Jordy Navarra

As the culinary leader, chef and owner of Toyo Eatery, Jordy Navarra also steers Panaderya Toyo, Inatô and Azukitoyo, continuing to shape the conversation around modern Filipino cuisine. Since opening Toyo Eatery in 2016, he has championed Philippine gastronomy by honouring its roots while reinterpreting the country’s diverse culinary heritage with creativity and respect.

In 2025, Toyo Eatery ranked No. 24 among Asia’s leading restaurants, making it the Philippines’ highest-ranked restaurant for the fifth consecutive year. Both Toyo and Inatô also received top-level recognition in regional restaurant guides.

For Navarra, Toyo has always been about reassessing, rediscovering and nurturing a deeper understanding of Filipino culture through food. As the restaurant approaches its tenth anniversary, he and his team continue to develop Barangay Toyo through Inatô and Azukitoyo, while evolving Panaderya Toyo and strengthening relationships with cooks, artisans and farmers across the Philippines.

In 2026, Navarra’s work took Filipino cuisine to new international audiences. He was selected as a guest chef for Qatar Airways’ first- and business-class Manila–Doha service, bringing his interpretation of Filipino food to the airline’s international passengers. In September, he also represented Philippine cuisine at a major Philippine Fair in Tokyo marking 70 years of Philippines-Japan relations.

Navarra’s influence extends beyond the success of Toyo as a restaurant. His work is helping shape how Filipino food is understood internationally, while demonstrating how local ingredients, techniques and culinary traditions can compete at the highest levels of regional and global dining. Through Toyo and its growing community of restaurants and producers, he continues to encourage curiosity and pride in Filipino food while creating greater visibility for the people and traditions behind it.