Yara Herrera - Hellbender

WHO: Yara Herrera is chef-partner of Hellbender, an award-winning Mexican-American restaurant in Queens.

ABOUT: Yara is the chef/partner at Mexican-American restaurant Hellbender in Queens, NY. Born and raised in Los Angeles as a first-generation Mexican-American, she launched her culinary journey at just 20 years old, honing her skills at esteemed establishments such as Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and Providence, a celebrated two Michelin-starred sustainable seafood restaurant. In 2018, an invitation from David Chang to join the highly acclaimed Momofuku Ko brought her to NYC, where she would go on to join the team at Xilonen (the former sister restaurant from the Oxomoco team). She swiftly rose to chef de cuisine, pioneering a menu blending traditional Mexican techniques with seasonal, locally sourced produce. She continued to work with incredible restaurants, including with Zack Wangeman at Sobre Masa in Bushwick. 

At Hellbender, Yara is embarking on her first chef-owner venture showcasing her distinctive approach to Mexican-American cuisine. Quickly established as a standout dining destination in the neighborhood, Hellbender was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants for 2024, and granted a two-star review in The New York Times. Her culinary journey is deeply rooted in the evolution of Mexican-American flavors, where she seamlessly blends tradition with innovation; she’s also been recognized as one of StarChefs’ Rising Stars in 2025. 

WHAT: Step into the imaginative world of Chef-Owner Yara Herrera, the culinary force behind Hellbender, one of New York’s most exciting (and hard to get into) new Mexican restaurants. Known for her boundary-pushing take on regional Mexican cuisine, Herrera’s cooking was included as one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants for 2024, earned two stars from The New York Times, and was recently recognized with a “Best New Restaurant” nod from Eater NY.

WHEN: Thursday, November 20, 6PM - 8PM EST

WHERE: De Gustibus Cooking School