PeruFood and Drink

Peru is one of the world’s premiere foodie destinations, and the list of Peruvian food and drinks you must try on your Peru vacation gets longer every year. Ceviche is the dish that first put Peru’s kitchens on the map, but local favourites like lomo saltado (a stir-fry beef dish), warming aji de gallina, adabo and tasty anticuchos are getting just as popular on Peru tours and internationally. What makes Peruvian food stand out on the global stage is the abundance of fresh ingredients available throughout the country’s many climates. The combinations are endless, luring some of the world’s most innovative chefs to Lima and Cusco.

The pisco sour is Peru’s national cocktail made from pisco (a grape brandy), lime juice, egg whites, and simple syrup, often garnished with bitters. But you can also try chicha corn beer, or its non-alcoholic cousin, chicha morada. Inca Kola is the nation’s chosen soda, while mate de coca is a stirring tea that will help ward off altitude sickness. Peruvian coffee has a fine reputation as well!

What is Peru’s traditional cuisine?

Roasted cuy is highly recommended, though the idea of eating barbecued guinea pig certainly isn’t for everyone. Less adventurous staples of Peruvian cuisine include ceviche, fresh fish or seafood marinated in lime or bitter orange juice, typically garnished with onions, cilantro, and rocoto, lomo saltado, a stir-fry beef with onions, tomatoes, and fries, often served with rice, aji de gallina, a shredded chicken dish in a creamy yellow chilli pepper sauce, and papa a la huancaina, boiled potatoes smothered in a spicy cheese sauce, often garnished with boiled eggs and olives.

Causa Rellena layers mashed potatoes with chicken, tuna, or avocado, garnished with hard-boiled eggs and olives to create the ultimate comfort food, while adabo is a warming stew made with pork, perfect for those chilly mountain nights. Peru is big on its street food as well. Anticuchos are grilled skewers of marinated beef heart, often accompanied by potatoes and a spicy peanut sauce.

Got a sweet tooth? Suspiro a la Limeña is a sweet dessert with caramelized condensed milk topped with meringue. Picarones are deep-fried rings of sweet potato and squash dough served with syrup made from figs and spices, and tres leches cake is exactly what it sounds like. A sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated, condensed, and cream.

What is the dining etiquette in Peru?

Wait for the host to say buen provecho before tucking in. Your fork stays in your left hand, your knife in your right, and keep your hands visible above the table when they’re empty. If you’re served bread during the meal, but no bread plate or butter knife, simply sit the bread on the edge of your plate and use it to mop up the remaining sauce. The fork and spoon above your plate are typically for dessert. Set your utensils down pointing to ten o’clock on the plate when you’re done. One tip when dining in Peru is to take it slow, especially on the starches. Bread, corn, and (many, many) potatoes all have their place on the Peruvian table, and it’s easy to fill up too fast.

What is the drinking etiquette in Peru?

One of Peru’s more unusual customs is the beer circle, where each person in the circle pours their own beer, passes the bottle to the next person, then quickly drinks the beer, flicking the froth to the ground before passing the glass over as well. Yes, this means the (usually small) glass is shared by the whole group. What’s more, whoever finishes the bottle is often expected to buy the next round, particularly if they’re male. If this happens to you, don’t switch brands without asking the circle first. It’s a fun (if not terribly hygienic) way to drink at least once in your life, meant to celebrate camaraderie and unity between the drinkers.

Does Peru cater to dietary restrictions?

Abundant ingredients and variety mean that Peruvian restaurants, particularly in Lima can adapt nimbly to dietary restrictions, accommodating vegetarians, vegans, coeliacs and other requirements with ease. Just ensure communication is clear. Consider writing your allergies or requirements on a card if you’re not confident speaking Spanish.

What do meals typically cost in Peru?

Despite its towering reputation, food in Peru is still very affordable at most restaurants. A good simple meal can be had for less than US $5, while a solid, mid-range meal for two at a restaurant will cost closer to US $35. Expect to pay more of course in restaurants popular with tourists, or at lauded restaurants in the hipper districts of Lima. A local beer should cost little more than US $2-3.