Plaza District Lao restaurant from James Beard finalist Chef Jeff Chanchaleune, serving bold family recipes — papaya salad, laab, sticky rice, and bright, spicy flavors on N Blackwelder Avenue.
Ma Der Lao Kitchen sits at 1634 N Blackwelder Ave Ste 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, in the Plaza District on North Blackwelder Avenue. Chef Jeff Chanchaleune, a James Beard Foundation finalist, cooks the Lao food he grew up eating — his mom's and grandmothers' recipes with bold, bright, spicy, and funky flavors that put Lao cuisine on the Oklahoma City map.
Why Ma Der Stands Out
Ma Der! (ma-derr) is a Laotian phrase that means come eat or come thru — an open invitation to the dinner table. After years cooking Japanese food, Chef Jeff returned to his roots with dishes that tell stories about family, ingredients, and the flavors of Laos.
Many diners know papaya salad, laab, and sticky rice from Thai menus, but Laos is where those dishes originated. Here you get the real thing — savory, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy rather than sweet and mild. It is food packed with umami and built for sharing.
What To Expect
Planning Your Visit
Ma Der Lao Kitchen is at 1634 N Blackwelder Ave Ste 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Call (405) 900-5503 or visit maderlaokitchen.com for hours, online ordering, catering, and event updates before you go.
Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest service — plan an earlier arrival if you want a table without a long wait. There is no reservation line; walk-in only.
Contact & Links
Explore the Plaza District
Plan more stops on the Plaza District guide or browse the Best In OKC directory for more food and nightlife nearby.
Local Tip 1
Category
Food & Drink
Address
1634 N Blackwelder Ave Ste 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73106
OKC District
Ma Der Lao Kitchen brings bold Lao cuisine to the Plaza District from James Beard finalist Chef Jeff Chanchaleune on N Blackwelder Avenue. Ma Der! means come eat — family recipes, papaya salad, laab, sticky rice, and flavors that are savory, sour, spicy, and unapologetically funky.