OKC Chef Gets Second Chance For James Beard Award

Chef Jeff Chancheleune opened his first restaurant in July of 2016, through some challenges and tough times with his previous restaurants, he’s finally hit the mark with Ma Der Lao.

“So ma der means come eat, come through, it’s like inviting you to the table,” said Chef Jeff Chancheleune, owner of Ma Der Lao restaurant.

He opened the restaurant in September of 2021 in the plaza district, and folks have been coming to enjoy Chancheleune’s twist of tasty creations.

“Our food is very similar to Thai food, Southeast Asian flavors, salty, spicy, funky,” said Chancheleune.

He credits his love for cooking to genetics.

“I was kind of born into a kitchen, my father was a chef, so I literally, out of the womb, I was probably spending time, somewhere in a kitchen,” said Chancheleune.

His blend of creations are definitely attracting crowds.

“I’m a retired chef, and so I brought other chefs here that are really picky about food, and they are like, whatever, I’m not eating anywhere that I’m not cooking at, and they come here, and they are like yeah,” said customer David Vidato.

Chancheleune was previously nominated for a James Beard Award.

“I was nominated in 2020 for the Gun Izakaya which is a Japanese concept,” said Chancheleune.

However, due to Covid, the awards were canceled that year and no winners were selected. But he’s back on the ballot this year, and he’s already made it to the final round.

“So, I was looking at my phone, hoping I would get a tag, and I see my drop-down notifications and it said James Beard just tagged you in a story, and instantly I knew we made top five,” said Chancheleune.

He is one of five chefs going to Chicago in the category of best chef southwest for what is considered the Oscars in the food industry.

“I was shaking, just from excitement and joy,” said Chancheleune.

Just the nomination is great for business and great for the city, but for Chancheleune, the significance is deeper.

“Just to be able to do it with Laotian food, like I said no one really knows about Laotian food and to be able to do it with Laotian food is really awesome,” said Chancheleune.

Ma Der Lao is located at 1634 N. Blackwelder Avenue #102 in Oklahoma City’s Plaza district. For more information visit their website https://maderlaokitchen.com/.