Yum Cha

Yum Cha is an original restaurant: a small dining room in Providencia where Chinese cooking technique meets Chilean ingredients. It opened in 2022 under chef Nicolás Tapia, who launched it after touring China's tea regions and learning the Cantonese tradition of yum cha, drinking tea with food. It reached number 28 in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025.

The menu is a pescatarian tasting menu of six or ten courses, with Sichuan influences and Chilean and Asian ingredients, and it changes three or four times a year. Two signatures stay on: raw fish with green mango, herbs and chilli oil, and steamed fish with cabbage and Sichuan pepper. Desserts follow three rules, one fresh (often a Japanese kakigori), one based on seasonal fruit and one reinterpreting a nut or seed, and are mostly lactose-free and low in sugar. Each course is paired with a different tea, from Chinese oolong to Taiwanese red, and you can instead choose Chilean wine, a mix of the two, or a tri-pairing that adds Japanese sake. That makes it a good choice for anyone who prefers not to drink alcohol.

The restaurant occupies a quiet house with two discreet dining rooms and a bar facing the open kitchen, with fewer than 20 seats, and reservations are essential, so book as early as you can and mention any allergies or dietary needs when you book, because a set menu with a small team leaves little room for last-minute changes. A pescatarian menu suits many diners, but those who avoid shellfish or fish should check with the restaurant first.

Ten courses make for an unhurried evening, so allow plenty of time, or choose the six-course menu for a shorter meal. The format suits couples and pairs of friends better than large groups, given the limited number of tables. Compared with Boragó, which focuses on endemic Chilean ingredients, Yum Cha offers a completely different view of what Chilean produce can become, and the two make an interesting pairing on a food-focused trip.

The restaurant is at La Herradura 2722 in Providencia, easy to reach by taxi or ride-hailing app. Contact details and booking are handled through the restaurant's own channels and social media, which are the best place to check the current menu and availability before you go.