New Great Wall in Oklahoma City: Szechuan and Cantonese at Competitive Prices
New Great Wall is a full-service Chinese restaurant on the south side of Oklahoma City that specializes in Szechuan and Cantonese cooking, with a menu that spans over 100 dishes and a lunch buffet available daily. The restaurant operates as a sit-down dining space with table service and takeout, positioning itself as a mid-range option for both weekday lunch crowds and dinner guests seeking regional Chinese preparation rather than Americanized standards.
What the menu actually offers
The kitchen separates its cooking into distinct regional styles. Szechuan dishes include mapo tofu, chongqing chicken (la zi ji), and fish with chili oil. Cantonese entries feature steamed whole fish, barbecued pork over rice, and roasted duck available by the half or whole bird. The lunch buffet runs daily and costs around $8 to $10 per person, with rotation that typically includes fried rice, lo mein, egg rolls, and a protein selection that changes by day. Individual entrees at dinner range from $10 to $18, with combination plates (protein, vegetable, rice or noodle) staying under $15. Appetizers run $4 to $8 and include potstickers, spring rolls, and shrimp toast. Prices are subject to change; calling ahead for current pricing on whole-bird orders is advisable.
How New Great Wall compares locally
Oklahoma City has several Chinese restaurants, but most lean toward Americanized Hunan or general Chinese-American fare. Chen's in Midtown focuses on similar Szechuan heat but with smaller portions and slightly higher pricing ($16 to $22 entrees). Jade Palace on Western Avenue emphasizes Cantonese dim sum and roasted meats but does not offer a daily lunch buffet and caters more heavily to the dinner crowd. New Great Wall's strength lies in its combination of regional authenticity (real chili oil and numbing pepper in Szechuan dishes, not watered down) and accessibility: the buffet makes it a low-risk entry point for beginners, while the full menu serves customers who know what they want and are willing to request dishes made to order with heat level adjusted.
Who fits here and who does not
The lunch buffet appeals to office workers, students, and families seeking affordable volume. The dinner menu works for diners interested in Szechuan's numbing-spice profile or seeking whole roasted duck or fish without the upcharge of dim sum houses. New Great Wall is not the right choice if you want Peking duck service with tableside carving, Michelin-adjacent plating, or a full dim sum cart system. It is also not optimized for very large groups, as seating is modest and the kitchen moves at standard speed, not banquet pace.
What to expect on a first visit
Walk-ins are welcome at lunch; dinner reservations are recommended on weekends. Request a table near the window if available, as interior lighting is standard fluorescent. The lunch buffet requires no ordering: survey the hot table, select proteins and sides, and pay at the register. For dinner, expect a paper menu with photos alongside text descriptions, Chinese names alongside English ones. If you order Szechuan dishes, confirm heat level with your server, as "medium" differs from house standard. Plates arrive within 15 to 25 minutes during normal service. The restaurant does not use MSG as a matter of policy, a detail worth noting if you have sensitivities.
Hours, parking, and logistics
New Great Wall operates Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Parking is available in a dedicated lot; no street parking is required. The restaurant accepts cash and card. It is located on the south side, roughly a 15-minute drive from downtown. Call ahead to confirm hours on holidays, as seasonal closures occasionally occur.
New Great Wall delivers value without cutting corners on technique or ingredient quality, making it a reliable choice for anyone in Oklahoma City seeking genuine regional Chinese cooking at lunch-counter prices.
