The Room
Jose Andres opened China Chilcano in Penn Quarter in 2015 — a Peruvian-Chinese-Japanese (Nikkei and Chifa) concept dedicated to the proposition that DC needed a serious cross-cultural Peruvian-Asian fine-dining destination. The dining room is intentionally cinematic: hand-painted Lima-Chinatown murals, a long bar at the front, an open kitchen at the back.
Eater DC named China Chilcano one of the year's best new restaurants in 2016.
The Food
The menu draws across Peruvian-criollo, Peruvian-Chifa (Chinese), and Peruvian-Nikkei (Japanese) traditions. The tiradito-and-ceviche programme is the menu's calling card. The seasonal-rotating Peruvian preparations and the wok programme handle the menu's wider draws.
Pisco programme is one of America's deepest. Cocktail bench is Peruvian-spice-led.
Best Occasion Fit
First Date: The bar at China Chilcano is one of Penn Quarter's most-reliable casual first-date seats.
Team Dinner: The back of the dining room handles tables of eight to twelve.
Impress Clients: International visitors recognise the Andres name and the Peruvian-Asian programme immediately.