CHIA VEGAN RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Distrito de Cusco

Zero stars, and that feels generous.

This place is a masterclass in how to ruin food. I ordered their so-called “Pad Thai” — and calling it that should be a criminal offense. It came loaded with random vegetables that had no business being there, drowned in sourness so strong it felt like a punishment, and otherwise had absolutely no taste. Honestly, a packet of instant noodles would’ve been more authentic.

My wife ordered a vegan salad, hoping for something fresh. Instead, it arrived smothered in sauce with fried bread thrown in. A “salad” that’s soggy, greasy, and depressing — impressive in the worst way.

Then came dessert: the chocolate crepe. How do you take chocolate, which is basically happiness in edible form, and turn it into something so bland and joyless? It tasted like cardboard dusted with disappointment.

And let’s not forget — this disaster isn’t cheap. If you’re going to charge those prices, the bare minimum is serving something edible. Instead, it’s overpriced garbage I wouldn’t feed to my worst enemy.

The only highlight of the entire meal was when the containers were finally closed and thrown in the trash. Oh, and delivery worked — but that was Rappi, not this restaurant.

If someone paid me to eat here again, I’d still refuse. Save your money, your taste buds, and...

Okay, I've waited too long to write this review. I've been in Cusco six nights, and I've enjoyed five excellent vegan meals at Chia. (I ate elsewhere one night just to see if all of Cusco was exceptional. My meal elsewhere was not.) I can't recommend the place highly enough. They are not offering some bland, vegan alternative to traditional Peruvian food. They are offering individual and exceptional dishes of great variety and flavor. I've enjoyed five different entrees, each one good enough to elicit a five star recommendation. Prices are low enough that I'm happy to return night after night. Price and selection make this a great stop for vegetarians traveling on a budget. Taste and presentation make this an appropriate stop for travelers of more means. You will not be disappointed! I've come early each night, and enjoyed two vegan pisco sours for the price of one each night for happy hour. The lunch special (I've not yet enjoyed) is only 15 soles. Bonus, they don't have people on the street accosting you as you walk by. After a few hours in Cusco, you will appreciate that! Forgive my poor photo. That's on me! The dessert...

Quite disappointed by the Chia Vegan Restaurant, rated one of the best in Cusco and given it was expensive we expected the quality of food to match. The staff were lovely, but the place was empty at lunch time - we did stay a long time for convenience of the WiFi and organising our flights, we paid for more drinks as we stayed.. but the food was a huge disappointment. Given we were the only people in the restaurant we expected some effort to be put into our food but it felt as though it had been dragged out of the fridge bunged in the microwave and put together semi prettily on a plate. :( Seitan/mushroom burger & potatoes - potatoes were dry, raw and powdery. The battered burger was over cooked and clearly reheated so it was hard to bite through at all. A shame as the menu looks okay, but the setting and quality isn't...