“ Cool trendy spot with music and decor. Great 90's music hits. Took a high table inside and waiter (Makenzie) explained if it was our first time. It was and she was very thorough with menu and explanation from top to bottom. Ordered: crispy rice salad Beef jerky Warm chicken salad Chicken noodle soup Sticky rice Fried chicken with dipping sauce Ms. Jasmine tea (Tea) Chocolate cake (dessert) Chili oil & thick sweet hot paste Overall, great experience open area able to see kitchen whip it up. Top music makes food more enjoyable. Beautiful flavors from Laos. Nice drive from Houston to come taste Ma Der! ”

“ I would not believe any of the bad reviews. This spot is a 5/5 for sure. The food is phenomenal. I'm also from CA and love good Laotian food - this spot is probably one of the best Laotian I've ever had. Knowing what to order is key! Fried chicken, beef skewers, and pork spare ribs were delicious. The spare ribs were bony but the sauce made the small pieces of meat so tasty. Cocktails were also beautifully crafted. Service was knowledgeable and attentive and friendly. They also offer a military discount - thank you! ”

“ Without a doubt one of my favorite, for sure my favorite Asian restaurant in OKC. I love the steamed catfish, but it definitely has a kick to it. That and the mushroom stew were my old faithfuls, until I had the crispy ricefaithful, it says "To Share", but i don't!!!! I don't eat pork, so I had mine without. It's so good, so flavorful, the aromatics are strong in this dish. I love to pair the crispy rice with the fermented cabbage and wrap it in the lettuce leaf with a tiny pinch of Thai chili. For dessert, I finish it off with a bowl of coconut soup..BOMB! The photos could be better, but I tried to cover up the fact I dove right in, in the car. ”

“ It was an amazing experience. In OKC for work and grabbed a colleague to hit this spot. I love when food is authentic and unpretentious- this spot doesn't disappoint. Amazing fare shared was absolutely reasonably priced and accessible. We wanted everything on the menu so we let our server pick our fare for us! Had some amazing drinks "snake in the grass" was just lovely, Smokey and well mixed. The Laab stole the show as the first dish to hit the palate- as soon as we recovered from that flavor bomb, the next small plate arrived. We had the Saturday special chicken soup, beef, sausage, and sticky rice. All amazing. The sausage was like hot aromatherapy in a casing. The lemon grass was infused into the pork. I'd like this for my next cookout- It was probably top 15 dinners of my life. An amazing experience from start to finish. I will be singing praise for a while. Unique, flavorful, you could taste the care in the preparation. Intentional. Bold. This place will make me want to come back to OKC. Can't wait till the next reason I have to be here so I can come back! ”

“ 10/10 recommend Ma Der Lao was on our food list for our OKC trip and it did not disappoint. Very authentic Lao food and we loved all of the dishes we ordered - khao poon, papaya salad, fried chicken and sticky rice. I love that they use the authentic plates/bowls from Southeast Asia. It's very nostalgic for me and reminds me of home. ”

“ Ma Der Lao knows how to bring the heat--both in the kitchen and with the lively atmosphere. We hit it up on a Saturday at 3:30 PM (prime time, apparently!) with a group of six and waited about 30 minutes. No reservations here, but they use Waitlist.me so you can track your spot and wander while you wait. Bonus: there's an outdoor waiting area, though no heaters, so bundle up if it's chilly. Now, the food. Buckle up, because it's a wild ride: * Chicken soup (special of the day): A solid favorite. Big enough to share and packed with flavor. * Beef jerky + sticky rice: YES. Perfect pairing and a must-order. * Lao sausage: So good we had to get a second round. Complex, interesting, and impossible to stop eating. * Grilled beef: Crowd-pleaser. If you're indecisive, go with this. * Spicy mushroom stew: Least favorite. Heavy on mushrooms, light on everything else. Not much eggplant or balance to the flavor. * Papaya salad: Mixed reviews. If you love fish sauce and pickled cabbage (I do!), you'll vibe with it. * Fried chicken: A table favorite--crispy, flavorful, and absolutely worth it. * Crispy rice salad: Another star. Wrap it in lettuce for the perfect bite. * Sticky rice: The unsung hero--pairs beautifully with almost everything, especially the beef jerky Service was a highlight. Our server was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave great pairing suggestions. No rush, just solid guidance. The vibe inside is cute and cozy: bright, flowery wallpaper, small space (by Oklahoma standards), and loud. Hard surfaces amplify the bustle, but it's all part of the charm. Ma Der Lao has the accolades to back it up--NYT's Top 50 and a James Beard nominee--but it's the food and vibe that will bring me back. Just don't skip the sausage, jerky, or crispy rice salad. Pro tip: go early or late, and be ready to wait--good things take time, but here, it's worth it. ”

“ Ma Der Lao Kitchen is a cool, hip spot to try Laotian food. I came with 2 friends on a Wednesday night. The place was crowded so we opted for bar seating. My favorite was the skewers and crispy rice salad. If you order the fried chicken, you MUST get the sauce. The chicken is dry otherwise. I also thought the papaya salad was fishy. Overall service was great and I liked the casual cool vibe. Not my favorite, but a decent dinner spot. ”

“ THE BIG: Located in the Plaza district of OKC. Cute little area and the restaurant is actually pretty small. Plenty of parking available on the street and lots. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here on a Wednesday night and it was pretty packed. We snagged bar seats and immediately went to ordering. The menu isn't too big but it did provide enough options to think. We ended up getting the papaya salad, the fried chicken, the crunchy rice salad and steak skewers. The steak skewers were the best while my least favorite dish was the papaya salad. It was overly fishy and I couldn't get rid of the fish taste afterwards. Fried chicken was alright, it was a bit dry and we didn't get our dipping sauce until we asked for it. There's some nice cocktails and laotian beers if that floats your fancy. THE FINAL BAMBOO: A Laotian feast that was affordable! The damage done here was around $100 for four dishes and two beers. Not bad at all. ”

“ Excellent and authentic Laotian restaurant in Oklahoma City, taking over the old Goro Ramen spot from years ago, although the chef remains the same. Southeast Asian cuisine is one of my favorites, and this is one of the only Laotian spots in the area. We were seated quickly at a table inside during Friday lunch rush hour. Our server was friendly, fast, and efficient. She explained all of the popular options and mentioned that the Freestyle Friday Chef's Choice this week is a $25 Sakura pork chop with spicy apple salad. The food was delicious and flavorful with plenty of rich seasoning and herbs. Portion sizes are small to medium and can be shared family style. We had the sticky rice, crispy rice salad, charred green chili dip, and crispy chicken wings with red curry fish sauce. We also tried the Ms. Jasmine non-alcoholic cocktail, which had a fruity tropical tiki flavor with the refreshing jasmine tea, pineapple, coconut and lemon added in. Definitely worth checking out this unique restaurant if you have not tried Laotian food before! ”