Ma Der Lao Kitchen – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
In Italian, the term “mangia, mangia,” is an encouragement to enjoy food abundantly. In Spanish, the polite phrase “Buen Provecho” translates to “enjoy your meal.” The French term for “enjoy your meal” is “bon appétit” while the Cajun equivalent is “Allons manger.” You’re probably acquainted with most of these terms, but here’s one you may not know. In Lao, “Ma Der!”(ma-derr) is a phrase that basically means “come eat! or “come through!” Throngs of Oklahoma City’s savvy diners have been coming to eat at Ma Der Lao Kitchen since 2022. It’s a good bet not all of them realize the meaning of the restaurant’s name. Perhaps some of them believe “Ma Der” is someone’s mother. Even if not everyone understands the term “Ma Der,” denizens of the Oklahoma state capital and beyond are intimately familiar with the restaurant’s reputation. Indeed, Ma Der Lao Kitchen has a national profile. In 2022, Bon Apetit named it among the 50 best new restaurants in the country. The New York Times went one better, in 2022 naming it one of America’s fifty best restauants. Ma Der also made it to USA Today’s listing of restaurants of the year for 2024. Additionally, Chef and owner…
