welcome home.
Meet Mae “Godmother of the Lao Food Movement”
To us, Chef Seng Luangrath is more than a chef—she is a force who brings people together just like mom would at home. From the kitchens of Baan Mae to the broader Lao Food Movement, her impact is profound because it goes beyond food. She has created spaces where Lao traditions are honored, where young chefs are mentored, and where communities feel seen and celebrated. In a city as diverse as Washington, D.C., Chef Seng’s leadership has been a uniting thread—bridging cultures, stories, and people through hospitality and heart.
Baan Mae
Baan Mae, created by Chef Seng Luangrath, is a restaurant and event space in Washington, DC, inspired by her mother's kitchen, offering a rotating menu of home cooked innovative Southeast Asian dishes and creative cocktails.
what are they saying about Mae?
The 20 Best New Restaurants of 2025
— Elazar Sontag, Kate Kassin and the Bon Appétit Staff , Bon Appétit Magazine, 2025
Immigrant Chefs Starred at RAMMY Awards
— Jessica Sidman, Washingtonian Magazine, 2025
At her new restaurant, a Laotian chef toasts mothers and McDonald’s
— Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post, 2024
Good Taste: Chef Seng’s Baan Mae Celebrates Southeast Asian Mom-Style Cooking
— Nevin Martell, The Washington City Paper, 2024
The Hottest New Restaurants Around D.C., August 2024
— Tierney Plumb and Emily Venezky, Eater DC, 2024
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