Meet Chef Lord Maynard Llera | Chef/Owner of Kuya Lord

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chef Lord Maynard Llera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chef Lord Maynard, what do you attribute your success to?
First of all, we want to set the record straight — there’s no PR team behind Kuya Lord.
Everything you see — from our social media content and event promotions to catering and customer messages — is managed entirely by my wife. She wears many hats and handles it all with passion and dedication.

For me, the real driving force behind Kuya Lord’s growth has always been hard work, perseverance, and an unshakable determination to share our food and story with the community. We’re a small, family-run operation, and every step forward is the result of staying true to those values.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It wasn’t easy building a career here in the U.S., especially coming all the way from the Philippines to study culinary arts. The culture shock was real. I had to completely change my lifestyle — from being a spoiled brat back home to working two jobs and barely knowing how to sweep a kitchen floor.

After graduating, I knew I was green. I didn’t have the skills or natural talent others had in the kitchen. The only way I could compete was by working harder than everyone else. I had no choice but to do whatever was asked of me, especially while I was still trying to secure my immigration status and get my green card.

Having chosen this path in the culinary profession, I sacrificed so much of my life and time. Years went by where all I did was cook and work. Every year I would look back and ask myself: What did I do for myself? What did I experience? And the answer was always the same — I just worked. There was no such thing as “having a life.” But I accepted that because I was so focused and dedicated to building my career. I just considered it as an investment of time for my future and to fully achieve my ultimate goal of opening my own Filipino restaurant.

My wife, who was my girlfriend back then, also sacrificed a lot with me. We barely had time together. We’d only get one day a week — my day off — and that was all we had. But she stayed with me, supported me, and believed in what we were working toward.

Now, I feel like it’s all starting to pay off. I’m finally able to spend more time with my family. But even now, I remain just as focused and committed to offering the best I can — especially in the face of the economic challenges we’re all dealing with today. The hard work doesn’t stop, but I carry it with gratitude and purpose

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting the area, I’d make sure they get the full LA experience — starting with breakfast at Republique. It’s one of my favorite spots, and a perfect way to kick off the day.

After that, we’d head to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to take in the classic tourist vibe, followed by a visit to Griffith Park for some great views and a bit of nature.

For lunch, I’d take them to my go-to Thai restaurant — Jitlada. The food there is packed with flavor and never disappoints.

In the afternoon, we’d wind down by heading to the Santa Monica Pier and then stroll over to Venice Beach to chill, enjoy the ocean breeze, and people-watch.

To wrap up the day, we’d have dinner at Bavel — one of the best dining spots in LA, hands down.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout first and foremost to my family — your love, support, and sacrifice have been the backbone of everything I do.

To my mentors, especially Chef Ori Menashe, thank you for your guidance and inspiration throughout my journey. And to my friends in the culinary industry, your encouragement and camaraderie mean the world to me.

I also want to give a special shoutout to the incredibly supportive Filipino organizations like SIPA, FilAm Arts LA, PABA, the entire Filipino community and especially our beloved La Canada Flintridge neighbors — you’ve believed in us from the very beginning, even during our humble pop-up days. Your belief gave us the confidence to keep pushing forward.

Website: https://kuyalord.com

Instagram: @kuyalord_la

Facebook: @kuyalord.la

Image Credits
Mariah Tauger and Jakob Layman