Tulsa’s dining scene has exploded in recent years with acclaimed chefs and imaginative menus drawing foodies downtown. Trendsetting restaurants dish out everything from exquisite fine dining concepts to funky casual cafes and food trucks putting gourmet spins on comfort food favorites.
| Restaurant Name | Cuisine or Specialty | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Yassmeen’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Bar | Lebanese and Moroccan | Shareable small plates, late hours, happy hour specials |
| Palace Cafe | Upscale dining | Chef’s Tasting Menu, wine pairings, art deco dining room |
| Prhyme Downtown | Italian chop house | Handmade pastas, sophisticated vibe, executive chef Enzo Febbraro |
| Andolini’s Pizzeria | Artisanal pizza | Sourdough crusts, family recipes from Sicily, extensive beer and wine list |
| Lone Wolf Banh Mi | Vietnamese street food | Fast casual, former food truck, banh mi sandwiches, vegetarian options |
| Burn Co. BBQ | BBQ | Smoked proteins, award-winning pitmaster, industrial setting |
| Starlite Asian Fusion | Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese | Open-air courtyard, Southeast Asian flavors, superb cocktails |
| Prhyme Steaks and Seafood | Steakhouse | Exclusive cuts of meat, aged steaks, extensive wine list |
| Experience Mexico City Street Food at Lone Wolf | Mexico City-style tacos and quesadillas | Vibrant flavors, colorful cocktails, James Beard Foundation semi-finalist |
| Chef Collaboration Dinner Series | Multi-cuisine collaborations | Limited seating, special events featuring collaborations between top chefs |
Use this list of top restaurants in Tulsa across cuisines, prices, and atmospheres to guide your explorations of this underrated culinary hotspot.
Try Lebanese Flavors at Yassmeen’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Bar
Name and Location: Yassmeen’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Bar is located in Tulsa and offers a taste of authentic Lebanese cuisine.
History and Significance: This restaurant brings Lebanese traditions and flavors to Tulsa, offering a unique dining experience.
What to Expect: Visitors can savor Lebanese classics such as shawarma, falafel, and baklava in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a great place to explore Mediterranean cuisine.
Yassmeen’s transports diners to the exotic flavors of Lebanon and morocco with shareable small plates perfect for sampling. Herbed hummus, silky baba ghanoush, and crisp falafel pair beautifully with tender kebabs, peppery fattoush salads, and exceptionally spiced shawarma rolling off the grill. Save room for the signature house baklava drizzled in sweet syrupy sauce. With reasonable prices, fab happy hour specials, and late hours, Yassmeen’s makes Middle Eastern cuisine craveable.
Experience Fine Dining at Palace Cafe
Name and Location: Palace Cafe is a fine dining restaurant located in Tulsa’s historic district, known for its elegant ambiance.
History and Significance: With a legacy of excellence, Palace Cafe has been serving gourmet cuisine and fine wines for discerning diners.
What to Expect: Visitors can expect an upscale dining experience with a menu featuring delectable dishes prepared with precision.
Visitor Information: Open for dinner, reservations are recommended for an exquisite dining experience.
Helmed by award-winning Executive Chef Kurt Fleischfresser, Palace Cafe sets the standard for refined upscale dining in downtown Tulsa. Splurge on the Chef’s Tasting Menu showcasing seasonal ingredients across seven impeccably plated courses, each wine paired by the in-house sommelier. Stand outs include delicate hamachi crudo, tender Wagyu beef short rib, and melt-in-your-mouth butterscotch flan to finish. The sleek art deco dining room provides a swanky spot for special occasion luxurious meals.
Try Italian Favorite Prhyme Downtown
Name and Location: Prhyme Downtown is an Italian restaurant located in the heart of Tulsa, known for its Italian classics.
History and Significance: It brings the flavors of Italy to Tulsa, offering a taste of Italian culinary traditions.
What to Expect: Visitors can indulge in dishes like handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and tiramisu in a cozy and inviting setting.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a great spot for Italian food enthusiasts.
Prhyme Steaks and Seafood’s second location Prhyme Downtown brings a sophisticated Italian chop house vibe to Tulsa’s Brady Arts District. Sink into plush leather booths and unwind with craft cocktails before indulging handmade pastas such as squid ink fusilli, ricotta cavatelli bolognese, or spinachy lumache with veal meatballs begging to be sopped up in leftover sauce. Trust executive chef Enzo Febbraro to perfect hearty Tuscan ribs, juicy prosciutto-wrapped pork chops and flawlessly cooked steaks as well.
Go Casual at Andolini’s Pizzeria
Name and Location: Andolini’s Pizzeria is a casual pizzeria with multiple locations in Tulsa, known for its New York-style pizza.
History and Significance: It has become a local favorite, offering a relaxed atmosphere and delicious pizza creations.
What to Expect: Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of pizza toppings, from classic margherita to inventive specialty pizzas.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a perfect choice for a laid-back meal.
Topping Tulsa’s best pizza lists, Andolini’s artisanal pies with chewy sourdough crusts stay faithful to family recipes direct from Sicily. Perfect the pizza experience by starting with bruschetta topped with ingredients like prosciutto, fiore de latte mozzarella, or fico (fig spread). Then dig into signature pies ranging from rich carbonaras with egg and pecorino to the meaty Godfather II or seasonal specialties. Andolini’s also prides itself on an extensive beer and wine list furthering the laidback trattoria ambiance.
Dine Finer Fast at Lone Wolf Banh Mi
Name and Location: Lone Wolf Banh Mi is a food truck in Tulsa, known for its fusion of Vietnamese and American flavors.
History and Significance: It offers a unique twist on banh mi sandwiches, blending the culinary traditions of Vietnam and the USA.
What to Expect: Visitors can try banh mi sandwiches with creative fillings like smoked brisket and kimchi, served quickly from the food truck.
Visitor Information: Check the food truck’s schedule for location updates and try their innovative sandwiches.
Lone Wolf Banh Mi’s fast casual concept specializes in Vietnamese street food staples packed with complex flavors one wouldn’t expect given the lightning quick service. A former food truck operation, the tiny brick and mortar location downtown churns out banh mi sandwiches stuffed with pork, chicken or tofu along with vegetarian spring rolls exploding with fresh herbs. Chow down on folding stools or take your meal to nearby Guthrie Green park for impromptu riverside picnicking with gourmet fare.
Try Southern Inspired Plates at Burn Co. BBQ
Name and Location: Burn Co. BBQ is a barbecue joint located in Tulsa, known for its Southern-inspired smoked meats.
History and Significance: With a passion for barbecue, it has garnered a reputation for mouthwatering dishes and unique flavors.
What to Expect: Visitors can feast on smoked brisket, ribs, and flavorful sides in a relaxed and rustic setting.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a must-visit for barbecue enthusiasts.
Oklahoma native and award-winning pitmaster Adam Myers smokes premium proteins over hickory, oak and pecan woods low and slow for up to 14 hours to achieve signature melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Savor expertly executed Texas trinity platters with moist brisket, smoky hot links, peppery sausage and fall-off-the-bone ribs paired with traditional sides like baked beans, potato salad and creamy coleslaw. The hip industrial warehouse setting feels miles away from routine barbecue joints.
Satisfy Thai Cravings at Starlite Asian Fusion
Name and Location: Starlite Asian Fusion is a Thai restaurant located in Tulsa, offering a blend of Thai flavors.
History and Significance: It brings the vibrant tastes of Thai cuisine to Tulsa, providing a diverse menu of Thai dishes.
What to Expect: Visitors can savor classic Thai dishes such as pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice in a welcoming atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a great place to explore Thai cuisine.
Under a twinkling night sky at open-air Starlite courtyard, share satays, spring rolls, curry dishes and stir fry noodle entrees exploding with Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese flavors. Plump shrimp swim in spicy chili garlic sauce, Korean beef bibimbap sizzles from hot stone pots, and heaping bowls of Pad Thai deliver the perfect noodle dish balance of savory, sweet and tang. Superb cocktails incorporating lychee, coconut, even tea flavors further transport diners straight to Southeast Asia without ever leaving Tulsa.
Enjoy Southern Gourmet Plates at Palace Cafe
Name and Location: Palace Cafe offers an array of gourmet Southern dishes in the historic district of Tulsa.
History and Significance: With a focus on Southern culinary traditions, it has become a local favorite for gourmet comfort food.
What to Expect: Visitors can indulge in dishes like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and pecan pie in an inviting setting.
Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner, it’s perfect for those seeking Southern comfort.
James Beard Award semi-finalist and Arkansas native, executive chef Kurt Fleischfresser helms the kitchen in this upscale Southern comfort eatery set in a 1920s era downtown Tulsa landmark building. Start with elevated small plates like duck confit lettuce cups, Tennessee Cheddar biscuits draped in bourbon bacon jam, or crispy pork belly with watermelon marmalade. Then continue with hearty entrees from Cajun Jambalaya or smoky baby back ribs to cast iron seared Gulf shrimp with creamy grits and charred tomato gravy.
Splurge on Steak at Prhyme Steaks and Seafood
Name and Location: Prhyme Steaks and Seafood is a upscale steakhouse located in downtown Tulsa, known for its premium cuts of meat.
History and Significance: It offers a high-end steakhouse experience, serving top-quality steaks and seafood.
What to Expect: Visitors can savor prime cuts of steak cooked to perfection, along with a selection of fresh seafood dishes.
Visitor Information: Open for dinner, reservations are recommended for a luxurious dining experience.
Carnivores indulge in some of the best cuts of meat in the Midwest arriving from the exclusive Allen Brothers purveyors to Prhyme’s kitchen. Bite into flawlessly seasoned wood fire grilled 28-day dry aged bone in ribeyes and tenderloins cooked precisely to desired doneness. Or try house specialty 35-day aged NY strips and cowboy cuts chargrilled over hickory for caramelized crust flavor. From Wagyu beef options to tableside carved Chateaubriand for two, expansive wine list and polished service, Prhyme provides a luxe old school steakhouse experience.
Experience Mexico City Street Food at Lone Wolf
Name and Location: Lone Wolf is a food truck in Tulsa known for its creative Mexico City street food-inspired dishes.
History and Significance: It brings the vibrant flavors of Mexico City street food to Tulsa, offering a unique culinary experience.
What to Expect: Visitors can try inventive tacos, quesadillas, and more, crafted with fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Visitor Information: Check the food truck’s schedule for location updates and explore their imaginative Mexican cuisine.
James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant semi-finalist, Lone Wolf dishes vibrant Mexico City-style tacos, quesadillas loaded with Oaxacan cheese, and customizable vibrant bowls packed with regional authentic flavors. Line up to order at the counter then grab a picnic table to fork into standouts like al pastor tacos with juicy pineapple, hot chicken tinga or succulent barbacoa beef cheek loosened from the steam table. Colorful cocktails made for sharing like dusty pink La Rosita with tequila, grapefruit or cucumber-jalapeno margaritas kick the fiesta up a festive notch.
Join a Chef Collaboration Dinner Series
Name and Location: The Chef Collaboration Dinner Series is an event that takes place at various locations in Tulsa, featuring culinary collaborations.
History and Significance: This series showcases the talents of local chefs who come together to create unique dining experiences.
What to Expect: Visitors can attend special dinners where chefs present innovative dishes and pairings in a communal dining setting.
Visitor Information: Keep an eye out for announcements about upcoming events in this exciting series.
Some of Tulsa’s top chefs partner for special collaborative dinners that sell out fast when announced. Past events brought together talents like Palace Cafe and Prhyme, Lone Wolf and Burn Co or Yasseens’s Mediterranean and White Flag all concocting multiple courses celebrating each other’s cuisine strengths. Seating hovers around 40 making these hot ticket dining affairs an intimate experience with serious bragging rights. Follow favorite restaurants on social to snap up reservations the moment special collaboration dinner drops get announced.
Tulsa dining impresses across high and low price points thanks to passionate chefs and restaurateurs dedicated to elevating food experiences. Tapas-style small plates allow you to taste your way through dinner or linger for hours over leisurely multicourse meals paired with exceptional wine lists. From funky food trucks to fine dining institutions, keep this list handy when craving Tulsa’s ultimate flavors during your next Oklahoma getaway.