Curtis Stone - The R.
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I’ve been a Viva Chicken fan since the OG Elizabeth days, so watching the team spin up Yunta and now launch La Lima Sanguchería feels like a full-circle Charlotte win. La Lima is the new fast-casual Peruvian sandwich shop from the folks behind Viva Chicken and Yunta, it's a counter-service spot in South End built around Peru’s sanguchería tradition.
I haven’t wanted to visit Peru more than I did after my first bite of Viva’s old Wow Lomito (marinated steak, sautéed onions and tomatoes, rocoto mayo, salsa criolla) especially when it was swimming in that green, herb-punchy sauce I still dream about. RIP Wow Lomito, but good news... at La Lima, it basically lives on under a new name. I ordered The Tusan (marinated grilled steak, red onion, tomato, carretillero sauce, micro-cilantro), and it instantly transported me back to that first Viva bite. Its the same savory-acid balance and packed with the same irresistible steak.
La Lima’s sauce bar has a “verde” that, to my palate, is the same huacatay magic I fell for years ago... call it whatever you want... it’s the thing that makes you believe in Santa. The room is modern and casual, and while South End parking is chaos, the trip is worth it if you’re chasing a killer steak sandwich from a homegrown group that keeps leveling up. If you love Viva or Yunta, you’ll recognize the DNA here, only its focused on sandwiches that hit.