From classic Pinoy barbecue haunts to lesser-known eateries in Quezon and Batangas, read all about the casual Filipino restaurants chef Llera dreams about
Since moving to the United States to pursue culinary arts, in 2004 chef Lord Maynard Llera set his sights on opening a restaurant—one that unabashedly celebrates the culture, traditions, and flavours of his home country, the Philippines. Now based in Los Angeles, Llera has amassed decades of time-earned experience, ranging from his time as executive sous at BESTIA to the h.wood Group’s culinary director and of course, running his own Filipino pop-up concept, Kuya Lord.
“When I did my pop-up in 2020-2021, luckily, fellow Filipinos showed their support, while non-Filipinos loved the interpretation of my Filipino food and they kept coming back,” he relates. Housed in the chef’s own garage, Kuya Lord serves “Filipino food, focused on Southern Tagalog cuisine using classic techniques (French, Italian, American),” birthing inspired yet nostalgia-inducing dishes like dinuguan salami.
Gearing up to open his first fast-casual restaurant, teeming with the same Southern Tagalog spirit, Llera continues to fawn over the unique food in our vibrant archipelago. Learn all about the casual eateries and classic eats he can’t wait to try again, below:
See also: Filipino Food In Los Angeles With Chef Lord Maynard Llera
What do you miss most on the food/drink front when you are away from the Philippines or haven’t been back for a while?
I miss our street food, especially our pork bbq, fish balls, balut.
What is the first dish you want to eat when you return, and where do you go for it?
Ginataang inihaw na tilapia sa Palaisdaan (Quezon province) and pork BBQ from Aling Nene (the one at Quirino Avenue, Pasay Pasay City).
Do you have a favourite restaurant in the Philippines? For fine dining and for more casual experiences?
Fisherman’s Village (though it’s now closed).
See also: Meet Don Baldosano, the 23-Year-Old Chef Behind Modern Filipino Restaurant 'Linamnam'