Willy Street Restaurant Nominated for James Beard Award

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – A Madison restaurant has been nominated for a James Beard Award, one of the biggest honors in the food world. 

Jamie and Chuckie Brown-Soukaseuma own Ahan, on Williamson Street. They were nominated in the category of Best Chef: Midwest. 

Ahan means “food” in Lao. The restaurant specializes in Asian dishes. 

At first, the team opened pop-ups in Madison. Their first real location was in the Bur Oak, but moved to that spot on Willy Street in 2023. 

Last year, Jamie was honored in the Emerging Chef category of the James Beard Awards. 

Finalists will be announced April 2. Winners will be honored at a ceremony June 16 in Chicago.