Jasmine C.

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

Nikhita T.

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!

Monica N.

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.

Garnier A.

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.

Andrés W.

​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!

Isabel R.

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.

Clarissa C.

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!

Amelia B.

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.

Ria P.

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.

Debangana S.

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.

Shania W.

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!

J B.

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.

Divya V.

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!