Kuya Lord

10/03/2026

ROOTS & RESONANCE: KASAMA × KUYA LORD

A One-Night Filipino Culinary Collaboration presented by OpenTable

This Filipino American History Month, we’re bringing family together.

Kuya Lord is teaming up with Chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of two-Michelin-starred kasama for one special day at the back patio.

We’re bringing the backyard BBQ feeling to the patio, live-fire grilling, long tables, cold drinks, string lights, DJs, good music, and dishes served family-style and passed around the table. The kind of day that feels like a Tuesday at your Tita’s house, full plates and plenty of reasons to gather around the table.

ABOUT KASAMA
Kasama is the Chicago Filipino restaurant from husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon. Through their bakery and evening tasting menu, they’ve brought their own perspective on Filipino food to the world, rooted in heritage, technique, craft, and heart.

For this one day, they’re bringing that spirit to Los Angeles and cooking alongside our own LordMaynard Llera

Expect grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, and backyard BBQ favorites. Three chefs, three perspectives, coming together through the flavors, memories, and traditions that connect us to home.

For us, this is what Filipino food has always been about: food that brings people together. Food that tells a story. Food that reminds you of home, even when you’re far from it.

📍 Kuya Lord Back Patio
5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles

📅 Tuesday, October 27
⏰ Two seatings: 4:30 PM & 8:00 PM

Tickets are limited.

Book through the OpenTable link in our bio or at www.kuyalord.com.

Bring your people. Pull up a chair.
Let’s eat, drink, and celebrate Filipino food together.

Tag the friends you’re bringing to the table.

10/01/2026

October is Filipino American History Month 🇵🇭

Every dish I make carries a story. My family’s, our community’s, and the Filipinos who came before us and made a way for us.

For five years, Melrose has been our home. We’ve been cooking the food we grew up with, pancit chami, lechon kawali, tapsilog, tocilog and more, and sharing it with everyone who walks through our doors. Nothing fancy. Just simple Filipino food, made with heart.

It makes me happy when even non-Filipinos know how to order our Lucenachon, Tocino, Laing and more — and, more importantly, love it.

Food is part of our history. We feed people, we share the table, we make room.

And now, it’s time to push harder and help bring Filipino food even further into the mainstream.

To those who came before us, salamat po. And to everyone who has supported us these past five years and even way before that when we we're still doing pop-ups, maraming salamat.

Kain na! 🇵🇭🧡

— LordMaynard Llera

09/25/2026

TODAY'S THE DAY! Forgotten Island is officially in theaters! We, at Kuya Lord, are so proud of Forgotten Island Movie and everyone behind it. Our own LordMaynard Llera grew up in the province hearing stories of manananggal, kapre, duwende, and tiyanak. . . the same creatures brought to life on the big screen, so this one hits close to home for his family and the Filipino community.

These aren't just spooky bedtime tales. They're part of the fabric of growing up Filipino, passed down from lola to apo, whispered about during blackouts, and debated over who's actually seen one. Seeing them celebrated on the big screen, for the whole world to enjoy, means everything. 💜💜💜

We were honored to celebrate with the directors Januel Mercado Joel Crawford and cast H.E.R. Liza Soberano Dave Franco Lea Salonga Manny Jacinto at the block party a couple weeks back and had them try our Lucenachon Sisig! Thank you Universal Pictures DreamWorks for having us join the party!

The passion, love, and craftsmanship behind this film is real, and it shows in every frame. Go support! This is going to be the best animated movie of the year!

09/25/2026

Almost five years ago, LordMaynard Llera opened the doors to his very first storefront on Melrose Hill with nothing but love, heritage, and a dream.

This summer, our Anniversary Kamayan Series became a love letter to that journey, a chance to bring everyone back to one table, hands and hearts open, sharing dishes Chef personally curated with techniques passed down and perfected, and ingredients chosen with care.

Behind every dish was "bayanihan" in its purest form. Our kitchen team poured themselves into the preparation, our front of house family arranged flowers and cut fruits with the same devotion they'd give their own celebration. And when the food finally spread across the table, guest by guest, dish by dish, something bigger than a meal happened. Strangers became friends, sipping Filipino cocktails and refreshments as they watched a tradition unfold right in front of them.

This Kamayan series was never just about the food. It was Chef's way of honoring five years of a dream made real, and a reminder, to him and to all of us, that none of it would have been possible without the community that showed up, again and again, ever since our pandemic garage pop-up era, to share in our culture and our heritage.

To everyone who joined us at the table. . . thank you for trusting us with this tradition, and for leaving as part of our extended family.

And to the partners who made this feast possible, our deepest gratitude to our friends at OpenTable.

Special thank you to our friends Sanzo, Felicità W**e Company, axr napa valley, SKYDUSTER, Acqua Panna, Sanpellegrino Official, No Smoking Bar, Sazerac Company, 375 Park Avenue Spirits, Island Pacific Market, mamasitasusa, Santa Monica Seafood Market & Restaurant, Kai Gourmet, Wanderlust Creamery ®, Punch+Company and of course GGIATA for sharing their back patio with us.

Thanks to Jonathan Manimtim for the video coverage and photos.

BUT... the celebration doesn't end here. Next month is Filipino American History Month 🇵🇭, and we're honoring it with something extraordinary. Stay close, this one's going to be unforgettable! Save the date 10/27!

Maraming Salamat po! 🙏🏼

09/19/2026

09/09/2026

SOLD OUT! 🧡

One last feast. One last long table. One last chance to get your hands messy... and you guys filled every seat!

Thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown our Kamayan Series this 2025 summer. We can’t wait to gather with you on Sunday, September 20.

Please note: Kuya Lord will be CLOSED for regular service on September 20. We’ll be serving Kamayan guests only.

Huge heartfelt thanks to OpenTable for featuring our Kamayan Feast and helping us share this tradition with our community!

Sending endless gratitude to all the incredible partners who helped bring this feast to life:
Sanzo | Felicità W**e Company | axr napa valley | SKYDUSTER | Acqua Panna | Sanpellegrino Official |Sazerac Company | 375 Park Avenue Spirits | Island Pacific Market | mamasitasusa | Santa Monica Seafood Market & Restaurant | Kai Gourmet | Wanderlust Creamery ® | GGIATA

Maraming Salamat po!! 🇵🇭

09/03/2026

LET’S END SUMMER WITH A FEAST.

Our Summer Kamayan Series has been about so much more than the food.

It’s been about you! Our regulars, our friends, our families, the people who brought someone new, and everyone who pulled up a chair and became part of the Kuya Lord family.

We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better summer.

So we’re closing it out with our biggest, most special Kamayan yet in celebration of our almost 5th year anniversary. Chef Maynard is bringing out all the stops to celebrate and to thank the incredible community that got us here.

Kamay-an — "kamay" means hands.
Hands-only. Family-style. No forks, no fuss, just good food and good people.

🎟️ Final Kamayan Feast
Sunday, September 20 • 6PM

Tickets are now live. Reserve your seat through the OpenTable link in our bio or www.kuyalord.com

$89/guest excl. sales tax & fees

📍 5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles - Back Patio

A heartfelt thanks to our friends at OpenTable for featuring our Kamayan Feast and helping us share this experience with the community.

And endless gratitude to our friends who helped make this celebration possible:

Sanzo Sanzo • Felicità W**e Co. Felicità W**e Company • AXR Napa axr napa valley • Skyduster B**r SKYDUSTER • Acqua Panna / S.Pellegrino Acqua Panna Sanpellegrino Official • No Smoking Bar No Smoking Bar • Sazerac Co. / 375 Park Ave Spirits Sazerac Company 375 Park Avenue Spirits • Island Pacific Island Pacific Market • Mama Sita’s mamasitasusa • Santa Monica Seafood Santa Monica Seafood Market & Restaurant • Kai Gourmet Kai Gourmet • Wanderlust Creamery Wanderlust Creamery ® • GGIATA

Thank you for making this summer one we’ll never forget. 🫶🏽

See you at the back patio. 🧡

08/28/2026

WE MISSED THESE. BUT APPARENTLY, YOU MISSED THEM MORE.

Our Kuya Trays went on hiatus for a few months. But our favorite regulars wouldn’t let us forget about them.

So… we’re bringing them back because we realized something:

Food just tastes better when it’s shared.

So… WELCOME BACK, KUYA TRAYS!!

A whole pint of rice.
A whole pint of chami.
Achara on the side.
And your choice of protein.

Lucenachon • 2x-Cooked Pork Belly (Kawali) • Chicken • Beef + Sausage + Egg • Hiramasa Collars

Bring your Kuyas!!! Your Barkada and Pamilya!!
Get a Kuya tray, pass it around. That’s the beauty of sharing!

Now available both for dine-in or online through Square, Uber Eats & Postmates.

For Dine-In:
📍 Kuya Lord on Melrose
⏰ Hours: 11am–3:30 pm; 5–9pm

🚗 Parking: Street/metered nearby or Bank of America lot (4975 Melrose – open after 4PM on weekdays & all day weekends via QR).

08/26/2026

4.5 YEARS ON MELROSE.

Countless Kuya Trays.
Countless rice bowls.
One community.

Almost 5 years of you showing up, eating with us, sharing stories with us, arguing about what’s “authentic,” and coming back for more.

Thank you for every order, every kind word, every recommendation, and every bit of love you’ve given Kuya Lord.

And before summer is officially over…

ONE LAST KAMAYAN.
Hands only. No forks. No excuses.

Don’t miss the last one of the summer.

🎟️ The Last Kamayan Feast
Sunday, September 20 6pm — tickets are now live. Reserve your seat through the OpenTable link in our bio or via www.kuyalord.com

📍 5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles - Back Patio

A special thank you to our friends at OpenTable for featuring our Kamayan Feast.

Thanks to our friends and partners :

Sanzo • Felicità W**e Co. • AXR Napa • Skyduster B**r • Acqua Panna / S.Pellegrino • No Smoking Bar • Sazerac Co. / 375 Park Ave Spirits • Island Pacific • Mama Sita’s • Santa Monica Seafood • Kai Gourmet • Wanderlust Creamery

Special thanks to our friend neighbor GGIATA for letting us use the back patio!

08/08/2026

Chef Maynard LordMaynard Llera cooks in a way that tends to stay with people long after the plates are cleared. And for years, some of his most memorable dishes never made it onto a public menu. On purpose. Quietly.

They’ve been showing up at private events, catering tables, and occasionally for the regulars who knew to ask.

BONE-IN SHORT RIB KARE-KARE.

Not your lola’s kare-kare. This short rib takes DAYS to get where we want it. Then we add fried long beans, char-grilled eggplant, fermented shrimp paste, smoked shiitake mushrooms, red fresno, green onions.

Kamayan Feast — August 15th. 1pm
Reserve through OpenTable link in bio. Pre-order available under our catering menu. Email [email protected]

📸 Carter Hiyama — from our 2023 Birdie G collab

08/06/2026

Yes, there is Lumpia on Melrose!

Who else grew up watching their lola roll these by the hundreds for every party??

Lumpia is not even originally Filipino, if we’re being real. It came over from Chinese immigrants centuries ago, and the name itself is Hokkien. The name "lumpia" comes from the Hokkien words lun (meaning moist or soft) and pia (meaning pastry or cake). Interesting to know, right?!

But eventually, Filipinos made it ours. That’s the story of Filipino food. We embrace it, adapt it, and make it unmistakably our own.

Every province’s got a version, every family’s got their own recipe of filling, their own wrap using different rolling techniques, their own sauce, or their own “secret” nobody will admit to. That's why when you try to ask ten Filipinos what makes the perfect lumpia, and you’ll get ten different answers!

Typically, we have 2 versions: pork lumpiang Shanghai and veggie lumpia or lumpia g "gulay". We fry them till they crack when you bite in, then dipped in vinegar or special lumpia sauce.

Ours is vailable now on Melrose for a limited time.

And if you’re joining us for our Kamayan Feast on August 15, it’ll be waiting on the banana leaves alongside the rest of the spread. No forks. No spoons. Just good food, good company, and the joy of eating together. Tickets live on OpenTable via link in our bio or website: www.kuyalord.com

Because lumpia was never just an appetizer.

It was always an invitation to gather.

📍5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles

08/05/2026

Lucenachon Sisig.

A Kuya Lord signature Lucenachon : slow-crisped pork, hand-chopped and finished with a bright citrus-chili edge! The Lucena province classic done our way. Best eaten with an egg on top. 🇵🇭

Available starting tonight, while supplies last.

📍 5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles

07/28/2026

Grateful to be invited as one of the featured chefs at the LA Chef Conference 2026.

Being part of Los Angeles’ restaurant community has been one of the greatest blessings of my career. From cooking in some of the city’s incredible kitchens to building Kuya Lord, it’s an honor to share this stage with so many talented chefs and hospitality professionals.

I hope you’ll join us on Monday, October 5 at City Market Social House as we celebrate, learn, and continue pushing LA’s food scene forward.

For tickets and more information, visit Brad Metzger Recruitment or www.lachefconference.com.

See you there!

— Chef Maynard

07/19/2026

Sunday July 19: We are closed for regular service today as we host our Back Patio Kamayan Feast.

Our team is preparing for this special communal dining experience, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone joining us tonight.

We’ll be back to our regular hours on Tuesday. Thank you for your understanding and continued support!