Most people probably don’t think of Oklahoma City as a hotspot of amazing dining experiences. But locals know that OKC is the unsung hero of food.
The sprawling city is home to hundreds of restaurants, diners, food trucks, and other eateries featuring every kind of cuisine you can imagine.
Restaurants in Oklahoma City OK range from high-end wineries to smoky steakhouses, all-American diners, and authentic ethnic cuisine. In this guide, you can learn about the many food options that OKC offers. One thing is certain: you will never go hungry.
Restaurants in Downtown Oklahoma City
Downtown Oklahoma City is a hub of dining experiences. There, you can find everything from breakfast cafes to quick eateries, ethnic cuisine, and breweries. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the heart of the city is the place to be for any meal of the day. Restaurants like Patrono and OOZIE encapsulate this.
But with shopping options galore, there are also some of the city’s best restaurants. In downtown Oklahoma City, you can stop for a casual Tex-Mex meal, find a high-end steakhouse, or drop in on an eclectic cafe.
Downtown offers a unique experience when it comes to dining — and a huge range of options.
Restaurants in Bricktown Oklahoma City
If you take a stroll over to Bricktown, Oklahoma City’s entertainment district, you’ll have no trouble finding a delicious meal. Bricktown is known not just for its restaurants, but also for its clubs, lounges, and specialty eateries.
There, you can patronize everything from wine bars to gourmet chocolatiers. The Bricktown Canal is home to OKC’s famous riverwalk, a waterside collection of locally-owned shops, cafes, and restaurants. And speaking of water, you can't go wrong with the great seafood at Pearl's Crabtown.
Stroll along the canal to explore the options, like specialty steakhouses, Cajun cuisine, and fondue cafes. Bricktown is the perfect place for a unique, local experience that you can’t get anywhere else but Oklahoma City.
Restaurants in Northwest Oklahoma City
Northwest Oklahoma City is a largely residential area bordering Lake Hefner. But just because it’s not a hopping metropolitan neighborhood doesn’t mean it doesn’t have food options galore. In fact, Northwest OKC is known for its wide variety of ethnic cuisine and health food.
There, you can find French bistros, Moroccan restaurants, Pakistani eateries, and everything from Mexican to Mediterranean.
But if you’re in the mood for something more classic, there are plenty of other options as well. You can find burger joints, breakfast diners, and barbecue in Northwest OKC.
Flying Out? Oklahoma City Airport Restaurants
You might not associate airports with great food, but the Oklahoma Will Rogers World OKC Airport might surprise you.
When you get off a plane, you may find yourself stopping for a bite before you even leave the building. The Oklahoma City airport is home not just to standard chain restaurants (though you will also find plenty of those) but also pubs, burger joints, ethnic cuisine, and even steakhouses. Some of the well-known restaurants include Perry's Restaurant and the Cross Grain Brewhouse. You can even find coffees, gourmet food, specialty cocktails, brisket, and a brewery.
In the immediate vicinity of the airport, you will find Japanese, Thai, Laotian, Mexican, Peruvian, Cajun, Cuban, and Colombian eateries.
Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas: Mexican Restaurants
Most people probably would not think of Oklahoma City as a hub of ethnic cuisine. But the city’s restaurant options are huge and varied, including Mama Roja.
You can find food from every corner of the world there, and Mexico is no exception. After all, it is only a few hundred miles away from the Mexican border. So it should come as no surprise that there are Mexican and Tex-Mex options galore. Some of the other well-known greats include Casa De Los Milagros and the Azteca Mexican Grill.
Oklahoma City is home to all kinds of Mexican dining experiences. You can find high-end dine-ins with a bar and Southwestern cafes and casual dining. Of course, there is also no shortage of taco trucks and quick bites to satisfy your cravings.
Chinese Restaurants Around OKC
Asian restaurants are in no short supply. If you are looking for Chinese food, you will have no problem finding a great dinner such as the Golden Palace and YummyYummy.
The city’s Chinese eateries range from typical Chinese-American fare to more authentic Chinese dishes prepared in high-end kitchens. There are also sit-down and buffet options. Some Chinese restaurants in the city even open early for brunch. Whether you are looking for sesame chicken or something more adventurous — for example, fried duck tongues and eggplant — you can find it at one of the many Asian eateries.
Tasty Italian Restaurants
There is nothing like an authentic Italian meal, no matter where you are. Italian food isn’t hard to find in Oklahoma City. Authentic pizzerias are only one option. You can also find a large selection of sit-down fine dining.
Some Italian restaurants in the city even offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Of course, you can also find extensive wine menus at many Italian restaurants.
These offer great pairings to authentic Italian cuisine such as Caulilini Fritto, pasta carbonara, and shrimp spiedini. If you prefer a more casual setting, there are also many family-friendly Italian restaurants around the city.
Try out great Italian restaurants including Papa Dio's and Flip's.
Soul Food Restaurants: A Taste of Home
Got spunk? Just because you’re not in the American Southeast doesn’t mean you can’t find soul food. The city is home to restaurants serving soul food as well as Cajun and Creole cuisine.
With options for dine-in, takeout, or delivery, you will find plenty of options. Soul food restaurants offer dishes like pork neck, fried chicken and catfish, sweet potatoes, greens, and chicken and waffles.
You can also find Cajun delicacies like alligator, crayfish, and crabcakes. It just goes to show that soul food is a labor of love, not a matter of location.
Burger Restaurants: Have it Your Way
No matter where you are, there is nothing that hits the spot like a good burger. Fortunately, there are plenty of options. In OKC, you can find everything from casual burger joints to high-end, gourmet burger experiences.
Vegans, vegetarians, and those with gluten intolerances aren’t exempt from enjoying a burger in the city. There are plenty of options for anyone with diet restrictions. Locally-owned burger joints around the city offer signature burgers cooked to perfection.
You can even get a burger along with a selection of signature cocktails and liquors. If you prefer a more casual setting, there are plenty of family-friendly options.
Japanese Restaurants: Sushi, Octopus and Seafood
When it comes to Asian cuisine, Oklahoma City really shines. The city is home to a large variety of Japanese restaurants.
You can find everything from upscale sushi bars to gourmet Ramen eateries and Japanese steakhouses. Don’t think that the options are limited to Japanese American cuisine, either. In OKC, you can find authentic Japanese dishes like takoyaki, fried octopus, kani, gyoza, toro, and mochi.
Whether you are looking for a fine dining experience of Japanese cuisine or something a little more laid back, you can find it all. Of course, there are also plenty of options for avant-garde Japanese restaurants that march to the beat of their own drum, offering signature cocktails, gourmet Ramen dishes, and a new spin on authentic dishes.
Thai Restaurants
Chinese and Japanese aren’t the only Asian cuisines you can find. If you have a craving for Thai food, you have many options from which to choose.
In OKC, you can find casual Thai cafes as well as Thai-Laotian fusion, delivery and takeout, and outdoor dining. There are also plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as Thai-American food for anyone who isn’t quite so adventurous.
But if you are willing to take a foray into authentic Thai cuisine, there is no shortage of Tom Kha, Pad Thai, chicken satay, curry, and Thai tea in OKC.
Oklahoma City’s New Restaurants
In a city as large as Oklahoma City, it should come as no surprise that new restaurants are always on the horizon.
If you are looking for something new in OKC, you can always find something fresh and hip. The most recent wave of new eateries in the city includes locally-owned coffee bars, lounges, southern comfort food with signature cocktails, tapas bars, Mediterranean cuisine, and burger joints.
Of course, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well as other options for those with dietary restrictions. These locally-owned joints are a welcome reprieve from the repetitive atmosphere of chain restaurants.
Live the High Life with these Fine, Fancy Restaurants
If you are looking for a fancy or expensive place for a date night or special occasion, you can take your pick among OKC’s restaurants.
Fine dining options can be found in every corner of the city. And that doesn’t mean that you will only find run-of-the-mill fine dining, either. In fact, OKC is home to many locally-owned restaurants that combine creativity and innovation with a classic fine dining experience.
You can even find fine dining restaurants with rotating menus or surprise dishes — a unique experience and a delicious meal all in one. Of course, if you prefer a more traditional fancy meal, you can find high-end eateries with full wine bars, authentic cuisine, and locally-sourced dishes.
Bring Your Kids to Family Friendly Restaurants
If you have young kids, you know how challenging it can be to enjoy a family meal in a restaurant. Fortunately, Oklahoma City has a large selection of kid-friendly restaurants of every kind.
In OKC, you will find everything from pizzerias to casual American diners. There are also options for outdoor seating, which allows for a little more noise. You can even find restaurants in the city that offer kid-friendly activities, like pizza dough sculpting, build-your-own sushi, and outdoor play.
These are all great ways to keep kids occupied while waiting for a delicious meal. Don’t think that just because these restaurants are built around families, they don’t offer healthy options. There are tons of restaurants in OKC that offer nutritious food that your kids will love.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants: Don’t Leave out Your K9
It can be difficult to find dog-friendly restaurants in a big city. Luckily, OKC has quite a few restaurants where dogs are welcome.
You won’t have to plan to sit on the patio, either. Instead, your dog can enjoy some time with you at one of Oklahoma City’s finest eateries.
Many locations provide a bowl of cold water for canine friends, with several located just across the street from one of the city’s many dog parks. Some dog-friendly restaurants in OKC also provide low-cost pet meals and snacks so your pup doesn’t go hungry.
Others are located near popular walking spots such as Lake Hefner.
What are Must-Try Restaurants in Oklahoma City?
In such a huge city with so many great dining options, it can be difficult to narrow the list down. But there are a few must-try restaurants in Oklahoma City that just can’t be missed.
The next time you are visiting OKC and looking for a good meal, be sure to stop into one of these restaurants.
Florence’s
When it comes to soul food, few can be Florence’s Restaurant. Since 1952, it has been a labor of love from one family, never deviating from the classic recipes learned in Grandma’s kitchen.
There, diners can find pure, authentic soul food made the way it always has been. House specialties include fried chicken, pork chops, ox tails, beef liver, tilapia, and pork chops, served alongside vegetables and cornbread. Daily specials include chicken and waffles, dumplings, and chicken fried steak.
You might find yourself unable to choose a favorite from this tried-and-true menu of hearty, delicious dishes. Don’t expect to find a huge menu — these classics are ordered locally and made from scratch, so the options are limited but fresh and delicious.
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse proudly touts itself as Oklahoma City’s oldest continually open restaurant.
It got its start in 1910 and continued as an underground liquor dispensary during Prohibition. In the years since then, it has become known as one of OKC’s finest high-end steakhouses. The restaurant features a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu along with a full bar.
It offers a huge variety of fresh steaks as well as fish options like fried catfish, fried shrimp, and broiled salmon. With unique appetizers like lamb fries and fried okra, Cattlemen’s offers the perfect unification of fine dining and comfort food.
Braum’s Ice Cream and Burger Restaurant
What could be more satisfying than a burger and fries topped off with a delicious ice cream? Braum’s is the perfect place to get unique, creative burgers and classic desserts.
It is known as a popular chain throughout Oklahoma and the surrounding region for a good reason. At Braum’s, you can find delicious breakfast items like breakfast sandwiches, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy.
Their classic lunch and dinner menu includes unique burgers and sandwiches as well as the ice cream that they’ve been known for since the 1930s. You can find classic malts, sherbet, frozen yogurt, and good old ice cream cones.
The Mantel Wine Bar and Bistro
One popular spot in Bricktown is The Mantel Wine Bar and Bistro. The Mantel is proof that you don’t have to go to the coast to get amazing, fresh seafood.
They also have an extensive steak menu, including steak tartare and the House Delmonico. These amazing options paired with their wine list featuring vintages from Napa and Sonoma make The Mantel a perfect upscale dining experience in OKC.
You can find specialty menus for special holidays and occasions as well as share plates to enjoy with a companion. The restaurant also offers catering and private events.
How Many Restaurants are in Oklahoma City?
There are about 1,500 restaurants in the Oklahoma City metropolis.
Although it is not known nationally as a great place to eat, the locals know that there is no shortage of options for great food in Oklahoma City.
Whether you are looking for authentic ethnic cuisine, a casual dining atmosphere, a unique gourmet experience, or a fancy restaurant for a special occasion, you can find it all in OKC.
In such a large city, it is almost impossible to say exactly how many restaurants OK there are. There is no doubt that there are hundreds, from local burger joints to fancy steakhouses and delightfully-hidden city watering holes. Suffice it to say that you will never be wanting for dinner while you’re there.