Kacao or Cafe Antigua . Best known for their breakfasts, you can choose from traditional items like motuleños and machaca or go with more familiar options like chilaquiles or carne guisada. For the truly adventurous, head over to Tienda Guatemala for outstanding rustic cuisine, but you’ll need cash. Lao food has been in the state almost as long as Vietnamese food. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Jeff Chanchaleune opened MaDer in 2021, and it features his very traditional take on Lao dishes like larb,
Frida southwest
The chicken-fried steak with jalapeño cream gravy at Cheever’s Cafe has been on every local’s must-try list for 20 years, primarily because it deserves to be. Huge portions of beef with mashed red potatoes covered in white gravy means it’s dinner for two, or three honestly. The burger at Bar Arbolada went from a classic burger that a few people knew about to a burger that everyone wants, and it took less than a year. Owner Riley Marshall crisps the edges on the flat-top, and then adds cheese if you want it, pickles, finely diced onions, ketchup and mustard. It’s burger magic, and since you’re getting it in one of the city’s best bars, have a house beer, glass of wine or cocktail with it. One of the city’s best biscuits (with or without gravy) is at StellaModern Italian . Yes, an Italian restaurant. It’s on the brunch menu, and it’s so delicious that you’d be happy eating with no accompaniments, but get the bacon- jalapeño gravy anyway. Clark CrewBBQ is where you’ll find Jack Daniel’s Barbecue champion Travis
Clark overseeing some of the city’s best barbecue. The brisket, ribs, burnt ends and beans have all won championships, and his house beer is only available in traditional foods become part of the overall landscape of a place the restaurant. He’d be happy if we told you about his friends at Edge Craft BBQ (get the sausage) and Jo-Bawb’s BBQ (get the ribs). Basically, you have great choices here. Frida Southwest features the combined efforts of Chef Quinn Carroll and pastry Chef Rachel Porter to serve some of OKC’s premier food -- in this case Southwestern cuisine -- in one of its most beautiful spaces. Don’t leave without trying something from the seasonal menu, a tamale and the Mexican hot chocolate cheesecake. Excellent options abound for vegetarians and vegans.
Stop by Scratch Kitchen&Cocktails to find the purest evolution of Okie- centric food crafted by Chef Zach Hutton who delivers farm-fresh food inspired by his childhood in Apache, Okla. You’ll find okra, peaches, pork dishes, smoked fried chicken, trout, heirloom tomatoes and beef, of course, served in ways you’ve never seen it, and it’s all delicious, including the cocktails. Mahogany Prime Steakhouse is one of our standout prime steakhouses -- we have seven -- and the service, wine list, steak and sides are all stellar. This next bit is important: get the lobster cargot. When Vietnamese refugees started moving to OKC in the late 1970s, one of the first things they did was open pho restaurants. The delicious noodle soup can now be found all over the metro, but the Asian District had it first and still does it best. PhoCuong , Pho Lien Hoa (cash only) and VII Asian Bistro are just a few of the options close to downtown. They’re all very vegetarian and vegan friendly. You can find Guatemalan cooks in the majority of OKC kitchens, but you can also try stellar Guatemalan food at Cafe
Grey Sweater
it’s important to note it’s a modern approach, not rustic. Still, the pasta, chops, seafood and steaks are all excellent. For a more country/rustic take, Gabriella’s is a local favorite. The city’s soul food is on the northeast side, and Florence’s has been doing it well for 70 years. Yammed fried chicken, neck bones, Southern fried chicken,
cornbread and pear pie are all on the menu, and all done expertly. Finally, the pinnacle of OKC dining is Chef Andrew Black’s Grey Sweater . It’s a beautiful, elegant tasting menu restaurant with exceptional food and cocktails in an environment designed to be an experience more than a meal.
papaya salad and mushroom stew, but the nam khao is the star. Also check out Four Js for larb, or grab the city’s best egg rolls at Queen of Eggrolls . Back to tacos. Trompudo’sTacos opened in 2021, too, andowner LupeGarcia, who grewup in theTexMex side of the food industry, has turned his attention toMexicoCity cuisine. It’s fair to call his the best al pastor in the city -- he does it trompo style as is traditional -- but he also does outstanding suadero and asada. The first Lebanese immigrants arrived in the late 19th century, so “Mediterranean” food has been a staple here for nearly 140 years. OozieMediterranean serves themost traditional version, and you’ll definitely want stuffed eggplant and the cabbage rolls, but you can find delicious options at Jamil’s Steakhouse -- our last Lebanese steakhouse -- Nunus’s (get the hashwa), and Mediterranean Imports , Deli&GastroGoods , where everything is delicious. Chef Jonathan Krell serves up memorable Italian at Patrono , but
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