Peru is one of the world’s most exciting culinary destinations. Its geography stretches from the Pacific coast to the high Andes and deep Amazon rainforest — and each region brings its own flavors, traditions, and cooking styles. Whether you’re a foodie, a curious traveler, or someone simply looking for delicious meals,Peruvian Food cuisine is full of surprises.
After years of traveling through Peru, tasting local specialties everywhere from family homes to street carts and fine-dining restaurants, we’ve created this ultimate, detailed list of 25 Peruvian foods you absolutely must try.
Let’s begin your culinary journey through Peru!
1. Ceviche – Peru’s Legendary Coastal Dish
Ceviche is Peru’s proud national dish, and for good reason.
Fresh raw fish is cut into bite-sized cubes and cured in lime or lemon juice until the texture becomes tender yet firm. It’s typically served with:
- thinly sliced red onion
- giant Peruvian corn (choclo)
- soft sweet potato
- sometimes seaweed or cancha
It’s bright, zesty, refreshing, and embodies the spirit of coastal Peru. Although traditionally eaten at the coast, you’ll find surprisingly good ceviche even in the Andes.
Where to try: Cevicherías, street markets, and coastal restaurants.
2. Tiradito – The Sashimi-Style Ceviche Peruvian Food
Tiradito is a Japanese-influenced variation of ceviche.
Instead of cubes, the fish is sliced into thin strips like sashimi. There are no onions, and the fish is covered with a creamy, spicy yellow ají amarillo sauce.
It’s smooth, delicate, and lets the flavor of the fish shine.
Best for: Peruvian Foods People who enjoy raw fish dishes like sashimi.
3. Papa a la Huancaína – A Classic Potato Starter
This dish highlights Peru’s love for potatoes — they have over 4,000 varieties!
Boiled yellow potatoes are sliced and topped with a creamy Huancaína sauce made from:
- queso fresco (fresh cheese)
- ají amarillo (yellow chili)
- milk
- crackers or bread
- oil
It’s mild, rich, and delicious. Usually served with olives and hard-boiled eggs.
4. Ají de Gallina – Comfort Food at Its Best
A popular home-cooked dish throughout Peru.
Shredded chicken is simmered in a thick yellow sauce made of nuts, cheese, and ají amarillo. The result is comforting, creamy, and full of flavor.
It’s typically served with rice or boiled potatoes — sometimes both!
5. Juanes – Amazonian Rice Parcels
A specialty from thePeruvian Foods jungle.
Juanes are rice mixed with chicken, olives, eggs, and spices, all wrapped tightly in a bijao leaf and boiled. The leaf gives the dish a beautiful green tint and herbal aroma.
Opening a Juanes feels like unwrapping a fragrant, warm food gift.
6. Tacacho con Cecina – The Amazon Power Meal
Green plantains are roasted, mashed, and shaped into balls or patties.
They’re served with cecina, a salted, smoked pork that adds a strong, savory flavor. Heavy, rustic, and very filling — perfect for long days of exploring the jungle.
7. Rocoto Relleno – Arequipa’s Fiery Favorite
This dish is as beautiful as it is spicy.
A red rocoto pepper is stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, onions, cheese, and spices, then baked. Despite its bright color, it packs serious heat.
Arequipa is famous for this dish — almost every local restaurant serves it.
8. Lomo Saltado – Peru’s Stir-Fry Masterpiece
One of Peru’s most famous fusion dishes, influenced by Chinese immigrants.
Strips of beef are stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and Peruvian Food spices. Served with rice and French fries.
Juicy, smoky, saucy — truly addictive.
9. Causa Limeña – The Cold Peruvian Food “Layer Cake”
Causa is a visual and flavorful treat.
It uses mashed yellow potatoes mixed with lime juice, oil, and ají. This potato layer alternates with fillings like:
- shredded chicken with mayo
- seafood
- avocado slices
- vegetables
A refreshing appetizer that’s both light and satisfying.
10. Anticuchos – Flame-Grilled Cow Heart Skewers
One of Peru’s most iconic street foods.
Tender pieces of cow heart are marinated, skewered, and grilled over open flames. Despite its name, it tastes just like tender, flavorful meat with smoky aromas.
Usually served with potatoes and spicy sauce.Peruvian Foods
11. Pollo a la Brasa – The King of Peruvian Fast Food
Rotisserie chicken in Peru is on another level.
Marinated with secret spices, slow-roasted until juicy inside and crispy outside, and served with fries and dipping sauces like ají, ketchup, and mayo.
Pardos Chicken is the most famous chain, but you’ll find great versions everywhere.
12. Pastel de Choclo – Sweet and Savory Corn Pie
A warm, comforting casserole made with sweet corn paste layered over a filling of minced meat, onions, garlic, eggs, and raisins.
Creamy on top, savory inside — aPeruvian Foods family favorite.
13. Pisco Sour – The Cocktail You Cannot Skip
Peru’s national drink!
A refreshing combination of:
- Pisco (grape brandy)
- fresh lime juice
- sugar syrup
- egg white
- Angostura bitters
Frothy, tangy, and perfect for warm afternoons.
14. Suspiro a la Limeña – Sweetness from Lima
A decadent dessert made from manjar blanco (caramel cream) topped with purple-colored port-wine meringue. Ultra-sweet, creamy, and elegant.
15. Picarones – Sweet Potato Doughnuts
A beloved street dessert.
Picarones are ring-shaped fritters made from sweet potato or squash dough, deep fried until golden, and drizzled with special molasses syrup (chancaca).
Light, warm, and deliciously sweet.Peruvian Foods
16. Cuy – The Traditional Andean Dish
A traditional dish eaten in the Andes for centuries.
Cuy (guinea pig) is roasted or fried whole and served with potatoes and salad. The meat tastes similar to chicken but slightly gamier, with crispy skin.
Cusco is the best place to try it.
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17. Alfajores – Peru’s Softest Cookies
Delicate, crumbly cookies made from cornstarch and filled with manjar blanco. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar, they melt in your mouth.
Perfect with coffee or tea.
18. Chicha Morada – The Purple Corn Drink
A refreshing, sweet beverage made by boiling purple corn with:
- pineapple peel
- cinnamon
- cloves
- quince (sometimes)
Once cooled, lime juice and sugar are added. Every family and restaurant has its own version.
19. Nikkei Cuisine – Japan Meets Peru
A beautiful fusion between Japanese techniques and Peruvian ingredients. Expect dishes like:
- sushi rolls with ají amarillo
- ceviche with Japanese flavors
- tiradito with soy and sesame notes
Peru’s modern food scene is incomplete without Nikkei cuisine.
20. Arroz con Leche + Mazamorra Morada
Two desserts served together in one cup.
Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) brings creamy cinnamon flavors, while Mazamorra Morada (purple corn pudding) adds fruity, spiced sweetness.
A comforting combination found in parks and street stalls.
21. Ocopa – A Herb-Rich Potato Dish
Similar to Huancaína but with a different flavor profile.
The sauce is made from huacatay (black mint), peanuts, cheese, and chilies. Aromatic, herbal, and deliciously rich.
Served with potatoes, olives, and eggs.
22. Empanadas – Peru’s Sweet-Savory Pastries
Peruvian empanadas differ from those in other countries.
Their crust is slightly sweet, often dusted with powdered sugar, and served with a squeeze of lime for a tangy contrast.
Fillings include chicken, beef, fish, cheese, or even Lomo Saltado!
23. Arroz con Pollo – Chicken with Green Rice
A hearty, satisfying dish of chicken cooked with cilantro-spinach rice.
Moist, flavorful, and often served in large portions — perfect for lunch.
24. Salchipapas – The Ultimate Street Snack
Fried hot dog slices + crispy fries + cheese + sauces.
A fun, late-night or teenage snack that’s popular all over the country.
25. Canchita – Peru’s Addictive Crunchy Corn
Toasted giant corn kernels served as a complimentary starter in many restaurants.
Crunchy, salty, and impossible to stop eating — you’ll finish the bowl every time.
Final Thoughts: The Endless Flavors of Peru
Peru’s food culture is vibrant, diverse, and full of flavor. These 25 dishes are just the beginning — there are hundreds more regional specialties to explore. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning traveler, Peruvian cuisine will always surprise you with something new.