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Not three months since the closing of Bar Moruno at Grand Central Market, word of a new stall coming into the old Moruno space has been announced.
Sari Sari Store, the Filipino concept from Republique's Walter and Margarita Manzke, is set to open this summer. "Sari sari" means "whatever" or "variety" in Tagalog, and sari sari stores in the Philippines are equivalent to corner stores/bodegas here in the States.
According to a press release, "The menu will be based around savory rice bowls that pull from Margaritas’s Pinoy heritage, as well as a few sweet items like halo halo." Halo Halo (or haluhalo) is a dessert typically made of evaporated milk, shaved ice, and with various sweetened fruits or other toppings mixed in.
Sari Sari isn't Margarita's first foray into her native cuisine. The Manzkes, along with Margarita's sister-in-law, recently opened Wildflour Bakery and Café in Manila, which has already expanded to four locations.
Beyond the Manzkes, Filipino cuisine is undergoing an explosion of interest at the moment. Brothers Chase and Chad Valencia have seen a meteoric rise to prominence with their pop-up-turned-permanent LASA. Alvin Cailan, who fostered the Valencias' rise, has become a celebrity chef himself following the success of Eggslut (also at Grand Central Market). Meanwhile, Charles Olalia and Santos Uy have been turning out some seriously good rice bowls of their own at RiceBar in downtown.
Exact details are scarce for Sari Sari, but an Instagram account has been put up. We expect the opening to bring yet another reason to love Grand Central Market.
Sari Sari Store will be located near the Hill Street entrance of Grand Central Market. 317 South Broadway, Los Angeles. (213) 232-4650
