2023 was a very eventful year in the Central Oklahoma dining and bar scene, with scores of closings, openings, and many new projects planned for 2024.


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CLOSED
1492 - Midtown
1884 Railyard - Edmond Railyard
Black Mesa Brewery
Cafe do Brasil - Midtown
Capitals Ice Cream Midtown and Cities Ice Cream Edmond
City + State - Auto Alley
City Garden - Midtown
Cross Timbers Brewery - Linwood
Earl's - Bricktown
Elk Valley Brewery - Midtown
Hot Tamale - Main Street Location
Louie's - Midtown
Ludivine - Midtown
Moni's - Far NW OKC
Ned's Starlite Lounge - N. May
Oak and Ore - Plaza District
Osteria - Nichols Hills
Pacific Moon - Midtown
Scatch - Paseo
Shiki - N. May
Sunset - Midtown
The Catch - Belle Isle
The Copley - Uptown 23rd
The Eleanor - Uptown 23rd
The Mantle - Bricktown
Twisted Spike Brewery - Auto Alley
VZD's - N. Western
Wedge - N. Western
Yuzo - Auto Alley

OPENED
74 - Nichols Hills
Andy B's - N Penn
Bar K - Riversport
Bibbs Smokehouse - Bricktown
Big Biang Theory - Film Row
Boom! Chicken – Deep Deuce
Boom Town Creamery - 2 new locations
Brew7 - 39th & Portland, NW 178th & May, more coming
Bun Box - Asian District
Bungalow 23 - Uptown 23rd
Burger Punk - Britton
Chuy's - Memorial
Classen Grill - Classen Circle
Dave's Hot Chicken - Edmond
Don't Stress Meowt - Linwood
Eddie's - NH
Fuzzy's - N. May
Glamour - West Downtown
Good for a Few - Plaza District
Grove Bar - Midtown
Hank's - NE side
JK by Chef King - Downtown
Krell's Deli - Yukon
Madhopper Brewery - Britton
Mochinut - Asain District
Mr. Gatti's - Village
Oklahoma Craft - Bricktown
Panda Express - Mayfair
Port of Peri Peri - N. May
Ramsay’s Kitchen - Chisholm Creek
Rainbow Bistro - 39th District
Riserva - Chisholm Creek
Royal Sandwich - Film Row
Salad n Go - Multiple locations
Sauced - Paseo
Side Chick - Bricktown
Sidleine Grill - Plaza District
Sun Cattle - Film Row
Symmetry - Village
Taco Casa - Multiple locations
The Lookout - Kickingbird Edmond
Tiger Sugar - Asian District
Tokyo (new) - N. Western
Velvet Taco - Penn
Waffle Champion - Edmond
Woodworks Distilling - Britton


NEW IN 2024
Andretti - huge carting and entertainment complex in The Half
Backyard Vineyards – A winery and restaurant coming soon to the Farmer's Market area.
Broadway 10 - 2nd location for popular steak place in Rose Creek Plaza
Bush League Sports Tavern - Sports Bar coming to Northpark Mall
Buffalo Wild Wings - New concept BWW opening soon at Portland and NW 164th
Capital Grille - Oklahoma’s first opens in the OAK this July
Cava - Mustang (The Stacks) and 6900 NW Expressway
Chicken Foot - Opening in March at the Regency Complex, I-35 and 2nd in Edmond
Dave’s Hot Chicken - Taking old Cycle Bar space in Chisholm Creek
Fogo de Chao - Under construction on Penn just north of Memorial
Guyutes next door - New bar and patio concept by the operators of Guyutes on 23rd
Hatch - Opening in March at the Regency Complex, I-35 and 2nd in Edmond
Hatch - Coming to Rose Creek Plaza
Hatch - Under construction on Main Street and Webster in Norman
Kentucky Club - Old Oklahoma Line/Gabriella’s getting full renovation for new operator
Later, Bye - Intimate bar by proprietors of Palo Santo, opening soon next to Harvey Bakery
Leo's BBQ - Returning to their historic spot
Meiji - Japanese grill with large 2nd level bar and patio coming to Memorial north of Chisholm Creek
Mesero - Upscale Latin food coming to OAK
Neighborhood Jam - Well under construction at SW 104th & May
Neighborhood Jam - Well under construction at Czech Hall Marketplace
Pickleball / volleyball - Under construction at I-44 and MLK
Pickelman’s - Deli chain coming to NW 10th just west of Czech Hall Road.
Prairie Ales Brewery - Planned for downtown Edmond
Pub W - Well under construction at Czech Hall Marketplace
QuikTrip - First in Moore Feb/Mar; I-35 & Hefner
RH Gallery - Huge rooftop restaurant and bar coming to OAK
Santos Mexican Kitchen - Will take old Chico Blanco in Bricktown
Sidecar - Opening in March at the Regency Complex, I-35 and 2nd in Edmond
Sidecar - Coming to Rose Creek Plaza
Sidecar - Under construction on Main Street and Webster in Norman
Spark - Popular spot in Scissortail Park coming to Nichol Hills and Chisholm Creek
Swingzone - Portland and NW 178th
The Roosevelt Room - New bar below Boom Town Creamery on 23rd
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar - First in Oklahoma to be located in OAK
Truck Yard - Huge outdoor bar and restaurant near the Land Run Monumnet in Lower Bricktown
Vecina - Coming this pring to Memorial Road
Wingers - Chain sports bar taking old Shiki space on N. May
Wintson's - New location at NW 178th and May
Yours Truly Uptown - New nightclub on NW 23rd



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^GREAT info! Thank you.

I had no idea Prairie was building an Edmond location!! That is very exciting, since I despise their current location but LOVE their beer.

Also in the OPENED list, in NW OKC:
- Taqueria El Camino
- Taco Empire
- Awaji Izakaya

I didn’t know Mustang was getting a Cava, is it going in that new strip center by Walmart?

Also in the OPENED list, in NW OKC:
- Taqueria El Camino
- Taco Empire
- Awaji Izakaya

I was just about to add those 3 plus
La Herradura Mexican

A new San Marcos just opened in Newcastle. New construction. Makes me wonder how long LaLuna will last as we hardly ever see them open or with many cars in the lot when we make our trips to donate to the tribe (Newcastle Casino)

I am most excited about the QuikTrips in 2024.

Appreciate you giving us the perspective Pete. It felt like a tough year, but it seems were are still growing no matter what.

I didn’t know Mustang was getting a Cava, is it going in that new strip center by Walmart?

6900 NW Expressway is north of Yukon, so I don't think it's referencing the new strip mall. The new mall currently has a Panda Express being built and a Chili's planned for later construction, from what I've seen on here.

This is where Cava is going in Mustang/Yukon:

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=47379&highlight=stacks

Oh, I thought Mustang and NW Expressway was describing crossroads!

Great list! One I don't think I saw (flame me if I missed it) is a new bar (wine focused is my understanding) opening on 7th and Oklahoma in the building with Skydance Brewery and Union Performance. I believe to be operated by the Community Through Beer folks (though not certain about that).

Cava in Mustang and 6900 NW Expressway- 2 different locations. NW Expressway- Old Five Guys location.

Amazing list!! Thanks!! Hoping we see some forward movement with the Edmond Prairie soon!

Like clockwork.

https://okcfox.com/news/local/biggest-oklahoma-city-openings-expected-in-2024-from-quiktrip-to-expedition-africa

Cava in Mustang and 6900 NW Expressway- 2 different locations. NW Expressway- Old Five Guys location.

but both in OKC

Like clockwork.

https://okcfox.com/news/local/biggest-oklahoma-city-openings-expected-in-2024-from-quiktrip-to-expedition-africa

"Block 405, another Adventure District development, could open its massive RV & treehouse park in 2025, if all goes according to plan." - Is this still on the table?

"Block 405, another Adventure District development, could open its massive RV & treehouse park in 2025, if all goes according to plan." - Is this still on the table?

Haha. No.

I’d add AKAI Izakaya coming to Wheeler. Based on the progress inside, I’d say they open in March. Maybe February.

Interesting that Hatch has such an expansive program with all the new places opening. I hope their food is very good.

7 Brew also opened a location in Yukon several months back.

I didn't see it listed in the 'closed' list at the top and I'm having a hard time finding out what happened....... but what happened to Bandyees BBQ? That place just vanished.

I didn't see it listed in the 'closed' list at the top and I'm having a hard time finding out what happened....... but what happened to Bandyees BBQ? That place just vanished.

Hard to afford rent in that area if you aren't busy. And they were rarely busy. Chisholm Creek is a great location, but not for every business.

Seeing Classen Grill on the list reminded me we need to check it out. After reading the reviews (a lot of bad ones that have enough detail to be totally valid) and seeing the menu (almost completely southwest and Central American), though, maybe not.... We like that type of food, but we can get that elsewhere, was thinking they'd have the standard breakfast stuff, but maybe they figured they can't be competitive with a menu like that - not sure they're going to be competitive at all if they don't step up their game, though.

Seeing Classen Grill on the list reminded me we need to check it out. After reading the reviews (a lot of bad ones that have enough detail to be totally valid) and seeing the menu (almost completely southwest and Central American), though, maybe not.... We like that type of food, but we can get that elsewhere, was thinking they'd have the standard breakfast stuff, but maybe they figured they can't be competitive with a menu like that - not sure they're going to be competitive at all if they don't step up their game, though.

Jimmy's Egg is less than a block away. People who want a basic breakfast will likely go there first. Not sure Classen Grill needs to compete with anyone considering they will get those who don't want to wait at the Jimmy's egg. For me their menu is right up my alley and I live a mile away. If you consider the popularity of Cafe Antigua and Cafe Kacao, people really like a Central American breakfast. I would hit up Classen before Jimmy's any day. That being said, I like going to both.

"Later, Bye - Intimate bar by proprietors of Palo Santo, opening soon next to Harvey Bakery"

I think I am most excited to see what they come up with here! Great spot with great proprietors!

Jimmy's Egg is less than a block away. People who want a basic breakfast will likely go there first. Not sure Classen Grill needs to compete with anyone considering they will get those who don't want to wait at the Jimmy's egg. For me their menu is right up my alley and I live a mile away. If you consider the popularity of Cafe Antigua and Cafe Kacao, people really like a Central American breakfast. I would hit up Classen before Jimmy's any day. That being said, I like going to both.

Didn't know/had forgotten about Jimmy's there, we don't get to that area much, good point. But if you do a standard breakfast very well, you can steal Jimmy's customers easily. Since you said you like going to both, have you been to Classen Grill since they re-opened? If so, was your experience as bad as others have said it is? There's just way too many bad reviews for us to even consider taking a chance on it now (we loved going there until it fell off a cliff with bad service and bad food, (and worn-out interior)).

Didn't know/had forgotten about Jimmy's there, we don't get to that area much, good point. But if you do a standard breakfast very well, you can steal Jimmy's customers easily. Since you said you like going to both, have you been to Classen Grill since they re-opened? If so, was your experience as bad as others have said it is? There's just way too many bad reviews for us to even consider taking a chance on it now (we loved going there until it fell off a cliff with bad service and bad food, (and worn-out interior)).

I haven't looked at the reviews yet. Let me go check them out. I have been once since it reopened and the service was pretty good and I had the loaded biscuit which I found tasty. I will have to go back for lunch or at least one more time to give it a full review.

Didn't know/had forgotten about Jimmy's there, we don't get to that area much, good point. But if you do a standard breakfast very well, you can steal Jimmy's customers easily. Since you said you like going to both, have you been to Classen Grill since they re-opened? If so, was your experience as bad as others have said it is? There's just way too many bad reviews for us to even consider taking a chance on it now (we loved going there until it fell off a cliff with bad service and bad food, (and worn-out interior)).

It seems a fair amount of the bad reviews are the people who expected the Old Menu and the Old Prices. So I tried to just look at the ones from people who review often and those that added a little more context to the review. One it was clear the service needs to be better. The other was about vegetarian options not being up to snuff. A few have said the flavors are just not there. I think it is clear this will never be at the level of a Kacao, so those comparing the two should probably just keep to the places they already like. I will go back and see if this is just a problem with being inconsistent with their service and food. People need to use the website menu and read reviews before going, like you have done yourself, before just thinking this place is a regular old diner.

I’d add AKAI Izakaya coming to Wheeler. Based on the progress inside, I’d say they open in March. Maybe February.

Of course since I posted this, it appears work has completely stopped on Akai. Not sure why, but it looks exactly the same as it did 1 month ago and I haven’t seen workers in there doing much.

Of course since I posted this, it appears work has completely stopped on Akai. Not sure why, but it looks exactly the same as it did 1 month ago and I haven’t seen workers in there doing much.

Thanks for the update, although disappointing. Hopefully they get back on track.

I didn’t know Mustang was getting a Cava, is it going in that new strip center by Walmart?

It's actually at the Stacks. In OKC but Yukon mailing address.

Any updates on Vecina? Their IG says opening spring 2024.

Any updates on Vecina? Their IG says opening spring 2024.I work right behind Vecina and they appear to still be working on the interior. Contractors are there on a daily basis.

Will they have any patio space in the back?

Will they have any patio space in the back?I'm not sure about patio space in the back, but they put their sign up this week. It shouldn't be long before they are open.