Charles Olalia's Filipino restaurant in Los Angeles closes down
By John Legaspi
After giving Pinoy cuisine its place in the California food scene, the restaurant is shutting its doors.
Food and restaurant businesses, while noted as among the “essential” services during the early days of the community quarantine, are also victims of the pandemic. It is felt not only by local business owners here in the country, but also Filipino food entrepreneurs across the globe.
Adding to the list of Filipino-owned restaurants that have closed down as a result of this pandemic is Chef Charles Olalia’s LA-based Filipino restaurant, Ma’am Sir. Charles announced the closure of his business along Sunset Boulevard through an Instagram post on Aug. 28.
“It all started with a wish. I wished for a place where Lucas could run and play, a place where people could come and enjoy Filipino cuisine, and an overall beautiful restaurant for the community to gather,” Chef Charles posted. “Ma’am Sir fulfilled that for me and so much more. Ma’am Sir was my home. God listened to my prayers and blessed us with this place.”
The chef from Pampanga was set to make a career in medicine, until he took a culinary program and went to the United States. In 2018, he established the restaurant Ma’am Sir, inspired by the Filipino slang “mamser,” in partnership with restaurateurs Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi. The restaurant served Filipino favorites such as sisig, lechon, adobo, and halo-halo in Los Angeles, appealing not only to the Filipino community but also to a broader set of diners.
Soon after, the restaurant gained great reviews from international media outlets. The Los Angeles Times included the food spot in its list of “101 Restaurants We Love” two years in a row starting in 2018. In 2019, GQ magazine named it as one of the best restaurants in America.
In an effort to help the community during lockdown in the US, Ma’am Sir provided meals for frontliners, elderlies, and Covid-19 patients who do not have access to food due to mandatory quarantine and job losses. The restaurant also offered bento box and cocktails to go, which, unfortunately, weren’t enough to sustain the business.
“There will come a time when I can welcome you again. There will come a time when I can celebrate your birthdays with you. There will come a time I will meet your babies again,” said Chef Charles. “As generic as it sounds, I may have closed this chapter, but I gained family in you all. Thank you, Ma’am Sir. Salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay ang Filipino.”