Lima's lunch-only cevicherías, Andean kitchens and Amazon festival tables all send a plate to this lineup. Some are street-corner staples, others take a day of planning to eat.
1CevicheRaw fish cured in lime juice with chili, red onion and leche de tigre, Peru's national dish.1000pts
2JuaneRice seasoned with turmeric, chicken and olives wrapped in bijao leaves, the Amazon's festival dish.999pts
3Lomo SaltadoBeef stir-fried with onion, tomato and soy sauce, served with fries and rice, a pillar of chifa-influenced cooking.877pts
4Causa LimeñaLayered cold terrine of yellow potato seasoned with lime and ají amarillo, filled with tuna, chicken or seafood.771pts
5Papa a la HuancaínaBoiled potatoes under a creamy sauce of fresh cheese and ají amarillo, a staple starter.771pts
6CuyRoasted or fried guinea pig, a traditional Andean dish served whole in Cusco and Arequipa.771pts
7Arroz con MariscosPeru's seafood rice cooked with ají panca and ají amarillo, a cevichería staple.600pts
8TiraditoThin slices of raw fish under a spicy citrus sauce, ceviche's Japanese-influenced cousin.600pts
9Rocoto RellenoArequipa's stuffed rocoto pepper filled with spiced beef, olives and egg, baked under cheese.600pts
10Pollo a la BrasaSpit-roasted chicken marinated in garlic, cumin and spices, Peru's most-eaten restaurant dish.491pts
11AnticuchosSkewers of marinated beef heart grilled over charcoal, sold on Peruvian street corners since colonial times.360pts
12Chupe de CamaronesA rich Arequipa chowder of river shrimp, potatoes, corn, milk and egg.360pts
13Seco de CorderoLamb stewed in a cilantro and chicha sauce, served with beans and rice in northern Peru.360pts
14Ají de GallinaShredded chicken in a creamy sauce of ají amarillo, bread and walnuts, served over rice with potatoes.0pts
15Arroz con PolloChicken and rice cooked green with cilantro, beer and ají, a Lima Sunday favourite.0pts
16Tacu TacuA pan-fried cake of leftover rice and beans, often topped with steak and a fried egg.0pts
17Arroz ChaufaPeruvian-Chinese fried rice with egg, scallion and soy sauce, born in Lima's chifas.0pts
Photo credits
- Ceviche — S.hanry, CC BY 4.0
- Lomo Saltado — Chasqui (Luis Tamayo), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Causa Limeña — CEllen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Papa a la Huancaína — Feralbt, CC BY 3.0
- Cuy — MovEditor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arroz con Mariscos — Manuel González Olaechea, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tiradito — Manuel González Olaechea, CC BY 3.0
- Rocoto Relleno — Idan Robbins, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pollo a la Brasa — Blas2025wiki, CC BY 4.0
- Anticuchos — Carly & Art, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Chupe de Camarones — MenaPanda18, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seco de Cordero — Gary Stevens, CC BY 2.0
- Ají de Gallina — MiguelAlanCS, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arroz con Pollo — MiguelAlanCS, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tacu Tacu — Suedehead from Buenos Aires, Argentina, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Arroz Chaufa — Arnold Gatilao from Oakland, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
