The 10 Best Peruvian Restaurants in America
Peruvian cuisine draws its influence from a blend of Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese cultures as a result of their colonizers and the immigrants who relocated to Peru years ago. Peruvian dishes are prepared using a plethora of ingredients. These include the traditional staples of legumes (lupins and beans), Amaranthaceae (kiwicha, quinoa, and kañiwa), potatoes, and corn to bring together a combination of the blend of traditions and techniques. During colonization, the Spanish brought meats (chicken, pork, and beef), wheat, and rice.
Whether it’s Arroz chaufa (Chinese style fried rice with chicken, {or beef, shrimp, or pork} eggs and veggies) or seafood, or perhaps the picarones (sweet potato and pumpkin doughnuts), or Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian style rotisserie chicken), one is bound to fall in love with Peruvian cuisine. Whether you’re a resident or visiting America, it helps to know the best places to go to satisfy your hunger cravings for Peruvian cuisine. We sampled numerous restaurants to determine the best Peruvian restaurants in America. Here is our pick of the best 10.
1. Don Pepe Peruvian Restaurant
32 W Main St Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 605-0172
200 Buckelew Ave #1 Jamesburg, NJ 08831
(732) 605-0172
Don Pepe Peruvian Restaurant is a cozy, small eatery that’s family-owned. The outlet offers take-out and delivery options as well as dine-in. The food here is outstanding with all-time favorites like the Camarones a la parrilla (shrimp kebabs), mollejitas con papa y choclo (gizzards with corn and golden potatoes), and de Res con Arroz Amarillo y frejoles (beef ribs served with beans and yellow rice). The menu offers a wide variety of options that we thoroughly enjoyed all the meals we tried. In addition to fantastic food, Don Pepe’s service is friendly and fast.
2. Don Felix Peruvian Restaurant
305 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004,
(323) 663-1088
If there’s something that makes Don Felix stand out, it is the consistency of their flavors. They specialize in seafood, chicken, and beef dishes. The restaurant serves healthy portions of almost any meal. We recommend the beef Lomo saltado and the appetizers, which are seafood combos or octopus, fish, squid, and shrimp. Although there is no kid-specific menu, tallarin saltado (spaghetti and beef strips) is an option that’s become quite popular with kids. Popular meals include Pescado a la chorrilllana (fried fish, steamed white rice, fried bread, fried tomato, and sauteed onions) and camaron al ajillo (sauteed shrimp and steamed white rice).
3. Don Julio Peruvian Restaurant
50 Marshall St, Elizabeth, NJ 07206
(908) 820-0100
32 Broadway Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 778-0869
Don Julio Peruvian Restaurant offers fresh, super delicious food that’s authentically Peruvian. The service is excellent and super-fast, and the prices are pocket-friendly. We had the Camarones apanados con yuca y salsa (breaded shrimp), chaufa de Pollo o Carne (beef or chicken with fried rice), Picante de Camarones (Peruvian style shrimps in a creamy sauce), and the Picante de mariscos (seafood with a spicy, creamy sauce). They were all excellent. Curbside, take-out, and delivery options are available. While they may be considered pricey, the menu selection is reasonably vast, and they even make changes to some menu items, meaning you get value for your spending. Additionally, the serving portions are pretty generous.
4. Puerto 511
102 Clay St, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 244-8837 | (443) 538-9491
Dining at Puerto 511 made us feel like we have taken a trip to Peru. The ambiance was befitting, and so was the tasty food. Ingredients are sourced locally and fresh, enhancing the food flavor. On weekends, you can experience the six-course tasting menu. The owners ensure they add a personal touch by being available to interact with their customers. Curbside pickup and take-out options are available. Among our favorites at Puerto 511 were:
- The Ceviche Mixto Arocotado (Andean corn, calamari, sweet potato, fresh fish, shrimp, Cancha, red onion, and octopus).
- The Lomo Saltado (beef tenderloin stir fry prepared in the traditional Peruvian method, hand-cut fries, and steamed white rice).
- The Huancaina spaghetti (ribeye, fresh cheese, shrimp, aji Amarillo cream, and mushroom saute).
5. Andina
1314 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 228-9535
Andina offers a Peruvian taste in the pacific northwest. With the recent addition of Chicha (the restaurant’s new patio program), Andina continues to gain popularity. Operating hours are 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Wednesday through to Sunday. Menu favorites that we thoroughly enjoyed include the gluten-free entrada – causa de cangrejo Dungeness (avocado, Dungeness crab, botija aioli, xo chupe sauce) and the vegan gnocchi escabechado (porcini mushroom, corn, house-made pasta, and ocopa sauce). The Arroz con mariscos (clams, green beans, shrimp, scallops, rice, fried calamari, and peppers) are a great option if you’re looking for meals to share. A great dessert option is the pionono (blackberry ice cream, spiral cake, and whipped cream).
6. Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar DC
1823 L Street Northwest, Washington DC, 20036
(202) 559-3726
Pisco y Nazca Gastrobar DC offers Washington residents boldly flavored Peruvian cuisine with a contemporary twist. The restaurant’s ambiance is warm and inviting, and the bar has a wide selection of beers, both local and international, and a variety of unique cocktails. We stopped by for lunch and savored the tostones (salsa Criolla, avocado, aji Amarillo mojo, and pulled pork) and the callejero (cancha, shrimp, crispy plantains, octopus, rocoto, and fish). The arroz con pollo (chicken and rice prepared Peruvian style served with salsa criolla and huancaina sauce) and Arroz con mariscos (fisherman rice, shrimp, mussels, squid, and salsa criolla) are also favorites with the locals.
7. Panca
92 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014,
(212) 488-3900
Panca’s Chef Kyle knew he wanted to be a chef when he was in grade school. Less than a month after graduating from high school, he left home to pursue a career in culinary arts; he has never turned back since. New York residents depend on Panca’s pisco sours (an alcoholic drink originating from Peru) and tiraditos (spicy raw fish). House favorites include beef empanadas, Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken prepared in Peruvian methods), fish, steak, or chicken tacos, and Ensalada Verde (avocado and market greens) and Ensalada de Hinojo, Manchego y Pecanas (fennel, pecans, market greens, and Manchego cheese) for the vegetarians. The restaurant also offers beers, wine, and cocktails. For dessert, we enjoyed the lucuma mousse (served with caramelized nuts and chocolate sauce) and house flan (served with fresh berries).
8. Tanta
118 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 222-9700
The ambiance at Tanta is Peruvian-inspired. We enjoyed the happy hour at the rooftop, which occurs from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Signature dishes include the Anticucho de Pollo (roasted potatoes, chalaca, grilled chicken skewer, polleria sauce, antichuchera sauce, and buttered choclo), Cebiche de Mixto (shrimp, octopus, seasonal fish selection, creamy rocoto, and crispy calamari). Every meal has a story to tell, and it’s mostly a story of flavor, texture, and balance. However, there are beverage and food options that they can customize to suit individual needs.
9. Chifa Du Kang
9899 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165
(786) 953-7165
Chifa Du Kang is a colorful and one of the best Peruvian restaurants in America that provides a welcoming ambiance. It invites you to dine in the Peruvian-influenced setup that’s maintained to Chinese standards. The appetizers are unique and tasty, like the wantán Frito (ground pork with tamarind sauce) and nabo encutido (homemade pickled turnip) that we thoroughly enjoyed. The signature dishes were as pleasant as they sound and we relished the kamlú wantán (roast pork, stir-fried chicken, shrimp, veggies, and quail eggs dressed with tamarind sauce and served with crispy fried wontons) and the tay pa du Kang (shrimp, stir-fried chicken, quail eggs, roast pork with veggies and oyster sauce). The restaurant offers curbside pickup and dine-in options.
10. Mario’s Peruvian & Seafood
5786 Melrose Ave., Hancock Park, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 466-4181
Mario’s Peruvian & Seafood Restaurant gets quite busy during peak hours. However, once you get served, you’ll realize it was well worth the wait – especially if you’ve ordered the Lomo saltado (Peruvian style stir-fried beef). For your satiable Peruvian cuisine cravings, try the chicharrón de Pollo (crispy chicken bites). Mario’s portions are generally generous, and it was hard finishing our meals in one sitting. If you’re a fan of seafood, ensure to order the mixto – you’ll be astounded by how much seafood you get served. Another all-time favorite is the saltado de mariscos, which is exceptionally delicious.
