Eduardo García (Mexican chef)
Eduardo "Lalo" García Guzmán | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977 or 1978 Acámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Máximo Bistrot, Lalo!, Havre 77, Michelin star recipient |
Eduardo "Lalo" García Guzmán (born 1977 or 1978) is a prominent Mexican culinary expert and the entrepreneur behind the Mexico City establishments Máximo Bistrot, Lalo!, and Havre 77. Recognized as one of the leading chefs in Mexico, he earned a Michelin star in 2025.
Biography
Originating from Acámbaro, Michoacán, García's enthusiasm for cooking emerged early as his parents labored as migrant farm workers in the United States. His entry into the culinary world began washing dishes in Atlanta, where he rapidly progressed to working in the kitchen under Chef Scott Adair. By age 16, he had secured a position at Brasserie Le Coze, affiliated with New York’s Le Bernardin.
During the 1990s, García encountered legal difficulties, including serving a four-year sentence for aggravated assault, followed by deportation to Mexico in 2000 due to his undocumented immigration status. He reentered the U.S. unlawfully to tend to his ailing father but was deported again in 2007, which prevented him from working there further.
Upon moving to Mexico City, García served as head chef at Pujol between 2007 and 2010. In 2011, utilizing a loan from his uncle, he inaugurated Máximo Bistrot in Colonia Roma with a modest team. The venue swiftly earned critical acclaim and garnered multiple awards, including a Michelin star.
García broadened his culinary ventures by collaborating with the Japanese restaurant Rokai in Colonia Cuauhtémoc and crafting menus for De Mar a Mar, Cine Tonalá, and Puebla 109. Together with his wife Gabriela López, he launched Lalo! in 2014, focusing on affordable breakfast and lunch offerings.
According to The Wall Street Journal, García played a pivotal role in transforming Mexico City's gastronomic landscape through approachable, highly seasonal dishes that emphasize local produce within casual environments. In 2015, Máximo Bistrot was ranked #41 on William Reed Business Media’s Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Grupo Maximus
Together with López, García established Grupo Maximus, which manages eleven dining and drinking establishments across Colonia Roma and Colonia Juárez in Mexico City. The group prioritizes sustainable practices by sourcing locally, maintaining fair pricing, and providing industry-standard compensation and benefits. Its array of venues includes:
- Máximo Bistrot (García and López)
- Lalo! (García and López)
- Panadería Gala (García and López)
- Havre 77 (García and López)
- Em (Lucho Martínez and Fernanda Torres)
- 686 Bar (Martínez and Torres)
- Ultramarinos Demar (Martínez and Torres)
- Martínez (Martínez and Torres)
- Café Tormenta (Martínez and Torres)
- Makan (Maryann Yong and Mario Alváez)
- Café de Nadie (Pablo Usobiaga, Santiago Guerreiro, Billy Castro)