Technically, Asian Other, so not Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai or Vietnamese.

Ma Der Lao Kitchen. Just give the man his James Beard Award already. Chef Jeff Chanchaleune is the best ambassador for OKC food right now, and the food has made it easier for a generation of Okies to appreciate Lao food. Start with nam khao, add jaew bong and jaek muk phet, toss in some wings, sai oua, and whatever else you love. It’s a magical experience every time. 

Birdie’s by Chef Kevin Lee. It’s modern Korean with a delicious twist. The space is lovely, the service solid, the BOH impressive, and the food is perfectly designed to introduce Oklahomans to the evolution of traditional Korean food, including bibimbap, tteokkboki, kimchi pancakes, and galbi. The steakhouse menu makes it easier to get the gringos in the door, too.
Sheesh Mahal. Technically, it’s Pakistani, so yes, Asian. The nihari is the indicator that you’re dealing with Pakistani food, but fans of Indian will find plenty to love. The green masala butter chicken is the star of the menu, but they also have goat on a regular basis, which is always nice to see. Also, excellent vegetarian options.
Kebabish Bites. Norman’s contribution to the Pakistani food scene, and one the genuine good guys in the industry. Start with samosas, and then baingan bharta, and chicken jalfrazi. You’ll find plenty of dishes more familiar, too, like biryani, chicken tikka, and kebabs.
Rezzy’s Lumpia Express. Please let 2025 be the year we get more Filipino food. The pancit here is excellent, as is the lumpia. The tocino and adobo are nice entry points for people unfamiliar with the food.  

L’Arc Patisserie. What Chef Li Xiaoli is doing at her Casady Square bakery is extraordinary by any measure: beautiful, thoughtful, creative, delicious desserts in meticulous detail and crafted by a perfectionist. We need more desserts that lean on balance not sweetness, and she’s leading the movement. 

Ganache Patisserie. We’re having a golden age of baking in OKC – Oklahoma, really – and I hope we can all appreciate how amazing the scene is right now. Chefs Matt and Laura Rugi helped get that golden age rolling at their Chisholm Creek bakery, and the bonus is they make chocolates too! The nutella roll is life changing, but the whole case is full of deliciousness. 

Harvey Bakery. Chef Alyssa Ulrich is the best of the young guns, and it shows in the pastry case. The monthly croissant and cruffin features give me something to look forward to each month, and the Midnight Cowboy is there every day, faithfully awesome. 

Twisted Tree Baking Company. Too many of you haven’t heard the name Chef Kassie Joslin, and here’s hoping that changes. The Edmond bakery features the best morning bun in the city, and I have no idea why or how the wild blueberry cream cheese danish is that good, but I usually just eat it without pondering the big questions. 

Quincy Bake Shop. Chef Trisha O’Donoghue reintroduced the babka to OKC, and I’ll always be grateful. She insists I branch out from the chocolate babka, which seems cruel, but the cardamom bun is definitely worthy of your attention. 

Palo Santo. It’s almost cheating because you have a chef with amazing experience and talent who is one of the owners, but it’s an easy choice in this category. The Asian-influenced dishes are excellent, but so is everything else.

Later Bye. You’ll notice that the same chef is involved, and given that he’s working out of a kitchen the size of a shower stall, this is insanely good food. Black garlic hummus was referenced in an earlier list, and now it’s in two.

Barseo. Like Later Bye, an addition to the bar scene in ‘24, and they’ve done an excellent job. Steven Idlet consulted on the cocktails, which is a great thing, and the food was a lovely surprise, especially those damn fried cheese magic things. Those cannot be good for me, but I don’t care.

Deem Laow. I tend not to include bars with food from an associated restaurant, but the food at this N. May neighborhood bar is different than the menu at Tana Thai next door, but comes from the same kitchen. Wings and Thai boat noodles. Do it. 

Good Times. No one walking into this bar thinks, “I bet they have good food,” but they do and always have. I go for the burger, but there is much more to love on the menu. 

Clark Crew. The sides are what sets this spot apart from the other spots – as well as a full bar – with good brisket and/or burnt ends. And his wings are ridiculously good.

Edge Craft. The sausages are my favorite things here, but his brisket and turkey are fantastic, and the pastrami is currently the best in OKC.

Jo-Bawb’s. Those ribs. Impossible for me not to go all in on ribs here.

Oklahoma Smoke. Two locations, same great brisket!

Texlahoma. Other than Clark Crew (and Jamil’s) this is where I want to go for bologna. And loaded bbq queso is something you just have to do! 

Cafe Antigua Traditional Guatemalan food, and they open early enough it’s actually breakfast. Spicy motuleños are the staple, but you have lots of options, all great, and, as noted elsewhere, the mazapan latte is worth the trip.

Tacos y Baleadas Abigail. A Honduran spot with the best baleadas in the city. The red sauce is the love child of chili crisp and salsa roja, and you need a bucket of it.

Pupuseria Mi Chalateca Outstanding Salvadoran food, including pupusas and traditional breakfast plates — traditional in El Salvador.

Big Truck Tacos. They aren’t just the gringo taco gold standard; they have a consistently excellent breakfast, with Little Twins, burritos, chilaquiles, migas, etc. Get the salsa of the month, always.

Sunnyside Diner. Traditional diner food (but better) with excellent service, good coffee, an actual counter to sit at, and options for everyone, including a large vegan section. Get the double espresso glazed cinnamon roll!

The Jones Assembly. If they only had the best French toast in the city, which they do, they’d still make the list, but it turns out they check most of the brunch boxes: good food, family friendly, plenty of space, multiple seating options, and one of the best bar programs in the city. 

Riserva Bar + Tapas. Chef James Fox has brought so many new great flavors to OKC from Phoenix that I was excited when Riserva announced they’d be doing brunch. And it’s excellent, and I can muhammara, lamb kofta and chilaquiles! 

Cafe Kacao. I don’t need to say much about this one since it seems most of the city has brunched here, but be sure to try something you haven’t before, like empanadas, pupusas, cochinita pibil, or churro waffles for the kids (of all ages). 

Press & Plow. Norman already knew, and now Edmond does too: Chef Anthony Compagni makes great food. I never had a Dutch baby I cared for until I had the one at Press & Plow. Insanely good, and they have a turkey sandwich that will make you rethink the humble turkey sandwich. 

Frida Southwest. Chef Quinn Carroll seems unstoppable. What can’t he do well? The empanadas are phenomenal, and the heart of palm “ceviche,” fried chicken, tamale trio, stacked enchiladas, and jumbo cinnamon roll are all must-have, so take some friends. The cinnamon roll feeds 6 by itself. 

Onion burgers are still meatloaf sandwiches and should be categorized as such. This one is always more than five. 

Paseo Grill. Day to day, this is the classic cheeseburger I want. It’s perfectly juicy every time, and made with trimmings from the steaks, and that makes a huge difference. They cook it to temp better than anyone else I’ve tried.

Spark. The BLC Spark is burger genius. Pimento cheese, pickles, cheddar crisp, magic. 

Patty Wagon. Old school as hell, and the tater tots are the best. The Big John is what I get when I don’t go straight classic cheeseburger. 

The Goose. The smash burger is so damn good I still have a hard time ordering a sandwich when I go in there, and the sandwiches are good! 

S&B (But only the OG at NW 59th and May.) The theta is the best version of this Okie classic I’ve had. Intensely delicious. Burger bliss that requires a subsequent nap.

Bar Arbolada. It’s been a little uneven this year, but on the good days, it’s stellar, and on the other days, it’s still damn good. And I don’t care what some celebrity said; the single is the better option. 

Burger Punk. The Clash. The Clash. And The Clash. With a Turbo, nerds. 

R&J. People sleep on them because “it’s a bar,” but they have one of the best burger lineups in the city. The Southwest is my go-to, but the lamb burger and umami burger are both fantastic.

The Hamilton. Thank Jimmy Mays for the bad (some say funny) pun, but I shrug it off because the burger is so good. It’s the Aaron Burr-ger. Get it? Just get it. 

New State. It’s the rare double cheeseburger you can hold in one hand. Order it as it comes. You’re not a toddler, chronologically at least. 

Golden Burrito. Breakfast and lunch, and it’s too damn close to one of my schools. Brisket in green sauce, red pork and nopales, eggs and chorizo…so many great choices. Yes, you can do a truck, but the brick and mortar is my go-to. 

Burritos el Tin Tan. I go to the OG on S. Penn, but the burritos are pretty much the same at the 3 locations or in the trucks. Pork with nopales in salsa rorja is one of the hottest things in the city, so I love it. The picadillo is excellent, as is the beef with potatoes. 

Big Truck Tacos. I think the Gemini burrito is one of the easiest yeses in the city. I go steak with lots of OMFG or OMG depending on my mood. The Miga’ritto I save for emotional eating days. 

Tacos San Pedro. Cabeza burrito. Every time. Impossible not to love, but they have so many great options, including fish, buche and lengua, along with the more gringo-safe choices like chicken and beef.

Taqueria Rafita’s. This place is a gem, and the chile verde is either the best or second best in the city depending on my mood, and it’s hot hot, not Edmond hot, so putting it in a burrito is a must. They’re huge, so expect to share it or make two meals of it. Chile rojo is exceptional, as is the barbacoa. Breakfast burritos are solid, and the chorizo is house made. 

Szechuan Story. This Asian District spot is the best example of what can go right when a city’s food culture starts to embrace regionally specific foods. The Szechuan specialties are excellent, and the crispy spicy chicken is almost everyone’s favorite, but the menu is packed with deliciousness: dumplings, cumin beef, whole fish, shredded pork in garlic sauce, etc. etc. etc.

Formosa Street Food and Bar. I’m not going to argue about Taiwanese versus Chinese; the food is in the same family for sure. Ivan Wong’s Uptown 23rd spot is popular with urban core dwellers, but too much of a secret to suburbs and exurbs. The beef noodle bowl is worth the trip, but there is much to love on the menu, especially the cold spicy noodles and xiu mai. 

Oodles of Noodles & Dumplings. You’re here for the buns and dumplings, and the noodles if that’s your thing. The stars are the beef buns, though, and the wonton soup and pickled veggies deserve your attention.

Szechuan Bistro. They’ve been doing it right for a long time now, and like at Szechuan Story, you need to try the wings. Solid on the lo mein and chow mein, the sizzling platters are excellent, and for that picky family member who misses buffets, they have a large selection of Americanized Chinese dishes. 

Fung’s Kitchen. Much of what they do is for the people who want Chinese “classics,”  but there is another menu here that rewards adventurous eaters. Hot pots, Dungeness crab, braised duck, and some things you’ve never seen before that you should try. 

This is about the booze, not the DJs, availability of drugs, “vibes,” or food. 

Barkeep. No surprise here. Julia McLish is the queen, and she has Hannah Barstow and Brett Herrin, so two more of the best bartenders in the city. 

Later Bye. Ridiculously good bar addition to the scene. Lovely, simple design, great cocktails, small enough that the crowd won’t get (bad) weird.

Good for a Few. Another new addition, and I love it. Charlie Alvarado made a bar for grownups, and it works. Also the first place I ate a cricket.

Palo Santo. If you love agave, this is your spot. They also have the habanero pisco punch, which is in my cocktail hall of fame.

R&J. The annual argument: is it a bar or a restaurant? Brad Ackerman says restaurant. The public says he’s wrong! It’s a bar, and a damn good one, and the best day-drinking bar in the city. 

The Study. It’s a wine bar, a wine pub, a gathering place for nerds and cool kids, and one of my favorite spots in the city. Ian Bennett and his team can pour you what you already love, help you discover something new, and teach you about wine without any of the pretension that too often surrounds wine. That’s why he calls it a wine pub. 

This one for the shops, not the local roasters.

Clarity Coffee. Just pick one of the three locations. Quiet enough to work. Busy enough to run into people you needed to talk to anyway. Great coffee – they’ll be on the roaster list too – and unbelievably friendly, welcoming service. This team could teach classes on how to do counter service. Bonus: Pastries and cookies from Quincy Bake Shop!

Cafe Evoke. Robert and Lori Black just know how to do hospitality. The shop is clean and bright with lovely touches throughout. Coffee from Portland-based Proud Mary Coffee and teas locally via Urban Teahouse. Plenty of space to work, and damn good food, including pastries from Twisted Tree Baking Company.  

HQ Coffee. It’s not fully developed yet, but if you know Andrea Schultz, you know she won’t be satisfied until all the plans are in place. The Asian District spot has a super cute seating area (with heaters) on the south end of the building, but you’re really here for the coffee. And the treats from Lil’ Mouse Bakes. Finally, someone in OKC is adding Asian flavors to the coffee: black sesame, ube, houjicha, etc., and they’re only the eighth cafe outside of Los Angeles to offer Maru Coffee. The black sesame latte is my latte of the year.

Classen Coffee Company. Another Asian District spot, this one with my favorite dirty chai in the city. They serve KLLR Coffee – a huge plus – and the layout of the space offers multiple ways to talk, read, study, hang out, etc. 

Vacca Coffeehouse. One of my pleasant surprises of the year. Lovely space, great layout, so many baked goods to decide among, with a coffee shop meets cafe setting, and plenty ot space to work. I’d prefer it be closer to downtown, but Yukon needs the win. 

Clarity. It’s the rare team that can completely nerd out on coffee – origin, process, flavor notes – but still deliver coffee for regular people. Most days, I want coffee, so I don’t care if it has notes of fig and Turkish delight smoked with yew oil saturated palo santo; I just want coffee. The nerdy stuff is there if you want it, but the coffee is excellent even for non-nerds.

Clark’s Coffee. From Stitch Cafe’s Chad Grubbs, this started as a coffee club – it’s still available – but is now the main coffee at Stitch, and you’ll see it in other spots too. The equipment Grubbs brought in is state of the art, and he has roasting genius Ian Flemming running the equipment.

KLLR. This one is hard to come by in coffee shops, but you’ll see it in restaurants since the bulk of their business is wholesale. Classen Coffee Company pours KLLR if you want to give it a try. 

EOTE. Drank a lot of their coffee this year, and I’m happy to see them popping up in more restaurants. Solid, balanced coffee for the coffee layperson. 

Zero Tolerance. Yes, I wandered in for the made-in-house chocolate the first time, but the real surprise was how good the coffee is. She does both coffee and chocolate from bean to finished product, and the move to the larger space has been great for business.

Puchica Mucha Que Rico. If you haven’t been yet, weep for your wasted time. Not only is it the best horchata in the city, everything Chef Suly makes is delicious. Everything. Very traditional Guatemalan food, but served in a way that, as one friend said, it feels like you’re sitting in a friend’s dining room. Pollo asado, chuchitos, and garnachas are stellar, and ALWAYS ask what Andy has to drink. 

Cafe Antigua. One of my favorite spots in the city overall. Phenomenal service every time, and the mazapan latte is life changing. Spicy motuleños nearly every time I go. I should branch out, but I don’t want to, and that’s weird for me.

Tienda Guatemala. Mercado to the right, kitchen to the left. You’re here for pepian de pollo, estofado or pupusas, or all of it. Take cash.

Cafe Kacao. It seems like the heat is slowly re-entering the food here, and that’s good news for fans of Guatemalan food. That they do what they do at that scale is impressive, and that it’s delicious, even more impressive. 

El Quetzal. This one came to me by suggestion, and bless the suggestor. The best estofado I had in 2024, and the chicken tostadas are inexplicably delicious. 

Patrono. I don’t think there’s any controversy here. Chef Jonathan Krell consistently overdelivers, and it’s so nice to have an option that’s not more pasta and red sauce – dishes that should be a small part of an Italian menu. The octopus is a must when it’s on the menu, and the pasta dishes are always stellar.

Benvenuti’sRistorante. Chef Anthony Compagni delivers old school Italian – think Brooklyn and St. Louis – in a beautiful setting. There are several dishes that will be comfortably familiar to most diners, but it’s not a red sauce joint. If you’ve never fornarina, that’s your assignment.

 Sparrow Modern Italian. They just do a solid job every time. Lovely plating, good food, nice wine list, great service. The 100-layer lasagna is legit, but the agnolotti has my heart.

Piatto Italian Kitchen. As long as the octopus and bone marrow dish is available, they’ll be on this list. It’s magic. Lamb meatballs, roasted gnocchi, pork sugo, and lamb osso bucco. Enis Mullaliu’s spot is very underrated in the Italian food debate in OKC. 

Stella Modern Italian. Chef Sara Howard now has the helm at Lori Burson’s Midtown hotspot. The continuity and longevity of Burson’s staff make for great service and knowledge of the food. 

Emma Elle’s. The west side really needed this spot, and owner Cameron Wilson delivered. It’s rustic and made from scratch, with excellent arancini, spicy Bolognese that’s actually spicy, and small-town friendly service.

Guatemalan food is its own category this year, so this covers Central and South America.

Tayta Latin Cuisine. The Zambrano family introduced OKC to Peruvian food, and Niel Zambrano’s new downtown spot is going to be an exciting jump into a sleek, modern setting. Roughly 70% Peruvian, with Panama, Cuba, Venezuela, etc., also on the menu, the food is stellar, which is what you expect from a family in the business for 25 years. Ropa vieja, seco de carne, and yuca frita are where I live, but the omelets make for a very nice breakfast too.

Tacos y Baleadas Abigail. This Honduran joint on the west side was one of the best surprises of 2024. The baleadas are exceptional, but the red sauce – love child of chili crisp and salsa roja – is the best sauce I had this year. 

Pupuseria Mi Chalateca. Salvadoran food that will change the way you view pupusas. The breakfast options are excellent, and filling, and you can get pupusa loroco here. Don’t leave without trying the pastelitos. 

El Fogon de Edgar. The empanadas are still remarkable, as is the aji verde, and the move south seems to have helped traffic. The sobrebarriga has sadly left the menu, but you can still get patacone, papa criolla, and tamale, and the bandeja paisa is the sampler platter that will give you a delicious deep dive into Colombian food. 

Tierra Mia Nicaraguan Latin Grill. Still one of the hardest to locate niches in the city, Nicaraguan food is made approachable and affordable at this Bethany sleeper. Breakfast is excellent, as are the bistec dishes, and pollo con achiote is the crowd pleaser. If they have the empanadas, say yes. 

Akai Sushi. Not just the best Japanese restaurant. Not just the best new restaurant. Viet Pham’s Wheeler District spot has been the best restaurant in OKC since he opened. The departure of Chef Shin will make for an interesting transition, but I spoke to Pham, and he already has a Nobu-experienced chef joining the team. The addition of Chef Luke Fry and a remarkably talented young brigade makes the kitchen one of the best brigades in the city. The space is gorgeous. Aaron Fletcher’s bar program is exceptional, and the fish program is the best in OKC. 

Awaji Izakaya. We were overdue for an Izakaya after Gun closed, and Chef Richard Ly’s NWOKC spot has fulfilled all our wishes. Phenomenal sushi, stellar non-seafood dishes – get the wings, tonkatsu, and chicken tonkatsu sandwich! – solid service, a great sake selection, and a energetic vibe makes it one of the best overall spots in OKC.

Masa Ramen and Sushi. Excellent, warm service, delicious ramen, and solid sushi options are the draws at this W. Memorial spot. Regulars are divided on whether the ramen or the sushi is the best part. I’m team ramen. 

Tamashii Ramen. The most mispronounced restaurant name in OKC is now the most mispronounced in Norman and Edmond too. Three locations of delicious tonkotsu, spicy miso ramen, pork chashu don, and garlic fried rice! 

Goro Ramen. As long as the chilled ramen is magical, they’ll be on the list, but nikumans and tebasaki are some of my favorite bites in the urban core. I’ve always loved the tori paitan, and the vegan broth is excellent (for all my crunchy friends). 

There will be a separate category for Levantine/Mediterranean. This one is Lebanese owned or heavy on the Lebanese items.

Oozie Mediterranean. I was very sad to lose this spot to Edmond, but the terms of the lease made it a good move to get out. This is rustic, scratch-made Lebanese food, and everything from the shawarma to the mujaddara is stellar. 

Mediterranean Imports. This N. May institution didn’t miss a step when Chefs Christine Dowd and Maggie Campbell with business partner Catherine Cunningham purchased it in 2021. I go for one of the combo platters, but the desserts are excellent too. 

Nunu’s. My favorite hashwa in OKC. Don’t know what it is? Fix that! Again, it’s combo platter kinda place for me.

Jamil’s Steakhouse. Yes, it’s a Lebanese steakhouse, and we need to treasure them while we still have them. Owner Greg Gawey serves hummus, pita, tabouli and cabbage rolls alongside steakhouse favorites. 

Hummus Mediterranean Cafe. More muhammara! And they have an excellent assortment of hummus, as is implied in the name. This was a new one for me in ‘24, and I’ll be going back in ‘25. 

Azteca Mexican Grill. Phenomenal people and service. Solid bar. Excellent food. Breakfast options are always good to see, and well done. Interesting twists here, like seafood fajitas, pizzadilla azteca, and kabobs that reflect inspiration from other cultures – pretty normal for food, believe it or not. The traditional dishes are very good: guiso verde, fajitas, mole, burritos, etc. 

Mama Lety. (Closed temporarily due to fire.) I went for the mole. It is excellent, and this place features great service in a high-energy environment. Yes, they have stuff to make the “we like Ted’s” crowd happy, but the specialities are why you should go: birria, mole, huaraches, guiso rojo, etc. She serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Lazy Donkey. The OG is in Moore, and the downtown spot is a pretty good replication. The chile verde and chile colorado keep me coming back, but they’ve got tons of options for you TexMex fans too, as well as a full bar.

La Tropicana Tacos y Mas. I typically pop in for tacos dorados de papa, pupusas or pozole, and I’ve yet to find something they don’t do well. Caldo de res is solid, as are the sopes, and they have a full menu of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, gorditas and other things you need to try, like huaraches. 

Chapala Family Mexican Kitchen. It’s regional Mexican food with some more familiar dishes mixed in, but Chapala is in Jalisco, and the food reflects that. Again, they can make your family member who thinks every restaurant should have chips and salsa happy, but go for the chile colorado, tacos al carbon, tres amigos, tampiqueña, and other things you’ve never tried. 

Big Truck Tacos. They’re good at so many things. If you’re not going, what is wrong with you? Again, breakfast through dinner, they crush it. 

Barrios. Nachos, carne molida tacos, fish tacos, great fajitas, and some of the best dinner salads of any style in OKC. They also crush the vegetarian game. 

Taqueria El Camino. They have good mole, so they get extra points. Love the green chile chicken, and their service is outstanding. Solid bar program, and a great group of people behind the concept.

Rev Mex. Owners Jamie and Jordan Winteroth are still tweaking things, but they have an excellent chef in the kitchen, Estuardo Santos Sacor, and a solid bar. I tend toward the less common dishes here, especially when they’re featuring things, and the quesabirria and pozole are both stellar. 

San Marcos. The SW 59th location — the only one recommended here — has a nice mixture of traditional and TexMex, but I stay on the La Feria de San Marcos page, and it’s usually costillas de puerco. 

Pizzeria Gusto. I simply can’t not get the soppressata pizza when I decide it’s time for pizza. It’s not enough that they have my favorite pie in town; they also do everything else incredibly well, including a very underrated brunch.

Dado’s. Vodka sauce. Just start there. Yes, I love pepperoni too, but try the vodka sauce. Don’t be stubborn.

Empire. I’m glad you have your favorite, but the best pies in the building are No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn (yes, I went proper on the spelling) and Vampire Slayer, which totally got screwed in the voting. 

Papa Angelo’s. This is a spot that not enough people know about. He’s been slinging NYC style pizza for decades, and his cheese pizza is my favorite in OKC, or Bethany, to be precise.

Stella Modern Italian. It’s not a style too familiar around here, but I love it. Thin, crispy, with minimal sauce and quality toppings. I get the heirloom tomato every time it’s on the menu. 

Akai

Awaji

La Baguette

The Drake

I’m prone to say, “It’s prime steak. Salt, pepper, butter, proper temp, done.” Comes down to the other parts, with one exception. 

Symmetry. There was a time when I’d say prime steak is prime steak, but I’ll be damned if Osborn and Pool haven’t found the beefiest beef ever. So this is the exception. And the tartare is spectacular. It’s only fair to note that this is a steakhouse plus, but it’s enough of a steakhouse I didn’t want to go with “modern American restaurant.” 

Mahogany. Steaks are perfect always, service is stellar, downtown location is beautiful, the seafood is underrated, and lobster cargot is a death row dish. 

Boulevard. Service. Service. Service. They’re so good at it. Lovely, old school setting, with an excellent wine list, and excellent sides, especially the mac ‘n’ cheese.

The Ranch. Some of the most experienced staff in restaurants in OKC, and it shows in the service and attention to detail. They go for decadent and succeed. The toppings list causes choice paralysis, but truffle compound butter is hard to say no to, as is the foie gras.

Jamil’s Steakhouse. You need a prime rib eye with a side of smoke bologna. You didn’t know it, but it’s true. This Lincoln Blvd. spot is one of the last Lebanese steakhouses in the state, so you can get tabouli, hummus and cabbage rolls, too, but you definitely need bologna, pimento cheese, catfish, and those big-ass “French fries” at lunch. 

Best Central and South American. Guatemalan is a separate list.

Tayta Latin Cuisine. The Zambrano family introduced OKC to Peruvian food, and Niel Zambrano’s new downtown spot is going to be an exciting jump into a sleek, modern setting. Roughly 70% Peruvian, with Panama, Cuba, Venezuela, etc., also on the menu, the food is stellar, which is what you expect from a family in the business for 25 years. Ropa vieja, seco de carne, and yuca frita are where I live, but the omelets make for a very nice breakfast too.
Tacos y Baleadas Abigail. This Honduran joint on the west side was one of the best surprises of 2024. The baleadas are exceptional, but the red sauce – love child of chili crisp and salsa roja – is the best sauce I had this year. 

Pupuseria Mi Chalateca. Salvadoran food that will change the way you view pupusas. The breakfast options are excellent, and filling, and you can get pupusa loroco here. Don’t leave without trying the pastelitos. 

El Fogon de Edgar. The empanadas are still remarkable, as is the aji verde, and the move south seems to have helped traffic. The sobrebarriga has sadly left the menu, but you can still get patacone, papa criolla, and tamale, and the bandeja paisa is the sampler platter that will give you a delicious deep dive into Colombian food. 

Tierra Mia Nicaraguan Latin Grill. Still one of the hardest to locate niches in the city, Nicaraguan food is made approachable and affordable at this Bethany sleeper. Breakfast is excellent, as are the bistec dishes, and pollo con achiote is the crowd pleaser. If they have the empanadas, say yes.

Polk’s House

Spunkie’s

Corey B. Cookin’

Florence’s 

Chef Dee’s Creations 

Ma Der. Khao Soi. Chef Jeff Chanchaleune goes a little modern on this curry soup by adding a “pork bolognese.” It’s the Thursday soup at Ma Der, and if you haven’t tried his full lineup – khao poon (red curry), khao piak sen (chicken noodle), and duck porridge – you are missing out.

Zambrano’s Peruvian Cuisine. Parihuela. This Edmond spot was in my best new restaurants in 2022, and rightly so. Parihuela is a traditional Peruvian seafood soup, made with white fish, shrimp, mussels and squid, served in a rich broth that demands bread for dipping.

Hacienda Tacos. Green chile stew. New Mexico style awesomeness with a little heat for the cold months. Generous amounts of pork and potatoes in spicy broth. Pro tip: crush tortilla chips into the stew.

Frida Southwest. Tortilla soup. It’s tortilla soup made by Chef Quinn Carroll. I don’t know what else you’d need to know. 

Awaji Izakaya. Short rib udon soup. Chef Richard Ly’s whole lineup is excellent, but this one stands out because the broth is intensely delicious. Wheat noodles in a dashi broth with shiitake mushrooms.

Big Truck Tacos. I don’t envision a scenario in which they’re not the best in this category until they close. From breakfast to dinner, they nail it. Little Twins, salsa of the month, pork verde, the best damn lengua taco in the city (Flaming Lips), and build your own bliss. If you haven’t been dipping your breakfast tacos in queso, slap yourself in the face. 

Mexican Radio. The Jack lands them this high on the list, but they have a solid lineup. But to quote Taco Club: This is the best gringo beef taco in OKC. Agreed. If you grew up with Old El Paso Taco shells, orange cheese, and seasoned ground beef, you’ve found Nirvana.

The Fried Taco. Basically, these are tacos dorados gringo style, and they do a solid job. Beef taco is delicious, and I was pissed that I actually really enjoyed the Nashville hot chicken taco. I was prepared to hate it on principle. We’ll call that growth. 

Rev Mex. This one straddles the line between gringo and traditional, but I put them in the former category because it’s not Latino owned. (The truth is that nearly all Mexican joints are staffed by Mexican and Guatemalan cooks, so gringo is more about ownership than food.) Because they straddle that line, the quesabirria is excellent, as are the empanadas, but this is a taco list.

Stitch Cafe. The Quick Draw is one of my favorite breakfast tacos in the city, and the pork & beans taco is a whimsical treat. Get the hot honey chicken if you want to go full gringo. 

Nonesuch. The new life injected by Erika and Kelly Whitater’s Id Est Hospitality gave energy to an already talented team, and the concept changes late this year that included giving guests more control over the menu were brilliant. And, yeah, they leaned into Okie with chicken-fried steak, and I’m here for it.

The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro. I took some first timers this year, and it’s always good to see it through a newbie’s eyes, because we can get too familiar and forget how well LaVeryl Lower’s team nails every category of hospitality.

Patrono. As long as Chef Jonathan Krell is involved, this place will be excellent, and having Chris Barrett behind the bar doesn’t hurt. My favorite bread service in town, and a Carbonara so rich I have to take some home. Always get the octopus. 

The Hamilton. If vibes were a category, they’d be in the top 5 on that list too. Great service, damn good food, a lounge area that invites you to stay, solid bar, and puns by J Mays. What’s not to love? 

Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse. Chef James Fox’s influence can be felt across the entirety of Provision Concepts, not least at this popular Auto Alley spot. Steaks, crudo, bone marrow, lobster rolls…so many things to love. 

Riviere Modern Banh Mi. The name change will happen this year: Riviere Modern Vietnamese. The emphasis will be a modern take on Vietnamese dishes, but the respect for tradition that makes their pho my favorite in the city – still small batch, as it should be – will apply to all the new spins. They do everything well, including vermicelli bowls, curry, bulgogi, xiu mai, and garlic fried rice are my go-tos. 

Pho Cuong. This is my go-to for pho and bun bo hue. The remodel was nice, but nicer was that the soups were still excellent after the changes. The bun bo hue comes with the blood cubes, so opt out if you must. 

OKC Eggrolls. In 2025, make it a point to catch Vickie Vo popping up somewhere. The eggrolls are the best in the city, and fingers crossed we all get another shot at her lemongrass beef and bánh xèo. 

Pho 54. This one was an accidental stumbling upon the first time I went. I was like, “How good can pho this close to Edmond really be?” The answer: damn good, and the spot is cute, the service excellent, and the people lovely. The menu has a host of options for more adventurous eaters, including hu tieu nam vang, a Cambodian noodle dish that you definitely need in your life.

Maya’s Kitchen. Came across this one late in the year, but I made up for lost time. They have bánh xèo! That’s really the hook. If you’re not excited, you’ve never had it. The wings are

The Metro Wine Bar and Bistro

The Study Wine Pub

Frida Southwest

La Baguette Bistro

Tiny Bubbles

Fair-Weather Friend  Nuoc Mam 

Ma Der Lao Kitchen  Jaew bong

Chef Dee’s Creations  Garlic sauce

Jones Assembly  Cacio e pepe

Clark Crew BBQ  Naked