London’s best Peruvian restaurants

What is it? A contemporary Peruvian restaurant with locations in Fitzrovia and Shoreditch. The former is our favourite. 

Why we love it: This is Peruvian cuisine at its poshest. LIMA’s fine-dining kitchen in Fitzrovia is headed by chef Diego Recarte, who brings technique and precision to Nikkei-based dishes such as seared beef tataki, Ikejime trout sashimi served with a strawberry ponzu sauce and a fabulous stone bass ceviche with leche de tigre, or tiger’s milk (a milky marinade of lime juice, fish trimmings, onions, garlic, ginger, lots of coriander and chilli peppers – no dairy included), beautifully presented with vibrant sauces and citrus. Pair everything with a proper pisco sour, but if you’re feeling cheeky, the Aji Margarita is a refreshing twist. The dining room is equally stunning with colourful, pendulum lamps and a gorgeous skylight decorated with a Technicolour fringe hanging above. 

Time Out tip: Visit between noon and 3pm on weekdays for a £27 lunch deal for a starter and main, and £5 pisco sours.

Address: 31 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 1JH.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-10.30pm, closed Sunday. 

Expect to pay: £3-34 for a la carte, £68-75 for tasting menus and £19-27 for one or two-course lunch/theatre specials, excluding drinks.

What is it? Colourful, modern Peruvian on The Hoxton Shoreditch hotel rooftop.

Why we love it:  For the fun, refreshing twists and a vibrant ambiance. Llama Inn’s entrance is hidden on Shoreditch’s sleepy Willow Street, but if you see a bright yellow door, you’ve made it to the right place. The menu leans towards contemporary Chifa, but you’ll find some Nikkei treasures, too. Take the sea bass ceviche swimming in leche de tigre. Pair it with a coconut & thai basil pisco sour (which has all the flavour of a piña colada without heavy consistency). End with a corn-based tres leches cake served with corn ice cream, bits of popcorn and chicha meringue for extra crunch.

Time Out tip: Book a Monday lunch to take advantage of Llama Inn’s £1 oyster deal, all generously sized and served with mignonette, jalapeño salsa and olive chalaca sauce. 

Address: 1 Willow Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4BH.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10.30pm, closed Sunday. 

Expect to pay: £5-12 for starters and sharing plates, £12-18 for mains, £5 for sides, and £6 for desserts.

What is it? London’s first Peruvian café

Why we love it: Darkest Peru is an intimate cafe run by Pedro Tello, a Peruvian architect-turned-foodie who craved bites from home. Inside, a long blackboard lists different coffees, cakes and Peruvian sandwiches, all served on a crusty bread roll. Smashed homemade pork sausage is mixed into scrambled eggs for the salchicha sandwich, seasoned with garlic, paprika and achiote oil. It’s sensational for breakfast. If you’re looking for a hearty lunch, try the Lomito sandwich with stir-fried beef. It's a fun twist on the lomo saltado, and pairs great with a limeade or a guanabana smoothie. Of course, the coffee is of Peruvian origin, too,

Time Out tip: Darkest Peru hosts monthly private dining nights, where the team cooks an intimate, yet very chill, homestyle dinner. It’s BYOB. 

Address: 101 Murray Grove, Hoxton, N1 7QP

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, closed Mon.

Expect to pay: £8-10 for sandwiches, £3-6 for coffees and drinks, £2.30-7 for snacks and sweets

What is it? A Peruvian food stall turned Islington brick-and-mortar on Essex Road.

Why we love it: A favourite among London-based Peruvians, Tierra opened as a food stall in Camden before evolving into a full restaurant, and it’s been slinging authentic dishes to hungry Latin food lovers ever since. The menu is an even mix of traditional Peruvian, Nikkei and Chiffa, with various ceviches and Peruvian beverages on offer like the famous Inka Cola, Peruvian lemonade and chicha morada, an Andean, purple maize-based drink with pineapple, apple and cinnamon. As for mains, there’s everything from arroz chaufa to lomo saltado, and chicharrón to quinotto (Andean quinoa risotto), but if you can’t decide, there’s always Tierra’s bento box. Choose any three dishes from a select list, and it’ll come with rice and sauce on the side. 

Time Out tip: Order the small menu starter and you get three different Peruvian bites for the price of one: ceviche, papas a la huancaína and jalea. 

Address: 164 Essex Road, Islington, N1 8LY.

Opening hours: Mon-Wed5-10pm, Thu-Sun-10pm.

Expect to pay: £3-16 for starters and sides, £11-65 for mains and £9-12 for desserts, excluding drinks. 

What is it? A Fulham-based restaurant and pisco bar with the best pollo a la brasa. 

Why why love it: We’re finally seeing more Latin flavours inching into west London, and Jarana – a small, family-run establishment in Fulham, is a great addition. The menu changes almost weekly, and offers a meticulous mix of Chifa, Nikkei and traditional plates like fresh ceviche, Peruvian tequeño (fried wonton wraps filled with chicken and caramelised onions), and papas a la huancaína (Huancayo-style potatoes). A famous starter from the city of Huancayo, just east of Lima, potatoes are sliced into medallions and served at room-temperature, slathered in a creamy yellow sauce made with queso fresco, ají amarillo and garlic. However the main event is the pollo a la brasa  – the restaurant’s rotisserie chicken – and it just might be the best in London. Sexy, seasoned and succulent, the chicken is roasted in a custom rig delivered straight from Peru, and comes with an ocean of crisp, golden fries. Without being dramatic, it might change your life. 

Time Out tip: Visit on a sunny, early-spring day for lunch on the terrace with a potent pisco cocktail.  

Address: 77 Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, W6 8JA.

Opening hours: Wed-Thu, and Sun, from 12.30-9pm; Fri-Sat, 12.30-11pm; closed Mon-Tue.

Expect to pay: £6-12 for starters, £17-35 for mains, £14-38 for pollo a la brasa, £8,50 for desserts.

What is it? An intimate Paddington restaurant.

Why we love it: Ayllu’s moody lighting, cushioned booths and spectacularly decorated dining room make for an idyllic date night. Walls are painted jade-green with a water lily motif that feels as if you’re dining in a Monet painting. If the setting doesn’t impress you, the Nikkei-forward menu certainly will. Think oysters with truffle and leche de tigre, tuna tataki tiraditos and a variety of citrusy ceviches – the lubina clasica is our favourite. There are non-seafood options, too, such as beef and chicken bao buns, sweet potato katsu curry with kimchi and a tender-pink, Peruvian steak with black lime butter, crispy garlic and golden egg yolk. 

Time Out tip: Book on the weekend for Ayllu’s samba-themed bottomless brunch. 

Address: 25 Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6EY.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12-11pm, Fri 12pm-midnight, Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 12-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: £5-90 for a la carte, £45-59 for tasting menu and  £7-15 for desserts, excluding drinks.

What is it? Affordable Nikkei in Soho.

Why we love it: For a vibe that’s relaxed, a menu that’s great and pisco sours that keep on coming, head to Señor Ceviche in Kingly Court. The space is bright and vivacious, and offers fresh ceviches, pisco cocktails and Peruvian BBQ plates to share – but only if you want to. If you’re feeling greedy (and thirsty), visit on the weekends for Señor’s bottomless brunch. Each guest chooses one starter, one ceviche, one BBQ and one side, along with a glass of either prosecco, peach bellinis, mimosa or wine that – and I am not exaggerating when I say this – never goes empty. Dessert is a light, creamy chocolate mousse with caramelised cancha – toasted corn kernels that add an extra layer of flavour and crunchy texture. Buen provecho. 

Time Out tip: Visit on Mondays to get any ceviche and any pisco sour for £6 each – a glorious deal for feasting in Soho.

Address: Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW.

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 12-10.30pm, ThuSat -12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm 

Expect to pay: £5-11 for small bites and sides, £11-13 for ceviches, and £12-19 for BBQ. There’s also a family-style sharing menu for £45 per person, and bottomless weekend brunch for £39 per person.

What is it? A south London stunner that’ll transport you to Peru. 

Why we love it: Brixton’s international food offerings have always been great, and one of our favourites is Maka on the Oval end of Brixton Road. In a bright orange restaurant with bright orange signage, wooden booths and patterned placemats, Maka brings traditional Peruvian plates and ice-cold pisco to south London. It’s an excellent addition to the area’s already-diverse food scene, and its acevichado chicken wings should be one of the first dishes to order. They’re glazed with a sauce that’s a cross between leche de tigre and aioli, yielding a rich-yet-citrusy flavour that bears reordering. Oh, get a plate of the causa Limeña, too. It’s a Lima-based dish of yellow potatoes that are chilled and pureed, then topped with tuna, avocado, egg and mixed veggies.

Time Out tip: If you leave without trying an ice-cold pitcher of chicha morada, you’re seriously slacking.

Address: 62 Brixton Road, Oval, SW9 6BS. 

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 12 -10pm; Sun-7pm; closed Mon and Tue.

Expect to pay: £3.50-9.50 for starters and sides, £13.50-20 for mains, £6.50-7 for dessert.

What is it? A food stall in Peckham’s Rye Lane Market with all the classics and beyond. 

Why we love it: Culinary duo Carlos Medina and Carla cook up some of the best Andean eats in the city at their Peruvian stall, Chan Chan. The menu is small, savoury and authentic, and you’ll find all the typical plates like ceviche, arroz chaufa and lomo saltado, but also some lesser known specialties, too. Try the parihuela, a comforting seafood soup made with mussels, prawns, squid and white fish swimming in a spiced broth. Great for chilly weather or hungover afternoons.

Time Out tip: Visit on weekends for menu specials like the parihuela, and follow them on Instagram for more rotating regional dishes. 

Address: Rye Lane Market, 48 Rye Lane, Indoor Unit 45, Peckham, SE15 5BY.

Opening hours: Wed-Thu 12-6pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat  11am-8pm, Sun12-6pm; closed Mon and Tue. 

Expect to pay: £4-8 for starters and small plates, £12-20 for mains and £2-4 for desserts

What is it? A small Peruvian kitchen in Brixton that’s pretty in pink with cute string lights. 

Why we love it: Lima Limón fries up a mean jalea (pronounced ha-leh-ah), a tasty, battered mix of seafood such as squid, king prawn, mussels and sea bass. It’s served under a layer of salsa criolla, a citrusy topping of julienned red onions, tomatoes, coriander and lime juice, and fried cassava on the side. And while other Peruvian hot spots serve pollo a la brasa, Lima Limon focuses on pulpo a la brasa – or grilled octopus, instead. Order a whole grilled tentacle with a side of papas a la huancaína and salsa criolla. End on a sweet note with picarones, fried pumpkin and sweet potato donuts.

Time Out tip: With an affordable menu, great cocktails and twinkling little lights, Lima Limón is a great date spot for a fantastic meal that won’t break the bank.

Address: Unit 21 Market Row, Brixton, SW9 8LB.

Opening hours: Wed-Sun,1-9pm; closed Mon and Tue. 

Expect to pay: £2.50-8.50 for starters and small plates, £10-15 for ceviches and mains, and £4-5 for sides and dessert.

What is it? Sophisticated Peruvian plates served a la Francaise. 

Why we love it: Peru-born executive chef, Walter Pineda takes his native cuisine up a notch in his Greenwich-based, guava-coloured dining room, El Alquimista. Despite focusing on fine British produce, Pineda’s cuisine is deeply Peruvian. Most starters are Nikkei-based ceviches and tiraditos (basically Peruvian sashimi), but it’s the pichón anticuchos that are a must-order. Anticuchos are grilled meat skewers that can range from chicken to ox heart, but here it’s pigeon, and depending on the season, it’s served with fondant potatoes, tomatoes, avocado and aji panca cream with the most elegant plating. While most Peruvian spots focus on pisco – which El Alquimista certainly has (and does very well), Pineda has made sure to also highlight his homeland’s wine. Have a glass with your sticky toffee and lucuma pudding,

Time Out tip: If you’re off to Greenwich Theatre, El Alquimista offers a two-course pre-theatre menu including a drink from Tuesday to Friday (5-6.30pm) for £39. 

Address: 2 Stockwell Street, Greenwich, SE10 9JN.

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-6pm, closed Mon.

Expect to pay: £17-23 for starters, £27.50-47 for mains, and £12.50 for desserts.

What is it? A cosy restaurant in Angel filled with Peruvian art.

Why we love it: If you were intrigued by the posh pigeon dish at El Alquimista, go further with the more traditional ox heart anticuchos at Mr LoBo, where Peruvian paintings are hung along the walls, and the outdoor seating calls you on a sunny day. If you’re still not ready for offal, opt for beef instead, but do order one of the many unique pisco cocktails like the Chicha Sour, a combination of two Peruvian drinks: the pisco sour and chicha morada, a sweet, Andean drink made from boiling Peruvian purple corn with various fruits and spices. Soak up the alcohol with the pescado frito (Spanish for fried fish): fried sea bass with an aji amarillo reduction and sautéed vegetables. 

Time Out tip: If you’re not hungry, but still crave pisco, this is the place to go. Come for the drinks, stay for the vibes. 

Address: 176 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1RG.

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat-11.30pm, Sun 12-6pm, closed Mon.

Expect to pay: £12-20 for meat-based dishes, £12-20 for seafood, £7.50-17 for veggies, £6-8 for sides, and £7.50-9 for dessert. 

What is it? A south Hackney spot dedicated to Peru’s flagship ingredients.

Why we love it: Named after the ancient Incan symbol for the Andean cross, Chakana boasts Peru’s most common and prized produce, corn and potatoes. In charge is Peruvian native and Michelin-starred chef Robert Ortiz. The menu has all the traditional offerings, but we highly suggest going for the crab causa with white meat, rocoto pepper and avocado. As for dessert, order the lucuma tiramisu, sweet, rich and decorated with the Chakana cross in cocoa powder. A holy experience. 

Time Out tip: Stop by on a Sunday to elevate your roast, Peruvian-style, when Yorkshire puddings and lomo saltados collide.  

Address: 41 Broadway Market, Hackney, E8 4PH.

Opening hours: Tue-Wed 6-10.30pm, Thu-Fri 6-11pm, Sat 1.30pm-midnight, Sun 2-9pm; closed Mon. 

Expect to pay: £8-14 for sharing plates, £18-24 for mains, and £8 for dessert. 

What is it? Casual, cool and traditional Peruvian.

Why we love it: Don’t let the fancy white-cloth covered tables fool you. Sabor Peruano is relaxed, comforting and Peruvian-owned-and-proud, with a hearty, Chifa-based menu. Meat lovers should indulge in lomo saltado, where slices of seasoned fried beef are served with tomatoes, onions, chips and white rice. This is also the perfect place to try arroz chaufa, Peruvian fried rice. It’s mixed with beef, eggs, diced hot dogs, spring onions, beansprouts, soy sauces and sesame oil, and is the quintessential dish of all-things Chifa. Not a meat eater? There’s a seafood and vegetarian version, too.

Time Out tip: Go on a chilly day and order mazamorra morada, a traditional, porridge-like pudding made from purple corn, pineapple, apple, cinnamon, dried fruit and sweet potato. It’s purple, rich and cosy. 

Address: 103 Newington Butts, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6SF.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12.30-9pm, Sun 12.30-7.30pm, closed Monday. 

Expect to pay: £3-8 for starters and ceviches, £12-22 for mains and £3.50-7 for desserts, excluding drinks. 

What is it? A Nikkei-focused, neon-lit dining space near Stratford station.

Why we love it: Stratford was once quite isolated from London’s food scene, but the east London neighbourhood has evolved with some great additions that are well worth the trek. One of them is Bamboo Mat, an entirely Nikkei-based restaurant that originally opened in Leyton before jumping to its larger East Village location in 2023. It’s sleek and contemporary, with minimal decor and neon blue lighting. We recommend the hamachi tiradito starter, an epic Nikkei sashimi platter for two that comes with sea bass, salmon, tuna, octopus, and pine prawns with a shiso ponzu sauce and – in Peruvian fashion – salsa huacatay. 

Time Out tip: Try the Peruvian paloma or passion fruit margarita while watching chefs plate ceviche and maki rolls in the open kitchen. 

Address: 21-24 Victory Parade, East Village, Stratford, E20 1FS.

Opening hours: Daily, from 12pm-10pm.

Expect to pay: £4-17 for starters, £12-35 for mains, £5.50-22 for sushi and sashimi, £7-10 for desserts, and £13-15 for lunch specials. Tasting menus range between £36-64.

What is it? ‘Neo-Nikkei’ in a simple, modern dining space.

Why we love it: Tucked away in Notting Hill’s Chepstow Road, FAN focuses on ‘neo-Nikkei’, an elevated and gloriously elegant take with underlying Chifa and traditional Peruvian touches to each bite. Try any of the nigiri that comes with aji-amarillo chilli or pachikay, the Peruvian-Cantonese equivalent of hot chilli oil – found in both, Nikkei and Chifa – that normally consists of hot sesame oil with garlic, chili peppers, ginger and spring onions. If you fancy a bit of everything, try the chef’s omakase menu, or the more affordable day menu that includes one tiradito or ceviche starter, two nigiris pieces, two makis (three-pieces each) and one main.

Time Out tip: Fan allows you to create your own six-course ‘Hanami’ tasting menu from the a la carte plates. It’s a little pricey at £69 per person, but it is gloriously good and a fraction of the signature tasting menu cost.  

Address: 6 Chepstow Road, Notting Hill, W2 5BH.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6.15pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12.30-3pm & 6.15-10.30pm, Sun 12.30pm-4pm & 6.15-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: £120 per head for the signature tasting menu, £39 for the day menu (excluding Friday and Saturday evenings).

What is it? One of London’s few stand-alone ceviche spots.

Why we love it: A few years ago Maria and Carlos realised that London was seriously lacking in ceviche, so they did the city a solid and opened Crudo. This bright cevicheria in Seven Dials focuses primarily on Peruvian plates and Latin-American fare. If you’ve never had ceviche, this is the place to try it. Pair the sea bass with a side of Andean octopus with purple confit potatoes and panca chilli, or pastel de choclo, a savoury Peruvian corn cake with feta cheese, pickled shallots and sweet potato puree. 

Time Out tip: You might as well get a pisco sour to wash it down, but if you’re a margarita fiend ask about their spicy margs. They shake ‘em up damn well. 

Address: 36 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9HA. 

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-10pm, Fri-Sat -10.30pm, Sun 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: £7-20 for snacks and small plates, £9-52 for ceviches and mains, £5-7 for sides, and £9-10 for dessert.

What is it? Peruvian plates in an extravagant setting. 

Why we love it: Coya Mayfair has two levels, three open kitchens and elaborately decorated dining rooms gleaming in  teal and gold. This is less of a restaurant and more a full-on sensory experience and members club with an Amazonian twist. It isn’t a place for discretion, either. You go to Coya when you want to be seen. The menu slightly skews from traditional Peruvian (you’ll find the rather more Italian likes of burrata and stracciatella here), but when they do serve a Peruvian dish, they do it right. If you can splurge, dive into the signature ceviche platter of sea bass, corvina, yellowtail, bluefish and spicy tuna, each marinated uniquely. Wash the fish down with one of COYA’s signature cocktails, a thoughtful list of drinks inspired from Peru’s natural landscapes, el mar, la selva y la sierra – the sea, the jungle and the sierra. 

Time Out tip: Don’t overlook Coya’s coconut soft-serve for dessert. The Tropical Sundae is enormous and divine. 

Address: 118 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1J 7NW. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-1am, Sun -midnight.

Expect to pay: £14-28 for starters and sides, £19-90 for ceviches and seafood, £34-250 for meat and poultry and £15-72 for desserts. Set menus range from £40-125 per head, and £100 for weekend brunch with bottomless cocktails and Champagne.

What is it? An international chain devoted to all-things Nikkei.

Why we love it: Chotto Matte takes Nikkei seriously across its six global locations, including at this one in the heart of Soho. In a bold dining room with black-and-white patterned floors, multi-coloured murals and purple seating, Chotto Matte offers generous specials like unlimited Nikkei starters and sushi on weekdays, as well as Latin music and salsa dancing every Thursday. There are also some epic sharing menus where tables can sample everything from fresh yellowtail Nikkei sashimi with a citrusy yuzu truffle soy, to marinated and smoked lamb chops with chilli miso. 

Time Out tip: Visit weekdays between noon and 5pm for unlimited sushi, or stop by from every day apart from Saturday from 3pm to 7pm, for Chotto hour, where you can order discounted cocktails and Nikkei starters. 

Address: 11-13 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4RB. 

Opening hours: Daily 12pm-1am.

Expect to pay: £4-18 for snacks, sides and small plates, £13-19 for the raw bar and tempura, £3-60 for nigiri and sashimi, and £14-40 for maki and robata plates.

What is it? A fine-dining, sushi-focused spot up high in Heron Tower.

Why we love it: Octopus and chorizo anticuchos under a bed of chocla, crisp plantains with aji amarillo sauce, and sweet, refreshing watermelon ‘seviche’ (but why the menu misspell?) – all served with glorious ‘Samba Sours’ and a sky-high view of The Shard et al. Sushisamba might not be the most authentic or traditional, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Its Peruvian-Brazilian-Japanese-inspired menu, skews more towards Japanese than anything, but its Peruvian notes – like any of the anticuchos or maki rolls – all pack a flavourful punch. Plus, it’s hard to complain when you’re being seduced by the vast space, the greenery and wall-to-ceiling windows that illuminate the city. 

Time Out tip: Book on Friday nights, just before sunset, for stunning, sparkling views of the city and lively samba dancing.  

Address: Heron Tower, EC2N 4AY.

Opening hours: Daily 12-11.30pm

Expect to pay: £6-32 for small bites, small plates, salads and sides, £12-50 for the raw bar and robata, £24-165 for large plates, Japanese wagyu and kobe, £8-43 for sushi, £8-17 for dessert.