Eli's Peruvian Kitchen

This place looks humble from the outside but inside packs true authentic Peruvian food and beverages. We chose the sampler--ideal for beginners and for expert foodies. Shrimp, calamares, fried yuca, traditional papas huancaine (Potatoes in special sauce), and traditional ceviche, served with 2 sauces. Awesome!! We also shared rotisserie chicken, with dark meat this time, with flavorful chicken falling off the bone garnished by rice and salad with a traditional dressing. I chose a Diet Inca Kola, the lo cal version of age-old traditional Inca Kola, an upscaled version of cream soda. We also tried the traditional Peruvian tea, a sweetened earthy tea found nowhere except Peru. HUGO offered great attentive service in this venue with linen table cloths, silverware, and large screen TV. The subtle background music of real Peruvian tunes contributes to the ambiance. Legible laminated menus. Accessible entry/exit and tables. Accessible restroom with grab bars, small area. Accessible free street parking that can be hard to find in busy times. Excellent food. Excellent service. Tak home some canned peppers or ullocos.

My family is from Peru and we were craving Peruvian food. After googling a couple of restaurants and reading reviews we decided to try Eli’s and I’m so glad we tried it. Frustrating at first because we could not find parking whatsoever, it took us around 15 mins and lots of circling the restaurant to find a spot. We were greeted nicely by our waitress, she was bilingual which was a huge plus and very nice. She recommended some drinks and we ordered food. The food had a great taste, causa took me back to my grandmas kitchen and the ceviche took me back to a beachfront restaurant in Peru. Taste was on point, my dad had the lomo saltado and he said it was good and my mom had the arroz changa de camarón and it was okay. The empanada was good, a little small but good just not amazing but the flavor was there. Dessert was delicious. Wish I would’ve taken more pictures but we were hungry! Bathroom was clean, only one bathroom, shared but the restaurant is small, so no issue there. Restaurant has only 6-8 tables, I’m not sure. Overall 5 stars and would def go back.

This place is super authentic. Came with my Cusquenian family and they 100% approved. I just wish they had anticuchosor pollo milanesa.

Disappointing Experience at Eli's Peruvian Kitchen I visited Eli's Peruvian Kitchen on January 2nd for my birthday, bringing my husband, toddler, and baby along. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what I had hoped for. Upon entering, we were greeted by the waiter with no warmth or welcome. Instead of a polite greeting, he simply asked, “How many, two?” (Even though we were clearly a party of four). This lack of courtesy set the tone for the rest of the experience with the waiter. I had high expectations for this restaurant based on the positive reviews I had read, but sadly, the food did not live up to the hype. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, and my husband had the Lomito con Frijoles. Both dishes had sautéed vegetables that were burned, which unfortunately affected the flavor of the entire dish. As someone who has tried other Peruvian restaurants, I know how this dish is supposed to taste, and the burnt vegetables, which even had visible black spots, made the meal unpleasant. Maybe they were re-used. We arrived around 3:20 PM, and since the restaurant closes at 4:00 PM, we were still finishing our meals when, at exactly 4:00, the waiter began to turn off the lights. This felt very rushed and inconsiderate, especially since we were still *trying* to enjoy our meal. We left the restaurant at 4:06 PM, feeling very disappointed by what was supposed to be a special birthday meal. Overall, the combination of poor customer service and subpar food left us thoroughly disappointed. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning.

My wife and I love this place. We enjoy the atmosphere and friendliness of the staff. I wish parking options were better. But each time we leave here, my wife has a huge smile since she misses Peru. Worth the hassle of parking and worth the quality of the food.

A true San Diego gem. First off the service was outstanding. So friendly and helpful with recommendations. The owner came out at the end of the meal and she was so lovely it only made me want to come back even more. The tamal, the empanadas and the pollo a la brasa were beyond delicious. The chicken especially was seasoned perfectly and so moist (yeah I said “moist,” deal with it). The desserts were also excellent. I love the vibe of this spot, feels like a real family establishment. And loved that on a Saturday for lunch people were pouring in. Can’t wait to come back!!!

Had great authentic food. There's not many peruvian restaurants around San Diego, but this will be my go to. Ceviche was perfectly balanced flavor, aros chaufa was on point as well. Everything including the service was on point.

A new favorite! We ordered the lomo saltado and ahi de pollo and both were delicious. The seasoning, the sauces, the juiciness of the meat. Everything hit perfectly. Will be visiting again.

Empanadas are THE best Peruvian empanadas I've ever had. So good!!! With the sauce and cold chicha... delicious!!!! Service is wonderful! Place is clean and has limited parking in the back but street parking right out front is where most park. Decor is so nice, Peruvian touch throughout. Chef is incredibly talented. Yuca is delicious, pollo as well. Seco too. Chupe de camarones is the best we've had in the US. Wish north county had an Eli's but this restaurant is WORTH the drive!

Im from Miami and am Peruvian. This place being in SD really blew my mind. Amazing food, better than most places ive been to on both coasts. Only down side is the limited hours, so gotta get in when you can. If you are Peruvian and live in SD, you already know about this spot.

I haven't seen too many places that serve Peruvian food and was excited to try Eli's Peruvian Kitchen. Cherry soda was sweet and had a nice cherry flavor. Tallarin saltado had noodles with a mild flavor and a nice snap.  Beef was plentiful and delicious.  I added shrimp and it had a nice snap and fresh flavor.  Loved the flavor of the fresh tomatoes.  Among the best tallarin saltado dishes I've had. Passion fruit juice was sweet and full of fresh fruit flavor. Lomo Saltado featured fries with a tasty fried potato flavor.  Rice was soft and had a mild flavor.  Loved the brown sauce which gave the rice a delicious flavor.  Beef was nice marinated and tender.  Fresh tomatoes were tasty and went well with the beef.  Great tasting lomo saltado! 3rd visit I tried the pollo a la brasa.  Skin was crispy and full of flavors from the spices rubbed on.  Chicken was tender and juicy.  One of my favorite rotisserie chickens.  Fries were crispy and I liked the fried potato flavor.  Rice was moist and had a nice mild flavor. Server was very nice and remembered me each subsequent visit.  Excellent hospitality.

Great Peruvian food. Eli puts out delicious dishes. Be sure to check the restaurant's schedule before heading out.

DO NOT EAT HERE!!!!! You already know why, because this place is for me and only me! Eli's she's family to me! When we come here to eat it's like you just sat down at your grandmothers house! This place has a very clean and cozy vibe with lots of culture on the walls. The food is the best Peruvian food in San Diego and last time i checked it's the ONLY Peruvian food in sand Diego (if I'm wrong someone please let me know) That being said I've been to two other Peruvians spots in Orange County/LA and this place still beats all of them... with a small to the point menu that hits all the important signature dishes Eli's stands apart from the others. I would give any suggestions on what to eat but I will say this FRIED RICE!!! Eli's makes friend rice better than 80 of Chinese restaurants I've been to and I've been to everyone on earth hahah Also get and Inca Coke (taste like bubble gum) and the passion fruit drink to rinse everything down mmmhumm!!! Your Welcome!!!!

Server was great and attentive. Also food comes out really quick too, ordered food and the appetizers (sampler and empanada) came out quick and then the food came not too long after that. Food was really good. I liked the chicken empanada and the Peruvian sampler was good too, I like everything that was in it. The Lomo was also very good. Had nice big chunks of steak and a good ratio of tomatoes, onion, and fries. Probably the best Peruvian food you can get in this county. I want to definitely go back and try some of the other options because they all looked really good as well.

What else can I say... it was delicious and they catered to our needs as we asked for little onion. Definitely worth it.

Great service, environment, and food! The general location of the restaurant is a bit sketchy and parking was a bit hard to find. Overall, I think it's the best authentic Peruvian food you can find in the SD area. I will be returning again!

Finally made it back on a Sunday at lunch time. We had the sampler plate again--it really is enough for a light meal for 2--and the aji de pollo. While it was good and a hugely filling plate, I find I prefer the cold version without the chicken. We were stuffed and ended up eating the whole sampler, after all the fried seafood needed to be eaten right away, and taking the aji de pollo home as leftovers. (Note to self: the sampler is too big for one and would be great for 2 with an empanada, leaving room for dessert. For just me--those delicious fried shrimp and papas a la huacaina with the passion fruit drink would be an ideal meal!)

We've been meaning to check Eli's out for so long, but haven't been able to due to their limited hours. We finally made it here and it was so great. We did have to park a little bit away, but it was worth it. The interior was cute, and the tables fairly empty around lunchtime on a Sunday. We had the marayuca and emoliente to drink, and both were great. The marayuca was a nice balance between sweet and tart. The emoliente was definitely thicker than I realized, but my boyfriend really enjoyed it. For eats, we opted for the ceviche de pescado, the causa rellena with chicken, and the aji de gallina. All of them were absolutely delicious, though I think the causa shined a little bit brighter for me personally than the other two dishes. We can't wait to return and try everything else!

I drove from Rancho Cucamonga 3 hour drive I called to check on the time they close and the attendant said they open until 4:00 pm my family I got there at 3:50 pm there was so much traffic to get there and they refuse to service us I was only trying to give my wife a great experience I never been treated like this on any restaurant I would definitely would never recommend anyone to go there

Fantastic service and food. This place is a gem. Their lomo saltado is to die for. Will be re-visiting soon.

Food, Service and Ambiance, Amazing authentic Peruvian food. Great customer service and even better food. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for good home made Peruvian cuisine

Limited parking but found some in residential area a block away. Very friendly and attentive staff. Ordered the Lomo Saltado, Aji de pollo and the Peruvian sampler platter as the appetizer. I loved the Lomo. Steak was made perfectly, dish seasoned well. ONLY wish was for the potatoes (fries) in the dish to but be the frozen kind but the dish was delicious nonetheless. The boyfriend had the Aji de pollo and he loved the comfort of it. He ate the whole thing. The Peruvian sampler was pretty good. A good variety and the crudo was the best part. The yucca was deliciously crunchy but soft on the inside and the shrimp and calamari were good too. We also had the maracuya (passion fruit juice) and the chicha morada to drink. Loved the chicha.... So good. The maracuya is delicious but there was no pulp despite it saying so on the menu. We will definitely come back :)

A true San Diego gem. First off the service was outstanding. So friendly and helpful with recommendations. The owner came out at the end of the meal and she was so lovely it only made me want to come back even more. The tamal, the empanadas and the pollo a la brasa were beyond delicious. The chicken especially was seasoned perfectly and so moist (yeah I said "moist," deal with it). The desserts were also excellent. I love the vibe of this spot, feels like a real family establishment. And loved that on a Saturday for lunch people were pouring in. Can't wait to come back!!!

Absolutely recommend this place! In SD, it can be a pain to find South American cuisine let alone a good one! We decided to give it a try. My husband, who has South American roots, didn't complain about the food, in fact he was impressed. We had: Humitas - which was heavenly Peruvian sample platter Arroz Chaufa with chicken Causa relleno with chicken For desserts, we decided to try almost all. Flan, alfajores, and the lucuma ice cream. The server was absolutely friendly and accommodating. She even gave us a Peruvian pudding for free! I will definitely come again. Great homemade food that shouldn't be missed.

I surprised my boyfriend taking him here and he loved it. Everything was so good and tasty. The server, Janet, was great and brought everything out quick. The chicha morada mimosa was sooo good. That was my first time trying chicha morada and that left me looking for how I can make it at home because it was that good.

We were in the area, looking for an authentic but unique restaurant and we found it. Every dish was made with love. Lomo saltado was amazing! we almost skipped the alfajores and I'm so glad my husband ordered it anyways. It's so fresh and crumbles perfectly, please do not leave without it! Our server was extremely attentive and checked on us every few minutes. The ambiance was also very cozy and comforting.

Great food, great experience. Can't wait to be back. Definitely met my craving for a good Peruvian spot in SD!

Came to experience Peruvian food with a bunch of friend and ordered: fried yucca: fried perfectly and comes with three amazing dipping sauces, liked the green one the best papa a la huincana: for our vegetarian friend, was a little off put that the dish was cold, while it's traditionally cold, would have been nice to write on the menu, yellow pepper cheese sauce has nice flavor lomo saltado: hug portion, took home half, steak wasn't the most tender but had nice flavor alfajores: sweet dulce de Lecha with shortbread-like texture, loved tried a ton of their drink too: inca cola, chica morada, maracuya all fun to try and not too sweet, liked chica morada the best Great experience and glad to visit a small business serving Peruvian.

This is my second time visiting and it looks like they've made some improvements since I last visited and they're all good improvements! However, I still have some suggestions. At arrival, it was honestly a little strange for her to say she will be right with you and then you see her go to the phone, check on another table, bring out dishes and you're just kind of standing there awkwardly. I'm guessing they're short staff and could use more hands? I even wondered if she FORGOT us because literally got no additional acknowledgement until someone else came in and she notices the front door being active again. The first time I visited I had their Lomo Saltado and it was sooooo good (this was pre-covid). I am now back and saw that they've added Tallarines Saltado officially to the menu. I was very excited about this as I've had this previously in LA and it would be great if I didn't have to drive so far for it. And then I also went ahead and ordered one of their specialty non-alcoholic drinks - the chicha morada (purple corn juice made in-house with pineapple, green apple, and cinnamon). Tallarines Saltado - it was very salty and the quality of the beef was just ok, it could be juicier and more tender. I've definitely experienced better elsewhere for this dish. (this took awhile to come out) Chicha Morada - I really liked this drink. It looked like Jamaica; and it tasted like Jamaica and Horchata had a child together, which resulted in the Chicha Morada. (came out quickly) Also new and an improvement is they had 3 spicy sauce for you to use for your dish. They were of a creamy consistency and yellow, orange, or green. In past experience, yellow is usually the peruvian sauce I get very addicted to but i dunno, this one was nice and spicy but it's missing something. I'm not sure what, but it didn't make me want more like the other peruvians places I've been to. Overall, considering parking was also difficult and the price range this menu was at, I would rather try some alternative locations available in San Diego where at least it's by the coast. I know they did their best with service and was super polite, but in the end the awkward wait in the beginning set the mood for the whole experience and the food took a long time to come out. The music play list was great and I was jamming the whole time but I think if they could work on the long waits, it would really help improve my experience and encourage me to come back in the future.

Excellent service... Excellent food... very friendly ambience...one of the best Peruvian Places.. we've been... parking on the back... very clean.....A++++.... Highly recommended....

Peruvian food is one of my favorite cuisines so whenever I see one, I have to get down and dine in, we saw this last week on a weekday but they are closed. We have never seen or heard of this place until we got to the wrong exit on the Freeway. The street is narrow and it's not my comfort zone to check the surrounding areas for stores, I went out of my car and went straight to Eli's Peruvian place. So yesterday before waking up my son and his friends, who spent the weekend with us, my husband and I sneaked out to try this " ELI'S PERUVIAN KITCHEN" We got in and we are greeted with a lovely smile from LORI. The place is not modern at all and it's a small place but it's Clean and surprisingly a lot was eating inside. I started ordering our food : * PERUVIAN SAMPLER - it has Papa ala Huancaina , Calamari Rings , Fried Shrimp , Ceviche de pescado , yuca Fritas *LOMO SOLTADO - Beef and Rice * TALLARIN SALTADO - Beef and noodles *CAUSA RELLENA - Lime Potato cake Filled with Tuna or Chicken, I really wanted the Tuna but they ran out for the day, with avocado on top and aji sauce and egg and Peruvian olive. Everything was okay, except for 1 question I asked our server about the Lomo Soltado and Tallarine Soltado, I told her I tasted more Soy Sauce on them than the Peruvian Sauce but even with a soy sauce taste the Lomo Soltado and Tallarin Soltado are still good. I think it's just me coz I had a lot of Peruvian food that I tried before. Our Nice server said it's because the different regions in Peru have different ways of how they do the Lomo soltado or Tallarin soltado. I'm used to Eating Peruvian food 'coz one of my son's best friends' Dad is Peruvian, and I know a Chef and Owner of a Peruvian restaurant where I order my TRAYS of Peruvian foods to bring as my son's gifts to give to school events Parties. But still, the food on ELI'S PERUVIAN is still okay and I will continue to try more of the food on their menu if I'm in the area. Plus a good server LORI convince us more to come back and dine here again. Eli's Peruvian food is Decent and flavorful.

Me encantó la causa limeña, la atención excelente y el clásico..... morí Las humitas deliciosas. La Ronda marina estuvo muy Rica Felicitaciones al chef ‍

I wanted to come here since month and just made it for the first time. Parking can be tricky but just have patience and something will open up soon. The little restaurant has a friendly, warm and cozy family atmosphere, the welcome and service was also very friendly. I ordered the Lomo Saltado and my wife Ali de Pollo, both dishes were wonderfully delicious and the portion size was great. I also had to try a dessert while I was here and chose the Mazamorra Morada, so good just like grandma's rice pudding with fruits. We will be back soon for more!!!

The food here is amazing! The service is excellent too! Nothing beats good food served by a friendly staff. Definitely a gem. Try their Peruvian Platter, Seco de frijoles, and their Causas! The place is so warm and inviting and cozy. At the end of our meal we were greeted by the owner who asked us about our experience. She was so nice and humble--I love it here and cant wait to come back!

We got the lomo saltado and it was SOOOOO delicious. We definitely got our cravings satisfied! I usually like to dip my French fries in a sauce, so when I asked for some hot sauce our waitress recommended the sauce pictured (sorry I didn't get its name!). It was awesome and definitely gave a little kick, would totally recommend. However, price was a little steep for me. Listen, I know we're in a recession but it was a little pricey for what I got. Maybe more French fries (since it's cheap) would've added more bang for my buck.

For months we have been trying to stop by and today we finally had a chance to try their food. I took my mom for dinner and their staff was so friendly. We love Peruvian food so right away we ordered the lomo saltados and the Peruvian sampler. The lomo saltado was delicious truly a 10 out of 10. As for the Peruvian sampler it is a perfect way to get a bit of the best dishes with out being overwhelmed. Truly this place is a hidden gem. If you have a chance to check it out please do. You have gained a loyal customer and I'll be sure to come back soon with some friends.

This place was really good. We got the sampler platter and it didn't disappoint. The potato dish with th sauce was for me th best part of the meal. The ice cream was also really good. Not super sweet which is excellent. Th service was beyond my expectations. I'll be back for sure.

Went here for lunch today and wish I would have come sooner! The host was very sweet, and we ordered the empanada trio to start (spinach, beef, chicken) and they were all delicious, the pastry shells baked just right , and the fillings all flavorful and not dry like other empanadas. I ordered the Loma saltado and my friend ordered the Seco con Frejoles. Both were very delicious and comforting dishes. The portions are pretty solid, more dinner than lunch cause now we're a little sleepy! But very flavorful dishes! We both enjoyed our entrees. They didn't have the Lucuma ice cream in stock but it worked out because we didn't have room for dessert anyway. Stuffed! Come check out this cute Peruvian food gem!

Food was great and the best alfajores I have ever had! Absolutely love this place. And great service as well!

I really really wanted to love Eli's, but the food fell short for my wife and I. I have my usual Peruvian joints in LA, but when my wife said she was in the mood for Peruvian, I had to put the San Diego food scene to the test. The service was excellent and the setting felt very "home cooked meal-ish". Unfortunately, our meals were missing flavor. But, the taste of reused oil or an uncleaned grill with tons of char might have masked the flavors. My Lomo Saltado was 80% French fries to 20% meat. This ratio is way off compared to my visit to Peru or visits to LA Peruvian restaurants. And my wife's Tallarin Saltado was good, but it definitely a weird burnt oil taste to it. The service alone warrants another visit. I'll definitely update my review after my next visit.

Finally found a decent peruvian place to eat in SoCal, For starters i would give their service a 5-6. They are so under staffed that it hurts the service and also the attention to the costumers. For example, today when i was there, it got packed with large groups of families arriving simultaneously one after the other. let alone the people that were already in the restaurant eating. There were only 2 servers. It just impossible to give great service when the business lacks people to help run it. Back to the food, my lady and I ordered the following; Starters : papa a la huancaina - (7) Although it was a good portion, the salsa was authentic but i feel as though it lacked a bit more creaminess and spice. It felt a bit bland. Potatoes were cooked good. Entrees : seco de carne - (10) / Aji de gallina (9) The seco de carne was mouthwatering and succulent, tender beef that just came to shreds with my fork and the mix of the sauce with the beans, rice and pickled onions was a perfect bite everytime. The aji de gallina was also delicious and there were generous amounts of chicken but why i gave it a 9 was because the sauce also lacked a bit spice and didn't feel as rich. All in all it was still a good dish. Drinks : Chica Morada - (4) / Inca cola (10) Not what i was expecting, i thought it would be more delightful but it disappointed me. It felt really watery and bland, I didn't feel the strong flavor of the corn and the fruits that is usually added when making it. Also i didnt feel the essence of the cloves. I don't know but it just left me with a not decent taste. Desert: alfajores - (10) Delicious little devils, definitely good and perfect bite size to end the day with a smile.

Delicious food and impeccable, friendly service. Eli came out to chat-- adorable lady. Looking forward to next visit!

Amazing Peruvian food . Great staff , everything taste amazing , best in town , hands down.

Eli's has the BEST ceviche!!! It is amazing. Flavorful fluffy whitefish marinated to perfection in citrus and spices. You can choose your own spiciness level by adding their homemade Pico to your taste. The Lomo Saltado is my second favorite! And all the dishes I have tried are amazing. Wash down your meal with the Peruvian drink Chicha Moreno. YUM!! Your taste buds are in for a treat when you decide to come here to eat! Salud!!!

Tried the lomo saltado and seco de res. Great quality, friendly staff, and efficient service. The restaurant is clean and tidy inside. So far it is the best peruvian food I've tried in San Diego.

I used to like this place. Went there in 2019. I was looking forward to return here and I did with 2 other people. To my surprise, the food was not as good as I remembered it. Chicha was great thou. Although, I wanted to have emoliente, advertised as prepared in house. However, I was told that they buy it in bottles and unfortunately they don't have any. There are not really good Peruvian restaurants in SD and my hopes were on this one, but now, I am not sure. Btw, we ordered salchipapas, causa and lomo saltado... hence my 3 stars. Happy lunch everyone!

A friend of mine and I decided to try EPK for the first time the other day for lunch. Parking was a little difficult since they have no dedicated parking lot, and only on-street parking. Since EPK is on a busy street, El Cajon Blvd, you may have difficulty as there's only 2 spaces immediately in front of the restaurant. Once inside, the restaurant felt very warm and inviting. We were met by and served by Carla, who took great care of us. I had one of their Cusqueña Peruvian gold lagers to start. I was stuck deciding between their Lomo Saltado and their Seco Con Frejoles and asked Carla for her suggestion. She said that by far their Loma Saltado is their most popular and ordered dish, she said she loved their Seco Con Frejoles and that was all I needed to hear. My friend also ordered it as well. We also ordered their Concha nuts to snack on before our lunch entrees were served. Boy, was the food here DELICIOUS! I will eventually return to try their Lomo Saltado since I've had it before in both Peruvian as well as Cuban restaurants and do like it a lot. I can't speak any more highly of the food, service, dining room cleanliness, and personal attentive which Carla provided. I will definitely tell others of this awesome spot, and may try their entire menu by the time the year is up. Great job EPK!!!

I've been wanting to come here for a long time. We're glad that we finally made it. The food was so delicious. We ordered the appetizer sampler platter, seco con frejoles, and lomo saltado. The appetizer platter was a generous serving of papa a la huancaina, yuca frita, ceviche, calamari, fried shrimp, and hominy. That was a popular appetizer. Lots of people in the restaurant were ordering it. We loved all the items on the platter, although maybe a little too much food for just two people. Next time we will probably stick to the yuca and the papa a la huancaina. The ceviche was super-fresh and full of lime flavor. The shrimp, calamari and the yuca were perfectly fried. Our entrees were generously slzed. I think this was the best lomo saltado I had a in while. The seco con frejoles was a nice stewed beef with some cilantro flavor, with some beans on the side. That was also really good. Parking is on the street. We were lucky that we got parking just the next block over. Service was very attentive. We are already thinking about inviting a friend who lives in the neighborhood to join us next time!

If you're looking for the only authentic Peruvian cuisine in San Diego right now look no further than Eli's Peruvian kitchen. For the past few years we've been looking for a Peruvian restaurant which was local and affordable and we did. And not to mention the food was delicious. Pollo a la brasa though serve a little different still had that yummy charred vinegary taste. Served with a small salad and French fries hit the spot! The arroz chaufa was your typical Chinese slash Peruvian fusion. The Lomo Saltado was also amazing! When the kids eat all their food they you know it was good! Though i was born in NJ i got to live in Peru for a few years so all the wonderful flavors brought back memories my kids wouldn't understand. But luckily for me they love Peruvian food and Eli's definitely came through in a big way! Try the Lucuma ice cream it's a taste that is indescribable to the American palate. Arriba Peru!

I ordered the lomo saltado and a chicken empanada. It was one of the best empanadas I've ever had. I've tried the empanadas at the kiosk at UTC as well as the shop inside the farmer's market at liberty station and those don't even come close to this restaurant's level. The shell was flaky and light and the filling packed so much flavor. You really don't even need a sauce to dip it but they included a sauce that looked a little like Dijon mustard but tasted like a delicious aioli. The lomo saltado packed so much flavor as well. Every bite had a sophisticated smoky char flavor and the proteins were fresh and tender. The only thing that didn't really make sense to me were the fries. If they were crispy, it would've added texture but because they soaked in the juices, they were a bit soggy. All the flavors were amazing and I will definitely be back to try more.

Best place in San Diego for Peruvian food. I've been here several times and they always have great food and friendly service. I definitely recommend the Causa Rellena (it's my favorite)!

what a fantastic little Peruvian spot! they must have been crazy busy, when I came in to place an order for takeout the hostess said it would be at least 30 minutes, so we decided to dine in instead. good thing we did! our waitress gave us a little bowl of cancha on the house while we waited, which was perfectly crunchy and salty. we ordered the lomo saltado and aji de gallina, both plates were great and a very good portion size. I was surprised at how much I liked the aji de gallina! the chicken was so tender and the sauce and potatoes wrapped up the whole dish well. Lomo saltado was unique, they stir fry French fries into the meat dish together! which meant the fries soaked up lots of sauce yum! definitely coming back to try out their other dishes soon!

I visited this restaurant and the staff were unhelpful and unfriendly. They didn't seem to want to assist me at all. Waited 20 mins before I left, they didn't even greet nor say that they'll attend to me shortly.

If your familiar with the San Diego area then you know this is the ONLY Peruvian restaurant in the area. My wife & I love this spot great food and authentic cuisine. What's crazy is They are unfortunately very understaffed and are only open on weekends for 3-4 hours a day! If Eli's would stay open later and open more days through out the week they would be so much more successful as a restaurant! A little marketing, Togo and delivery orders with some online presence and this place would become the peruvian restaurant it's capable of being !

Went In one Friday after noon asked for help to make a to go order & they just ignored me ... I waited awhile but nothing ..

Service was great and the food was sooo good. We got the ceviche, causa de pollo, arroz chaufa, and lomo saltado. The ceviche and the causa were the stars for sure. Their maracuya drink is delicious too!

Great food! Best and only true Peruvian restaurant in the San Diego area. Menu is a bit limited but eating the food in the atmosphere the restaurant creates makes me feel like I am back in Peru or like my mom came into town and cooked for us. Keep up the good work!

i love peruvian food and i was so happy to have found this place! they have cute decor and peruvian spanish slang on the wall if you wanted to learn. the food was absolutely delicious! the ceviche is the best i've ever had. the fried shrimp was also amazing! i could eat both as a meal on its own, to be honest. the entree i got was to die for. it was so filling that i got to take some home to eat the next day! the dessert was sooooo good. i'm normally not a fan of sweets, but it actually was the perfect amount of sweetness. the cookies crumbled in your mouth perfectly and the dulche de leche melted in your mouth. our server, alexis, was great! he explained all the dishes really well and kept checking up on us. i'm coming back and bringing all my friends. ;D