Restaurants can have a second life, but it doesn’t happen over a weekend like the shows you see on Food Network. With the guidance of Operating Manager and chef Marc Dunham and stylist Sara Kate, Iguana Mexican Grill on 9th Street is revamped, renovated and refreshed. Everything from the food to the drinks to the atmosphere is lively, fresh and waiting for a new generation of eaters and drinkers to enjoy. 

The beautiful interior, styled by Sara Kate.

The michelada and tacos you need.

After a long stint in NYC that included the Culinary Institute of America, Michelin star restaurants and “fussy cooking,” Marc is back to what he loves most: Tejano cuisine in a lively atmosphere.

“[Tejano] is what I grew up with, it’s what I love, it’s what taught me things. So it’s the food that I cook,” said Dunham. “I’ve always loved it, but up until six years ago, never really considered getting back to it in a professional sense. I always cooked it at home.” 

Marc’s love for cooking Tejano is matched by his love for helping others appreciate Tejano culture. There are many ways to be authentically Tejano, and for Marc it’s been a journey back to his roots. He’s found a home in the cuisine he tried to run away from as a young man. 

Pro tip: get a taco salad and a lunch-sized margarita.

“When you’re young, you think you have to run out and prove everything to everybody including yourself. When I got older I realized that there was nothing wrong with the food that I was running from. I thought I had to be better than the food that I grew up with.”

No one is running away from Marc’s food here and good luck finding something better than Iguana’s Enchiladas Chile Con Carne. Marc is comfortable in his kitchen and it translates to the guest experience at Iguana. It’s not stuffy and pretentious, just committed to great, authentic Tejano food. From micheladas to margaritas and tacos to enchiladas, Iguana is ready for Oklahoma City to sit back, tell stories and have a great time.