Dining after dark

Satisfying late-night appetites in Tulsa

The summer sun washes over Tulsa, filling longer days with party-all-night vibes. But when it comes to filling our bellies, sometimes we get too distracted by the buzz of activity—and by the time the sun starts to dip, so has our blood sugar. Most respites for hungry solstice seekers shut their doors by 10 p.m., leaving only haggard night owl haunts like Waffle House or Village Inn. 

Sometimes, though, you crave something as indulgent as the evening itself. The Tulsa restaurants below embrace the dark side, providing crucial summer sustenance well into the wee hours. So no matter where the sultry midsummer night takes you, you can stay fueled up with some of Tulsa’s best late-night nibbles.

MixCo

Kitchen Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m. to Midnight; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The sleek, chilled basement lair of MixCo is the perfect way to transition from brutal summer temps. Known for a stellar list of cocktails and brews, their food menu keeps it sizzling well into the evening with a playful approach to bar fare. The new summer menu features some kicked-up vegan options, like seitan wings served with vegan avocado ranch. And in addition to achiote pork or green chili chicken street tacos, seitan chorizo is now available to make your vegan taco dreams come true. (Also available in taco salad form!)

Carnivores can still mix it up, too, with the luxurious Stepdad Burger (half price after 9 p.m.), house-made beef jerky bites for five bucks, loaded chicken nachos, or pimento cheese and chicharrones. (It is common knowledge that dipping a warm, crispy pork rind in ooey-gooey pimento cheese will offset any damage done from the previous hours of celebratory deeds.)

Hodges Bend

Kitchen Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m. to Midnight; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

This cozy coffee shop and high-end cocktail bar hybrid serves up Tulsa’s favorite latte and Old Fashion, but it is also a top spot for high-end, end-of-the-night bites. Open daily, Hodge's kitchen churns out sophisticated bar food like charred green beans with pepitas (pumpkin seeds), goat cheese, and chipotle crema. But they also knock it out of the park with their Hodges Burger, featuring ground beef from Prairie Creek Farms, an addictive garlic aioli, red onion and arugula. They have a variety of vegetarian offerings, too, like the cashew tikka masala and spicy cauliflower wings, but keep it balanced with a fried chicken offering and a farm-fresh pork chop with cheddar grits. And with a kitchen that stays open until 1 a.m., you can get a satisfying last meal before last call.

Kilkenny’s Irish Pub

Kitchen Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

This Cherry Street haunt has long been a late-night headquarters for post-adventure meet-ups with friends to either keep the party going, or to slow it down with some rib-sticking Irish fare. With a menu chock-full of dainty delights like mussels or brie in pastry drizzled with honey, or the hefty traditional Irish breakfast, Kilkenny’s has something to please every palate and appetite. (Pro-tip: Kilkenny’s off-menu specials are available after 10 p.m. For only five bucks, you can get your choice of a burger or half order of wings and half a Guinness, or an order of fish and chips, sans beer.)  

Tacos Don Francisco

Kitchen Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The real Don of late-night dining is hands down Tacos Don Francisco, satisfying booze-induced appetites with the most heavenly post-last-call meal you’ll never fully remember, but always appreciate. Tacos, of course, are in order—with seven meats to choose from—but their enormous tortas and burritos are an excellent choice as well. And if you are truly pulling an all-nighter, the Tacos Don has got your back with their restorative breakfast burritos starting at 9 a.m. daily.

Phat Philly’s

Kitchen Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.

The latest of the late-night crawlers know that Phat Philly’s is a post-bar grub oasis, a secret stash for those who are looking to end the evening with a glorious gut bomb of cheesesteak goodness. Phat Philly’s munchie-centric menu puts their classic cheesesteak front-and-center, loaded up with chopped and griddled steak, grilled onions, bell peppers and whiz, then rolled up tight. Their tots and waffle fries can also be whizzed up with cheese, and you won’t want to sleep on their buffalo wings. Honestly, if you haven’t woken up hung over, face covered in Phat Philly’s cheese sauce from the night before, then you’ve never had a proper late-night rager in Tulsa.