Food and service were great! The meat in my beef tapsilog was tangy and cooked perfectly. We loved the bibinka mamon with the mocha frosting. Everything was delicious, but it is a bit pricey. There are some really great Filipino restaurants that are equally delicious but what we paid for a single dish can pretty much cover family size dishes at other spots, so definitely not to somewhere to bring a large party.

Cool spot and compares well to similar ones I've been to in the Bay Area. Menu has a lot of good choices. Food is flavorful and well-seasoned, although the pork was ever-so-slightly overcooked. Service was pretty good. Small, so take out is recommended. Parking can also be dicey (and FYI, a bathroom is located in the back of the building).

I've gotten take out twice from this place and each time that Lechon?!!! It's been sitting in a to-go container for at least 30 min and yet the skin is perfectly crisp and the meat freaking melts in your mouth. I don't even like pork! But this is an exception, it's so freaking good and I can only imagine how good it is fresh at the restaurant. The Java rice is so yum and a great pairing, not too salty and so flavorful. The cucumber salad cuts some off the fattiness of it all, although not super necessary. This spot opened up near where I grew up and everytime I come to visit my dad, I pass by and only have warm fuzzy feelings thinking of how delicious their food is. I would get it more often but it's not cheap which is fine, the price matches the high quality and care of the food.

How does a restaurant get away with no public bathroom to wash my hands? Foods pretty good. I'd go back, with hand sanitizer and wipes. Service is order at counter and sit. Nothing better than that these days. No need to tip. And it gets cramped but I guess that's just the vibes.

I ordered the Kuya tray Lucenachon as delivery, and the crispy pork belly has really nice crunchy skin and super tender meat, and it well flavored. I really liked that this tray had everything, from flavored sticky rice, pickled carrots, to marinated udon noodles. I will say the tray is heavy on the carbs and mains, and light on the protein. But overall it was a really good meal to share between two people.

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!

*** 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!