Carlos Delgado is a Peruvian American chef whose work centers on contemporary expressions of his country’s diverse culinary traditions. He grew up in Callao, a port city near Lima, Peru, and later immigrated to the United States with his mother, settling in Northern Virginia. Delgado studied culinary arts at the Art Institute of Washington in Arlington, Virginia, before beginning his professional kitchen career.
His early experience included a position at Volt in Frederick, Maryland, under chef Bryan Voltaggio, followed by roles at several Washington, D.C., restaurants, including Policy, Smith Commons, and Bóveda, a Latin-focused speakeasy located inside the Westin Georgetown. In 2014, Delgado opened Ocopa, a ceviche bar on the H Street NE corridor, where he began developing a modern approach to Peruvian cuisine. The restaurant received positive local and national attention and marked the start of a long-term professional collaboration with beverage director Glendon Hartley.
Delgado later joined José Andrés’s restaurant group, where he led the kitchen at China Chilcano, a restaurant dedicated to Peru’s multicultural culinary heritage, including Criollo, Chifa, and Nikkei traditions. He remained in that role for six years, gaining experience across operations, leadership, and concept development.
In 2022, Delgado partnered with Hartley and Chad Spangler to open Causa in Washington, D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood. The tasting menu restaurant earned a Michelin star and a RAMMY Award for New Restaurant of the Year. Delgado has also received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic and the RAMMY Award for Chef of the Year.
