BAR SEN

Seafood lovers rejoice! The May Specials are for YOU. Except Friday. That’ll always be for 🐔

WOW! So many emotions leading up to the announcement today. Excitement, anxiousness, potential disappointment, nervousness, all of it. What a relief with the news today. I’m so grateful to be honored again as a finalist nominee for @beardfoundation Best Chef Southwest. This recognition says that’s it for me and @barsenokc , but this would not be possible without @maderokc , the entire team at both restaurants, & the support of my family. This is a win for OKC & the entire Lao community across the nation. I’m praying that we can finally bring this home for Laotians for the first time. This award is important to me because I want to inspire all the Lao diaspora to believe in yourself, to help catapult Laotian cuisine & culture into the mainstream, and to push the @laofoodmovement forward. We started as a traditional Lao restaurant at Ma Der in 2021, which led us to back-to-back finalist in 2023 & 2024. We were left off completely in 2025, but with perseverance, clear vision, and hard work, we’re back on with a new concept - Laotian noodles (to continue educating the nation on Lao food). This is validation for the sacrifices we’ve all made. I’m so excited to celebrate with my Oklahomies and all my friends from around the country in Chicago! Congrats to all of you! 💛🎉🍾

Join me in exploring Bangkok & Chiang Mai, Thailand, with @modernadventurists ! Date is set for next year, March 11-17, 2027. Start planning now! While Ma Der Lao Kitchen and Bar Sen exists to tell the story of Laotian culture and to bring more attention to its cuisine, we can’t do that without exploring the deep history and connection between Thailand and Laos over the past decades and centuries. Same, same but different. One key piece of the story is the migration of the Lao people into Thailand during the kingdom era, French colonialism, communism, and the Secret War. My maternal grandmother was born Thai and culturally raised Laotian. Her cooking inspired and shaped the food that is Ma Der Lao Kitchen today. I’m thrilled to walk the streets of Thailand, imagining her past, and discovering her story. Booking is now live. Limited availability. Link in bio! ✌🏾

Not feeling brothy on these hot days? Cool that soul with our Yum Sen Lown. Chilled mung bean noodles and a medley of herbs, aromatics, ground pork, and shrimp. 🧊🧊🧊

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, my grandmothers, and ALL the moms and grandmas out there! Thank you for all you do! 💛💛💛

Lao Crab Omelette Rice Plate available every Thursday through the month of a May! It’s so simple, but it was one of my favorite things to eat growing up. It was typically made with just onions, cilantro, dill, garlic, fish sauce, white pepper, and sometimes tomatoes. We had this omelette accompanied by a few other dishes and it was eaten with either jasmine or sticky rice. It’s also just as great as the main dish. We’re featuring a version of the omelette @barsenokc . Starts at 4PM tonight! Khua Khai Puu (Lao Crab Omelette) - gluten-free Savory omelette with lump crab, local asparagus & eggs, fresh garlic, scallions, dill, garlic oil, cracked pepper, aromatic rice, side of prik nam paa.

On Monday night we hosted @chefseng for a very special @baanmaedc X @barsenokc collaboration dinner. It was truly an honor to cook with this amazing, talented woman & chef, who has been the leader of our cuisine and has paved the way for so many Lao-American chefs. Thank you for hanging with us in OKC and for inspiring us all! 💛 @laofoodmovement

Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup) for our May noodle feature! Available every Wednesday through the end of the month. Pho noodles in a hot & sour, chicken & shellfish soup, red shrimp, pickled bamboo, wood ear mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, medley of bean sprouts, chives, cilantro, red onions, & long beans, fried garlic. Starts at 4PM until sold out. 📸: @danny.vo.dang

Houston collab with @coolhandluke54 and @josephinesgulfcoast was a lot of fun! Thank you for hosting me. Saw old friends and met some great people. I ate amazing food - shout out to @chefadrian7717 , @vivamaximohouston , @coryinthehouse38 , @crawfishandnoodles , and @truth_bbq . Extra thanks to Truth for the assist on smoking our Lao Sausage)! Thank you for coming out, Houston! Looking forward to visiting again. 📸🚕 @quitnguyen

@cheff_jeff just touched down in H-Town. We’ll be slinging Lao-Cajun with the man @coolhandluke54 at @josephinesgulfcoast tomorrow! Got a few seats left on Resy so grab them while you can. See everyone tomorrow!

Laos’t Word by @bainbridge.aiden - Mezcal, Spiced Pear, Bitter Bianco, Maraschino, Kaffir, Fresh Lime Drop in for a cocktail from the new menu! Noon-Midnight today!

We’re teaming up with our friends at @towertheatreokc to do a little givvy! We’re giving away a $50 gift card and a pair of tickets for you and yours to go see @fruit_bats in June! To Enter: 1. Follow @barsenokc and @towertheatreokc 2. Let us know what your favorite Lao dish is and Tag a Friend! (Each unique comment will count as an entry) Winner will be selected Monday (4/27) Good luck!