We thought we’d kick the New Year off by shouting out our current favorite restaurants in Oklahoma City. We’ll update our OKC Dining Guide each quarter.
Cafe Kacao
Cafe Kacao is a restaurant that makes me proud to live and eat in Oklahoma City. Fully representing the Guatemalan food culture, Kacao’s food is just plain delicious. We tend to go for their breakfast selections, but the lunch options are just as tantalizing.
Warning: Be prepared for a lengthy wait if you go on the weekend.
There is seriously something for everyone at Cafe Kacao. This is THE place to take out-of-towners to start their visit off right. The coffee drinks are as unique as you’ll find anywhere in the city (and, dare I say, the world at large). Plus, they just added a full bar with a great selection of brunch drinks.
What to Order
This is where things get complicated, because you’re going to want one of everything on the menu. However, keep in mind that portions are more than generous at Cafe Kacao. We recommend bringing friends with big appetites along so you can taste more of the amazing dishes.
The omelette ranchero is my favorite brunch dish in town, but we also highly recommend the Motuleno and the massive creamy cilantro burrito. To date, we’ve never had room to try their tempting selection of pancakes but we hear nothing but good things about them.
Don’t forget the caffeine! Tom is all about coffee drinks that come with a dessert, like the Nutella Cortado served with a warm s’more.
The Kitchen at Commonplace
The Kitchen at Commonplace is just so damn stylish and the food is simple, but powerful. We love the creamy, comforting polenta bowls and the housemade ricotta cheese piled high on thick slabs of toast.
Attached to one of my favorite bookstores in the city, this is a place I could hit up once a week. We’ve only been for lunch and breakfast so far, but hope to check out their daily dinner, served family style, in the very near future.
What to Order
The menu changes somewhat frequently to reflect what’s in season. On our last visit we had a delicious toast with ricotta, butternut squash, pancetta and micro greens. The chile and garlic polenta bowl, topped with a sous vide egg is another favorite. And don’t overlook the fresh-baked pastries.
The Red Cup
I feel like a city isn’t really a city unless it has a cute, quirky vegan restaurant. But this isn’t just any vegan restaurant, it’s an extremely GOOD vegan restaurant. The food at The Red Cup is so good, even the pickiest carnivore will be pleased. It’s also been there for years in OKC’s Asian District providing a welcoming space to grab a coffee and a bite to eat before settling in to read or work for a few hours.
What to Order
The Kale Caesar!! and Hatch Chile mac and cheese are perfect for life-long vegans and meatless newbies alike. If the jambalaya is on the menu and you like spicy food, order it immediately.
The Pritchard
We’ve given The Pritchard a shout-out for dinner in the past (and still think it’s a great option) but their brunch may be even better. While it’s far from the buzziest brunch spot in town, we strongly suggest you add it to your rotation.
Pritchard offers a not-too-big, not-too-small brunch menu complete with $5 brunch cocktails to get your Sunday Funday started. AND, you can make a reservation, because sometimes you’re just too hungry/hungover for an hour-long wait. When you’re done eating, wander around and admire the ever-evolving Plaza Walls or catch a matinee at Lyric Theatre.
What to Order
The Chicken Little is a must for fried chicken lovers, juicy dark meat chicken atop a warm biscuit and delicious house-made pickles. The Buckle, a straight-forward steak and eggs dish with chimichurri, is a crowd-pleaser as well. For a starter, try the savory kolaches. And don’t forget about those $5 cocktails. The bloody Mary is on point, but I enjoyed the Flaming Carrot cocktail with fresh carrot juice for something a little different.
The Jones Assembly
The Jones Assembly really embodies the culinary shift that has been taking place in the OKC dining scene over the past decade. It’s hip, modern and is something that you would expect to see in a much bigger city.
While I do sometimes like to give them a hard time for maybe taking themselves just a little bit too seriously, you can’t deny that The Jones has struck gold with their concept. We’ve had brunch, lunch, dinner and even just drinks here at different times and it has always been a hit with us.
The coffee is top notch, the menu is diverse and changes frequently, and the cocktail program is inventive and fun. But something truly unique is that the space occasionally transforms into a full blown concert venue that has hosted the likes of the Pixies, Father John Misty and more.
What to Order
The Dips + Spreads from the starters section of the menu is a must-order along with the deviled eggs. The winter burrata dish with beets, hazelnut and shiso is a fun, fresh take on a dish you’ll find in almost every restaurant. But if we had to pick one thing to eat at The Jones, it might have to be the whole fried okra with a most-addicting aioli called Jones Sauce on the side. This is another favorite of ours for showing out-of-town guests the glory of Oklahoma food.
As far as entrees go, the cacio e pepe is great while the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich messy comfort food at its best.
The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen
Everyone who knows us or reads this blog knows that our love for Hall’s has no bounds. Just thinking about the distinct intoxicating scent of pizza dough and baked goods that welcomes you as you walk through the door is enough to make my mouth water.
I’ve heard a few crazy folks say the pizza isn’t their favorite, but I’m pretty sure their tastebuds are broken because in my opinion it is PERFECT. Even those naysayers tend to say that the Quinn’s Burrata is the best burrata dish in town. And the cookies and other sweet treats are to die for. Plus, the space is beyond charming and the rooftop is one of the best in the city.
What to Order
As far as pizza goes, you really can’t go wrong. But our favorites tend to be the Saturday Night, Matt and Russell the GOAT. The salads are always excellent and that Quinn’s Burrata has a cult following. If you go on a weekend, be sure to reserve a slice of the birthday cake – it’s to die for.
Goro Ramen
We’ve always been big fans of ramen and had our share of great options back in DC. Goro Ramen in the Plaza District has filled that void for us in OKC and is essential during these cold Winter nights.
Goro is always bustling with a very diverse crowd. The tables are full of people young and old and from different parts of the city. Good ramen brings everyone together.
What to Order
The Tori Paitan ramen is fantastic, with a complex, rich broth and pork belly. But for spice lovers, the Spicy Miso ramen with pork meatballs is tough to beat. The Tebasaki, fried chicken wings coated in a gochujang fish caramel and furikake are killer.
Ludivine
Ludivine was the first chef-driven restaurant to pop up and thrive in OKC’s Midtown neighborhood back in 2010 and they haven’t let up since. They specialize in high-quality proteins with equally impressive dishes of steak and seafood.
They source local ingredients, make everything from scratch and have a menu that changes almost daily. Plus they have a great bar to belly up to for a drink, or several. We always feel like we are in good hands here.
Ludivine is leaving their current space after Valentine’s Day and moving by their sister concept R & J Supper Club. We’re excited to check out the new digs, but definitely plan to hit up the original location at least one more time before the move. We suggest you do as well!
What to Order
Tuesday through Thursday from 5-6pm and 9-10pm you can experience the Chef’s Tasting Menu for half price, seriously. It’s a great deal and the best way to taste some of the kitchen’s best creations. There are usually 4 courses and it’s a real treat to sit at the kitchen bar and watch each one of them being made.
For a delicious but casual meal, check out their Blue Plate Burger Specials on Monday nights, at the bar only.
Magasin Table
Magasin Table is the only newby OKC dining spot we’ve included in our list this season. We like to give places time to settle in before we fully endorse them. However, Magasin has been an instant hit with diners due to its tasty, authentic Vietnamese food and prime location in the 8th Street Market in Automobile Alley.
For those that don’t know, 8th Street Market is also home to Prairie Artisan Ales, one of our favorite craft breweries in town. We’ve been waiting and waiting for the market to add a dining option, and couldn’t be happier with the choice of Magasin Table.
What makes it even better – especially in the cold winter months – is that you can bring your dog to the brewery and get food from Magasin to munch on while you drink. As dog parents who both work from home, this is invaluable on those days when you just need to get out of the house but don’t want to abandon your fur child.
What to Order
We’ve yet to fully explore this menu, but really enjoyed the pot stickers as a snack and the beef vermicelli bowl. We fully intend to eat our way through their selection of Bahn Mi sandwiches and pho on future visits. We can also happily report that the food pairs well with both sour beers (my favorite) and IPAs (Tom’s brew of choice).
Where are you eating this winter?
Obviously these are just a handful of the amazing restaurants our fair city has to offer. Stay tuned each quarter as we explore more of the OKC dining scene!
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I don’t know how you find all the new/good places to eat. I’d like to try them all . , . I must be hungry 😉