It’s BBQ Szn

get to know Chef Donny, Mom’s next guest chef :

Donny is the talented Chef and proprietor behind the beloved Khao Noodle Shop/Darkoo’s restaurant in East Dallas. Born in Amarillo, Raised in San Antonio, Texas, he grew up in a household where his mother’s cooking was a constant source of inspiration. Donny’s early experiences in the kitchen taught him to appreciate his heritage and the important role that food plays in his culture.

Driven by his passion for Laotian cuisine and culture, Chef Donny aims to share his love of cooking with others. Each dish that he creates has a unique story behind it, drawing inspiration from his upbringing, his surrounding community, and the women in his family who have influenced his cooking style.

Since opening in December 2018, Khao Noodle Shop has received numerous accolades and widespread acclaim, including being named Best New Chef by the Dallas Observer, One of the Best New Restaurants by DMagazine, Conde Nast, and Texas Monthly. Furthermore, Chef Donny’s impressive achievements include being named the Second-Best New Restaurant in America by renowned publication Bon Appetit. Best New Restaurant recognition from USA Today. He has also been recognized as one of Food and Wine’s Top 10 Best New Chefs of 2020 and was a semi-finalist nominee for the 2020 James Beard Award.

Chef Donny’s culinary talents have garnered attention from a multitude of media outlets both domestically and internationally. He has been featured in prominent publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Munchies, Thrillist, and CBS Morning Show, as well as international outlets like POPTV Slovenia and 196 Flavors. Additionally, Chef Donny has been featured on the YouTube channel FungBros and was a guest on Kohl’s Healthy at Home.

Due to the pandemic, Donny and his business partners Tex and Noy were forced to close Khao Noodle Shop. However, they quickly pivoted and transformed the space into Darkoo’s Chicken Shack with the help of their friend and business partner Jimmy. This new venture focused on offering a variety of Asian fried chicken dishes, including Lao-style fried chicken, Japanese Karaage, and Thai Hainanese poached chicken.

Darkoo’s quickly gained a following and even went viral on social media platforms like TikTok andInstagram, garnering over 400k views. Chef Donny saw Darkoo’s as a way to continue curating Asian American cuisine that honored his Texan Asian American roots.

Unfortunately, Darkoo’ss also forced to close after out-of-state landlords locked all the tenants out of the shopping center. Undeterred, Chef Donny is currently working on hosting more pop-up events across the state to continue sharing his passion for cooking and bringing people together through food.

For Chef Donny, food is more than just sustenance; it is a language that he uses to express his joy for cooking and to bridge the gap between cultures. His mission is to create dishes that evoke the memories and flavors of his upbringing, while also celebrating the diversity and richness of the Lao Texan Asian American experience. Chef Donny is a prominent figure in his local community and has served as a spokesperson for various causes. He is dedicated to giving back to his community and supporting those around him, while also striving to make a lasting impact and inspire future generations.

Chef Donny is now focused on a new chapter: Donko Foods.