The summer heat in Oklahoma City can leave you looking for food that doesn’t weigh you down. No one wants heavy dishes, sauces and fried comfort food in the middle of a heatwave. Fortunately, OKC has plenty of lighter fare options around town so the heat won’t steal your appetite completely, and you’ll still be able to fuel up to explore all the city has to offer.
Bee Healthy has locations around the metro, and they’re all busy lunch spots, thanks to the creative menu. Choose among bowls, sandwiches, wraps and salads that allow you to be as healthy (or not) as you choose, including vegetarian, vegan and chilled options. The black bean burger wrap is a spicy, delicious option with all the flavor of a great burger and none of the draggy feeling afterward.
Big Water Grill. Headed over to the Boathouse District for a day of fun? Chef Nate Frejo’s Big Water Grill features delicious food that runs the spectrum from super healthy to not. The Huli Huli rice bowl, made with purple sticky rice, features grilled chicken, chilled macaroni salad and shredded cabbage.
Bondi Bowls. You can locate this popular food truck on their website, and it’s absolutely worth the drive. Açai is the base to these beautiful, vegan bowls, with all organic ingredients, including fresh fruits, vegan granola, peanut butter, local honey, etc.
Cafe 7 makes it easy to feed the whole family and not bust the budget. With sandwich, pasta, pizza and seasonal options, there is something for everyone. The salmon power bowl is chipotle-glazed salmon served on quinoa, sweet potatoes and spinach. It’s the kind of food that fills you up without slowing you down.
Frida Southwest is one of OKC’s premiere dining destinations, and their reputation is built on great food, an amazing bar program, beautiful patio and interior and a chef who caters to various dietary restrictions. Chef Quinn Carroll’s hearts of palm “calamari” might be the best vegan dish in OKC; it’s certainly one of the most intensely flavorful.
Goro Ramen + Izakaya. You may not be interested in steaming bowl of ramen – understandably – but this Paseo District hotspot offers a chilled option, too. No, it’s not cold beef stock; the noodles, shrimp, and veggies are tossed in a flavorful sesame paste and served at just the right chill.
The Jones Assembly is a bar, restaurant and venue all rolled into one, and the food is very creative. The seared tuna salad is the perfect companion to summer evenings, with sesame-crusted bigeye tuna, spinach, endive, vine-ripened tomatoes and a sweet onion puree. It’s loaded with layers of flavor and texture.
Kitchen 324 is a popular Downtown spot for breakfast and brunch, and they have an excellent lunch menu as well, including some of the city’s best salads. The poached pear salad has figs, cranberries, bleu cheese, toasted pecans and prosciutto, and it’s tossed in a light, zippy white balsamic vinaigrette.
The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro. For more than 30 years, The Metro has been serving up delicious bistro-style food, including the locally famous chilled cucumber and avocado soup. (They have vichyssoise, too.) You can order a cup or a bowl, and be sure to say yes to the freshly baked rolls. Just one won’t hurt.
Plant. Located in the heart of Midtown, this vegan joint is a local favorite for their fresh, healthy, plant-based options, including smoothies that are made without crushed ice, chilled salads and creative entrees. They also have vegan ice cream, if you’re looking for a cool down.
