You can eat well on almost any corner in Lima, and you don’t need an expensive reservation to see why. If you’re only spending a short time in the city, a few specific dishes, two or three drinks, and knowing where to find a good daily menu are enough. Below, you’ll find what to order, how much it costs, and which areas are worth stopping in.
Lima, the Gastronomic Capital of South America
Peruvian cuisine brings together flavors from the sea, the coast, and the Andes, along with centuries of Criollo and Chinese culinary traditions. Lima brings all of this together in small local eateries, cevicherías, and well-known restaurants. For travelers passing through the city, what you order and when you eat often matter more than choosing the trendiest restaurant.
What to Eat in Lima: Dishes Worth Trying
If you don’t have much time, stick to the classics. These are the flavors you’ll probably want to try again later.
Ceviche
Raw fish marinated in lime juice, served with red onion, chili pepper, sweet potato, and large-kernel Peruvian corn. Order it around lunchtime, when the fish is freshest, and choose a busy cevichería rather than an isolated street stand. At a mid-range cevichería, it usually costs between 35 and 60 soles.
Lomo Saltado
Stir-fried beef with onion, tomato, and chili pepper, served with French fries and rice. It’s a classic Criollo dish with a strong chifa influence. At a traditional restaurant, it costs around 28 soles, although prices generally range from 15 to 50 soles depending on the place.
Ají de Gallina
Shredded chicken breast in a creamy yellow chili pepper sauce made with bread, milk, and nuts, served with potatoes and rice. It tastes like Peruvian home cooking and often appears on inexpensive daily lunch menus.
Anticuchos
Skewers of marinated beef heart grilled over an open flame. At a licensed street cart, they start at around 6 soles; at a restaurant, prices usually start at 20 soles. If you want an authentic street-food experience, a cart with a line of customers is usually a good sign.
Desserts: Picarones and Suspiro a la Limeña
Picarones are fried rings made with squash and sweet potato, served with chancaca syrup. You can buy them from street carts for just a few soles. Suspiro a la limeña is a sweet dessert made with manjar blanco and topped with meringue.
Traditional Drinks You Should Try
Pisco Sour
Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and a few drops of Angostura bitters. It’s one of the most popular cocktails to enjoy with a meal in Peru.
Chicha Morada
Purple corn boiled with pineapple, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s a sweet, non-alcoholic drink that goes especially well with lunch.
Inca Kola
A bright yellow and very sweet soft drink. At many tables, it’s served alongside lomo saltado or ají de gallina. Trying it is part of the local experience, but it’s certainly not a requirement.
Peruvian cuisine is so diverse that it includes hundreds of dishes, and you can find many of them in Lima.
Where to Eat Without Spending Too Much
Daily Menus, the Most Affordable Option
A starter or soup, a main course, and a drink usually cost between 12 and 20 soles. It’s how many locals enjoy a traditional Peruvian lunch without having to make special plans.
Recommended Mid-Range Restaurants
These restaurants offer a more comfortable atmosphere and menus that are easy for visitors to navigate. A main dish with a non-alcoholic drink usually costs between 30 and 80 soles per person. It’s a good option for enjoying quality ceviche or a generous serving of lomo saltado without paying fine-dining prices.
Best Tourist Areas for Dining: Miraflores and Barranco
For travelers spending only a short time in Lima, these two districts make dining easy. Miraflores, near the oceanfront promenade, has plenty of cevicherías and restaurants at different price points. Barranco is just south of Miraflores and has bars and restaurants with varied menus. Both neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot and become livelier at night.
Quick Tips for Eating Well on a Budget in Lima
Eat ceviche at lunchtime rather than at night. To save money, choose the daily menu. For street food, stick to licensed carts with plenty of customers. If you have a sensitive stomach, choose a busy, well-known cevichería. Some higher-end restaurants may add a 10% service charge, so check your bill before paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Peruvian dish should I try first?
Ceviche. If you have room for a second dish, try lomo saltado.
How much does it cost to eat in Lima?
Daily menu: 12 to 20 soles. Mid-range restaurant: 30 to 80 soles per person. A dish at a traditional restaurant: 15 to 50 soles. Anticuchos from a street cart: from 6 soles.
Where do locals eat?
At small local eateries and neighborhood restaurants that serve daily lunch menus. For street food, locals often choose busy carts with a steady line of customers.
