Chifa Restaurant

Chifa is a Peruvian-Chinese Restaurant in Los Angeles by Humberto Leon, cofounder of cult fashion brand Opening Ceremony and former creative director of Kenzo. Named after the popular fusion food, the concept comes from his mixed background – his father is Peruvian and his mother Chinese; she opened a restaurant of the same name in Lima, Peru when Humberto was a baby.

As a visual director, Humberto teamed up with friend and architect Michael Loverich to completely customize the space, with references from Syd Mead to Wong Kar Wei to the nostalgia of 1980s Chinese restaurants. He collaborated with Calico Wallpaper to create a custom non-repeating wall covering, creating an animalistic vibe with grain peeking through. The green color (a lucky color in Chinese culture) was specifically picked out to match the bright minty terrazzo which covers the floors of the space.

For now, the restaurant remains visible through the large windows that frame 1/2 of the walls. Says Leon, “until indoor dining becomes possible, we are treating the dining room almost like a museum. It’s rare to see a space fully done with no one in it.”

Chifa is located at 4374 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.

Our Heartwood Collection, made in collaboration with Humberto Leon, is featured in the photos above wrapping the entire restaurant in a custom color.

Photography by Jarod Wang