Araya

Ticked off another restaurant from my to try list, and this time it’s the world’s first and only Michelin-starred Chilean restaurant. Everything was excellent, and no misses! Pictured: Costa menu - AMA EBI (tomato meringue), YERBA MATE & CEDRON (fermented tea), CORN FLAN (choclitos) - MARRAQUETA (classic Chilean bread), CHAPALELE (sourdough potato bread), BOCADO DE DAMA (nori-Wagyu roll); served with merkén chilli butter and cochayuyo seaweed butter - ODE TO THE ONION (caramelized onion jelly, Kaviari Kristal caviar, mushroom garum, hazelnut oil) - CORAL (mashua, quinoa, huacatay salsa, pickled seaweed) - CEVICHE RAINBOW (Hokkaido scallops, oca, daikon, leche de tigre, avocado sorbet) - FOIE GRAS (smoked eel, Ibérico, yuzu dashi) - MOQUECA (rockfish, aceite de dende, kiwicha) - EMPANADA (Wagyu beef, pebre) - AGED ECUADORIAN CACAO (roasted Bresse pigeon croquette, umeboshi plum chutney) - MS WAGYU STRIPLOIN (barbecue Wagyu, cochayuyo chimichurri) - PERA (pear, vanilla, verbena, citrus) - LUCUMA (andean fruit, rum espuma, caramelised apple & pecans) - CHOCOLATE TROLLEY (single-origin, house-made chocolates) - [Add on] Chocolate cake

I don’t know how to describe my experience at Araya other than “enchanting”. Upon entering, you already feel like you’ve been transported. The decorations and the pink quartz counter were beautiful. The staff were kind and observant. There were no details that went overlooked. While we waited for the rest of our party, we had a nice chat with the head chef which helped to relax us and get us excited for the meal ahead. The meal itself was fantastic. Every dish was unique and full of flavor. To top it off, we were allowed refills of the freshly made bread rolls, baked by the chef’s wife! My favorite was the seaweed + Wagyu bread roll paired with the red spice compound butter. I really recommend the Garage Semillon wine. It’s a Chilean white wine with some tropical notes that pairs so well with the Chilean flavors of the dishes. At the end of the meal, we were given a small view-master toy that showed images of Chile. To top it off, after everything they rolled out an enormous chocolate trolley! It was a perfect evening and I already can’t wait to go back.

Came here for lunch. The place was stunning and the service was impeccable. Perhaps it was because it was the lunch set, or perhaps high expectations, but the food tasted pretty average to me. The native bread served was warm and fresh, but both felt a little too dense for me. The hamachi appetizer with avo mousse was pleasant but was pretty forgettable. The empanada was decent but the meat filling did not have that hit of spice I was hoping for. The duck was cooked well but the skin was a little too fat and soggy. Overall, the staff was very very nice and perhaps the food is better in the tasting menu but the lunch menu left much to be desired.

Genuinely one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had! Food was amazing and so interesting, special shout out for the scallop ceviche (so fresh), their native Chilean root dish and the fish in the ajo sauce. Had such a great time and service was lovely as well, genuinely great from the entire team!! Would definitely give this place a try!