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I went into Kayao with pretty high expectations because various friends have told me about their positive experiences and said I should go try it. Thus, I went with a friend who was visiting from out of town since Peruvian food sounded great. To start, we ordered a Ceviche Kayao with root plantain chips. The fish was quite fresh, but I felt that the overall flavor fell a bit short. While the aji amarillo leche de tigre was packed with flavor, it was noticeably too acidic for my taste. It did not feel balanced with the fish itself. I will note that I really enjoyed the octopus in this dish. Then, for the mains, we wanted to order the short rib and the aji de gallina curry. Unfortunately, they were already out of the curry dish so we ordered the pollo anticuchero instead. I was quite disappointed by the pollo anticuchero, which was rather dry and kind of bland. At least the fries that came with the dish were good? The short rib was pretty good, though I've certainly had much juicier/tender short ribs at other restaurants. I didn't find the leek potato puree to be particularly interesting. Anyways, I felt rather lukewarm about this restaurant after the meal. The chicken dish really threw off the whole meal, in my opinion. Service throughout the night was fine, and the prices are on the high side. Food: 3/5 Price: 3.25/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: 3.25/5
This place is great for a cute night out dinner with friends! Love the vibe and mood with the low lighting. Everyone is so attentive as well. But, food is definitely the reason I will come back. Amazing and flavorful!
Wow wow wow! What an amazing dinner. I haven't heard much about this place but just moved down the street and wanted a nice dinner since it's all bars on well. Starting with the oysters, I appreciated the servers explanation of where the oysters come from and all the toppings (though I don't remember). I think it was awesome there were 2 flavored oysters prepared for us, 1 spicy and 1 not spicy. Both delicious. Not pictured, we got the Ceviche Clasico and oh my god if you ever go here please be sure to get this. We were too busy scarfing it down, I forgot to take a picture. Lastly the Perihuela Nikkei was absolutely delicious and had mahi mahi, shrimp, and clams. Whatever broth this was in was heaven, and I kept saying I wish I could make something like this at home. The atmosphere and service was amazing. Came on a Saturday night with no reservations and was able to be sat. Can't wait to come back here and bring more friends and family to try.
Loved the ambience and decor, super chic but also felt ok being a bit casual. This is right in the heart of Old Town on Wells, surrounded by a bunch of restaurants and bars, really lively area. The food and drinks are a bit pricey, on par with higher end restaurants in Chicago nowadays. In terms of food, our absolute favorite was the Pulpo Parrillero (grilled octopus) ~ so good! We also enjoyed the Yucas Trufadas (yucca fritters w/ truffle sauce). The Arroz con Mariscos and the Lomo Saltado were good, but would probably try something else next time. For dessert, we had the Crema Volteada, which was delicious, though unfortunately I think it was a bit overbaked, as the texture was a bit dense like jello instead of creamy and melt-in-your-mouth like a flan. Service was great ~ at first we were seated at a small booth table by the open kitchen, and being a lefty, I felt cramped between the wall and the larger party next to me. We let our server know, and she was very gracious and moved us to a much more comfortable seat in the middle of the restaurant. And the lomo saltado I thought was a bit dry/tough, and they brought use a new one quickly. Unfortunately, the texture was the same, but the server and manager again were very gracious about it, and gave us a dessert on the house. Overall, despite a few hiccups, we had a wonderful time and look foward to returning for the Pulpo Parrillero and to try some of the other menu items!
The ceviche Kayao specifically has been the reason why I've returned 10+ times this year. Its an appetizer but i always get one as a main meal- thats how good it is. I have never had anything like this. Love to pair it with the Matilda mocktail and the arroz con mariscos. The GM has actually been in a couple Mexican novelas, which is kinda cool/funny.
I dislike this place strongly. I have a few simple pleasures - good service, good food, and good vibes. This place missed the mark on two - service and food. The oysters had shells in them - which means they weren't cleaned. The kayao ceviche was not good - the fish in it tasted terrible and super fishy, although the rest was ok. The black sauce on the yucas was gross and looked bad - it was black, how is that appetizing?! We also had a reservation and waited 20 minutes after our reservation time - even thought they table they ended up seating us at (outside) was open when we walked in! And now, (I am timing it), we have waited 29 minutes for our waiter after asking for the check. Small portions, not very good food (best thing was the sliders, which is this is a Peruvian restaurant... sliders shouldn't be your star), drinks were ok - but I saw them pour sangria out of a $8 premade sangria bottle (I bought it when I was in college so I know), and then they acted like $10 on happy hour was a good deal. I was very excited to try this place from the vibes and looks, but super disappointing. A happy hour meal on the patio on Friday night cost $115 and left us unfull and unsatisfied!
I love love this place. IMO they have the best pisco sour in town! And I've been to Peru so I can attest to that!! It is a wonderful happy hour with Peruvian ceviche for $12. loved the outdoor seating . They were able to accommodate last minute for a party of 1( me!) and I enjoyed my mini oysters with Peruvian mignonette sauce very much! Got some chips on the side with my ceviche and it was fabulous ! Ended up eating the whole basket dipped in 2 side sauces
Everything was so flavorful and beautifully plated. Ceviche was bright and the seafood was fresh. The rice dish was my favorite- it was savory and I loved Al the proteins in it. The short rib was so tender that it fell apart but wish the portion was a little bigger. Super refreshing drinks too. The patio can feel a little cramped but gorgeous for summer dining.
My friends and I went to Kayao for brunch. We had a reservation, and luckily we were able to get a table for a big group. We all decided to try the tasting menu. For drinks, we ordered mimosas and Bloody Marys. For my first course, I tried the yucas trufadas and lion's mane. My friends tried the ceviche and oysters. Everyone loved their first course. The lion's mane dish was surprisingly really good. For my second course, I had the chaufa, and it was delicious. Overall, all the dishes we tried were very good. For dessert, we had the panna cotta and sorbet, which were both great. My absolute favorite was the guacamole, which they made fresh right in front of us. We loved it so much that we almost ordered six rounds of guac and chips! The chips were yuca chips(i think)which felt like a healthier option. I'm really impressed with this restaurant and their service. Our server was really nice. Some of our friends were late, yet they catered to their needs too. Everything was amazing. Definitely a must try!
I originally came here for restaurant week and I loved it so much that I am so happy that I was able to come back! Snacks: the guacamole is so good and so fresh! The oysters during restaurant week were bigger but they are so yummy with the different "dressings" they put on there Cold: Ceviche clasico and Ceviche are chefs kiss! The ceviches are a must here. The Roll acevichado really surprised me - it was a very well balanced roll and the tuna tartare didn't feel like it was skimped on Hot: yucas trufadas are so good! Mains: the Lomo Saltado was so so good. The beef was cooked to perfection and all the flavors were fantastic. The grilled branzino is also my favorite! It's a perfectly cooked fish with this insanely delicious sauce Drinks: The pisco sour and espresso martini's are also a great/well made cocktail. It'd love to come back for happy hour because the HH deals are a steal! The service has been amazing both times. The interior is beautiful and intimate. Their outdoor patio is super cute and very insulated for the winter months. Kayao has become one of my favorite places in Chicago.
Restaurant Week provided an amazing deal to finally cross this place off my bucket list. We went on a Sunday for lunch and truly enjoyed the beautiful weather the city was finally having after weeks of cold. We started with the yuca trufada, which was superb. It had an amazing crust and a savory sauce, and the cheese on the inside was melted to perfection, hot enough to be gooey but not so hot that you'd burn yourself. The ceviche was also incredible; you could really taste the quality of the ingredients in the leche de tigre. It wasn't excessively sour like at other places I've tried, though I have to admit it would have been amazing if I'd had some chips or fried yuca to accompany it! To drink, we had an Espresso Martini and a Pisco Sour. While the martini was pretty standard, the Pisco Sour was totally different from what I'm used to and I liked it a lot. For our main dishes, the arroz con mariscos was incredibly good with a creamy texture similar to a risotto and very fresh seafood. We felt a little extra lemon juice would have made the plate even greater. We also had the tallarines salteado and loved the flavor, especially how juicy the chicken was. The Chinese influence on the flavour combined with the Latino sauce used for garnish gave the dish a perfect kick. The service was marvelous from start to finish. Even after the restaurant got packed, the staff stayed attentive, keeping an eye on our water and napkins while still finding time for a little chitchat. I will definitely be back to try other things that caught my eye, like the octopus!
Food: amazing taste, flavorful, true to Peruvian cuisine. Nice presentation. Small portions though Service: slow Ambient: has a nice bar area, heated outdoor seating area. Great for date night, low lit light and elegant.
I LOVED Akiro Handroll bar, and the waiter there mentioned that Kayao is the sister restaurant. Peruvian cuisine is super unique because it has many Asian influences given the amount of Japanese people that live there. I LOVE fusion food!!! Was so excited to see this on the restaurant week lineup! We tried the $30 lunch. The vibes are so luxurious inside, and I love the nods to Peruvian culture on every wall. Started off with the ceviche clasico con palmito - four tiny slices of fish marinated in tiger's milk, red onions, served with corn. I normally really like Peruvian ceviche and this didn't disappoint. Their yucas trufadas was a yuca fritter with mozzarella and "truffle huancina" but I didn't taste too much truffle. We couldn't resist getting the tableside guac off the regular menu. Oh my goodness we were obsessed!! The taro chips are so thin and addicting and add a nice spin. They're generous with the chip portion too!! Guac was served with tiger's milk, and that was definitely my favorite dish of the lunch!! For the mains we tried the tallarín saltado con pollo, which came with such tender pieces of chicken, and fettucine stir fried in soy sauce. I loved the fusion flavors here, though note the portion sizes are on the smaller side. Final main was arroz con Mariscos. Wow the flavors here were so perfect and creamy! Literal perfection. Overall, I LOVED Kayao!! I think the restaurant week menu was a steal!
2 months ago
1 month ago
We had a great experience at Kayao! The food was excellent--we tried the oysters and ceviche, and both were delicious. The portions are a bit small for the price, but the quality and flavors definitely stood out. The atmosphere is modern, stylish, and relaxed, and the service was very good. Overall, a great find in Old Town! We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. read more
26 days ago
The "emperor's new clothes" is the first thing that comes to mind. First, the atmosphere was beautiful, the lighting was cozy, and beyond that everything was bullshit. The host was slightly rude seating us, the server didn't check in on us ONCE except when I sent back food, and the service was slooooow. It took twenty minutes for our order to be taken. The food was a joke. The first dish was a piece of torched salmon served stabbed on a wilted green, drenched in mayonnaise and bachan. The sauce was supposed to how kimchi notes, but not one whiff of that lovely tartness cut through the dairy and sugar drenched fish. 1/10 The octopus was out, so they served us the tempura shrimp dish instead. It came covered in a cream cheese spread, and if you think seafood smothered in dairy is fine dining, great, but this was so disgusting that my girlfriend and I both couldn't finish this, the flavor was so unappealling. 0/10 The sushi was more of the same: tempura shrimp, some tuna, and a cream sauce that buried any hint of seafood flavor. 3/10 The entree, a seafood stew with cod, clams, and shrimp, contained one tiny piece of overcooked fish, three clams, and one shrimp. It felt stingy and the flavors were unimpressive. 3/10 The dessert was an ultra-processed, flavorless cookie sandwich served on a tiny bed of run-of-the-mill mousse. It felt like I was being shoo'd out the door. A waste of $230, including gratuity. AVOID. read more
I went into Kayao with pretty high expectations because various friends have told me about their positive experiences and said I should go try it. Thus, I went with a friend who was visiting from out of town since Peruvian food sounded great. To start, we ordered a Ceviche Kayao with root plantain chips. The fish was quite fresh, but I felt that the overall flavor fell a bit short. While the aji amarillo leche de tigre was packed with flavor, it was noticeably too acidic for my taste. It did not feel balanced with the fish itself. I will note that I really enjoyed the octopus in this dish. Then, for the mains, we wanted to order the short rib and the aji de gallina curry. Unfortunately, they were already out of the curry dish so we ordered the pollo anticuchero instead. I was quite disappointed by the pollo anticuchero, which was rather dry and kind of bland. At least the fries that came with the dish were good? The short rib was pretty good, though I've certainly had much juicier/tender short ribs at other restaurants. I didn't find the leek potato puree to be particularly interesting. Anyways, I felt rather lukewarm about this restaurant after the meal. The chicken dish really threw off the whole meal, in my opinion. Service throughout the night was fine, and the prices are on the high side. Food: 3/5 Price: 3.25/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: 3.25/5 read more
Wow wow wow! What an amazing dinner. I haven't heard much about this place but just moved down the street and wanted a nice dinner since it's all bars on well. Starting with the oysters, I appreciated the servers explanation of where the oysters come from and all the toppings (though I don't remember). I think it was awesome there were 2 flavored oysters prepared for us, 1 spicy and 1 not spicy. Both delicious. Not pictured, we got the Ceviche Clasico and oh my god if you ever go here please be sure to get this. We were too busy scarfing it down, I forgot to take a picture. Lastly the Perihuela Nikkei was absolutely delicious and had mahi mahi, shrimp, and clams. Whatever broth this was in was heaven, and I kept saying I wish I could make something like this at home. The atmosphere and service was amazing. Came on a Saturday night with no reservations and was able to be sat. Can't wait to come back here and bring more friends and family to try. read more
Loved the ambience and decor, super chic but also felt ok being a bit casual. This is right in the heart of Old Town on Wells, surrounded by a bunch of restaurants and bars, really lively area. The food and drinks are a bit pricey, on par with higher end restaurants in Chicago nowadays. In terms of food, our absolute favorite was the Pulpo Parrillero (grilled octopus) ~ so good! We also enjoyed the Yucas Trufadas (yucca fritters w/ truffle sauce). The Arroz con Mariscos and the Lomo Saltado were good, but would probably try something else next time. For dessert, we had the Crema Volteada, which was delicious, though unfortunately I think it was a bit overbaked, as the texture was a bit dense like jello instead of creamy and melt-in-your-mouth like a flan. Service was great ~ at first we were seated at a small booth table by the open kitchen, and being a lefty, I felt cramped between the wall and the larger party next to me. We let our server know, and she was very gracious and moved us to a much more comfortable seat in the middle of the restaurant. And the lomo saltado I thought was a bit dry/tough, and they brought use a new one quickly. Unfortunately, the texture was the same, but the server and manager again were very gracious about it, and gave us a dessert on the house. Overall, despite a few hiccups, we had a wonderful time and look foward to returning for the Pulpo Parrillero and to try some of the other menu items! read more
The ceviche Kayao specifically has been the reason why I've returned 10+ times this year. Its an appetizer but i always get one as a main meal- thats how good it is. I have never had anything like this. Love to pair it with the Matilda mocktail and the arroz con mariscos. The GM has actually been in a couple Mexican novelas, which is kinda cool/funny. read more
8 days ago
2 months ago
I dislike this place strongly. I have a few simple pleasures - good service, good food, and good vibes. This place missed the mark on two - service and food. The oysters had shells in them - which means they weren't cleaned. The kayao ceviche was not good - the fish in it tasted terrible and super fishy, although the rest was ok. The black sauce on the yucas was gross and looked bad - it was black, how is that appetizing?! We also had a reservation and waited 20 minutes after our reservation time - even thought they table they ended up seating us at (outside) was open when we walked in! And now, (I am timing it), we have waited 29 minutes for our waiter after asking for the check. Small portions, not very good food (best thing was the sliders, which is this is a Peruvian restaurant... sliders shouldn't be your star), drinks were ok - but I saw them pour sangria out of a $8 premade sangria bottle (I bought it when I was in college so I know), and then they acted like $10 on happy hour was a good deal. I was very excited to try this place from the vibes and looks, but super disappointing. A happy hour meal on the patio on Friday night cost $115 and left us unfull and unsatisfied! read more
3 months ago
I love love this place. IMO they have the best pisco sour in town! And I've been to Peru so I can attest to that!! It is a wonderful happy hour with Peruvian ceviche for $12. loved the outdoor seating . They were able to accommodate last minute for a party of 1( me!) and I enjoyed my mini oysters with Peruvian mignonette sauce very much! Got some chips on the side with my ceviche and it was fabulous ! Ended up eating the whole basket dipped in 2 side sauces read more
3 months ago
Everything was so flavorful and beautifully plated. Ceviche was bright and the seafood was fresh. The rice dish was my favorite- it was savory and I loved Al the proteins in it. The short rib was so tender that it fell apart but wish the portion was a little bigger. Super refreshing drinks too. The patio can feel a little cramped but gorgeous for summer dining. read more
6 months ago
My friends and I went to Kayao for brunch. We had a reservation, and luckily we were able to get a table for a big group. We all decided to try the tasting menu. For drinks, we ordered mimosas and Bloody Marys. For my first course, I tried the yucas trufadas and lion's mane. My friends tried the ceviche and oysters. Everyone loved their first course. The lion's mane dish was surprisingly really good. For my second course, I had the chaufa, and it was delicious. Overall, all the dishes we tried were very good. For dessert, we had the panna cotta and sorbet, which were both great. My absolute favorite was the guacamole, which they made fresh right in front of us. We loved it so much that we almost ordered six rounds of guac and chips! The chips were yuca chips(i think)which felt like a healthier option. I'm really impressed with this restaurant and their service. Our server was really nice. Some of our friends were late, yet they catered to their needs too. Everything was amazing. Definitely a must try! read more
I originally came here for restaurant week and I loved it so much that I am so happy that I was able to come back! Snacks: the guacamole is so good and so fresh! The oysters during restaurant week were bigger but they are so yummy with the different "dressings" they put on there Cold: Ceviche clasico and Ceviche are chefs kiss! The ceviches are a must here. The Roll acevichado really surprised me - it was a very well balanced roll and the tuna tartare didn't feel like it was skimped on Hot: yucas trufadas are so good! Mains: the Lomo Saltado was so so good. The beef was cooked to perfection and all the flavors were fantastic. The grilled branzino is also my favorite! It's a perfectly cooked fish with this insanely delicious sauce Drinks: The pisco sour and espresso martini's are also a great/well made cocktail. It'd love to come back for happy hour because the HH deals are a steal! The service has been amazing both times. The interior is beautiful and intimate. Their outdoor patio is super cute and very insulated for the winter months. Kayao has become one of my favorite places in Chicago. read more
Restaurant Week provided an amazing deal to finally cross this place off my bucket list. We went on a Sunday for lunch and truly enjoyed the beautiful weather the city was finally having after weeks of cold. We started with the yuca trufada, which was superb. It had an amazing crust and a savory sauce, and the cheese on the inside was melted to perfection, hot enough to be gooey but not so hot that you'd burn yourself. The ceviche was also incredible; you could really taste the quality of the ingredients in the leche de tigre. It wasn't excessively sour like at other places I've tried, though I have to admit it would have been amazing if I'd had some chips or fried yuca to accompany it! To drink, we had an Espresso Martini and a Pisco Sour. While the martini was pretty standard, the Pisco Sour was totally different from what I'm used to and I liked it a lot. For our main dishes, the arroz con mariscos was incredibly good with a creamy texture similar to a risotto and very fresh seafood. We felt a little extra lemon juice would have made the plate even greater. We also had the tallarines salteado and loved the flavor, especially how juicy the chicken was. The Chinese influence on the flavour combined with the Latino sauce used for garnish gave the dish a perfect kick. The service was marvelous from start to finish. Even after the restaurant got packed, the staff stayed attentive, keeping an eye on our water and napkins while still finding time for a little chitchat. I will definitely be back to try other things that caught my eye, like the octopus! read more
Food: amazing taste, flavorful, true to Peruvian cuisine. Nice presentation. Small portions though Service: slow Ambient: has a nice bar area, heated outdoor seating area. Great for date night, low lit light and elegant. read more
8 months ago
I LOVED Akiro Handroll bar, and the waiter there mentioned that Kayao is the sister restaurant. Peruvian cuisine is super unique because it has many Asian influences given the amount of Japanese people that live there. I LOVE fusion food!!! Was so excited to see this on the restaurant week lineup! We tried the $30 lunch. The vibes are so luxurious inside, and I love the nods to Peruvian culture on every wall. Started off with the ceviche clasico con palmito - four tiny slices of fish marinated in tiger's milk, red onions, served with corn. I normally really like Peruvian ceviche and this didn't disappoint. Their yucas trufadas was a yuca fritter with mozzarella and "truffle huancina" but I didn't taste too much truffle. We couldn't resist getting the tableside guac off the regular menu. Oh my goodness we were obsessed!! The taro chips are so thin and addicting and add a nice spin. They're generous with the chip portion too!! Guac was served with tiger's milk, and that was definitely my favorite dish of the lunch!! For the mains we tried the tallarín saltado con pollo, which came with such tender pieces of chicken, and fettucine stir fried in soy sauce. I loved the fusion flavors here, though note the portion sizes are on the smaller side. Final main was arroz con Mariscos. Wow the flavors here were so perfect and creamy! Literal perfection. Overall, I LOVED Kayao!! I think the restaurant week menu was a steal! read more
9 months ago
We had gone to Kayao on a Saturday afternoon, and decided to go for their tasting menu. I tried their ceviche kayao for the first course and arroz con Moriscos for the second course. I paired my food with Bloody Marys. Both the dishes were fantastic, and I really loved the cocktail prepared by Miguel - it had the perfect zing. The seafood risotto was creamy and delicious and left me wanting more. Finally ended the meal with the panna cotta, which was a little tart and the fruity flavours shone through. We had also called for guac and chips for the table. The guac was super fresh and the taro chips paired really well with the guac. Our server was kind and took good care of us. All in all it was a lovely experience and we had a really good time at Kayao. Highly recommend this restaurant for seafood lovers like myself. read more
We took our mom to Kayao for an afternoon brunch to celebrate her birthday and decided on the Nikkei Brunch Experience (three courses for $35, plus a $25 cocktail pairing). As Peruvians, we were especially excited to try it. I started with the Yucas Trufadas paired with a pisco sour. The yucas were tasty, and the truffle huancaína added a unique twist, while the pisco sour was excellent. It tasted like a good pisco sour, and a great way to start. For the second course, I had the chaufa alongside the sohoul cocktail. I'm a big chaufa lover, and while this wasn't traditional in appearance, it was excellent. The maitake mushrooms added a slightly crunchy texture that I really enjoyed. The Sohoul, however, was my least favorite of the drinks. Lychee just isn't my jam. For dessert, I had the lúcuma ice cream paired with an espresso martini. The ice cream was a 10/10. Rich, flavorful, and not something you can find in stores. The espresso martini was a perfect match for me as a coffee lover. Definitely more coffee-forward than sweet, and a great pick-me-up to end the meal. Service was seamless, with our server bringing each new drink right as we finished the last. Between the cocktails and the thoughtfully portioned courses, we left feeling satisfied and not at all hungry. I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try, just keep in mind it leans more toward a fine dining experience rather than traditional Peruvian street-style food. read more
Any time the server personally explains the dish, I'm a happy diner. Took advantage of happy hour and tried the bartender's surprise cocktail. My party was drawn to the steak and short rib entrees. The winner of the night was the Lomo Saltado stole the show. Great flavor and perfectly cooked steak pieces. Authentic feel to the decor and vibe of the restaurant fusing China, Japan and Peru. read more
I live very close to Kayao and was also so curious to try them out whenever I passed them. I finally had the opportunity to on a Wednesday evening and absolutely loved my experience. I made a reservation ahead of time, but there was plenty of seating available as well. We ordered the Oysters, Ceviche Kayao, Tuna Acevichado, Lion's Mane, Short Rib, and Bronzino. Everything was PHENOMENAL. I loved how complex the flavors were in every dish, and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. My favorites were the Lion's Mane mushrooms and short rib. The mushrooms were so savory and flavorful, and the short rib's texture was perfect. Despite being on the pricier end, I do think it is still worth it considering the quality of the food, The waiter was very helpful in recommending his favorite dishes! The wait staff was also very attentive in making sure we had our waters filled. The ambiance is also great! It would be a good date spot for sure. I will be recommending this spot! read more
Honestly one of my personal favorites now out of the fancy chicago restaurants. It's definitely overpriced so share a couple things and expect a lighter meal. The salmon skewers and lions mane mushroom hot plates were both great. The fried rice was very good with the fish soup, but on its own is standard. Fish soup was very yummy and not too strong. read more
23 days ago
I have been meaning to write a review for this place since a while now. Kayao hands down is my fav place in Chicago for Peruvian food! My friends and I had a holiday lunch at this place and it was amazing!! We tried their brunch tasting menu and also ordered a bunch of drinks. Bloody mary was everyone's fav, absolutely delicious! We also ordered mimosas, and old fashioned, it was a boozy lunch! The table side guacamole definitely served us well! We also tried yuca trufadas and lions mane for the apps. Lions mane was my fav out of all the dishes we tried, grilled mane mushrooms with tad bit of spice, what is there to not like? For main course I tried a chaufa which was pretty good too! By the time it was time for deserts, we all were pretty tipsy but I remember still relishing the panna cotta and lucuma ice cream. We randomly stumbled upon this place but I'm sure to be back to this place again! read more
Our evening got off to a great start thanks to server Donya who walked us through the menu, described some of her favorite dishes, and in all ways made us welcome. We kicked things off with exceptional pisco sours--not cheap at $22 a pop--followed by ceviche Kayao. Our party of three split two mains--melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and an exquisite branzino. The last were accompanied by an delicious malbec from Argentina's Salta province. read more
1 month ago
6 months ago
Memorable anniversary experience. We did two different tastings featuring a fusion of Peruvian, Japanese, and Chinese dishes. The progression from light, delicate flavors into heartier mains was really well done. The pisco pairings stood out--ranging from the classic to creative twists like hibiscus and espresso. Service felt personal and welcoming, with a well-paced flow that reflected both a talented kitchen and front-of-house team. We'll definitely be back and would recommend it for a special occasion or even just a few drinks. Great ambiance overall--perfect date spot. read more
9 months ago
Came in for Chicago restaurant week but did not end up trying it because it was more of a tasting menu than an eating menu. We tried two different mains; the chaufa was delicious but the pasta salteada did not hit as much as we'd like. We were also seated in the back of the entire restaurant away from other patrons when there were many other tables available. Otherwise the restaurant is very vibey and a cute date or dinner spot. Would love to come back and have a better experience as I've heard a lot of people say how good it is. read more
6 months ago
I went there for my birthday celebration. The staff were incredibly nice and friendly, making the evening feel very special. Both the food and drinks were amazing, and I found the prices to be very reasonable. I also wanted to specifically thank you for being so accommodating to my group's dietary needs. One of my guests is vegan and another does not eat red meat, and you provided them both with wonderful alternative food options that they truly enjoyed. All in all, it was a fantastic experience and I will definitely be coming back. read more
We were excited to try Kayao and it DELIVERED! The ambience is very chic and upscale but they do have limited seating. We had a prior reservation. We tried their brunch tasting menu and ordered some drinks on the side. We ordered the mimosas, bloody marys and an old fashioned. We also got some table side guac. It was exciting to see the guac being made right in front of us. For the tasting menu, we tried the yucas trufadas, oysters, ceviche and lions mane for the first course. For the second course we tried the chaufa and arroz con mariscos. For the third course, we tried the Lucuma ice cream and the panna cotta. Overall, the food was outstanding. Every one of the dishes was exceptionally made and very delicious. The quality and the delivery was top notch. The cocktails were amazing too and the server was really sweet and friendly. I am very amazed by the restaurant and can't wait to see it get either a Michelin bib gourmand or even a star in the future. read more
Went here for restaurant week. It was $30 for the lunch course, and you got a choice of apps and an entree. The ceviche was tasty as an appetizer, and I liked the yucca starter dish we got as well. Unfortunately I found the Tallarin saltado con pollo to be wayyy too salty for my taste. Overall, a decent place for fancy Peruvian food read more
3 months ago
Very very very tasteful food. Plenty options for starters and entrees. Friendly servers and very quick service. Cozy and luxury environments both inside and outside seats. read more
My new favorite spot! I've been here for both brunch and dinner. Have yet to have a bad dish here and the drinks are great too. Highlights for me are the Branzino and Ceviche Nikkei - love the Tuber chips as well. The Short Rib has a nice sweetness, and the Yucas Trufades is such a unique dish. Service is awesome and the ambiance is very nice too. Overall just a great dining experience - excited to come back! read more
8 months ago
My neighbor and I headed to happy hour at Kayao. At the bar happy hour is Monday thru Friday 4:30-7 at the bar. She started with red sangria and I had the rotating cocktail, which had tequila and was sweet and great. Our bartender Miguel's told us to eat the Ceviche with a spoon, which was delicious. The yucas were so surprising- there are 4 fries under the cheese! Tempura was so unique and light. My last drink was pisco sour- remember I had that at Matilda? kayao is the sister restaurant! We're going to make reservations for restaurant week. read more
1 year ago
SPECTACULAR BRUNCH SPECIAL!! I loved this spot! Such a great deal for the food you get! I'm already waiting until the next time I can come back! Everything was well executed, the presentation was beautiful, and all for a great price!!! Some of our favorites were the chaufa, ceviche, and the panna cotta! The drink pairing is well worth it- the espresso martini SO GOOD! Definitely come with friends to enjoy all their options read more
What a great find! I randomly stumbled upon Kayao while looking for a restaurant that would be close to The Second City when we had friends in town. I'm so glad we went! We started with the Guacamole and Ceviche Kayao. Both were great but the Ceviche was OUTSTANDING. The broth was literal perfection and had the most amazing and stand out flavor of any ceviche I've ever had. We were drinking the broth off our plates (with ZERO shame). For mains, we split the short rib, arroz con mariscos and branzino. The short rib was my favorite of the three and was so tender it was falling apart immediately when my fork hit it. The arroz con mariscos and branzino also had great flavor and were cooked perfectly. We ended up needing to skip desert because we were so full after all the delicious food. Service was great and fast and everything was coursed out perfectly. Kayao is a solid 5 stars and if you like fusion and new interesting flavors, you won't be disappointed in this gem. read more
1 month ago
sit at the bar for happy hour, food is delicious. oysters are one of my fave in the city! service is always kind and attentive! read more
This was truly a wonderful and fancy experience for my husband and I. I appreciated all the decorations and details. As a Peruvian person, I can say their menu with ceviche, lomo saltado, and chicha morada were top tier! We celebrated my birthday and they kindly gave us a little Lucuma ice cream dessert which was really tasty!! I would love to come back as everyone was so kind and attentive. Highly recommend this restaurant :) read more
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Kayao - peruvian - Updated September 2026
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