Midnight Curry in Oklahoma City: North Indian cooking on Meridian Avenue
Midnight Curry is a full-service North Indian restaurant in central Oklahoma City that focuses on tandoori dishes, curries, and breads from the Punjab and Kashmir regions. The space seats around 50 people and operates as a casual dinner destination rather than fine dining, with a kitchen open to order both dine-in and takeout service seven days a week.
What the menu emphasizes
The restaurant centers on tandoori proteins and cream-based curries rather than South Indian dosas or regional street food. Signature dishes include tandoori chicken (bone-in pieces marinated in yogurt and spices, then cooked in a clay oven), tandoori paneer tikka for vegetarians, and butter chicken in a tomato cream sauce. The kitchen also prepares lamb curry, goat biryani, and prawns in a coconut-based sauce. Naan, roti, and paratha arrive warm from the tandoor and can be stuffed with paneer or keema.
Vegetarian options run across the menu: paneer tikka, chana masala (chickpea curry), palak paneer (spinach and cheese), and aloo gobi (potato and cauliflower). The spice level adjusts on request; most diners can order mild, medium, or hot versions of the same dish.
Pricing and portions
Most entrees range from $12 to $16, with tandoori platters and combination meals at the higher end. Breads cost $2 to $4 each. A biryani runs $14 to $17 and comes with raita (yogurt condiment). Lunch specials, available weekdays only, bundle an entree, rice or bread, and a beverage for $10 to $12. Appetizers like samosas or pakora cost $6 to $8. Prices are stable year-round; confirm current costs by phone before visiting.
The portions are substantial: most entrees come with enough curry to finish over rice or with multiple breads, and two people can comfortably share a curry, one bread selection, and an appetizer.
How Midnight Curry compares locally
Oklahoma City has two other North Indian sit-down options. Sheesh Mahal, also on Meridian, offers a similar menu but emphasizes buffet lunch service and maintains a slightly more formal dining room. Tandoor Indian Restaurant, on NW 23rd Street, focuses on smaller portions and a narrower menu. Midnight Curry occupies the middle ground: larger portions than Tandoor, more dinner-focused than Sheesh Mahal's buffet model, and a casual atmosphere suited to weeknight takeout or family meals. Choose Midnight Curry for tandoori specialties and flexibility in portion size; choose Sheesh Mahal if you want a buffet lunch or prefer a quieter space; choose Tandoor if you prefer to order fewer dishes or want a more stripped-down menu.
Who this restaurant suits and does not suit
Midnight Curry works well for families with school-age children, groups of coworkers splitting entrees, and anyone seeking North Indian staples without commitment to a tasting menu or long meal. The dining room is bright and informal, not romantic. The kitchen does not offer South Indian items (dosas, idlis, uttapam) or regional cuisines outside Punjab and Kashmir. Diners with severe peanut or tree-nut allergies should call ahead, as many sauces are prepared in a shared kitchen with nut-based dishes nearby.
What a first visit involves
Order at the counter or from a server if you are dining in. Expect 15 to 20 minutes for entrees once you place your order; tandoori items take longer than curries because of oven time. Water and a small dish of complimentary pickled vegetables arrive immediately. Takeout orders are ready in 10 to 15 minutes. The restaurant does not take reservations, so arriving before 6:30 p.m. on weeknights avoids a wait. Lunch service (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays) is quieter than dinner.
Hours, parking, and practical details
Midnight Curry opens at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, noon on Sundays. Dinner service runs until 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. Monday. Closed on rare occasions; confirm before a special visit. Street parking is available directly outside on Meridian Avenue; a small lot on the side street accommodates 8 to 10 cars. The restaurant occupies a standalone building with easy access from NW 36th Street.
Midnight Curry occupies a straightforward role in Oklahoma City's Indian dining: it delivers consistent North Indian cooking at prices and portions that reward repeat visits without demanding occasion or planning.
