MEET KANLAYA PALIVAN:

Kanlaya Palivan – Chef & Owner, Lao Garden

Kanlaya Palivan is the chef and owner of Lao Garden, a restaurant dedicated to preserving and sharing the bold, vibrant flavors of traditional Lao cuisine. Her culinary journey is deeply rooted in her life story—one of resilience, heritage, and a growing love for the food of her homeland.

Kanlaya came to the United States as a young refugee girl from Laos after her family fled during wartime. Sponsored by a Catholic family in Binghamton, New York, her family of eight began a new life in America with limited resources but endless determination. Her father shoveled snow to provide for the family, modeling hard work and sacrifice. When he reconnected with a close friend in Wichita, Kansas, the family relocated there—where Kanlaya spent her childhood and proudly calls home.

Growing up in the Midwest, Kanlaya quickly adapted to American life—eating pizza and tater tots at school lunches and learning to navigate a new culture while still holding on to the traditions of her Lao roots. She completed junior high in Wichita before her family moved to California in search of better opportunities and a milder climate. As she matured, so did her appreciation for her heritage. The more distance life put between her and her childhood, the more she was drawn back to the smells, flavors, and rituals of Lao cooking.

Kanlaya went on to build a successful career in Silicon Valley’s high-tech industry, where she developed a strong foundation in leadership, operations, and innovation. Today, she brings those skills into the kitchen—running Lao Garden with the same strategic mindset and precision that shaped her corporate life, while infusing every dish with soul, memory, and cultural pride.

Since opening Lao Garden in January, Kanlaya has become a champion for Lao cuisine and culture. She was featured on KTVU Channel 2 during AAPI Heritage Month, where she spoke about her journey and mission to keep her mother’s traditional recipes alive for the community.

For Kanlaya, Lao Garden is more than a restaurant—it’s a tribute to her past, a gift to her present, and a flavorful bridge connecting people to the beauty of Lao culture, one dish at a time.