Dana Point, California — Every fine dining restaurant should, of course, have great food. That’s table stakes to even be in the category.
But when a restaurant manages to serve excellent food (and drinks!) in a beautiful, elevating setting, that’s when things really go to the next level.
That’s the case at RAYA, a Latin fusion restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel hotel in Dana Point, California.
The Ambiance
In this case, the setting serves to both complement and enhance the food.
Firstly, it’s at the Ritz! When you arrive, you’re ushered into the property by valets, passing through a beautifully decorated and perfectly maintained entryway to the back of the hotel, where RAYA and several other restaurants are located.
The baseline level of service and the environment of a Ritz-Carlton make going to RAYA special from the get-go.
And then you see the view. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is quite literally perched at the top of a cliff, looking down onto vast expanses of beach and the Pacific Ocean below.
When I visited with my wife, the sun was just starting to set, and as we entered RAYA, we could look out over miles of beach with surfers still enjoying the waves.
RAYA is set up to maximize its location. The restaurant follows much of the length of the façade of the Ritz, which means that every table has a view, and many have what feels like a private little alcove.
RAYA’s beautiful spot reminds me a lot of the Conservatory restaurant at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay, which I also like to visit. But here, the height of the cliff and the vastness of the ocean below make the setting even more dramatic.
That’s the backdrop as you sit down to your meal. RAYA serves creative twists: untraditional Mexican and Latin American food.
The food has traditional Mexican flavors, but it’s inflected with Asian influences.
This reflects the unique heritage of chef Richard Sandoval, who leads the restaurant. RAYA calls itself “Pan Latin,” and that’s an excellent reflection of what you’ll find here. I’d add “Pan Latin Fusion”, as we’ll see below.
The Food
We started the evening with drinks, something that RAYA does very well.
I had a smoked Fireside old-fashioned, which was served with actual wood smoke wafting over the top of the drink.
It had a delicious smoky flavor that lingered even as I sipped it throughout the meal.
My wife had a dramatically colored, margarita-like cocktail that was also a perfect complement for the meal.
The drinks here are strong! This is one of the most powerful and spirit-forward old-fashioneds I’ve ever had. The quality of the ingredients is evident, with a fresh twist of orange and that delightful, lingering smokiness.
With drinks in hand, we then moved on to the food. For starters, we had RAYA’s Salvadoran cheese rolls.
These are essentially tiny, muffin-like savory pastries, served with a delicious, sweet honey goat cheese.
The combination of a rich, savory pastry with the sweetness of the honey goat cheese works beautifully.
We also started our meal with their Al Pastor bao buns.
Featuring adobo pork belly, grilled pineapple, avocado, and a unique salsa, this dish was a perfect expression of RAYA’s fusion influences.
A combination of a traditional Latin American Al Pastor flavor—with the grilled pineapple and spices—along with the Asian preparation of a handheld bun, and the unctuous pork belly, was a tasty and unique fusion element I haven’t seen done before.
We couldn’t help but order some truffle fries as well. Especially with those strong drinks, a delicious basket of fries felt like the perfect accompaniment.
Who doesn’t like an old-fashioned and some fried potatoes?!
We then moved on to our main dishes. RAYA felt like the perfect place for a celebratory meal, so we decided to get a filet mignon.
We tried RAYA’s 7-ounce prime filet (there’s a massive tableside prime tomahawk that we resisted, but it could probably have fed my entire family).
The filet was served with leeks and mushrooms.
It was perfectly cooked, and topped with a delicious au jus–style sauce that complemented the meat and brought out its juiciness.
This was an excellent steak. They definitely did justice to RAYA’s stunning setting.
Since we were literally looking at the ocean for the whole meal, we felt like we should get something from the seafood side of Raya’s menu. (RAYA hosted us for the meal so we could try the food–thanks!)
I ordered the chipotle miso black cod. Again, the combination of Latin and traditional Asian flavors was perfect.
The smokiness of chipotle peppers paired perfectly with the umami flavor of miso, which complements the delicious fattiness of black cod.
This is the kind of fish that falls apart and flakes as you eat it with a fork—no knife required.
On the side, it was served with beautifully colorful heirloom cauliflower and mushrooms.
It felt like a bouquet on the plate, with all the playful colors—no actual flowers required.
This being a Latin cuisine restaurant, we couldn’t leave without trying the churros on RAYA’s menu.
Perfectly fried, served hot, and paired with a berry dipping sauce, they were a great way to end the meal without leaving us overly full.
We also tried a granita-topped, cocoa-intensive creamy dessert, which was tasty as well, and also beautifully plated.
The Verdict
We had a fantastic time dining at RAYA.
If you’re looking for a date-night spot, simply being at the Ritz-Carlton makes any experience that much classier. If you’re staying at the hotel already, it’s a great restaurant to stop into as well.
Before you’ve even taken a bite or had a sip of those delightful, strong cocktails, the view at RAYA already draws you in. Again, lots of restaurants serve great food—to do it with views like this makes for the kind of unique spot that anchors a hotel.
Here in California, Mexican cuisine and other Latin flavors are extremely popular. It would be easy for a chef to phone it in and serve purely Latin specialties—especially assisted by RAYA’s location!
RAYA doesn’t do that at all. The inclusion of so many Asian influences in the dishes—from the bao buns to the miso in the cod—adds a whole other layer to the “Pan Latin” experience.
Again, it should rightfully be called “Pan Latin Fusion”, in my very humble opinion!
If you don’t have time for a full meal at RAYA, or you just want to stop by the Ritz for a quick visit, the cocktails are fantastic and worth stopping in for.
Again, with the strength of that old-fashioned, I could easily sit and enjoy the view for a long time, happily sipping it.
A lot of restaurants in Dana Point and nearby towns like Newport Beach are more casual. I love that, and for many meals it’s perfect.
But if you want a spot that truly pulls out all the stops—or you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate something important—RAYA is the perfect pick.
