Chicama – Best Restaurant in La Punta

We arrived to La Punta, a small yet trendy beach town, just south of Puerto Escondido at the end of Playa Zicatela in the afternoon on New Years Eve 2018. The streets were bustling with people, cars, dogs, motos and venders. The heat was unrelenting.  We found a nice quiet place to park near Cafe Amarisa and ventured to find a place for dinner. Most restaurants presented a set New Years Eve Menu prices ranging from 600 pesos to 1200 pesos per person. We found a place called Chicama, a Peruvian restaurant with sandy floors and modern beach decor.  We ultimately chose this place for dinner after speaking with one of the owners, Erick, about the menu.

When we arrived back at 8:00 pm, every seat in the house was full and a live acoustic duo directed the evening.  Dinner started with a house specialty Mojito, a small plate of appetizers including sashimi, bruschetta and tartar accompanied with housemade chips and sauces.  We also ordered a Mezcal Sour, prepared similar to a Pisco Sour, and it knocked our socks off. So much so that we returned the next day for another one!

Erick had told us earlier that he strongly believes in fresh food and that each piece of fish is filleted upon order and each dish of ceviche or tartar is prepared to order.   They source local produce and ingredients. Tonight was no exception. The food was incredibly fresh and we we’re continually surprised with each course. The main courses for us included Tiger’s Milk Ceviche and Filet of Fish accompanied with a glass of house red or white wine.  Both were delicious and perfectly prepared. The ceviche is a dish you won’t forget and will crave for months or even years to follow.

For dessert they prepared brownies with fresh made ice cream and a glass of champagne to reign in the New Year.  The whole restaurant participated in the countdown and celebrated the dawn of 2019. This was a fantastic way to spend our last evening of 2018.  The team at Chicama, while young and have room for some improvements, made this night exceptional. They are passionate about food, building community and all are working hard to make your experience memorable.