Where Are the Best Places to Eat in Oklahoma City?

Any time you start thinking about food, do you start salivating at the thought of all those delicious dishes waiting to be devoured? We do too! It’s hard to imagine any city not having some great local spots to dine and sample fine cuisine but frequently they are not always the easiest to find. But it’s these local establishments that we were interested in finding during our recent trip to Oklahoma, so we now want to share our guide to the best places to eat in Oklahoma City. The only caveat for restaurants to make their way on our list is that they were NOT a mass chain establishment.

Amidst all of the chain restaurants that frequent major cities, local establishments are all too often fighting a losing battle against these global chains that have little interest in meeting customers needs aside from creating food en masse and having a pretty standard menu that you expect to find anywhere. From home cooked cuisine to fresh ingredients used in the creation of a dish…these are all aspects of local restaurants that we love to experience when visiting a new city.

Let’s take a look at what we now consider as the best places to eat in Oklahoma City. This is by no means a definitive list, rather it is a collection of restaurants (bars and diners included also) that we either sampled through first-hand experience or at least considered based on recommendations from others.

When you only spend 48 hours in a city, there is only so much that you can sample but we certainly left OKC feeling pretty full of amazing food!

Waffle Champion

If you have a sweet tooth or love the idea of starting your day with an appetizing selection of delicious waffles, Waffle Champion in Midtown Oklahoma City is surely the spot for you. Be prepared to wait in line, especially if you are visiting Waffle Champion on the weekend. We waited for about 30 minutes before ordering and being seated inside the restaurant.

When Mayer Hawthorne spoke the following words, he really emphasized the importance of having a good breakfast to keep your energy levels high to enjoy the day ahead.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I definitely have a hearty breakfast before I do anything.

A word of caution before visiting Waffle Champion if you are thinking the above quote is applicable to you. This trendy restaurant may have the exact opposite effect you are hoping for, because the dessert waffles are not necessarily the healthiest options on the menu.

For those of you that don’t have a sweet tooth, don’t worry because there are plenty of savory options available at Waffle Champion. Check out the menu and I am sure there will be something that intrigues you.

Local, handcrafted sodas are also available for purchase as are a variety of beers and wines.

We opted for the S’mores Waffle and Grandma’s Apple Pie Waffle and both were delectable.

The S’mores dish was served with chocolate ganache, house made marshmallow and graham cracker crumble on top of the buttermilk waffle (Belgian ‘Liege’ style waffles are also available for those that want extra sweetness).

The Grandma’s Apple Pie waffle included cinnamon baked apple, vanilla bean ice cream, bourbon caramel and graham cracker crumble. Just thinking about both these options is enough to justify a trip back to OKC!.

After having the ultimate waffle experience in Brussels, we didn’t think it could get any better than that. But visiting Waffle Champion was certainly a pretty good way of realizing that we don’t have to travel all the way to Belgium to experience a delicious array of waffle dishes.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Sunday (7:00AM to 2:00PM)*Also open from 7PM to 2AM on certain nights (call ahead for details)

Address
1212 N. Walker #100,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)525-9235

Website
Waffle Champion

Iguana Mexican Grill

Our first night in Oklahoma City saw us visit the wonderfully named ‘Iguana Mexican Grill’. I love Mexican cuisine, whether it is because I am relatively new to this type of food given that England really doesn’t have many Mexican restaurants or perhaps just because the flavors are awesome. When our gracious hosts for the night recommended Iguana, we were both excited about trying out this menu.

Oklahoma is famous for having a myriad of Tex-Mex options but this restaurant was very different from anything we have experienced before.

I am sure you are all familiar with the sub-standard Mexican restaurants that have items on their menu that are pretty comparable everywhere, but Iguana’s menu was completely different.

A refreshing selection of entrées in addition to a wide variety of alcoholic beverages that are a perfect accompaniment to both your main meal and of course, the stereotypical appetizers of guacamole, queso, and salsa.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (11:00AM to 10:00PM); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 11:00PM); Sunday and Monday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
9 NW 9th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: (405)606-7172

Website
Iguana Mexican Grill

Pops 66 Soda Ranch

Looking for a local diner that is iconic to Oklahoma? Look no further than Pops 66 Soda Ranch which is famous for being home to over 700 uniquely bottled sodas. There are two locations in the vicinity of Oklahoma City but both of them are close enough to justify visiting.

The original location in Arcadia, OK is iconic because of the modern looking gas station located along historic Route 66. A giant neon sign in the shape of a soda bottle stands at 66 feet tall and is a perfect reflection of Pops 66 culture.

If you are driving around the area at night, this provides a spectacular attraction for visitors and well worth visiting.

Inside the diner is where you can begin picking your sodas from the large selection available. Where do you even begin? Well, that depends on personal preference.

We tweeted Pops 66 and they provided us with a handy guide of their top 25 best-sellers, but honestly you probably can’t go wrong with any of the options.

The windows at both locations are full of perfectly aligned bottles and visitors are advised to leave these intact and head for the coolers to grab a selection of sodas.

Drinks from all around the world are available for purchase here so if you have stumbled across a soda while on your travels, you may well find this here at Pops 66.

A second Pops 66 location has opened in Nichols Hills and we actually visited this first to sample the fine cuisine.

I have to admit that we were slightly disappointed by the food but this takes nothing away from the overall experience (after eating Waffle Champion for breakfast, I don’t think either of us was hungry enough to justify the food at Pops 66).

Useful Information

Opening Times
Nichols Hills – 7:00AM to 9:00PM Daily
Arcadia – 6:00AM to 10:00PM Daily

Address
Nichols Hills
6447 Avondale Drive,
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Tel: (405)446-8767

Arcadia
660 W. Highway 66,
Arcadia, OK 73007
Tel: (405)928-7677

Website
Pops 66 Soda Ranch

Pie Junkie

I didn’t realize that visiting a place just to eat a slice of pie would have been quite as appealing until we experienced Pie Junkie in the Plaza District of OKC. The beauty of Pie Junkie is that you can visit here at any time of the day, and let’s be honest folks, eating a slice of pie is appropriate anytime! At least, that was our justification as we headed here late afternoon and sampled what I have to admit was some of the finest slices of pie.

Here is the problem though when you head to Pie Junkie. What pie do you choose? There is a wide selection to choose from and all of them look delicious.

Whether you have a real sweet tooth and want to sample the S’mores pie or perhaps something a little less sweet like the buttermilk pie, there will be something here that will intrigue you.

We opted for the Drunken Turtle and Buttermilk pies. I am not a fan of pecans so I was a little hesitant with the turtle pie, but I soon realized that I made a great choice.

Heather was a huge fan of the buttermilk so we had a nice combination of Pie Junkie’s unique creations.

If you want the best selection of pies, we strongly urge you to visit Pie Junkie earlier in the day because they go pretty quickly and you may be left with only a couple of options to choose from.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (10:00AM to 7:00PM); Friday (10:00AM to 9:00PM); Sunday and Saturday (10:00AM to 7:00PM)

Address
1711 NW 16th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Tel: (405)605-8767

Website
Pie Junkie

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

One of the most popular locations in Oklahoma City for good reason in Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. If you are interested in dining at a restaurant where legendary western stars such as John Wayne have dined, this is the spot for you. Located in the historic Stockyard district of Oklahoma City, this is a perfect spot to experience all of Oklahoma’s local western folklore.

It may not be the most luxurious restaurant in terms of decor but in terms of history and fine cuisine, you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative in the OKC region.

A smoke-filled room and a lucky roll of the dice were all it took to move a little diner from cowtown obscurity to annals of western folklore.

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse is of course not only famous for their history and traditional western atmosphere but also for their delicious steaks and other menu options. We wanted to experience this restaurant and it was on our to-do list but after already sampling so much fine cuisine, we didn’t have the appetite to justify a visit here. But it is undoubtedly the first place we will visit when we return to OKC next.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Sunday to Thursday (6:00AM to 10:00PM); Friday and Saturday (6:00AM to Midnight)

Address
1309 S. Agnew,
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Tel: (405)236-0416

Website
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Iron Star Urban BBQ

Oklahoma City and BBQ go hand in hand so it’s no surprise to hear that there are plenty of attractive BBQ options in the various neighborhoods across the city. If you need one recommendation, Iron Star Urban BBQ is a popular restaurant worth visiting.

Dating back to 2002 when Iron Star first opened their doors, it quickly became recognized for the gorgeous decor on the interior of the restaurant. Wood floors and brick walls provide a perfect setting for visitors to reflect on western history while sampling the traditional dishes associated with typical smokehouse flavors.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday (11:00AM to 9:00PM); Tuesday to Thursday (11:00AM to 9:30PM); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 10:30PM); Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
3700 N. Shartel,
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Tel: (405)524-5925

Website
Iron Star Urban BBQ

Kitchen 324

Renowned as offering only the freshest ingredients in town, Kitchen 324 is another viable option for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in a building in downtown OKC that was formerly home to an aviation business, Kitchen 324 is housed in one of the most famous buildings across the city.

Whether you want to start the day with a delicious looking maple french cruller or perhaps wait until lunch and sample a handcrafted sandwich, Kitchen 324 is a great choice if you want an authentic experience with the finest local ingredients.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (7:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
324 N. Robinson,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: (405)763-5911

Website
Kitchen 324

Tucker’s Onion Burger

You may not associate Oklahoma with being famous for burgers, but when you reference ‘onion burger’ among OKC natives, they will immediately know what you are referring to.

The Oklahoma Onion Burger has achieved cult status

Tucker’s Onion Burger is proud to have this iconic meat product as their primary menu option. The onion burger capital of the world is actually in nearby El Reno, OK but the history of this burger actually dates back to the Great Depression in the 1920s when the combination of beef and onions made this a necessity in locals everyday lives.

There are three different locations around Oklahoma City but given that this is local to the city, we felt it was appropriate to include this in the list. I am not a huge fan of onions so I am not sure what to think about this but given the positive recommendations on Tucker’s, I think it would be difficult to keep avoiding this restaurant on future visits to OKC.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
324 N.W. 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)609-2333

5740 N. Classen Blvd., Suite 3
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Tel: (405)286-3331

15001 N. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Tel: (405)254-5555

Website
Tucker’s Onion Burgers

Bleu Garten

Oklahoma City is home to a really cool open-air venue that houses a variety of gourmet food trucks which makes for a great experience to sample local cuisine. With alcoholic beverages available for purchase, this is the perfect spot to spend a couple of hours relaxing in the afternoon before heading out and exploring the rest of downtown OKC.

I love the concept of this “gourmet food truck garden”. The name itself is derived from both the French and German languages. The German beer garden experience is something that is continuing to grow in the United States and Bleu Garten is definitely one of the best experiences that we have encountered around the country.

If you visit Bleu Garten’s website, you can check the daily schedule to find your favorite food trucks and when they will be located on-site. If you are visiting for the first time like we did, it’s cool to sample a little bit of everything while taking in the vibrant ambiance throughout the venue.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (4:00PM to Midnight); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 2:00AM); Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
301 NW 10th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)763-5911

Website
Bleu Garten

McNellie’s

A short walk from the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City is an Irish pub by the name of McNellie’s. Offering over 300 beers and a variety of stereotypical Irish cuisine, this is a great spot worth visiting if you are interested in sampling an atmosphere typical of a bar in the Emerald Isle.

Although we didn’t eat here, looking at the menu offered reasonably priced cuisine which is great to see for a location in the heart of a downtown metropolis. The original McNellie’s opened in Tulsa, OK back in 2004 with Oklahoma City’s pub opening their doors in 2008. This is a great environment for all the family and we look forward to sampling Irish cuisine on a future visit to Oklahoma City.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (11:00AM to 2:00AM)

Address
1100 Classen Drive,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)601-7468

Website
McNellie’s

Summary

Are you convinced now that Oklahoma City is a thriving hotbed for dining options? Even though we only spent a short time here, we were able to experience several of these and the rest are just on our list for the next time we visit OKC. Whether you want local cuisine, a sweet treat or just a relaxing atmosphere, Oklahoma City has a plethora of options waiting to entice you through their doors.

Which of these restaurants are you most excited about experiencing? If you have visited OKC before, what other restaurants would you include on this list?

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