The Best OKC Food: Places to Eat in Oklahoma City
OKC, with its burgeoning foodie scene, is a hidden gem for food travelers.
There are so many wonderful Oklahoma City restaurants, it would take much more than one visit to even begin to sample them all.
In this personal OKC dining guide, I’ll give you a taste of some of the most delicious food to be had in my favorite Oklahoma City restaurants. From the best restaurants in OKC downtown to Uptown and 23rd, we’ll travel the city’s neighborhoods to find the best food in Oklahoma City!
Some of the best restaurants in Oklahoma City: Dining by district in OKC
In this post, I’ll take you to a number of Oklahoma City’s unique districts to sample a diversity of cuisines, which is exactly what I suggest you do when you visit OKC.
So folks, get ready to salivate! I’m going to showcase my favorite places to eat in Oklahoma City.
This post is organized by district. Not every district there is, just the ones I ate in. At the end of each restaurant description, you’ll find a synopsis of what to eat there (as per moi), when to go, their business hours and the address and phone number.
Are you ready for some of the best places to eat in OKC?
Best Restaurants Downtown OKC
Mary Eddys in the 21c Museum Hotel
The farm-to-table Mary Eddys Kitchen + Lounge floored me with delightful dishes created from top-notch local ingredients. I’m lucky I was there in the fall, as the menus celebrate regional, seasonal products, and I fell in love with Oklahoma-grown pecans.
Next time I’m in OKC, I’m making a trip to the farm to buy some—Don’t try to stop me! They were best pecans I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve spent several Thanksgivings eating pecan pie in Georgia. (Sorry, Georgia).
The cooks at Mary Eddys are clearly passionate about food. The menu showcases chef Jeff Patton’s eclectic take on new American cuisine and always has something for everyone, whether you’re a vegetarian, a carnivore looking for a big ol steak, or want something in-between.
You basically can’t go wrong no matter what you order. I should know because I tried so many wonderful things!
My personal favorites were the sweet potato hummus appetizer, the side dish of roasted Brussels sprouts with pomegranate seeds (I could eat just this for dinner. SO good!) the scallops with ravioli and cauliflower, and the sorghum pecan pie. Also the pear salad. And the chocolate tart with the hazelnut praline on top. Wowza. I’ll stop now. Just go, because this OKC restaurant is a don’t miss.
A bit more about the pie. Pecan pie is the signature dessert of Oklahoma. I had an incredible version here: really the best pecan pie I have tasted.
Sorghum was used rather than sugar, so it was not cloyingly sweet and had so much added flavor. And as I mentioned, the pecans are spectacular, so flavorful and freshly sourced from a nearby farm.
The lounge
The bar offers classic cocktails featuring a modern twist, including what many consider to be the most delicious martini in OKC. I think you’ll enjoy the imaginative selection.
The bartender mixed a great mocktail for me. Their by-the-glass wine list is among the best in the city, according to 405 Magazine.
Synopsis
What to have here: An appetizer, a salad, an entrée, a side, a dessert and a cocktail or glass of wine. Seriously. This is the place in OKC to splurge on a 4-course meal.
When to go: A spectacular dinner destination for a special night out.
Dinner Hours: 5 to 10pm Tuesday–Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Bar + Lounge Hours: 4 to 11pm Tuesday–Thursday, 4pm to 12am Friday and Saturday.
Address: 900 W Main Street, in the 21C Hotel
Phone: (405) 982-6960
See website for details or to book a table.
Pro Tip: If you’re staying in the 21C, you can actually order several menu items from MaryEddys and dine in your room! The restaurant also has a private dining room that can be reserved for groups of up to 20 guests.
Newly remodeled space and menu
After closing for several months for a complete remodel, Mary Eddy’s reopened Fall 2021 in a more intimate and prominent spot within the 21C hotel.
While they’ve totally changed their menu and their space since my visit, the same great chef is at the helm and I know you’ll love whatever delicious seasonal fare they have on offer.
Bonus: Check out the Art Gallery next door!
For more on the 21C Hotel Art Gallery, see My Favorite Oklahoma City Attractions.
Flint in the Colcord Hotel
Flint restaurant and lounge in the Colcord Hotel is a popular downtown venue for drinks and great eats. This classic spot is upscale, yet casual, and features contemporary American cuisine using the best available ingredients.
Enjoy their modern dining room, or opt for the stylish open-air patio. You really shouldn’t miss the patio if the weather is agreeable. Highlights include both a waterfall and a fireplace.
Located in the heart of downtown OKC, Flint is the ideal place to pre-game whether you’re attending an event at the Civic Center, Myriad Gardens or Paycom Center.
They offer weekend brunch, weekday breakfast and lunch, and dinner every night of the week.
I started out with this simple and delicious arugula salad. Peppery perfection! For my main, I decided to try their shrimp and grits.
While the shrimp was divine, the tomato sauce, a house-made heavenly concoction, completely stole the show. It involved stewed tomatoes and sherry. The sauce was so good, I could slurp it up by the vat. (Dear Flint, please let me know if vats are available.)
Be sure to leave plenty of room for dessert, because the dee-licous key lime pie is both incredibly creamy and incredibly huge! You’ve been warned! This is a regular menu item and you really shouldn’t miss it.
Synopsis
What to have here: Start or end at the bar. DO NOT skip dessert!
When to go: Pre-game, night out, weekend brunch
- Hours
- Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 6:30am to 2pm
- Breakfast: Weekdays, 6:30 to 10:30am
- Lunch: Weekdays, 10:30am to 2pm
- Drinks + Dinner: 5–10pm Monday–Saturday, 4–9pm Sunday
Address: 15 N Robinson Avenue, in the historic Colcord Hotel
Phone: (405) 605-0657
See website for details or to book a table; reservations encouraged.
Pro Tip: Complimentary valet parking here makes it easy to dine downtown!
For more about the beautiful and historic Colcord Hotel, see OKC Adventure.
Museum Café (Now Museum Store x Ganache) at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Do yourself a favor: have a meal at the Museum Café at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The service is excellent and the ambiance is luxe. This charming restaurant also has a lovely view.
Last but not least, they offer the best eggs Benedict I’ve ever had, made with their delicious crab cakes. Yum! To add delight to delight, afterwards you can walk right in to the OKCMOA and see some wonderful art!
This classy eatery offers French-inflected modern American cuisine that is quality focused and artfully inspired, just like the setting. The menu for lunch and weekend brunch changes seasonally. From the bar, choose from a carefully curated wine list, artisan beers, and classic seasonal cocktails.
Pro tip: I always ask for light sauce on my Eggs Bennie. You can see here I still had plenty.
Synopsis
What to have here: Crabcakes, eggs benedict, cocktails
When to go: It’s fun to have weekend brunch before the museum opens then head in to see the art.
Hours: 10am to 5 pm Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10am to 9pm Thursday, 12 to 5 pm Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Address: 415 Couch Drive
Museum Store x Ganache
The Museum Café has now morphed into the Museum Store x Ganache, a partnership with Ganache Patisserie. Visitors can enjoy decadent desserts and entrees from the patisserie as well as a full bar with coffee, beer, wine and classic cocktails. Their hours are posted above.
The photos below show how the whole place is a quirky work of art—check out that giraffe! Especially amazing is the rare opportunity to purchase Chihuly glass in the museum shop (see the display in photo bottom right).
Museum x Ganache: It’s playful, it has panache, and it has pastry…I love it and can’t wait to visit. Photos courtesy of the OKCMOA.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend a visit to the OKCMOA. It’s a don’t-miss opportunity to see one of the largest collections of Chihuly glass art in the world!
I LOVED the OKCMOA! For some of the highlights of their collection, see My Favorite Oklahoma City Attractions.
Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District
The Empire Slice House
A hugely popular OKC treasure, the Empire Slice House in the charming Plaza District is a prime lunch, dinner, and late-night nosh spot. Look for the pink elephant.
Their full bar offers a large selection of beers, 6 rotating taps, and some aptly named cocktails (Sucker Punch, anyone?). They also have a nice selection of mocktails.
You can purchase their delicious New York-style pizza as a whole pie or by the slice. I recommend “The Fungus Among Us.” Pro tip: if you order by the slice, you can try 2 or 3 different kinds of pizza. You’re welcome!
I loved the vibe at the Empire and their staff are amazing. They come out on top in several categories of the Best of OKC awards every year, from best pizza place to best late-night eats.
Synopsis
What to have here: Pizza and beer or cocktails. You will be seeing a pink elephant later, but don’t worry, it’s just the mascot!
When to go: Lunch till late, night out
Hours: 11am to 11pm Sunday–Thursday, 11am to Midnight Friday and Saturday
Address: 1804 NW 16th Street
Phone: (405) 557-1760
See website for details and to order online.
Pie Junkie
I’d heard a lot about Pie Junkie before ever setting foot in OKC. Pie Junkie has earned many accolades.
It has won the number one spot for best dessert the past 3 years in a row in the Best of OKC awards, a popular reader poll in the Oklahoma Gazette.
When Pie Junkie owners, Darcy and Leslie, started baking pies together in 2010, they had no idea their little hobby would grow so quickly. Today, Pie Junkie makes over 20,000 pies a year!
Darcy and Leslie value the traditional recipes passed down from their grandmothers, who taught them to bake. They also enjoy developing new recipes. So you’ll find homemade classics alongside innovative originals, all made from scratch each day.
Synopsis
What to have here: PIE, my friend! Pie and more pie!
When to go: Whenever you want to eat pie, which in my case, is: always!
Hours: 10am to 7pm Tuesdays–Thursdays, 10am to 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays, Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Address: 1711 NW 16th St
Phone: (405) 605-8767
See website to order a whole pie online.
For more about the Plaza District, including the delightful street art bonanza that is the Plaza Walls, see OKC Adventure.
Best Restaurants in OKC’s Paseo Arts District
Frida Southwest
Frida Southwest fits right in to the beautiful and unusual historic Paseo Arts District with southwestern flavors inspired by the cuisine of Oklahoma, Santa Fe and northern Mexico. Housed in an architecturally unique and beautifully designed setting, you’ll enjoy your surroundings as much as your food.
And the food is fantastic! Best thing ever: you actually get a bread basket, an especially yummy one with cornbread! I was in heaven as you know how much I love my carbs and my bread baskets.
Have the namesake salad: unexpected and fabulous taste combinations. Loved the roasted pineapple in there. You can count on a perfectly cooked piece of fish, and their vegan tamales are out of this world. I’ve never had a tamale with such a pure fresh taste of corn.
Pro tip: Frida has a speakeasy! You absolutely must check it out. It’s like stepping back into the Roaring Twenties!
Synopsis
What to have here: The signature salad (Frida salad), any fish dish, the vegan tamales.
When to go: Date night or weekend brunch
Hours: Dinner 5 to 10pm Tuesday–Saturday, Brunch 11am to 3pm Saturday, 10am to 3pm Sunday, Dinner 5 to 9pm Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Address: 500 Paseo
Phone: (405) 683-7432
You can make reservations on their website.
Holey Rollers
When I visited the Paseo, I had great fun at the neighborhood donut shop, Holey Rollers. If you’re looking for a sensible sweet to sustain you as you explore, look no further than their café (complete with attached bookstore).
All their delicious donuts are vegan, and they have several gluten-free selections daily. Thus the “sensible” part. Try the little raised-dough donut holes drenched in honey, and the seasonal latté!
Synopsis
What to have here: Donuts and coffee
When to go: Whenever you want donuts. Which, in my case, is: always!
Hours: 8am to 3pm Wednesday–Saturday, 9am to 3pm Sunday. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Address: 3010 Paseo #101
Phone: (405) 212-2383
See website to order online.
For more about the Paseo Arts District, see My Favorite Oklahoma City Attractions.
Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City’s Uptown 23rd District
The Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co.
Find the Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co. right next to the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City’s historic Uptown 23rd District, a darn cute neighborhood.
Walking in to this restaurant is a feast for the eyes. Their mile-high, scratch-made biscuits are a feast for your tastebuds as well.
Wait till you try my personal recommendation, the Nashville (pictured below). If you don’t have a big mouth, get ready to utilize knife and fork! (I do have a big mouth, but I didn’t even try to get it around this sandwich.)
I also loved their honey latté, made with local honey you can purchase in the restaurant. This is a great place to hang out and watch the world go by.
Synopsis
What to have here: Anything involving a biscuit. Wash it down with the honey latté, made with local honey.
When to go: Breakfast and lunch
Hours: 7am to 2pm daily
Address: 429 NW 23rd Street. They also have two newer locations in Edmond and Northwest OKC.
Phone: (405) 605-4395
You can order delivery through Uber Eats or Doordash on their website.
Sala Thai
For the best authentic Thai food in town, head to Sala Thai! The owner is a family friend—tell her Cynthia sent you. You must try her unique spin on Thai iced tea, made with green tea.
Everything is so good: I especially recommend the papaya salad, the Pad See Ew and the Pad Thai, the Laab and the fish. Their most popular items are the Pad Thai and their curries. The staff here are the best and will take excellent care of you.
Their dining room has been renovated since my visit. Please note, the restaurant’s new business hours are 11am to 3pm for lunch and 5 to 8pm for dinner. The restaurant is closed from 3 to 5pm to allow time to prep for the next shift. Open daily except Sunday.
Synopsis
What to have here: Thai green iced tea, papaya salad, any noodle dish, Laab, fish
When to go: Lunch and dinner
Hours: 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 8pm daily except closed Sunday
Address: 1614 NW 23rd Street
Phone: (405) 528-8424
For more information, check out their website.
To learn more about the Uptown 23rd District, see OKC Adventure.
In conclusion
The OKC food scene is booming. You’ll be spoiled for choice deciding where to eat in the plethora of wonderful Oklahoma City restaurants. Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring your stretchy pants. Bon appetit!
Things to do in Oklahoma City
For more Oklahoma City fun, see My Favorite Oklahoma City Attractions for my favorite things to do and OKC Adventure for some additional surprising attractions.
Oklahoma City in the Fall
Although not known nationally for its brilliant fall foliage, many feel Oklahoma is right up there with Colorado and New England when it comes to putting on a fall colors show. See gorgeous fall colors and learn how Oklahoma City is the perfect autumn getaway in Fall in Oklahoma City: Your Guide to an OKC Autumn Getaway.
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More about Oklahoma City
My Favorite Oklahoma City Attractions
More Things To Do in Oklahoma City
Guide To An OKC Autumn Getaway
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My Thanks: I’m so grateful to the OKC CVB: Tabbi Burwell, Meg Cathey, Lindsay Vidrine, & Jenna Lovelace; to Jen Burgess, The Colcord Hotel, MaryEddys, Flint, The Museum Café & the OKCMOA, especially Caitlin Anders; and to Frida, Holey Rollers, The Empire Slice House, Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co., and the wonderful Lawan of Sala Thai for housing and/or feeding me. Most of all, I’m immensely grateful to the members of Buddawajana and to Srisuda A., for taking me along on her OKC adventure.
Wow! My mouth really is watering! It looks like you ate your way around Oklahoma City, Cynthia. I have not visited (-yet) but will be sure to check out some of these eateries when I do. Confession time: I have never tried Pecan Pie! It isn’t really a thing here in the UK. I shall be sure to search out your recommendation when we visit OKC.
Oh noooooo! You’re really missing out, Jane! You have to try pecan pie, it is SO good. I totally did eat my way around OKC 😆😆😆 and it was really fun!
This is a mouthwatering article with some of the best places to eat in Oklahoma City. You have featured some restaurants and cafes that offer a variety of dishes, from fine dining to pizza, fried chicken and pie. You have also given some reasons why OKC is a foodie destination, such as the diversity, the quality and the affordability. I have never been to OKC before, but your article has made me hungry and eager to visit. Thank you for this delicious and informative article.
Thank you so much for your kind comment! OKC does indeed offer incredible variety and quality in its food scene, and I’m glad it made you hungry to visit.
We haven’t been to Oklahoma City yet and are totally blown away by the amazing culinary scene you got to experience, Cynthia! Wouldn’t have ever imagined that! Frida Southwest totally caught our eye — sounds amazing!! And, we’d love love to see the Chihuly glass art… Thank you for sharing and putting OKC on our radar!!
Frida Southwest was a great spot and the surrounding area, the Paseo Arts District, is really fun. There are Southwestern architectural influences all over Oklahoma City, but nowhere is it more evident than in the charming Paseo Arts District. The entire neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places. It looks like a little southwestern village in the middle of OKC!
I was so impressed with OKC on my short visit a couple of years ago. I am sorry to have missed these fantastic looking dishes but will definitely be back Also, we are huge fans of the 21c collection!!
Yes, the 21C collection was so interesting! It looks like it would be a great place to stay, as well. OKC definitely has a lot to offer, and the food one of those things for sure!
The food scene in OKC sounds good! The sweet potato hummus and the other dishes both look and sound delicious.
Everything at Mary Eddy’s was top notch, the sweet potato hummus was one of my favorites too!
Got to give OKC food scene a five star. The city surely up their game and it looks all the dishes served and presented on your post Cynthia are winners. Got to probably check my calorie and sugar intake..but never mind, food is food and food is love.
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
I did eat an awful lot and OKC is especially fantastic for sweets, with such delicious pie especially. Lucky I was only there for a weekend!
Sounds like a great place to eat no wonder you rolled out the Uber 🤣
The crab cake Benedict sounds like a winner to me and that Sala Thai restaurant would probably be my first stop for sure.
I’m glad I saved this for after dinner!
Such a great food scene, I really enjoyed the variety.
That looks like some fantastic options. The Nashville looks right up my street…
The Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co. was definitely one of my favorites! Both the biscuit and the fried chicken were amazing, and the condiments really made it too.
Thanks for the intel on OKC’s food scene! Now it’s on my radar!
Hope you have a chance to sample it yourself at some point, Denise!
We were really surprised at the power of OKC’s foodie game! So many great options, but we’ve only made it to about half of the places you mentioned. That can only mean it’s time for another visit! 😆 Thanks for the handy list.
I was too, and I’m sure there are even more options now. The food scene in OKC seems to be growing in leaps and bounds!
I wish more museums would partner with patisseries, that seems like a match made in heaven 😊 You really were spoiled for choice in OKC! I kept saying “Oh, that’s where I’d go”, and then see another fantastic option. When I head to OKC I’ll remember to bring my stretchy pants! Thanks for this fantastic guide.
Thanks for reading, Lynn. I’m all for museums and patisseries together too. Two of my favorite things in the same place! You certainly will need your stretchiest pants to sample all the yummy pies, biscuits and so on that are not at all fattening. 😉
WOW, I had no idea there were so many great places to eat in Oklahoma! They all look delicious but I’d love to try the donut place and the pie shop!
My post may seem skewed toward dessert, because it is. 🙂
It all looks delicious! ESPECIALLY the eggs benedict! I am such a sucker for a good eggs benedict. YUM!
This egg bennie was made with crab cakes! That really took it over the top.
I’ve never been to Oklahoma City but now I want to visit just so I can eat! Fabulous foodie guide with so much variety!
It’s a good idea to go to EAT, there’s a number of great historical and cultural attractions as well!
Wow wow! I’m drooling over here 😋 most of these dishes look so delicious especially the brussels sprouts and sweet potato hummus
Everything was so fantastic, but those were indeed two of my favorites. I could eat them both every day, I think! And the desserts….
I love all the vegetarian cuisine featured at these restaurants. I never heard of sweet potato hummus but I would try it.
Yes, Oklahoma is known for beef but I never had trouble finding great eats without red meat. There’s a ton of variety.
My goodness! Such culinary creativity (and in, of all places, OK City!!!)
(Dang — now I’m hungry!)
It may seem surprising but there was a great deal of culinary creativity, as well as plenty of activities to please a cultural traveler like myself!
This is great, Cynthia. The food in OKC sounds and looks fantastic – you’ve nailed superb descriptions and excellent pics!
It is true that the pandemic decimated restaurants across the planet, and your post is a wonderful way of supporting local talent and undertakings as the world recovers.
Now let’s see: Sorghum pecan pie. Tomato + sherry sauce. Bennies + crabcake. Vegan tamales. Pas See Ew… Mouth-watering, all of it! OKC did offer you a celebration for the tastebuds!
Quick question out of curiosity: what’s in the “Nashville” your enjoyed at Hunny Bunny? It looks quite tempting!
Thank you Roberto! I do love to eat and take pictures of my food :). The Nashville was excellent crunchy fried chicken on a heavenly biscuit that included hot sauce, honey mustard, and bread and butter pickles. Pretty sure they do the condiments on site. Each element made the whole thing sing!
The Nashville sounds really good!!! 🙂
Yum!! I had no idea that OKC had such a foodie scene! Definitely a reason for me to go back – I need to try that sorghum pecan pie!
Oh that pie was the BEST. OKC is actually a great place for foodies!
I totally get it why your uber driver had to roll you out of the car. Hahah! And, I salivated looking at the photos of sweet potato hummus.
I wasn’t fitting into my jeans so great at that point, either! Lol
I’m a bit of a foodie myself and love trying new and different foods when I travel – OKC looks like the city for me with all the great food on offer. Can’t wait to get there!
I think you’d really enjoy it, Sharyn! There’s really an amazing diversity of cuisines in OKC.