As the largest city in the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City makes it easy for international students attending Oklahoma City University to find a bit of home at one of the many ethnic restaurants and shops throughout the area. The state capital is home to an impressive range of museums, including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, galleries, music venues, natural spaces, and cultural activities. Its variety of diverse districts provide insight into the cultures, music, art, and food that make this city such a unique place to live.
Oklahoma City’s Cultural Districts
Among the many neighborhoods in the city, several districts with a strong sense of community and culture are ideal places for an international student to feel a little less homesick.
Asian District
Situated between Oklahoma City University and the Paseo Arts District, the Asian District boasts the state’s largest population of Asian descendants, a majority of whom are Vietnamese. The area is also home to the iconic Milk Bottle Grocery on Route 66 (one of the original US highways). The supersized milk bottle towering over the building has been a roadside attraction since 1930.
International students looking for familiar food, clothes, and community will find a variety of Asian restaurants (serving everything from hot pot to bubble tea), grocery stores, boutique shops, and bakeries along Classen Boulevard and throughout the neighborhood.
Along with the many pho soup chains, dim sum spots, and noodle shops, here are a few other places to get a taste of home:
Lido Restaurant — Vietnamese
Golden Phoenix — Chinese
Pho Cuong Restaurant — Vietnamese
Lang’s Bakery
If international students want to shop for familiar ingredients, these grocery stores provide a variety of imported goods:
Super Cao Nguyen market
Chinatown Supermarket
Capitol Hill
Covering the area along SW 25th Street between Walker and Broadway, Capitol Hill, also known as Calle dos Cinco, boasts a population that’s 74% Hispanic and 5% Native American. This strong sense of community is reflected in the regional cuisine and goods available at businesses throughout the neighborhood.
A new multicultural plaza is in the works and will provide a much-needed hub for the community. It will be located on Harvey Avenue, and feature “colorful art, Talavera tiles, an arched entry, a gazebo stage, trees, decorative lighting, seating, removable bollards, and other amenities that reflect the neighborhood’s Hispanic culture.” (See the full plans on Visit Oklahoma City.)
Until the plaza is constructed, international students will still feel right at home thanks to the different languages spoken, the scent of familiar foods, and shops selling traditional wares.
For authentic Salvadorean, Mexican, and Colombian flavors (among others), visit:
La Oaxaquena Bakery
La Placita Snowcones
A few places to shop for familiar ingredients or items include:
Carnicería La Hacienda
Rosa Blanca Mexican Store
La Michoacana Meat Market
Dulceria El Girasol
Other Noteworthy Cultural Districts
Paseo District
Known for its Spanish-style village, complete with stucco buildings and clay tile roofs, Paseo District is a great place for international students to connect to home through art. The two-block area features 20 galleries among its diverse range of restaurants, boutique shops, and studios. The First Friday Gallery Walk is a great time to see new exhibits and engage with the art community.
Deep Deuce
For music-loving international students, there is no better place to go than the Deep Deuce district. Known as the Black arts and entertainment district in the 1920s and 1930s, this historic neighborhood boasted a legendary jazz scene that attracted renowned musicians like Count Basie and Duke Ellington. It was home to the largest population of African-American people in Oklahoma City, but many moved to other areas in the 1960s. Bulldozers eventually made way for I-235 and much of the original neighborhood was lost. Its jazz music, however, can still be heard today.
International Events
Oklahoma City’s cultural celebrations occur all year long, and many can be found on the Visit Oklahoma City website. The India Association of Oklahoma is a great resource for Indian students — don’t miss their events, including Diwali, India Food and Arts Festival, and Holi, among others.
One of Capitol Hill’s biggest events is Fiestas de las Americas, which is the largest Hispanic festival in Oklahoma City. Additionally, the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber has a full calendar of celebratory gatherings throughout the year.
Feel at Home Without Leaving Campus
Oklahoma City University
With a mission statement devoted to providing a “diverse, inclusive culture committed to producing graduates who think critically and innovatively, communicate effectively, and use their knowledge and talents to make a local and global impact,” Oklahoma City University creates a welcoming environment for international students.
The 104-acre campus is situated in the heart of the city in the Uptown 23rd District, making it an easy walk to more than a dozen diverse neighborhoods, including the Asian District, Deep Deuce, the Paseo Arts District, Midtown, and more.
Oklahoma City University, however, provides plenty of support for international students right on campus. The college offers “immigration advising, employment advising and workshops, tax filing assistance, airport pickups and arrival assistance, new International Student Orientation, student-led International Student Organizations, the Multicultural Student Association, International Education Week, and the International Food Fair.”
For those interested in finding community on campus, they may want to consider joining one of the university’s many student organizations, including the Black Student Association, the Hispanic Student Association, and/or the Indian Student Association, among others.
Finding a Home Away from Home
With several culturally significant districts and ethnic businesses spread throughout the city, Oklahoma City is an ideal spot for an international student to attend college far from home without feeling too far away.
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