Tim Ma Hospitality is a Washington, DC-based hospitality group operating restaurants, bars, and experiences based on the Asian American experience.
RESTAURANTS & BARS
ABOUT
TIM MA HOSPITALITY:
Chef Tim Ma comes from a long family of restauranteurs. Mom, Dad, Uncle, other Uncle, all have owned Chinese restaurants in the United States. So it was only natural to be a restauranteur himself. After a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech, a master’s of science from Johns Hopkins, and an accomplished career in electrical engineering, he gave it all up to open a tiny nine-table restaurant called Maple Ave that kicked off nearly two decades, and a 20-restaurant resume.
A TEAM OF
INDUSTRY VETERANS
Tim leads a team with decades of combined hospitality, marketing, and management expertise. These industry veterans have honed their skills under the guidance of renowned names like David Chang, Wolfgang Puck, and Knead Hospitality. Leveraging their deep understanding of the D.C. market, they strategically develop brands, discover unique real estate, and craft menus that resonate with local and visiting diners.
MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS
TIM MA
• From a family of Chinese restauranteurs, engineer-turned-chef has developed and operated over 20 restaurants
• Developed nationally recognized brands such as Laoban Dumplings and Lucky Danger
CEO & FOUNDER
KATI PIRNER
• Seasoned operator with over 15 years experience with big box brands such as Momofuku and The Chart House
• Oversees the entire portfolio of restaurants from financial performance to operational excellence
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
SIMON ATAPAN
• Former managing partner for the largest Thai restaurant group in the United states, overseeing such assets as James Beard Award winning Arun’s Thai in Chicago
• Manages and operates Sushi Sato and Tacocat brands
MANAGING PARTNER
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
The Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington DC honors his family’s culinary legacy in their exhibition, “Food: Transforming the American Table.”
READ:
”How Food Brought Success to a Chef, a Cookbook Author and a Restaurateur”
– Ashley Rose Young, PhD, Smithsonian Magazine
WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING
“A high profile chef in Washington, DC putting a unique spin on Chinese.”
— USA TODAY
“Lucky Danger joins a new generation of American Chinese takeout restaurants redefining how this food is regarded.”
— THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Nobody is having more fun. His cuisine is eclectic in the extreme.”
— WASHINGTONIAN
“The Taylor Swift of sandwiches...(Tim’s cooking) would make his chef parents proud.”
- Tom Sietsema, THE WASHINGTON POST
WINNER OF GOOD MORNING AMERICA’S INSPIRATION LIST
Chef Tim co-founded “Chefs stopping AAPI Hate” advocating against attacks on Asians during COVID-19.
