Taste of Peru Reviews

I am actually sitting in the restaurant while writing this. The food is amazing. Perfectly spiced, everything is delicious. The staff is sweet and friendly. I come here every single time we are in Chicago! LOVE IT!! Nothing beats Taste of Peru!!

Flavor of flood was bland, empanada was over done and had sparse filling and service was very average.

First of all, the cuisine is genuinely Peruvian (evidenced by the number of Peruvian customers around us, and my Peruvian friends' testimony...) Don't let the modest storefront in a generic midcentury mall scare you off. Secondly, this place is BYOB. If you bring a bottle of Peruvian Pisco, they can use it to make a pitcher of Pisco Sours (akin to Margaritas...). This went very well with the appetizers, but you'll probably want to bring a nicer wine (Rioja?, Malbec?...) for the entrees. We started with the Ceviche Especial (one of 4 they offer...), and it was fabulous. (We've been here a couple of other times and tried the others...without a dud in the bunch...) Then we had their recommended steak entree...which was wonderful. (We asked for it to be medium rare, and they cooked it perfectly...which is hard to do with such slender cuts of beef...) The only "so-so" dish we had was the Paella. While the rice/vegetable/saffron mixture was absolutely delicious, the seafood was quite overcooked and rubbery. (I suspect they made a big batch for their dinner seatings, and ours had been sitting on the stove for a while...) Their desserts were good...but not exceptional like their ceviche and steak. Enjoy!

Don’t be scared by the unassuming façade of this restaurant located in a strip mall. We had a very pleasant dining experience. The chicken stew was good and the ribeye strips recommended by guy Fieri were excellent. The service was quite cordial.

Great paella and ceviche! Generous portions and good prices. My friend and I got the dinner for two. Also BYOB which is nice.

If you like seafood, try the "ceviche mixto" o better yet be introduced to Peruvian gastronomy by ordering the "plate for 2" which includes 2-3 appetizers and 1 main course, each one of them will make you feel like you are in Peru. Call the restaurant and ask about their live performances 1-2 days a week.

My son and I stopped in here before I dropped him back off at his nearby college. I had seen a Triple D episode on Taste of Peru and was curious to try a new (to us) ethnic cuisine. We started with a few appetizers to sample different tastes. We tried the Guy Fieri recommended tamale, which did not disappoint. Very tender and the meat filling was delicious. We also tried a dumpling type thing that had potato on the outside and meat on the inside. It had a different sort of taste that I'm not sure I liked but it was fun to try something different for sure. We also tried a chicken skewer with potato that had a delicious and zesty marinade on it. My son also tried the seafood stew which was kind of a Peruvian take on Cioppino. It was full of seafood but most of it was on the smaller side. My son didn't love the seafood itself but thought that the broth was delicious. This is not a fancy place at all, but it was extremely welcoming. The service was outstanding, friendly and quick. What's so wonderful about Chicago is the opportunity to try ethnic cuisine that you might not ordinarily get the chance to try. I highly recommend stopping in to Taste of Peru. It was overall a great experience a bit out of our norm.

We had never had Peruian food so while visiting Chicago decided to try it (the restarant was reviewed on Dives, Diners & Drive-Ins) The young waitress Sara was such a delight & the service was great. The dipping sauce that came with the bread was extremely hot, not for me but my daughter loved it. The Anticuchos was good the Ceche Pescado was delicous. We also had the Lomo Saltado (very good) & the Seco De Carne (loved the beans). We decided if we lived in Chicago we would come back again & again to try everything on the menu.

We ordered chicken and beef empanadas, ceviche mixtos, arroz chaufas, and papa rellanos for a happy hour at work for 20 people. It was all delicious!

I had never been able to say I had a favorite restaurant until I came here almost ten years ago. I have been coming regularly ever since. When I lived in Chicago it was at least once a week but now I live in Zion and we still make it out here once or twice a month. I was here Sunday and now back on Thursday though! You can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. I’ve tried almost all chicken dishes and multiple seafood dishes and have never been disappointed. Thank you taste of Peru!! PS My 8 year old asks for this all the time too and you’re the reason my TWO YEAR OLD daughter eats cow heart 😍😍

I've always LOVED Taste of Peru. The food is consistently amazing, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. I recently worked with them to cater lunch for a teacher workshop, and I was further impressed by the kindness and easy nature of my experience. Cesar spoke to me like a friend and made planning super simple. And the teachers couldn't stop talking about the food! Every time I go to Taste of Peru, I feel like a welcomed guest in someone's home. They are also very generous and community-minded. This place is a neighborhood gem!

Coming from montreal we spend a couple of months a year in chicago. Food was so fresh so it took a little longer but their seafood was amazing and their rice and beef was so delicious. We are going again for 2 weeks in October and plan on eating there at least 3-4 times. Thats how good it is.

What a wonderful hidden gem! Fantastic food, and the nicest owner. He explained the ingredients, where they came from, and gave lots of samples. We will be back very soon!

This is a small place but full of flavor. Few dine-inners but a busy takeout parade throughout the dinner hour. Never had Peruvian food before but our whole meal was wonderful. Shishkabob appetizers were good—delicious but not spicy seasoning on both the chicken and beef but the chicken was better and the beef overdone. Paella was also excellently flavorful with plenty of seafood, just overkill on the calamari. Other things we tried were equally tasty but I forget what they are called. Sauced boiled eggs and potatoes, husk-free tamale-like innerds with chicken and the ceviche were surprisingly light and tasty. Ended with a mango ice cream that was also refreshing and not too sweet. Large portions. Pleasant staff. Will definitely visit again to try some other entrees.

We lived in Lima for 15 years and our family is fond of Peruvian food. The restaurant is so typical of small family Peruvian restaurant. We went overboard - ordering Ceviche de Pescado, Empanada de Carne, Papa Rellena and Anticucho de Corazon de Res. For segundos we ordered Aji de Gallina, Lomo Saltado, Jalea, Tallarines Verdes con Bistec, and Chupe de Camarones. We ordered a Mazamorra for dessert but they were running out. So we suggested a Clasico by combining Mazamorra with Arroz con Leche - Everything was exceptional. We will be back

The best peruvian food of many restaurants, flavor, price, environment Nice , BYOB what else..lomo saltado,papa la huancaina, estofado de pollo and sea food

I ordered from Taste of Peru for a 60 person party. It was a big take out order. The food was ready on time, hot and easy to transport. The staff brought it to my car and were very friendly. It was easy to plan the menu with them and work with Cesar over the phone. The food was DELICIOUS. Everyone loved it. My favorite was the Lomo Saltado, but the Arroz con Pollo was great too and the avocado salad.

Taste of Peru is a family-owned restaurant with a lot of flavor and a lot of heart. Everything from the menu, to the decorations, to even the "No Chilean Pisco" sign at the entrance creates a warm atmosphere. While many restaurants have some sort of description regarding their humble origins, the one for Taste of Peru really comes to life as you meet Cesar (the owner) and his family (who are usually there to serve the guests). Their customer service is not only warm but genuine. In fact, in my last three visits I've ended up talking to Cesar about Peruvian things such as beginnings of Peruvian Pisco and the correct methodology for spinning a trompo (which he was happy to demonstrate for all the guests). It is clear that Cesar breathes and lives Peru. And the most amazing part is that this all translates to the food. Their food is absolutely fantastic. I cannot emphasize this enough. Both meat and seafood lovers would enjoy this place. And you can expect the flavors to be as good as your abuelita's (yes - it's that good). See my recommendations for specific dishes below. This restaurant is truly a gem and a must-go for anyone visiting. If you live here, then I suggest you enhance your quality of life by becoming a regular. The only concern I can see people having is that seating is somewhat limited. However, this is a very small price to pay for both the experience and the food.

Long before being discovered by Guy Fieri and featured on diners drive-ins and dives, Taste of Peru has been preparing and serving incredible Peruvian fare. It is my go-to place when I have out of town guests and I want to showcase Chicago's delicious diversity. My favorites dishes include the lomo saltado, arroz chaufa de pollo, papa relleno, ceviche and platanos. Enjoy!

The food is awesome. The place is a hole-in-the-wall. Tiny, crowded, niosy. The service was okay. They really, really try very hard. The food is awesome. We had ceviche, tamale, the spicy shrimp, the garlic shrimp, chicken in a cilantro pesto, steak and onions. More food than we could eat for $20 per person, incluiding 20% tip. The food is awesome.

I've traveled to Peru three times and even dated a Peruvian for a while, so I'm pretty well versed in the cuisine. Eating here takes me back to the good old days when I was young and running around in the Peru's sacred valley with some hippie friends. The food is very authentic. Papa rellena, ceviche, lomo saltado, chifa, it's all good stuff. And it's byob!!

Again and, again, Taste of Peru, proves that the saying: The Sky is the Limit; is real !!! Taste of Peru is a True Gastronomic representation of the Peruvian food variety and flavors which makes Peru an important Culinary Center Worldwide. One more time Mr. Cesar Izquierdo brought to us, his knowledge of the Peruvian Cuisine by giving his Clients, Customers, Government representatives, and General public, a delightful Journey of the Peruvian Food, and Peru's Musical Culture to All of us, whom attended the 20th Anniversary celebration of "Taste of Peru". Thank you Mr. Cesar Izquierdo!!! Please do it again in 2019 !!!

Wonderful food that was flavorful and delicious. Great potion size with lots of rice and meat. Thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend

This place is a Chicago gem! Been coming here since I was a kid. Its perfect for date night, family night, or even if you want to have a day for yourself. The music is a vibe, great customer service! And the food is nothing short of amazing! Its BYOB so if your on a date, grab a wine bottle or a bottle of pisco from the corner liquor store, order their amazing pisco mix and have an amazing time ❤ 🇵🇪 ❤

Don’t let the humble storefront fool you! This place is amazing and you will feel right at home. We had chicken, lamb, and beef and delicious appetizers. A wonderful atmosphere and great food spiced to perfection.

This is a store front restaurant first viewed on DDD, Food Channel. The food and the casual dinning is what one would hope all restaurants would be. I had the Rib eye stake served with eggs, beans rice and fried Plantaines. we also enjoyed three other dishes and two appertizers. The owner is on site and is first to explain all the pictuers and the history. It is a BYOB place. As noted it is a store front in a strip mall so parking is not a problem.

From far the best Peruvian food in chicago. After trying several Peruvian food places in town I'm happy to say that I have found the real Peruvian flavor. Keep it up guys!!

My family and I ate here on May 5th after my brother's graduation. I was kind of skeptical when we arrived because I've never had Peruvian food and the outside of the little stip mall area wasn't too appealing to the eye. However, as soon as we walked in I felt at home. Everyone was nice and plesant. And the place was packed, that's always a good sign. Our waitresses were patient with us and answered questions that we had about the menu. There was so much to choose from and everything looked amazing. I had the Arroz Chaufa de Mariscos(Peruvian rice with shrimp, egg, green, onions, and veggies) and my kids had the Camarones Fritos (deep fried shrimp, salad, and french fries). It was a bit pricey but the ginormous portions definitely make up for it. We did wait a bit for our food but that's what happen when you eat fresh authentic cuisine. We also got a chance to meet the owner, Cesar. He was excellent, very friendly and down to earth. He entertained use with his mad top spinning skills (no jokes it really was neat)! We definitely be back the next time we visit the city!!

I was in Chicago for work and craving Peruvian Food. I found this place from trip advisor and am glad I did. I had chicken tamales and Lomo Saltado. Both were excellent. The traditional peruvian drink was good too, not too much sugar. I would go back.

My husband's birthday wish every year is to take the entire family to Taste of Peru. We travel at least 1.25 hours to get there, but it is always worth it. Even our picky grandson loves it. The appetizers are our favorites: ceviche mixto, papa rellena, palta rellena and of course, the national dish of Peru - Lomo Saltado. Don't be put off by the location. It is a great place to get great food at a great price. The owner and his staff are very friendly and helpful also.

Ceviche, speghetti, potatoes. All food that I love!

Sadly, when restaurants appear on 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives' they often raise their prices astronomically immediately following the show's airing. I believe this occurred with Taste of Peru, which was a nice little modest and modestly priced restaurant and is now very loud, quite overpriced, and trading on the TV show to the point of having a 'Guy Fieri Special.' As anyone knows who ever made the mistake of eating at Fieri's NY restaurant (or even read the eviscerating NY Times review!), the gentleman does not provide value anywhere near worth what he charges--and sadly, the same is now true of Taste of Peru. Good food, but this is a restaurant mecca; there are far too many other establishments with better food at similar prices.

I decided to try this place since I was around Chicago. I ordered seco de carne which is a cilantro based beef stew with rice and beans and the food was very good. To me this is the best peruvian restaurant in Chicago. I tried Tanta, macchu picchu and another one that I dont remember the name and this one was the best. Definitely going back there next time I am in Chicago. Service was great.

I didnt know Guy Fieri went here, but it doesnt matter to me. I was here with my date and another friend, and befriended the owner almost instantly. The food is excellent, and quite a variety on the menu. I wasnt certain what to order. I've been here twice and was amazed at the quality and quantity of the food. Inca Cola is served here, too! YOU MUST try this place. I am not happy unless I come here EVERY time I visit Chicago

The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great! Loved everything about this place! We had tamales, cau cau, and arroz con pollo! Yummy! You must come and try it yourself!

This is the third Peruvian restaurant we have been in the last 3 weeks. Food was fantastic, portions were large and very tasty, and by "tasty" I mean the authentic flavors and spices from Peruvian cuisine in Peru. We had "papa rellena" as appetizer (the "ají verde" that they set at the table with the bread it's very hot but very tasteful too), and then cebiche de pescado and arroz con mariscos (seafood rice). The restaurant is very simple, low key. Service was prompt and friendly and, did I say it enough?, food was excellent like in Peru. This has been the best of the 3 Peruvian restaurants we have been in the last 3 weeks. (1) Taste of Peru; (2) Machu Picchu; and far, far, far (3)--most likely towards 10--Tanta. Highly recommend. Great hint: many local Peruvians eating here at (late) lunch time (the main meal in Peru is lunch).

This is a great place to eat traditional Peruvian cuisine! I love their Ceviche, Jalea and Lomo Saltado! Very cozy and friendly staff.

I love Taste of Peru, I feel like every time I come it gets better and better. Today I was blown away by this restaurant!!! I travel a lot and always try Peruvian food, I have to say this is by far the best I've ever had. The ceviche was phenomenal 😋 I felt like I was in Lima. For me the quality of the food is very important, the corvina on the ceviche and the beef used on the lomo saltado was top choice. I also love the pasta tallarin verde and tallarin saltado. Service was great had two servers who were very friendly Augusto and Brenda thank you! This restaurant is my favorite part of my Chicago visits.

FANTASTIC FOOD! Large and flavorful servings. They have given me undercooked chicken on two different occasions, but the food is so good its worth the risk. Salmonella be damned.

Went to Taste of Peru last night with my wife and another couple. The appetizers and food were awesome. I had the Taco Taco- which is a base of rice and beans grilled into a pancake shape, steak on tops of that and finished off with 2 over easy fried eggs. Yes, heaven on earth. Cesar came by our table a few times to tell stories, laugh and point to the people he knows on the wall And how they fit into his life. I left knowing I had made a new friend. Thank you,Cesar.

Very nice little restaurant. The owner, Caesar and his daughter are charming and friendly people. The food is very good with some interesting flavors. I tried the rib-eye strips in a beer and vinegar broth. My date had the shrimp paella. She really liked the fried rice. It's BYOB, but don't dare bring Chilean pisco! I'm going back to try the lamb next time.

I've lived in Chicago for more than 20 years and in that time I've been to hundreds of restaurants. I don't know why I've missed this one. Perhaps it's because it's in a shopping strip that you'd pass by without a second glance. Perhaps it's because it's not a foodie neighborhood. We went with a dozen friends for a birthday celebration. We ordered 20 or more dishes to share. Every item was marvelous. Service was friendly and prompt. Pricing was surprisingly affordable: less than $200 for 12 people...including desserts! They don't pay much attention to the atmosphere (so don't go expecting a fancy place). Go for the food.

While on North Western university tour, felt hungery. Looked up and found this place. Sounded interesting, reviews were good too. We drove about 15 min to this place. It is located in a busy strip mall, not a very nice location but food is excellent. I ordered the peruvian style see food gumbo. It had crab lag, shrimp, kalamari, meseles, and vegitables. This particular veggy looked close to patato but different texture and taste. While we were waiting for our food to come, they gave us regular white bread with a green paste. The sauce was spicy and very tasty. Without putting a food in Peru, i get to taste the local food. THanks!!!

Great food, friendly environment. The owner Cesar visits every table making everyone feel like at home.. I recommend it 100%..

The food is delicious. It's the most authentic Peruvian food in the area. There is a great variety of typical dishes - you will not be disappointed. The portions are very generous. The staff is very professional, friendly and efficient! I can't say enough about the owner: he is most wonderful and caring.

Great Menu, they are very honest with their specialties, if you ask them what is good they will tell you. BYOB, so be sure to match with a south-American wine, we drank Argentina malbec with our steak dinner. The owner Cesar came and talked to us about his wall of fame and shared his childhood fishing stories. I feel good supporting his small family business because you feel like you are family when your there. If you can get over the size of the restaurant you will love the portion sizes and low prices. Great experience over all....second time. we hope to go again soon.

Went for my Peruvian wife's birthday. The food was great and authentic. The dining area is very small and the restaurant is set in a small strip mall, but, don't let appearances fool you. It is a true gem!

Saw this one under the "Diner, Drive-in & Dive" for Chicago. The neighborhood is run down so i guess it would be classified as a dive, BUT the food was great. The tamale are super. The Arroz con Mariscos (Paella) was full of seafood. The "Guy" special combo meal was enough food for two people. Take the time to check out the web site and take the journey to the Taste of Peru for dinner.

The food is delicious, the service is fast, and the owner Cesar Izquierdo is a gentleman and very nice, especially with my disabled child. Love it and definitely i am going to return. We are feeling like we are eating home cooked meals.

Two guitarists and singer provided Peruvian ambience to excellent food. Great variety and authentic recipes at reasonable prices. Bring your own booze and prepare to take home from very ample servings. Parking easy in store front setting. Simple setting but great food and friendly courteous service!

Order up and share the dishes. There is a lot to try here and one visit is not going to do it. Great paella with a lot of variety of seafood in it. Great broasted chicken moist and tender. Don't be put off by its little strip mall appearance. This place is authentic and food is served up with pride. Reservations accepted but waiting in line is well worth it. Bring your own wine.

I go to different states an like to try an go to placez triple d from the food network went to to see of there as good as he says an omg..... amazing.... u have to try...

I get the same thing every time - the Aji de Gallina. I think it's a walnut cream sauce with shredded chicken. A very smooth and tasty dish. My girlfriend has had various things here and been happy with every choice. Tonight's chicken with rice and cilantro was very nice. She brought leftovers home. I ate all mine and am still fun. Casual and cozy place. Great place to eat if you are in the area. Not too far from Loyola. Not sure what else there is to do in the neighborhood. I sometimes eat here on the to or from Evanston.

I was in Peru and this is really an authentic Peruvian restaurant. Amazing food and service. The tiradito is delicious. We get tiradito, crevice, empanadas and Arroz con mariscos

Taste of Peru is a BYOB restaurant owned by Caesar Izquierdo. We never before visited peruvian restaurant and decided to try it. Taste of Peru was Michelin Bib Gourmand selection in 2011 and 2012 guide books. As an appetizer we had Yuca a la Hunacaina (fried yuca under a fresh chesse sauce) $8. We liked the unusual taste of yuca (also termed manioc or tapioca) and the sauce was interesting enough. Next we had Papa a la diabla con Bistec (boiled and cut in squares potato, underneath huancaina sauce and toped with a grilled rib eye steak served with white rice) ($12). Excellent sauce in which potato squares were floating was the highlight of the dish. Steak was very thin and unremarkable. White rice was bland. The sauce made the dish notable however. Portions are big in this establishment. Estofado de Pollo o Carne ($12.00) was beef stew with raisins, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and green peas cooked in red wine. Beef stew was good but nothing in particular. Sauce was interesting, but too sweet. As a desert we tried Arroz con Leche ($3.50) which was sweet rice pudding with vanilla – ordinary and not worth it. The bill came to $40 for two including tip. In summary, Taste of Peru serves very affordable good quality food with unique ethnic flavor, but nothing extraordinary. In 2013 Michelin guide the restaurant lost the Bib Gourmand status - either the food became more expensive or Michelin inspectors found the quality go down. .

I'm originally from Peru so I am familiar with the different dishes that Peruvian food has to offer. I have to say that my husband and I started with an appetizer of anticuchos and yucas and they tasted so good you definitely don't want to miss them but their Lomo Saltado is amazing. Very well cooked and the taste was incredible. I also have to give them 5 stars for having Lucuma ice cream. I have been to several restaurants in Chicago and they never have it so I'm definitely coming back to this place. Don't miss out. Very worth it and the prices are reasonable.

All was great-- service, meal, price. Would definitely go back. Had beef and rice dish. Good business spot.

As always it's a pleasure to go out and eat at this place. Waitress are so friendly, they know all the ingredients and recommend you the best food on the menu depending on what you want to eat. Food comes out in the right time and the flavor is just amazing. Every time I eat there, I feel like my mom cooked or myself 🤩 You must come and try their food and the best part is that all the plates are affordable

We choose this restaurant to celebrate my sister birthday as she loves Peruvian Food , our expectations were very high as my sister has been talking about this restaurant a lot and we were not disappointed, we order the ceviche as appetizer it was a very fresh dish we also choose a variety of fish dishes from the menu and they were all very good, the fish all came with a really delicious middle sauce with very strong flavors, we were interested in the specials but the portions were very large and we wanted to taste as many dishes as we can so we opted for choose different entrees to share. We were so full that we didn’t order a dessert, since the restaurant is a BYOB we brought Pisco (a Peruvian liquor) and they were able to make a delicious cocktail to accompany our meal.

We were looking for eating Peruvian food in Chicago,were it seems that there are few Peruvian restaurants. This restaurant has a good menu, including sea food. We liked the ceviche and the tiradito. I really enjoyed the chaufa rice. You could bring the Pisco and they will prepare a Pisco Sour for you, for a little price. Peruvian food is underrated!

Taste of Peru offers delicious cuisine at reasonable prices! We've sampled just about everything on the menu and always leave feeling very satisfied and very FULL! We've dined at Taste of Peru with both large and mid-sized groups and the customer service has always been wonderful. The servers are knowledgeable about the menu and offer great suggestions. You cannot beat their Pisco Sours. Taste of Peru is one of our favorite neighborhood spots!

We discovered Taste of Peru from DDD. Since Peruvian food is the one ethnic dish we can agree on as a family we gave it a try. Overall, we think it's the best Peruvian food in the area! Every time we go it's Lomo Saltado or Saltado de Pollo, and maybe some Chaufa here and there. We would want to venture out a bit but we love our favorites so much it will be hard.... Staff is friendly and food is made to order and comes quickly. We drive from Indiana at least every other month for some good eatin'. Love it and can't wait to go back!

What a wonderful surprise on in a strip mall next to a laundromat. This place was great and the people are super nice. I would have never ventured in however it was recommended and I will be back. VERY good food, wonderful Peruvian coffee and the waitress could not have been nicer. PLEASE try this place, you will be amazed.

Great place, very friend staff and wonderful food, only downside is that there is limited parking in the lot. I would recommend this place to any one

This was a great find by my son and I. It's a very unassuming restaurant in a strip mall but worth the trip. It's very reasonable and BYO liquor. Can't wait to go back.

I have been to the Taste of Peru several times I always get more food then I can eat and it's always delicious. The owers are very curtious and concernd that your dining experience is the best it could be & he spins tops too....... The Civiche is Orgasmic and the Steak with fries is off the chart "Lomo Sataldo" Not sure on the Spelling. I have also had the soupa De Viagra and it has more seafood in it then the sea. There are like 4 different types of oysters, mussles, shrimp, crab, & lobster, They also have a potato that is stuffed with meat, walnuts & raisins. The best part is that is BYOB so your only paying for your food. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone

Service exelent 10/10 Fast service 10/10 Fast food delivery to table 10/10 My friends and I stopped by Chicago and saw this place. We stopped and were very please with the service and food, everything was quick,the sitting, the ordering, the food came fast to our table! Food is delicious and very freshly cooked. Will come again! Super recommended 👌🏽

Decided to follow Guy Fieri's recommendation on Triple D and venture in to Taste of Peru. Nestled in to a strip mall that looked abandoned, this small uninviting store front was a disguise to a marvelous taste bud party. The restaurant is small, a hodgepodge of Peruvian relics and restaurant supplies. The menu is very extensive, great description of plates and beverages. The food was fantastic. We sat across the kitchen window so we saw as plates steaming with very good looking food and wonderful aromas were taken to other tables. I had the Paella, full of shrimp, scallops, squid, razor clams and crab legs. It was very good, full of delicious spices and fresh seafood. My husband had a shrimp dish with rice and French fries drenched in a delicate yet flavorful sauce, amazing. We will be back!

I love Taste of Peru! The food is delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful. I had the seco de carne and it was excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody who likes Peruvian food.

We were in Chicago visiting out daughter recently. Had dinner on a Saturday night here. We were extremely disappointed, especially after all the glowing reviews. To us, it seemed like everything we had was in a salty bland brown sauce similar to what you'd get at a really bad Chinese restaurant. We had the Guy Fieri (sp?) combo special. My husband was wondering whether we should have maybe gone with a fish dish, maybe we would have been less disappointed. As it was the apps were rubbery and flavorless and the main dish was extraordinarily salty. I also hadn't noticed that the fries would be in the sauce, so soggy. Sadly, there really weren't any highlights to the whole meal for us. This is probably the 4th or 5th time we've had Peruvian food and the only time we haven't had a great meal.

Service here is fantastic and the portions are monstrous. Get the loma soltado and split it or keep half for leftovers. It is so good.

My wife were in the near north side of Chicago Saturday and stopped in for a late lunch at this Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives pick, A Taste of Peru. What a nice surprise as the service and food were outstanding. We tried the “Guy Fieri Combo” a sampler for two which included all of the dishes Guy tried when he taped the show: Inca Cola-Made with chamomile, Anticuchos de Carney y Pollo – shish kebobs- one with chicken and one with steak (yummy), Corn Peruvian style Tamalas with sweet onions…terrific, Lomo Saltado…the main dish…Sautéed rib eye in strips cooked with tomatoes and onions, French Fries and Rice….weird combo, but what a great taste. The fries were vinegar’ie and made for an interesting mixture of tastes and textures. And last Alfajor, a Peruvian Carmel cookie with powdered sugar. My, my, if anywhere near the 6500 block of N. Clark you gotta give yourself a treat by having a meal here. As a side note, while we decided to go with the “Guy Combo”, the menu was the most interesting I have seen with lots of dishes, and a nice small photograph of each.

The Taste of Peru in Chicago is one of the most unique dinning experience I've ever had. It's a tiny out of the way place on North Clark Street in a small shopping center. What a find ! If you want to have an exquisite, excellent, experience with authentic Peruvian cuisine, this is the place for you. they have a wonderful roasted Chicken and a great Paella with many different kinds of Seafood.The prices are moderate and they have Entertainment 2 days a week. On the last Sunday of every month they have a group of two girls and a gentleman doing authentic Peruvian songs, Standards and Opera. If you want a really Unique Experience, you should try this place. It's BYOB.

But the location is not so good.. Good Ceviche and good Paella. Friendly service too.

Try anything in Walnut sauce...a large and well-rounded menu with seafood being particularly top-notch. Everyone I take here wants to go back. A true Chicago gem. Everyone should try it...

If you are looking for an authentic peruvian restaurant, this is the place to go. If you like gourmet peruvian, then stay in the city. The location is not the best but food is great! A bit far from the city (25 min) with traffic.

So much hype and very little to support it from a dinner that was mediocre from start to finish. Piling on massive portions of rice and beans doesn't make for a great dish. The "exotic" flavors and high quality ingredients simply were not present. To overcome a noisy location in a run down strip mall, the food must be superior in preparation and quality. Taste of Peru failed on both counts.

Very good food. Highly recommend! I just came from a trip from Peru and this is the only place that makes me feel like I am still there. Their food quality is amazing.🇵🇪

This was our first Peruvian meal and we were not disappointed! The service is fast and waitstaff are friendly. The delightful meal began with a complimentary bread basket and Aji (Mama Carmen's original hot sauce) which will definitely wake up your taste buds! We tried several traditional dishes: Bistec a lo Pobre Estilo Llita (grilled rib eye steak with fried plantains, 2 over easy fried eggs, beans, rice); Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken in walnut cream sauce, rice); Lomo Saltado (sauteed rib eye cooked with tomatoes, onions and French fries); and fried rice with Covina (sea bass). Keeping traditional cuisine in mind, we ordered Helado de Lucuma for dessert (ice cream made from Lucuma, a fruit that grows in the Peruvian coast). The portions are generous and we departed very full and with take away boxes :-).

Casual and unassuming atmosphere, byob - which always helps with the bill - and great food! I go once a month and everything is excellent! The vegetable stuffed avocado appetizer is my favorite! Once a month on Sunday night they have live music with some awesome classical singers who are friends and they are wonderful. A very fun and different night to go... something fun and unsual and a great date or friends event night! Reserve a table in advance to be safe.

Started with a delightfully tangy shrimp cocktail (in a bowl, seviche-like) full of plump shrimp and lists of zippy lime-tinged sauce. Yum yum! Served with saltines. Then bitbmy wife and I had tacu tacu, mine with carne, here with pollo. Two over-easy eggs made it so indulgent! The meat was thinly sliced, gently seasoned. The rice and beans were mushed together in a very generous mound. Quite the plates! Charming little hole in the wall. Fun discovery!

FABULOUS food at great prices! I have never had a bad meal here and I continue to go time and time again. It's BYOB and if you bring Peruvian brandy (Pisco), they will mix a pitcher of Pisco Sours for you (egg whites, lime juice and I don't know what else). They are DELICIOUS. $8.50! Great bargain. (Ask them to leave the shaker of cinnamon...it makes it even better). BEST chicken empanadas I've EVER had in my life. I get one every time I go. Excellent Arroz con Pollo. The Pollo a la parrilla con ensalada is EXCELLENT as well. Moist chicken, an avocado salad and rice. All for $12.00! You will NOT leave hungry. I've been taking a lot of friends here. Locals and out of towners and everyone has LOVED it! A must see restaurant in Chicago!

THis place is so tiny and not so visible but the Foo is awesome. The great to taste real homemade Peruvian food & music. Chicken Tamales are tasty. The complimentary sauce on the table is to die for.... Seafood Pealle is nice deal for 16 bugs... Overall place is great....And its been part of Triple D series on FNTWK....

My husband and daughter found this restaurant 4 years ago after moving her into her freshman dorm. He raved about ever since but we never got back there. So now my kid graduates and we ended up celebrating at Taste of Peru, and I am kicking myself for having missed the opportunity to eat there during our college visits. It was fantastic. My husband loves the soup. I had the chicken with avocado salad and it was dynamite. As for the other diners with us, I can't even tell you what they ate because I was too busy enjoying my meal. Really, really great. There is also live music on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, although we were there on a Thursday and there were 2 wonderful musicians playing. I'm hooked.

Great BYOB restaurant. We went after seeing this restaurant profiled on Food Network, and were not disappointed. Never been to Peru, so I can't say whether the food is authentic, but it was quite tasty. Very large menu can be daunting, but the staff offers some good recommendations. Tamale and the Arroz con Pollo were both memorably great. The BYO means you can enjoy your favorite wines/beers and keep the dinner tab quite low. We way over-ordered (the entree portions are huge) and still paid less than $40 per couple for dinner. The decor and location are both weak-points (know you are getting a VERY casual atmosphere) but in some ways add to the charm and ambiance. We will definitely go back.

I went to Taste of Peru with a group of 6 for dinner. We ordered a big array of apps, entrees and desserts and shared everything. The lomo saltado and the paella were favorites. I didn't know what to expect of the beef heart skewer, but it tasted like a prime cut of steak. We brought Peruvian pisco and the staff will mix it into a pitcher for pisco sours, which are like a deliciously frothy (egg whites) margarita. The flan was amazing and the purple corn pudding made for a great finish. The price was incredibly reasonable for a large amount of food. The relaxed atmosphere is a plus.

I’ve been going here since it opened and it’s my favorite Peruvian restaurant by far. I hosted a party this weekend and needed some last minute catering. Not only was Cesar able to arrange it within a moments notice, but the food was over the top amazing. My whole party was raving about the food. Highly recommended!!!!!!!

Shared a chicken tamale and Aji De Gallina , shredded chicken in a walnut cream sauce. Wonderfully unique. Many traditional Peruvian dishes on the men. A Diners, Drive-ins and Dives location..

I have eaten at taste of peru on many many occasions and i have had the best of dining experience's with them. the food is always delicious and always hot or cold depending on which dish you ordered and unless he forgot to say good night i have never had the owner chase me anywhere that's just ridiculous. i say rock on taste of peru.....mucho gracias for bringing the love to chi-towne

One of the best restaurants in the Rogers park neighborhood. In fact its one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I always go for the Lomo saltado. The ceviche for the price is outstanding, always tastes fresh. The owner is always about, real friendly guy. Just a great neighborhood restaurant that constantly delivers excellent

Great food and Great environment! My favorite dishes are ceviche, lomo saltado, anticuchos, and tamal.

I love Peruvian food and wherever I go on vacation I search out Peruvian restaurants. I come to Chicago at least once a year and I always stop in at a taste of Peru. The food is delicious, the service is great, and they had my favorite Peruvian dessert, lucama ice cream and alfajores. Two thumbs up!

A small authentic Peruvian restaurant in a strip mall with parking. Check out http://tasteofperu.com/ I went there for the first time with a friend who had never experienced Peruvian food so I selected a variety for us to share. After completing our meal he said he felt like he had visited Peru! We started with 2 appetizers... 1st- a delicious "Papa Rellena" (quite different than the Cuban version). It was garnished with refreshing chilled slivered sweet onions with diced red peppers marinated in lime juice. We liked it so much we ordered an extra to go home. $ 7.50 "Best in town" Hungry Hound. Mashed potato stuffed with a mixture of seasoned rib eye steak, walnuts, eggs, raisins, & olives. 2nd- Tamale (Guy Fieri's Favorite) It was larger and moister than the Mexican version but the filling was very sparse. I probably would try something different next time. $ 5.50 Peruvian-Style corn tamales made with chicken, served with a garnish of lime and sweet onions. We ordered 2 entrées... 1st we had the- Lomo Saltado (Guy Fieri's Favorite) $ 12.00 #1 Best Seller. Sautéed rib eye beef cut in strips, cooked with tomatoes, onions and French fries and served with white rice. I loved that the French fries were fresh cut and a bit under cooked like in France. They were mixed with the meat & veggies. The bed of white rice was so moist and tasted juicy from the marinade of the dish. 2nd- We thoroughly enjoyed the "Sopa Viagra" It was like a creamy seafood bisque loaded with lots of calamari, large shrimp, tiny scallops, mussels, 2 snow crab legs,1 fresh clam. We had that as a final course before dessert.They served it to us in a tureen with 2 extra bowls and a ladle which was just perfect. We both had seconds and still had enough for us to take home & each get one more bowl of soup each. $ 25.00 "Best in town" Sun Times, Food Detectives. A super-duper creamy mixed seafood deluxe soup Our beverage was a flavorful Inca Kola a Peruvian Pop "Con todo combina" made out of Hierba Luisa (lemongrass) tea. (It was described to us by our sweet Mexican-American waitress as chamomile flavored soda but for us it was more a cross between Ginger ale and Vanilla cream soda.) We would have liked to try the Peruvian beverages Chicha Morada $ 1.75 A purple corn and pineapple drink. Served by glass or pitcher but they didn't have any prepared. Our Dessert- Alfajor reminded us of buttery Scottish short bread cookies $ 3.00 Two traditional cookies with manjar blanco (Peruvian Caramel) in between topped with powdered sugar. It was Memorial Day & one of their chefs was out of the country so more selections of desserts were unavailable such as,,, Arroz con Leche $ 3.50 Rice boiled in sweet milk and made into a sweet pudding. Served warm or cold. Brenda's Flan $ 4.00 Made in the house, a custard dessert topped with caramel syrup. Chocotejas $ 2.50 Chocolate covered, drunken raisins with Pisco. Helado de LÃcuma $ 3.50 LÃcuma (fruit that grows in the Peruvian coast) ice-cream. Mazamorra Morada $ 3.75 Purple Corn pudding

Love this place! Just a small storefront operation but the food is AMAZING!! (The service, sad to say, can be painfully slow, but it's worth it! Prompt delivery, though.) The owner is very friendly, and enjoys visiting with the guests. Live music on weekends, which is fun, but kinda loud for such a small place....

Taste of Peru, food was great and inexpensive, loved the Ceviche, the menu has so much to choose from, you must go and taste something, will not be disappointed, best yet is BYOB….

Really homey place. I went on a Saturday evening, and they had live Peruvian music (It was a little loud, but that's ok.) Reservations recommended. We started with bread and a hot green sauce. I'm not quite sure what it was, but beware! It does have a kick. Started with the papa rellena (deep fried potato filled with seasoned beef). So delicious! Then followed with the Huachinango Frito con Crema de Ajo (fried red snapper w/garlic cream sauce served w/rice & salad). Delicious! And also Lomo Saltado (sauteed beef, tomato, onion, and french fries). and ended with a sort of linzer cookie. BYOB. The owner is so nice & checked up on us.

This is a buzzing little café type restaurant in a small strip mall in Rogers Park Chicago what's a fantastic buzz.. A warm welcome from the lovely servers. Brilliant food.. It's a BYOB which I did not realize but that was no problem because I was directed to a great little liquor store half a block down the street where they had a range of Peruvian wine all ready to be drunk at this restaurant. My wife and I took my daughter who is living in Chicago and all three of us Loved the food. I had the lamb cooked in red wine and beer which was fantastic my daughter a chicken dish cooked w peanuts and my wife a fabulous paella. My daughter was able to take home the leftovers to feed her self through the week such with the size of the platters. One nice bonus was that the owner Caesar came and sat near us and chatted for 10 minutes while we were enjoying our appetizers. It was such a pleasure to hear about his life and his love of the Peruvian cuisine. We will definitely return next time we come to the Windy City!

This small, unassuming restaurant serves amazing food! They offer a wide range of Peruvian dishes, many with seafood. We had the Peruvian tamales that were much better than the Mexican style, very moist and succulent. Their Paella is truly some of the best I've ever had. We also had Bistec Apanado, which is marinated beef served like a casserole with french fries and onions. Sounds strange, but it is an excellent dish. This restaurant gets busy and the service can be a bit uneven. But the kitchen does a great job of getting the food prepared quickly. Prices are a bit on the high side for this neighborhood, but not unreasonable considering the quality of the food and the amount of seafood involved. It is BYOB, so the total bill is not bad at all if you drink with your meal. Eat here and you'll surely add Peruvian to your list of favorite cuisines!

After a very special family celebration, the family gathered at A Taste of Peru for Dinner. Most of us had never experienced Peruvian cuisine. We were seated promptly at our reserved table and after placing our order, we’re graciously greeted by the Owner , who told some interesting stories about his restaurant. The food came out piping hot and obviously made fresh to order. Almost everyone in our party had a different dish and found everything nicely presented and delicious. The restaurant is BYO and the staff is very accommodating. We are definitely coming back and are looking foreward to it already.

My son recommended this place. It's a hole-n-the-wall place in the Rogers Park area. Very authentic Peruvian food. Food is good and plentiful, waiters are helpful. The live music is a bit intrusive, but for something different this is a good bet.

Arroz con Pollo was amazing!! a lovely place!!! and the service was excellent too, the chilean handsome guy who served us was very nice. recommended 100%

The food at Taste of Peru is outstanding. We love going here and our only issue is deciding what to order because everything is great. The prices are very reasonable; I'd pay much more for the same food.

A treasure of authentic Peruvian culinary perfection. From start to finish, nothing short of perfection. Immediately your taste buds believe you must be in Lima. From the freshest salads through the scintillating entrées to the most delicious deserts, EVERYTHING screams of traditional family recipes passed through generations into this gem in an unassuming humble storefront. A true family run commitment which succeeds in every aspect. I could go on and on about the incredible, creative, fresh and delicious food but Guy Fieri beat me to the point. Also,better you experience it yourself. You will NOT be disappointed. If possible, be sure to visit during live music. If you have the opportunity to do so, introduce yourself to the charismatic founder Caesar. He was born to charm and entertain with tricks of his own. Enjoy!!!!

Wonderful food and Cesar the owner was very helpful in recommending dishes to order. The service/staff were very friendly. We look forward to coming back!

This is a small, family run place near the Rogers Park section of Chicago. The "Estofado de Pollo" (Chicken Stew) was one of the best things that I have ever eaten, with wonderful spices. My wife had the "Sudado de Filete de Pascado con Marisco" (steamed fish with squid, mussels, scallops and shrimp) which was also excellent. The atmosphere is almost like eating in a small town in Peru. There are so many other good looking things of the menu that we will be back for more.

I've been eating here for over ten years. I am way overdue to write this review, but here I am. I love this place, and hope it remains open for years to come. I have never had a bad experience. The food is delicious and flavorful. Some of my favorites are the Lomo Saltado, Ceviche de Corvina, Arroz con Pollo, Ensalada de Palta and the Flan for dessert! Taste of Peru is cozy, authentic and contributes to what makes Rogers Park the special place that it is to me! I highly recommend for a relaxing, low key date night on a rainy fall evening. PS. There is parking right out front.

My company ordered catering from Taste of Peru for a Friday lunch celebration, and it was a total hit!! The owner, Cesar, was very instrumental and helpful with recommending dishes to order, since I was unfamiliar with Peruvian cuisine. We ordered the arroz con pollo, Lomo Saldato, chicken and vegan tamales, avocado and quinoa salad, and the most delicious rice pudding with a mazamora morada syrup (delicious sweet purple corn topping). Everyone couldn't stop raving at how delicious the food was, and many requests were made to order from here again soon. We are so thankful to Cesar and his staff for the help in coordinating our catering order, and we are so grateful to have enjoyed such a beautiful meal from Taste of Peru. 10/10, will absolutely order again!! Thanks again! - Amanda

I have never done catering from a restaurant before... so when I decided to do it for my dads birthday, I was a little nervous on how the process was going to be. Talking to Cesar made it so easy to pick a menu for it and the process went smoothly. It was all fair pricing and the food was amazing!! We all loved everything. I even had some family members asking for the address of this restaurant!

Yum! a little dumpy but great food and awesome service. Really enjoyed the live music too. The area is a little off, so beware, but the easy parking is a bonus

Great chicha juice. Loved it. Smallish restaurant with very friendly and pleasant staff. The civiche was excellent with just the right of lime juice and onion. Had chicken and beef dishes. Perfectly cooked and spiced. Green salad was simple with tasty dressing. Topped with a ton of avocados. Highly recommend taste of Peru. We ate so much had no room for dessert. We will be back!

I ate at this restaurant this past weekend. Good quality and freshness. Staff friendly. I had a "ceviche mixto", love it.. spicy but good. Prices within a budget. I recommend it.

Taste of Peru...Excellent !!! Their "Ceviche de Pescado", among their variety of Entrees, takes you to a journey of Authentic Peruvian flavors; fresh grouper marinated in lime juice, onions and sweet potato. Employees and Management will make You, your Friends and Business Associates, feel at Home !!! Pablo....

Great tasting food. The cilantro rice is wonderful. My wife ordered a peanut sauced chicken dish despite being warned it was thick. Kind of Thai but without the spice. I know the peanut is indigenous to South America but ,eh, not so good with roast chicken. My seafood with the cilantro rice was great. A table nearby ordered a tasty looking soup with cilantro. Looked mighty good. Service a little slow but friendly. We're definitely going back.