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Mario's Peruvian & Seafood
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Peruvian Seafood, Peruvian [Edit]
5786 Melrose AveLos Angeles, CA 90038
Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire
(323) 466-4181
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Lana G. said: "Went there for dinner on Sunday (mother's day) and was pleasantly surprised! The menu looked amazing, all the items on the appetizer section alone I wanted to try. We got creamy shrimp app and it was superb. For main course my…" read more »
911 reviews for Mario's Peruvian & Seafood
Review Highlights
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"and their lomo saltado is perfect and savory." In 330 reviews -
"the bread is PERFECT and the green sauce is ADDICTIVE." In 236 reviews -
"Oh yeah, don't forget the inca cola." In 38 reviews
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908 reviews in English
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Review from Susana V.
Burbank, CA
5/8/2012
The lomo saltado is amazing. I can't comment on anything else because I won't order anything other than the most delicious lomo saltado ever.
The only negative I have to give this place is..... the B at the door. -
Review from Jamie C.
Diamond Bar, CA
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Number 28, Picante de Mariscos, (with an added squeeze of lemon) is my favorite. I usually don't like ordering the same thing at restaurants, but here I make an exception because it's sooo good. Some of the other items, while still good, taste kind of like Chinese food to me.
I like that this restaurant's focus is on the food and not trendy ambiance, although I do enjoy Jesus and Mary watching me shovel squid and rice into my face. There's always a wait, but it's usually worth it. -
Review from Mary P.
Riverside, CA
5/3/2012
Someone told me her friend tried this place but then had better ceviche de pescado when she traveled to Lima. To those braggy bragsters, I say "Congratulations on having a passport." If they can't appreciate the greatness that is Mario's, then keep catching planes to Lima because this is the spot. Oh, and my brother was married to a Peruvian woman (as in born in and still travels frequently to Peru). She knows the real stuff and brought him here for their first date. Because of them, my family's been coming here for over a decade and we will keep coming. My four year old is the latest member of the fam to love this place and they don't even have stuff to entertain kids.
What's to love? Well, the Lomo Saltado is an icon in its own right. Perfectly portioned strips of beef delicately seasoned and tossed with juicy tomatoes, red onion and crisp fried potatoes alongside some rice make for a platter of absolute deliciousness. You cannot go wrong with this dish.
The ceviche de pescado is a wonderful starter. Fresh as fresh can be and always spot on in acidity and flavor. It's just absolutely clean.
Because my family frequently celebrates birthdays here, my mom always gets the Tallarin de Mariscos (we believe it's good luck to eat noodles on happy occasions) The squid consistently has the right smoky char and the noodles have a wonderful texture. Everything, BTW, is always served piping hot.
Now, my current obsession is the Jalea de Mariscos - a giant pile of beautifully fried calamari, shrimp and fish. The fish rests on a lovely onion salsa and is sided by potatoes while the rest of the fried delights are piled high and mighty on top, keeping them hot and crisp. Did I say they fry beautifully here? THEY FRY BEAUTIFULLY HERE. I will say it forever. Lightly breaded and texturally perfect. This plate has to be shared and turns heads when approaching your table.
Don't forget your Inca Cola. Perfect with everything. It's a fantastic family restaurant that encourages meal sharing. Eat here and leave happy. It's worth the wait. -
Review from Angela d.
5/22/2012
Yum yum yum! That's all I really have to say. Lomo saltado. Get it. Over 900 reviews can't be wrong.
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Review from Rachel M.
5/13/2012
Hole in the wall in a tiny strip mall with amazing food -- nothing will surprise me anymore. The lomo saltado is amazing, adn the ceviche is pretty good. What else do you need to know?
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Review from Randy P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/28/2012
Edit: To the people who slam this place as shitty Peruvian food, please include alternatives in your review. If this place sucks, I can't wait to try a "REAL" Peruvian place!
This is my kind of place. Hole in the wall, now properly hyped by Yelp.
There's not much more to say: start with with the Lomo Saltado.
If you're Asian, stay away from the fried rices, because their pretty much the same as any Chinese restaurant fried rices.
I'm trying the seafood saltado next. Yum. Dishes are $12-13 and there WILL be leftovers!
Yes, parking is a pain, but about the same as anywhere else in Hollywood. Service is also average too. If you want, Hollywood hipster service, go somewhere else. There always seems to be a wait list, so wait, that means the food is good! -
Review from Harry T.
OMGOMGOMGOMG! Oh Mario, you make me all tingly inside when I think about your meat. That delicious, greasy meat of yours...
I don't know who Mario is but I'm sure he looks like some kind of magnificent god or maybe a cool lucha libre wrestler dude(forgive my ignorance please -____-) because that lomo saltado might be one of the BEST meals I've ever had.
We weren't sure what to eat for dinner during my eateverythingipossiblycansocal trip and my cousin suggested we go to Mario's since I've never had Peruvian food.
I had the Lomo Saltado of course and OMG SOOO GOOOD! Strips of beef, french fries, sauteed onions and tomatos, and some lightly seasoned rice = WINNING! If you are slightly ocd like I am and you carefully plan out each bite with a little bit of everything then you will have tasted perfection in your mouth. Everything on the plate works together so perfectly and everything is seasoned to perfection.
Harry T's lomo saltado eating guide:
1.) stab a piece of beef with your fork
2.) stab a french fry or 2 with that same fork
3.) then stab a onion and tomato with your fork and you have yourself a fork-kabob
4.) after you inhale everything on your fork then eat some rice to help dilute the oil
I ate a few pieces of beef by itself because I love me some tender juicy meat but that wasn't the case here :( The beef was a little overcooked which also meant it was a little dry. BUT just stick to my eating guide and you'll be ok.
The bottle of green salsa they had on the table was also REALLY GOOD. You can fix the dry beef by adding a little salsa to it lol. It was too spicy for me but I still managed to drizzle a little bit all over my plate.
Luckily by the time we got there, there was a table that had just left so we just had to wait a few minutes for them to clean it. Service was really attentive despite how busy they were and the restaurant layout is pretty simple, no bullsh!t gimmicks and just throw in as many tables and seats they can comfortably fit. -
Review from Eunice K.
3/16/2012 2 photos
Mario's is located in a humble little strip-mall on Melrose - which I pass by all the time. I've never had Peruvian cuisine - so I was excited when DD grabbed some take-out for dinner. Can't comment on the wait - but parking is probably tough and the wait looks long.
--Arroz Chaufa de Mariscos ($12.25)--
I'm not a huge fan of fried rice.. but when you mix this much seafood into it, I'm IN! Yum!! Couldn't get enough of this dish. TONS of seafood including octopus/squid/calamari(??), shrimp.. and probably much more that I couldn't really recognize. Not only did we get a healthy portion of seafood, the rice was very flavorful - almost like it had curry power? After inhaling half the fried rice - I did begin to notice how salty it was... Be sure to pick up some of the green (aji) sauce because the rice becomes sort of "one-note" after a while. BUT - be warned.. the green sauce is SPICY!
--Lomo Saltado ($11.25)--
This is one of DD's favorite Peruvian dish - and something Mario's is known for. You get strips of beef, fried potatoes, sauteed tomatoes/onions all over a pile of rice. I wasn't very impressed - the meat was lean, but a bit tough for me. The fried potatoes were SO soggy - I guess this is my fault because DD picked up the food a few hours prior. Eat them fresh - because the tomato will sog them up!
2 words of advice. Huge portions. Go hungry - or prepare to take a lot of food home! Advice number 2? Let me repeat: GREEN SAUCE IS SUPER SPICY! -
Review from Teresa K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/16/2012
Loma Saltado & the noodle chicken one!!!!
The parking is really a pain in the ass, and there's usually a wait but the food is worth it :) -
Review from Filip C.
Westside, CA
3/22/2012
Yes, I am not ashamed to admit that Mario popped my cherry. Uhh my Peruvian food-cherry, that is...
In a way, I almost resent losing it to Mario's, because starting off with the bar set so high almost always leads to disappointment with subsequent tries elsewhere. And I've patronized a handful of other Peruvian joints since, and few have come close to the explosion of flavor that Mario's continues to deliver to my taste-buds.
The only downside of such a great joint? Everyone and their moms knows about it, meaning the place gets packed around the clock, and you will almost never find parking in that puny little lot designed for Tonka trunks.
By the way, am I the only one who thinks that that Inca Kola should be renamed bubble gum juice? Til we meet again, Mario's. -
Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
Ciara G's peruvian food tooth spoke loudly when her tastebuds started coming out of their cough-and-cold-induced coma. I was happy to come along for the ride, and for the food!
Bisteck Frito ($12.25) - served pretty rare for a very thin steak (yay!), and with no salt as requested, I was pretty happy! Seasoned white rice and a salad of iceberg and a slice of tomato topped with a bit of cilantro came alongside, but it was that crazy spicy pale green sauce in the squeeze bottle that was super yummy on everything!
Lomo Saltado ($11.25) - I tried CG's food and immediately became sad that I can't eat anything salty. This wasn't overly salty, mind you - I blame my salt-free palate for the intolerance of it all. This dish of beef, tomatoes, onions, and fries with rice used to be my fave thing. Sadly, it's still yummy but I can't eat it anymore.
Our server was a really good sport when I ordered my steak rare and without salt. I'm sure she thought I live a joyless existence, based on how I ordered my food! Warm rolls came out fast before our food, and that all-important green sauce came alongside.
I'd definitely come back - next time I'll try the ceviche! -
Review from Ciara G.
I'll take some Lomo Saltado to go with my green sauce please.
Both, are bomb. I want to steal the bottle of green sauce every time I go here. I need to start carrying a bigger purse. The Lomo portion is HUGE! I never finish it although this last time I came pretty darn close. I'm not a seafood fan but I hear their seafood items are as good as they come.
Get here early for sure bc come prime time there will surly be a wait and toward the end of the night they have been known to lock the doors.
Parking is a bitch and a half so I suggest street parking instead of trying to squeeze you car in their snug one way in/out parking lot.
So freaking good. SO FREAKING GOOD.Listed in: Perú, mucho gusto
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Review from Eugene H.
Alhambra, CA
Pretty bombay i must say. Had no idea was a marisco was until i came here. Apparently its seafood. Well I'm a huge fan of seafood so this was a pleasant surprise. I got the beef and seafood things which was really really good. This place is pretty good, although I havent tried many other types of this food so I dont have much to compare it to.
Its a nice little restaurant that is worth trying, especially if you're into seafood and in the area. But i dont think I would drive all the way out here for this.
The parking lot is super small but you can find lots of free parking around on the streets. -
Review from William H.
Los Angeles, CA
3/9/2012
I love Mario's Peruvian! People who aren't fans usually complain that Mario's is on the saltier side, but I think that's Peruvian food in general (correct me if I'm wrong!). I personally don't think the salt is all that overwhelming. If you haven't been here before, I highly recommend the pollo saltado because I feel that it tastes better than the lomo saltado or the seafood one. If you're not feeling like chicken, the other options are certainly very good. The calamares are pretty good here too. I especially love the spicy green sauce which really cuts into the (not overwhelming) saltiness of the saltado (= Hope you walk in hungry because the portions here are HUGE!!! (I'd say the average price of the menu items is $10-12 ish)
Enjoy with a nice glass of Incan coke.
PS. If you go here at busy times, you're probably going to have to wait outside in line, so bring a jacket if it's cold outside -
Review from Caroline T.
Westminster, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
After a bland experience at Don Felix, I wasn't a fan of Peruvian food until I tried Mario's! After doing a little shopping down Melrose, my friend and I stopped by Mario's since it was otw home. They served warm bread with butter and that spicy aji sauce. That aji sauce I tried at Don Feliex was spicy but it lacked salt. I had to try the Lomo Saltado and yes, it was delicious and more savory and flavorful than I expected. We also got the shrimp ceviche and I was surprised because it was huge whole shrimp! Overall, the meal was delicious. I think I'm craving for it now...
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Review from Lisa C.
Diamond Bar, CA
3/16/2012
Is it just me? or does their food taste slightly Asian-ish? And I'm not just talking about the side of white rice...
Anyhow, I was quite disappointed with Mario's. The idea of the Lomo Saltado is great - slices of steak and french fries stir-fried together - what's not to dig? But what arrived on my plate left a lot to be desired. The fries with the seasoning were pretty good but the steak was so chewy and overcooked.
The pescado dish was seemingly alright at first but after a few bites, I just wasn't feeling' it all that much.
I thought perhaps high hopes could've been the reason for my indifference for the food, but I did run 5 miles right before coming here so theoretically it should have tasted a lot better! -
Review from JK K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012
Can I get some peruvian food with that AJI sauce? I love the aji sauce. I literally drown my food with it. Can't go wrong with their lomos, tallarins, cerviche.
Listed in: My ktown faves
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Review from Justine Y.
Los Angeles, CA
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I used to frequent Mario's, but with traffic getting worse every year, we've slowed down the trips. I always get the shrimp with garlic and my husband always orders their lomo. Well, after a year of not going, we decided to meet with some friends.
Parking was still an issue, but I knew I needed the exercise because I knew I was going to kill my shrimp. Shrimp....still BOMB. The lomo saltado? Well, it was missing something. Not sure, but it's not made like before. My friends ordered it, too, and they said it was different. Maybe just the cook that day? Maybe their meat? Not sure, but boy, did I love my garlic!!! -
Review from Erin H.
Fountain Hills, AZ
3/16/2012
I ate here roughly 3-4 years ago, so perhaps they've tightened up their game a bit. ** NOTE: Yes, I'm a white girl, but I used to be married to a Peruvian and his mom cooked real home-cooked Peruvian food in Lima for me a LOT.
Butttt... my experience here wasn't so great. The place was packed (which is a good sign) but I'm sure the folks trying to finish their meal didn't appreciate total strangers standing in a line by their tables waiting for them to finish.
Decor is cheapy/gimmicky Peruvian items. Pretty hole-in-the-wall vibe going on here. Also seemed to have no ventilation and a few buzzing flies roaming the
IMO our service was pretty crappy. When we were seated, I mentioned that we didn't have enough chairs to accommodate our party. The owner comes busting out from the kitchen and gets a little pissy and snarls something like "Well, you need to add some chairs then". Okay. Next, our waitress seemed impatient and bothered by the fact that my party had a few questions on the menu. Ok, whatever - maybe she was having a bad day.
We ordered a pitcher of Chica Morada - they forgot the sugar! It was so dang tart - very disappointing! The waitress seemed bothered by this when asked to add sugar.The ceviche was okay - not stellar, but okay.
Who knows? Maybe I'll go back - it's worth one more try... ;) -
Review from Laila R.
Burbank, CA
Updated - 3/12/2012
food is always great here.Parking and wait well that's another issue but my review is for the fantastic food. I have been coming here for years and always order the same things. Lomo saltado, saltado de camarones, ceviche mixto, jalea de mariscos, chorros, but yesterday was a cold night and I really wanted some soup I added the parihuela to my order cause I can't come here and not have those other things and it was perfect . good flavor lots of seafood hit the spot.
AI love this place.Listed in: Top Restaurants
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/3/2010
you wont' find better peruvian than this.
there will most likely be a wait when you get there
when you… Read more »
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Review from Tina L.
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great!
My boo had the Lomo Saltado while I had the chicken fried rice they had there (#25). Both were good, but his was delicious. Mine was great because I love chicken fried rice... I just hate the little peas and carrots they decide to stick in there normally - thankfully the Peruvians have more sense than the Asians (oh, you know it's true.)
Bottom line: try the lomo saltado like everyone else in the restaurant; it's divine, iconic, and you can't go wrong. Next time I'm definitely ordering seafood but I'll still munch on the boo's lomo saltado. -
Review from Deee G.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2012
3.5 stars!
Came here with my wife for lunch and it was packed with people. If its your first time sign your name and number of parties on the counter(would be nice if one of the servers have told us the same).
We ordered lomo saltado, ceviche, and calamares. It was okay, I've had better lomo saltado at Mamita Peruvian Restaurant in Glendale. Also their toasted bread was subpar. -
Review from Kaori T.
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Why I have not yelped the ish of the goodness of this place yet, I do not know. Mario's is a really great place to get your lomo saltado fix. It's not the best, but it's definitely good, loaded in size, and terribly delicious.
The big issue I would have about Mario's is that the location makes for nasty and difficult parking. It's seldom easy to park with ease here, unless you're lucky enough to get a spot in the miniscule parking lot.
Ok, for the food. All you really need to know is LOMO SALTADO. Basically any dish which ends with ---SALTADO will please you, guaranteed (That is, if stir-fried fries, tomato, meat, and red onions sounds dandy). I've tried their fried rice, was OK with it, but I think after all my ventures to Mario's, that Lomo has become my go-to. The rice is great, the meat isn't high grade quality, but it's just a stir-fry of tasty. Oh dear and the portions are big if your appetite is small or if you have the self-control to save half for later...
Here's something I like to do. Add an egg on top of that Lomo Saltado for that kick in the butt to delicious heaven. -
Review from Monica G.
Alhambra, CA
4/16/2012
I enjoy Peruvian and eat it at least once a week, Hence, I have been dying to try out Mario's but its always packed and impossible to find parking during lunch or dinner hours. Luckily for me, there were some street closures in LA over the weekend which slowed down business for Marios and allowed me to try this place. I had the Pollo Tallarin Saltado and it was enough to last two meals. My bf had the Saltado De Mariscos and he also had leftovers. The food was very good as was the service. The bread was huge and warm which I love. I took one star off because they didnt have that Peruvian Chicken soup that I enjoy so much at other restaurants.
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Review from Greg D.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Lomo Saltado was amazing. On par, if not better than El Pollo Inka's. This place has more of a mom and pop, family style to it than El Pollo Inka does. Besides that the restaurants are fairly similar. The place is part of a small mini mart so the parking is limited. Plus we came after LA Beerfest, so it was super crowed. Not sure if it's like that all the time or just because of Beerfest. Even with the crowds, still a great Peruvian restaurant that I'll make sure to visit again.
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Review from Diana H.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is very similar to El Pollo Inka regarding Peruvian food. I had the Saltado de Mariscos and it was good - generous portions, but quite pricey for a hole-in-the-wall. The good news is that you can easily share a plate making it affordable.
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Review from Jennifer J.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I've been coming here since the nineties for the following dishes:
lomo saltado
saltado de mariscos (seafood over fries)
ceviche
chupa de camarones (shrimp chowder)
chaufas (fried rice)
tallarin (spaghetti)
Started phoning in my orders and picking up take out the last couple years (ask for extra aji sauce to go!) cause I couldn't stand the lines. I have to admit that the food has become overcooked and greasy. The last few times, I also got indigestion so sadly, I will be on the hunt for a new Peruvian joint. -
Review from diana l.
El Monte, CA
4/22/2012
Pros: Yummy... Gotta try their green sauce.
Cons: Parking, and nasty horchata -
Review from Rocky B.
1/31/2012
This restaurant is in my neighborhood and after driving past it several times to see a huge line waiting outside to get seated I finally decided to give it a shot. We went for lunch on Saturday...got there around 2pm. There were a couple of empty tables. Yes! The place is very modest and verging on hole in the wall...but those are the places that usually have the best food!
A basket of fresh hot bread hit our table along with a bottle of some homemade green sauce. Not sure what it was made out of but boy was it good and packed a nice punch as far as heat!
As an app we got the mussels covered in salsa. They were amazing! So fresh and light...almost like a ceviche.
My entree was steamed cod with tomatoes and white rice. This was the only part of my meal that I particularly didn't enjoy. Fish was too mushy for my liking. I like fish to be a bit flaky. My husbands entree...the Peruvian Beef Fried Rice was again...amazing!
Service was a bit spotty which was a bit mind boggling considering there were 3 waitresses and not that many tables seated to begin with. When it came time to pay the bill we had to hunt someone down. Then it took forever to get our credit card back.
I'd definitely come back based on the Mussels and that green sauce...uh....that AMAZING green sauce! Next time I'll stick to ordering a shrimp dish. -
Review from Tony S.
Burbank, CA
2/25/2012
First time here. Had a mean craving for saltado de pollo last weekend so I grabbed a friend and dropped by Mario's for lunch on a Sunday. There were about four groups waiting ahead of us, made up of some couples and as well as one or two small families. The wait ended up being 45 minutes.
The waitress was friendly and attentive, bringing out drinks and bread quickly. We were starving so that warm bread disappeared into thin air (or chubby stomachs really). My buddy had the sopa sastancia and I had my craving. Both were tasty enough and came in decent sized portions. But the long wait, the 'B' health rating, and the somewhat high prices didn't live up to the hype I'd heard about this place over the years (you mention Peruvian on this side of town and people always mention Mario's). -
Review from Grace P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2012
Before I was about to Yelp this place, I was going to give it 3.7 stars.
1. They don't have that option
2. I started salivating when I saw a picture of their dish.
I must have been thinking of the wrong place! It's worth 4.3 stars!
Rewind a month and a half back when a few people I was with wanted something we haven't tried, fulfilling, delicious (duh), and highly recommended. The final verdit: Mario's!
If Yelp didn't exist, I don't think anyone would be willing or able to find this place. There's nothing fancy going on in there, but there definitely will be a partay-in-yo-mouth.
Around 6pm, we had to wait about 15 minutes to get seated. I peaked through the windows and saw big plates filled with meat, sauce, fries, noodles, etc. and could not wait until I got seated. When we finally did, my friend and I shared the Lomo saltado and Tallarin Saltado De Pollo. We added the magical green sauce (pretty spicy) and was very satisfied. I like how their portions are huge. The food is a bit greasy, but not in a bad way.
A place to eat at again and again. -
Review from Eileen E.
12/24/2011
I love peruvian food! I crave that delicious fluorescent green aji sauce (I'd very much like to put this sh** on everything ;)) and lomo saltado mmm .This place can be ridiculously difficult to dine in because the line is always crazy! They only have a couple of tables, so I made sure to go on a weekday at 2 PM. :)
Recommendations:
Lomo Soltado (yup, their lomo saltado is as good as everyone makes it out to be. It has a rich soy sauce flavor and is full of stir fried veggies and french fries!)
Steamed Fish (this was really yummy too) -
Review from Sarang Y.
I've been here many times (take-out, dine-in) and I have zero complaints. If I had to have one, it'd be the long wait time during the weekends. But, since my in-laws live down the street, we usually get take out so win-win for me! I've dined in during lunch and usually I got seated immediately. FYI: The parking lot is really small and street parking may be difficult.
I love starting my meal with their warm bread. I butter it then drizzle on some aji sauce. I like to call it the Magic Green Sauce. I've tried other aji sauces but Mario's has the best one (my ultimate favorite was in Guatemala). It's spicy so beware weak sauces! I've tried the lomo saltado, seafood saltado, siete mares soup, calamari ceviche thing but my favorites are pollo saltado and fried calamari (together of course!).
Also their Tamarind drink is like sweet iced tea! It nicely balances out the saltiness of the meal.
I have nothing new to say about Mario's that haven't been said so Yoon out! -
Review from Fourty F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2012
Straight up lines from morning to night - we've been waiting siete anos to get inside this place so a couple more minutos in line ain't no thang. Sorry for dissing any Peruvians out there with my ridiculous attempt at Spanish.
The steak and frites are amazing! Hold up. Will Continue. -
Review from Sally E.
1/15/2012
Lomo saltado and horchata! YUMYUM. I would have never gone to this place were it not for yelp, but I'm really glad I did.
The lomo saltado was well-cooked, filled with flavor, and delicious. We didn't have to wait for a table, and if i remember correctly, the food came out pretty quick. We were even lucky enough to find parking in the teeny plaza in front, though I could forsee it being a problem.
They also offered us complimentary bread (which was SO good) with their amazing green sauce.
I would definitely come back here. -
Review from Orsolya D.
North Hollywood, CA
Throughout my 27 years on this planet, there has been only one Mario who holds my heart. That would be the 8-bit, Italian plumber who hangs out in pipes and has a brother named Luigi and a pet dinosaur, Yoshi. Well, dear Mario, you have some competition that even Princess Toadstool would get her panties in a bunch about: Mario's Peruvian Restaurant.
Mario's is located in the heart of easy Hollywood access (Vine & Melrose) but don't expect any pretentious glitz or glamor. Housed in a small plaza (parking is a bit rough but try the street in front of the church across the street); Mario's lacks any Hollywood aires. In fact, upon stepping foot into Mario's, you will be accosted by harsh lighting, uncomfortable seating, and wall decorations involving Jesus Christ. Truthfully, Mario's looks and feels much like a dinner in the basement of a catholic church. The only missing factor is a dilapidated organ.
Despite not being the highest echelon in terms of ambiance; Mario's makes up for it in the food realm. The food here is simply delicious! My boyfriend and I ordered two entrees, planning to share both. Turns out, one entree would have been more than plenty since portions are large enough to feed an army of Koopa Troopas. We ordered the basic Lomo Saltado as dish number one and Calamari in Lemon Salsa; while nibbling on very soft, very fresh, and very bad for me, dinner rolls.
The Lomo Saltado was beyond perfect. The fries were large (home-style or steak type fries in size) and not overly greasy while the beef was tender and had an in-your-face delicious grilled flavor. Rounded out with red onions and a lovely sauce, this was Lomo Saltado to dream about. Served with rice, it feeds two people easily. The Calamari was also top tier cuisine. Another huge portion, the calamari was crisp (but not overdone) on the outside and tender on the inside. The batter included wonderful spice which was accented by the tart lemon sauce. Served with an onion and tomato salad, it is refreshing and filling.
Service is so/so. The waitress won points when we stated that we were freezing and she proceeded to turn down the air conditioning, but then lost it throughout the meal as she hardly attended to us and we kept having to flag her down. Plus, the dining room (just a large room with tables) is super loud and somewhat awkward which doesn't help matters. Again, Mario's is all about the food so don't expect to impress a date with anything but great Peruvian dishes.
My heart will always be with the 8-bit man who isn't afraid to wear a raccoon suit or jump around on the back of a dinosaur; but when it comes to Peruvian food: Mario's is the winner in my book. 1 Up. -
Review from Justin K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/11/2012
OMG ....
EVERYTHING is good here. I usually get #26 or #35, heaping smorgasbord of seafood and veggies.
#35 was all that I ate there in the beginning. They mix the seafood and veggies with rice and french fries? So weird but so good!
Then I discovered #26 which is the same dish but minus fries and rice but with stir fried noodles? Even better tasting!
I love the spicy green sauce that they have, it goes good with everything.
Parking SUCKS, service is decent, food makes it worth the trip.
If you have never heard of this place, you do not know your way around LA. -
Review from Steph S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm really trying to like this place and as much hype as I've heard about it, I can't rate this place that high.
I got their famous lomo soltado and BOY was it greasy. No real flavor combined and it's ... just not my cup of tea. The only thing I'm going to rave about is their green spicy sauce. SO GOOD. That's pretty much the only thing that kept this plate rather tasty.
And I usually NEVER complain about the water, but for some reason their water tasted like it was straight from the toilet. Come on ... keep up your reputation of a delicious restaurant at ALL aspects. -
Review from Rebeca U.
Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing peruvian food!! I am
Not peruvian but nevertheless i love their food. I have been going to this restaurant for years maybe around 12-14 years, ever since i was a kid! We have never had any complaints. If you do plan to visit this restaurant keep in mind it gets really full friday-sat! Anticipate a 30min or longer wait. Enjoy!! -
Review from Marvin L.
La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I used to freakin' love this place 3-4 years back. It was routine, I go to Bogie's liquor, pick up some beer or wine and take it back..YOU CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!!!
That totally sucks~
Order the Saltado de Mariscos! Lomo Saltado is much too tough...
Or go w/ the Pollo~ Again, Lomo Saltado is much too tough..
Green sauce, and plates are still really good, but as I consider the wait, the
environment and the FACT that I can't take in my own booze, my perception
of Mario's has regressed.
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1),
Spanish (2)
