entire block in Midtown and is open every night but Monday, as well as all day on Saturday and Sunday. Grab a bite from the food truck of your choice—from burritos to s’mores, shave ice to BBQ, there’s a bit of everything in this marketplace—then settle in at one of the communal-style picnic tables for the long haul. The food trucks rotate daily, but there’s an up-to-date calendar available on the Bleu Garten website. The Bar Pod is a permanent fixture that serves craft beer, liquor and wine on tap always. For my fellow mural hunters, there’s a great pair of murals on the outside perimeter of the Bleu Garten, as well as the iconic Greetings Tour OKC mural just across the parking lot. I’ve also got a map for the murals in OKC here. Every Tuesday is Bleu Garten Live Music Series starting at 7pm and featuring local bands, and it’s completely free.

Bleugarten Food Truck Park in Oklahoma City
Bleugarten Food Truck Park in Oklahoma City

Bleugarten beer garden in Oklahoma City

Bleugarten Food Truck Park in Oklahoma City
Bleugarten Food Truck Park in Oklahoma City

Best for: a low-key afternoon with friends or a private event. The Bleu Garten has become popular among those looking for a more fun-filled way to organize a group, thus hosting a wedding reception of business event there is not out of question. Inquire about pricing and setups via the website.
The R&J Lounge and Supper Club

This unassuming, sexy restaurant holds surprisingly still; that is, you can be riding the streetcar back and forth along Northwest 10th Street and not even notice it’s there. Named for Chef Russ Johnson of Ludivine fame, R&J is his nod to the culture of “classic cool.” The lounge is heavy on cocktail culture with a devotion to the classics like the Old Fashioned, Pink Lady, Sazerac, Sidecar, French 75, while the restaurant has a cold buffet, hot plates, sandwiches and plenty of sharable dishes. Wednesdays feature live entertainment, while Sundays are reserved for a DJ Brunch from noon to 5pm. Without a doubt, the selling point for R&J’s brunch, for me, was the boozy breakfast cereal menu—Apple Jacks and milk punch, Corn Pops and egg nog, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and brand alexander, Cocoa Puffs and grasshopper, Fruit Loops and White Russian—where I had major order anxiety because I wanted it all. (I wound up opting for the Cocoa Puffs and it was the best decision I made all trip.)

R&J Lounge in Oklahoma City

Best for: a boozy brunch or private dining with a small group. The Den at R&Js seats 18 for dinner and has a capacity for 25 in a more casual setting.

The Stockyards

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Located in the historic Stockyards, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse gives a pretty convincing feel of what it’s like to be a ranch hand, complete with filling your belly with a top-sirloin steak after a long work day. Not to be confused with the chain of the same name, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City first opened in 1910 as a feeding ground for ranchers and cowboys and has been featured far and wide on TV shows like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and Man Vs. Food, as well as in books and magazines aplenty. It’s also hosted everyone from George W. Bush to Reba McEntire. The prices are reasonable for the portion sizes, and you have a good selection of steak cuts from which to choose, in addition to sandwiches at lunch and omelettes, hot cakes and French toast for breakfast. Save room for the strawberry shortcake and coconut cream pie. Note: If you walk out without trying the famous lamb fries, you haven’t actually dined at Cattlemen’s. (If you don’t know what they are: Sample first, ask later. Trust me on this.)

Cattlemen's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
Cattlemen's: Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City

Best for: a dinner out with your family when they come join you following your work trip because you’ll need help finishing that huge T-bone set before you. The Stockyards in general are a lot of fun to take kids to, so capitalize on the bleisure trend and fly your family into OKC for a long weekend after the convention is over.

Other OKC restaurant recommendations:

Do you have a favorite Oklahoma City restaurant I left off the list? Drop it in the comments below, and I’ll add it to our itinerary for our next visit!

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The Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
The Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
The Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City
COMMENTS
  • July 25, 2019

    We were awestruck with the food scene in OKC! And we didn’t get to half the places you did. Really like Fassler Hall, though, and Waffle House still blows our mind. And tummies. 😉 Time to head back for seconds!

    • July 26, 2019

      We only popped in Fassler Hall for a quick beer! So we should go there to eat next time, you’re saying?

    • July 27, 2019
      Tommy Croslin

      Picasso cafe in the paseo is a must go. I grew up in oklahoma and live in Colorado now but anytime I’m back in town Picasso is a must. Also Empire slice has to be one of my favorite pizza places ever. With the specialty pizzas they come up with to the atmosphere there. It is OKC.

  • July 26, 2019
    Jenny Dunham

    NASHBIRD
    1 nw 9th st
    Best hot chicken sandwiches and the best patio

  • July 26, 2019
    Jennifer Manning Cinocco

    A few to try that are a little more northeast.
    First Watch
    Baba Gs
    Neighborhood Jam
    And Picasso’s in Paso.
    There were only a few that you had that truly stood out for and we have tried most on your list.
    Most were good but a little too hipsterish for us. Though Cafe Kacoa was a favorite.

    • July 26, 2019

      Ooooh, thanks, Jennifer! I’ll definitely add these to the list. And I agree: Cafe Kacao is amazing and should be on every diner’s to-do list. One of the best brunches I’ve ever had, hands down.

      • July 26, 2019
        Misti F.

        Picasso Cafe has amazing fresh, local food and also outstanding vegan food!

    • July 26, 2019
      JD Merryweather

      En Croute
      La Baguette- North May
      The Metro
      Flips
      Sushi Hayashi
      Pizzaria Gusto

      Cheers!

    • July 28, 2019
      Jerry Reese

      Love the new Jimmy’s Egg in Midtown @ 9th and Hudson!

  • July 26, 2019
    Traci

    Kristin,

    WOW – The photography in your OKC email is spectacular! I’ve only been to Tulsa, and that was on business. I’ve never been to OKC and this may change my mind. You definitely made the OKC food scene shine! Who knew?

    Thanks! 🙂

  • July 26, 2019
    Heather

    We just moved here a year ago and haven’t even scratched the surface on the food scene!! We’ll absolutely be adding all of your suggestions to our list!

    Here are a few of our faves that you should try next time you’re in town:

    Neighborhood Jam (two locations, one in Norman and one in N OKC)
    El Huevo Mexi Diner – open 6:30-2:30 for breakfast/brunch in Norman
    El Toro Chino – Latin/Asian fusion (definitely get the mango salsa and wonton chips) in Norman
    Chelino’s or Ted’s Cafe Escondido for Mexican food (lots of locations in the Metro)

    We also have a food hall opening soon called The Collective – we cannot WAIT!

    • July 27, 2019
      Eli

      The Hutch on Avondale – best bar in town.

      The Ranch Steakhouse for the best steaks in town.

      The Metro for great French cuisine.

  • July 26, 2019
    Scott

    I’d highly recommend Gabriella’s for home country Italian cooking. They have the best Chicken Parm that you’ll find in the state.

  • July 26, 2019

    Let’s meet next time you’re in OKC!

  • July 26, 2019
    Megan

    Love RedPrime Steakhouse in Automobile Alley! It’s another outstanding Good Egg restaurant. Amazing food and service!

  • July 26, 2019
    Maggie

    I’m from Chicago, now living in OKC and you nailed it with this summary and great photos!!

    • July 26, 2019
      Lester

      Best Uptown Restaurant is by far Guyutes! Great Food, Great Patio. Can’t believe it’s not on your list!

  • July 26, 2019
    Jenn

    The Wedge is by far my favorite pizza – Upper Bricktown and North OKC. Victoria’s Pasta Shop has the best pasta (lasagna rolls) and cheese bread by far – south OKC and Norman.

  • July 27, 2019
    Taylor

    GREAT list!
    Thank you for highlighting some of our best local restaurants!
    A quick recommendation: Cultivar has delicious craft tacos and drinks!

  • July 27, 2019
    Barbara McCune

    Next visit be sure and check out Bistro 22 in Edmond (Kickingbird Plaza). Don’t pass on the Shrimp Cargot. You can send me a thank you after.

  • July 27, 2019
    Donna Edwards

    A downtown favorite in the arts district is the Museum Cafe at the OKCMOA. Managed by the Good Egg dining group, it has great lunch and dinner. Plus you can stop in and see the latest exhibit at the museum (currently has Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and other impressionists) or a movie at the theater.

    • July 27, 2019
      Amanda

      Definitely check out Big Truck Tacos next time you’re here. It’s delicious. Also, old school bagel!

  • July 27, 2019
    Necia Miller

    Try Rococo, Volcano, and Frida’s.

  • July 27, 2019

    Wow! You’ve visited some great places!

    I second The Wedge recommendation.

    Right around the corner from Stella Nova downtown is a lovely bar/bistro “The Manhattan” with a small but ambitious, constantly changing menu.

    Cafe 501 at Classen Curve is one of our favorite date places. They have an amazing dessert selection as well.

  • July 27, 2019
    Lindsey

    Ned’s Starlite Lounge is a MUST! Located on May Ave in the old Nomad spot near Nichols Hills. It’s a throwback Lounge space with amazing cocktails and a menu with everything from chicken fried steak, burgers, my most favorite salmon and great chophouse features.
    @nedsstarlitelounge….great place for brunch, happy hour, dinner and to watch live music or your favorite sports team!

  • July 28, 2019
    Amelia

    Vito’s Ristorante on May Avenue! Seriously the best Italian in OKC!!

  • July 28, 2019

    Definitely look into Castle Falls at 820 N MacArthur! Intimate dining options at a historic location and the food is awesome!

  • July 28, 2019
    Suzanne

    Leo’s bbq

  • July 29, 2019
    Paula Marshall

    Patrono is a must…very upscale Italian food.

  • July 30, 2019
    Peg Parker

    Try Gabriella’s for wonderful Italian dishes!!!

    • July 30, 2019

      Added it to the list! Thanks, Peg!

  • July 30, 2019
    ProbeeOKC

    Something feels off about the only place recommended in Asian District is a Guatemalan restaurant. I love Cafe Kacao though.

    The City that has amazing Vietnamese food. Do try VII Asian Bistro or Pho Cuong.

    Best ramen in OKC is at GORO.

    https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/oklahoma-city-guide-nonesuch

    https://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/2014/9/2/why-one-of-americas-best-chefs-takes-his-inspirations-from-oklahoma-city

  • July 31, 2019
    CM

    NEIGHBORHOOD JAM

  • September 26, 2019
    Melissa

    My favorite is Anchor Down! It’s own by the same people as the Mule and in a shopping container in Deep Deuce.
    Also Sunnyside diner is my favorite breakfast!
    I also recommend the Wedge and Picasso’s. Both top choices for me

    • September 26, 2019
      Melissa

      Shipping container**

      • October 1, 2019

        We just got back on Sunday from another OKC trip, but will add these to the list for next time. Thank you, Melissa!

  • September 30, 2019
    Jake M

    Great list…a few others for you to try next time you’re in town:
    Signature Grill in Edmond
    Nic’s Grill (the original on 10th/Penn)…best burger in the city, hands down..Colin Farrell approved.
    Frida’s Southwest (I know it got a mention in OSO but you have to try it if you havent already)
    Maples: best bbq in the city..something we’ve surprisingly been missing until the last year or so.

    We’re quite lucky to have this transformation going on here in OKC!

    • October 1, 2019

      We’ve been meaning to get to Maples, but always run out of time! We were there this past weekend and also checked off Hatch, the Collective, Social Cantina, Black Walnut and Gun Izakaya.

  • December 29, 2019
    Jeanne Lehman

    As a local, I absolutely believe we’ve got some of the best dining to be found. Been to many of these but still have several I need to experience.
    Totally agree with many of these suggestions … Hatch, Empire Pizza, Gall’s Pizza …
    I’d recommend adding to your list with The Press in the Plaza District, Upper Crust Pizza at Classen Curve, Good Gravy. Don’t miss Katiebugs in Midtown for a refreshing shaved ice in summer with all natural ingredients or hot chocolate in winter with house made marshmallows and lucious bakery items. Iconic OKC fare that must be experienced is Beverly’s Pancake House and Ann’s Chicken Fry. Both have been around for generations.
    Happy dining!

    • February 20, 2020

      Fantastic, Jeanne. I’m adding these all to my list for my next few trips. Thank you for your insight!

  • February 20, 2020
    Leah Clark

    Hollies – pork chops are amazing
    Cheddars – cheap and great drinks (try the painkiller)
    The Garage – great burgers
    Yuzo Sushi – fresh amazing food
    The Red Cup – great vegan/vegetarian food
    Casa Junito and Mid Del Taco -hometown favs!
    The Parlor has multiple food spots inside, very unique.

    • February 20, 2020

      Awesome, Leah—thank you! Just got asked to speak at a writers’ conference in OKC in June, so I’ll have an excuse to try some of your recommendations then 😉

  • March 8, 2020
    Justin Miller

    McClintock’s in the stockyards has the most beautifully designed bar in Oklahoma City…Cory/bartender knows more about whiskey than anyone I’ve been around…the lunch steak is a fantastic deal and I’ve been impressed since I’ve started making this a regular stop for lunch/dinner meetings…if you want to go back in time to a classy western saloon/steakhouse…take a visit imo!

    • March 8, 2020

      Fantastic, Justin—thanks for the tip! I’ll be back in June for a conference and will definitely check it out.

  • March 8, 2020
    Marisa

    You should definitely check out The Hamilton Supperette & Lounge, speakeasy vibe tucked away in the shoppes at Northpark. Amazing classic cocktails and okie centric food!

  • March 9, 2020
    Brandy

    Guyutes should definitely be on this list. Brunch is amazing, staff is awesome, and the patio is an awesome place on a sunny day. The food is a party in your mouth, and it was featured on Diner, Drive Ins, and Dives. One of our favorite places.

  • April 29, 2020
    Crystal

    Check out Szechuan Bistro (1010 W Memorial Rd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73114). The House Specialties section in the back of the menu has delicious authentic fare.

    The Chinese Eggplant in Clay Hot Pot (with Minced Pork) and Shredded Beef with Fresh Thai Pepper & Cilantro are to die for 🤤

  • May 3, 2020
    TheFisayo

    This is a well written article, the only thing I wanted more was being being that I had not visited any of these places before.

    By the way Kristin you have a beautiful site! I love it!

  • July 7, 2020
    Greyson Tipping

    Just traveled to the area on business and stumbled across the Saddle Up Bar & Grill, not a typical hotel restaurant. The chef there, Nate Frejo is incredible and he is a local guy.Food is just incredible, I would highly recommend it!

  • October 28, 2020
    Will

    If you liked Tucker’s need to try the original Nic’s off 10Penn.
    I’ll 2nd previous comment on Leo’s BBQ – only thing better than the ribs is the cake. Texlahoma bbq in N Edmond does everything right as well.
    Best tacos are on SW 29th St
    Eischen’s.

  • November 12, 2020
    Janna Dunnagan

    Roll and Rock Sushi is amazing. Incredibly fresh pretty sushi. Abel’s also in Warr Acres for steak street tacos, grilled onions and jalapeños, crispy carrot onion jalapeño relish and a variety of agua frescas.Ann’s Chicken Fry on Route 66 is a must too.

  • March 23, 2021
    Kate Krodel

    Chicken Foot is a new-ish restaurant in Chisholm Creek-they have the BEST sandwiches, and they have cinnamon rolls! A must try for your next visit.

  • March 31, 2021
    Jean

    Vito’s Restaurant on May. Authentic Italian food and ambience. Excellent customer service.

  • July 3, 2021
    Jasmine Bridges

    I’m biased toward BlueJ’s Rockin’ Grill in the Edmond Railyard in Edmond, just outside OKC- I work at and manage the place! But The Edmond Railyard itself is amazing! Done food court style, there are 7 individual restraunts inside, with others being added just outside as part of the proposed Railyard District! We’d love to have you come visit us!

  • August 6, 2021

    Love the food of OKC especially the bbq, Thai and Italian over there.

  • August 19, 2021
    Michael S.

    Looks like a bunch of bougie spots on here. The Jones Assembly is especially overrated, but Vast is the best lunch in the state. Allow me to tell you where to really go to eat:

    BoBo’s Chicken – Currently at 23rd and Fonshill in front of an old white building that used to be a BBQ restaurant. If you see that red trailer on the Eastside during the weekends, you’ll encounter the best fried chicken in the metro.

    Also, go to Woo’s Wings, Tez Wings in Midwest City, and Tacos de Vecindad off of 23rd and Ann Arbor. Best street tacos and mullitas in OKC.

    You also need to check out Empire Slice House in the Paseo District, and Clark Crew BBQ off of NW Expressway. The Charcoal Oven, an Oklahoma City institution, also recently reopened. Go to their new location and give them a try.

  • February 4, 2023
    RestaurantLover

    You are so right about Grey Sweater. It is the best restaurant of all. We also love The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen and The Drake.

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