While ceviche is one of Peru’s most popular dishes, the country’s cuisine is all worth exploring. Its rich biodiversity results in, what can only be described as, bomb food. It’s no surprise then that year after year, Peruvian cuisine receives international acclaim. For several years in a row, for example, the World Travel Awards has named the country South America’s Leading Culinary Destination. Several Peruvian restaurants are regulars on The Diners Club International’s 50 Best Restaurant List as well as the Latin American edition of the list. This year was no different.
Below, check out eight Peruvian restaurants that made the cut on this year’s Latin America list.
1
Maido
City: Lima, Peru
Chef: Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura
Maido serves up Peruvian-Japanese food, with seafood the star of the menu. Nigiri sushi, sea urchin rice and shellfish con leche de tigre are some of the standouts.
2
Central
City: Lima, Peru
Chefs: Virgilio Martínez, Pía León
Central began appearing on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2013. The restaurant offers up unique interpretations of corn, tuber and chocolate.
3
Osso
City: Lima, Peru
Chef: Renzo Garibaldi
Whether it’s ribeyes or burgers, Osso specializes in beef. The location is one part butcher’s shop, one part restaurant and began after Renzo Garibaldi’s wife enrolled him a masterclass with meat maestro Ryan Farr. It took him a few years to come up with the concept for his restaurant.
4
Isolina
City: Lima, Peru
Chef: José del Castillo
José del Castillo has been in the restaurant business since he was 9 years old. Growing up at his family’s cevichería, the chef learned about food through his mom and brothers. Eventually, he received formal training and opened Isolina in 2015 – 15 years after starting to cook professionally. At his restaurant, he delivers traditional Peruvian fare.
5
Astrid y Gastón
City: Lima, Peru
Chefs: Gastón Acurio, Jorge Muñoz
At Astrid y Gastón, contemporary Peruvian food is on the menu. The restaurant opened in 1994 and has continued to serve up exciting food.
6
Rafael
City: Lima, Peru
Chefs: Rafael Osterling, Rodrigo Alzamora
At Rafael, you’ll get a mix of Peruvian food, inspired by Italian and Asian cuisines. Before delving into the culinary world, Osterling was a lawyer before studying at Le Cordon Bleu.
7
Kjolle
City: Lima, Peru
Chef: Pía León
After making her mark alongside her husband at their restaurant Central, León branched out on her own with Kjolle, which features ingredients from all over Peru.
8
La Mar
City: Lima, Peru
Chef: Gustavo Montestruque
Gustavo Monstestruque’s La Mar specializes in nontraditional ceviches. Before La Mar, Gustavo worked for Acurio at Panchita and Papacho’s and moved on to La Mar in 2017.