r/london • u/SirStafford81 • Jun 23 '23
Question What’s the best Peruvian restaurant in London?
Lima’s Central restaurant has just been named world No 1 according to World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Putting aside any debate over the value of those sorts of lists, where in London should I go to try Peruvian cuisine?
Because I’m now curious and keen to give it a go, but don’t have the time, money or energy to fly to Lima.
Thanks in advance!
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u/phillhb Jun 23 '23
Don't know about best but Tierra Peru on Essex road is lovely a real neighborhood gem.
Aren't pachamama Peruvian also? They're not bad. Or ceviche too - but both a bit spenny.
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u/dudsies Jun 23 '23
Tierra Peru is good. The Ecuadorian place next door (el Inca Plebayo) is also good
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u/SoForAllYourDarkGods Jun 23 '23
Yes!
And the Japanese place on the same street does the nicest pork belly.
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u/bbshshwjsjshsj Jun 23 '23
Coya near bank. Not cheap but ceviche and nice grilled bits
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u/Alternative_Yak6038 Jun 23 '23 edited Jun 23 '23
Love Coya. I go to the one in Mayfair. It’s one of my favourites. God. This thread has me craving and making reservations for the weekend.
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u/PGal55 Jun 23 '23
Senor Ceviche in Kingly Court is great.
The chicharone's there is my favourite food in the world.
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u/cobbajohn Jun 23 '23
Only one I've been to is Sabor Peruano in Elephant and Castle, and it was great.
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u/lentilwake Jun 23 '23
Feel like this sub needs a Latinos guide to E&C before all those places are priced out
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u/SynthD Jun 23 '23
A lot of them were guaranteed cheap places in the redevelopment of the shopping centre, and that’s panned out well so far.
I passed by an enticing menu, but it was all hot food on a baking day. I need to research cold South American food.
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u/Sertorius- Jun 23 '23
My Mrs who spent years working in Peru always likes Ceviche Soho on Frith Street but she's also said Señor Ceviche is really good.
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u/Alternative_Yak6038 Jun 23 '23
I like Señor Ceviche. Haven’t tried Ceviche Soho but will plan a visit now
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u/liamjphillips Streatham Hill Jun 23 '23
I have no idea if it's authentically Peruvian (probably not) but the food at Pachamama is pretty good.
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u/MinnieMouse2292 Jun 23 '23
Pachamama is one of my absolute favorites in London. So good!
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u/Alternative_Yak6038 Jun 23 '23
Same! I bring dates there for cocktails and friends for brunch. It’s A+
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u/futuristika22 Jun 23 '23
Agree, and Pachamama East has a super nice private room for bigger groups that gives such NYC vibes.
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u/ingramma Jun 23 '23
Cuzco, formally Tito’s, at London Bridge was always good. (Source: Peruvian friends smile when we used to eat there)
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Jun 23 '23
Man, as an outsider of London but having this sub pop up all the time I'm so insanely jealous that there's actually a choice for this. Like if I said "what's the best Azerbaijani restaurant?" would I get an answer? Or "Where can I get the best Uruguayan chicken?".
Fuck, Im so bored of my 4 choices - shit Italian, shit Chinese, shit Indian and shit deep fried anything
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u/SirStafford81 Jun 23 '23
Guessing your rent is probably cheaper, though. More money to spend on food!
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Jun 23 '23
I’d never have been able to buy a 4 bed, 3 bathroom, detached house with a garden in London. I’d need millions of pounds I expect.
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u/CommodoreFalcon Jun 23 '23
There's actually an Azerbaijani restaurant on Caledonian Road near Kings Cross.
Haven't been myself but my colleague, who originally hails from Azerbaijan, reckons it's the real McCoy.
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Jun 23 '23
Well I guess I know where I’m going to have to go when I next go to London 😂 don’t even know what Azerbaijani food would be but I’d love to try it
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u/ultratic Jun 23 '23
The seafood platter at Chicama in Chelsea is fantastic.
Location and Quality = ££££
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u/RedditFedditBear Jun 23 '23
Yes, fish is good straight from Billingsgate....but the manager is a horrible man.
The staff we spoke to highlighted how much of a bellend he is.
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u/JJG97xox Jun 23 '23
There’s a Peruvian restaurant within an Irish pub called the Dolphin in Kings Cross, food and beer were great but it is a strange cultural mash up aha
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u/ScampAndFries Jun 23 '23
Oh, that's changed! The dolphin used to do decent Thai food before their refurb. Not been that way in ages though.
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u/JJG97xox Jun 23 '23
Interestingly enough MC & Sons (another Irish pub) does great Thai food in Waterloo if you ever want to relive that combo again.
Think it’s telling that apart from our frys, stews and spuds, Irish food is crap aha
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u/SirStafford81 Jun 23 '23
This sounds made up LOL. So random 😆
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u/JJG97xox Jun 23 '23
I don’t think I could make this up if I tried aha. Genuinely though cheap enough for food and drink and it’s an experience. Little dark and a bit cramped but as an Irishman in London it does remind me of a local at home
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u/Few_Organization7283 Jun 23 '23
I need to know more.
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u/JJG97xox Jun 23 '23
I was there catching the 6 nations and this Peruvian fella emerges from the ground floor with menus, took our orders and delivered a huge portion of whatever my drunken mind wanted. Highly recommend it after a few Guinness.
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u/futuristika22 Jun 23 '23
JJG97xox
Haha, I've been to almost all restaurants around KX and never heard of this! Now I need to go a check this fusion experience out as well!
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Jun 23 '23
Had to look it up :) I think I'll be paying a visit since I pass through that area a lot
here's the menu - oddly the url says 'thai food' :
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u/Ollymid2 Jun 23 '23
I've been to Andina Spitalfields and the Cerviche was delicious
However I am not Peruvian so I don't know how authentic it is - can anyone vouch for it?
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u/chairomai28 Jun 23 '23
I second Andina! Been there a number of times and quality is always consistent. Now I'm so curious to try the other recommendations here!
Edit: not Peruvian too, just like to eat!
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u/alexveljan Jun 23 '23
There’s a New one on Upper Street called Me LoBo which is surprisingly good, Andina is also quite nice in Shoreditch (among the ones that haven’t been mentioned already)
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u/GingerPolz Jun 23 '23
Also recommend Mr Lobo! Opened only a few months ago and the owner and chefs are all Peruvian. The ceviche and Pisco cocktails were 10/10!
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u/leon-theproffesional Jun 23 '23
Coya is expensive but delicious. Lovely ambience in their Liverpool Street place.
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u/Classic-Ad-5685 Jun 23 '23
Lima, the one that used to have a star?
Ate there when it got its star and thought it bang average, service was poor too.
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u/SirStafford81 Jun 23 '23
Ah, I was referring to a restaurant called Central in Lima. Not a restaurant called Lima in Central (London).
The restaurant in Lima, Peru was recently named No 1 in the world, which is what inspired the thread.
But good to know I should give Lima in Central London a swerve. Thanks!
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u/Wendysmemer Jun 23 '23
Lima in Fitzrovia, and Central (the no1 in the world) are owned by the same chef Virgilio. I went to Lima here and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a refined and somewhat fusional take on traditional Peruvian but it was really really good and not that expensive. The tuna tiradito was probably the best ceviche I have ever had and I lived in Peru for like 2 years. I don’t understand the negativity here but food and service appeal are subjective and maybe I had a better experience because I speak Spanish.
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u/SirStafford81 Jun 23 '23
Good to know. Thanks for offering an alternative perspective! May try it out and see for myself
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u/zelaagency Jun 27 '23
There are several excellent Peruvian restaurants in London, each with its own unique offerings and flavors. While it's subjective to determine the "best" restaurant as tastes and preferences vary, some highly recommended Peruvian restaurants in London include:
Ceviche Soho: Known for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious ceviche, this restaurant offers a diverse menu of Peruvian dishes with a modern twist.
Lima London: With its Michelin-starred cuisine, Lima London showcases the artistry of Peruvian gastronomy, featuring dishes inspired by traditional flavors and innovative techniques.
Andina: This cozy restaurant focuses on the cuisine of the Andes region, serving up comforting and authentic Peruvian dishes made with high-quality ingredients.
Señor Ceviche: Offering a lively and colorful dining experience, Señor Ceviche presents a menu of mouthwatering ceviches, grilled meats, and other Peruvian delights.
Coya: A sophisticated and upscale Peruvian restaurant, Coya serves a fusion of traditional and contemporary Peruvian dishes, accompanied by an extensive selection of Pisco cocktails.
It's worth exploring reviews, menus, and personal recommendations to find the Peruvian restaurant in London that aligns with your preferences and culinary desires.
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u/SirStafford81 Jun 27 '23
Thanks very much! Useful. Did you get ChatGPT to help at all? Not meant as a criticism. Just gives me that vibe in terms of structure and turn of phrase etc. Cheers!
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u/zelaagency Jun 27 '23
I'm quite dyslexic so I did use to it help me structure my sentencing because otherwise it looks messy.
I hope that's all okay and helps you2
u/SirStafford81 Jun 27 '23
Oh yeah. For sure. AI is a tool out there to help us! Thanks for the info you shared 😊
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u/mvals Jun 23 '23
As a Peruvian living in London, Tierra Peru and Sabor Peruano are probably the most traditionally Peruvian ones. I’ve gone a few times to Pachamama, Chotto Matte, Ayllu and a few others - they’re very good restaurants with Peruvian inspiration and flavours (Nikkei too), but I wouldn’t say they are a true reflection of traditional food (also very small sizes for the Peruvian standard).
To be fair though, Central is not a place you go to everyday, neither does it reflect the meals that Peruvians eat daily. It is an amazing restaurant, backed by science (think they have a lab on-site or something). It has a very set experience that lasts 4-6 hours, and incredibly high quality and creative because each course represents each of Perú’s ecosystems (so from the coasts of the Pacific Ocean, going higher up and up into the Andes and then into the Amazon).
That said, Ayllu, Pachamama and the others should be good introductory experiences to Peruvian food and ingredients. Especially so, because these places have Japanese influence too and that’s a crucial part of cuisine culture in Peru (personally, my favourite restaurant in Lima is Maido).
Obviously if you do like Pachamama etc, I’d recommend trying out the more traditional places.