Cattlemen's Steakhouse Deli in Oklahoma City: Lunch Counter Meets Cowboy Lore
Cattlemen's Steakhouse operates a working deli counter inside its flagship restaurant in Stockyard City, serving sandwiches, sides, and takeout meals built on beef trimmings from the butcher shop next door. It sits between full-service dining and quick lunch, with most orders under $15 and ready in under 10 minutes.
What Cattlemen's Steakhouse Deli actually is
The deli occupies the front section of Cattlemen's main dining room, a setup that lets walk-in customers order and eat without reservations or table service. The operation uses beef from the adjacent butcher operation, which supplies the steakhouse kitchen. Roast beef, corned beef, brisket, and chopped steak fillings rotate based on what the butcher produces that day. The space itself is informal: order at the counter, grab a ticket number, and eat at high-top tables or take your order out.
Menu and pricing
A roast beef sandwich runs $13.95; corned beef is $14.95. Sides include beans, coleslaw, or fries at $3.50 each. A combo (sandwich plus two sides) runs $18.95 to $20.95 depending on meat choice. Beef by-products like trimmings cost less than whole cuts, so deli sandwiches stay cheaper than the steakhouse's plated entrees, which start at $28. Most deli orders are ready within 10 minutes of ordering.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City delis
Cattlemen's is one of few delis in Oklahoma City that source meat from an in-house butcher; most competitors in the downtown and midtown corridors buy from distributors. Ted's Cafe on NW 23rd Street offers deli-style sandwiches but focuses on breakfast and lunch through mid-afternoon, with a more casual counter format and lower prices ($10 to $12 sandwiches). Cattlemen's stays open for dinner service and carries the cowboy-steakhouse brand, attracting tourists and business diners alongside locals grabbing a quick lunch. If you want butcher-cut beef at lunch speed, Cattlemen's is the clearer choice; if you prioritize lowest cost or early-morning options, Ted's works better.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Cattlemen's deli suits people who want quality beef sandwiches without table-service wait times, out-of-state visitors interested in Stockyard City, and anyone running short on time between noon and early evening. It does not suit vegans, those avoiding beef, or anyone seeking contemporary deli styles like pastrami-on-rye traditions tied to specific regional cuisines. The high-top seating and open counter also make it less ideal for groups larger than four or anyone wanting a quiet dining experience.
What the first visit involves
Walk into Cattlemen's main entrance on Stockyard Drive. Step to the counter on your left, where staff hand you a printed menu. Order your meat and sides, pay, receive a ticket number, and find a table. Beverages are self-serve from a station near the register. Most people spend 15 to 20 minutes from order to eating. The atmosphere is casual and loud, especially during lunch hours (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Hours, parking, and logistics
Cattlemen's Steakhouse operates Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the deli available during all service hours. Monday is closed. The deli counter stops accepting orders at 9:15 p.m. Free surface parking fills the lot on Stockyard Drive; overflow exists on adjacent streets. The location is in Stockyard City, a 10-minute drive from downtown OKC, near other cattle-industry businesses and museums. Confirm current hours on the restaurant's website before visiting, as holiday schedules sometimes shift.
Cattlemen's deli fills a specific gap in Oklahoma City's lunch scene: it offers butcher-quality beef at counter speed without compromising on sourcing or flavor. For anyone passing through or based in Stockyard City, it saves the choice between a slow sit-down meal and a mediocre chain sandwich.
