OFFBEAT ASIAN CUISINE AT MA’AM SIR
Thai and Japanese cuisine are old news, Los Angeles has moved on to lesser-known Asian cuisines such as Filipino, with restaurants like Ma’am Sir. This chic eatery is always crowded with locals and tourists alike. Opened by celebrated Filipino chef, Charles Olalia, this restaurant brings Filipino cuisine to the forefront. Ma’am Sir is located in the Silver Lakes neighbourhood, which is the hipster haven of Los Angeles. It is an intimate and lively eatery and bar with lush greenery and a ceiling of hanging plants. The menu comprises classic Filipino dishes, which chef Olalia would serve at his home. We started with pad de sal (homemade bread) with a pimiento spread, followed by the cucumber and pomelo salad and cheddar and chive lumpia (fried spring rolls) served with a hot pepper jam. For the mains, we got the garlic crab spaghetti, adobo chicken rice bowl and fried milkfish served with a house BBQ glaze and pickled papaya. We ended our meal with a moist banana bibingka (Filipino coconut cake). Ma’am Sir is setting the precedent for fine dining Filipino cuisine in the United States. maamsirla.com