Last night, the James Beard Foundation Awards took place in Chicago, crowning U.S.-based chefs and restaurants with some of the most sought-after titles across the culinary world. This includes L.A.’s very own Lord Maynard Llera of Filipino eatery Kuya Lord—and one of the city’s very best restaurants.
An alumnus of Bestia and Bavel, Llera took home the prize for Best Chef: California. If you ask us, it's a well-deserved title, given the chef-driven Filipino food that he serves out of his scrappy East Hollywood restaurant. During the pandemic, Kuya Lord began as a pop-up, which Llera operated out of his home garage in La Cañada Flintridge.
Despite the fact Kuya Lord has limited seating and a lack of convenient parking, the gastronomic guru’s gourmet twists on classics—lechon, a traditional spit-roasted pork dish, served two ways and Filipino stew kare-kare, among others—quickly drew local and national acclaim after Llera opened the fast-casual storefront in 2022.
The rest, as they say, is history... one now involving a James Beard award.
“I want to thank my wife, who came here to America to be with me and to support me since day one,” Llera said during his acceptance speech, referring to his childhood in Lucena City in the Philippines. “Without her, Kuya Lord wouldn’t be here now … this recognition is not just a testament to my individual efforts and hard work but a reflection of the support and encouragement and collaboration from many wonderful people in my life. I am fortunate enough to have mentors, friends and family all throughout this journey.”
Already a popular destination among locals and tourists alike, we suspect that Kuya Lord will be suddenly inundated with a mass of folks craving chef-driven, thoughtfully presented and downright tasty Filipino food. You might want to join the crowd.