If you only have a few days in Lima, eat ceviche at lunchtime, lomo saltado and ají de gallina for a classic Peruvian meal, anticuchos and picarones in the evening, and finish with a pisco sour. Below are the 12 dishes locals love, when they eat them and where in the city to try them.
Lima is often called the culinary capital of South America, and it is easy to see why: Spanish, Andean, African, Chinese and Japanese influences all meet on the same plate. The hard part is not finding good food, it is knowing what to order and when.
1. Ceviche
Raw fish cured in lime juice with red onion, chili, sweet potato and corn. It is Peru’s national dish, and locals eat it at lunchtime, when the fish is freshest. Many traditional cevicherías close in the late afternoon.
2. Leche de tigre
The citrusy, spicy marinade left over from ceviche, served in a small glass. Peruvians swear it is the best cure after a long night.
3. Causa limeña
A cold, layered dish of yellow potato seasoned with lime and ají amarillo, filled with chicken, tuna or seafood. Light, colorful and very Lima.
4. Lomo saltado
Strips of beef stir-fried in a wok with onion, tomato and soy sauce, served with fries and rice. It is the perfect example of chifa, Peru’s Chinese-Peruvian cooking.
5. Ají de gallina
Shredded chicken in a creamy yellow chili sauce, served with rice, potato, egg and olive. Comfort food that almost every Peruvian grew up with.
6. Anticuchos
Grilled skewers of marinated beef heart. Do not let that stop you: they are tender, smoky and one of Lima’s most loved street foods, usually eaten in the evening.
7. Arroz chaufa
Peruvian fried rice, the most popular dish at any chifa restaurant. Order it in the historic center’s Barrio Chino for the full experience.
8. Tiradito
Thin slices of raw fish in a creamy chili and lime sauce. It shows the Japanese influence in Peruvian cuisine, also known as Nikkei food.
9. Papa a la huancaína
Boiled potatoes covered in a smooth sauce of cheese and ají amarillo. A simple starter you will find on almost every menu.
10. Rocoto relleno
A spicy red rocoto pepper stuffed with meat and topped with cheese. It comes from Arequipa, but you can find it in many restaurants in Lima.
11. Picarones
Sweet potato and squash doughnuts drizzled with chancaca syrup. Look for them in the evening, especially around Barranco.
12. Pisco sour and chicha morada
Pisco sour, made with Peruvian grape brandy, lime and egg white, is the national cocktail. Chicha morada, a sweet drink made from purple corn, is the alcohol-free favorite.
Want to taste them with a local?
Taste the best of Lima on a private food tour with a local guide, in English or Spanish.
Where to eat in Lima, by neighborhood
- Miraflores: cevicherías for lunch and an easy base for first-time visitors.
- Surquillo: right next to Miraflores, with a local market full of fruits and food stalls.
- Barranco: the bohemian district, great in the evening for anticuchos, picarones and a pisco sour.
- Historic center: colonial Lima, plus Barrio Chino for chifa.
Tips for eating in Lima
- Eat ceviche for lunch, not dinner. That is what locals do.
- Ask for your food “poco picante” if you are not used to spicy chili.
- Try fruits you have never seen at a local market: lúcuma, chirimoya and granadilla.
- Many restaurants offer a set lunch menu, which is a great value way to eat like a local.
Plan your days in Lima with a local
Book a 45-minute video session with a local and we will show you, on screen, the places that fit your days, your group and your budget.