"There’s a lot to like about Las Brasas in Decatur. It’s already a stand out as one of the few places in Atlanta serving Peruvian dishes. Add to that: the food is stellar, no entree is more than $25, and you can snag a hard-to-find Cusquena golden lager. Their gigantic outdoor patio is best when the sun is out. But when it’s hiding, the burnt sienna dining room works just fine as a backdrop. When excellent dishes like rich lomo saltado, olive-heavy solterito, and a whole rotisserie chicken hit your table, you’ll stop questioning the giant painting of a kraken on the wall. Food Rundown Lamb Empanadas Normally we like our empanada crust to be a little thinner. But this thick version works well since it’s hefty enough to support a giant portion of savory ground lamb inside. Calamari & Shrimp Frito The lightly fried pieces of shrimp and calamari are quite good on their own. But the chimichurri sauce, which could make cardboard taste amazing, make this a must-order dish. Solterito Lima beans and choclo are dusted with parmesan cheese. The kalamata olives give it a briny taste that we dig. Whole Chicken Even if we’re alone, we’ll always upgrade from a half to a whole bird, so we can have this delicious spicy, huacatay-sauced chicken for leftovers. Though it can come fried, we also opt for rotisserie-style because it reheats better. Arroz Chaufa Las Brasas is our fried rice destination in Decatur. Go with the vegetable option packed with mushrooms galore, and order extra of the yellow yum yum-like sauce that adds a little heat. Lomo Saltado Aside from one or two spots (like Tio Lucho’s in Poncey-Highland), you have to go OTP to find lomo saltado, so this is already an anomaly. Scarcity aside, this is one of our favorites—the right amount of salt, huge slices of tomato, and four different protein options (the beef is our favorite)." - Juli Horsford
