Big Buffalo Grill in Oklahoma City: Mesquite-Smoked Breakfast and Lunch in Midtown
Big Buffalo Grill is a casual counter-service restaurant in Oklahoma City's Midtown neighborhood that specializes in smoked meats and wood-fired items for breakfast and lunch, with an emphasis on brisket, pulled pork, and smoked chicken prepared over mesquite.
What Big Buffalo Grill Actually Is
Located on Northwest 23rd Street, Big Buffalo Grill operates as a no-frills, meat-focused breakfast and lunch spot where the kitchen works a smoker rather than a traditional griddle. The space seats roughly 40 people across a handful of tables and counter stools, with a visible kitchen where orders move quickly. This is the kind of place where you order at the counter, grab a number, and wait five to ten minutes for food prepared fresh. The crowd skews toward professionals grabbing a fast breakfast before work and lunch diners who prioritize smoked protein over speed.
Menu, Signature Items, and Pricing
Big Buffalo Grill's breakfast menu centers on smoked meats. The smoked brisket sandwich comes on a standard roll with minimal embellishment, priced around $9 to $11, depending on portion size. Pulled pork breakfast sandwiches run in the same range. A smoked chicken breakfast plate, served with two sides and a biscuit, falls in the $10 to $13 range. Sides include mac and cheese, collard greens, beans, and cornbread dressing. The smoked turkey sausage links are $3 to $5 as an add-on.
Lunch expands the menu slightly to include full plates of brisket, pulled pork, or smoked chicken, typically $13 to $16, with two sides and cornbread. Combo sandwiches that pair two meats run $11 to $14. Coffee is standard diner coffee, under $3 a cup, and refills are free. Prices are reasonable for smoked-meat preparation and may shift seasonally; confirm the current menu online before visiting.
The restaurant does not serve alcohol and offers no delivery or third-party app ordering. All orders are dine-in or takeout.
How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Breakfast and Brunch Options
Oklahoma City has several established breakfast venues, each with a different approach. Stella's Cafe in Midtown offers classic diner breakfast with eggs, pancakes, and hash browns in the $8 to $12 range, appealing to those who want traditional comfort food. The Red Cup, also Midtown-based, emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and has expanded into a full lunch menu; brunch there is more ingredient-focused and leans upscale, with prices around $14 to $18. Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Stockyard City serves a breakfast buffet and a la carte entrees, catering to tourists and those seeking a Western dining experience.
Big Buffalo Grill fills a specific niche: if you want smoked meat for breakfast and do not need eggs or pastries, it outperforms these alternatives. It is faster than most sit-down brunch spots and cheaper than Cattlemen's breakfast buffet. It lacks the ingredient curation of The Red Cup and the diner comfort of Stella's, which makes it less suitable for those seeking a leisurely, diverse menu.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
Big Buffalo Grill suits people who eat meat-forward breakfasts, prioritize speed over ambiance, and live or work in Midtown. It is excellent for takeout breakfast before a long workday. Professionals on a quick lunch break will find the portions and price reasonable. Groups of coworkers can split a few sandwiches without unnecessary fuss.
It does not suit vegetarians or vegans. The menu contains no egg-based dishes, waffle options, or elaborate pastries, so those seeking traditional breakfast variety should go elsewhere. Anyone expecting a relaxed, lingering brunch atmosphere will be disappointed; the vibe is transactional and practical. People with dietary restrictions beyond meat avoidance may find limited options.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in, scan the menu board above the counter, and order. Payment is cash or card at the register. You will receive a number and wait at a table or counter seat while the kitchen prepares your order. Smoked items are plated hot and served on standard dishware or in a clamshell for takeout. Water is self-serve. Do not expect tableside service or extensive customization; requests outside the standard preparation will slow the line.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Big Buffalo Grill opens at 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday; it closes by 3:00 p.m. daily. It is closed Sunday. Parking is street-level on Northwest 23rd Street or in a small adjacent lot; do not expect dedicated parking. The location sits within walking distance of other Midtown businesses. Confirm current hours before visiting, as restaurant schedules can shift seasonally or due to staffing.
Big Buffalo Grill deserves its place in Oklahoma City's breakfast rotation because it executes a single idea consistently: smoked meat, fast, at a fair price in a central neighborhood where many people work and live.
