Came here yesterday with some girl friends for an early dinner. We ordered the guacamole, tartare, acevichado, bock choy, short rib and drinks. While the presentation of the food is beautiful, I would not come here again. The portions were SO small, the food is expensive and overall (tbh) it tasted fine. For the guacamole for example, they put half an avocado on the plate and then mash it up infront of you for aesthetic and to make it look cool. Personally, I'd rather have an entire avocado mashed already and no one touch it. Same for the bok choy... 10 pieces of lettuce on a plate. Overall, for how much this place costs per dish, we all agreed we could've gone to Gibsons, for example, for a much better meal and bigger portions. I'm honestly not sure why this place has gotten such raving reviews? It wasn't what my friends and I all expected but I guess different strokes for different folks. We will not be back. read more

The food was spectacular. Perfect night for an outdoor dinner including a well trained staff serving us. read more

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Food was wonderful! We ordered the short rib which was rich and delicious! Looks small but it was a heavy dish, so good amount for us. We also ordered the branzino which was light and delicious! Deboned and ready to eat! So good. Drinks are strong, but we enjoyed them. We sat at the bar on a Saturday night, we were well attended to and the bartenders were very nice with great recommendations! Will be back! read more

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Seemingly new establishment recommended to us by local friends. If you're into seafood, this Peruvian fusion spot is fresh and tasty. Crafty drinks pair well with the creative dishes. Come ready to share family style, so you can savor more of what the menu has to offer. read more

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Delicious. Staff was very attentive and friendly. Brought my daughter in law for her birthday. She is a from Lima and loves this place! read more

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This place is incredible! Super sleek, cozy vibes and every dish we had was amazing. Our server was very knowledgeable, kind and walked us through his favorite things on the menu. The music was the cherry on top! Adding this place to top Chicago Peruvian spots. 10/10, no notes. read more

Great experience at a new Peruvian spot in Old Town. The food, service, and ambiance all top notch! Recommend the ceviche Kayao, short rib, and pulpo. read more

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This place was excellent! Gorgeous interior, with fantastic service. Not the place for dinner if you're looking for huge portion, but the quality is phenomenal. The short ribs and branzino were incredible. Will definitely be adding this to our rotation! read more

Kayao - Peruvian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been following Kayao since near its opening but didn't get a chance to try the restaurant until today. Despite some of the mixed reviews, I had an overall pleasant experience. My family and I started with the tuber chips and dip and tiradito. Despite neither of my parents liking heart of palm, they both liked the chips and dip and completely finished it. The tiradito is very light and on the sweeter side. I'm a fan of raw tuna in any form I can get it, so no complaints from me. I had seen other reviews that the portion sizes were too small and not enough to share, so we each ordered an entree. While the short ribs aren't large enough to share, the branzino and the whole fried snapper are. The snapper was a special and my favorite of the entrees. It's coated in a sweet chili sauce, and I hope it becomes a staple on the menu. The branzino was solid, and I think it could have surpassed the snapper if it had some kind of citrus to enhance the flavor. I did not try the short ribs, but they looked to be tender and completely fell apart. My dad seemed to enjoy them as he nearly licked his plate clean. My favorite thing I ate was the lucuma pudding for dessert. It has the texture of a thick ice cream and tastes like butterscotch. 10/10 would go back just for that. We also got lucky in that Chef Jose Luis Chavez was on site and had the chance to speak with him. His passion for Peru and its cuisine is contagious, and I will definitely be returning to Kayao. read more

Kayao - Snapper - Peruvian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Extremely good! All hits. And the little sushi rolls we already ate. Probably the best rolls I've had. read more

Kayao - Short ribs, fried rice with added duck, chips, pituco - Peruvian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

KAYAO IS WORTH EVERY PENNY. Not only was the food complimented by the beautiful interior design, but by great service as well. Very friendly staff and not in the overly compensated way which I really like. *I do want to disclaim that yes, this is a pricey spot. Some of the portions may be small, but to me it's not just about the portion as much as it is about taste experience sometimes -- and that's where I'm willing to pay the price. This is a great spot to try something new, go on a date, or just treat yourself to food that is quality, where it is done right, and where the chef's are talented and skilled in their craft. Sadly, everything looked and smelled so great that I completely forgot to take pictures (that's when you really know a place is that good). I'll go ahead to list everything I had off their menu by category. Appetizers: Guacamole: Since you can never go wrong with guac as an appetizer. I did appreciate the twist of using tuber chips as opposed to tortilla chips. One thing I didn't know is that is a table-side service, meaning they bring the ingredients on a plate and mash it up in front of you. Although the introvert in me died while they did this, it was honestly worth every bit because it was probably one of the best guac I've ever had. Feta in guac? Who woulda thought.. Ceviche Clasico: Recommended by our waiter, we absolutely devoured this. I forgot what the name of the fish of the day was, but it was a white fish. It melted in my mouth and was perfectly complimented by leche de tigre which wasn't too limey like most places tend to be. It also had fried Peruvian corn which added a really nice crunch texture to the dish for contrast. This is a dish that I will always be getting whenever I go to Kayao. Yucas Trufadas: I can't even begin to describe this dish other than the first bite took me to heaven and back. I never had anything like this and I even questioned how better food can even get. This dish came in 6 pieces of round fried cheese fritters and had a delicious spicy kick to them. Everything just worked so well together with this. The fritters were nice and crunchy and had a nicely melted (but not too gooey where the cheese just spills out) interior. Entree: Short Rib: BEST 36 hour slow cooked beef I have ever had. I was a bit confused to see that they serve this dish with a knife because all you really need is a fork to break it apart. That's how tender it was. The flavor had this amazing smoky and slight sweetness to it that paired really well with the potato puree underneath. Oh and the potato puree? Amazing as well. It interestingly had this sticky-ish consistency where it made it easy to pick up with a fork and eat. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it but it was just awesome. The rib amount seemed a bit too little at first, but after having eaten everything before and after it, I would actually say this dish is good for up to 2 people to share. Dessert: Panna Cotta: This dish was a bit out of my comfort zone upon reading the menu, but I'm glad my waiter recommended it. What I will say is that this was such a unique and delicious dessert. It was a sort of chilled yogurt topped with apple cider and honey as well as toasted quinoa. Every bite was like a little party of flavors in my mouth. The acidity from the vinegar, the sweetness from the honey, crunch from the quinoa, and creaminess from the yogurt basically short-circuited my brain for a moment not knowing how to process such flavors. It all came together so well and would definitely get this again. Overall, this experience was a 10/10 (or 5 stars in Yelp's case). I will definitely be visiting Kayao again in the near future. read more

Holy Batman this place is good!! Piscos sours were very tasty, the sushi roll in the first course and the ceviche were all so good. Also highly recommend the short rib, it melts in your mouth. Service was great as well. Would come back. read more

This was one heck of an experience. The flavor profile is so unexpected and harmonious and simply delicious! It is known the high end of dining but if you are in the mood for something different, this up and coming place is totally a vibe! read more

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The food was very good! The ambiance was so cute & very well decorated. It's a lovely place to go for a girls night. However, the portions are very small for the price. read more

Kayao - Oysters & Pico Sour - Peruvian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is ok but absolutely not worth it. Definitely not recommended. Save your time and money and skip them for restaurant week. The dinner was $100 per person with just 1 cocktail. I had to go eat afterwards because of how skimpy it was. read more

food tasted good, but i really cannot support the service. we were seated on the patio, first of all it's super cold, and the music is so loud i cannot even hear my friend. then there's a large party next to us, shouting and crawling under their tables, and our food takes over 45 minutes to arrive. the waiter asked us if we were doing ok when nothing was on our table, meanwhile the table next to us was getting their food despite having arrived 45 mins after us. portions for restaurant week are a LOT smaller than expected. read more

We enjoyed everything we ordered, especially the lion's maine and the mushroom fried rice. I'm craving it all over again just thinking about it. However, we did end up having a negative experience. Three male waiters were huddling around the bar talking to the bartender while he was making drinks. They were laughing/joking loudly, and talking about personal life instead of working. It was really quiet in there, so you could imagine how distracting that was from 2 feet away. Also, their butts were right there, in our face, for most of the meal while we were eating. It was date night, so that killed the mood. read more

Nice overall meal but it was nothing too memorable. The service is great and attentive and the ambiance is nice. However, the food itself was not that impressive. We tried the guacamole, ceviche clasico, roll acevichado (my favorite), and the short rib. All nice plates but rather small and not that flavorful. I see they recently added a happy hour which may convince me to return! read more

We first visited Kayao when they had just opened and got excited about finding a new fav restaurant. We've been a few times since and always enjoyed it. Not sure what happened but when visiting again last week, prices had sky rocketed, dish sizes shrunk and quality declined. We stayed as it was my husband's birthday but sadly won't return. read more

Went during restaurant week and it was amazing. Went back few weeks ago and they were missing 4 things off the menu that I tried to order. Forgot one of my apps. Food we did have was just ok. We did go towards end of evening but that is no excuse. Was disappointed because it was my friends first time so I feel I let them down on the experience. read more

Great food and terrific service- every single food item was unique and yummy. Loved the hearts of palm dip & the entrees & desserts (including one native to Peru and resembling butterscotch in flavor). Will definitely return. Thanks again. read more

The basic ceviche was delicious and good service. The outdoor patio was great & the ambiance inside is cool too.

Loved the atmosphere. Our server was very nice and gave good recommendations. We ordered two dishes he recommended and they were phenomenal. read more

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The red snapper special is one of my favorite dishes I've had in Chicago. The tangy acidity of the Peruvian flavors in the sauce is so phenomenal. The meal will be expensive but it's long as you're prepared to spend the money you will enjoy your meal. Wells st in old town doesn't have many really nice restaurants imo but this one is fantastic read more

Kayao - Red snapper special - Peruvian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very happy to find this place. Creative menu, the food successfully showcase a perfect marriage of Peruvian cuisine and Asian flavors. Plating was beautiful, almost Japanese Sen-like style. The cocktails were as creative and delicious as the food. Excellent service. The manager stopped by and greeted us. He was excited to share the vision of the restaurant and the food. Will definitely go again! read more

Poor experience overall. The only highlights were the cocktails - very pleased with Pisco Sours but aside from that food is not worth a second visit. Very small portions for cost per plate - avoid if you're bringing a group, you'd have to order at least 3 of each plate like the ceviches or octopus, otherwise a group of 6 only gets about a spoonful each. Fish tasted fresh but everything was laughably small. Service was lackluster too - for some reason their water glasses are smaller than a rocks glass. Our server's assistant was good about refilling our waters when we first arrived but once the hour mark set in we sat with no refilled waters, it was not even busy since it was past 7 pm and first round of tables had cleared out. Place was very hot too since they had the front garage door open towards patio with no AC on. This place has no dessert menu either, and hosts were clueless when asked about menu and were pretty rude when I asked about bringing an outside cake since we were visiting for a celebration. I'd recommend Taste of Peru for ceviche and Tanta for a more upscale experience. read more

Amazing! We tried a lot of drinks and food ! Absolutely must try ! From appetizers to desserts- must try!!! read more

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Food=very good Service=annoying! interrupted literally every 12 minutes; always trying to take our dishes before we were finished; felt very rushed, not relaxing whatsoever Ambience=LOUD annoying music; we were yelling to each other across the table; asked multiple times to please turn down volume of generic beat thumping "music"; could never hear/understand what the multiple servers were saying Never offered dessert! They wanted to turn that table after 90 minutes. Will not go back, will not recommend read more

Absolutely wowed by Kayao. The drinks are phenomenal, the food was impeccable, and the place itself is gorgeous. A must try!

My recent visit to Kayao was mixed. The food was definitely delicious, well crafted, and the highlight. I've had Peruvian food in many cities, including throughout many regions of Peru, having spent several months there. This is a nice fusion that offers great flavors. However, a $150 meal for two (before tip) is excessive for the quantity we received. The acevichado roll was delicious, but for $22 was only six pieces. Even with eight pieces I would have felt the value was there, but only six pieces was disappointing. We each ordered a cocktail- the classic pisco sours- for $16 each. If you want any other cocktail on the menu, be prepared to pay $19-23. A bottle of sparkling water was a shocking $10, not even listed on the menu. Our server noted the plates are all meant to be shared, and yet each plate was less than one person would eat on their own. As for service and ambiance, this was mixed as well. The music (notably the bass) was quite loud and we had to repeat ourselves even to the staff. We ordered drinks, then promptly had 3 more different staff members come over to ask if we'd been helped- we said we were ready to order and one replied, "Enjoy!" and walked away. I'm guessing it was too loud for him to understand what we said. Our regular server, however, was wonderful- attentive and knowledgeable. The last detail that really solidified my decision not to return was a mandatory 3% fee tacked onto the bill, stating "A 3% surcharge is applied to every check to support our staff and rising operational costs"- with no option to remove. This restaurant just opened- what costs are already rising? To me this shows they either didn't develop a proper business plan and don't pay the employees a living wage, or they're taking advantage of the patrons. This feels like another petty, greedy money grab that more and more restaurants are doing, and continuing to support these types of establishments will only perpetuate the acceptance of such practices. Despite the lovely food, the overall experience left me disappointed. read more

Food here was outstanding and service was warm & welcoming! I highly recommend the Roll Acevichado; it's absolutely one of the best sushi rolls in chicago. Drinks are fantastic but pricey - go for the regular pisco sour. We will add this to our lineup and definitely return. read more

The food can be hit or miss. The textures are amazing, I would definitely recommend this to any anosmic foodies out there. Went for the restaurant week brunch menu and it did not disappoint. A previous experience had left me thinking that the food was not that good and the dishes were overpriced, but a friend convinced me to give this place a second try. I would return again for another tasting menu or restaurant week experience. read more

Popped in here last night without a reservation, sat at the bar, and had an amazing meal. The vibes are on point, friendly front of the house, bar and waitstaff, sexy interior, great drinks. Loved it. Will definitely be back. read more

Excellent service and food! Our server Jennifer Lopez was so knowledgeable and helpful the whole meal. Wonderful experience.

Very nice restaurant and nice ambiance. Cocktails were good. We had the octopus, salmon tartare and whole fried fish. The salmon was very good. While the octopus was good, at $35 it is more than we usually pay for similar quality and quantity. The whole fried fish was a big disappointment. For $100 there was nothing special about it. The presentation was chunks of fried fish placed around the carcas. It is extremely overpriced and more of a novelty than a dish to be savored. As others have said, it was very dry and in need of more sauce. The whole fried fish at Miru is better and 2/3 the price. read more

great food, smart and efficient servers and buses. Good atmosphere. Will be back many times

Went here on Saturday night with a group of friends and the food was amazing. We ordered a bunch of different dishes and can actually say that all of them were really good, my favourite ones were the short rib, salmon tartare, and the kayao ceviche. Highly recommend if you are looking to try a good Peruvian Asian fusion restaurant!! read more

Had food from the brunch menu and it was great. Loved the oysters, ceviche and octopus. Sat outside and it was lovely. The service was great. They explained what they were serving us. Recommend the drink that was sort of like a Bloody Mary. Definitely will return. read more

This place is nothing short of fantastic! We are from LA and we're just searching around for a great place to eat and we just happen upon this restaurant and I can only tell you the food and the service was not to be beaten. It's a 10+ place that should be on everyone's go to Lis if they're in Chicago. read more

The ambiance was amazing. My partner and I went to celebrate our anniversary and were given complimentary champagne. We love Peruvian food and this was the best lomo we have ever had. The ceviche clásico and pulpo were our favorites as well. Overall, the experience was phenomenal and the staff were attentive and exceptional. read more