Asian District Dining

Driving up Classen Boulevard, past the gilded sheen of the Gold Dome and the iconic Milk Bottle Grocery building, you'll find a district like no other in OKC. Follow your nose towards the anise and Thai basil, and you’ll come upon the Asian District, a vibrant community bordered by NW 23rd Street to the south and NW 30th Street to the north, where OKC’s Vietnamese population has boomed since the 1970s.

Beyond the district's foremost Vietnamese eateries and markets, you'll discover a cultural kaleidoscope of flavors, with culinary traditions spanning the Asian continent and beyond. Explore everything from pho spots and tea shops to banh mi sandwich shops, authentic Chinese restaurants and even a taste of Latin America.

Pho in Love

One of the quintessential Vietnamese dishes, pho, is found up and down Classen, from mom-and-pop shops to sleek Asian bistros. Like Pho Cuong, a colorful and charming eatery specializing in beefy bowls of pho (try the beef tendon pho with vermicelli), along with other aromatic Asian dishes, like Vietnamese beef curry, udon noodle soup and Chinese congee (aka savory rice porridge).

Down the street, Pho Lien Hoa serves an assortment of pho noodle soups stewed with hearty additions like brisket, tripe and rare steak. Try other Vietnamese specialties, like turmeric-scented bánh xèo—Vietnamese crêpes stuffed with pork and shrimp—and shredded pork skin spring rolls.

At VII Asian Bistro, diners can expect a modern, art-filled dining room run by a father-son team. They build on their heritage with an array of meaty pho options, including one with beef and tendon meatballs and other noodles and rice dishes, like egg noodles with shrimp, crab and barbecue pork, and rice platters topped with crispy Cornish hen.

For Latin American Flavor–Café Kacao

One of the most popular restaurants not only in the Asian District but also throughout the entire city, Café Kacao is easy to find. Look for the inevitable line of hungry customers queuing up for brunch at this famed Latin American staple. An indicator of the district’s multi-cultural patchwork, Café Kacao is an iconic hotspot (open since 2011) known for its Latin-inspired breakfast and lunch dishes, both traditional and contemporary, in a cozy and convivial setting.

This restaurant is the only place in town where you’ll find Guatemalan-style oatmeal studded with eggs, pico de gallo and olives, or Tikal, a family recipe of scrambled eggs, carne asada, chorizo, black beans, feta and fried plantains. Save room for standout sweets, like mango pancakes with blackberry-bourbon sauce, and drinks, like horchata espresso martinis and orange zest mocha mocktails.

Explore All Asian Cuisine in OKC

While Vietnamese restaurants and shops are plentiful in the Asian District, they're just one part of this richly diverse neighborhood's culinary tapestry.

All manner of Asian cuisines can be found in and around the Asian District, including traditional Chinese dim sum at Grand House, a bustling bistro where servers wheel table-side carts brimming with plump shrimp dumplings, shui mai and sesame balls. Around the corner on NW 23rd, Seoul Pocha is a Korean restaurant, bar and karaoke spot, slinging Soju cocktails, Korean fried chicken and stir-fried rice cakes tossed with sausage and fish cakes. For something sweet, swing by Ling’s Cakery for fluffy Japanese cheesecake, buttery egg tarts and strawberry mochi.

From bracing bowls of beefy pho to savory Vietnamese crêpes, Chinese dumplings and Korean fried chicken, the Asian District is a must-stop for foodies in OKC. Discover an around-the-continent culinary tour in one dynamic neighborhood.

Specials & Offers