Raya’s Fall Pan-Latin Coastal Cuisine

You cannot beat the food and ocean views at Raya at Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The resort’s signature restaurant is constantly updating its menus and offerings by executive chef Richard Sandoval and chef de cuisine Steve Wan. Their latest fall menu is one of the best we’ve ever tasted—it showcases the season’s best Pan-Latin coastal cuisine and they’ve debuted delicious hand crafted cocktails.

Raya is doing things differently than any other restaurant in Orange County—they create tastes from ingredients that you find elsewhere: togarashi aioli, yuca, salted kunbo, white pear kimchee, achiote ponzu, morita chiles and chayote slaw. It’s latest fall menu favorites include shared starters such as Smoked Swordfish Dip with tomato, onion, cilantro, aioli, pickled jalapeno and corn tortilla chips; and Peruvian Scallop Crudo with cucumber-green apple juice, serrano, red onion and black salt.

 Raya’s must order small plates include a Crispy Lamb Kalbu with a scallion pancake, butternut “ajo negro” and white pear kimchee; and Piloncillo Shrimp with chayote slaw, candied pepitas, morita chile and cilantro; and the Ceviche de Leche with seabass, Brazil nut milk, sweet potato, red onion, cilantro and sweety pepper.

From the large plates, you must order the Branzino “Chicharron” with aji-orange-butter sauce, potato puree, marinated red onion salad and lime. The Chilean Seabass Poke Bowl is unlike any other poke you’ll try, this has brown rice, brussels sprouts slaw, pickled cucumber, aji panka and furikake. We can’t get enough of the sides: Sweet Potato with roasted apple, morita chile, pumpkin seed, goat cheese and orange coriander sauce and Roasted Cauliflower with chimichurri and cotija cheese; and Dungeness Crab Mashed Potatoes.

Raya is at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is at One Ritz-Carlton Drive in Dana Point. 949.240.2000.