Power House in Oklahoma City: Elevated Breakfast in a Former Gas Station
Power House is a breakfast and lunch restaurant in a converted 1920s gas station on NW 23rd Street that serves house-made pastries, eggs cooked to order, and coffee from local roasters. It occupies a specific niche in Oklahoma City's breakfast scene: refined but casual, with prices that reflect ingredient quality and technique rather than size.
What Power House actually is
Power House operates as a sit-down breakfast and lunch spot in a historic building, not a quick-service chain or a coffee-focused cafe. The restaurant seats roughly 40 people across a single compact room and an outdoor patio. The kitchen is visible from the dining area, and the space emphasizes the building's original architectural details: exposed brick, high ceilings, and the shell of its gas-station past. Service is counter-order or table service depending on timing and crowd, and the pace moves slowly by design rather than accident. Expect 45 minutes to an hour for a table during weekend brunch (Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), especially between 11 a.m. and noon.
Menu and pricing
Breakfast plates (eggs, toast, sides) run $12 to $16. Pastries and baked goods cost $4 to $7 each. Coffee is $3 for drip, $5 to $6 for espresso drinks. Lunch sandwiches are $11 to $14. The menu changes seasonally, but mainstays include scrambled or fried eggs with house-made sourdough, steel-cut oatmeal with seasonal fruit, and pastries that rotate based on what the kitchen makes that morning. Avocado toast, shakshuka, and grain bowls appear regularly. Power House does not serve alcohol. Weekday breakfast is served 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Weekend brunch runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City breakfast options
Power House occupies the expensive, ingredient-driven end of Oklahoma City breakfast. Ted's Cafe (multiple locations) offers larger portions at lower prices ($9 to $12 for plates) and faster service, targeting families and workers in a hurry. Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Anadarko, about 90 minutes away, is a different scale entirely. Within Oklahoma City proper, Shakedown Coffee in Midtown serves a similar aesthetic (casual, locally roasted coffee, house-baked goods) but smaller plates and lower prices ($3 to $5 pastries, $10 to $12 sandwiches) in a coffee-bar format. Elote Cafe + Marketplace on NW 10th focuses on Mexican breakfast and lunch, with enchiladas and migas as anchors; prices are comparable ($10 to $14). Choose Power House if you want to sit for an hour over a single meal and value pastry craft and technique. Choose Ted's if you want volume and speed. Choose Elote if you want a different regional cuisine.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Power House suits people who have time to sit, who enjoy watching how their food is made, and who are willing to pay for butter, fresh eggs, and attention to detail. It works as a solo destination (the bar seating works for one or two people) and for small groups. It does not suit people on a tight schedule, people who need to feed a large table on a small budget, or anyone expecting the kind of massive portions typical of American breakfast chains. It is also not suitable for people with dietary restrictions who need extensive menu negotiation; the kitchen is small and the menu is set.
What the first visit involves
Arrive early on weekdays (before 9 a.m.) or plan to wait 20 to 40 minutes on weekends. Parking is street parking on NW 23rd and nearby residential blocks; there is no dedicated lot. Walk in and order at the counter or ask to be seated if a table is open; a staff member will direct you. Water and menus arrive at the table. Pastries sell out, especially on weekends. If your first choice is not available, ask what the kitchen made that morning. Service is attentive but not rushed. Plan to spend an hour, including the wait.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Weekday breakfast: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Weekday lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Weekend brunch: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Street parking only on NW 23rd and surrounding blocks. No accessible lot or valet. The dining room has one bathroom. Power House accepts cash and card. No online ordering or reservation system exists, though the restaurant sometimes announces wait times on social media during peak weekend hours.
Power House fills a gap in Oklahoma City between the utilitarian diner and the upscale restaurant: a place where small, well-made breakfast matters more than speed or portion size.
