Best of OKC 2025: Write Ups
Ma Der Lao Kitchen Best Restaurant Best Eastern Asian Restaurant Oklahoma City is always ready to come through for a Jeff Chanchaleune joint, and Ma Der is no exception. “Ma der” is a Laotian phrase that means “Come eat” or “Come through.” That expression has become an encapsulation of Chanchaleune’s most personal venture to date.…
American tunes
AJJ 8 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 26 Resonant Head 400 SW 25th St., Suite A (405) 437-2314 resonanthead.com $31.25 A few minutes into our interview with AJJ frontman Sean Bonnette, he paused to have a quick chat with someone else in the room with him. His voice temporarily became a little more loving, kind, fatherly. “I…
Community knot
Located in the heart of Midtown, Palomar has been the central hub for victim services in Oklahoma City for nearly a decade. Collaborating with 44 partner organizations, Palomar has served over 29,000 clients over the last eight years — survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse and human trafficking. Named after…
Shared liability
Confusion has been the primary response to a new interpretation of a couple pieces of legislation related to tourism and hospitality. When Mesero owner Trey Dyer posted a reel in June detailing the OAK’s use of the common patio law from 2020 in combination with the Tourism Development Act of 2024, operators around the city…
Original perspectives
Through Her Eyes Through Sept. 26 Red Earth Art Center BancFirst Lobby 100 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 110 405-427-5228 redearth.org Free The painting’s impressionist technique means it’s hard to say where the woman riding the horse is looking, whether she stares intently at the road ahead or casts a glance behind her. She might be…
OVO, rehatched
Cirque du Soleil: OVO
Heirloom hospitality
Local Italian mainstay Stella recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, but little sister Lorena has been a dream in the making for almost as long. As Stella grew in popularity and set down roots, owner Lori Burson kept her eye on the space next door for over thirteen years. The space was occupied by 1492 New…
Slush fund
Pool Bar and Bodega 900 W. Main St. poolbarokc.com 405-982-6900 You won’t find a better place to cool down than Fordson Hotel’s Pool Bar and Bodega. Head over to the West Village for the pool, cabanas and DJs, and stay for the summer cocktails of your dreams. One sip of the Jalapeño Black Cherry Margarita…
Light fantastic
Storyteller Theatre presents A Little Princess
Uncovered: The Juno Soundtrack
In addition to winning the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for achieving new levels of quirk in the way Hollywood pretends teenagers talk, Juno improbably topped the Billboard charts with an eclectic soundtrack featuring Buddy Holly, The Kinks, Cat Power, Sonic Youth and The Moldy Peaches. Hear local acts Keathley, The Ugly Cowboys, The…
Homecoming 2025
Join Homeless Alliance for an unforgettable evening at HOMECOMING 2025, an event celebrating the transformative journey home. It’s inspired by a classic high school homecoming, but it’s more than just a party! It’s a celebration of the power of community, connection and the collaboration that makes our city so special. The night will feature a…
Nourishing roots
Compost Adjacent Junebug EP release
Denial syndrome
A new affliction is plaguing approximately 10 percent of Oklahomans, and it has gone from symptomatic to a full-blown outbreak in the midst of the most recent scandal involving Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction. The virus is known as Ryan Walters Denial Syndrome. RWDS is seemingly rampant amongst an increasingly smaller portion of our population,…
Best of Lifestyle
Best Place to Volunteer Oklahoma Humane Society 7500 N. Western Ave. Bike Club OKC City Rescue Mission Homeless AllianceRegional Food Bank of Oklahoma Best Nonprofit Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma 3355 S. Purdue Ave. Bike Club OKC Homeless Alliance Oklahoma Hall of Fame Positive Tomorrows Best Plastic Surgeon Tim R. Love, MD drtimlove.com Anu Bajaj,…
Best of Goods & Services
Best Car Dealership Mercedes Benz of OKC 14240 Broadway Extension Bob Howard Auto Group Fowler Toyota of Norman Kalidy KiaORR Nissan Best Credit Union or Bank* Tinker Federal Credit Union multiple locations BancFirst Bank of Oklahoma Kirkpatrick Bank MidFirst Bank Best Place to Buy Jewelry BC Clark multiple locations Hungtington Fine Jewelry Store JewelSmiths Lewis…
Best of Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Best Local Park Scissortail Park 300 SW Seventh St. Martin Nature Park Myriad Botanical GardensStars and Stripes Park Will Rogers Park Best Local Cover Band Jukebox Hero @jukeboxherookc My So Called Band soft hands WellKnown Strangers Uncle Zep Best Local Original Band or Singer Jabee @mynameisjabee Chat pile Erin Michelle Husbands Mike Hosty Best Local…
Ruth’s place
Ruth’s Creole Kitchen 610 NW 23rd St. ruths-creole-kitchen.square.site 405-673-7434 What works: Chef Reuben’s considerable talent shines brightly in this inviting space, and those familiar with authentic New Orleans food will find much to love here. What needs work: The young servers are friendly but inexperienced, so bring a little patience. Tip: Check Ruth’s social media…
Walters’ woe
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and his former spokesman are appealing a federal judge’s order to pay $170,000 in legal fees to KFOR. Walters, who was sued for blocking journalists from public meetings, settled the case but refused to admit he did anything wrong. Walters has long been adversarial with the press and…
Pollution politics
With Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond running for governor, his seat will become open next year, ensuring that Oklahoma will have its fifth attorney general in five years. That’s a lot of inconsistency for the state’s highest law enforcement officer, especially for a state in love with the death penalty, the failed war on drugs…
Paycom exit
Oklahoma City is set to get a new arena, and it’s starting with a clean slate — literally. Paycom, one of the city’s corporate giants, has decided to end its naming rights when the new arena opens in 2028. One wouldn’t think finding a new naming sponsor would be hard, especially after the Thunder recently…
Ethics breach
Shelley Zumwalt, the former director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, has agreed to a settlement with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission after an audit found she approved agency contracts with a company where her husband was a vice president. The audit found she checked “no” on annual forms that asked about conflict of interest. As…
Back in business
After a pandemic, the streaming revolution and strikes by actors and screenwriters, the good news is that the theater experience is back in business. People are going to movies again. The less good news: Hollywood is woefully short on originality. With a few exceptions, namely Sinners and F1: The Movie, virtually all the box-office successes…
Best of Food & Drink
Best Pet-Friendly Patio The Pump Bar Closed as of August 3, 2025 Good Times Skydance Brewing Co. The Garage Burgers & Beer The Winston Best Place to Watch TV Sports Fassler Hall 421 NW 10th St., suite 201 74 Sports Kitchen & Cocktails Pub W The Garage Burgers & Beer The Winston Best Local Brewery…
Best of OKC 2025
In case you haven’t noticed, we are back! Each issue, we’ve remained true to the previously loved sections our readers look forward to over the year. That includes the trusted Best of OKC reader’s poll. Oklahoma Gazette brought the ORIGINAL reader’s poll to the city in 1985. Championing local businesses and providing an amazing resource…
