Magna Kusina

Magna Kusina, Chef Carlo Lamagna's flagship restaurant in Portland, Oregon, opened in 2019 after years of successful pop-up dinners under the name Twisted Filipino. Named 2021 Restaurant of the Year by The Oregonian, this modern Filipino restaurant at 2525 SE Clinton represents Lamagna's promise to his late father to proudly share Filipino culture with the world. Lamagna, a CIA-trained chef who worked at Michelin-starred Vie under Paul Virant, was named Food & Wine's Best New Chef 2021 and became a 2022 James Beard finalist for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific. The small, vibrant restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating along Clinton Street, creating an energetic atmosphere where diners experience what Lamagna calls "evolutionary cuisine" - not fusion, but the natural evolution of Filipino food through historical influences and contemporary techniques. The iconic Mom's Crab Fat Noodles combines childhood memories with techniques from Italian and Chicago chef mentors. Beyond food, Lamagna teaches Filipino martial arts (Arnis/Kali/Eskrima) every Friday at Irving Park, demonstrating his holistic commitment to Filipino cultural preservation. Magna Kusina has become Portland's beacon of Filipino cuisine, inspiring a wave of new Filipino establishments throughout the city.