Acclaimed chef Lona Luo brings Lona’s Lil Eats to Kirkwood — and honors her Chinese roots

Three-time James Beard semifinalist chef Lona Luo has opened a second Lona’s Lil Eats location in Kirkwood. Known for her “Asian-soul food,” Luo draws inspiration from her childhood in a hill-tribe village in southwestern China. We talk with the chef about her culinary journey, the story behind her acclaimed restaurant in St. Louis’ Fox Park neighborhood and why she decided to expand to Kirkwood.