The lone Oklahoma entry in the recently published “America’s Best Restaurants” list from the New York Times is Bar Sen, the latest concept from multiple James Beard Award-nominee Jeff Chanchaleune.

This is the second time Chanchaleune has made the list. His first restaurant, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, was on the 2022 list, and he was a finalist for the Best Chef Southwest Award at the 2023 and 2024 James Beard Awards.

Chanchaleune opened Bar Sen in February 2025. In his assessment of the restaurant, New York Times writer Eric Asimov wrote: “The food at this dark, bustling barroom with a sunny patio seamlessly balances contrasting flavors — cool lime, soothing sweet-and-sour tamarind, funky fish sauce, hot chiles and punchy fried shallots and garlic. Yum sen lown, a buoyant glass noodle salad wi

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