Elemental Coffee
815 N. Hudson Ave.
elementalcoffee.com
405-633-1703
Elemental Coffee first began roasting coffee in OKC in 2008, and its Midtown cafe started serving breakfast, lunch and pastries in 2011. Satisfy your brunch craving with chilaquiles: house-made corn tortilla chips cooked in red chili sauce, fried egg, sour cream, onions, queso fresco and cilantro. A vegan version is available upon request. Take home some of your favorite Elemental coffee beans from its shop or subscribe to its monthly coffee service and never be beanless again.
Rainbow Bistro
2215 NW 39th St., Suite 300
rainbowbistrookc.com
405-724-9187
Located on historic Route 66 in the 39th Street District, Rainbow Bistro follows in familial footsteps. Burl Beasley’s mom is Helga of Helga’s German Restaurant fame, voted Oklahoma Gazette’s Best German Food in 1992. The bistro serves up Reubens, hot pretzels and burgers alongside its signature classic schnitzel served with red cabbage and your choice of Helga’s famous German potato salad or tots.
Burger Punk
3012 N. Walker Ave.
915 W. Britton Road
burgerpunkokc.com
405-724-8017
Burger Punk offers more than three chords and the truth with outdoor seating, lunch specials and griddle cakes for brunch on the weekends. Whether you’re craving fried pickles, Buffalo chicken bites or a cheeseburger mac egg roll, Burger Punk has you covered. Non-carnivores aren’t left out either. Grab a Green Daze burger made with a Beyond Meat vegetarian patty to satisfy your burger yearning.
530 NW 23rd St.
bigtrucktacos.com
405-525-8226
Big Truck Tacos has been serving up chef Kathryn Mathis’ interpretation of Mexican street food since 2009. Elevate your chippy-dippy Mexican meal with chips and ceviche or BTT’s Naughty Little Queso with chorizo and black beans, guac and pico. Flautas, quesadillas and burritos round out Big Truck’s already-robust taco menu. Try its 5th Amendment taco if you love surprises — just don’t ask what’s on it. BTT serves breakfast until 10:45 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Toast & Coffee
2416 N. Robinson Ave.
toastandcoffeeokc.com
405-778-6294
Nice try, Toast & Coffee! Your understated name doesn’t fool us. We see your sandwiches, paninis, quiche and wide array of pastries. Not just coffee, but cortado, hot apple cider, chai, matcha, flavored lemonades and Afro Pop sodas on the drink menu. Try cafe favorite toast with lox or smoked Atlantic salmon served with pickled cucumber and onion, fresh dill and cream cheese. Get your T&C on early; it closes at 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Pizzeria Gusto
2415 N. Walker Ave.
pizzeria-gusto.com
405-437-4992
Pizzeria Gusto imports many of it ingredients from Italy and uses a hand-built Stefano Ferrara pizza oven. Pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and ribs fill out the dinner menu. Personal-sized pizza, salad or pasta combos are available during lunch, and the brunch menu ranges from a pesto scramble to shrimp and polenta and, of course, includes brunch pizza with scrambled eggs, fontina cheese, tomatoes, bacon and basil.
Picasso Cafe
3009 Paseo
picassosonpaseo.com
405-602-2002
Feed the artist in you at Picasso Cafe in the heart of the Paseo. Whether you’re in your “sharable plates” period or your tastes are leaning more “vegan renaissance,” Picasso’s extensive menu is here to please your palate. Picasso’s fish and chips is served with beer-battered cod, seasoned fries and caper remoulade. To satisfy late-night cravings, visit its sister bar, The Other Room, next door. The full Picasso Cafe menu is available at The Other Room, and appetizers are half-price all day every day.
This article appears in deadCenter Film Festival 2025.