El Mono | Fresh Flavors of Peru

Wanted to have lunch at this location with my best friends for my birthday. It’s been numerous years since I have been here. They have moved from their old location. Their food have not changed and their services is still the same. We ordered: Lomo saltado, Aji de gallons , their paella and a filet fish. Everything was delicious as usual and we had leftovers. Their portions are still big in comparison to other locations. We definitely will be back.

I had an unforgettable experience at El Mono Restaurant in El Cerrito, CA (located at 11720 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530), where we celebrated my niece’s 6th birthday. The vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere was perfect for the occasion, and Marlen, the owner, made us feel so welcome with her warm hospitality and passion for Peruvian cuisine. Our server, Tuty, was absolutely phenomenal! She was attentive, cheerful, and ensured every detail was perfect for my niece’s special day. Tuty’s recommendations were spot-on, and her energy added to the festive vibe. The food was outstanding, bursting with authentic Peruvian flavors. My niece, who adores their pesto pasta, was over the moon with her favorite dish—perfectly creamy and packed with flavor. The Lomo Saltado was tender and savory, while the Saltado de Camarones was a delightful mix of succulent shrimp and bold seasonings. The tostones were crispy, golden, and the perfect complement to our meal. Marlen’s commitment to fresh, healthy ingredients shone through in every dish, and Tuty’s exceptional service made the evening seamless and joyful. El Mono is a true Bay Area gem, and this birthday dinner was a hit! We’ll definitely be back for more of their delicious Peruvian dishes and warm, family-oriented vibe. Highly recommend!

I had a wonderful experience at El Mono restaurant in El Cerrito, and I want to especially highlight the way the staff handled an unexpected incident. During our visit, a situation arose involving an individual who was not a customer. It could have easily disrupted the atmosphere, but the staff remained calm, composed, and extremely professional throughout the entire situation. They discreetly managed the issue without making guests feel uncomfortable or drawing unnecessary attention. It was clear that they were well-trained and prioritized the comfort and safety of everyone in the restaurant. Aside from that, the food was delicious, the service was attentive, and the ambiance was welcoming. It’s not just a great place to eat—it’s a place where you can truly relax knowing you’re in good hands. Highly recommend!

Let me start off by saying that this lovely restaurant never disappoints. I’ve been coming here since their old location and they have also watched my little family grow. Now that my middle child is 1 year old he was able to eat the food on his own and let’s just say he was way more hungry than I thought lol. All the staff always greets me with a smile and always makes sure to acknowledge my little ones. I will continue to come here and recommend them to many more to come.

Food & drinks were great- good ingredients, very flavorful, well plated. Gem in the area. Good date environment. Do yourself a favor & get the fried plantains!! First time here & will definitely be back to try more dishes.

We brought some out of town friends to El Mono for dinner and had a wonderful meal for a reasonable price. Will definitely be back! We are COVID conscious and were going to sit outside, but it wasn't very crowded and we could sit with a door open and ate inside - the owner/waitress was very sweet about it and now I want to go to Peru.

Food was amazing! Staff were warm and friendly and the service was quick. The restaurant is clean and the ambiance gives the comfort of family and authentic culture. The portions were large and literally everything was tasty. We can’t wait to come back with friends. This a gem and it’ll become a staple for our family.

I’ve always loved the food here, and this latest experience is no different. The drinks were delicious (el capitan was strong and perfectly balanced). The happy hour menu was great preview for the meal. Then for our meal we had the seafood stew with the whole fish and the seafood paella. Both had delicious flavors. Plus I absolutely love the spicy sauce and the green sauce they bring to the table. I finished half the bottle.

We came here on a whim and ... OMG. It was delicious! We had the seafood ceviche and platano frito for apps. Both were so good; I especially liked the sauce that went with the plantains. We had the lomo saltado and Antonio's Pescado al Achiote for main dishes. Both were fantastic. I especially liked the sauce for the Antonio's Pescado al Achiote; I could eat that with the rice (tasted like Hainan Chicken rice!) for days! We're here now and listening to live music. It's wonderful. And service was good; waiters were nice and kept on top of things. A definite must come!

I always order the tapado and it's a banger everytime. The paella could be better. Dad likes the lomo saltado, but probably because it's the closest dish that tastes chinesy.

Today Val and I had lunch here. Our server brought us iPad-like menus so we didn't have to deal w/ the QR codes. Val and I both love calamari, especially the tentacles, so we ordered some to share. They have lunch specials w/ a variety of mains, a choice of rice or fries, choice of salad or soup and a drink. I chose a quarter of a chicken, dark meat, w/ rice and salad and a chicha morada purple corn drink. Val chose fried fish as her main, along w/ rice and salad and the same drink. The salads were brought first. I ended up eating calamari and salad for lunch, and drinking the drink. I took the chicken and rice to go and will have it for dinner tonight. I squeezed some of the green sauce on the rice. Val seemed happy w/ her meal. We both enjoyed the calamari. Portions were generous and the food was flavorful. The restaurant was reasonably crowded, so they seem to be doing well.

Service was really good! Everything on the menu looked amazing, so it was hard to choose. I always love paellas so I definitely needed to try it. The individual plate was ALOT and came with plenty of seafood. The flavor was good! The causa for appetizer was a great starter for us. The chicken was perfectly flavored and the potato was very soft and creamy. Will definitely return to try other things on the menu !

It was a bit of a reach coming to El Mono but with these many reviews, we really made the effort to taste the fresh flavors of Peru. Located at San Pablo Ave. just off the Cutting Blvd. exit on I-80, we were able to get a parking spot in the private lot that is shared with other businesses. We came for an early dinner so we were able to be seated promptly. The place was spacious with plenty of tables and bar seating to boot. Frito Sampler (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Uq3u_kbGVGLjEDVU45WLog?select=pmO6Dmjr6mkhAPAel7CmTg) - These are fried starchy goodness - sweet potato fries, cassava, and plantain! The creamy cheese sauce was also superb. Lomo Saltado (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Uq3u_kbGVGLjEDVU45WLog?select=GMwqYAfuAjfUnFOEqW_2yg) - The classic Peruvian beef recipe! Taking it up a few notches, they use Certified Angus Beef here. The meat was perfectly stir-fried with the rest of the ingredients and was very tender. Best Chifa dish ever! Chupe de Camarones (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Uq3u_kbGVGLjEDVU45WLog?select=lkF4fQRmzxHI-JRynBt33Q) - Creamy red chowder with succulent shrimps... If it's not creamy enough, how about we add a poached egg on top of the rice? It was our first time having this and it did not disappoint at all. Jalea (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Uq3u_kbGVGLjEDVU45WLog?select=LqDqUDgKe1pInXK1k-gOHA) - Fried... check! Seafood... check! This was an easy choice and an excellent one at that! Shrimps, mussels, clams, fish, calamari, and some more yucca for the win - they were lightly battered, well-seasoned, and came with pickled red onions and a dipping sauce. Peruvian Paella (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Uq3u_kbGVGLjEDVU45WLog?select=HVv63_petUFL7vrPqrkNYQ) - Also known as Arroz con Mariscos, this had seafood for days - squid, clams, mussels, and shrimps! Visually, the main difference between its Spanish counterpart was the rice - this had long-grain jasmine rice instead of bomba. Served on a sizzling platter, we let the bottom part sit for a bit so we could get the socarrat to form. This was cooked with housemade aji panca chili sauce and their special white wine which gave the distinctive flavor. Rice was precooked before everything else was added because we spotted some lumps of white rice that did not get mixed well. Despite this flaw, it still came out tasty. We just had to break down the clusters and mix it some more. There were plenty of interesting items on the menu so we really need to make another concerted effort to visit. We had a fantastic time back then so the next one needs to happen really soon. It's so long overdue that my photos got taken out in my review draft... another one sitting around that I have forgotten to post. =( We usually get the rotisserie chicken when we go to a Peruvian restaurant, but we had to pass because other options were available. We have to try it next time along with one of their noodle selections.

This is my first time here and I have had only limited experience eating Peruvian food. The parking lot is small but we were able to find the restaurant with GPS. It is located on San Pablo Avenue, in El Cerrito, right after Knott Avenue, located in the Del Norte Norte Plaza, across from the Honda Dealership. There is outdoor dining but my friend and I decided to eat inside. I made Yelp reservations for 12:30 pm on a Saturday afternoon but there was no problem as it wasn't crowded at the time. We sat in cozy booth near the door after Mayra guided us to the table. After several minutes, we were wondering where the menus were and then noticed that there was a QR code on the table to look at the menu. But then we were wondering if we had to order online but when I started looking at the menu, it was for ordering take out or delivery. So we went up to the counter and asked and Mayra said she would take our order. It was our first time here, so we had no idea whether anyone was going to take our order as 1) no menus were given, 2) no one came to ask us if we were ready to order. I checked in and got a free Chicha drink and it was very tasty! The menu says organic made from scratch, Inca Purple Corn Drink with a hint of cinnamon - believed to have healing powers and super rich in Antioxidants! It was very refreshing! My friend ordered a coffee and we also order Fried Calamari or Calamar Frito and it was a very big and delicious portion! For entrees, my friend and I had basically the same kind of meal except hers had noodles and mine had rice and potatoes. I had the Saltado de Pollo, and she had the Tallarin de Pollo. Both were hearty portions and tasty and we had to take home the leftovers! Great company, good food and service needed to be more attentive.

Tried the Peruvian corn nuts and homemade sauce extremely amazing. The chica sample was yummmy tastes a bit like hibiscus and cinnamon. Also love the ambiance. Looks so pretty inside a lot of Peruvian artwork. I love the color of the interior of the restaurant. Food was DELICIOUS! the food was so fresh. Loved everything we ordered.

Great service and ambiance with wonderful food. Owner says it's her grandma s recipe.

Food was amazing! Staff were warm and friendly and the service was quick. The restaurant is clean and the ambiance gives the comfort of family and authentic culture. The portions were large and literally everything was tasty. We can't wait to come back with friends. This a gem and it'll become a staple for our family.

Another GREAT experience at El Mono! Great ambience, layout, staff and most of all delicious food! Tonight, I needed to make a minor change with my takeout order and the staff and management was fantastic in accommodating the change. As a previous manager in the hospitality industry, you might say I have a higher expectation with customer service and satisfaction! Tonight's experience and every other experience with El Mono was and has been 5-Star! Thank you all!

Excellent food and service. Ceviche and Saltado de Pollo were delicious. Ambiance was nice as well.

Brief Summary: - Beautiful dishes - Menu is viewed by a QR code - Food portions; appears light but it is hefty - Indoor and outdoor seating available - I had their coffee, the coffee is not sour We entered soon after they opened around lunch time. We requested to eat inside, so the staff guided us to one of the cool corner booths. On the wall beside us there is a really cute tapestry of an alpaca or llama that also appear to be created by the alpaca fur? I held my temptation to touch it for there was also a sign beside it to keep hands off. I respected that warning memo and focused on the order. There are QR codes placed on each table, so I got out my phone and viewed it. I love how each menu name contains a photo image, so we can match what we had in mind. The one we decided to eat were the lomo saltado and the Tapado a lo Pobre. The staff came by and took our order. Minutes afterwards they served us a small bowl of what reminded me of corn nuts, but better. The kernels were airy and crispy and it also wasn't jaw breaking hard. This was a good snack to eat while waiting, although the dishes arrived after only taking about 10 or so kernel pieces. Both dishes arrived at the same time and there was a moment of me taking photos because both were placed very nicely. I loved the rice plate formed into a pyramid, a very cute and impactful presentation. The lomo saltado tastes how I envisioned it to taste like. I love how the potatoes were cut like fries so it was easy to eat with the beef and vegetables cut in the same style. The sauce seasoning was just right; and I also think the rice to the protein ratio was even, so one portion was not leftover. It was my first time to try the Tapado a lo Pobre, and genuinely ordered this one for how beautiful it looked. It was like a savory tiramisu with a blend of beef and olives sandwiched between two plateaus of rice. A sunny side up egg is placed on top. It also comes with a tin cup of what tasted like olive oil and an herb. Pouring this over the dish helped cut off the fat to our surprise. There were two pieces of platanes, in which I ate because I like them more than my relative. While the dish looks small, this one is a heftier dish. I would recommend sharing this another person because this can fill you up pretty quickly.

Best Peruvian food I've ever hard. I'm so impressed with the service and ambiance. The chica morada was so good!

Returned to this family favorite after a few years to celebrate a birthday. Parking was found easily in the strip mall, and on a Tuesday at 1, there weren't many customers. Started off with some pisco sours and the seafood trio.There was a remarkable lack of pisco in the sours, but the ceviche and jalea were good. The tiradito was ok. After we saw the paella come out of the kitchen, we decided to share that. The waiter asked if we wanted extra shrimp because we were sharing, and we declined. It was truly delicious with a special smokiness. There was plenty of shellfish to share and lots and lots of rice. After two people shared, there was still a third portion left on the plate to go home. Tip: the crispy bits on the bottom are divine. The reports on the Cobb were outstanding. The reports on the chicken were underwhelming. We asked for some rocoto to help with the taste profile. The portions are quite generous, almost as large as what you get in Lima.

Good was fantastic....service was very slow. Ambiance was decent. Def worth it for the food.

Lunch on a Saturday, full tables in our half of the restaurant. Ordered a pitcher of chicha morada, ceviche de pescado, lomo saltado, and jalea mixta. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. Menus are touchless with a QR code, but ran into issue with loading due to warning about reported phishing. Nice decor with Peruvian artesania and background Salsa music at a level allowing conversation.

I love paella, and I wanted to try the paella at El Mono which was highly reviewed at El Mono...so I thought I would try the Peruvian version of paella. Unfortunately, I found the paella to be very greasy and very light on protein as it was mostly rice (which didn't have much flavor). I enjoyed the ceviche and perhaps I would have enjoyed some of the classic Peruvian dishes. We went on Mother's Day without a reservation but used Yelp's Wait List to put ourselves on the wait list. Our wait was quite short - about 10 minutes - but service was very slow. It took quite a while for us to put in our order, and our food arrived quite slowly. Our meal took about two hours, and we only ordered appetizers and entrees (no dessert). They had live music playing which was nice theoretically, but it was so loud in the small space that it was hard to talk.

Lively vibes with live entertainment that can get a bit loud, which the staff do warn you about staying away from the right side of the restaurant if the noise will bother you. Chupe de Camarones $25 - this was a good choice for me. A tomato-based shrimp chowder over rice with a poached egg. 3.5/5 stars. Michelada - a bit spicy and very watered down Bloody Mary is how I would describe it. I would have liked a lot more tomato flavor. It was $15 and a big drink for 1 person.

Food was great! Perfect ambiance for dinner with live music. If you check in on yelp, they even give you a free chicha drink!

Dinner was amazing. Service is a little slow but well worth it. Both our food and drinks were super delicious and full of flavor. Place seems like a family owned business, and we are so happy we found this place. We were looking for a good Lomo Saltado and typically go to Limon. This place is far more traditional and full of flavor with a bigger portion. We will definitely be back!!!

Un lugar apacible y relajante donde disfrute de una muy buena sazón al estilo peruano. Todo en su punto y exquisito. Lo recomiendo a ojos cerrados

when here whit friends hoping and would be fun service was horrible. Lady that worked there asked as to not speak Spanish it's not our fault she is dumb and can't learn spanish. never goi g back also I saw a cockroach by the bathrooms how about the focus on cleaning the pase properly.

Love this place. Love the fried fish and Cameron's . Great family restaurant with friendly service. Definitely a regular place I eat in el Cerrito

El Mono is an authentic Peruvian restaurant. When I entered the vibes were amazing. The place is immaculate, with beautiful decor representing the culture of Peru. They had music playing and it just put me in a great mood! Our waitress was so friendly and the service was amazing. The drink menu is elite! So many options to choose from. I decided to try the Inti which was a perfect blend. It had a very tropical, refreshing taste. They also have happy hour on the weekdays from 5-7. The plantains we're the best I've ever had. I mean every bite was a taste of perfection. I've had similar dishes to the Saltado de Camarones but honestly El Mono has this dish on lock! The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the soy sauce was delicious. Great portion sizes as well. They're a bit pricey but Overall this place was an amazing experience! Major compliments to the chef, because the food is BANGIN! They also have a beautiful outdoor patio that would be perfect for a sunny date.

Fantastic Peruvian restaurant. I usually go for their lunch specials but would come here for dinner if I lived closer. Andres is a super attentive and nice employee and he is always so friendly, as are all the employees. The pollo saltado with the soup and passion fruit juice hit the spot today. Love this place. Their loyalty program is awesome too. Highly recommend if you like Peruvian food.

Since 2012, El Mono's founders, Matt, and Dani--have passionately pursued their mission to bring the flavors of Peru to the Bay Area. Recently relocated to 11720 San Pablo Ave, this family-owned and operated restaurant goes above and beyond, prioritizing healthy ingredients and delivering an unforgettable dining experience. Translating to "the Monkey" in Spanish, El Mono's logo is a playful interpretation of the Nazca geoglyph for the monkey that is prominently featured throughout the establishment along with Peruvian artwork and decor creating a warm and inviting environment. During a visit on a rainy evening, we discovered their lively live music nights on Fridays and Saturdays. The ambiance was vibrant, thanks to the talented cajon player Pedro Rosales from the Oakland-based band Proyecto Lando, whose fusion of traditional Afro-Peruvian genres such as Lando, Zamacueca, and Peruvian Waltz created a colorful and upbeat atmosphere! As always, we started with the ceviche. The Peruvian version is simple, made with lime juice, rocoto chili pepper, and spices with a side of sweet potatoes and toasted Andean corn. It's a much different experience because fish is meatier with a tangy and refreshing flavor. I have a few personal favorites at the restaurant. First, the Chupe de Camarones--a delicious shrimp chowder made with aji panca chili and topped with a perfectly poached egg. It's a creamy, savory delight, though I always struggle to finish a full serving. Then there's the Pesto N' Steak: a comforting dish of pasta coated in their homemade pesto sauce, accompanied by a succulent Certified Angus Beef New York steak and adorned with queso fresco. It's a simple yet exceptional family recipe that never fails to impress. During this last visit, we discovered the Seco de Cordeo, a stewed lamb shank dish that is fall-off-the-bone tender and infused with aromatic flavors. Accompanied by savory beans, and crowned with Creole onions it's a flavorful combination that leaves a lasting impression. The Pisco Sour, originating from Peru, is a distinctive cocktail. It combines Pisco, a white brandy crafted from muscat grapes, with lime juice, egg white, cinnamon, and bitters. This concoction brings forth floral and herbaceous notes that beautifully complement Peruvian cuisine. El Mono, with its full bar, serves up a tasty version, but it's worth peeking at its specialty drink menu before deciding. Among the enticing options, two pisco-based standouts are the Chicha, boasting a stunning purple hue, and the Marcuya, which celebrates the sweetness of passion fruit. Both are delightful choices for exploration. El Mono offers a fantastic happy hour, available all day on Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 5 PM to 7 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. As the team would say, especially as we all kick off a new year, "Cheers to Health!"

I made a reservation a week in advance for a Friday night via Open Table and on the day before, the restaurant emailed me saying they cancelled my reservation with no reason given. I guess you don't mind losing a customer. I took my hard earned cash to another establishment and probably won't be back. Humph! Update: Thanks for your reply. I checked and it was through Yelp, and not Open Table. I've attached the notice I received.

The Lomito Salad is extraordinarily delicious with the chicken and mushrooms added. So good savory and filling. I am definitely coming back for that and the specialty drink Miti Miti--very refreshing.

We just had dinner and ...what a treat!! I highly recommend the Paellas, Lomo Saltado, and Miti Miti (non alcoholic drink). Our meal was flavorful and delicious For appetizers, I suggest calamari and plantains. Make sure you have a big appetite when you come. Serving sizes are generous. Lastly, the service was really good. We'll be back

Amazing food. Courteous staff. Great dining experience. I've found no reasons to not return to the place again and again

The good- my pickup order was ready on time and was exactly what I ordered. The bad - My lomo Saltado was very disappointing. The meat was extremely tough and overcooked. I couldn't even enjoy it and ended up throwing it away. Luckily, I also ordered a half chicken. The chicken was moist and delicious. My miti miti was refreshing.

If I could eat here every single day, I'd be a very happy person. I ordered the causa, pollo saltado, arroz tapado, and maracuya. What worked: -- food was ~delicious~ -- the causa was light and tasty. If you like potatoes and if you like tuna salad, you'll like this -- the arroz tapado was so comforting! It tasted a little like pizza (which is a very high compliment) and it made me think of a cozy meal on a cold autumn day -- the pollo saltado was really flavourful and filling -- the maracuya was a great balance of sweet and tart! I didn't feel like either was overwhelming -- portions were really big! There was a lot leftover and it reheated very well What didn't work: -- I wasn't a huge fan of the egg on the arroz tapado. The whites were still runny which I'm not a fan of but that could easily just a matter of personal preference -- toward the end of our meal, the servers were definitely trying to get us to wrap up as we were still eating (like bringing takeout boxes without asking if we were done first). I normally wouldn't mind if they were trying to close up but they'd just seated another table so I'm not sure why there was a rush Overall, I'm a huge fan! The food rocked and I felt like the price and portion balances out really well. I also really appreciate that they have a well-sized vegetarian section!

This place was good but I didn't think it was great.. i ordered the paella and it was all rice not enough protein.. service was really good.. and the place was very chill... the food didn't convince me to go again tho... it gets a 6 out of 10

The food is authentic and the service is excellent! Random referral from my husband's eye surgery Dr. Glad we made the trip from Oakland--celebrated my sister's birthday there and my brother-in-law will be doing the same soon. We will definitely be back.

Great food. Service was good. I got the Cau Cau & it was amazing. My husband got the Chaufa de carne, he said it was ALOT of rice , not much meat but it was delicious. Overall good

Nice place with yummy and unique food. The serving sizes were decent for the price, definitely on the higher side but left full and happy. We got the lomo saltado because it was recommended as a classic and it was very flavorful and the steak strips were tender. We had the egg added on top and I thought it was a nice but didn't make or break the dish. Also got the chupe de camarones and that was really good. The sauce was flavorful and rich and warming, perfect for a cold day! Their sauces are also a must try. The green sauce was already at our table and that was creamy and subtle. We also asked for a spicy sauce if they had one and they brought out a salty, spicy red chili paste which was really good!

Had dinner here a few weeks ago with my friend. It was my first time dining in instead of ordering pickup. The atmosphere inside is relaxing. The food was good as usual.

El Mono didn't disappoint at all! Since it was out first time there, the server was as helpful, patient and recommended some popular drinks and appetizers for us. We went for a girl's lunch and got the lomo saltado and peruvian paella, which was both so good and I even had to save half of my plate so I could enjoy later.

Our favorite Peruvian in the Bay Area. We live in San Mateo but try and eat there whenever we're near Berkeley.

This is our second time here. I was craving some Peruvian food and don't know why we didn't post the first time coming here. The restaurant can seat a good number of people. There was live music. We were seated right away. You scan a QR code to get the menu. We ordered the appetizers with ceviche, calamari and not sure what the other item was. Needless to say, it was all delicious. I ordered the tapado a la pobre. My husband ordered the chupe de camarones. My son ordered their steak and pesto pasta. My go to is the tapado a la pobre. It is topped with a sunny side up egg. I gave that to my hubby. Let me tell you how flavorful and delicious this was. The seasoned ground beef was well seasoned in between layers of rice. The meal was so filling, I could only eat half of it. My husband's dish was so good that he ate the whole thing. The sauce had a great creamy tomato flavor. They provided a good amount of shrimp with it. There was a mound of rice in the middle of the bowl with a poached egg on top. They gave a generous portion. My son's dinner was just as good. His meat was cooked to the desired temp. Well seasoned and generous portion of quality steak. Along with that he had the pesto pasta which complemented the steak. In addition to our meals, I ordered the mojito and my husband had the Pisco sour. Great drinks. The service was awesome. We definitely made the right decision to come and enjoy the delicious dishes. We would definitely come back.

Excellent service A+++ food is greatt!!! Order ceviche, paeaalle, and steak plate.. everything was good!!! Love it

This place was exquisite. My girl is Peruvian and she says anytime she's stressed out or I'm in the dog house to just take her here. I don't know the dish names that well, but we had the eggs with potatos in some creamy sauce for the appetizer. We also got some Yuca fries, which were my favorite. Her main dish was the pasta with steak, and I had a chicken with rice dish. They were both delicious. I like my steaks rare, but my girlfriend's medium steak was still pretty juicy. The only negative part was the alfores, but the ice cream it was in was delicious so it made up for it. Would come here again

My friends have been talking about this place for a while now, but it was a little bit "out of my way", we came here to celebrate my friend's, they picked the place and I was so glad they did. El mono is neat, clean, staff very welcoming, - they offered us their lunch special , great prices, portions and quality. The best thing it's their soup, it was amazing on a rainy day, I even ordered more to go and bring home. I ordered lomo saltado, it was really good, I tried my friends paella and it was very tasty as well. Everyone on my table was happy with their plates, the portions were so generous that we all ordered boxes to go- as far as my drink I ordered & loved the maracuyá sour. We were a big party and the staff handled it amazingly. Very pleased with this new discovery, definitely worth the drive. Looking forward to try more of their plates. Next time will save some room for dessert.

El Mono transported my tastebuds to Peru. My best friend and I wanted to get together over dinner. We've both had El Mono on our list to dine at and found the opportunity to do so. Dining here introduced us both to a new level of flavors found in Peru. El Mono has been a neighborhood staple since 2012. The restaurant has a casual dining atmosphere with Peruvian decor that's locally owned and operated. Depending on the day you go it can be quiet or bustling with live music. There's plenty of seating indoors with booths and tables. Throughout our dining experience, service by all staff was prompt. My friend and I didn't appreciate some of the comments made by the staff but were polite and didn't think much of it until after our meal. It's easy to get lost when browsing the QR menu if you aren't familiar with Peruvian cuisine. They serve appetizers, dishes of all proteins, specialty dishes, and vegetarian options. I had no idea what to get but based on the ingredients listed, I ordered the Saltado de Pollo which is stir-fried chicken in a soy sauce with various vegetables and fries. I found the dish to be savory but also a bit too salty from soy sauce glaze. The potatoes absorbed the sauce and were soft and the chicken was moist. The garlic rice tasted like plain rice and had no garlic to it. I felt as if the vegetables like the tomatoes were skimped out and wished they'd put more versus fries. The seasoning was fine but nothing truly stood out. My friend ordered the Tallarin Verde con Lomo and enjoyed it. The portions are quite generous as we both took our meals to go. They also offer a Yelp Check-in which allows for a free Chicha drink! I found it refreshing, spicy, and delicious! For those curious about Peruvian food in the East Bay, El Mono is one of the highlighted options. There aren't many Peruvian restaurants but I found them to execute their food fine enough, service was okay at times, and the ambiance was lowkey. This may not be a cuisine I actively crave or would go out of my way for, but I wouldn't mind coming back.

I celebrated my birthday dinner with friends at this restaurant. We had a party of 14 people. Reservation was made over a week out just to make sure they were able to accommodate the party. All of us left very satisfied with the food and had no complaints regarding the food. Because the food portions are huge, most of us shared entrees. I would've given this restaurant a 5-star review, however the service knocked it down. It didn't seem busy at the time that we went but our waitress did have a bit of an attitude serving us. This was unfortunate, but the food does make up for it. However, we could've had a better experience if the service was better. This is what I ordered: Super Mariscos (whole fish) 5/5: The menu does state that this is spicy but it wasn't at all. However, it was packed full with flavor. I absolutely loved it! I shared this with 1 other person but quite frankly, it could've been shared with another person. It was HUGEEE! It was so filling and I was very satisfied with this dish. Machu Picchu (4/5): I do like sweet drinks, but I did feel like this was a little too sweet for my preference. I couldn't really taste the alcohol and it tasted more like orange juice and grenadine to me. However, I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I pictured based on the description. Crema Volteada (5/5): This is Peruvian Flan. I never had Peruvian flan before, but I'm really glad this was my first time. It was extremely good and very creamy. I'm very glad this was my first experience, and I can't wait to try more !

This is a great local Peruvian place. The wait staff are courteous and helpful when asking questions about the food. I have multiple food allergies plus I'm vegan/gluten free so eating out can be hard for me. They were willing to accommodate to my diet and let the chef know to prepare my food separately so I wouldn't get sick which is very important when dealing with food allergies/intolerances. The food is also super yummy! I will definitely be going back to this great local restaurant!

The food appeared nice however a bit bland. The beef heat plate did not have any flavor and if it was there not noticeable. Pollo Saltado plate had too much vinegar and poor man's steak was tough. This was my 2nd time going there giving it another chance but left disappointed

Everything was good. Best sweet potato fries! Service was great. Will be back to try the other stuff in the menu.

Great restaurant! Loved the lomo saltado and the pasta with hauncaina sauce was delicious, I've never had anything like it and I'm very picky with my Peruvian food (prefer home cooking). The Miti Miti was so good a refreshing i needed to take some home. The ambiance was nice they had live music and outdoor seating which will be perfect for summer. The staff was so nice and super helpful when it came to ordering. They did get very busy but worth the wait.