Lima is swiftly becoming one of the most elite restaurant destinations in the world. This is a short list of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in Lima. With the exception of Chez Wong, all of these restaurants are located in the trendy Miraflores district.
All of these restaurants strive to showcase unique Peruvian ingredients. Youll probably get to try something with culantro, a wilder type of cilantro that grows in the Peruvian jungle. It has a similar flavor to cilantro, but stronger. Get ready to dive into a rainbow of Peruvian potatoes, which come in shades of yellow, red, and bright purple. Paiche, a type of freshwater fish that lives in the murky waters of the Amazon Basin, has developed a reputation as a delicacy among Perus culinary elite. These fish have few bones and produce firm, white fillets, and can grow to 500 pounds.
Visit these restaurants for a taste of the best Peru has to offer, and a glimpse at cutting-edge dining trends.
Astrid Y Gastn, Miraflores
Astrid Y Gastn is a must-try for globetrotting gastronomes. The owner, Gastn Acurio, is credited with putting Peru on the map for culinary innovation, and Limas growth as one of the capitals of South Americas upscale restaurant scene. In his home country, Acurio is known for elevating traditional Peruvian cooking, and instilling the country with pride in their savory cooking. His restaurants were the first to use ingredients found in Perus Amazon in gourmet cooking.
Gastn Acurio is now in charge of a restaurant empire, with over 30 restaurants (and counting) in 15 cities, many of them outside of Peru. All have been met with massive critical acclaim.
The dinner menu is 17 courses of small tastes. White tablecloths provide a relief for the vibrantly colorful, artistically arranged dishes. You can have the tasting menu at Astrid Y Gastn, or visit the bar to try a few items a la carte.
Central, Miraflores
Centrals Chef Virgilio Martinez used to work under Gastn Acurio, and Acurio speaks highly of the younger chefs abilities.
Trendy Lima restaurants follow many of the same trends as upscale restaurants in the U.S. for instance, Central has no sign on the door, to emphasize its exclusivity. Be sure to reserve a table at least 30 days before you plan to visit.
Although Central is based in Lima, the restaurant takes much of its inspiration from ingredients found in the jungle. Chef Martinez takes trips into the Amazon specifically to find new ingredients to include on his menu. The chefs stated objective is to pay homage to Pachamama, the Mother Earth of Inca legend. Centrals menu incorporates ingredients from all of the different elevations in Peru, from the coastal lowlands to the Amazon.
Many of the herbs that accompany the dishes come from the restaurants own garden, which is a significant source of pride for Chef Martinez local ingredients compliment the ingredients he sourced through intense hikes through the Peruvian landscape.
In spite of the plates of ingredients youve almost certainly never heard of before, many guests are taken aback by the simplest item on the menu: the water at Central is filtered and bottled on site.
Maido, Miraflores
Maido is one of the preeminent destinations for nikkei a style of cooking that combines Peruvian and Japanese traditions. You can select a 16-course tasting menu, or you can order a la carte. Guests have the option of sitting at the counter, for a traditional sushi restaurant experience.
Dont think of nikkei as sushi these dishes are much more elaborate. Seafood is the star of the menu, but plants from all over Peru transform the plates into a distinctly Limea dining experience. Not all of the ingredients are seafood the chef will sometimes use meat or whatever else he feels best complements his dishes.
Look out for Chef Mitsuharu Tsumaras interpretation of tiraditos, the Japanese version of ceviche. It transcends raw fish Peruvian and Japanese cooking styles come together to make a seafood dish greater than a sum of its parts.
IK, Miraflores
IK whets the appetite with a sensory palette of lush green. Wood panels line the walls, and plants sprout from planters on every surface. IKs interior is designed to resemble jabas, the wooden boxes that Peruvian vendors use to display their fruit. Visitors are especially taken aback by the bold aesthetic in the bathroom. Dont ask just go see it.
IK opened in 2013, and has already made the list of notable restaurant destinations in Miraflores. The restaurants artistic approach to plating its dishes exhibits fevered creativity and a sense of humor.
The restaurant takes its name from Ivan Kisic, the owners twin brother. Ivan was an up-and-coming chef who died in a car accident, very early in his career. His main passion was Limas abundant supply of excellent seafood, and fish is usually one of the showstoppers on IKs menu.
IK has a wood-burning oven for baking fresh bread, and the dessert menu shows an unusual level of inspiration for what many restaurants consider a sugary afterthought.
IK is known for its unusual and innovative combinations. Nothing on the menu quite sounds like it will go together, but guests usually report that an evening at IK expanded their palettes (i.e., blew their minds).
Chez Wong, La Victoria
Chez Wong is one of the most talked-about and sought-after seafood restaurants in Lima. Unlike a lot of other high-end dining experiences in Lima, Chez Wong has a more relaxed vibe. Chef Javier Wong is a gracious host, and the restaurant is part of the chefs house. Youll be able to see Chef Wong cooking in the open kitchen. Flames engulf the woks while assistants scurry to assemble the plates.
If you want to visit Chez Wong, be sure to book well in advance. Its open for lunch, and there is no menu. Before you start, youll state only a few basic preferences: hot, cold, sweet, or sour. Youre guaranteed to get some sole, the chefs specialty, but other than that the menu is based on whatever fishermen brought Chef Wong that day.
Chez Wong is located in La Victoria, which is not the nicest suburb of Lima. But if youre a visitor whos interested in seeing the non-touristy parts of Lima, this is as good a reason as any to see more of the city.
