Oklahoma City has waged a long campaign to be considered a big-league city. That effort got a visible boost when the Thunder took home its first NBA title in 2025. The culinary scene has quietly made a name for itself as well, winning national recognition for its diverse tapestry of flavors drawn from the international cultures of its neighborhoods: An Asian District renowned for its Vietnamese cuisine north of downtown; a range of Mexican, Central American, and South American flavors to the south and west; and a community of Black-owned restaurants growing on the city’s east side. Craft cocktail bars and an independent brigade of talented chefs scattered in various entertainment districts have collected a spate of James Beard Award nods recently, though the local collective palate still has a solid foundation of burgers, barbecue, and biscuits.
New to the map in 2026: This update brings Lao food from celebrated chef Jeff Chanchaleune, Uptown stalwart Pizzeria Gusto, an upscale steakhouse with Korean soul called Maht, and spectacular sushi from Akai. For now, we’ve removed Birdie’s by chef Kevin Lee, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Empire Slice House and the dearly departed Eastside Pizza House.
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