Kent Zúñiga’s signature
Born in Arequipa with family roots in Maje and Tacna, Kent Zúñiga spent a decade building his craft abroad before coming home to open Kao in 2019. He trained in Italy and worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in Milan, San Francisco and Spain, then travelled through Southeast Asia, where Thailand left a lasting mark on how he thinks about flavour. Back in Arequipa, he turned that experience into a personal style: global technique, local ingredients, and a menu that keeps changing with the city and the market.
“Arequipa is proud and demanding. My job is to update tradition without losing it.”
Kao
Kao is chef Kent Zúñiga’s statement on what Arequipa tastes like today. Set in the city centre, the restaurant pairs haute cuisine technique with regional produce, then adds the pull of Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, in a way that still reads as unmistakably local. The open kitchen sits right next to the dining room, so you feel the craft, the timing and the detail behind each course. Expect familiar Arequipeño flavours, presented with new textures and sharper contrasts, in a menu that keeps evolving.
Book a table @ Kao
Make your dinner reservations through our website for a high-quality gastronomic experience – it’s quick and easy. Book your table here and get ready for an unforgettable culinary event.