Saturday’s grand opening celebration at the new Kirkwood location (612 W. Woodbine) of Lona’s Lil Eats will mark a milestone for chef-owner Lona Luo and business partner Pierce Powers III. The duo has grown the acclaimed dining concept from a stall at Soulard Farmers Market in 2008 to a nationally recognized restaurant in Fox Park, adding three James Beard Award semifinalist recognitions for Luo along the way.
The new Kirkwood restaurant, located near the St. Louis Community College–Meramec campus, hosted its first soft openings over the weekend which continue this week.
The grand opening includes a rice-paper ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and features door prize giveaways, including a grand prize of a private off-menu, off-site dinner for six, hosted by Luo.
The restaurant opens Tuesday for regular hours from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. six days a week; closed Sundays.
Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
All of the favorites from the Fox Park location will be available in Kirkwood, from the giant rice paper wraps and handmade dumplings to stir-fried glass noodles, village bamboo stew, and pineapple-coconut cookies. Many of the dishes are vegan, and nearly all can be modified for food sensitivities and dietary restrictions.
Customers will still be able to create their own plates in Lona’s time-tested format: a rice paper wrap, plate, or flour tortilla filled with a protein (grilled chicken, spicy tofu, grilled steak, smoked turkey, smoked brisket, or sauteed shrimp) and a filler (chopped salad mix, stir-fried rice, stir-fried glass noodles, jasmine rice, or cold glass noodles). The crowning touch is one of Luo’s custom sauces: spicy sesame, Lona-Q, smoked vinaigrette, or lime-ginger-peanut.
Luo’s dishes have a rich tradition that draws on various influences, including southern Chinese and northern Thai, as well as the cuisines of Laos, Cambodia, and Burma. Because many of the herbs and spices are sourced directly from Luo’s tiny home village in a rural Hill Tribe area of China called Xishuangbanna, the flavor combinations are unlike anything else in St. Louis—or, for that matter, anywhere else in the U.S.
“It’s harder and more expensive, but it’s worth it,” Luo says. “And everything is organic and natural.”
She adheres to traditional cooking techniques and ingredients because she prizes the flavor and health benefits of all-natural foods with no additives. “We want everyone to be healthy and feel good about eating here.”
Likewise, because Luo’s home province of Yunnan is known for its tea culture, Lona’s imports its loose-leaf black, green, white, and flower teas via her local connections. The restaurant also purchases teas from suppliers her family knows personally in other Chinese provinces such as Fujian and Guangdong.
“This is very, very hands-on sourcing,” Powers says. “It’s very authentic and very good quality. This isn’t something that you are ever going to buy in a store.”
Both locations of Lona’s Lil Eats follow the same service model where guests order at the counter before picking up their drinks and utensils, then finding a seat where the staff will deliver their dishes. At the Kirkwood location, guests will also be able to purchase wine, craft beer, and batch cocktails (pending liquor license approval).
The Atmosphere
In mid-2025, Luo and Powers purchased the Kirkwood building that had been home to 612 Kitchen & Cocktails and Graham’s Grill. Powers spent the past year managing a buildout that includes seating for 84 guests at 36 tables, with an additional private room for special events, as well as a state-of-the-art kitchen that gives Lona’s the capacity and consistency to expand its catering services.
Retaining the character and charm of the original Fox Park location was a priority for Luo and Pierce. “We are very focused on culture,” Pierce says. “We were intentional about creating a space where customers can enjoy a delicious meal that would take an incredible amount of work to prepare at home—but to feel like they’re eating it in at home, in a supported and connected setting where we take care of anything they need.”
Luo and Powers’ 23-year-old daughter, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Jane Powers, helped infuse the décor with a homelike aesthetic. Tables, chairs, walls, and floors are a riot of color and texture, all brightly polished and painted. Even the dark blue walls of the smaller dining room are infused with delicate sparkles.
Featured prominently throughout are family mementos. These include Luo’s James Beard best Chef: Midwest semifinalist honors from 2018, 2019, and 2020, as well as framed textiles and embroidered panels made by hand of silk and hemp thread.
Two of the family’s most prized possessions are on display in the main dining room: the exquisitely decorated baby carriers Luo and Powers used for their daughter and their 13-year-old son, Daniel Powers. Although they are now divorced, Luo and Powers remain close and share co-parenting duties in Los Angeles while jointly operating their restaurants in St. Louis.
By putting so much of their hearts on display in the décor, and by incorporating strategic seating configurations like a community table, Luo and Powers hope to create an environment for connection and conversation.
“We want people to feel a reprieve here, especially if they are going through hard times,” says Powers, whose background is in social work. “We want them to get to know the staff and feel their hearts open a little bit.”
The Team
Having a successful operation in Fox Park gave Luo and Powers the luxury of being able to analyze the factors that contributed to its success and emulate them in Kirkwood. Topping the list: a capable culinary team that shares their approach to food.
Luo is deeply committed to ensuring that her signature healthy, flavorful dishes are accessible to everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions or income. “Not only rich people should afford good food,” she says.
Luo and Powers brought on Nick Powers, a cousin with longtime restaurant experience, as the head of operations at the Kirkwood location. Professionally trained chef Phil Kurrus leads the kitchen.
“Our team is very open and responsible,” Luo says. “They care. They know the quality we’re expecting. We see them growing personally and professionally.”
Eventually, Luo and Powers would like to expand the Lona’s Lil Eats concept to other locations across the U.S. “This Kirkwood location is a test in quality, affordability, and consistency,” Powers says. “The buildout was tough to go through, but now we know what to do and what questions to ask ahead of time. It was all good practice.”
📍 612 W. Woodbine Dr., Kirkwood
📞 314-925-8938
⏰ 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon–Sat
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