About
Awarded as 2024 Best Chef in California by the James Beard Foundation
Born and raised in the Philippines, Chef Maynard migrated to the United States in 2004 to pursue his passion for restaurant business management, with the ultimate dream of owning his own restaurant. After graduating from the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he relocated to Los Angeles, where his career flourished and eventually made a name for himself in the culinary scene.
For the past 21 years in the culinary industry, he gained invaluable experience and honed his skills in some of the West Coast’s most celebrated kitchens, working with renowned chefs such as Neal Fraser, Nyesha Arrington, Walter Manzke, and Ori Menashe, serving as sous chef at the iconic BESTIA.
Chef Maynard later became the Culinary Director for the h.wood Group, spearheading its culinary programs and creating standout restaurant concepts across the U.S. In 2019, he stepped away from the corporate culinary world to focus on his personal vision. He started hosting occasional pop-ups around Los Angeles. Then came the pandemic in 2020 and he converted his house garage into a full-on kitchen to start R&D for his new restaurant. It became a destination pop-up and rapidly gained popularity through word-of-mouth and food write-ups.
In 2022, Chef Maynard realized his long-held dream of opening his own restaurant, Kuya Lord, in Melrose Hills, where he showcases his deep passion for Filipino cuisine and his commitment to sharing the flavors of his heritage. Since he opened Kuya Lord in 2022, it made a serious mark in the food scene after gaining numerous accolades and recognition as one of the best restaurants not only in Los Angeles, but in America, bestowed upon by Bon Appetite, Timeout, LA Magazine, The Infatuation, LAist, among others. It has also been included in Los Angeles Times’ 101 Best Restaurants for 3 consecutive years now. Los Angeles Times food critic Bill Addison describes it as “Filipino feast as food of power, finesse, and delight.” He also added, “Llera stepped into the arena as a gripping new expressionist of Filipino cooking – a talent whose time had arrived.”
In June of 2024, Chef Maynard won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in California. This prestigious accolade reflects his exceptional talent, dedication, and the profound impact of his work not only in the culinary industry, but also in the Filipino community. He is truly elevating Filipino cuisine on a global scale.
