Oklahoma City is home to some of the most delicious food in the world. The metro’s food scene has steadily developed over the last 20 or so years into something spectacular: a smorgasbord of cuisines, cultures and culinary excellence. But what does Oklahoma City taste like? If a friend from out of town came to visit, where would you take them if you wanted them to understand what eating in OKC is? There are hundreds of restaurants across the city to choose from, but we hope this selection is a good start.
1000 N. Hudson Ave.
405-702-6922
Barrios has a fine dining menu of Mexican cuisine that promises to add an Oklahoma twist to classic dishes like enchiladas, fajitas and tacos. With fresh, local ingredients and creative recipes, the team at Barrios has come up with menu items that are at once surprising and familiar. The fish tacos, for example, deviate quite a bit from typical Baja California-style fare — Barrios uses Topo Chico to batter its fresh cod instead of beer, and instead of cabbage, it has an apple-jicama root slaw. But rather than jarring the senses, everything comes together so naturally that you wonder why it hasn’t always been done like this. Likewise, the prominent sweetness of the braised beef short rib enchiladas veers substantially from common conceptions of what an enchilada is supposed to be, but every note of the toasted pasilla sauce and pickled onions goes so well with the tender short rib that you quickly stop worrying about culinary orthodoxy.
4621 N. May Ave.
(405) 778-8469
There’s little to be said about Sheesh Mahal that hasn’t been said elsewhere: If you’re looking for fresh, delicious halal Pakistani food, there are few places better than Sheesh Mahal. It’s an institution, one of the best places in the city to get a lot of food very quickly and relatively cheaply. Nothing is overstated; the chicken biryani is super savory, a whole meal by itself. The chicken tikka masala packs a decent amount of heat that never overpowers the dish and goes well with a plate of rice or by itself. The chicken, beef and lamb seekh kabobs are served on a bed of grilled vegetables and paired with a delicious and bright cilantro-based chutney. The garlic and cheese naan is so rich and flavorful that it will finish the job of putting you into a food coma if the rest of the meal hasn’t accomplished that yet.
1610 N. Gatewood Ave.
(405) 208-7739
A fun conversation you can have with your out-of-town guest is to see if they can figure out whether Oklahoma belongs to the South or if it’s part of the Southwest. While they’re occupied with that riddle, take them to The Press, a spot nestled in the Plaza District devoted to new takes on comforting classics from all over. The menu promises waffle fries doused in queso, salads piled high with meat and seafood, sandwiches designed to laser-target your nostalgia center and bonafide classics, like meatloaf, chicken-fried ribeye steaks, pot roast and even fry bread tacos (with many vegetarian or gluten-free options available for just about everything). The chefs have also seemingly done the impossible and combined a classic Oklahoma onion burger with the college-fare favorite Theta burger, and the results are spectacular.
(405) 602-2002
If you’re looking for lighter fare, Picasso Cafe has you covered. With its focus on fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients; a rotating menu; and portions that favor quality over sheer quantity, it’s a great place for brunch, lunch or dinner that won’t make you regret your life choices afterward. A really delicious choice for dinner right now is the blackened shrimp risotto served with wild mushrooms, fried carrots and a rotating cast of seasonal vegetables. The risotto is creamy and plays really well with the mushrooms, while the carrots provide just enough sweetness to cut through the rich flavors. If you’re looking for something you can grab and go, the pressed Cuban is incredible.
901 NW 23rd St.
(405) 521-8087
It’s not hard to make the claim that Oklahoma City has the best Vietnamese food in the country. All you have to do to verify this is trek down to NW 23rd Street and Classen Boulevard and partake in any of a number of excellent Vietnamese restaurants. Of particular note is Pho Lien Hoa, an unpretentious restaurant that specializes in different kinds of soup, from classic rice noodles (pho) to glass noodles, egg noodles and even udon in pork or beef broth, served with all sorts of seafood and cuts of meat. It also has a wide selection of Vietnamese teas, smoothies and sodas to enjoy. And you would be remiss not to try a banh mi sandwich — pickled veggies and succulent barbecued pork on a fresh French baguette — while you’re there.
This article appears in The OG Food Issue 2025.