Kamil A
Google
When Chui first opened, I wasn’t interested in going because I was worried about it being overpriced and overhyped. However after landing in the city on Monday night I went for a later dinner to celebrate a personal milestone and I was surprised, so much so that I went back just four days later.
I sat in the actual dining space rather than the garden and still felt like it passed the vibe check. The lighting is perfect (except on the initial walkway through the garden—please add a light or two,) music is cool, and it’s fun being able to see all the things being prepared in front of you, at least from where I was sitting. Both times I sat at a table directly beside their fridge of mushrooms which kinda made me feel like I was in a sci fi movie, but I enjoyed it. The bathroom itself was clean and had pictures of dogs who’ve visited Chui which I thought was a nice touch since I’m a dog mom. All the folks working there that I interacted with were nice which is always a welcomed part of the dining experience.
First night I had the milanesa de berenjena and for my bebida, la mula (a mocktail)
Someone might recommend you getting multiple things (do you!) but I felt more than satisfied with this main dish. It was full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and even if you eat meat, you won’t miss it. Only thing is, because of the lighting, my mustard that’s on the plate along with a pickle looked like hummus and clearly I kept forgetting it was actually mustard so it took me on an interesting journey. As a southern girl, the pure de camote was a chefs kiss.
La mula was on point, flavor and presentation wise. As someone who no longer drinks alcohol, it’s nice to get a mocktail that still feels sexy and you can tell someone actually took their time creating.
Last night, I had the focaccia a la Lena and hummus de zanahoria and as one person, I was completely filled up so I’m glad I didn’t add an additional item. The bread was crispy on the edges (3 large pieces) , thick and soft throughout the body and came out a lil warm. As a carb lover, no notes. The hummus was really good and I appreciate the balance of flavors, it didn’t taste like I was just eating some chickpeas and carrots mixed together.
For dessert I had the torta vasca con compota de tomate y jalapeño and to be honest, I don’t know what I had been expecting, but this dessert exceeded them. I love cheesecake in general, but I’ve never had one that incorporated savory components like the tomato and jalapeño. The spice of the pepper was a nice contrast to the cheese.
All in all, I recommend and I do not recommend places I don’t fully stand by. Can you probably go and spend a lot of money, yes. But you can also go, spend less, and still have an overall great time. Looking forward to trying what’s on their brunch menu in the future.
