Overview
Lima is an amazing city to explore Peruvian culture through food. The Miraflores district of the capital city is known for its beautiful coastline, peaceful parks, and delicious restaurants. It's certainly not the most budget-friendly part of Peru, but that doesn't mean you can't find amazing food at a variety of price points.
A few things to note:
» Some of these restaurants/food markets are amazing to visit as a solo traveler. Others might be more "worth it" when going with at least one other person to share costs and sample more of the menu, depending on your budget.
» Most of these recommendations are in the Miraflores district, but there are a few recommendations in Barranco and Magdalena del Mar.
» The currency used across Peru is the Peruvian sol (PEN). It is signified by this symbol = S/. I will list the prices in PEN and USD.
Peruvian Food
To complete your Lima/Peruvian food checklist, here are some local dishes and drinks you should be on the lookout for:
» Ceviche // Citrus-infused raw seafood
» Lomo saltado // Marinated beef stir fry
» Tacu-tacu // Pan-fried rice and bean mixture
» Anticuchos // Marinated & grilled meat (usually cow heart)
» Arroz con pato // Duck with rice
» Ají de Gallina // Chicken stew
» Causa // Layered mashed potato dish
» Pollo a la Brasa // Rotisserie chicken
» Picarones // Peruvian doughnut made of sweet potato and squash
» Butifarra // Classic Peruvian ham sandwich
» Pisco sour // Famous Peruvian alcoholic drink
» Chicha morada // Traditional drink made from dried purple corn, fruit, and spices
Backpacker Budget // Under $10 USD
There are so many budget-friendly meals you can order in Lima - even in the upscale Miraflores district. These recommendations are perfect for those who are on a backpacker budget, folks who appreciate a tasty yet cheap meal, and solo travelers who don't want to sit down at an expensive restaurant alone. Most of these meals average S/. 10 ($5 USD).
Parque Kennedy
@cheyennestienbarger
Parque Kennedy is a regular park by day and street food heaven by night. There are several different stalls serving all of your Peruvian street food favorites. I was able to get picarones, butifarra, and chicha morada for under S/. 20 ($5 USD). You can sit on a beach, eat your dinner, and people-watch. :)
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Mercado San Martín
@cheyennestienbarger
I love food courts like this! So much variety under one roof. This is a covered food court (street food stall style) with many different restaurants offering international and Peruvian dishes. I really enjoyed the stuffed arepas (S/. 20) from Totumo, the Venezuelan stall.
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La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla
@cheyennestienbarger
This is a Peruvian fast food chain -- but you shouldn't pass it up. For S./20 ($5 USD), you can get a sanguche de chicharron (pork sandwich), fries, and some dipping sauce.
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Primos Chicken Bar Miraflores
@cheyennestienbarger
The food here isn't mind-blowing but it is hearty and affordable! This is a great spot to try pollo a la brasa. For S./38 ($10 USD), you can get a chicken breast, fries,
classic salad, and glass of limonada. You can eat at the restaurant or order to-go (para llevar).
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Mercado Magdalena
@cheyennestienbarger
This market is in the Magdalena del Mar neighborhood and is home to some outstanding prepared food stalls. El Caserito specializes in causas rellenas. There are other stalls in the market that are definitely worth visiting, especially if you want to try aji de gallina for S/. 8 ($2 USD).
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Mid-Range Budget // Under $25 USD
The recommendations below highlight the best Peruvian dishes and local flavors with an emphasis on ceviche, tacu-tacu, lomo saltado, and more. My personal favorites are La Plazita in Miraflores and El Muelle Cevichería in Barranco.
La Plazita Lima
@cheyennestienbarger
I really really really enjoyed my solo dinner at La Plazita. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is beautiful, and the staff are friendly. I ordered a pisco sour (S/. 30) and lomo saltado (S/. 58), making the total bill less than $25 USD. I had dinner on a Thursday night and it was very busy, so I would consider making a reservation for Thursday - Sunday evenings.
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El Muelle Cevichería
@cheyennestienbarger
El Muelle Cevichería is in the bohemian Barranco district, which is a pleasant 20-30 minute walk from Miraflores. When I think about my meals in Peru, this is place that comes to mind. Without exaggeration, this is the best ceviche I have ever had. We ordered ceviche mixto (S/.38) and tacu tacu en picante de marisco (S/.48). The total cost was less than $25 USD for 2 people!
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Punto Azul
@cheyennestienbarger
Punto Azul is definitely among the most popular restaurants in Lima. I typically try to avoid restaurants that are frequented by tourists, but when this place was recommended by a Peruvian colleague, I reconsidered. My friend and I ordered Tacu Tacu con Lomo Saltado (S/. 58) and Leche de Tigre ceviche (S/. 35) to share, bringing the total cost to just under S/. 50 ($12 USD) per person. We went to Punto Azul on a Monday for lunch and still waited 15 minutes for a table, so just be prepared. It was worth it!
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Costazul Seafood
@cheyennestienbarger
If you don't want to deal with the hype and the crowds of Punto Azul, this is a great alternative. An order of ceviche and tacu-tacu will come in around S/. 90 ($23 USD).
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Tanta de Miraflores
@cheyennestienbarger
Tanta was recommended to me by a Peruvian colleague and I regret not eating here. The sad thing about visiting Lima is that you just don't have enough time to eat at all of the amazing places. Tanta is a great place to try classic Peruvian dishes like anticuchos, causas, lomo saltado, and more. I would order solely from the 'Entradas Peruanas' portion of the menu to taste local flavors and keep the bill under S/. 100 ($25 USD).
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Isolina
@cheyennestienbarger
I tried to eat here, but the wait for a table during lunch was over an hour, so that's why I ended up eating across the street at El Muelle Cevichería! That said, I still wish I could have eaten here once. They have a great menu of local flavors and dishes. If I was eating here with at least one orther person, I would order causa limeña (S/. 49) and ají de gallina grande (S/. 79). Personally, I don't know if I would eat here alone because the cost is on the higher side.
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Splurge-Worthy // Over $50 USD
Lima isn’t referred to as the culinary capital of South America without reason. I don’t specialize in luxury experiences, so I only have two recommendations for you.
Restaurant Huaca Pucllana
@cheyennestienbarger
When it comes to ambience and dinner with a view, Huaca Pucllana cannot be beat. I recommend making a reservation in the evening so you can have incredible views of the ruins. I went with a group of work colleagues and we ordered many appetizers to share, including: anticuchitos de corazón (s/. 34), papitas rellenas (s./ 30), empanaditas fritas de yuca (s/. 30)
For my main dish, I ordered the arroz con pato (s/. 65) - truly the best preparation of duck I've ever had.
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Mayta Restaurante
@cheyennestienbarger
Mayta has risen to #9 on the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list, surpassing Lima's very famous Astrid y Gaston. Mayta seeks to reflect the land and culture of Peru through the use of local products. You have to make a reservation. You have the book an a la carte reservation where dishes range from s/.50 - 100 each ($12-$25 USD). If you really want the Mayta experience, you can book the 11-course tasting menu for s/. 845 ($220 USD) with the option to add a regional drink pairing for s/. 470 ($120 USD).
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For other splurge-worthy dining experiences, I recommend sifting through Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. There are EIGHT restaurants in Lima on this list:
🇵🇪 I hope you feel equipped to explore Lima and appreciate all of the amazing Peruvian foods, flavors, and culinary traditions.
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