For about five minutes, The Den at NONESUCH was the best new thing in Oklahoma City, and then it was gone, part of new owner Kelly Whitaker’s plan for a new chapter for the storied Midtown concept. I wanted to acknowledge that they would have been part of the list had they kept the nested approach going, but I have every confidence that Id Est will do something awesome for what they’re calling Chapter Two. That being said, these are my picks for Best New Restaurants 2024, which for the sake of definition means restaurants that opened between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024, and does not include duplicates or relocations. 

Akai Sushi. I don’t think there is even an argument at this point, because what owner Viet Pham and Executive Chef Shinichi Okamoto have put together in Wheeler District is special in a way I never expected. The fish program is exceptional, non-sushi items creative and delicious, bar selection stellar, service phenomenal, chef team enviable, and interior design stunning. It’s a top-to-bottom restaurant experience that seems to have considered every point of contact between guest and staff, and decided to pursue excellence at every level. 

Birdie’s by Chef Kevin Lee. When Lee returned from filming a competition show last year, he’d already decided that 2024 was the year he started cooking what he wanted to cook. He flipped the Korean fried chicken spot in a matter of weeks, and then built an impressive menu in a beautiful space. Emma Prilaman came on board to manage the bar program, and she pairs the cocktails beautifully with the menu. Chef Jessie Gomez is as talented a Chef de Cuisine as you’ll find anywhere, and the pop-ups and collabs are thoughtful and fun, and much like what Chef Jeff Chanchaleuen is doing at Ma Der, they bring amazing talent to Edmond, Oklahoma.

L’Arc Patisserie. Chef Li Xiaoli is a classically trained pastry chef, with experience in China and Macao, including work for Joël Robuchon’s 3-Michelin Star concept in the Grand Lisboa, Macao. She brings an attention to detail and skill to a specialized craft that OKC has been sadly lacking until L’Arc opened. Now, you can get her gorgeous desserts and delicious cookies five days a week in Casady Square. Side note: She serves the best matcha in the metro, too. 

Symmetry. Another Casady Square concept, this one from former Mahogany proprietors Dave Osborne and Jason Pool. More than a steakhouse – but the steaks are among the best in the city – Symmetry combines steakhouse with modern American dining, especially where the bar is concerned. The cocktail program is unmatched in OKC’s steak joints, and the wine selection is what you’d expect from owners who spent decades at two of the city’s best prime steakhouses. 

The Crown. When Chef Eric Smith decided to flip his North Western version of Pachinko into The Crown, it was a solution that made a ton of sense in terms of identity and a place to do what he does best, which is pretty much anything he decides to cook. As entertaining as he is talented, Smith’s food shows his serious and playful side, and his bar program is excellent, including a no-nonsense approach to zero-proof options. 

Taco Empire. Pilar Esparza and Jose Carlos Cornejo occupy an important space in OKC’s culinary landscape. Along with Trompudo’s Tacos founder Lupe Garcia, they are young restaurateurs attempting to translate traditional Mexican food to a city obsessed with Americanized Mexican food. The transition from truck to restaurant is never easy, and Taco Empire had some ups and downs as the neighborhood tried to acclimate to “real” Mexican food, but they seem to have hit their stride, and you don’t want to let 2025 pass without getting an adobado quesabroso taco. 

The Goose. With the closing of The Sandwich Club, OKC has been impatiently waiting for a sandwich shop to come along and steal our hearts. Not only did this Midtown concept do this, but they did it with brilliant, whimsical graphic design, a lovely dive bar vibe (lovely dive bar is not something you hear often), a rooftop patio, and one of the best damn burgers in the metro. Yes, a burger at a sandwich shop, and you should get it, but you should also try the Midtown and The Hudson. Do not leave without trying OKC’s newest beer, Well’s Lager or Amber. 

Sonora Querida. I typically drop the Sushi part when talking about them, because their traditional Sonoran food is why I keep showing up, especially the Taco Lorenza. The portions are huge such that two tacos are plenty for an adult, and the salsa bar is without competition in the metro. The mild Sonoran salsa is a must, and they have nopales every day! Get the sushi if you can’t stand the fomo, but know that the heart of the menu is Taco Lorenza and Taco Haas. (This one may have opened outside the deadlines, but I don’t care; they deserve the mention.) 

Raven. Chef Timothy Abell took on a big burden as the follow-up act to VZDs, but his modern American restaurant is holding its own and winning over skeptics who were worried about the post-VZD space. It’s hard to take over a beloved neighborhood spot, but Abell has just worked hard and made good food as a way to silence critics. The braised oxtail mac ‘n’ cheese is one of the best things in OKC.  

 

Púchica Muchá Qué Rico. We have such a wealth of Guatemalan food in the metro that a new one can easily go overlooked. This one at NW 16th and Drexel should not. Many of Chef Suly’s dishes are among the best Guatemalan options in OKC, including her pepian de pollo, garnachas, chuchitos, pollo and carne asada, cobanero honey wings, chiltepin pepper sauce, and chile rellenos. It’s a popular choice for shucos as well, and you’ll want to try the Guatemalan style horchata — made with ground peanuts — and the atol maiz quebrantado (a sweet-ish, creamy beverage made with shattered corn). They have their own mill, so the grains are milled in house, and the fresh tortillas are perfect every time.

TwoFish Poke. This one has been overlooked by too many people – including me for months until someone mentioned them – and that’s a crime. Like a lot of seafood-based cuisine in the metro, poke has developed a less than excellent reputation as a go-to food, but the real thing is fresh, delicious, healthy-ish, and fun. They do it right at this Deep Deuce spot, and you can choose a signature bowl or build your own. You’re going to want some soft serve for dessert, and the right answer is always ube. 

Good for a Few. We’re adding two bars – both with food – because they’re both outstanding additions to the dining and drinking scene, beginning with this Plaza District concept adjacent to New State Burgers. DOO Carlos “Charlie” Alvarado is the de facto bar manager, and he’s built a bar for grownups. Not only do they take the drinks and decor seriously, they have house rules that make the experience better for people who love cocktails and conversation, not people doing shots and attention seeking. Get the salsa de parmesan for your happy hour snack. Without fail.

Later Bye. Originally conceived as a bar, the Midtown-ish spot next to Harvey Bakery has added a small food menu that includes delicious bocarones and meatballs, and what is definitely one of the best hummus versions in the city. Cocktail savant and operating partner Steven Idlet oversaw the bar menu, and the cocktails are excellent, with something for the “we love balance” crowd to the “make it weird” crowd. Palo Santo owners Brian and Bailey Butler are partners, and its Brian’s always impressive chef skills driving the food program.