Matilda — Sister Restaurant to the Excellent Kayao 🇲🇽🇵🇪

Earlier I wrote about Kayao, a Peruvian-Asian fusion spot. Their new sister restaurant, Matilda (opened this June), focuses on Mexican-Peruvian flavors and is just as impressive. 🥑 Usually, guacamole arrives pre-made from the kitchen. Here, they bring a whole fire-roasted avocado to your table and mash it right in front of you (turning Whether it’s the fire-roasting or the tableside prep — it tastes amazing. 🐮 10-Hour Braised Beef Cheek – Fall-apart tender, served with warm, freshly made tortillas. Wrap and eat slowly, but be prepared for juicy, finger-licking goodness. 🥘 Seafood Paella – Peruvian-style, moist and saucy (not the dry, crispy-bottom Spanish kind). Interesting twist: the scallops on top are ceviche-style, not cooked. 🍨 Dessert: Lucuma Ice Cream – Lucuma is a classic Peruvian fruit, mildly sweet, almost like sweet potato. Much smoother and more refined here than the often fibrous versions in Peru. Like Kayao, Matilda won me over — a bit more polished than my usual go-to Tanta, but still approachable. They do offer a chef’s tasting menu starting at $1,000… but hey, at least they’re targeting the right crowd 😉 📍 Matilda Restaurant 535 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 #SummerFoodieCat 🐱 #ChicagoLife #Chicago #ExploreChicago #ChicagoEats #PeruvianFood