Time was, whenever Olivia Munn mentioned she was from Oklahoma City, “people would say, ‘Oh, I drove through there once,’” the actress tells Parade. Now, however, she hears something decidedly different: “You guys have such a great downtown,” often followed by, “I went to see a Thunder game!”
With the record-breaking team having just reached its first NBA Finals since 2012, and Oklahoma City hosting Game 1 tonight, thousands have traveled there for that very reason. If you happen to be among them, or you’re headed there for Game 2 this weekend (or any game thereafter), Munn has thoughts on what you shouldn’t miss outside the arena.
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The One Must-Try Food Olivia Munn Recommends
Just beyond the Paycom Center walls, the city’s downtown is buzzing with energy and entertainment, says Munn. And though you’ll want to explore the neighborhood, the first thing she’d tell you to do is wander a bit farther afield to feast on her top recommendation: an onion burger. A beef patty loaded and griddled with thinly sliced caramelized onions, this Oklahoma original appears on various nearby menus. “Nic’s Grill is famous for it,” says Munn, “and there’s also Tucker’s—a local chain that sells them, and they’re very, very good.” You can drive to the arena within 10 minutes of grabbing burgers at either, and to the relief of vegetarians, Tucker’s offers a plant-based version, too.
Good thing graduations are just the start. With so much family still in Oklahoma City—her mom, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and “so many cousins, so many aunts and uncles”—there’s always a reason to head home. Though she and her husband John Mulaney are raising their two young kids in Southern California, “Oklahoma is where I call home,” she clarifies, noting that she was born and raised there, other than an eight-year stretch on a Tokyo Air Force base with her family. She returned to Oklahoma City at age 16, and wherever life has taken her since, she’s always gone back regularly.
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More Olivia Munn–Approved Picks in Oklahoma City
Must-Visit Bookstore
“There’s a bookstore that I love,” she says. “It’s called Full Circle Bookstore.” This Northwest Oklahoma City institution is huge and locally owned, but “the thing I really love about it is that it’s very encouraging of customers taking their time and enjoying reading.” She adds that there’s a sweet “bygone era feel” to the place, where you can browse endlessly and lose yourself in the great selection.
Must-See Museum
Then there’s The First Americans Museum, dedicated to the histories of 39 First American Nations in Oklahoma today. “I went soon after it opened [about four years ago] and it’s such a fantastic addition,” says Munn. “It has beautiful and innovative architecture and really poignant exhibitions,” she notes, adding that the experience of being there is reason enough to visit the new entertainment district. But if you plan to wander afterward, just know that you may find yourself loaded down with handmade goodies from the gift shop—it partners with Oklahoman Native businesses and artists—before you’re out the door.
Must-Do Family Attraction
Then again, you’ll never get more attentive service than if you happen to be walking in her mom’s neighborhood. An expert Vietnamese cook of Chinese descent, “she will invite you inside for pho and make you dim sum, and so if you run into my mom, be prepared to eat and be dragged to her home.”
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