u/osiyowado

Welcome! While I am legally obliged to disclose that I am indeed a Thunder fan (hiss! boo!), I am an even bigger fan of my own home town of OKC. There's a ridiculous amount of bad advice about where to go when you're in OKC (no one actually likes Bricktown, please don't go there), so I thought I would chime in with where I usually take visitors from out of town:

IF: you're a high roller

• Sedalia's is excellent, and it will be a funny thing to say that you had one of the best seafood meals of your life in Oklahoma
• Steak: Mahogany and Stock & Bond are both well-regarded steak houses close to the arena. For a more classic/campy atmosphere (and often regarded as the best value steak), go to Cattlemen's in our stockyards. Maht is fantastic but it's really hard to get a reservation. For parties of 1-2 though, you can usually find a spot at the bar.

 

IF: you just want a lil snack

• Sedalia's can be more affordable if you just get a drink and their focaccia, plus a lil something from their raw bar menu (also works as a pregame for Sabor de la Baja, see below)
• Later Bye has snackable things and is a quick uber (or long, straightforward walk) to the arena. Call ahead though, as it's a small place.
• Harvey Bakery (only open until 6; great for pastries although many sell out by 1-2pm)
• The Other Room (this is a bar, but all appetizers from the restaurant next door are 50% off at all times)

IF: you like New American food (less adventurous)

• Burgers: Sun Cattle Co. (the interior decor looks the way people want Oklahoma to look), New State burgers (further from the arena, but in the Plaza district which has lots of shops to bop around) 
• Southern food: Lorena (highly recommend the chicken and dumpling soup)
• American: The Goose (great sandwiches, also has an excellent burger)
• Italian: La Buca (in the Paseo, which is another nice neighborhood with shops to walk around in)
• Pizza: Saucy Sicilian, Sauced (serves by the slice)
• Irish Pub: McNellies (in Midtown, which is another nice neighborhood with shops to walk around in)

IF: you're more adventurous:

• Vietnamese: Golden Phoenix (always has seating; OKC has phenomenal Vietnamese food- I won't comment on the 'best Pho' because that is highly personal and also every place that serves Pho does it well)
• Laotian:Ma Der (mostly gluten free menu; has a fantastic happy hour until 6pm; does not take reservations)
• Mexican: El Sabor de la Baja (fantastic value, leans California-style Mexican). There are plenty of other good Mexican restaurants, but I'm assuming most of you have access to that back home!

 

IF: you like a craft cocktail

• Later Bye (next door to Harvey, walkable from Lorena, McNellies, The Goose)
• Good for a Few (next door to New State and across the street from Ma Der in the Plaza District)
• La Buca (best martini in OKC)
• First National Building: Tellers on the main floor and The Vault in the basement (fantastic atmosphere; not the best value) 
• Superfly (recently reopened; not well-known yet but don't let a lack of customers fool you)

IF: you like beer

• Skydance Brewing Co. (indigenous-owned; great outdoor space where you can also order from adjacent bar that serves cocktails and food)
• Stonecloud Brewing Company, Anthem Brewing Company

IF: you need an activity

• OK Contemporary is a FREE art museum (perfect for a 20-60 minute excursion)
• First Americans Museum (it's a lot to cover in one trip, wouldn't recommend if you have less than an hour)
• Okana (kid-friendly) 
• OKC Memorial Museum (wouldn't recommend if you have less than an hour)
• Scissortail Park (weather depending)

IF: you want breakfast

• Harvey Bakery (gets busy around 11)
• Big Truck Tacos (super affordable)
• Cafe Antigua and Cafe Kacao (there can be long wait times on weekends; check wait on their Yelp pages)

Congrats on the win in game 1, and let's hope for another great game tonight!