Tulsa is a city with roots deep in oil wealth and jazz-age grandeur, but its dining scene is defined by a welcoming Midwestern heart and a willingness to take risks.
Locals prize comfort and creativity alike—from timeless soul food to avant-garde bistros mixing Southern ingredients with international technique.
Wander the Deco District, stroll through Gathering Place, or catch a show at Cain’s Ballroom, and you’ll realize Tulsa kitchens are just as alive and soulful as its music.
Here are five restaurants that locals name again and again—each with its own unique flavor and loyal crowd.
Burn Co. Barbecue
Burn Co. is a carnivore’s paradise, famous for their hot-and-fast, Hasty-Bake-smoked meats.
The sausage—house-made, juicy, and just peppery enough—flies off the counter. Brisket, ribs, and burnt ends are a smokeshow, but what really sets Burn Co. apart is the bustling communal energy: diners squeeze onto benches, sharing smoked bologna sandwiches and swapping tips with strangers like old friends.
Getting in means braving a line (or selling out early), but Tulsans will tell you it’s the closest thing to a BBQ block party in town.
Nola’s Creole & Cocktails
Step inside Nola’s and you’re immediately somewhere else—a world of string lights, exposed brick, jazz, and deeply seasoned New Orleans-inspired food.
Locals love the gumbo, po’ boys, and rich, buttery étouffée, but even more they love the vibe: it’s unfussy, celebratory, and always humming.
The bar delivers top-shelf Sazeracs and hurricanes, which pair perfectly with a shrimp and grits plate.
Every meal at Nola’s feels like a little Mardi Gras—right in the heart of Oklahoma.
Andolini’s Pizzeria
Some call this the best pizza in Oklahoma, period.
The owners, Tulsa natives with New York training, are obsessed with Italian flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and mozzarella so fresh you can practically hear the cows moo.
Pies come out blistered and bubbling; there’s a cult following for the “Demarco of Brooklyn” and the spicy “Vesuvio.”
The space is as lively as the pizza is good—families, date nights, grad students, all united in cheesy joy.
Queenie’s
A Cherry Street icon, Queenie’s is a café-bakery where the pies and pastries glow golden in the sun-filled room.
Breakfast is a local ritual: think Southwest omelets, impossibly fluffy cinnamon rolls, and mugs of coffee that never run dry.
Lunch brings fresh salads, hearty soups, and a legendary chicken salad sandwich.
There’s something about Queenie’s—the light, the laughter, the homemade cake—that keeps people coming back decade after decade.
Chimera Café
The soul of Tulsa’s creative set, Chimera is more than just a hip coffee shop.
It’s a gathering place for vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores alike: tacos, loaded bagels, inventive bowls, and best-in-town espresso drinks fuel mornings and brainstorms alike.
The walls are covered in local art, music spills in from the patio, and the focus on sustainability and inclusivity feels refreshingly real.
For Tulsa’s young creatives, Chimera is the city’s living room.
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