Meet Walter Nunez | Executive Chef at The Rex Steakhouse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Walter Nunez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Walter, what do you attribute your success to?
At The Rex Steakhouse, our mission is simple: we strive to bring a new and exciting culinary vision to the South Bay. We aim to provide our community with an unparalleled experience and exceptional service in a cozy, modern beachside atmosphere. At our core, we’re dedicated to serving our guests a deliciously inventive steakhouse menu sourced from the finest seasonal ingredients. We prioritize bold flavors, the finest ingredients, unmatched hospitality, and a welcoming ambiance to bring the luxury of an upscale steakhouse to the shores of Redondo Beach.

We also offers private events at our spacious seaside location. Whether it’s enclosed and private al fresco dining under the stars, private dining with a fireplace and sweeping views of the ocean and the Hollywood Riviera, or an intimate outdoor space fully-equipped with audio and video, we offer an elevated atmosphere ideal for intimate dinner parties, wine tastings, sporting events, baby showers, weddings, and more.

After years of working tirelessly to open our restaurant at the height of the pandemic, I’m proud to say we’re thriving and providing something special that’s been missing from the South Bay.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m the Executive Chef at The Rex Steakhouse, a modern seaside steakhouse in Redondo Beach. From our wood-fired grilled surf and turf dishes to our hand-rolled pastas to our thoughtfully crafted cocktails, our menu honors the important work of our farmers, fishermen, and butchers by showcasing their products as they were meant to be tasted. As a team, we aim to deliver so much more than just a dish, but a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

In addition to our ever-evolving menu, we also recently launched our Tastemaker Dinner series, a lineup of one-of-a-kind, intimate dining experiences in partnership with unique wineries and distilleries including Far Niente Wines, Nikka Whisky Distilling, Suntory and many more. Specially curated by me, these Tastemaker Dinners are ticketed dining events showcasing one-time-only four course menus thoughtfully paired with select wines and spirits from a featured winery or distillery. With limited seating available, Tastemaker Dinners are an opportunity for our diners to savor a more experimental and creative side of The Rex.

I’m most proud of my team – from the bussers to the bartenders to the line cooks to the Chef de Cuisine, it takes a village to create a seamless and beautiful dining experience. Our work is very demanding – not just physically, but mentally. It requires a certain attitude and grit to continue pushing forward, refining your skills, and showing up creatively. Personally, I know I have a lot to give and have yet to meet a challenge that I can’t overcome. I truly believe every single person on my team embodies this drive, and for that I am eternally proud.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always viewed food as the ultimate love language – you just can’t beat the power of a good meal. This is what got me through the grind of my early years at San Francisco’s Jardiniere and Downtown LA’s Faith and Flower, two establishments that have left a mark on my culinary worldview. Now as Executive Chef of my own restaurant, I realize it took a lot of patience and work outside of the kitchen to get me here. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to take the time to master your craft – however much time you think it takes, double it. While none of it was easy, coming back to my love for food has always seen me through the challenging times.

I want people to know that we’re here for the long run. Everything we do is for our community and our team – and every decision we make takes this into account. We are here to create something special in our community – to bring people back to the table after years of setbacks to the dining and hospitality industries.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1 – I would start with dinner at Republique, one of the best restaurants in LA to this day. Many have come and gone, yet that team continues to deliver.

Day 2 – Lunch at Holbox, a great new restaurant that’s moving the needle forward with freshness and flavors, followed by drinks at Golden Gopher in downtown. It’s the perfect place to run into industry people and get ready for dinner. Then dinner at Shibumi, one of the best Japanese experiences in town. The restaurant features a very classic menu with some dishes you will not see in any other Japanese restaurant. Prepare to be there the rest of the night because you will want to try everything.

Day 3 – spend the morning at LAX Gun Range. There’s no better way to start the day than with some guns and ammo, followed by a donut at Randy’s around the corner. Then, I recommend lunch at Park’s Finest, a BBQ restaurant with Filipino flavors, followed by great cocktails at Thunderbolt. End the day with dinner at Night + Market Song – I can’t get enough of their amazing Thai flavors and quirky atmosphere.

Day 4 – Lunch at the beach at The Rose Cafe in Venice, followed by hanging out at the Santa Monica pier until dinner at Pasjoli, one of my favorite French restaurants. The establishment features classic French flavors that remind me of my early days in French kitchens.

Day 5 – A trip to the beach followed by lunch at The Strand House, a Manhattan Beach staple with an amazing ocean view. It’s the perfect place to sip champagne and enjoy small bites. For dinner, you can’t leave Manhattan Beach without trying Fishing With Dynamite, a killer restaurant with the freshest seafood that’s expertly prepared.

Day 6 – Lunch at Cole’s in downtown for one of the oldest french dip sandwiches in LA, followed by an afternoon at The Griffith Observatory, an early dinner at Otium, and a stroll through The Broad Museum next door.

Day 7 – recover from a week of amazing eating and drinking with a dim sum breakfast at Won Kok in Chinatown. Walk off the meal at the La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum. For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, I recommend going for the tea ceremony at the Shoseian Tea House in Glendale. After a power nap, bring it home and finish the trip with steaks and wine at The Rex Steakhouse, followed by cigars overlooking the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without my partner, Emily. Working in kitchens means the grind never stops – long days, late nights, and working weekends are the norm. Opening The Rex Steakhouse during the height of the pandemic was an especially risky and challenging time for restaurants and most days it felt like moving mountains – but her unconditional support has given me the confidence to take bigger swings in life and in my career.

Website: www.therexsteakhouse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therexsteakhouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRexSteakhouse/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-rex-seaside-steakhouse-redondo-beach

Other: https://www.opentable.com/r/the-rex-steakhouse-redondo-beach

Image Credits
The Rex Steakhouse