Kuya Lord

Kuya Lord has emerged as one of Los Angeles's most acclaimed Filipino restaurants, earning Chef Lord Maynard Llera the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef in California in 2025. Started as a garage pop-up during the pandemic, the restaurant now occupies a 28-seat space in East Hollywood, where Chef Llera showcases regional Filipino dishes from Lucena City, Quezon Province, reimagined through classical technique. The restaurant's signature Lucenachon, a Filipino-style porchetta, requires a 4-day process of infusing Filipino flavors of garlic and lemongrass into juicy pork belly with the crispiest crackling skin, while their Pancit Chami features thick noodles in a starchy, gravy-like sauce with over 20 ingredients. Featured in the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants for three consecutive years, Bon Appétit, and Timeout, Kuya Lord has been praised for elevating Filipino cuisine through high-quality ingredients and thoughtful cooking processes. The menu offers both individual rice bowls and large shareable 'Kuya Trays' perfect for family-style dining.