Huascaran 🇵🇪

You may have overlooked this Peruvian food gem located next to an Alexandria super market like I have for so long. Yeah, you may be the only gringo in the place enjoying this superb Peruvian food and atmosphere. No worries! People are so busy enjoying the family-type meal prepared just for them that they won’t notice you. Charcoal grilled chicken, Aji de Gallina, stuffed potatoes, fried yuca (mandío shyryru), and more. Try this place. You may think you’ve been transported to another country.

Everything was delicious. My twin sister came to visit from out of Texas, and this is one of our favorite restaurants. We have been coming here for the past 21 years, and we always enjoy the food, service, and atmosphere.

One of the better Peruvian food places in Northern VA. The owners are Peruvian so they stay true to the cuisine and flavors, which makes all the difference. It's always busy with Peruvian customers, which is a good indicator of the food quality. Lastly, the ambience gives you a taste of Peru as the music being played is typical to what you'd hear in restaurants in Lima, thus, enhancing the experience.

This is a very casual restaurant..almost a dive. Don't expect anything fancy. The service is good. The wait staff are very pleasant and friendly. The food was surprisingly good. We ordered the Lomo Saltado, Aji de Galina, and Causa de Atun (Tuna). All 3 of us were happy with our dishes. Mine was tasty (Galina) but lukewarm. I took about half home and had it for lunch the next day...it was great when I heated it up!!

They have been their for 25 years and getting better with age. Traditional dishes have been updated the fresh and brightly colored vegetables with just the right amount of seasonings. We got one of each and shared around, everything was perfect and surprisingly the fish dishes were the groups favorite. Overall a great experience!!

I’m disappointed, this place has sort of good reviews. As soon as I entered the restaurant it had a rotten smell. Came for 2 orders of Anticucho, you never go wrong with that option in a Peruvian restaurant. As soon as I opened the container, the food looked good, but the meat already had a rotten smell, and the taste of the meat did not hide how rotten it actually was, not to mention that the potato was also raw. I went back to kindly complain, the lady did not believe me, at the end she end up refunding me for one order, which it was sort if fair because my sister already took her Anticucho home, but it ended up in the trash anyway. The prices were also high for a decent rotten appetizer. Very sad, cause I was hungry.

Don’t tell my Peruvian mom, but Huascaran’s food might be just as good as hers! 😁 We ordered takeout and it was really good! The Lomo Saltado had a VERY generous portion of beef. It sucks when restaurants give you like 3 tiny pieces of beef in your Lomo Saltado but this place did not disappoint! The fries and rice didn’t taste as fresh as the beef and veg but the rest of the dish made up for it. The Ají de Gallina was delicious and a huge serving. We’re saving half for tomorrow. Rice was fresh and cooked with garlic, yum! For those unfamiliar with Peruvian food, I know Ají de Gallina might look weird, but don’t let appearances deceive you and give it a chance. 😎 By the way, if you like spicy sauces, you’ll love their green sauce. Will try dining in next time! Parking was easy.

I had the chance to dine at this delightful restaurant! I wholeheartedly endorse this place. Exceptional customer service, ample parking availability, a spotless ambiance, welcoming owners and staff, the cuisine was notably fresh as it was prepared with care. The pricing for all the dishes was exceptionally reasonable.

My favorite thing about Peruvian ceviche is the use of ginger. The way Peruvian cuisine incorporates aromatics makes its dishes stand out from other Latin cuisines, adding a depth of flavor that's truly unique. I also tried chicha morada for the first time, and I can already tell it's going to be a new obsession. I love corn, and I've never understood why the U.S. doesn't take better advantage of it in our cuisine, considering it's one of our biggest crops. It's definitely more of a casual vibe. But my Peruvian friend assured me that the prices are extremely reasonable for what we got, so I can't complain too much.

I'm sorry that i hadn't shared this review sooner as I've now made 3 trips to my favorite Peruvian restaurant in NoVA. Huascaran is located in a small strip mall at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Braddock Road (next to the Food Star International Market). If your only exposure to Peruvian food is charbroiled chicken (which can be awesome) you really don't know what you're missing. The menu is big with a wide range of Peruvian specialities mixed in with more traditional Latin and typical American food. While most of the staff are Spanish only speakers, for those with limited Espanol, they are happy to get one of their more English fluent colleagues to help decipher and suggest options. As you might know, I am a true sucker for a great tamale, and they have them here. Chicken, cheese, pork are all regularly on the menu. And yes, I loved it, as it was accompanied by a small side of red onions, tomatoes and Jalapeno slices. This was a great start to what was coming next. On the Specials Board were two other intriguing options. The Aquadito soup is sort of a Peruvian version of chicken and rice soup. The base is chicken, rice and veggies, but the Peruvian version is outstanding with a puree of cilantro, chile peppers, onions, garlic and lime juice. Oh my! For our entree we also harnessed the power of the Specials Board for the Sudado Pollo. This is a perfectly cooked, falling off the bone chicken leg and placed over a large bed of lentils served with a side of rice. With all of this great and delicious food, i did not leave hungry, and I certainly had wonderful flavors in my mind (and mouth) to satiate me throughout the rest of the day!

Probably the best ceviche I've ever had. Love this authentic spot. Will definitely be back.

Absolutely loved this place! The food is truly delicious, the service is warm and attentive, and the prices are very reasonable. A wonderful spot to enjoy authentic flavors in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!

New location has parking and is a bit larger and brighter with the windows. Food is still good. Service is still a bit slow but you can flag people down pretty easily. I like the breakfast plate and ceviche. Pollo saltado was pretty good too but a bit salty.

The ceviche is perfect The lady who runs(assuming owns too) Is GREAT! Always great service!

I had to think over whether I wanted to post this or not as I'd selfishly like to keep this hidden gem for myself, but alas, the fine people that run this place deserve all the praise. Top notch Peruvian food. I don't think there is one comparable within a 20 mile radius.

Huascaran is located in Del Ray and is a casual family owned Peruvian restaurant that serves a variety of Central and South American dishes. There was plenty of street parking available. You get a piece of complimentary (warm) bread with butter. We got the pupusa with pork and cheese to start and it was one of the best Pupusas I've had in the DMV area. The sauce from the Loma Saltado was flavorful and the steak pieces were super tender. The Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup) was such a steal! There is so many pieces of shrimp, fish, squid, and a full crab. Lots of people ordered their ceviche and they serve breakfast plates all day. Huascaran serves huge portions at an affordable price. Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior. It is definitely a neighborhood gem!

I was there today with my wife for lunch,She ordered a New York steak And She was served a T-Bone steak When I see a 10 oz NY Steak for under $30 I thought was a great deal,instead They brought a T-bone steak. I ordered a cau cau ,it is is to be a stew of beef tripe with potatoes,I get in instead potatoes with few pieces of tripe Service very attentive Food very poor I'll get them a star because there is nothing lower

This place is amazing! I'm Peruvian, came here with my Peruvian friends because they told me it was great and it really exceeded all my expectations in terms of having an authentic Peruvian flavor. My standard for Peruvian food is quite high because I grew up eating homemade Peruvian cuisine, and the seco de carne that I got just brought me back to the way my mom makes it and how I've had it in Peru. The meat was tender and flavorful. The chanfainita my cousin got was also amazing, and I was super surprised that they had picarones with the homemade sauce on the side (these are Peruvian donuts )! You'll see authentic Peruvian dishes on the menu that are rarely ever seen at your typical Peruvian restaurants. This is the beauty of it being a Peruvian family-owned restaurant, you really feel at home. 10/10 recommend!

This place is a hole in the wall, doesn't look great from outside, inside is okay but the food is another level of amazing. I have had good Peruvian food before but this took it to another level. I recommend!!!!

No frills little spot right across from the Birchmere that was pretty great. From the outside, I had my doubts, but inside it was a family run Peruvian restaurantwith lots of good options. I had mixed ceviche which was good and my kids had the lomo saltado (one had chicken and the other beef) and they both loved it. This place isn't fancy, but it's also not expensive. I'd recommend this spot to anyone looking for really good food at a great price.

Food was good, rich in flavor. The spicy sauce was delicious. Not too overwhelming. The service provided was a tad bit slow, but still friendly and professional. The atmosphere was welcoming.

la comida muy buena pero tienen un problema que se sale todo el humo de la cocina a las mesas y yo salgo con el olor de comida demasiado impregnado en la ropa es urgente que pongan algun tipo de fan o extractor en la cocina me gusta mucho la comida pero no es comodo sentir que no quieres ir por el olor tan fuerte que sale de la cocina repito la comida muy buena pero tienen que resolver ese problema

Unfortunately we did not like their food. We order tamales con chicharrón. The tamales were ok, but we could not eat the chicharrones it tasted like it was old and reheated a few times...horrible!!!

They have been their for 25 years and getting better with age. Traditional dishes have been updated the fresh and brightly colored vegetables with just the right amount of seasonings. We got one of each and shared around, everything was perfect and surprisingly the fish dishes were the groups favorite. Overall a great experience!!

Que el barrio ni su apariencia los asuste: El servicio, porciones y el costo son muy buenos. El ambiente es bien humilde, chico y solo hay espacio para que dos autos se estacionen. Huascaran es Totalmente recomendable #buenazo!

This review is based on the service, food quality, and overall experience. For reference I've ordered: ceviche mixto, arroz chaufa de mariscos, and the sopa de marisos. Service: I've come to this restaurant multiple times and this place is pretty busy! Normally there is one server and one helper. The server is always helpful and patient. She will answer any questions you have and recommend things off the menu. Only down side- when the restaurant is packed you do not get as much service. For example, it might take 10 minutes for her to refill your drink, or you might have to ask her. They need more hands during peak hours. 4/5 Food: This restaurant is majority Peruvian food. I am Peruvian so I feel like I can give you a pretty good opinion of the dishes they serve. The ceviche here is excellent. It is always fresh when I visit and it is a great portion to share. The arroz chaufa de mariscos is good. I would say that it doesn't taste very Peruvian so it is prepared a bit different than what I am used to. They give you plenty of seafood and a good variety which is nice. This portion is also huge! Finally, the sopa de mariscos was good also, This is a very large bowl so it is enough for two people to share! As you can probably tell by everything that I order, I love seafood and this is a great and filling soup to have if you enjoy seafood as well. 4/5 Experience is always good! This is a home-style restaurant with TV's always playing soccer or Peruvian news. This is a good place to come and try Peruvian food, the prices are very reasonable. This place is small so you might have to wait for a table, but I doubt you will wait too long. They menu is full of variety and they have wonderful lunch deals during the week. 5/5 I would recommend this location for authentic Peruvian food. This is a gem to me since I live 10 minutes away and my other favorite Peruvian restaurants are in Maryland. For the portion and price, I say you can't beat it!

Yummy! As others have remarked, this is a no-frills, hole-in-the wall destination. Servers were attentive, but it definitely helps if you know some Spanish. We had the Aji de Gallina, Arroz Chaufa de Mariscos, and Lomo Saltado. All were solid dishes with good portion sizes. The Arroz Chaufa had a very good amount of calamari, fish, and other seafood. The Aji de Gallina and Lomo Saltado were also very good (although I've had better). We finished off our meal with warm donuts - delicious!

In town for a meeting. There are no Peruvian restaurants in my home town so was excited to see this one. Fantastic casual atmosphere and delicious ceviche mixto. Would definitely recommend.

Love this spot! Great food made with love. I've had dinner and breakfast here now and both were worth coming back for. The staff is also very friendly :) for breakfast I had the Desayuno Typico and that was plenty of food - steak, sausage, two eggs, pico, refried beans, plantains and cheese. Delicious and good value! I cannot say enough about the spicy green salsa, it's absolutely amazing!!

Ordered seco amazing, ordered anticucho was flavorful. Chanfanita w mote was on point and you can't get it everywhere, I added lime to almost everything and green sauce. I have tried Peruvian restaurants all around the dmv, I am definitely coming back and bringing friends to try m

We used to go often, so we decided to go for Mother's Day. We literally well put in a corner and forgotten for over an hour without an explanation. We had the same glass of water the whole time. The food was bland and cold. If you are not a Peruvian regular, don't expect any service. It is clear we were not wanted there.

Pros: - Authentic MOM and POP Peruvian cuisine that was delicious - Homemade smoothies and juices - I had 3... mmmm.... - Extremely friendly service - Prices were well below market value for the area. I loved that they were reasonable and cheap! - They accept all major credit cards. I only mention this because a lot of Mom and Pop businesses prefer cash only. This isn't the case here, obviously. I am grateful. Cons: - If you don't know a lick of Spanish, then you're basically fucked. Their English is as limited as your Americanized watered down Spanish. Bring someone who has some intermediate level of comprehension to make this dining experience smoother. Either that, or pull out Google Translate. I'd go with the the first option though. - Service was SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. We sat down at 4:30 and didn't get our meal until 5:40. It wasn't that busy to take that long. I think they forgot about us, but there was no way to really ask her.... since we didn't speak Spanish. - Small restaurant means crawling over people. This happened. - Parking is availbable, but the lot is very small. Find parking down the street in the public lot for easier access.

The only reason I am giving this a 4 star rating is because of the service. The food was excellent. I had the papa rellena and aji de gallina - I gobbled them both up. The waitress was very scattered. It took a while to get her attention when we were getting ready to order. From the outside appearance, I was very hesitant to enter. I had heard good things about this place from some of my Peruvian friends so I decided to give it a try.

What a gem! A friend's bf, who is Peruvian, suggested this place for a pre-movie dinner. It's a true hole in the wall, in the best way possible. No frills, delicious and authentic food, and reasonably priced. Like others have said, it helps to have a Spanish speaker in the group to do the ordering - but I'm sure you could get away with simply pointing at menu items. For a group of 4, we ordered 2 pork tamales, ceviche, lomo saltado, and a large fried ball of dough filled with ground beef - the name escapes me - and we finished it all. The ceviche was fresh, and I loved the surplus of sliced red onions on every dish. And the tamale...probably one of the best I've had anywhere. They also offer Peruvian beer, and a handful of authentic beverages like horchata and a yummy corn based drink. Places like this tend to be cash-only, but luckily Huascaran accepts cards. Highly recommend!!

Breakfast in the afternoon ya'll! Omg good. I'm loving this. Straightforward, uncomplicated, clean food. Home feel to the place, comfortable. I had breakfast tipico - 2 fried eggs, beans, platanos and tortillas. With a Cristal beer. You could eat this and then chop wood for the next 8 hours no problem. I hope there's a subway station around here close bc I need this food every trip.

Hidden gem: I've been wanting to go here for years but never got around to it considering the many options in this zip code. And considering the limited info online and questionable exterior, a question marked always lingered in decision making. But finally we decided to go on a random weekday at noon and left more than satisfied. With many options, there is definitely something for everyone here. 5 stars: while it does take longer than typical places to get your food, they really put some heart into their product!

I am Peruvian and every time I come to this place it reminds me of when my mom and I would ride the coach bus from Lima to Huancayo. The coach buses would stop at these road side restaurants/road stops where one could grab a bite to eat. Their food is fantastic and homestyle. Although, I wish the sopa de mondongo(tripe soup) had sheep's tongue in it, alas. They have also really recently started selling Firenze Gelato in the flavors Lucuma (!), passion fruit, and a few more that I can't recall off the top of my head. Good stuff. I recommend it if you like good homestyle food.

A true hidden gem. As close as you will get to authentic Peruvian food in the area. Fresh pastries and made from scratch drinks. Food will take awhile to make because it is FRESH. If you are patient and want quality freshly made food then this is for you. If you are looking for something quick and subpar go to one of the chains around available everywhere.

Stumbled on this place when I was looking for something new to try. The outside doesn't look like much but inside it's full of families and people on their lunch break. I had the Sopa de Mariscos -- seafood soup. The crab and mussels were a bit overdone but the shrimp and the broth were excellent!!! Next time I would probably get the Shrimp Soup. House salad was really good too -- fresh and I really liked their homemade dressing.

This quiet, small spot has a very domestic feel to it - haven't decided if the tables are all in what used to be a living room. In this case, it's a good thing - Huascaran is casual and welcoming. The pupusas were great, and at less than $2 each, a great value. Looking forward to the next time!

Go for the food, not the ambiance! They serve pretty good Peruvian food. This place has a mom and pop vibe and the dishes have a homemade feel. Don't let the squirrelly looking exterior fool you! Yes it's a hole in the wall, but sometimes that's where you get solid authentic food.

Good Peruvian food. Lomo saltado was delicious. Papas a la huancaina were so good. Small little place but the food is authentic and delicious!!

My wife and I were in Potomac Yard and nothing there really struck us as a great place to eat. After doing a search and reading a couple reviews, we decided to try this place. This restaurant is right across the street from The Birchmere. It is very small and parking is minimal. There is some street parking though. I had a bean and cheese pupusa and the lomo beef saltado. The meat was tender and the potatoes were not soggy. Overall it was pretty good. I also tried a bean and cheese pupusa, which was also good. The reason for the 3 star review is because the service wasn't that great and it was a long wait for food considering the size of this restaurant. I would also say I have had better Peruvian food and would recommend "Mi Rico Peru" in Franconia.

Doesn't look like much from the outside but the place is clean and people are very friendly. I've been there a couple of times and so far everything has been great. I had the Leche de Tigre (it's a cup with ceviche and lots of ceviche juice) and it was great and perfectly spicy. I had the crab soup and it was very tasty but I liked their Parihuela better. It had big shrimp, clams and mussels. Just amazing. During the week they have lunch specials for $9 and I ordered 2 to go for later. One is Aji de Gallina (creamy shredded chicken stew), and the other was Asado (roast beef with delish gravy, rice and mashed potatoes). Both awesome! Big portions and a great deal! Each one came with beef soup, full of veggies, a piece or corn and a chunk of tender beef. This place is legit Peruvian. Their flavors are on point and prices are fair. I'll be coming back to try more dishes from their menu.

Before I start my review,, I'll just say that my fiancé is Peruvian. I've been to my fair share of Peruvian restaurants in the DMV area and I've had homemade dishes made by his family. This unfortunately will be marked as "probably won't return" on my imaginary Peruvian restaurant list. To start, the restaurant itself isn't that pretty. It's a white brick building and looks almost like someone's house inside (in a bad way). But sometimes places like these have the best food! We got what we usually get: ceviche de pescado, choros a la chalaca and an entree of anticuchos de corazon. About 30 sec after we got our food, I was greeted to the lovely sound of a fly dying on the table. Gross. My fiancé liked his ceviche, but my order, the choros a la chalaca, was mediocre. It didn't have much flavor, and the mussel taste was way too strong. We hoped the anticuchos would be a good last impression, but they were bloody and didn't taste good.. I couldn't even finish one skewer :( Sorry... The service was nothing to brag about either. The lady got annoyed because we "were asking too many questions" and didn't come back to the table until we finished. Wow

I wanted to support this business. But the lomo saltado was dry and uninspired. Not the same cut of meat (tough) in pictures. Very disappointed.

It was ok, the Choros a la chalaca were just alright and the cebiche didn't have much flavor. Prices were good, so was the service. I will give it a second try, maybe seafood is not their strength.

Tiny whole in the wall gem! Doesn't compare to my mom's cooking but it's good enough. I can get to this place very close to home and enjoy authentic flavors. Great bang for your buck. Plates are large enough to share or have leftovers. I've brought many friends with me here.

I must admit that I never would have stopped her if my Peruvian friend didn't take me. Def a hole in the wall but delicious. Don't expect anything visually glamorous when you walk in though as it could use a make over on inside. I'm a vegetarian so wasn't expecting to find much to eat however let's just say I left with a happy (and full) belly. I ordered: 1.) Papa la huancayina (potatoes in a spicy cheese sauce). I really liked the sauce here compared to other places I have had this because it def had S little spicy kick. The potatoes however were a little on the tougher side. Would have liked them more soft. 2.) Cheese Papusas - I loved these! Prob some of the best ones I've ever had. 3.) Ceviche - my friend ordered this and he seemed to slurp it down right away so it must have been good. The lady running the show there (.guessing the owner) was very nice and I will be back for more!

Being Peruvian myself I am very picky about my Peruvian dishes. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem. The waitress was attentive and extremely friendly. The food was fresh full of flavor and love. Every dish I tried tasted how is was suppose to taste. Lastly the owner stepped out to greet us and ask us about our food. Will 100% be coming back. I recommend the Jalea and Ceviche!

Great place! Came here for breakfast based on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Everyone that worked here was very nice and attentive. The food was delicious and I will be coming back

Epitome of a "Hole in the wall" Authentic great tasting food. Small dining area Run down walls & carpet Large portions Great reasonable prices. Servers speak little English. Loved it. Felt like I was in someone's own house having dinner. Will be back

Fantastic food. Great customer service. Never judge a book by its cover! I love this place!

We asked for Peruvian food recommendations and they told us China Chilcano. But we remembered Oyamel WAS NOT good Mexican food. So we asked for a place that was more authentic. THIS WAS IT. Its like going to your Grandmas house and your Abuelita and tias cook for you. We wre amazed at the many things on the menu. Trying to be considerate, we asked what they had ready. They said they make everything from scratch. So the prep took a little longer, but i had a huge churrasco with grilled pork, beef, chicken and chicken heart. The ceviche is BOMB. everything is good. The place is a hole in the wall, but this is my kind of place. I'd rather they spend their money on good ingredients and cooks than on rent.

Two of us came here around 8pm on a Saturday evening after looking for non-chain Peruvian food. I was very pleasantly surprised that although located almost in a parking lot, it is very much a hole-in-the-wall location. It's a tiny location that immediately reminded me of some of the mom and pop restaurants I've visited in South America. Soccer/football was playing on TV and there were fliers and newspapers available if you wanted to become more involved in the Peruvian community in the area. We had no waiting at all to get a table; once seated, the waitress came out. The order we placed was four appetizers that we shared. The first waitress we had took down the order and while seeming to understand what we wanted, soon, when someone else came over, we found out the first waitress hadn't understood what we ordered except for the drinks. All in all, our meal was filling and good. The ceviche lacked in flavor; I have and could make better. The cook was good about removing one ingredient from the other dishes for us and the service was prompt and attentive without being hovering. While I wouldn't make a beeline to return here, I certainly wouldn't avoid it, either. It's a solid bet with pretty authentic (but not spicy!) Peruvian food. The prices are a little on the high side of normal (but this is fine for me, given that it's a mom and pop place) and the parking is a bit wonky, but certainly worth a shot if you've a hankering for Peruvian food and are not far away.

A mixed bag here at Huascaran. 4 star: the fish ceviche. $12 sounds like a lot to pay, but it is a literal mound of fish. Cold sweet potato may also look weird, but it's actually quite nice. 3 star: lomo saltado.The amount of fries, rice and onion far outweighs the meat but otherwise its a good homestyle lomo - the meat could have been cooked a little less IMO 2 star: The churrasco was thin, bland and overcooked 1 star would be the decor, it feels like you're eating in an old store room of sorts. I don't expect all restaurants to be hip or fancy, but I don't think Huascaran is even trying anymore.

I came here for a Sunday breakfast bordering on brunch A lot of restaurants don't do breakfast/brunch until 11am or so (my stomach couldn't wait that long), this place opens at 6am. I had the Desayuno Tipico (breakfast tipical) but don't let the name fool you; it's likely not your typical breakfast. It came with avocado, eggs, skirt steak, sausage, a big chunk of cheese, and plantains (more or less; everyone at the table was sharing so I may have gotten things mixed up). Others at the table ordered some of the other Desayuno meals, and everyone was full or stuffed by the end of it: you've been warned! All the food was very tasty, the service was good, it wasn't crowded, nothing to complain about. I'd highly recommend this as a breakfast destination.