Shankang Li continues to fill up with the reopening of the beloved Azul (after closing its latest incarnation last February in Ferguson Lane). The venue celebrated its official grand opening with a party just last weekend, and already seems to be packed at all hours of the day, just as it ever was.      

Azul, as the flagship brand by Peruvian restaurateur Eduardo Vargas, has received a full makeover, from top to bottom in its new home on Kangding Lu. “The only thing we kept the same is the name and Eduardo’s flan,” says Azul’s new head chef Willmer Colmenares, previously of Char Bar & Grill.

Tuna Tartare (RMB138)

Betun de Foie (RMB158)

Whimsical would be the word to describe the menu, from the Betun de Foie (RMB158), a shoe-polish looking foie gras mousse served in a shoebox with a “shoe polish” tube of apple chutney – an ode to the shoe shiners of Argentina’s back streets – to Squid Tagliatelle (RMB68) with long, thin strips of squid served in place of noodles. 

Beef Explosion (RMB98)

It’s all about the experience of tricking your senses, playing with ingredients in such a way that your eyes see one thing but your mouth tastes another. 

Galleta (RMB78)

The drink menu is colorful, as is the restaurant, which is adorned with sprawling murals climbing their way up walls and across pillars. The ice cream covered Galleta (RMB78) is as sweet as the Jumping Jack (RMB58) is sour. Like Alimentari Grill, vermouth is having its heyday at Azul, where we can look forward to free flow vermouth brunches kick starting at the end of fall.

Karuba Steak (RMB158)

While some of the mains are equally kitschy, like the Karubu Steak (RMB158), served in a still smoking cloche alongside charcoal dusted yuca, with truffle ashes and a red mojo sauce meant to mimic a still burning flame, others are rustic and down-to-earth, like the Barramundi Fish (RMB158), a expertly cooked large portion of flaky white fish with creamy polenta, tangy olive tapenade and chorizo oil.

Scampi Rice (RMB198)

The desserts are not to be missed, especially the Chocolate Lava Flow (RMB78), which is exactly what it sounds like; a hot chocolate cake stuffed to the brim with gooey dark chocolate and – surprise – peanut butter. Is this Latin American? Not so sure about that, but it’s a plate-licker nonetheless.

Peruvian Flan (RMB68)

Azul,  Building 6, Shankang Li, 358 Kangding Lu, by Shaanxi Bei Lu, 康定路358号, 近陕西北路.