There is very good Peruvian fare to be had under chef Dante Balanezo’s care. With two locations in Van Nuys and one in Woodland Hills, Valley-dwellers can dig into honest renditions of anticuchos, roasted chicken, and ceviches.   

Initially launched as a food truck concept in 2016, Pablito’s Kitchen has since evolved into a bricks and mortar business in Burbank. The fast-casual fare features Peru’s greatest hits, as well as some innovative items like the loaded fries and the tofu saltado.

For a little slice of Peru in LA, look no further than Los Balcones in Studio City where creative director Ricardo Zarate recently added some of Picca’s greatest hits to the menu.

It’s hard to beat a low-key dinner at Natalie Peruvian before a show at Pantages or the Palladium. Everything on the menu is solid at this family-owned spot, including the   crispy calamari and fried plantains starters, as well as the Peruvian-style fried rice.

Former disc jockey turned restaurateur Jorge Wong serves up some of the SGV’s strongest Peruvian fare. Named after Peru’s famous beach, Mancora’s naturally-lit dining room is welcoming at all hours. The tallarines verdes con bistec, Peruvian pesto spaghetti topped with grilled steak, hits the spot for lunch or dinner.

With chef Ricardo Zarate at the helm, this gorgeous restaurant inside the former Comme Ca space is serving some of the city’s finest Peruvian cuisine. The cocktails are dependably good and the dishes are some of the best that Zarate has made since his hiatus.

After two decades operating in a rickety shack at the corner of Eighth and Western, Pollos a la Brasa invested in new digs at the same Koreatown strip mall. Everything’s shinier at the new spot, but thankfully the signature Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken has remained the same old bird that Los Angeles fell in love with years ago. The secret to Pollos a la Brasa’s superior specimen lies in its wine-based marinade and wood-fired treatment.

It’s been well over three decades since Juan Alfaro opened Mex Peru Gipsy right by Santee Alley in Downtown, and the restaurant feels as relevant as ever. The  bestseller is the lomo saltado, but there are other items worth trying too like the ceviche and a gypsy-inspired pork chop dish served with a truly spicy mole.

Here at Rosita Wang’s Long Beach hideaway, well-prepared Peruvian dishes are served with really good wine, as well as craft beers. The jalea, a mix of battered and fried seafood, makes for a strong starter. Follow it up with grilled beef hearts and an entree of choice.