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! 💛🎉🍾
💫 BAR SEN MADE THE @nytimes RESTAURANT LIST OF AMERICA’S 50 BEST!
I can’t believe it — we did it again! Being recognized twice by one of the country’s biggest and most influential media outlets, and for two different restaurants, is beyond surreal. I guess turning 40 this weekend isn’t too bad!
This win is huge for Oklahoma City but even bigger for the Lao community across the nation. This is the fifth straight year a Laotian restaurant has made the list, increasing the momentum and visibility of our culture. This year we have TWO!
2021 - Thip Khao, Washington, D.C.
2022 - Ma Der Lao Kitchen, OKC
2023 - Gai Noi, Minneapolis
2024 - Bad Idea, Nashville
2025 - Bar Sen, OKC & Lao’d Bar, Austin
I’m so proud of the Bar Sen team, past & present, for their efforts in this achievement. I want to thank my team for buying in so passionately. I couldn’t have done this without any of them. All the hard work and perseverance has paid off. Thank you to the Ma Der team for all the assists. Thank you to my wife @rea324 and our kids for your patience and support. Many thanks to Oklahoma City for allowing us to continue sharing our Laotian culture and food with you - this time via noodles instead of sticky rice. Lastly, thank you to @ericasimov and The New York Times for including us. We’re truly honored!
Link in bio. We’ll see you all soon. Come thru!
Much love,
Chef Jeff & Bar Sen 💛🙏🏾
This past weekend at the @beardfoundation awards was another incredible experience. I had my wife, sisters, and a few of my closest friends with me to share some special memories. Thank to everyone who sent messages and who were thinking of us.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed but making it back to Chicago a second year in a row was such a huge honor. I’m lucky to be able to say that. There’s always next year, so you better believe I’m going to hit the ground running when I get back and set my eyes on 2025.
Congratulations to all the nominees, honorees, and winners this year. The opportunity to be celebrated here with you all is a blessing.
Thank you to my family and everyone in Oklahoma City for your support. Thank you for allowing me to tell the story of Lao cuisine. I can’t thank my team enough. Without all your dedication and hard work, we truly wouldn’t be here. I appreciate every single one of you.
The Lao chef community will continue the fight to be heard. We had two finalists this year including my friend @chefannahmed from @khaluna.mpls , so I’d say we’re another step in the right direction.
Many thanks again to the @beardfoundation for the nomination and for recognizing Lao food. 💛🙏🏾
#Laofoodmovement #jbfa
Happy Mother’s Day to @rea324 ! The kids and I are so grateful for all that you do and we’re lucky to have you in our lives. You are the best mama to Marly & Ronin. We hope you have a relaxing day!
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
OKC, you felt like home ♥️
Big love to @cheff_jeff for hosting the Baan Mae family at @barsenokc@maderokc@opentable . What a team! We’re so proud to witness the @laofoodmovement carried with this much heart. What an honor to cook together and celebrate Lao cuisine in the most creative way. We can’t wait to have you in DC (stay tuned 😉)
Until next time, sok dee der!
#LaoFoodMovement #FYP #JamesBeard #BarSen #SupportLaoChefs
Sama Sama Series Ma Der Lao x Kultura
Wednesday, May 20th
Some of the most powerful meals are the ones that bring us back home. For Chef Jeff Chanchaleune, cooking Lao food is an act of memory and preservation. As chef and owner of Ma Der Lao and a 2023 and 2024 & 2026 James Beard Foundation Finalist, his work is rooted in honoring the recipes, flavors, and traditions passed down from his mother and grandmothers. Ma Der, meaning “come eat,” is both a name and an invitation — a reflection of Lao hospitality and the communal spirit that defines the culture. His cooking is bold, bright, spicy, and deeply personal, offering a window into a cuisine that is still too often overlooked. At Kultura, Sama Sama is about creating space for these stories to be shared.
Tickets are $125 per guest for this collaborative tasting menu. Beverages will be available à la carte. Join us as Chef Jeff brings the flavors of Laos to our table — a celebration of heritage, family, and belonging.
Tickets available on our Resy!
