ABOUT US
Our Story

Ahan (ອາຫານ, meaning “food” in Lao) is the brainchild of Jamie (formerly Hoang) and Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume. Their vision is to bring Asian-inspired cuisine to the thriving restaurant scene in Madison, showcasing the vibrant flavors and culinary traditions while utilizing locally sourced ingredients. The success of Ahan was initially demonstrated through a series of well-received pop-up events in January 2020, leading to their triumphant establishment at The Bur Oak in August of the same year. Today, Ahan remains dedicated to continually enhancing its offerings through a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.
Jamie Brown-Soukaseume, a graduate of the Madison College Culinary Arts Program, has been a professional chef in Madison, Wisconsin since 2011. With a wealth of experience gained from renowned establishments such as L’Etoile, Forequarter, Estrellón, and Sujeo, Jamie accumulated invaluable culinary expertise over the course of a decade before embarking on her own culinary venture.
Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume brings extensive experience from the food and beverage industry, having worked professionally in Madison since 2012. Notable among his achievements are his contributions at The Robin Room, Mint Mark, and Estrellón. In addition to his culinary pursuits, Chuckie is an active member of the vibrant Madison music scene, having played with The Earthlings for the past 11 years.
Awards & Mentions
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Ahan was awarded Bronze for Best New Restaurant in Best of Madison 2021
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Ahan was awarded Silver for Best Delivery and Bronze for Best Curbside Pickup/Takeout in Best of Madison 2022
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Chef Jamie was a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award in 2023 in the “Emerging Chef” category.
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Chef Jamie was awarded Madison Magazine's Best Chef of 2023 and Ahan was awarded Bronze for Best Southeast Asian Restaurant.
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Ahan was awarded Gold for Best East Asian Restaurant and Bronze for Best Southeast Asian Restaurant in Best of Madison 2024.
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In January 2025, Chef Jamie and GM Chuckie were jointly nominated for a James Beard Award for "Best Chef - Midwest".
Meet The Team
BACK OF HOUSE
Jamie Brown-Soukaseume - Executive Chef / Owner
Manola Hoang - Chef de Cuisine
Drew Eckenrod - Sous Chef
Kili McGeorge - Sous Chef
Pou Sonmesay - Sous Chef
Astrid Anderson
Alex Balzar
Egon Bassler
Cindy Brown
Josh Dykstra
Gabriel Hernandez
Kaila Hogan
Alberta Jimenez-Perez
Gustavo Jimenez-Perez
Nolan Rapp
Joe Schoenherr
Tony Soukaseume
James Troia
BAR
Maxx Rose - Bar Manager
Maddie Butterfield
Christine Lopez
KitKat Johnson
Maximino Rodriguez
FRONT OF HOUSE
Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume - General Manager / Owner
Brian Soukaseume - Assistant General Manager
Brian Wambold - Front of House Manager
Matt Allenstein
Roman Barut
Malina Douangmala
Jacob Hancock
Cedar Heller
Jacob Hoang-Bambrough
Austin Jackson
Ethan Jackson
Philip Le
Chapor Lor
Maggie Malestycki
Jess Mills
Lila Neely
Varouni Soukaseume
Angelica Thairuammit
Antonio Thairuammit
Ellis Williams
Arlinda Yang
COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA
Yukiko Ikeda