Sergeant Ma Is the Fun Group Spot That China Basin Needs

Lobster mafaldine at Sergeant Ma. | Dianne de Guzman Chef Jason Halverson and Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group of Trestle, Mama Oakland, the Vault, and more, have opened their latest restaurant, Sergeant Ma, with a big splash in the China Basin neighborhood. Named after Halverson’s mother — affectionately called both “sergeant” and “ma” — the restaurant is a reflection of his upbringing. His mother immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, and Halverson spent his childhood in Wichita, Kansas, eating his mother’s cooking, where “she interpreted recipes her own way,” as the restaurant shares. What that means at Sergeant Ma is a food menu that zigzags between cultural references, both Asian and Californian, with produce-driven dishes inspired by Halverson’s own history of cooking in (and owning) San Francisco restaurants. The vibe Walking up to the front doors of Sergeant Ma is a treat. Facing the waters of Mission Creek Channel, it’s a serene scene in the evening as the sun sets and