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Ma Der Lao Kitchen

4.6 (364 reviews)
ModerateLaotian
Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Ma Der Lao Kitchen Photos

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MA DER LAO KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Ma Der Lao Kitchen

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Tim T.

Just have to add a note about their new banana cheesecake dessert - it's amazing and its deliciousness is through the roof! It also features charred bananas and a creamy pudding component. Excellent service and super cool atmosphere as well. Definitely check it out!

Khao Piek Sen
Christina Z.

Visiting family for the holidays and am so glad we returned to Ma Der Lao Kitchen - the food is delicious, flavorful, and feels so comforting. They don't take reservations so we came right at opening and were seated right away. Food is served family style aka perfect for sharing and one of my favorite ways to enjoy a mea. There is a daily special that rotates each day - we were bummed that we weren't able to come on the duck porridge day because we had loved it the first time we came here, but were excited to try the Khao Piek Sen (Lao chicken noodle soup). The Khao Piek Sen lives up to its description - it tasted like a warm hug, comforting rice noodles with a thick broth, and a balance of umami and salty with the crispy garlic, green onions, and quail egg. Recommend squeezing the lime to add some bright, refreshing acidity to the dish. This was my favorite dish we had this meal. We also shared the crispy rice salad which was my husband's favorite. The salad is served at room temperature and you can turn it into lettuce wraps. The mint adds a sweetness to the dish and we enjoyed the crispiness of the rice and pork sausage. The third dish we had was the fried pork spare ribs - deep fried but not greasy and comes with a tasty dipping sauce. Overall, a delicious meal - definitely added to our list for go-to restaurants the next time we're in OKC.

Coconut soup
Aja L.

Vegetarian options are limited to one item and dessert. I wasn't interested in a salad that evening, so I tried the dessert which was divine. The servers were attentive and knowledgeable, and I like that you can see right into the cooking and prep area from the bar. It's a lovely, friendly community vibe, too. Definitely worth trying.

Crispy rice salad
Jess F.

Ma Der is an incredible spot for authentic, bold, and delicious Lao food! It definitely lived up to its hype. Both indoor and outdoor seating are well attended to, and the outdoor tables are warm and cozy even in the cold winter weather! Servers were super friendly and gave great recommendations. Crispy rice salad - super delicious dish! The rice had just the right amount of bite, and there was a tangy lemongrass flavor mixed in as well. The meat was juicy and tender. Comes with lettuce wraps that make for a perfect bite! Easy to share and definitely left me wanting more. Grilled beef skewers - most memorable plate for sure. The beef is sooo tender, with an amazing charred flavor. My only complaint is the portion size! My family couldn't get enough and even contemplated getting a second one. Steamed catfish - definitely a strong lemongrass flavor, also with some tangy undertones. This was one of my favorites as well! The fish is cooked til soft and the flavors are bold, perfect to pair with the sticky rice! Khao Piek Sen - the Saturday special soup! It's described as a take on chicken noodle soup, but I'd definitely describe the flavor as more mild and aromatic. I absolutely love the way the "noodles" are done which are more like bites; reminds me of a classic Chinese soup as well! I can't wait to come back to Ma Der when I'm back in OKC!

Michelle V.

Great Laotian food We tried - fried chicken Crispy rice salad Grilled beef skewers All incredible! Great flavor for the chicken wings and perfectly cooked Skewers had incredible char taste and cooked perfectly as well The crispy rice salad is amazing - comes with lettuce for serving too! I tried the Jasmine mocktail - very refreshing! Cute indoor space and nice patio as well! Service was great, food came out quickly! We were able to eat and drink and head out an hour or so. Amazing food!!

Callie L.

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in the entire world. Everything on the menu is packed with flavor and made with care. Our waiter Jamil was awesome! The crispy rice is my absolute favorite dish- it's unreal. Perfect texture, perfectly balanced, insane flavor. Wish I lived in OKC so I could eat here all the time! The atmosphere is laid back, the service is always friendly, and the whole experience just makes you happy to be there. Try anything on the menu- we've never had a bad dish here, and every time we go, we somehow love it even more. If you haven't been, just go. Trust me!

Wings and sticky rice
Ange R.

This spot had been on my "must-try" list for weeks thanks to glowing recommendations from multiple circles, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! From the flavorful food and refreshing drinks to the vibrant music and welcoming service, I totally get why everyone urged me to go. The crispy rice salad came highly recommended and was tasty, but my personal standouts were the beef sticks and the wings (with the sauce on the side...chef's kiss!). The orders come family style and eating with your hands is the full experience of the restaurant and culture. I'm so proud that OKC's culinary scene celebrates such rich cultural diversity. If you haven't yet, "come thru" or "Ma Der" and experience the beauty of Laotian cuisine!

Fried Chicken (Chuen Gai) with a side of sticky rice
Esther L.

Stopped by Ma Der Lao kitchen on a visit to OKC and I have not stopped thinking about it since. This place features both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as seating at the bar too. Everything about this place is impeccable. Our server, Brandon, was very helpful guiding us through the menu. We shared 3 plates which were delicious. But my favorite was the crispy rice salad. It was packed with flavor. The cocktails were wonderful as well as the dessert. Definitely one of my favorite spots I tried in the city.

Crispy Rice Salad (nam khao)
Hillary P.

Who do I need to speak to, to buy the sweet chili dip (jaew bong) in a take home bottle? That stuff was ADDICTING. All the items we ordered were so tasty! And the staff was incredibly kind to us. Glad to see OKC having great Asian eats!

Crispy rice with duck porridge
Avery S.

The food was incredible! It's a family style restaurant which makes it easier to try more things we ordered beef skewers and it came with 2 sticks with a few pieces so we all got to try some. The duck porridge was in a larger bowl so we could dish it among ourselves. I loved the crispy rice it was flavorful and textually delightful. The service was great and the outdoor seating was great it was warm and you could still hear music playing but it wasn't overpowering our voices. I would definitely recommend this place it's one of my favorite spots in OKC.

Ashley V.

Came here for the third time last night and brought my mom who had never been. Our server was kind and explained some of the items on the menu as she has never had Laotian food before. We ordered the crispy rice, fried chicken and pork spare ribs. The crispy rice came out first and we really enjoyed it! same with the fried chicken and the sauce on the side. The pork spare ribs were flavorful but extremely overcooked almost burnt and hard to enjoy. We decided to order dessert which was explained to us as a "strawberry cake" and when it came out it was quite small and had a small dollop of coconut cream on the side. It was a little disappointing to say they were charging $8 for this. Overall it's a nice very popular restaurant, seems like you just have to know what to order. If I were to come back I would definitely order the crispy rice, fried chicken and beef kebabs.

Crispy rice salad
Michelle Z.

This place is packed all the time! Luckily I came by myself and was able to snatch the last seat at the bar. It was a super lively restaurant for a Wednesday night. I've never had Laos food before so I decided to come here for a quick dinner. I ordered the two of the most popular dishes on the menu - crispy rice salad and the fried chicken. The crispy rice salad was humongous and the fried chicken came with 5-6 pieces of wings/drumsticks. Both dishes were tasty and full of herb flavors, which I love. All the flavors paired together perfectly and it wad sooo good. Parking was a bit tricky for me. There was a parking lot nearby and residential street parking, but it was packed. I circled around a few times and managed to get a spot in the parking lot for $6. Overall, great place to try if you're in the area.

Alicia B.

Ummmm. Loved it! Everything about this place I loved. The intimate space where I didn't feel cramped but still room to talk and breathe and relax. Our server was amazing and great recommendations for us. We did get there early to have a seat as it was eight of us. Loved the paintings on the wall outside. Great location with parking to the back of the building. The food was excellent. We tried most things out on our table. Will definitely be back.

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Ask the Community - Ma Der Lao Kitchen

What is the wait time like for dinner on a weekend?

If you go during peak times the wait can easily be up to 45 minutes or longer. But if you aren't in a hurry, the Plaza District is a decently hip area to walk around after you put your name on the list. Weather permitting of course.

Do you take reservations?

No, Ma Der Lao is a Walk-in restaurant, but you can always call to check on current availability!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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My mom got the chicken soup, I got the saki Yuki, and my boyfriend got the kao soi. All of them…read morewere flavorful and rich. My mom's chicken soup had such a good flavor. She loved it. My noodles were quite spicy, but not too much. It had good flavor and I loved the pork. The inside of the restaurant is decorated beautifully. I think they have the most beautiful wallpaper I've ever seen in a restaurant. My mom's chicken noodle soup broth had ingredients that included some sort of fish. She was a little skeptical because she does not like fish, but she didn't even taste it. I even tried it as well, and I really enjoyed her soup broth. The waiter was extremely helpful and nice and explained everything on the menu for us, because it was our first time here.

My favorite place to eat on my OKC trip. Went with a large party of 6 so expect gratuity for a…read moreparty that size. Everyone in my party ordered something different an every single item hit. I ordered the sukiyaki, fried chicken appetizer, and an espresso Martini. All of those items were amazing. Such fresh flavors and very authentic. My friend from Myanmar said the food tasted just like home and the beer selection reminded him of home. Overall amazing experience 10/10 would come back again and still thinking about the food.

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Ma Der Lao Kitchen - laotian - Updated May 2026

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