Cafe De Taipei in Oklahoma City: A Taiwanese Sushi and Dim Sum Hybrid
Cafe De Taipei pairs sushi and dim sum under one roof, operating as a casual counter-service restaurant that treats neither cuisine as secondary. The menu splits clearly between fresh sushi rolls and hand-pulled noodles on one side and steamed baskets of dumplings, har gow, and siu mai on the other, making it distinct from Oklahoma City sushi bars that focus exclusively on Japanese preparations.
What Cafe De Taipei Actually Is
The restaurant occupies the middle ground between a sushi counter and a dim sum parlor. Order at the counter, take a number, and food arrives to your table in stages. The sushi comes plated; the dim sum arrives in bamboo steamers. During lunch hours, a cart service is not standard, but staff bring trays of items directly to tables and mark tickets on a card. Most customers treat it as a quick lunch spot rather than a lingering destination, though the setup accommodates both.
Menu and Pricing
Sushi rolls range from $5.50 for a California roll to $9.50 for specialty rolls like spicy tuna or Philadelphia. Nigiri sets and chirashi bowls fall between $12 and $16. Dim sum baskets (three to four pieces per order) cost $3.50 to $5.50 each. A typical lunch for one person (two or three dim sum orders plus one sushi roll) runs $15 to $20 before tax and drinks. Prices may vary; confirm current pricing by phone before your visit.
The sushi rice is seasoned with slight sweetness, closer to Taiwanese or Chinese preparation than Tokyo-style. Rolls are cut into six pieces per order. Dim sum items include both Cantonese standards (shrimp har gow, pork siu mai) and less common preparations like chive and shrimp cheung fun. The kitchen does not advertise dietary restrictions prominently, but vegetable spring rolls and vegetable dumplings are available.
How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Sushi Options
Cafe De Taipei is the only sushi bar in Oklahoma City that also runs a serious dim sum operation. Restaurants like Mikado (Japanese fusion with a wider menu) and Nagomi (traditional Japanese omakase-style sushi) focus on sushi exclusively. If you want both cuisines in one meal without choosing, Cafe De Taipei is the only option. If you prioritize high-quality nigiri and want to sit at a sushi counter with a chef visible, Nagomi is the stronger pick. If you prefer speed, casual pricing, and variety, Cafe De Taipei wins.
Among dim sum options in the metro, Cafe De Taipei is one of two or three establishments offering cart service or direct-to-table delivery at lunch. It lacks the scale and dim sum breadth of larger dim sum halls in Dallas or Kansas City, but it's the most accessible dim sum experience in Oklahoma City proper.
Who This Suits and Who It Does Not
This works well for people seeking both sushi and dim sum without committing to separate meals at separate restaurants. Lunch crowds—office workers with 30 to 45 minutes—thrive here. Families with mixed preferences (one person wants sushi, another wants dumplings) find it practical. Groups of two to four handle the ordering rhythm smoothly.
It does not suit sushi purists seeking omakase or chef's tasting menus. It does not serve alcohol, so it is not a destination for a sushi-and-sake pairing. The ambiance is utilitarian, not intimate. Noise levels rise during peak lunch; conversation is difficult if the restaurant is full.
What the First Visit Involves
Arrive during lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays) to experience the full dim sum routine. Order your sushi roll(s) at the counter. A server will bring a card and begin delivering dim sum baskets to your table; mark each basket you want to keep on your card. If you arrive outside lunch hours, sushi is available, but dim sum is plated only (no cart or table service). Expect 20 to 35 minutes from order to last plate.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Cafe De Taipei is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed Sundays. Dim sum service is limited to lunch hours and early dinner (until 6:30 p.m. weekdays). Parking is street-level or in a shared lot depending on the location; verify the exact address and parking availability before visiting, as this can change. The restaurant does not take reservations.
Cafe De Taipei fills a real gap: it is the only place in Oklahoma City where you can get both competent sushi and dim sum lunch without driving to two restaurants. The execution on either cuisine alone would not justify a dedicated trip, but the combination makes it valuable for days when your table cannot agree on one cuisine.
