Chuan C.
Yelp
This is an authentic Peruvian restaurant with indoor dining, bar seating, and a backyard patio. There is a full bar and an open kitchen.
The menu is minimalist for now but will be expanded in the future. The restaurant is only 3 weeks old for now and is in soft-opening.
The owners take pride in using authentic ingredients to make authentic tasting Peruvian food. The taste definitely comes through in their food. And the dishes are well presented/plated.
A group of 5 of us went there on 2022-05-25 for dinner in the patio. We ordered drinks and food, making sure they were different to get more photos/videos (our camera and we are all foodies afterall)! We shared the food. Some of the food are meant for sharing.
Some Peruvian cuisine has Chinese Cantonese influence and is called Chifa.
Drinks:
1. Star of the Night ($17). Pisco, Angostura bitter, egg white.
2. Chilcano ($16). Pisco, lime juice, ginger ale, mint.
3. Virgin Shirley Temple ($14). Grenadine, ginger ale, lime juice.
4. Old Toronto (smoked) ($16). Whisky, sweet vermouth, orange syrup, seasonal bitter. You definitely need to take a video of this!
5. Jasmine ($16). Campari, Amaro noninvasive, bourbon, lime.
6. Carvadeo, a pisco - made from grapes (shot glasses $8). A bottle would cost $49.
Food:
1. Pork Bao ($15). Miso mayo, pickle turnip, pork belly, sweet & sour sauce. The bao and pork belly are excellent. There is a veggie version available using a portobello mushroom.
2. Panko Crispy Shrimp Bites ($16). With a passion fruit reduction sauce. So delicious.
3. Marinated Octopus & Cauliflower Pure ($26). Octopus with Peruvian special marinade, charred cauliflower, and chalaquita salsa. The octopus was tender (not chewy) and the marinade was delicious.
4. Nuna Ceviche ($25). Grouper, octopus, tiger shrimp, spicy leche de tigre, sweet potato, canchitas. It had a perfect cheviche taste and perfectly tender seafood. I've never had canchitas (Peruvian popcorn) which was slightly salted; it was amazing!
5. Garlic Wine Shrimp Risotto ($24). Arborino, nuna special shrimp sauce, red bell pepper, peas, cilantro. The risotto was perfectly cooked.
6. Yuca Fries ($10). With huanaina dip. The fries and dip together were a perfect fit.
Dessert:
1. Tres Leches Cake ($15). The cake is drenched with a mixture of 3 milks: evaporated milk, 35% milk, condensed milk. The top is covered by soft fudge. It was so good I couldn't have enough of it ... I want more!
2. Peruvian Flan ($14). Peruvian flan is thicker/denser than the French flan.
Nuna means "soul" in their indigenous language. Peruvians are super picky about their food so it is important that food tastes good; best made by a Peruvian chef (eg, Sergio). All food are sourced locally. Everything is made in-house by the chef except for very few items.
Sergio is an owner and chef. Jasmine is an owner, server, marketing, etc.
They cook their pork at 65C for 2 hours and used it for the Pork Bao and Glazed Pork Chop Chaufa.
There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible (but not outside patio). There are two gender-neutral washrooms that are also wheelchair accessible. There are high chairs for toddlers. There is paid neighbourhood parking including along Queen St.
Review 2022-067
You can also find me on Instagram @chuan_chee. Thanks.