Full disclosure: I love soup. OKC is ready for one of those spots that serve three cups of soup on a board with bread for dunking — yes, a soup flight. It’s time. And soup is perfect for fall and winter: warm, spicy (preferably), nutrient dense, moderately healthy (unless it’s cream based), nostalgic, and delicious. The list below comprises 21 of my favorites around the metro, but there are also spots that rotate soup, so they’re not part of the list, but I hit them up for soup all the time, with the standout being Joey’s Pizzeria. The ones below are stable menu items, so they should be available anytime you go in. I’m breaking with list tradition and putting my top five up front, because I think a few of our soup chefs are GOAT Tier no matter what style they make. And I hate alphabetizing, obviously.

Hall of Soup Fame

Khao soi at Ma Der Lao Kitchen. This is my favorite soup in the metro, and Chef Jeff Chanchaleuene breaks with tradition by adding what is basically a pork bolognese to this hearty bowl of magic.

Tom yum koong at My Place Sip & Savor. Theirs is the best version of this iconic Thai soup I’ve had anywhere.

Khao piak sen at Bar Sen. Yes, Chef Jeff again. His Lao chicken noodle soup is the best chicken noodle in the history of noodles.

Black pepper clam chowder at Lorena Southern Twist. Chef Cally Johnson loves soup, and it shows. This one is going to be a staple for me during the cooler months. If you don’t like spice, move along.

Khao soi noodles from Mob Thai’d. Chef Benji Sukmanee goes with a traditional Thai version of the curry soup, and it’s impossible for me not to order when I’m lucky enough to find them posted up on a day I can stop by.

You Definitely Need These

Vietnamese curry at Pho Cuong. I spent a week mad at friends for not telling me how good this is. On a menu full of hits, this one still stands out.

Fasoolya at Zamzam Mediterranean Grill. It’s like a delicious Levantine spicy tomato soup, because that’s what it actually is, and it’s fantastic. It’s served with a choice of shawarma, but not to go in the soup.

French onion at La Baguette Bistro. Chef Alain Buthion is a French chef, so why would you not eat his French onion soup?

Corn bisque at 39. This is Chef Ben Hutton at his absolute best, and it’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Vichysoisse at The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro. Yes, it’s basically chilled potato and leek soup, but it’s The Metro, so it’s perfect, and they have about 40 years of practice.

Vegan ramen at Goro Ramen. There are some dishes in the metro that make you not care about the vegan-animal protein divide. This is one of them: savory, rich, and I want to use unctuous, but it’s an awful word for a wonderful soup.

Beef short rib udon at Awajii Izakaya. Chef Richard Ly can’t seem to make a bad dish, and while I typically fill up on Saigon Heat wings, I still manage to take a bowl of this home for lunch the next day.

Peanut butter soup at Naija Wife Kitchen. It’s the first thing I tasted of Chef Tahnee Francis’s food when she was at NW 5th and Hudson. It’s still one of my favorite things she does, but the banga soup is a close second.

Lobster bisque at Broadway 10. Ok, it’s essentially lobster is a heavy sauce, but eat your soup and hush.

Cream of mushroom at Paseo Grill. This has been a go-to for regulars for decades, and for good reason. You’ll want bread for dipping.

Tomato basil at Cafe 7. Yes, they rotate soups, but this one is on the menu every day, and it’s a meal in itself or a great accompaniment to a sandwich.

Tonkotsu ramen at Tamashii Ramen House. This is the one that made me fall in love with ramen, and it’s still my regular order at the Midtown spot.

Pozole at Hacienda Tacos. It’s New Mexico style, and I get it with a small side of chips because dipping chips in pozole should be a thing.

Pho at Riviere Modern Vietnamese. They still make a small batch version, and in a city full of pho options, theirs is the one I get more than once a month.

Bun bo Hue at Pho Saigon. The new spot on NW Expressway is making excellent traditional Vietnamese food, including this spicy, cold-weather soup from central Vietnam. No blood cubes for me, usually, but bring on the heat.

Akai ramen at Akai Sushi. Because of the bulgogi, and because everything they do is excellent.

And Don’t Forget

There are plenty of other options around the metro that aren’t listed above, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try something new: Ogbono at Ukoni 9JA Cuisine, tom kah at My Place, khao poon at Ma Der, pozole or menudo at a south-side taqueria (best day is Saturdays), mondongo at El Fogon de Edgar, caldo de res at El Rinconcito, and on an on. There are so many options, and since OKC is now home to nearly 50 distinct cuisines, you can spend a good chunk of 2026 eating soup from around the world.

Feature image of khao piak sen by photographer Quit Nguyen.