Monarch, the follow-up to Chifa, features the Leon family’s exploration of Hong Kong trends and flavors. It's located in a former noodle shop in the San Gabriel Valley.
Opening Ceremony’s Humberto Leon Has a New Family Restaurant Diana Tsui
Opening a restaurant during a pandemic is a daunting task, but Opening Ceremony’s co-founder Humberto Leon is up for the challenge. Along with his mom, Wendy (more affectionately known as
popo, which is Cantonese for
grandma); sister Ricardina; and brother-in-law John Liu, Leon soft-opened Chifa, a Chinese-Peruvian spot in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, at the end of November.
Named after the Peruvians term for Chinese restaurants, Chifa represents the family’s unique mix of cultures.
Popo Wendy immigrated from China to Peru, where she owned a restaurant in Lima before moving again to Los Angeles. The menu includes Peruvian chicken and fries, traditional zhongzi (aka sticky rice dumplings), and a nod to Liu’s Taiwanese heritage in the form of a three-day beef noodle soup.