Top 9 Local Restaurants in Tulsa (2024)

Tulsa, a green oasis amidst the central plains of Oklahoma, has been a thriving oil center since the 1920s and is home to many world-class attractions and Art Deco buildings. This fusion of classic American customs and fashionable sophistication is reflected in the city’s food scene. The best locations and local restaurants to experience Tulsa’s taste are listed here.

Top 9 Local Restaurants in Tulsa

Here is a list of some of the best restaurants in Tulsa.

1. Ike’s Chili:

Ike’s Chili has been producing hearty chili using a traditional recipe for more than a century. Ike’s Chili is thought to be Tulsa’s oldest existing restaurant, and it was a favorite of both actor Will Rogers and television personality Martha Stewart. Over the years, it has relocated a number of times until settling down at 1503 East 11th St. There are pictures of the restaurant’s lengthy and frequently fascinating history displayed inside the understated design. You can request the chili straight or have it ordered with spaghetti, Fritos, a hotdog, onions, jalapenos, saltines, or all of the above. The Three-Way Chili, which is poured over spaghetti and beans, is the most well-liked meal. There are additional burgers, Frito burritos, hot wings, and smothered fries offered.

Timings: Sunday – closed; Monday to Saturday – 10 am to 3 pm.

2. Tally’s Good Food Cafe:

The chicken-fried steak at Tally’s Good Food Café is famous; it is Oklahoma’s most traditional popular dish and is frequently served at streetside restaurants along the historic Route 66. The chicken is tenderized, coated in spices, fried, and then generously covered with cream sauce to make the dish. This dish is offered at Tally’s with hearty quantities of other simple, down-home dishes in a vintage, 1950s-style setting. Tally’s is renowned for its breakfast items, such as the French scrambled sandwich, which is a croissant stuffed with yolks, bacon, mushrooms, cheese, and hash browns. This dish is in addition to the restaurant’s famous chicken-fried steak. Mondays include steak and cabbage rolls, Tuesdays feature meatloaf, Wednesdays feature smoked brisket, Thursdays feature smoked chicken, and Fridays feature grilled fish. Take a walk into this restaurant to experience the taste of Tulsa.

Timings: Every day from 6 am to 3 pm.

3. Palace Cafe:

James Shrader, the chef, and owner of Palace Café is somewhat of an icon in Tulsa. He converted a decaying antique shop into one of Tulsa’s most exclusive cafes more than ten years ago. Palace Café, which is situated on historic Cherry Street, offers a contemporary Asian-American fusion cuisine with a focus on locally produced, quality ingredients. On the menu are items like smoked pork tenderloin with roasted pineapple and homemade lobster ravioli with fresh basil and fennel. A special bento menu of miniature pre-appetizers is also offered at the café, and there is a separate list for vegans. The modern decor of Palace Café incorporates bare brick, rocky slate walls, and sleek gray accents. One of the best places in town to experience Tulsa’s fine-dining culture is this restaurant.

Timings: Monday – closed; Tuesday to Saturday – 5 am to 10 pm; Sunday – 9 am to 2 pm.

4. Hank’s Hamburgers:

Hank’s, a Tulsa institution from 1949, offers classic hamburgers featuring onions grilled straight into the meat. You can easily observe the preparation of your burger in this little eatery, from the initial contact with the grill to the final sprinkle of Hank’s special spices. The Big Okie is a well-known local burger that weighs a substantial one pound and contains four beef patties, four pieces of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions. Additionally, burgers are available with one, two, or three patties. Hank’s Special is a single half-pound patty. Corn Dogs, onion rings, tater tots, and French fries are available as sides and can be ordered plain, with cheese, or with chili cheese. Add a milkshake or chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls to finish the meal.

Timings: Sunday– closed; Monday– 10 am to 3 pm; Tuesday to Saturday– 10 am to 7 pm.

5. Mahogany Prime Steakhouse:

No vacation to Tulsa is finished without a well-cooked steak, given the city’s past associations with cowboys and cattle ranchers. Residents in a city where there are several steakhouses to select from nearly generally agree that Mahogany is the greatest. The USDA prime meat used in Mahogany’s steaks is renowned for its outstanding marbling, texture, and flavor. The steaks are placed on heated platters to maintain their heat throughout the meal after being broiled at 900F (482C) to seal in the juicy flavors. Mahogany serves a delectable range of appetizers, such as scallops coated in bacon and crab cakes, in a classy setting with Persian carpets, velvet chairs, and warm wood paneling. Foodies might choose to add one of the restaurant’s substantially prepared food main dishes, like au gratin potatoes or creamed spinach with cream cheese.

Timings: Monday to Saturday– 4 am to 10 pm; Sunday– 4 am to 9 pm.

6. El Rancho Grande:

Oklahoma is known for its excellent Mexican food, and El Rancho Grande offers a selection of the best in the area. The restaurant’s joyful environment is part of enjoyment. It is located in a light dining room that is decked with colorful tables and Mexican lanterns in the shape of constellations. The NightHawk Special, one of America’s top five Mexican meals.  The NightHawk Special includes a taco with cheddar cheese and chili con carne, along with two cheese and onion enchiladas topped with cheese and chili con carne. In addition to this well-known meal, El Rancho serves a wide variety of traditional Mexican fare such as enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and tostadas. Mexican food lovers would thoroughly enjoy this local restaurant. The place also has a margarita which is considered as one of the best in Tulsa.

Timings: Sunday– closed; Monday to Wednesday– 11 am to 8 pm; Thursday to Saturday – 11 am to 9 pm.

7. Evelyn’s:

Due to its remote position close to Tulsa International Airport, Evelyn’s has remained one of Tulsa’s best known soul food enterprises. Southern food is an integral component of the city’s traditional cuisine. Fried chicken, which is served at the diner and is crisp and lightly coated, is its most well-known item. Along with these traditional comfort foods, Evelyn’s also offers roasted turkey, grilled chicken breasts, fried catfish, and meatloaf. There is a great variety of dishes, like sautéed cabbage, mac & cheese, and fried yams. The manager, Wanda J. Armstrong started cooking from her mother, Evelyn, after whom the establishment is called, and all the meals are unexpectedly robust and full (as Southern food should be).

Timings: Saturday and Sunday– closed; Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm.

8. Elmer’s BBQ:

Elmer’s BBQ offers authentic hickory-smoked meat and fish cooked over a heated pit, making it the ideal location to sample true Oklahoma pit barbecue. All meats are freshly prepared and spiced with Elmer’s own blend, which is supposed to bring out the excellent tastes of the meat without overpowering them.  You can mix and match any two meals to create your own combo, whether it be ribs, pulled pork, sausages, chicken, or beef. The Badwich, a bun stuffed with rib meat, beef chops, smoked bologna, and sausage, is Elmer’s most well-known meal. The restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and tacky music artifacts go well with its homey fare.

Timings: Sunday to Monday– closed; Tuesday to Thursday – 11 am to 2 pm; Friday to Saturday – 11 am to 8 pm.

9. White River Fish Market and Restaurant:

White River Fish Market & Restaurant, located in a shopping plaza in landlocked Tulsa, is frequently viewed with suspicion. But any uncertainty will be quickly dispelled by the large parts of traditional dishes, recalling the diner’s long-standing status as a Tulsa establishment. While restaurants near the shore typically concentrate on local catches, White River Fish, which is located in the middle of the country, imports fresh fish from both North and South America, making its location away from the coast the key to the variety of its menu. This little restaurant, which opened in 1932, takes pleasure in delivering seafood of a caliber equal to that of any coastal establishment.

Timings: Sunday– closed; Monday to Saturday– 10 am to 8 pm.

Be sure to check these restaurants out and do bring your family and friends to these places. Have your share of delicious and elegant food in the local restaurants of Tulsa.