CANCHITA at Dempsey Hill

Jessica Chew

in the last week

Back here after a few years. It's lovely to see that Canchita retains its vibrant Latin American charm! We started off with some freshly baked bread dipped in olive chilli oil that was served warm, and it was so good. Our first dish was the Asparragos. It features a mix of Peruvian white and green asparagus. Fresh, crunchy and with a slight spicy kick, the asparagus were paired with a creamy pumpkin-cheese "Locro" sauce that added a lovely richness. Toasted almonds topped for a nutty finish and texture. The Ceviche de Langosta, a special from Peru and part of their 5th anniversary menu featuring ceviches from around the world. The lobster and fish were fresh, bouncy and tender, with the Habanero chilli oil adding a pleasant kick of heat without overpowering the seafood natural sweetness. Crispy red quinoa and cilantro shoots added contrasting textures and freshness. Every mouthful was a medley of flavours and textures. The Octopus was a thick octopus leg grilled to a beautifully charred exterior while retaining a tender, satisfying bite. Served atop lima bean purée and avocado mayo, and finished with crunchy corn and crispy garlic for that extra textural contrast. The Lomo Saltado has chunks of stir-fried tenderloin that're deeply savoury and beefy while remaining tender and juicy. The tangy sauce balanced it with some acidity and brightness to cut through the richness; and the thick-cut fries were crispy and fluffy, perfect to mop up the delicious sauce. For desserts, the New Alfajores had shortbread butter cookies sandwiched with sweet, velvety dulce de leche. It made me smile like a little girl. Delicate, crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth, with a milky caramel filling that makes it addictive. Roasted pineapple with rum caramel sauce added a touch of warmth and acidity, balancing out the sweetness. And the Tres Leches was one of the best I've ever had! The sponge was moist yet light, soaked in a luscious combo of evaporated milk, coconut milk and heavy cream. Topped with fresh berries and coconut flakes, it was satisfyingly sweet without feeling heavy. Always nice to revisit a place after a few years and definitely a meal worth coming back for! Service staff was warm, friendly and attentive as well.

Kok-Yong Tan

2 months ago

Loved this place. There were two of us but we had the Ceviche Clásico, Solterito Salad, Lomo Saltado, Arroz Chaufa and Pollo a la Brasa. While everything was great, I particularly loved the Pollo a la Brasa despite its longer cooking time. I've had this dish before in Peruvian restaurants run by Peruvian emigrés outside of Singapore and Canchita nailed it in that they didn't dry out the chicken and the Aji Verde/Huacatay sauce was spot on. Service was excellent, ambiance was quiet (probably because our reservation was for 20:30 so later than normal dining hours for Singaporeans) and the cocktails (Chilcano Canchita and Gin & Chica) were tasty. I will be back! With more friends so we can explore the entire menu (but that Pollo a la Brasa is going to be in my sights again)!

Yihui

2 months ago

First time trying Peruvian food! The flavours were great, price point and service not so much. However given that this is Dempsey, it’s to be expected. Beef skewers were succulent and tender, meat platter for two was alright and not exactly the best quality given the price, and octopus and asparagus dishes were honestly measly in portion size. Service was a little lacklustre, server did not really respond when asked questions or even simply mention the dish name when served, food took a while to be cooked and we had to check in on the progress. Overall, would recommend this place for special occasions but pick your dishes wisely and temper your expectations!

DiMoo

3 months ago

Had such an amazing NDP celebration at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine @ Dempsey Hill! 🇸🇬❤️🤍 The perfect place to celebrate #SG61 with great food, wonderful vibes and an unforgettable experience. Everything we had was SO delicious — literally wordless! 🤯🔥 🥩 The beef was tender, juicy and packed with flavour. 🌮 The fish taco was fresh, flavourful and addictive. 🐙 The octopus was perfectly cooked with a beautiful charred flavour. 🍞 And the sourdough with balsamic vinegar — OMG! Such a simple combination but incredibly delicious. I could honestly keep eating it! A big thank you to the Canchita team for all the thoughtful arrangements, effort and hospitality. ❤️ I genuinely enjoyed every single moment of the celebration. Definitely coming back again — highly recommended if you love good food and want to experience something different from the usual! 🇵🇪✨

Alex Chan

4 months ago

Had a happy meal there! The food was amazing, the last scene of ratatouille came to mind since my mind was exploding with flavour. Gotta try that iberico pork. The mixed ceviche was the second favourite, so much flavour that mixed so well. There are many diff ways to try the dish, with sauce/just the pork/crunchy calamari, garnished with leaf, onions, nuts etc. Anyway, service great, nice vibes, not too quiet, people enjoying a relaxed evening. The staff were great, super friendly, especially the one at our table. Shoutout to him. Pet friendly restaurant, had a cute cat outside too. Was grumpy before, very friendly after 8pm.