WHOA! Kuya Lord was as advertised. I'd always wanted to come eat here for the last few years. We happened to be nearby and we decided it was time to visit. Located on the busy streets of Melrose. Parking is most definitely a challenge. We circled around twice and had no luck so we ended up parking closed to 2 blocks away in a residential area. We were committed to trying Kuya Lord's food. Once we arrived the location was close to capacity. We came on a Saturday right around 2:30pm. They offer some tables outside and mostly high top table seating inside with one lower table that is wheel chair accessible. We decided on a few ala carte dishes to share and a Mexican Coke because why not!? We ordered: Prime Beef Short Ribs (savory) Pork Longganisa (sweet) Java Garlic Rice (pint/2 scoops) Tomate Cucumber Salad The staff was kind enough to bring all the shareable plates and orders as it all came out. First impressions, great presentation and aromatics with each dish. Everything was freaking amazing! Chef is a James Beard award winner and I can see why. These are Filipino dishes that I loved eating as a kid and it's elevated on a number of levels. They reminded of me of vacation in the Philippines and eating in the comfort of home. That Java Garlic Rice though! It's SPECIAL! It's one of the most memorable things on the menu. It's one of a kind rice I've not had before. The mix of sweet and savory with the freshness of a salad created a great dining experience for us. We unintentionally created our own family menu. I'm all for supporting my culture and my heritage and I'm glad my wife and I were blessed to try this food. Honestly, I can say this was some of best homestyle dishes of Filipino food I've eaten. Kuya Lord has found a way to elevate our simples dishes and maximize all the right balance of flavors that highlights what our Filipino Cuisine represents to all types of people. I can co-sign that in my personal opinion, Kuya Lord's is worth the hype! I absolutely loved it! I would make this drive and take time to find parking because it was that good to me! Salamat, Kuya Lord! ( ^_^)b read more

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Only street parking Friendly staff Menu includes a variety You can just order the meat or make a meal out of it Lechon is their specialty Very tasty Portions are small A bit pricey read more

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When I saw Jokoy's hilarious look alike Instagram post about Kuya Lord, then asked my cousin if she has eaten in Kuya Lord, she said their food is delish and lechon kawali is a must, so I made sure to order a side of this with the pancit! The only reason I gave 4 stars is because the pancit was very salty. My friend noticed this also. On a positive note, I was impressed by the amount of pancit served on this plate and the abundance of vegetables When I tried the lechon kawali, OMG the skin and meat flavors, and crispy skin, made me text my cousin immediately to tell her she was right! My friend ordered a longganisa rice plate and it was perfectly sweet. The Java rice was an excellent pair with the longganisa. Service is excellent and our food came out fast. The staff who took our orders patiently answered my questions related to my dietary restrictions. We sat outside since it was full inside. Such a sign of the Kuya Lord hype and delicious food fans! read more

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Even after the well deserved recognition - the food still hits! We ordered for delivery last night and the food still travels well. We ordered a la carte instead of the trays this time around. Their Laing topped with bonito flakes paired with steamed white rice was my favorite! The Pancit Sotanghon had a good chew. The Hiramasa Collar was still fatty and enjoyed the pickled veggies it came with. My husband enjoyed the Lucenachon and Grilled Chicken. They were tender and well seasoned! The tart from their calamansi pie was a good note to finish our dinner with. I still highly recommend! read more

Kuya Lord - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for a Filipino Employee Network dinner. Kuya Lord was nice enough to come out and take a photo with us! Ordered about half of the menu and everything was delicious! Been back twice since then to try out the traditional Lucban dishes. When I sent photos of the decor to my gf, she immediately knew that the chef was from Lucban and was extremely thrilled! Must tries: Lucban longganisa (savory) and the pancit habhab (noodles are specific to the region) as I tasted it, all I could think was "I've never had anything like this" confused but in a good way! Btw, Kuya Lord himself put habhab onto the Winter menu because I had specially requested it. You're welcome to anyone that had the opportunity to try it! read more

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It's taken me 3 years to visit this fusion infused Filipino restaurant. And, it was worth the 1 hour drive. I felt nostalgic when I walked in because it brought a little bit of my culture back to me. The ambience was progressive. The food was as handsome as the chef, a James beard award recipient. And, I can't wait to be back for more. read more

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I've heard lots of good things about Kuya Lord, including the numerous accolades it had received from the food critics. It's a self service diner where you are expected to bus your own table. The diner is small so a table can be hard to come by during peak times. Parking can also be a bit of a challenge. Our favorite dish was the Lucenachon, which is the Filipino version of porchetta. The 2x cook pork was similar but a bit on the dry side. The blue prawns were decent if a bit salty; pretty expensive for such a small dish. The Pancit Sotangon vermicelli was pretty bland. The prime beef short rib was not what I'd expected. It was thinly sliced and sweet; it reminded me of the Chinese pork jerky. The food was overall decent but quite pricey for a small self serve diner. read more

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Kuya Lord brings a modern spin to Filipino comfort food without losing the warmth and soul that define the cuisine. Although the dining space is small (and you'll likely be sharing a communal table), it creates an intimate, bustling atmosphere where energy from the open kitchen and fellow diners becomes part of the experience. THE FOOD. - Rice Bowl with Beef Tocilog. The grilled prime beef short ribs were sweet, tender, and beautifully charred. The garlic rice was fragrant and cooked perfectly (slightly sticky). Of course, breakfast isn't breakfast without an over easy egg to break on top of the rice! And lastly, the tomato/cucumber salad & pickled green papaya helped to cut through the richness. Highly recommend. - Lucenachon Rice Bowl. The slow roasted pork belly was magnificently juicy; its crackling skin shattered with each bite, delivering that perfect salty crunch. If you like pork belly, highly recommend trying this out. - Pancit Sotanghon. The glass noodles lead the way; delicate, springy, and infused with patis (fish sauce) and aromatic seasoning. The medley of vegetables follows with crisp texture and earthy flavor, giving the dish a well-rounded finish. THE DRINK. - JuiceKoLord. Honey calamansi hibiscus juice; a sweet-tart combo that seemed more tart than sweet. I could only take a few sips at a time before feeling overwhelmed with the tartness. I still drank the whole thing though because I was taught not to waste food/drinks. lol. THE PARKING. Street parking is an option if you can snag it. We were not so lucky and ended up at a parking lot nearby, which we were probably not supposed to park in. #ohwell #tiredofcirclingaround THE VERDICT. Kuya Lord absolutely lives up to the hype. Bold flavors, thoughtful execution, and dishes that honor tradition while still feeling fresh and modern. A must-visit for Filipino food lovers! read more

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Good LAWD there must be angels in the kitchen!!! Exquisite cuisine, intimate & homey interior and just the nicest staff! It was a very memorable experience filled with a lot of, "whaaattt da phuck", "are you tasting this ", "why is this so good" and "howtell me HOW" and these were shared expressions from all parties in our group...it was an synonymously a hit! We got the tray and loved everything on it as well as the calamansi cheesecake...yum to 10th degree! We'll be BACK! read more

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Undoubtedly the best lechon I've ever had! Or, possibly among the best pork belly I've ever had across any culture. We ordered two things: the Lucenachon rice bowl and the Beef Tapsilog rice bowl. These two dishes were $24 each. Spending $48 before tax/tip is a bit difficult to swallow for the amount of food you get. HOWEVER, there is the kuya tray for $45ish which might be the better overall value. This is my mistake entirely but I didn't know it was on the menu until after I'd ordered lol. The lucenachon is the real deal. The pork skin was insanely crispy, but super airy. This means it wasn't hard to bite through and the meat was extremely tender. I don't think you really even needed to chew that much for it to melt in your mouth. The veggies were very refreshing and balanced very well with the java garlic rice. The beef tapsilog was solid, but it was very reminiscent of Korean kalbi and not necessarily something that stood out from others I've tried. Be very warned: parking is extremely difficult; we parked a block or two down with meters, and even then we felt pretty lucky. The inside was also very small and we were the last ones to grab seats before the entire place was filled up...and that was ~30 minutes after they had just opened for evening service. Overall, super glad I visited Kuya Lord. The food is awesome and the quality is reflected in the preparation, plating, and service. I had just wished there was a better deal so I can order more from the menu. read more

Kuya Lord - Lucenachon Rice Bowl and Beef Tapsilog Rice Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was so excited to order Kuya Lord for my Filipino friend that was visiting! Of course we ordered the large serving of lechon. The vinegar sauce on the side was crucial to cut the fatty goodness from the pork. My favorite part was actually the crispy, buttery skin. My mouth is watering as I type this. The calamansi pie was actually creamier than I expected? I was looking for a citrusy bite similar to key lime pie but it wasn't that. Anyways, solid spot for lechon! read more

Somewhere between a 4 and 5 for me, but I'll give them a 5 because the worker was just really nice and informative. We ordered the pancit Stanton with lechon, the lucenachon bowl and the tocilog bowl. It was all pretty good. Our least favorite was the lucenachon, but even that was a good dish, just not as good as everything else. Definitely one of the better Filipino food places I've eaten and I would recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

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So much flavor, of course with lots of garlic and vinegar. The skin on the lechon kawali was crispy, mm! This longsilog was also different and better than others I've had. It was a bit salty overall, and I think it was kinda crazy to be paying $50 for 2 silogs. read more

Kuya Lord - Savory Longsilog & Lechon Kawali Silog - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kuya Lord serves the best Filipino food I've ever had -- and honestly, some of the best authentic Asian cuisine in the area, period. You can feel the chef's passion in every dish. He's incredibly friendly and clearly cares about the food he puts out, which makes the whole experience even better. Everything is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavors are incredible. The sweet sausage and short ribs with the special rice were outstanding -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The sides complemented everything beautifully, and the gem salad was a refreshing surprise. Every dish feels thoughtful and carefully crafted. You really can't go wrong here -- it's the kind of food you think about long after you've left. read more

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Heard a lot of great things about this place, so in true LA form we wanted to check out the hype so we came, we saw, we ate... Ambiance: 1 Stars Its a very small space, not great for groups or kids. Had to wait about 10 mins to get out of restaurant as a strange man was yelling and having a conversation with himself outside. It's not the restaurant's fault, but we didn't feel safe going outside. Service: ??? It's a counter - you order at the counter, and you pick it up from the counter when it's ready. Comparable to any fast-food restaurant, you serve yourself and bus your own table. Food: 3 stars We ordered everything, and there were no complaints, and nothing memorable either Parking: Take an Uber or circle until you find meter parking read more

Kuya Lord - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

5 star Filipino Food!!! Hard to give Filipino food a five star since I think my grandmother and mom are the best Filipino cook lol. Got lucky to get a table for lunch when we arrived at 1130 on Sunday. Menu is limited but can't go wrong on trying a selection. We got the Lucerna LeChon plate, special dish- eggplant and tomatoes, and hiramasa collar. All dish were cooked perfectly- the LeChon was juicy and had crispy skin with accompanying achara (pickled vegetable, garlic fried rice, chami noodles. The grilled eggplant with burrata, and tomatoes dish was excellent- the flavor combination is amazing. Love the Almond wood-grilled Hiramasa collars with pickled veggies, dipping sauces: toyemans and chile garlic oil. Didn't make to desert but the calamansi pie looks great. They do have a house made homey calamansi hibiscus juice- very refreshing. The place is smallish having 5 tables but seems have access for outdoor seating infront and outside. Parking is street meter parking. They do have a restroom on the back. Definitely worth trying. And congrats to the James Beard Award. read more

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The shop is small and gives Mom and pop shop vibes, but their rightfully deserved fame made them very busy so try to go during non-rush hours! Oh my God the double crisp on the pork belly with the tender porkbelly - it is wild haha. It almost felt unreal as I've never had this texture combination before. Now for flavors - everything is balanced and compliments each other The key lime pie is the Filipino version - coconut milk (you can taste a little of it) and calamansi lime (a lime grow in the Philippines) has a more floral taste and less of the acidic taste unlike the Persian limes traditionally used in the states. I really enjoyed these dishes and will come back for sure! I accidentally ate the key lime pie without taking a picture so the staff was nice enough to prepare one and let me take another picture! Thank you! read more

Kuya Lord - Lucenachon rice bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Parking - difficult to find street parking but manageable with patience Service/Vibe - quick, casual, and small Food: kuya tray - garlic crab sauce prawns (amazing), java garlic rice (delicious), Chami noodles (FAVE - great flavor), pickled green papaya; lucenachon (slow roasted pork belly) - good but fatty, lechon kawali aka 2x cooked pork (good and crispy), honey calamansi juice (fresh but very sweet) read more

Kuya Lord - kuya tray - prawns, java garlic rice, Chami noodles, pickled green papaya; lucenachon, lechon kawali, honey calamansi juice - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is simply outstanding. I stopped by for dinner on Friday evening and my food was ready before I could even sit down! The cashier was super friendly and helped with questions and describing menu items. I went with the a la cart 8oz lucenachon, java garlic rice, and the honey calamansi juice. The rice is one of the best rice I've ever had. It's soft yet firm, moist, without being mushy or overcooked, and has so much amazing garlic flavor without being overpowering. The pork was amazing. The meat was juicy and tender while the skin was thin and so crispy crunchy without being greasy. I am a bit torn on the drink. It's more bitter than I expected but I think the bitterness comes from the honey? I don't know how tart a calamansi is but this wasn't like a lemonade drink. It's nice to have the contrast from the salty and savory foods though! Overall, a fantastic meal and I will gladly return read more

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Filipino restaurant/ cafe located in the Melrose Hill area (adjacent to East Hollywood and Larchmont - if you didn't know about that neighborhood, that makes the both of us. It's new to me) I haven't been to a lot of Filipino restaurants, but have had lots of Filipino food from friends at their house and gatherings including some really great examples of lechon (or lucenachon - my buddy does the long roast). Based on that frame of reference, I would say the lechon here is very tasty and has a great texture with the crisp on the skin - not too hard, but the crunch is there when you bite into it. I ordered the lucenachon rice bowl. And it was wonderful. As I mentioned above, the roasted pork belly was really well prepared, but what really elevates this place or at least the dish I ordered are the sides. The garlic rice was so tasty and the veggies not only added a bright aesthetic to the bowl/plate, but helped contrast and heighten the protein. The vinegar dipping sauce also was great in cutting through the fat and giving the dish balance. The casual and friendly vibe here as soon as you walk through the door makes this place feel very welcoming and approachable - despite the accolades and top lists this restaurant received and is a part of. Heck, during my visit, I was able to see Chef Lord Maynard hustling and doing his thing in the kitchen. Love to see it. The space itself is not large. There's a few tables, so I think they do a lot of their business in the form of large catering orders and take out. I was actually here on Mothers Day so there were some special items on the menu, but it was clear that it would be unwise for a single diner to order what was available (e.g. they had kare kare, but as much as I love that dish, it was only available in large trays) Parking could be a challenge because this is a busy area with lots of through traffic. I parked at a meter about two blocks away on an off street so it wasn't stressful to parallel park and I had a nice walk before and after. read more

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Honestly some of the most phenomenal Filipino food I've had in a while, and for a decent price point, too (especially for a small business + well-known chef). We split the plate 3 ways and felt like it was enough food. Though Kuya Lord is technically considered a fast-casual dining experience (you serve yourself, seat yourself, and bus yourself), the food quality is anything BUT fast casual. Everything is fresh, well-prepared, and ingredients tasted like the highest quality. Honestly the food was comparable to my Lola's. Would definitely come back, and I hope to bring my Filipino dad here (and his standards for eating Filipino food out are pretty damn high). I will say that seating here is TIGHT and hard to find - the space is small and the other customers were unwilling to share a communal table with us lol read more

Kuya Lord - Lechon plate - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I ordered a luchenachon bowl to go and the flavors were so delicious. The skin on the pork was absolutely crispy and perfect and the pickled vegetables served with the rice added nice balance. I loved this bowl however the pork is best eaten fresh and hot or just cooled to room temp. After refrigeration the pork didn't retain the original crispy texture. Friendly service at the counter too! read more

Kuya Lord - Lucenachon Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We visited on a Sunday and found parking close by. We ordered the lucenachon tray and it was as delicious as last time. The tray comes with Java rice (it's delicious) and the chami (also delicious and saucy) and the pork (it was tender and the skin was crispy) and the pickled veggies. The beef short ribs were amazing and flavorful! We also ordered the grilled chicken and it was juicy and had a delicious charred flavor. For our drink we ordered the honey calamansi drink which was sweet and refreshing and I could taste the calamansi, the honey, and the hibiscus. For dessert we ordered the calamansi pie which was perfectly sweet and reminded me of key lime pie. All the food was very flavorful and 10/10! Chef Kuya Lord and staff are kind, attentive, and helpful. The ambiance was lively and would definitely recommend visiting! read more

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My friends and I were in LA and really wanted to support a small business, Filipino eatery, and thought it was as good a time as any to check out Kuya Lord! We got there just a bit after opening for dinner hours, and all the large tables were already taken - so word to the wise: get there early to ensure seating! My group of 5 decided to take the smaller tables in the middle, since it was the only space that could fit our group and none of us were from LA to be able to take our order to-go. It was cramped and other patrons coming in and out definitely had to maneuver around us. When they say small business, Kuya Lord's really is it including size! We ordered 2 Kuya trays and an appetizer, which was a good amount for the 5 of us. The meats we chose were: lucenachon and long-tapsilog. Both were so good! The pork belly was so crispy and the achara (pickles) paired so well. The longanisa sausages were unique from others I've had but so tasty with such a high umami. Our appetizer was the chicharon bulaklak since my party was curious and really wanted to try (why pass up good chicharon?!). As expected, everything was delicious and rich, so of course we ordered one of each dessert to end the night. We're already there, so why not go all out? The bibingka took me by surprise. It's very fluffy and airy, like a brioche bun, but flavors remind you of bibingka. A couple of us also ordered the honey calamansi juice. This juice packs a punch! It's very flavorful and the juice is highly concentrated. I ended up taking most of it home and having to mellow it out with more ice, but it is delicious and was nice to have with the rich, fatty meats we were eating. The staff were so kind to us, and when there were lulls in the customer line would chat with us when the could. It was a great experience in. Most of their seating is bar-style, so unfortunately it's not very accessibility friendly. highly recommend trying to snag seating if you can, but even if you can't, the food is exceptional and worth a try if you're in LA. As is most of LA, parking is all street parking. All in all, it's definitely worth the stop in. read more

Kuya Lord - Kuya Trays - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best Filipino food I've had in L.A.!! Great service and atmosphere. Noodles taste handmade to order!

Kuya Lord was the recipient of the James Beard Award in 2024 for Best Chef: California. It has countless accolades and I can understand why. This is the place that serves delicious Filipino food made from scratch. Apparently a lot of the proteins here take days of prep. I went with one of their Kuya trays for $45, which was enough for my wife and I. It came with thick pancit, two large scoops of java rice, a choice of protein, and pickled green papaya (atchara). For our protein, we went with their highly acclaimed lucenachon, which was slow roasted pork belly that was stuffed with tons of green onions. The meat was moist and the skin was crispy. It was so good. The longanisa, made in-house, was also delicious. I got it sweet and it was garlicky without being over-the-top. This is food that's made with love. While some may lament the cost and the limited offerings, I think that it's worth it. I'll be dreaming of the juicy pork with the perfectly crispy skin for a long time. As many have said, parking is definitely awful in this area. I had my wife drop me off and I took my food to go. She picked me up when the food was ready after 25 minutes. If I come back, then this is probably what I will do. read more

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The tortang eggplant was to die for! Don't skip on the calamansi pie either. I'm still dreaming about it. read more

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Kuya Lord had a lot of hype, and I came in with high expectations. It's a small spot with limited seating, but the service was cool and helpful. I went with two proteins and a side of garlic java rice, super garlicky and savory. The beef short rib had a salty, Korean galbi like taste, which was good. The famous lechon was juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. That said, I'm not sure if I was just too full from a burger earlier, but it didn't quite hit the level I was expecting. Still solid food, but the flavors felt familiar rather than mind blowing. Also, it's on the pricier side, each protein was around $20 or more, and two scoops of rice were $9. Portions leaned small for the price, which made it feel a bit less worth it. Wouldn't mind giving it another shot on a fresh palate. read more

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The food was great, everything was curated to meld together down to the sauce that our chicken KUYA tray came with. Chicken was moist, pancit had great flavor, rice was nicely seasoned, achara complemented everything on the tray and just a dab of the garlic chili oil gives a nice kick and elevates everything it touches. My only complaint is the food temperature. Most of the food was cold and watching them in action in the kitchen, I think it would've been great to be aware of how long each dish takes to cook so they all came out hot. The place is cozy and has a village joint feel to it. read more

I've been hearing good things about this spot and the kuya won a James beard so had to try. It's a small restaurant with street parking. Seats are limited and it's a bit crammed but they do have outdoor seating in front and in the back. We ordered the lechon plate and it was better than any lechon I've had in the US or the Philippines. It melted in my mouth and was perfectly crispy on the outside. Complimented well with the achara, rice and the vinegar. I wanted to try their honey calamansi drink but they were sold out so will have to come back for that. Only con is that the portion was small and I was still a bit hungry afterwards, so I'd probably order the platter next time! read more

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KWISPY BOYS as Joshua weissman would say it. We got the kuya tray with the most popular meat, the Lechon. So crunchy and flavorful with the comforting Java rice. The chami noods were packed with flavor too. This spot is a must try if you're in town. It's a def treat if you like Filipino food. And JamesBeard winner 2024 award looks really good on the wall. read more

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What a gem. As most have said parking can be tricky but apparently you can park in the Bank of America lot if needed. The restaurant is small so keep that in mind when deciding how many of your besties you want to go with. Now on to the most important part - food! My friend and I opted for a tray. It does feed 2-3 people since the 2 of us had a good amount of leftovers. While all the trays looked yummy, and were the same price ($47), we landed on the Long Tapsilog (Sausage-Beef-egg). All trays come with Java Rice and Chami noodles, and with this tray you have a choice of Tapa (savory beef) or Tocino (sweet beef); Lucban (savory sausage) or Sweet sausage. We chose the sweet sausage and savory beef. The sweet sausage had a lovely crispy, almost charred, outer casing and a nice mildly sweet filling. The savory beef was thin, lightly seasoned and worked well as a building block for the rice, egg, and pickled vegetables. The rice was a tad bland but the runny egg on top added flavor and texture. I love noodles so the thick, chewy, udon-esq noodles, were right up my alley. The raw cabbage added a nice crunch as well. Of course we had to end with something sweet and we had to try both deserts: Calamansi Pie and Bibingka Mamon. The Calamansi Pie was essentially a Filipino key lime pie and hit all the right key lime pie notes. Sour, sweet, sharp, refreshing. Perhaps a little dense especially after trying the very light and fluffy Bibingka Mamon. The Bibingka Mamon, a rice flour cake, was such a delicious surprise. It was just out of the oven so it was still warm with a lovely crispy edge. Big fan! All in all, the food was fun, yummy, and perfectly shareable. read more

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Search high and wide for pictures I have taken of Kuya Lord's dishes. I was first introduced to Kuya Lord a few years ago when he had a pop-up at a brewery in the South Bay. Now, we have ordered bowls to-go for a night at the Hollywood Bowl. Happy that Kuya Lord has a spot on Melrose. Parking could be a little tricky so keep in mind that only street parking is available. The spot is small with limited space but the interior design is awesome! Much like the food, it is modern but cozy and very reminiscent of home. The food is just amazing! I always order the lucenachon- it's crispy on the outside and the meat is succulent and seasoned. The garlic rice with the pickled green papaya is a perfect balance. I have tried many more dishes but lucenachon is the dish I can't stay away from. I highly recommend you try Kuya Lord's! read more

The Chef was sweet and greeted everyone with a smile. It's too bad the guy at the counter was not helpful and honestly came off rude. Wouldn't you like to help and present the menu to someone new to the establishment? The food was yummy, cozy, and a great way to introduce Filipino food to Los Angelenos. But man, as a Filipino and a server of 10+ years ... the guy at the counter was not a good representation for this business. The service should be just as warm and hospitable as Filipinos are known to be. It's a shame bc it was off putting and I think I'd rather dine at LA Rose Cafe bc of this experience. Good luck to the chef! Good staff is hard to find. read more

Kuya Lord - Pancit and Lechon - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

*** James Beard Award Winner (2024): Best Chef: California *** ** Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants (2024): #56 ** Located off Western Ave on Melrose, Kuya Lord is an elevated fast casual restaurant featuring regional Filipino dishes that the chef grew up eating in the Philippines. I admittedly do not eat Filipino food often, but I was very excited to give this place a try, especially considering their accolades. We arrived around 5:40pm on a Friday night not really knowing what to expect, and ended up being pleasantly surprised that there was no line to order and open seats available. To eat, the two of us split a Kuya Tray, priced at $47. This included java garlic rice, chami noodles, achara, and a choice of meat/protein. I believe the two most popular options are the Lucenachon and the Lechon Kawali. After some deep contemplation, we opted for the Lucenachon. Also, while not on the menu, it's worth noting that they do have a few Filipino beers as drink options. We didn't know this at first, but overheard the chef mention it to another person inside the restaurant. We couldn't resist ordering a couple to go along with our meal. Everything here was delicious and flavorful. I especially loved the chami noodles/pancit chami. The lucenachon itself was cooked to perfection, and the rice did not disappoint, either. Service was extremely friendly, helpful, and accommodating. While the space is relatively small, it has a nice feel to it. I am looking forward to coming back soon to try more of their food items. Definitely give this place a try if/when you're in the Los Angeles area. It will not disappoint! read more

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Finally got to check out this place to see if the hype is real. It sure is! I grew up on Filipino food, and this place felt like rediscovering the food of my childhood. I love a casual place where the focus is simply on awesome food. The LucenaChon in particular was amazing. Great crisp on the skin, but not so much that my tooth feels like it's going to break. And the meat (pork belly) was so tasty and juicy. Just the way it should be. My wife - who doesn't love meat like I do - really liked this dish. The chami noodles that came with the kuya plate were great as well. I'm more accustomed to thinner or medium sized noodles on Filipino dishes, but man were these good! The place is small, so be ready for that, but we easily were able to wait briefly for the little table in the middle for our family of four. Parking is, well, it's the city. Drive a smaller car! In short, this may be the best Filipino spot I've been to. Can't wait to come back to try more. read more

Kuya Lord - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I've had Kuya Lord twice now, my most recent experience being delivery. Between the two, I definitely feel like delivery is the more comfortable eating experience, especially with how cramped the restaurant gets during peak hours. The restaurant is TINY, and the line forms down the middle of the restaurant with seating on the immediate sides of the line (essentially, you can sit on the seats while you wait). It makes finding a seat and comfortably eating a bit difficult to do. Between seating and finding street parking, dining in can be a bit of a challenge. Moving onto the food - I don't have too much experience with Filipino food, but I can definitively say the flavors here are bold and tasty. I've tried both the lechon kawali and the lucenachon and you can't go wrong with either - I'd say between the two, lucenachon tastes a bit more "herbal" in a kind of interesting way, while the kawali has its signature super crispy skin. If you want a sweet treat, the calamansi pie is also great! A decent size for sharing, and the tartness of the key lime pairs wonderfully with the sweet pandan cream. My biggest gripe would honestly just be the portion sizes and the price. The Kuya Tray says it feeds 2-3, but to me, it felt hard to imagine this feeding 3, and I'm not particularly a big eater. The bowls are also on the smaller side, and considering they get up to 25 dollars a bowl, it's not really a great feeling to feel like maybe you should order something al a carte to be full. Overall, the food is great though, so Kuya Lord will definitely be in mind when we want some quality lechon. I also definitely plan to try the prawns sometime - someone ordered it at the table next to me and they smelled so good... til next time! read more

Kuya Lord - Kuya Tray - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The smoke gets trapped inside the restaurant and irritates our eyes. Most of the food too salty even the drinks are too sweet. We ordered: Tocilog - over seasoned, you can eat 1 cup of rice for 1 peice of meat Lucenachon - meat too salty, dipping sauce is vinegar with fish sauce w/c was too salty as well. Mang Tomas would be a better dipping sauce Tofu and Mushroom- too salty and not a good alternative for vegetarians Laing - too salty, lacks coconut cream. We were disappointed in trying this restaurant for lunch. We went to Manila Inasal for dinner for a better Filipino food. Also, there's no parking and too expensive--not worth it. read more

Kuya Lord - Laing - too salty and lacks coconut milk Tofu and Mushroom- too salty - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Pretty good, 3.5! Got the Lechon Kewali Rice Bowl. Lechon was very tender and juicy, while having that crispy skin, and paired very will with the vinegar and Java Rice. The Java Rice was super tasty! Moist, garlicky, and very savory, kind of addicting to eat. The pickled veggies were just okay; didn't feel like they went well with the food. I think the price is a bit steep considering the portion, but considering it's LA it makes sense. Worth a stop for some quality Filipino food. read more

Kuya Lord - Lucenachon Bowl and Lechon Kewali Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a little gem in LA. The restaurant is surprisingly spacious and small at the same time. The way the seating is set up they're able to serve a sizable amount of people but it is a small location. There are also a couple of tables outside that seat 2 per table. The food was excellent! The spices and combination of vegetables mixed with your entree is perfect. We were happily full and rubbing our bellies as we left. The vibe and service were great! read more