Humberto Leon is no stranger to pivots. Known for Opening Ceremony and his work with Kenzo, in 2020 he teamed up with his family to open Chifa, his LA restaurant serving Chinese, Peruvian and Taiwanese cuisine. Now, with Monarch’s opening, they’re focusing specifically on Hong Kong.
Located in the San Gabriel Valley, Monarch is a contemporary and traditional ode to Hong Kong. Like Chi-Fa, Leon’s mother, Wendy aka “Popo”, lived in Hong Kong until her late twenties. brought. Here, Leon’s brother-in-law, John Liu, is tasked with translating that history into Monarch’s menu and adding dishes of his own Taiwanese origin.
More articles from Rob Report
“I think it’s the beauty of Hong Kong,” Leung said. los angeles times“I mean, it’s not just Cantonese food, it’s got almost its own cuisine of its own. This is because it’s been experienced by different people. [the city]”
The menu will include items such as pork belly in a sweet and sour sauce that Leon and his sister Rika grew up eating. Chinese-style steak tartare with snow mustard and chilli crisps served with shrimp chips, silky steamed eggs served with fish liver. Healthier dishes include grilled pork-style ragout over freshly baked egg noodles, and lamb shanks braised in tomato curry.
The new restaurant is certainly in conversation with Chifa, utilizing similar design elements and some menu items. Fried rice will become a permanent fixture on Monarch’s menu.
As for drinks, Liu and Rica’s son, Jarod Wang, has partnered with LA-based Optimist Botanicals to create a cocktail program that includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Coffee is brewed from hand-roasted beans, and several types of tea are also served, including oolong, pu-erh, and flower bud tea.
“We definitely take tea pretty seriously, but in a fun way,” Leon said. LA Times“Sometimes serious tea feels too serious. We’re not trying to give you a three-hour tea service, we’re just trying to give you a nice cup.”
Given Leon’s design background, the restaurant also has some pretty cool merchandise in addition to its food offerings: Monarch branded t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, metal lunch boxes, water bottles, and portable coolers/ You can get folding chairs, stickers. Some items feature butterfly motifs from the spot, while others point to locations in the San Gabriel Valley.
That hometown pride is probably the most important part for Leon, and the reason he and his family moved back to the city to become a local restaurateur.
Opening January 14th, Monarch will be serving dinner Friday through Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. Expanding to lunch and potentially planning additional service days.
Click here to see all photos of Monarch.
Sign up for the Robb Report newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news.
Click here to read the full article.
