Surprise New Sushi Opens Today in Silver Lake’s Former Ma’am Sir Space

A newcomer named Sunset Sushi opens today in Silver Lake, turning out chirashi boxes, rice bowls, rolls, and more. The restaurant takes over the former home of the beloved Ma’am Sir Filipino restaurant from chef Charles Olalia, which closed earlier this year as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Sunset Sushi shares the same ownership as Highland Park’s new-ish Ichijiku, which also opened in the current coronavirus era. The principal names behind the endeavor, Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi, were partners with Olalia in Ma’am Sir, and have flipped the space to a more muted Japanese style, with plans for robust takeout and delivery. McElroy and Malixi also run prominent restaurants like Horse Thief BBQ at Grand Central Market in Downtown, and Cafe Birdie in Highland Park, among others.

Given the current stay-at-home order, Sunset Sushi is focusing on takeout and delivery dishes that range from chirashi boxes (with a ‘regular’ and ‘premium’ option), sushi and sashimi omakase boxes, plus rolls, nigiri, alcohol and more. Tokyo-born chefs Kazuhiro Yamada (also from Ichijiku, as well as Yu/mu Sushi in Beverly Hills) and Yoshi Matsumoto (Chaya Venice, Mrs. Fish) are on to run the restaurant; the opening menu is below.

The arrival of yet more sushi for this area of greater Los Angeles comes at an interesting time, and not just because of the pandemic. For years, LA’s best sushi was considered to be found in monied enclaves on the Westside, or spread around Ventura Boulevard in the Valley. But this year has seen the arrival of not only Ichijiku and now Sunset Sushi, but also Morihiro in Atwater Village and underground spot Kinkan — and that’s to say nothing of the many hand roll restaurants like Sogo up the street.

Sunset Sushi opens today, keeping hours from Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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Sunset Sushi