El Mono | Fresh Flavors of Peru

Food was very good and the portions are good. They have outdoor seating so our dog was happy to come with us. The staff was very friendly. Totally would be coming back here again. Oh they also have propane gas tanks at the outdoor seating area so you are comfortable while eating if it's cold outside 😊 Also lots of parking 🅿️

The website and menu are very impressive and beautifully done! With that said, the staff was friendly but the service wasn't great. The wait times were long for everything. We sat at the table for 15-20 minutes before we were even offered water, and that pretty much set the pace for the rest of the experience. Everything from water to take out containers and finally paying the check we had to flag down the staff to get help for. We got the calamari as an appetizer, and to be honest, it was overcooked and rubbery, and we barely ate it. My fiancé ordered the Saltado de Camarones, which he really liked and finished his plate. I ordered the Peruvian Paella. It was a beautiful presentation, and the flavors were good, but again, the seafood was overcooked and rubbery. My stomach was upset once i got home and for the rest of the night. Maybe this isn't the greatest place to order sea food from. This restaurant is newly opened, so they may just be trying to find their flow still. I really wanted to love this place.

I’m so proud to see how far El Mono has come along! The business owners are extremely caring and really makes sure all customers leave with a smile on their food with amazing delicious Peruvian food, as well as stellar customer service! The vibes inside is very cozy greeted with warm welcomes from the family owned business. You gotta check out this new location in Berkeley, it has a more modern feel to it. My favorite dishes were EVERYTHING: Papa a la huancaina, the Trio De Antojitos, Super Mariscos (Peruvian Paella), and their Mono Burger is by far the BEST burger I’ve ever had! Sooooooo juicy 😍

Unfortunately, my first visit to El Mono was very disappointing. The octopus was extremely tough and tasted like it had been frozen for a long time. The meat dish was also very chewy and lacked freshness, it felt like previously frozen or low-quality cuts. Even the salad was underwhelming, not fresh and honestly less enjoyable than something store bought. The water served had an oily layer on top, which made me uncomfortable drinking it. I left feeling slightly sick afterward and regret trying it. I don’t know how this place got such high ratings…this experience was far from it.

Got the trio de Mar and the lemon tasting spices they used were fresh and on point, tasted great. My lomo Saltado also tasted fresh and the spices/seasoning were in point. Decent portions on both and it was very tasty. Paella was also had a delicious tomato seasoning and was good with a generous amount.

Expensive and bland. Not worth the price for quality and location. 26 dlls for a tiny piece of octopus with a very generic BBQ-like sauce, come on. We also waited more than usual for somebody to take our order. Honestly, you are better off at other places in the Bay Area.

Mono is a beautiful restaurant in the industrial part of Gilman street … Close to the freeway. But they have decorated the inside very beautifully We ordered the chicken and string beans stirfry, Yucca fries, and a salad. The salad and the fries were excellent and fresh. The chicken was extremely overcooked… Hard… Dry. My partner usually settles for whatever the food is but even he only was able to choke down a few pieces. Because I had seen mixed reviews, I decided to help this place out and tell them the truth when they asked me how my meal was. Both my partner and gently, clearly and kindly said that the chicken was way overcooked… Too overcooked to eat…. S evidence by all the chicken leftover on our plate after bit of the rest of the meal have been consumed. He responded “thank you for telling me I really appreciate that“. The really odd part is that he never did anything about it. Did not even offer to replace the hard dry pieces of chicken still on our plate with moist and edible chicken. Instead, he said “we are a new restaurant. We are getting some things worked out.” we left hungry… Not understanding why he wouldn’t simply replace the dry chicken with some edible chicken. Oddly, as we walked out the door,, he said, see you again soon. (Why would he think we are going to come back When he didn’t even try to make the situation better?) Very odd

Just visited the new location of El Mono in Berkeley and I’m so glad they’re here! The space is cozy and welcoming, and the food is just as amazing as ever. I had the lomo saltado and a ceviche mixto—both packed with flavor and super fresh. The staff were friendly and attentive, and you can tell they care about creating a great experience. If you’re craving authentic Peruvian food, this spot is a must-try! Welcome to Berkeley, El Mono—I’ll definitely be back soon!

We had excellent service from Desiree. She was so kind and patient with all our different needs (we had a big group with gluten free needs and kids). She was attentive and very friendly. The ambiance was fun for all different ages. The desserts were a huge success for our group too. :)

Todo estuvo delicioso. Nos atendieron Marleny y Cali y son muy amables y atentas. Recomendadísimo

Isabella was an amazing server! And the food delish! I couldn't have asked for a better Peruvian food getaway

What a wonderful new discovery. Authentic Peruvian food with a flare. Flavors that you have never tasted before and combinations with proteins that totally work. Not only was the food amazing but everyone we met. There was so nice. Christian was our server and Maisey saw to our needs as well. Located westbound on Gilman Avenue on fourth it's easy to find and they have plenty of parking. I like that they have a nice handicap slot right outside the front door and a wheelchair ramp next to it. I thought that was very forward thinking. I noticed as we approach the front door. They had a nice seating area outside with heaters that were set up and ready to go for customers. Sometimes it gets windy and cool there but you're protected and you get a little heater with it. Once through the front door is walking and I noticed that the place smelled wonderful and Was very clean and organized. With the hard floors and the high ceiling, it can get a bit noisy in there, but that's to be expected with the architectural design. We were immediately seated and our servers and were absolutely wonderful. The three of us shared our specific meals with each other. My daughter had the Salado de Pollo and my wife had the Lomo Saltado. I found these very unique in the sense that they had basically the same spices but they let the flavors of the meat change the overall flavor of the sauce. How brilliant is that? I had the Cerviche which was one of the most excellent and balanced I have had in a long time. Everything and it was cooked perfect perfection, and just the right tenderness and flavor to it without being overpowered by the lime. For dessert we shared the Peruvian Affogato. Surprisingly it's an ice cream in a cup with espresso coffee put over it. What a nice way to finish the meal. My daughter also had the Miri Miri which is a sweet beverage and impaired perfectly with her entrée. It was delicious. Is this a place I would return to for a food experience? Absolutely each of us enjoyed it completely and would certainly return. I have to say it was a truly unique experience. I knew nothing about Peruvian food. I was surprised that I want to explore it again.

I have always loved the food at el mono and I was super excited they opened this new location. The interior is beautiful and it felt more spacious. I also loved how spacious the parking lot is considering that I drive an SUV and parking was always tight for me at the el cerrito location. I just don't know if the slow dining/slow service works for me. I was greeted immediately and was told to sit wherever I liked. After about 5 minutes, we still weren't given any menus so I had to get up and ask for one myself and I was asked "how many do you need" lol as if they didn't remember me walking in or something. It took another 10-15 minutes before someone came to take my order. And as I sat there waiting for my food, I saw them bringing menus, waters, and nuts immediately to other tables so idk why we were the odd ones out. I did have to ask for water 2 times before someone brought it. But don't get me wrong, the staff here are super friendly and as I mentioned, I love the food here, it taste amazing. It's just the slow service that doesn't work well with me and will most likely do takeout in the future versus dine in. It was my boyfriend's first time getting Peruvian food and I recommended the lomo saltado to him and I got the aji de gallina. The steak was a little bit dry but the sauce/seasoning made up for it. Loved the aji de gallina as always. We also got a Shirley temple and the passion fruit juice. Our total came out to be $70 not including tip.

the food was very good! for weekday lunch, it comes with salad or soup and the suggested menu is definitely worth a try. staff was also very polite and friendly. manuel was very helpful with the menu. also the decor indoor and also the patio outdoor is well done in theme. looks very well put together. i would recommend this place for anyone who wants to try peruvian food!

I was in the Neighborhood visiting my Friend Dave , He is a Professional Mixologist friend of mine!!! I was Famished when I left his home. So I stopped by El Mono a Peruvian Restaurant!!! I rolled in and was Greeted and Seated!! My very Beautiful Server asked for my Food Order!!! I Ordered Calamar Frito for my Appetizer!!! For my Main Dish I Ordered Peruvian Paella !!! I was brought Roasted Corn Nuts to Start With. Seriously Service is Top Notch!! I was Checked on quite Frequently!!! When I Finished My Calamari Appetizer the Plate Was Cleared within Seconds!!! The Ambiance is really Nice and Clean !!! My Peruvian Paella arrived next on a Flaming Hot Cast Iron platter!!! It was a Delicious and Generous sized Platter!!! For dessert I ordered a Strawberry Flan !!! It Arrived very quickly!!! It was a Nice sized Piece and Each Spoonful was Heaven On Earth !!! Service was Fast and Efficient!!! I paid by Credit Card and Rolled Out!!!? For all These Reasons This Is A Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong !!!

July 19. 2025 1:30 pm 2.9 stars. A conscientious server saved the day. A wise diner once said "If you're craving something in particular, don't go to some place that you've never been to before." Wiser words than this have never been uttered. After reading some misleadingly good Yelp reviews and ignoring a few bad ones, we were off for the first time to El Mono. I planned to share my wife's dreamed about rotisserie chicken with her and a fried calamari plate. At the last minute my son joined us and had an Angus burger and Yucca fries. We dined family style. When we arrived, we decided to sit outside to avoid the din of diners chatting over slightly too loud mood music. The setting outside felt a bit like a parking lot covered with a roof though. Some dying plants, a bit of litter about. Cold breeze and traffic noise blowing through. It definitely does not feel like a "dining out experience". We chose to take our chances with the indoor din. Inside, Mono is very cheerful. The bright wooden tables all look inviting. The staff moving around with their hello's and smiles. A charming server, Bella, with her smile and a warm welcome, brings us home made corn nuts to snack on. We place our order and within 20 minutes we are snacking on a suprisingly large, tasty plate of calamari and enjoying, for our first time, yucca. We snack about 15 more minutes and our half chicken with rice and salad is here. The salad is covered with onions. I'm allergic and will skip that. The chicken looks pretty interesting. I wonder what makes rotisserie chicken that color? And then all dining Hell, at first slowly, and then like hurricane, breaks loose. As my wife is wrestling to cut the both of us portions of chicken, I see my son's burger coming towards us and I notify him. Wait. What? I'm wrong? The server (not Bella) turns left with a burger and heads to another table. That table rejects it and the server takes it back to the kitchen. She has a discussion and 15 seconds later, here she comes with that burger again and she gives it to my son. The Angus burger looks like a masterpiece. Two huge meat patties. Veggies and melted cheese. They even threw a fried egg and I think fried plantain in there. Some new customers with a dog arrive and sit at the next table. Is this damn place Dog Friendly? My wife is afraid of "those filthy biters" . The puppy is on a leash at least. Good. The woman let's the leash out. The dog comes towards my wife and I had to yelp at the mother of the fur baby to pull her child in. Bad. Now my wife has conquered that chicken and I take a bite of the drumstick. It tastes like S**T. Too much SALT. I'm not talking KFC or Popeye's chicken salty. I'm talking almost salt it up so it will stay preserved without refrigeration salty. Now my wife loves to put salt on everything. She thinks soy sauce is an every day spice and even she says it's too salty and won't eat it. Ok. I'll skip the chicken and eat the rice and some of my son's beef that he pulled out of the thick burger. I chew the beef. What?! It's way too Salty. My son says it is the saltiest burger he has had in his lifetime. I decide to eat the rice. Take a bite and it tastes ok. How can plain white rice be salty right? I take another bite and strike three on the food. It is not salty but there is some very unpleasant (to me) sauce under and soaking into the rice. Our party is finished eating and the three of us are chatting. I'm feeling a little annoyed but I dont want to take it out on Bella. She seems to be the best thing about this place. I excused myself to use the one restroom. It is a "choose your own sex" restroom. Darn. Its occupied. I walk back toward my table and see a female employee exit the restroom. I go in. The restroom floor is littered with many formally good but now waisted eighth inch thick piles of seat liners. I look at the toilet and Crap! Some woman has hovered over the seat leaving -well you know. I dont know if that exiting employee was the culprit but she sure as hell should have remedied the situation. I hunt Bella down and in a calm shaking voice explain about the chicken, the burger, and that hoverer. Bella springs into action and takes care of everything. Her employer should have several more like her. First she gave heartfelt apologies for shoddy work that wasn't her fault. Next, she quickly assembled a team to clean up after the hoverer. Then she comps the two s**ty dishes even though I told her earlier I wasn't after that, and brings us two delicious complementary deserts. Flan and some fancy ice cream. Lastly, she also smartly gave each of us a ticket for a free appetizer on our next visit. We gave all tickets to our son. It is highly unlikely I will be back with my family but my son might go with his friends. On our way out, in come more customers with another canine fur baby.

Wasnt very impressed with the food, I ordered the Pollo con Arroz and the chicken was very dry. The waiter didnt seem to know much of the menu and couldnt give many recommendation. Good location but thats about it.

Hubby and I came on an early weeknight to try El Mono at their Berkeley location. It's located on the tail end of 4th street with plenty of parking and outdoor patio seating. It seemed like you needed a reservation to sit in the main dining area, but we got a table immediately despite just walking in. We ordered a sampler for the appetizer, with my husband getting the steak for his main. I got the individual sized paella, which was packed full of seafood and had enough food for two. The rice was slightly overcooked but the flavor was on point. I'd love to come back again to try the other menu items!

One of my friends and I have eaten at the El Cerrito location and since it was her birthday, we decided to try the Berkeley location which is located on 4th and Gilman. There is a free parking lot right next to the restaurant so very convenient! The restaurant has only been open for 3 months according to our attentive server, Christian! It is very clean and comfortable inside. I made open table reservations and the 3 of us sat near the window. We ordered a variety of dishes, and we started off with drinks, 2 of us had Miti Miti, which was delish and made of Chicha (organic Inco purple Corn Drink with a hint of cinnamon and Maracuya which was delish and one of us had the Maracuya which is organic Passion Fruit. One friend had the ceviche and Papa a la Huancaina, the birthday girl ordered the lunch special with salad Aji de Gallina, and I had the lunch special with salad Pescado Frito, fried bass which was lightly battered and very tasty. I almost forgot to take a photo of it as it was so delish. For dessert, Christian brought over a complimentary dish of Lucuma Ice Cream which tasted like coffee with maple syrup, so yummy! Delicious food, clean and attentive service, free parking, you can't ask for more.

I remember rolling up to their original location right after we moved to the east bay. It was a great experience for us in this strange and wonderful new town. I love this place and the family vibes - I may still be partial to their first spot, but am happy they're growing. BB

My best friend and I got together for my early birthday celebration. We'd dined at El Mono in the past and enjoyed having exposure to Peruvian food. So we thought, why not try their new location? We both preferred this one for many reasons! My best friend and I arrived at the opening on a weekday. We were one of a few customers but over time more folks came in. The layout of the restaurant is quite spacious and well-lit. There's a bar at the front and ample tables for all parties. Plus a nice outdoor patio. Service was fine. You look at the menu through the QR code but a worker will take your order. From there, your food will be brought out to you but you won't have many interactions or be checked on. My only note was my napkin provided was dirty and there was a plant in my water glass. Since we came in the afternoon, we both got the Lunch Special. I opted for the Aguadito Soup as my side and Tallarin de Camarones. My soup was wonderful and soothing, with lots of tender pieces of chicken and a perfect cilantro ratio. My pasta I also enjoyed. Decent amount of shrimp but a unique sauce--savory yet sweet! My best friend enjoyed her meal as well. For those who like Peruvian food, El Mono is worth a visit. I like this location more off Fourth Street and Gilman Ave. for space and free parking in their lot compared to their spot in El Cerrito.

Food was great. We came with our 7 month old, and they brought out a high chair and there were many options on the menu we could share with the baby. Service was excellent too. The whole space is light and bright and we'll be back with the whole family soon.

Service - went on a Friday night without a reservation and got seated at the bar, which is fair. Sat for 20 min and nobody came to take our order. After the order we placed, waited another 30 min for the food to come out. Food - probably the worst peruvian food I've had. The lomo saltado was dry and most of the pieces were burnt, flavoring was off too. We were very disappointed!

Brunch time at El Mono was interesting to say the least. My girlfriend and J were the youngest people in the restaurant by at least 30 years which isn't an issue but for a hip spot it just wasn't expected lol. The side door of the restaurant remained open for the entire time which made it almost unbearable to sit and eat while freezing cold lol I literally had goosebumps. The food however was pretty good. I'd give it a 6.5-7 out of 10. I feel like because the door was open it cooled my food down so it wasn't piping hot. The inca kola was GAAASSSSS

Hmmmm I love Peruvian food. I spent a few months in Peru after the earthquake in 2008 and really fell in love with the food and the kind people. I really want to love this place but the chicken, which is signature, was over salted, over seasoned, and overcooked. Salad was undressed Rice was great though!! The rice was great lol. The servers were nowhere to be found and you have to order from qr which is so stupid. Just give me a menu. The seafood with aji sauce, Antonio's Special was quite good though. The fried yuca was cold and hard. The aji sauce could have been spicier. The beans had no flavor and weren't even peruviano beans. But the seafood was great do it was redeeming for the terrible chicken. Anyway they are new hopefully they work out the kinks. As dry chicken is Sadface They did comp half of the chicken as we ate half so there's that Good luck!! Do better.

Desire is SO SWEET. Both servers on shift were very attentive. I usually go to the original location but this one is so much more convenient! And the food is JUST AS GOOD. I always have to get the Trio De Mar whenever I come. Get the Miti Miti for something refreshing! Love the very minimalist style of this location and how bright/inviting it looks. We were lucky to come in on a day where it wasn't packed (heard from Desire that it usually gets so busy). Also the parking lot? MAJOR PLUS.

Every dish is full of flavors. There's plenty of parking. Our family of four ordered two tapas and a paella with whole fish. The three servers took real good care of us. It's on our list to return.

Friendly environment! Desiree served us with a smile and provided good service! We tried the lomo saltado, yuca frita, arroz chaufa! Everything was tasty and of good quality!! Will come back!

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary yesterday and honestly had a perfect meal at El Mono. Every aspect was superb: the decor, attentiveness of management (Matt rocks!), ease of ordering, and of course, superb food with authentic ingredients. We experienced an array of new foods including lucuma fruit; rocoto peppers; and Peruvian Chinese flavors. There's something for everyone on this menu (including vegetarians). Don't skip out on the bright Miti Miti nonalcoholic drink and their version of affogato!

This is the second "El Mono" I've been to, and it's as good- if not better- than the original. Beautiful setting, fast but never rushed service by true " consœurs "  of the Peruvian cousine, including the owner, who's there most of the time. Regarding the food, the ceviche was magnificent, and the lomo with tallarines verdes almost made me lick the plate. And I almost forgot the "yucas with salsa" appetizer, so yummy! Extra points for the ample parking lot and the cozy terraza. This may become my new favorite restaurant in Gilman.

Food was really good and the service was ni me and kind. Christian was our server and all the time he was making sure we were good. I'm half they opened another location now closer to me :)

OMG this restaurant is just what 4th street needed!!! I can't wait to go back to get the full dining experience. I came today during the closing period 5 mins before 3pm. Thankfully I allowed to order food to go

Excellent food and customer service! Christian did a great job! Thank you!! For the main course, the lomo saltado was a standout. The beef was tender, the wok-fried vegetables were crisp, and the soy-based sauce had just the right amount of umami. Served over fluffy white rice with crispy fries, it was comfort food with flair. Ceviche was delicious!!

Amazing! I haven't had much Peruvian food before but everything was incredible. The Plantains, Chicken Soup, everything was so jam-packed with flavor. Also you have to try the purple corn drink (get a carafe!). The owner was extremely nice. I highly recommend everyone at least give them one shot. It's really one of those rare unique gems in such an underutilized and underrepresented cuisine that everyone should experience it.

Got the trio de Mar and the lemon tasting spices they used were fresh and on point, tasted great. My lomo Saltado also tasted fresh and the spices/seasoning were in point. Decent portions on both and it was very tasty. Paella was also had a delicious tomato seasoning and was good with a generous amount.

Christian, our server was great and the food was fantastic. This new restaurant, is a branch from the original in El Cerrito, and tucked in a quiet corner of West Berkeley. Its music lively, but not drowning, and it's 3 sided interior let's in a lot of natural lighting. The food was great and the portions were a good size, especially for the bay area. The steaks were very tender, chimmichurri fragrant, and lots of very fresh seafood. The trio de mar is a great choice to sample 3 of the Peruvian seafood appetizers. Definitely try their alfajores and lucuma ice cream dessert. That's a must get to finish the meal, with hints of maple, caramel, creamy, and decadent-lusciousness of a rich egg-yolk.

Wow, I was impressed! The menu is almost overwhelming, with just two of us we tried two combinations and both were great! The trio del Mar had excellent crispy fried calamari, ceviche and another chilled fish in an addictive aji amarillo sauce. Then we tried the antichuchos: grilled skewers (we chose shrimp and chicken) that were cooked perfectly and really tasty. I'll definitely be back to try the dozen more dishes that all sound pretty good!

What an experience! Authentic, delicious, Peruvian cuisine executed perfectly and with lovely wait staff. Desiree was a delight! We went from my birthday and I cannot stop raving about this place. Yes, we are Peruvian, the menu is extensive and prepared exceptionally. 5 stars! Please consider dropping by. This is an excellent location right on 4th Street and there is plenty of parking. Highly recommend.

Right from my first visit (and now my second!), I've been so impressed by this place. The workers are extremely friendly, attentive, and welcoming, which really adds to the experience. And the food? Everything I've tried is delicious and makes me feel so nourished, like a warm hug. My absolute favorite is the shrimp creamy soup with poached egg and rice. It's a huge portion, so I always have some to take home. Now that I've gotten my fix of this incredible shrimp dish, I can't wait to try their lunch specials next!

Great food! Lomo saltado or ceviche is a must try! Service was friendly and attentive. Well lit and comfy seating. Pretty outside seating area too. They have their own parking lot which is convenient. The flan is delicious and also the caramel ice cream is to die for! Will definitely come back. Been there a few times and it's consistently good!

Service was incredible. It was such a refreshing experience to dine with a waitress like Desiree who was so kind and generous in recommending items for us, being patient while we decided, and even offering to take a pic of our group. Super cute establishment and the food was yummy

The setting is nice, clean and modern with outdoor seating available. The staff was very friendly. Since we have been to their other location more than a few times, we were looking forward to the paella. Sadly, we were disappointed. At the other location the paella would be served on a sizzling hot serving dish and the rice would crisp up nicely as mentioned in the menu description. Here, the iron serving dish was not hot and the rice didn't have the lovely crispy bottom. We ordered the family size of the paella and there were four medium size shrimp. Maybe 6 mussels and about the same number of clams. The pieces of squid were tiny but to be fair there was more of that than the other seafood. I expect paella to be rice forward but this had a LOT of rice. In addition, we didn't get a serving spoon with the dish. I know they are working out the kinks of a new place so we will be back at some point.

Spectacular food and amazing customer service. I will definitely frequent them again soon!

Came here to try and it was amazing! Servers were very pleasant and checked up on us several times. Food was really good as well as ambiance. Loved the music they were playing. Our favorite dish had to be Seco de Res. Me and my friends all took turns eating it because it was really good. The meat was very tender and the sauce was cooked perfectly. Also really recommend the Maracuya drink!

This place is yummy with a unique (and expansive) menu. Seafood galore but also many beef and veggie/vegan options. I wasn't sure seeing combinations that are not together "normally" like soy sauce in Latin food. One dish even recognizes a Chinese influence. Ceviche appetizer was on top of a chicken/potatoes base w onions and a tangy lime marinade. Entrees include perfectly cooked shrimp/ fish dish and a stir fry like veggie meal. We substituted quinoa for rice. All very tasty. Highly recommend what I would call a Peruvian Arnol Palmer. Combo of a corn drink and passion fruit beverage. So yummy. I ate all of the complimentary corn nuts.

Excellent Peruvian flavors- We order Ceviche and Anticuchos- The anticuchos didn't have the regular sauce the chimichurri was very good.

Was pleasantly surprised to hear that they now have a second location! Went there with family, the new spot in Berkeley is beautiful with a nice modern look & a parking lot. Service was very friendly and the food came out quickly. Sometimes when restaurants open multiple locations the food can lack consistency but I had my all time favorite Aji De Gallina, a delicious Peruvian chicken stew & it tasted the same as it always does! My only suggestion is that they need some blinds or something for that evening sun. Otherwise check them out!

The service, food and overall ambiance was great. we tried the aguadito, yuca fries, and tallarín de carne. The aguadito was flavorful! The yuca fries were on point and the tallarín de carne was the hit. Can't wait for their liquor license to enjoy some pisco sours.

Admittedly, I have not been exposed to a lot of Peruvian food in my life, but what I always get (and what mom cooked at home when I was a kid) is Lomo Saltado so I am fairly particular when it comes to that dish. I must say, this is one of the finest examples of Lomo that I've had. The beef was tender and flavorful, the onions and the tomatoes were well prepared. The wonderful vinegar and soy sauce mix that is emblematic of good Lomo was present while not being overwhelming. The beef:vegetable ratio was sound and I feel like I got my money's worth. I also had the garlic jasmine rice which was a wonderful accompaniment to the Lomo and absorbed the flavors of the sauce. Just the right level of saltiness to blend with the aforementioned sauce. I also had a couple French fries, admittedly this is a take out order and so I am managing my expectations but if I may make a criticism, they could use more seasoning. Overall, a delightful meal that I look forward to having again.

I love the food and the service. A Latina lady on the thicker side was our server and she was so kind to me as a person. I forget her name but I remember it was a "black girl name". Anyway. Love her and the food. The chefs special was truly that. Special!

Service was very attentive with percision & care, food in general was very tasty and refreshing, my favorite happened to be the paella!

I was excited to find out that El Mono was opening a new location in Berkeley. The flavorful food as well as the excellent service definitely carried over. I can tell the cooks love their craft, and that the wait staff is really attentive. Our waiter, Desiree, really showed us what great hospitality in the food industry looks like. She checked in on us often, was always happy to be there, and made sure we were taken care of the whole time. They have indoor as well as out door seating. It's a very clean warm atmosphere, which I loved. I had chicken and shrimp anticuchos and loved how well seasoned they both were. The chicken was grilled to perfection. It tasted really good and was also very tender. I definitely need to come back to try some other dishes and desserts I was eyeing.

We always loved the food and experience in the El Cerrito location; when they opened this Berkeley location, we are very excited. As always, the food are delicious, our waiter, Desiree was very attentive and sweet. Definitely will be back!

This place is beautiful!! The food is always amazing. We got the poor man steak (cooked perfection), chipe de camarones, and arroz topado. Never disappoints. For drinks we had the miti miti, DIET INKA KOLA (so hard to find and im so happy they have it here) and light chicha. It complimented our dishes. Service, as usual was warm and friendly! Making a reservation is always recommended.

Best Yucca fries out here , makes Limons even worse. Can't wait for those Maracuya sours ! Came on a weekend and sat by the window, really cute decor, and price not that bad for Peruvian food. Love that they made one closer to me now since the other one is in el cerrito,will be back def to get more goodies!

Amazing food. Been to the other location on San Pablo st. Both are great and amazing. Cant find another peruvian in the area

Absolutely loved everything we tried -- the anticuchos, yuca fries, and that paella were packed with flavor! The staff was so kind, the place feels super cozy, and they even have a cute patio to enjoy your meal outside. Can't wait to come back!