The No. 2 best new restaurant in America is temporarily closing amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Khao Noodle Shop owner Donny Sirisavath said Sunday on Instagram that the restaurant would close this week. Normal operations will take place Thursday through Saturday, but Saturday will be the last day of service until further notice.

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“We’ve try [sic] our best to stay open and stop the bleeding as much as possible,” Sirisavath said on Instagram. “We’re a small business. We own our business. We don’t have any outside investors or silent investors. Every cent of the money we make at Khao goes back into the business.”

Sirisavath said he decided to close to protect the health of his workers and give them time to apply for unemployment so they’d have enough income to survive.

The pop-up Khao Mart will still be open for business to deliver pre-packaged goods to help pay for rent at 4812 Bryan St. in East Dallas.

“I want to especially thank you guys from the bottom of my heart,” Sirisavath said. “We’ll keep everyone posted on what’s next for Khao. To say it will come back the same is a dream. However, dreams don’t die. Sometimes we just need time. To have more time is our dream.”

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I’m sadden by the words I’m about to mention in the next line. Next week will be the last week Khao will be running our regular service. We’ll be closed next Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday-Saturday operation will be as normal, but Saturday night will be our last service until further notice. It’s a hard decision to make, but we wanted to buy some time to allow our tribe to apply for grants and unemployment. Making sure they were able to have an income to survive on. Closing now, because it’s more of about the safety and well being of our tribe. We can’t be a full running restaurant without our tribe. It’s best to see them back healthy, when it’s all over with. We’ve try our best to stay open and stop the bleeding as much as possible. We’re a small business, we own our business, we don’t have any outside investors or silent investors. Every cent of the money we make at Khao goes back into the business. Wanted to thank everyone who has ever supported Khao from day one. And for our customers, friends, and family who purchase Noods For All, Pay it Forward. I want to especially thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. Every person who contributed to this cause has a special place in our hearts. Thanks for your sincere generosity. We’ll keep everyone posted on what’s next for Khao, for the time being we’ll still have Khao Mart open for business. I’ll be working on creating prepackaged goods as well, in efforts of paying our rent. Special Thanks to our first responders, medical experts, and our essential workers. Thank you in putting your lives on the line during these time. You guys ever need a meal, we got you. To our industry friends as well, need a meal message us. We have some pay if forward meals for y’all. To say it will come back the same, is a dream. However, dreams don’t die, sometimes we just need time. To have more time is our dream. Be safe, please value our time with one another.

A post shared by Donny Sirisavath (@dondarkooo) on