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Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Rogers ParkMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This was my first journey into Peruvian food territory and from what I have heard, this is the best. Since I have no other places to compare it to, I will say that this stuff is awesome!
The place is very small with lots of plaques, news clippings, and Peruvian stuff on the walls. The Staff was friendly but the service was a little slow.
We ordered the beef empanadas which were filling and quite tasty. I had a can of "Inca Kola" which is not really a "Cola" but was still good.
The lamb stew dish was not very "lamby", but more like a beef stew flavor that was tender and came with beans and rice. We also had some dish with thin strips of beef and this thick yellow sauce that might have been tumeric, with potatoes. I could not get enough of that stuff!
The chicken dish was ok, but could not remember what kind of sauce was on it. I stuck to the meat dishes.
I will definitely be back!
Things I learned while eating Peruvian food for the first time:
1) Rice, beans, and plantains are staples.
2) The poor people eat grilled steak and eggs with rice, beans, and plantains. I enjoyed my bistec a lo pobre platter. Not too shabby for po' folks' grub!
3) Most authentic Peruvian places actually in Peru are probably not located 2 doors down from a Subway in a strip mall.
4) Must enjoy with a Pisco sour cocktail. Pisco is a S. American liquor made from grapes. Pisco + egg whites + lime + cinnamon = tastes like margarita!
BYOB. Great value for the food. Live music on some nights too!
We went because we were missing our Peruvian trip. We got our Peruvian fix, but we are not sure that we'll come back.
Our apps were just ok. We wanted ceviche de covina, they didn't have covina, so we got groupa. So so. the fish was fresh and chunky, but nothing special. We got a side of fried plantains too. That was sweet and yummy. Next time, I will probably get empanadas and tamales.
The Seco de Carne was really great, the flavor was meaty, the beef was tender, the beans was excellent, not too thick, all and all a great dish. The other dish was Arroz con Marisco, I can't agree with the others, it was just okay. The seafood was not fresh, I didn't expect fresh, but it was overcooked frozen seafood. Come on! I had to put salt and mixed in tons of green sauce in to make it more flavorful. I actually didn't want to take the leftovers rice home, sad.
Next time, we will bring a few more people and stay away from the seafood dishes, they were not really bad, but not really good either. Their meat dishes are much better. But the Pisco sour was delicious and we can go back just for that, our pitcher was drained.
I came here after hearing about it on Hungry Hound a year or 2 back. Steve really knows how to pick em! Delicious fresh, authentic peruvian food. I usually order the steak with beans and rice. So TASTY!
This is a small little place that you would almost miss, located in a strip mall, but it is a hidden little gem! I really liked the food! There was a nice variety of typical Peruvian dishes as well as some vegetarian options too! The service wasn't super fast, but everything was made from scratch, so it was fresh off the grill. You get a lot of food for the money too. I even had leftovers I enjoyed for breakfast the next day ( I love when that happens!) The owner was very friendly and made several good recommendations. Cute place, I'll be back!
I think the food was good, in fairness it's just not my favorite style. The staff was friendly. They did charge a $3 corking fee.
Don't let the strip mall appearance fool you. This place is fantastic. My husband and I live half a block away so when we moved to the neighborhood we had to hit this place right away. The food is fantastic. I've had a number of different items on the menu and have thoroughly enjoyed everything. The portions are huge - we always have leftovers to take home. On weekends they bring in live music which is lots of fun - it can get a bit crowded moving in and out of the place when the music is going but it is such a great festive environment that I really don't care. Great service too. We were frequenting this place just prior to our trip to Peru and I have to say it really prepared us for the fare on offer in Peru. Peruvian food is fantastic and this place does it well. I can't recommend it highly enough.
IT'S TIME TO RENAME THE FRENCH FRY THE PERUVIAN FRY
After all, the potato originated from Peru and it's obvious from my meal at Taste of Peru that the Peruvians have truly mastered this ingredient.
How else can you explain the genius of lomo saltado, a chifa dish of stir-fried beef and french fries? How can you explain the glorious creation that is the papa rellena, a golden ball of deep-fried mashed potatoes stuffed with ground beef? Pure genius.
Portions here are huge (the paella can easily feed 4) and it's BYOB. The only negative? Having to look at the spray painted mug of Guy Fieri on the wall. Talk about unappetizing.
well, while the atmosphere was considerably more low-key this last Friday evening (less customers and no band), everything still was pretty wonderful. The Papa Rellena appetizer (mashed potato stuffed with a mixture of seasoned ribeye steak, walnuts, eggs, raisins & olives) was still amazingly flavourful. Andy M also opted to try the Peruvian Tamales (corn tamales made with chicken, served with garnish of sweet onions marinated in lime), this was my personal favourite.
For an entree I got the Camarones A La Diabla (shrimp in a spicy sauce served with rice). The shrimp were plentiful and a good size, the sauce had a little kick to it, but it was more on par with Tabasco than anything else.
Basically, everything is still excellent and definitely worth a trip!
What looks like absolutely nothing from the outside turns out to be one of the most friggin… Read more »
I'm gonna jump in the frey here. . .
This place is incredible. . . My parents are Peruvian immigrants and this is the best down home cooking I've had since my grandmother was alive. For real. Things to check out are aji de gallina and lomo saltado. . . Hmmmmm. . . .
A word of warning if you don't have a reservation Friday, Saturday or Sunday. . . well. . . you probably shouldn't bother. . . though if you're patient and desperate for a fix (I've been there) you can usually get squeezed in after a loooooooooong wait.
Run up the street while you're waiting and grab a six pack of "Cuzco" beer (this place is BYOB) and enjoy a Peruvian lager along with your meal. . . it kind of tastes like Miller to me. . .but when in Rome. . .
I enjoyed our server alot. He was funny and helpful. We brought our own wine and there is a $3.50/person cork fee. We chose Pinot Noir since by reading the online menu it seemed like they used alot of steak in their menu. I had ribeye with potatoes and rice. The use of tumeric was very apparent as the potatoes came with a bright happy yellow sauce. The rice was delish and I'm not really a fan of rice. My friend had lamb which was cooked to point of melting in your mouth. He had veggies and rice with his. We'll have to try the paella though the next time we go since they obviously specialize in seafood by the amount there was on the menu. Great for groups or an intimate date.
We've driven past the Taste of Peru for the past two years, me saying "oh, honey...we really need to try this place out - I've heard it's incredible." And honey always said "no....."
So I badgered him to try it last nite. The menu is terrific - lots of goodies to choose from. So we ordered the empanada and chicken tamale as the appetizers with Inca Kola to drink.
Honey was VERY impressed with both starters. The empanada was soft and tasty, not too spicy. The chicken tamale had a soft corn shell with ground chicken and spices. It was covered in onions marinated in lime juice, if you're a fan of raw onions. The meal was off to a great beginning.
Dinner for honey was lamb stew, rice and beans and a side of plantains. He loved it! I had the Mama Carmen's paella which was rice infused with cilantro, pieces of calamari, bay scallops, mussels, oyster and a couple of crab legs, which came with the tools to crack them. I'm not a big fan of working for my dinner, but I got around it to taste the crabmeat.
Both plates had enough for two people to share and we walked away very satisfied with what we ordered. Too full for dessert, though.
The fact that they deliver was a bonus.
Taking away one star because honey's dinner came out of the kitchen at least 5 minutes earlier than mine and the plantains made it to the table when we were almost finished. They need to get their act together on the service, but the food is definitely worth the trip to Rogers Park.
We'll be back or we'll order out.
Okay. First things first. Peruvian food is delicious. Those of you who've ever been to Peru will most likely agree. Another premise: if you go to a restaurant, you will expect the food to be at least as good as the one you can fix yourself. Otherwise, you would just stay home, right?
Well, I went to Taste of Peru this past Sunday for lunch and I was sadly disappointed. For starters we had the tamal, which was good and a papa rellena (stuffed potato). The papa rellena was a re-heated potato from the day before and although the taste was not bad, you could tell it was not a freshly cooked. I also ordered a ceviche ($14!) because I had been craving fish for some days. Another miss. Simply put, ceviche is fish cooked in lime. But the fish has to be marinated in the lime long enough in order for it to be cooked. It was undercooked. I even pulled out a fish-bone! (is that supposed to be good luck?).
I ordered the "lomo saltado" which is a dish I normally use to measure a good Peruvian-food restaurant. As with the papa rellena, this dish was a left-over from the day before. It had been clearly re-heated. The meat had the markings of being over-exposed to the pan, and the taste also showed it. It was not bad, but not good. And not good for a restaurant. Honestly, I can fix a better lomo saltado. No joke.
My party had the "arroz con pollo" (rice with chicken) which looked like a bunch of rice that had been dyed with some light-green substance. Did these guys have the recipe? This was not "Peruvian arroz con pollo". It was a sorry attempt at it, which was closer to risotto (in texture) than to the Peruvian dish. By the way, arroz con pollo is not a complicated dish. With this, we were done! We had glimpsed at the dessert menu initially, but decided to skip it.
Sorry to say, but the best part of the meal was the Inca Kola. Will not be going back anytime soon.
2 bottles of wine because it's BYOB= awesome
GIANT plate of paella with a lot of seafood= stuffed myself silly
fresh ceviche= mouthwatering
I had the best time at A Taste of Peru! The owner of the restaurant just happened to sit next to our little table in the back. Not only did he educate us on Peruvian culture, he also showed me the paintings of crop circles in the bathroom (sounds sketchy,but was actually really cool). His wife and daughter also joined in the conversation and basically convinced me to visit Peru sometime in the near future!
They have these ready made Peruvian "margarita" mixes for customers who bring in Peruvian pisco (a spanish liquor) which I thought was more delicious and refreshing than regular margaritas! In fact, it was so good, we ended up getting a bottle from the liquor store next door before heading home. The 3 hour dinner was one of my favorite dinner memories this year!
I really can't wait to go again! Also there was paella to keep us full for the next two days!
I've heard nothing but raves about this place, but I wasn't impressed. On one hand, the value was high, as our entrees were both $11 and we took half home. On the other hand, the food was kind of boring. I had the Peruvian fried rice (I ordered chicken but received beef, argh), which was edible and satisfying, but nothing special. I tried my friend's dish (forget the name) of beef, rice, tomatoes, and french fries. We also split a tamale, which featured too much meal and not enough goodies. The limed onions were a good accompaniment though.
The dude who waited on us was on the phone for the first 15-20 minutes of our visit, which was strange, but later when he was off the phone he still barely spoke to us. Later, towards dessert he had warmed up quite a bit. The restaurant was empty except for one other table.
The desserts were good: flan which was slightly too sweet, and rice pudding, which was runny but had the right balance of flavors (plus it came with raisins). I'm a big fan of rice pudding, and I'll give their version a B+.
They have a soup on their menu called Sopa de Viagra, which costs $25. Now, I'm sorry to be salacious, but I am dying to know what is in this soup that it costs so much and is named Sopa de Viagra. The other soups are $10. I almost thought that it was a joke.
It's too bad that Yelp doesn't offer anymore than five stars. This place deserves more than that. Taste of Peru is not very easy on the eyes, but the food at this place is top notch.
We started out with the Peruvian Tamales and Papa Rellena appetizers. The tamales are soft and packed with flavor. The stuffed Mashed Potato (papa rellena) is a flavor filled mess that explodes in your mouth. There are hints of steak, raisins, nuts and god knows, what else. But it's all good.
I ordered the Peruvian steak and rice for my entree. The steak was tender and marinated beautifully and the rice and Peruvian french fries are a delight. The fries taste like they are marinated in some type of vinegar sauce that give them a very unique flavor.
This place is a gem, and I can't recommend it enough.
Taste of Peru is on our regular circuit of takeout restaurants. We have eaten at the restaurant many times, but the service is, um, laid back - and sometimes the dishes don't come out of the kitchen at the same time. Whatever, the food is fan-freaking-tastic.
I recommend the Empanadas De Carne, Lomo Salatado, Seco De Carne, Bistec Con Frijoles Y Arroz Blanco (simple but delicious), and the Aji De Gallina (my favorite). My BF is a HUGE fan of the Arroz Chaufa de Carne. My mother (who is from Chile) loved her Pariuhuela seafood soup when we took her here.
Whatever you get, make sure to add some of the spicy green sauce to it! I don't know what they make this stuff from but it really packs the heat. My BF and I both love spicy foods, so if you have a more timid palette, please beware.
We have been patrons of Sabor Peruano for many years and have come to know Cesar (the owner) and Augusto (head waiter, and Cesar's brother). Such nice people! 2008 was their 10 year anniversary and we hope they're around for another 10 (or 20) years!
Rumor has it that this place might be featured on a certain program on the Food Network. Better check 'em out before you have to make reservations on the weekdays as well. Enjoy!
I actually hesitate to write this review, as i fear this excellent but liliputian spot will be over run and the next time I crave Peruvian I will be high and dry. But no matter, if you are feeling adventurous, and enjoy the amalgamation of cultures Peruvian cuisine offers, this spot up in the 'hood is not to be missed.
My dear family took me here for my natal anniversary celebration, and that theme is well suited to this store front spot. We were greeted with a spirited musician and his accompaniment, who added to the festive atmoshpere. I shared the 'supper for two' with my sister which afforded us the opportunity to try some of delicacies on their menu. The ceviche rocks, and the seafood paella is not to be missed. Interestingly enough, neither is the peruvian tamale.
Note that this is a byob spot, and space is very limited so reservations are highly recommended. But this is one of those rare spots that foodies cannot miss.
I've tried Peruvian food before, but this place blows Ay Ay Ay Picante way out of the waters. The food has a lot of flavors that gets your taste buds going.
Empanadas De Carne & Pollo - Both were tasty. Add the spicy green sauce, it adds a whole new dimension of flavor in all of the dishes.
Papa a la Huancaina - It's boiled potatoes in a cream cheese sauce. This dish was ok, but if you add some of that green sauce...it was pretty good.
Lomo Salatado - Who ever thought stir fried beef and french fries were just that good?
Arroz Chaufa de Pollo - This stuff was so addicting. You just couldn't get enough of it.
Paella de Mariscos con Langosta - I am not a big paella fan since most of the time it tastes a little fishy, but Taste of Peru makes its quite tasty and there's no fishy taste. The dish was huge too.
Last but not least, it's BYOB here. So don't forget to bring some. If you like Pisco Sours, Cesar (owner) makes really good ones. Bring on the Pisco and he will make some for you.
This place is incredible! I don't remember exactly what we ordered since we went on the recommendations of our waitress, but everything was just delicious. The portions were HUGE, and the bill was certainly quite the opposite. Sadly, we had to abandon our leftovers because we weren't going straight home, but we will definitely be back. I just wish it wasn't such a long bus ride away!
PS. Don't forget to order an Inca Cola!
ME GUSTA!!! A friend and I who have both been in South America were CRAVING Bolivian saltenas which are impossible to find in Chicago. (If you know where to find them let me know!!!) So we decided we would settle on empanadas, a larger less involved version of he saltena. Based on Yelp advice, we decided to check out Taste of Peru. Thank God we found this gem!
The empanadas were delicious - especially with the splash of lime and a touch of the waaaaay spicy dipping sauce that come with the bread. I agree with some other reviewers that the carne emppanadas are king. The pollo is not bad - but man, is the carne good!
We split the papa rellena which was a taste of heaven. Honestly it was to die for. I got one to go to bring home to my chef boyfriend. The filling was so complex and delicious and the ceviche on the side went perfectly with the potato. Deeeeeelicious!
The decor was simple and very South American and I cannot wait to go back for a full meal!!!
As I've learned from La Gondola, you can't judge a restaurant merely by its appearance. The same goes for Taste of Peru, located in a strip mall on the far north side. What was once Chicago's "best kept secret" is now packed every weekend with hungry regulars.
The small space is spattered with Peruvian posters and photos, and it's obvious how much the owner loves his home country. More impressively though, he shares that love through the menu. Seafood lovers will appreciate the generous portions of ceviche offered as appetizers, served with onions, corn, and sweet potato. Popular dishes include the pariuhuela (a huge, mixed seafood soup) and the aji de gallina (shredded chicken in a walnut cream sauce). Others swear by the tallarines verde (pasta with a spinach and basil sauce) or the lomo saltado (rib eye sauteed with tomatoes and onions). The fact is, everything on the menu is superb, so you can't go wrong.
Taste of Peru also offers tasty (virgin) pisco sours and Inca Cola, but feel free to take advantage of their BYOB policy and cheap corkage fee.
This hidden gem is no longer a secret. The quantity and quality are a big hit, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation.
Ok. Been here twice now and could of sworn I wrote a review, but guess not... so here's the fix to it!
So we ordered the Papa Rellena. Quite delicious though we split it 4 ways (was waiting for a person and she came just in time where we were to lazy to think about ordering more.) Also had the sweet potato slices. I wasn't super thrilled by the sweet potato as they were just sweet potato, but with a little salt and a bit of the jalapeno sauce (it's not made with any avocado!) it was soo good.
Between the four of us also split the dinner for 2. Really good. The ceviche was really good though I don't usually like sour so much. Not sure what the potato thing was with the egg on top, but it was kind of like egg salad and potato salad in one. It was one of my favorites of the night. The tamale was a good tamale, but I guess they just don't stand out for me.
The best part was bringing the pisco in! For those that need to know, you can get some like a block north of the restaurant on the same side of the street. It felt like magic to be able to take something that strong (42.3% was ours) and turn it into something where you really couldn't taste the alcohol! We had 2 pitchers and it made the whole night really good!
The ambience isn't great, but honestly, you don't go here for fine dining. It's 5 stars for other reasons... Like service.. the guy with the top was really funny and entertaining and everyone was genuinely nice. It's five stars for it's food and being as good as it gets for all described above!
I've never been here yet I've been craving taste of Peru's food for days! The craving was solely brought on by reading the reviews on Yelp. So the boyfriend and I finally found our way to my former hood', Rogers Park.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the "people on yelp love us" sticker...I felt like I was in good hands. Yelpers were right... the place is tiny! We could've slammed the door against the guy's chair if we pushed it any further.
I knew exactly what I wanted to order before we even got the menus.
1. Paella- I wish there was more rice than seafood.. not exactly a valid complaint but the rice was THAT yummy.
2. Ceviche Mixto- it was good but I'm use to bigger portions for the same price
3. Papa Rellena- the boyfriend liked it. What's not like to like about beef and potatoes? I never had this dish before so it was this amazing, mind blowing thing I thought up in my head. Turned out to be pretty normal.
4. Dessert: Alfajores, Flan- Your average flan and cookie you could get at a lot of places... we just wanted something sweet to end dinner with.
I enjoyed the live music. Their instruments filled the little restaurant and it was awesome being able to watch them play. The bill came to $75 which I thought was on the pricey side. . It was partly the decor or lack of that threw me off. I guess I'm use to paying a certain price for a certain look that a restaurant has... or is what I'm saying just a bit confusing? Nevermind. Anyways, We didn't mind paying it because we did enjoy the food and entertainment but I'll think twice about ordering the paella ($40) next time. Maybe they'll let me order the rice by itself...
Bad Service
Another Peruvian disappointment.
First of all, not everyone who calls the restaurant is peruvian, i am not aware of all the shows every restaurant plays, and i don't have friends that are peruvians. With this said i will start my review:
I ask a friend to call the restaurant to find if they had any live shows, family were visiting from poland and wanted to have peruvian music, when we place the phone call answered the phone and we ask if
" Are there any music on weekends??
The guy replied: " We have been playing for the past several years there is no reason why we shouldn't have one"
So, do you still play this weekend? we asked
He replied " If you are Peruvian you should know that this is the only restaurant that plays peruvian music, all peruvians should know that by now, instead of question me like this".
We did ask who are you?
he said "Cesar Izquierdo, Owner of the place.......... WANT A RESERVATION/! ???
Of course we got scare, and said NO!
Antie Renna wanted to go, so we did ended up for an earlier dinner, which i regret very much;
The green paste was too dry , not enough sauce on it.
Ceviche was to citric, needed more salt, less limes.
Papa rellena was good, she loved it.
No, we didnt see a show (because we were there early) i bought my aunt a copy of the peruvian movie "i am Andean".
I believe this place has to have better manners for their customers, at least better phone service, i will never comeback to this place, i guess i would rather go back at SushiSamba (lunch only) or to Rosa de Lima.
Didn't like the food.
Didn't like the service
Place is very small
Before you sit down, check bathroom first, (seriously), check, then decide if you want to stay
will not recommend it at all.
My aunt will return next month i will take her to a different type of Cuisine. no more Peruvian for us.
Mmmmmmmmm Taste of Peru ::drools::
My boyfriend actually ordered this for delivery for us a few weeks ago and I realized that I hadn't sung its praises here yet.
They were quick to deliver-- though I'm at Clark and Pratt, so being blocks away helped in that-- and super nice. They even called about 30 mins after to make sure that we'd enjoyed everything that we'd gotten.
It was a smorgasbord, so I can't recall everything we got, but everything was delicious-- flavorful without being overpowering and even my super-picky roomie ate his entire plate and asked for seconds.
I haven't gotten to eat in at Taste of Peru, but I look forward to it next time I'm home!
Amazing! We just went there agian tonight and thought it was amazing. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table as they were extremely busy with large parties. We got our table and the server was really appologetic. We didn't care though because they had realyl great music. For an appetizer we got the Papa Rellena and it was amazing! Crispy potatoe and lucious meat! We also got the beef enchillada at the reccomendation of the owner whos is so wonderful. He gave us free plantains because we had to wait for the table. Something that NO restaraunt has ever done let alone on a Saturday night. For dinner I had a pesto pasta with breaded steak entree that was also reccomended. It was to die for! So freaking good. Anyhow, I have over 1/2 to bring home. This is a BYOB restaraunt so bring your wine! This is such a great gem in Rogers Park!
I tried Taste of Peru for the first time last night with some new friends and I have to say that it… Read more »
Taste of Peru bills itself as "the best kept secret in Chicago," but apparently it's not much of a secret anymore because every time I go there the place is packed. Peruvian food in general is very diverse and tasty, mixing Italian, Asian and other cooking styles with an amazing variety of foods and spices, some which can only be found in Peru. Taste of Peru has family-style feel to it. Don't go expecting to be in and out of there in 30 minutes. The service is pretty slow, but the staff is generally very warm and friendly and the food is pretty authentic.
For starters, try the Papa a la Huacaina (potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce), Anticuchos (beef heart kabob), Papa Rellena (potato filled with meat and other goodies) or, if you like seafood, the Ceviche. My favorite entrees include Lomo Saltado (beef stir fry with french fried potatoes, tomatoes and onions, served with rice), Tallarines Verde (pesto spaghetti topped with a breaded steak), and Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken in a creamy, cheesy, nutty sauce served with rice). Don't forget to wash it down with an Inca Kola. (Peru is one of only three countries in the world where Coke is not the top selling soft drink. Inca Kola FTW!) I'm not a big seafood fan, but there are a lot of great Peruvian seafood dishes to choose from as well. Peruvian food in general does not have a whole lot of vegetarian options, so keep that in mind.
Overall, I think TOP is one of the better Peruvian restaurants in the city. If it were bigger and better staffed, I would definitely give it five stars. Now that it's no longer the best kept secret in town, maybe they'll be able to move to a larger location.
One of my classmates hipped me to this place. I went for lunch and I was so happy to find some good Peruvian food. The restaurant is cozy but nice. The food was de-lish and came out spanking hot. Another plus, they have a parking lot... its small but nonetheless free parking is like gold in the city.
I had the lamb dish with rice and beans and a side of plantains (my favorite). They serve very large portions. I didn't finish my entire entree. The server was very friendly and informative, since it was my first time. I will definitely go back. I would give them 5 stars, but I have to go back one more time for them to get that star.
This place was absolutely delicious. The Green Spaghetti and Papa Huanciana were insane. Just so so so delicious. The portions were ENORMOUS and I was glad for it; I think I could eat this food for dinner for a month straight.
The owner was SO friendly and had such great personality, when I told him I did not eat meat he said "But you look so healthy!" (ha) and put together a special off the menu plate of green spaghetti and perfectly grilled veggies for me. The prices are incredibly reasonable considering the portions too. Overall, I had a great time in the casual laid-back atmosphere, loved the food, and the staff was fun and attentive.
BYOB, two liquor stores within a block. Handy
The food was all amazing at this place. I went with a group of 7 of us and we all ordered different items. Not one thing was a let down. Unique flavors, friendly service. It was really great!
Don't let this place in a strip mall fool you. I can't wait to go back.
I don't know if the 3 stars is a fair rating, but I felt sort of let down by the Taste of Peru. I mean, it was good, inexpensive and had large portion sizes - all things that I value. But after having read all of these reviews and seeing all the praise given to this restaurant - I expected to be able to be stunned and taken back to my post-bar trip to Peru. Sadly, I wasn't but like I said, I don't know if it's because I expected so much or if it really was "eh."
We had the papas rellenas, ceviche mixto, and lomo saltado. The ceviche is listed on the appetizers section but its more than enough to be an entree. I saw some people eating the "Green Spaghetti" and that looked good. One thing I loved is the fact that they had Inca Cola.
I'll definitely try it again and see if anything changes my mind.
Good Peruvian Food...but it will take a while for you to get it.
Service is slow, but the patience is rewarded with very delicious food. I had the Pollo en Salsa de Mani (Chicken served over Peanut Sauce) and it was - I can't describe it - delicious would be a low compliment for this dish.
I would recommend visiting during the week and around lunch time.
The place has it's own personality, low key, and service was ok. But the let's talk about the important thing here the food. The food was... Ok. Not bad but not great either, based on the prices I was expecting the food to be a little bit more special .
Our food was alright and it gives a good taste of Latin food but believe me there are better places in town at a lower price point (try La Unica).
This is the first Peruvian place I've been to since moving to Chicago. (It seems as though they aren't as abundant as in L.A.). I always order the Lomo Saltado (or the Tallarines Verde Con Bistec Apanado) wherever I go, and this was pretty good here. The aji sauce around here is more spicier than what I was normally used to, though. The restaurant is really small, and on nights where they have a "live band/ singer" it's just way too crowded... reason why I always do take-out.
Also, apparently when they have private parties, they do not take any take out orders... or at least that is what happened one time when I called... I'd order here more often if it was closer.
AMAZING! I haven't written on here yet, but thought I should just let everyone know that this is such a great restaurant! I have eaten at many fancy restaurants in Chicago- and this beats all others. The food is amazing, and you get tons of it, and no matter how full you are, you just can't stop eating it!
I could get used to this whole eating-by-myself thing if it's always like this!
Very helpful servers, very quick order taking and delivery of food. The crusty bread is delicious, but the accompanying mustard sauce is a bit too spicy for my poor tummy.
They don't have many vegetarian options. I ordered the Saltada (I think), which consists of sauteed veggies and french fries (!!!) with a beer/brandy sauce, rice on the side. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the veggies were SO BLOODY TASTY. I think that sauce had some crack in it, too, because I later found myself on the corner of Clark and Albion screaming about fleas taking over my nostrils.
They are a leeeeeeetle pricey for a Sunday lunch, but I'd totally bring a date here (if there was a table available). I'll have to space out my visits, though, so the other three veg dishes don't start getting old. I will also be back for sweet potato fries. Oh yes.
Edited to add: I inspired my roommate to go the following day, and he was impressed by the fact that everything on the menu seems to be cooked in beer. I don't know if that's helpful or not.
SOO GOOD, JUST GO!!!!!!!!!
It was a smashing girl's night, newly-single me and my awesome girlfriends, BYOB'd some red wine and champagne (a perfect accompaniment to the ceviche).
And, oh, let me tell you about the ceviche . . . . YUM! LIMEY FRESH!! Big chunks of seafood, and so juicy, I'm going to crave it. Accompanied by some red onions, corn and a boiled potato - Peruvian food seems to love the potatoes. And the corn works with the ceviche!
Beware of the green sauce that is served with your bread - it is not guacamole, as we thought, but is a delish treat for hot sauce fans. Whoa, baby - it's got a KICK! I pronounced it "pureed jalapenos!"
We got some other appetizers that had potatoes in a delicious yellow sour cream sauce, many different flavors. Peruvian food is most definitely not Mexican food. A chopped chicken salad in an avocado, and another appetizer - a potato stuffed with meat and seasonings. YUM! And a chicken dish, with rice and more of the delicious yellow sour cream sauce. It was saffron-like, mild and savory.
The food was delicous and fresh, and the owner - what a charming man! He pointed out his family photos which adorn the walls of this small boite. Don't be put off by the strip mall location, this is one of those fabulous little ethnic places where you can hang out, drink wine and dish with the hard-working owner (who always has time to chat or explain a dish) as he tells you about the food of his homeland.
There was a couple at an adjacent table that got a Seafood Paella that looked utterly magnificent, and their report was "Delicious!"
We 4 chicks had 5 or 6 appetizers (or was it 4 appetizers and one entree - I can't remember, but we had tons of food!), and our bill was $50. A lot of goodness and fun for a v. small price.
But no Cuy Asado on the menu (the owner laughed!)
UPDATE: 9/2/07 I went there for my birthday. Pisco sours are my new favorite drink. It's BYOB still, but if you bring a bottle of Pisco they do the sour mix, and its pisco-licious!
Got the Seafood paella this time and some sort of chicken kebab-type appetizer. As well the ceviche, potato appetizer, avocado salad and two entrees. The vegetarian with us loved her Peruvian tortilla - a sort of omelette w/ vegetables. Her carniverous husband loved his steak entree. 6 of us, tons of food, and the bill was only $86!
Absolutely incredible. Hands down knock your socks off phenomenal Peruvian food. I have taken people from all over the country, Australia, Prague, and even Utah there. They all loved it. The Papa Rellena is bloody incredible. Even his chicken salad served on a whole avocado sliced in half makes your toes curl. For the first timers I recommend the Bistek con carne, he does things with simple ingredients that I've yet to come close to replicating. Try the sauce that is served with the French bread, it's got a hell of a tasty kick.
The most unassuming store front in the shopping area off Clark and Albion. More than worth a drive from downtown Chi for, rivals some of the best Peruvian food I've ever tasted. The owner Caesar is charming, fun, and one of the good guys.
Dinner here earlier tonight was great. Neither my nor I had been here before so this was a good first time choice!
When we arrived our host/owner? was on the phone and pointed to where we could sit. We chose towards the back and while on the phone he gave us our menus and water...now, normally I would think this really rude but here I didn't. It was kinda charming. Like when friends arrive and you're on the phone and you'll talk to them in a second or whatever.
Anyhow, we checked over the menu and made our decisions. We shared a tamale that had a mixture of onions, lime and cilantro. It was sooo good. Really soft and flavorful. We both ordered the fried plantains which were big chunks of plantains, fried. Not greasy at all and they were sweet and delicious too! Plantains are my new favorite food I swear!
For entrees he had what can be best described at Beef Fried Rice only with a twist. It was really tasty and yeah, the portion was huge.
I had the Beef with tomatoes, onions, rice and FRENCH FRIES! Crazy but yum! It was really simple but soo good. We both took about half our food to-go but we still ordered dessert.
Dessert was the flan which was thick, eggy and caramelly, YUM. And the Arroz con leche, rice pudding. It was thinner than we expected then I reminded him it does say it's "rice with milk". It was cinnamony, creamy, raisiny, YUM.
For the two of us and all that food our bill with tip was about $50. I will definitely remember this place and come again.
Breakfast…
Neighborhood: Edgewater
50% off Appetizers
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Irving Park
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Avondale
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Category: African
Homer Glen, IL
Category: Animal Shelters
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