Mi Chola — Restaurant in undefined

Everything is to be liked at Mi Chola. The first impression entering is a mix between a family run business and what you get if you would ask a thousand backpackers from all over the world to imagine what their dream bolivian restaurant should look like. The paintings on the walls by local artists complement the atmosphere, almost creating an imaginary bridge with the lovely outside alley, enveloped in the typical magic realism of andean murales. Luckily the family side dominates from the frist interaction with the ever kind and soft spoken staff, who know how to make you feel at home without too many salamelecs. And that is before the food even starts flowing. We were welcomed with an ever so mild amuse bouche spread with duck liver, and introduced to a small but comprehensive local wine selection. We opted for the Criolla Negra dry red wine that was served slightly chilled, to mellow the spicy notes that punch you in the face as soon as you stick your nose in the glass.

The wine perfectly complemented an eight course menu of studied creativity. I will not indulge in the details of each single dish but I will say that a first appetizer surprised me with the (possibility excessive) mellowness of its taste. This, I realized later, forced my taste buds to awaken as they prepared for a meal of subdued flavours. And yet it was all but. Every next dish, aided by my mouth's hypervigilance, packed a punch that would leave you enamored. I am not ashamed to equate my dinner at mi chola to a voyage around every most recondite corner of Bolivia, and its thousand-and-one delicacies and culinary surprises, on the wings of the perfect magic carpet that turned out to be our choice of wine--with a constantly evolving palette, adapting to every next dish as it sluggishly reached for room temperature. Who needs wine pairing when one polyhedric bottle does the job? This alas also meant that we didn't feel the need to try the intriguing cocktail selection; hopefully next time. A final note on prices. First, all prices are always clearly and unassumingly stated upfront. Second, given the complexity of the thought process and labor that goes into every dish, it is clearly a bargain. My impression was that each person at the restaurant that same night would not have complained had the menu been offered at twice the price. And yet the budget friendly offer ensures a clientele that is both younger and less pretentious than other famed competitors in La Paz. In a world where exclusivity is perceived as a virtue worth paying for, it was refreshing to eat at a place that is inclusive and humble in every way possible. Needless to say I left with the biggest...

I came out of review retirement to write this because this place is so good. Every dish on the tasting menu was excellent, and the wine pairing was perfect. This is a rarity - a tasting menu usually has a dish or two that is too experimental or just isn't that flavorful. The kitchen here understands that as beautiful as you make the dishes look, they still have to be tasty. Even the desert was great, and I am not usually a desert person. The chef here clearly has a deep connection to food and how to make modern and inventive dishes taste like your favorite home cooking while having a depth and complexity that surprises and delights.

The dishes are inspired by local tradition and ingredients and the wine list and wine pairing are all wines from Bolivia.

The excellent prices also needs to be mentioned. You are getting Michelin star level food here for the price of casual dining in the US. We chose the most expensive tasting menu, wine pairing included, and it was less than $40 USD per person using 2023 exchange rates. Around $250 Bolivianos.

I was a little disappointed with the interior which needs some repair work and someone who understands interior design. But this place still gets five stars because I come for the food and the food was both beautifully plated and tasted amazing.

Easily deserves a Michelin star and I hope they get some help with the interior before Michelin...

Spectacular! To summarize, you will be hard-pressed to find this level of attention and quality at the price anywhere in the world.

My wife and I visited Mi Chola twice during our short three-day stay in La Paz. Chef Miguel Angel Fernandez is a rising star whose new restaurant is sure to become more and more well-known in the coming years.

During our the structure of the meals were such that we were offered either a 3-part or 5-part meal. Each had three sets of "snacks" plus several additional appetizers, main dishes and dessert. The prices during our stay were 70 bs and 115 bs respectively - an stunningly fair price given the quality of the food.

If I were to provide my own two humble suggestions it would be the following: narrow the roles Chef Miguel has. As it stands Chef Miguel wore many hats during our stay - server, chef, etc. At times this slows down service but did not affect the quality of the food.

Secondly, a few of the dishes featuring potatoes or maize kernels are dry and would be greatly enhanced by a sauce or different format to reduce the dryness.

All in all Mi Chola would be my first recommendation for a visit in La Paz. You will be treated to a fantastic meal at a great price - and by a young chef who is sure to make his mark on the Latinamerica culinary scene in the...