I spent half a year in Lima and fell head over heels for the food scene there. It completely surprised me in the best way. I’m sharing 14 Peruvian dishes and treats that I can’t stop thinking about, from creamy comfort food to street cart doughnuts and the dreamiest little stuffed cones.
1. Caldo de Gallina
If hearty soups are your love language, this one is for you. Caldo de gallina is packed with chicken, potatoes, noodles, and egg, and it’s so filling.
Locals say it’s the thing to eat early in the morning before work because it recharges your energy and gets you ready for the day. I believe them.
2. Maracumango
This name is a mashup of “mango” and “maracujá” (passion fruit) and it’s a flavor combo you’ll see everywhere in Peru. I loved it most as ice cream, so refreshing on a hot day. I had mine at Kukurucho Helados and it was pure sunshine in a cup.
3. Tacacho With Amazonian Pork
Peruvian cooking goes way beyond the classics, and this Amazonian breakfast is proof. Tacacho is made from boiled or grilled mashed plantains mixed with bits of pork rind, and I was lucky enough to try it paired with Amazonian pork that had this incredible, distinct flavor. It’s often served with chorizo, but some Peruvian friends ordered this version for us and I’m so glad they did.
4. Picarones
These sweet potato doughnuts are ridiculously good. The outside shatters with a nice crunch, then you hit that hot, soft, doughy center.
They get drizzled with a spiced sugary sauce that takes them right over the top. I ate mine from a cute little food cart at Parque 7 de Junio and I still dream about them.
5. Mazamorra Morada
Another favorite, hands down. I grabbed this from a food cart at Parque Kennedy and it was so warm and comforting, with a sweetness that didn’t overpower.
The cozy flavor of cinnamon melded perfectly with purple corn, plums, pineapple, and other sweet ingredients. It’s like a hug in a bowl.
6. Conitos Hojaldre con Manjar
We originally ordered a different dessert, but they were out and honestly, we weren’t complaining one bit. These little pastry cones were somehow both soft and delicately crunchy, all filled with the creamiest manjar blanco.
Perfect for dunking or just nibbling alongside a good coffee. I got mine at Pasteleria La Nuez San Borja and I’d go back in a heartbeat.
7. Alfajores
You’ll spot these all over South America and Peru is no exception. Two crumbly shortbread cookies hug a thick layer of manjar blanco, that luscious dulce de leche that melts right into the cookie.
The whole thing practically dissolves on your tongue. I loved mine alongside a coffee at Artidoro Rodríguez Café, and let me tell you, that pairing is a total moment.
8. Peruvian Chocolate
I completely fell for the chocolate scene here. A friend sent us to a lovely coffee shop called El Cacaotal, and we had no idea there was a whole chocolate shop attached.
One of the workers took us upstairs to a room lined with walls of chocolate and walked us through how different brands craft their bars in unique ways. It was a chocolate lover’s dream.
9. Peruvian Churros
Peru was my first time eating dulce de leche stuffed churros and I swear it was love at first bite. That warm, creamy caramel filling paired with crunchy, cinnamon kissed fried dough is absolute magic.
Head to Manolo in Miraflores, grab a batch, and walk them over to Parque Kennedy or Parque 7 de Junio. You’re welcome.
10. Makis (Or Nikkei)
This Japanese-Peruvian fusion is an absolute yes. You’ll find playful, inventive dishes like makis style ceviche, tuna saltado, and the tastiest dumplings.
I’ve seen the term Nikkei online, but every local I talked to just called it makis, so I’m a little confused too. Whatever you name it, the food is amazing.
11. Tallarin Saltado
If you want to explore more chifa cuisine, tallarin saltado is a delicious place to start. It’s a stir fry loaded with your choice of beef or chicken, plenty of veggies, and warm spices. I tried this dish at El Parquecito and the flavors just pop in the best way.
12. Turrón de Doña Pepa
There are a couple of stories behind this dessert, but I’ll share one. Josefa Marmanillo, an Afro-Peruvian slave known for her incredible cooking, developed a disease that affected her arms and her ability to cook.
After being freed because of her illness, she traveled all the way to Lima to see the image of Christ of Pachacamilla. She was healed, and she created this beautiful dessert to honor the miracle.
13. Chifa
Chifa is Chinese-Peruvian fusion and I learned quickly that Peruvians are fiercely proud of their blended cuisines. I’m not kidding, I saw Google reviews where people got genuinely offended if a chifa restaurant didn’t lean hard enough into the fusion.
It’s not about strict authenticity here, it’s about that beautiful mashup. You kind of have to respect it.
14. Ají de Gallina
This is the kind of cozy, creamy chicken and potato dish that hugs you right back. The sauce is a silky blend of aji amarillo, garlic, onion, and Parmesan that just works.
I’ll be honest, the first time I ordered it the sauce fell flat, but my friends took me to Tanta at Larcomar and oh my goodness, that version was everything. Don’t settle for a so-so one when you’re in Peru.