Visited Araya few weeks back to celebrate a friend’s birthday and was pleasantly surprised at how empty the place was when we went on a weekday lunch. Located at Mondrian Duxton, this Chilean fine-dining might sound too adventurous to many, but I say their menu is actually quite well crafted and execution on point. Lunch was priced at $168++ with some add-ons if you like

Lunch started quite promptly since well, they only need to attend to us

Ama Ebi, Tomato Meringue

One of the snacks to start, I thought this combination went quite nicely together. The sweetness of the Japanese sweet prawns and the light crisp texture of the tomato meringue with smoked chilli oil, it was a burst of flavours on your palate

Corn Flan, Choclitos

The aroma and taste of corn filled your entire mouth. It was sweet and pleasant to taste

Chicha De Uva, Fermented Grape Nectar

And ending the snacks series with a fermented grape with elderflower liquor which really washed down the food with a sweet grape aftertaste but yet you could also taste the fragrance of the elderflower

Butter with Smoked Chilli, Butter with Chilean Seaweed

La Penera

Classic Pan Chileno, Sourdough Potato Bread

Where we get to try their signature breads with their butter. I liked the one with smoked chilli better. I thought it was more unique and stood out better

Hokkaido Scallops, Botan Ebi, leche de Tigre Sorbet, Ginger Lily

The ceviche was refreshing, citrusy but well balanced. You could taste the sweetness of the prawns yet the punch of the sorbet and how the different layers came together. It was actually quite an enjoyable dish. And the friend commented yah, this is citrusy but well-balanced. Not just one way citrus. I Lol-ed #IYKYK

I liked how they introduced produce from their countries for dishes they used. It was actually rather informative

Mashua, Wakame, Dulse

Representing coastline of Chile, it was a colourful assemble of root vegetables, purple corn and seasoned seaweed.. A very interesting dish cos you could taste all the layers as you put them in your mouth. But it did work in a good way

Abalone Empanada (+$28pp)

Added on the abalone cos I thought it sounded interesting. Let’s just say you can skip this. It was quite underwhelming

Waygu Picana Asada (+$48)

Changed the lamb for the wagyu that came with a side of potato bowl and chilean chilli. Thought the beef was well executed and I liked the side of vegetables that came along with it

70% Peru Cacao, Camu Camu Cream

Lucuma, Coffee, Vanilla

We tried both desserts but the Lucama with coffee and vanilla was definitely the standout

And just us playing with the view master which you can see images of Chile. Thought it was quite a fun experience to end the meal

Well, it’s not common to find Chilean restaurants in Singapore, fine-dining no less. But I thought the food at Araya was pretty decent and I liked how they incorporated Japanese ingredients into it so that you can find familiarity in the dishes for the not-so-adventurous ones out there. But generally I thought their flavours and execution were pretty impressionable. Do give them a try. You might see Chilean-inspired dishes in a different light

Araya

83 Neil Road, Duxton Hill, #01-08 Mondrian Duxton

Singapore, 089813