Merka Saltao - Peruvian Bowls & Burritos

Approachable and Authentic. Their Peruvian flavors are an excellent addition to Downtown Culver City. Quick and easy too, with great Kids Menu options. Healthy decisions from the restaurant are always appreciated: Air Fried French Fries in Olive Oil. Makes me feel like they care about us! Hot Honey Chicken dish was solid and the frozen Pisco Sour was a fun addition. Will be back.

If you’re looking for the BEST lomo saltado in town, and honestly one of the best in the entire country, Merka Saltao is the place. Every bite is perfection: tender beef, perfectly seasoned, with that unmistakable Peruvian wok flavor that’s impossible to forget. The sauces are absolutely delicious. Each one adds a burst of flavor that takes the dishes to another level. From the first bite to the last, you can feel the love and authenticity in every dish. This is the kind of food you’ll be craving long after you leave. Run, don’t walk. Merka Saltao is a must-try.

New restaurant in downtown Culver City and it’s worth the visit! After getting a taste at a food festival earlier this year I couldn’t wait for them to open. They didn’t disappoint, and even got better! Food was fresh, flavorful, and high quality. Clearly, they don’t cut corners on ingredients. The service is where they really stand out, very attentive and helpful. Visiting with two young kids wasn’t stressful, and the staff (owner?) went out of their way to make it very relaxing.

Bowls are tasty! I got the steak salad bowl with kale ceasar. The steak is nicely seasoned with the veggies but a little dry for my taste. Kale ceasar is not bad, I heard they make the dressing in house! The spicy green sauce is delicious and actually very spicy, probably favorite part of the meal! Food is 5 stars, but the price of $17 (that includes $10% soft opening discount) for a bowl is steep so I’d probably go back if portions increased or if I had another coupon. (Photo is after one bite of steak)

Such a great lunch addition to downtown Culver! The food has wonderful flavors and generous portions. We had the Peruvian style lomo Saltado and the burrito. The burrito was 10/10, perfect tortilla to fillings ratio. The saltado had rice, fries, beef, and veggies - really great flavor but could use slightly more sauce in the bowl. You then get a choice of 1 sauce on the side and all of them were delicious. Great, friendly service and such cute and welcoming decor. Highly recommend!!

This is a great restaurant that puts a healthy spin on Peruvian food without sacrificing any of the flavor! The mushroom lomo saltado is had all the amazing flavors of lomo saltado but felt much less oily than a typical lomo saltado. The olive oil air fried french fries were super crispy and had a great flavor from the olive oil. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes here, I'm so happy to have found a vegan friendly, healthier, well priced Peruvian restaurant!

I can say it’s truly one of my favorite spots in Culver City. The flavors are authentic and bold, and every dish I’ve tried has been fantastic. The grilled meats are perfectly seasoned, and their traditional South American dishes never disappoint. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great place for both casual meals and special outings. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always makes me feel welcomed. I really appreciate their consistency and the care they put into every plate. Merka Saltao consistently delivers delicious, authentic cuisine that keeps me coming back. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a genuine taste of South America!

Merka Saltao is such a fun and flavorful spot in Culver City! The Lomo Saltado Combo was packed with amazing flavor, and the green sauce is a must — it goes perfectly with everything. I also tried the quinoa bowl, which was surprisingly not boring at all — super tasty and satisfying. The burrito was awesome (again, that green sauce takes it to another level!), and I love that the fries are air fried so they’re crispy without being greasy. To finish, the lucuma dulce de leche was the perfect dessert — not too sweet, just perfectly balanced. The interior is playful and full of llamas, and there’s a cute outdoor seating area. Service was friendly and made the whole experience even better.

I normally don't leave reviews but this place is SO DAMN GOOD. The burrito is insane, you will not regret eating here. I didn't even know what Peruvian food was, but I do now. A+

El mejor lomo saltado en Culver City! The best Saltado! The staff is very friendly and helpful, and i will definitely be taking my friends and family there. The place is very nice and makes you feel at home

OUR FAVORITE in downtown Culver City right now! Incredible beef lomo saltado. So tender, juicy and flavorful. My kids are also obsessed with how good it is. They love the fries too. I enjoy how fresh the food is and I love the kale caesar salad with it. A total delight for the tastebuds!!

Pretty good spot for a healthy meal! Inside was clean with plenty of seating on a Sunday, although some of the tables were sticky and not cleaned. The service was quick and they have a Kiosk to order yourself. We tried the steak Saltado bowl for $17.45 and the hot honey chicken bowl for $14.65. Both came with sides of rice with giant corn which was delicious! Love the corn :) the bowls also came with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. The grilled veggies were sweet and delicious, but the meats could have been a bit more juicy and tender. The beef was hard to chew and dry. The chicken was better. Price point is a tad higher. Still a good place for a quick Togo meal! Their green sauce extra spicy was delicious and love that they are homemade !

I had fun trying out this place. Not sure I would return as it's quite overpriced imo. My partner got the saltado combo and there was very little steak, nothing like the photos on yelp and it costs $20. If you don't mind the price and meager steak portion, it was delicious. The rice is flavorful and the onions are crunchy. I got the chicken burrito and it was fun, although very soggy at the bottom. The drinks were tasty too, and there is complimentary water for guests. The restaurant is mostly clean and the seating is comfortable. There's indoor seating and shaded outdoor seating too. Service is pretty quick. Free 1 hour parking at the garage around the corner =)

Merka Saltao is a Peruvian spot in downtown Culver City. There are tables for indoor and outdoor seating. Came here with a friend on a Friday afternoon and it was not busy. Upon entering, we were greeted by a staff member. There is an option to order at the front with a staff member or at one of the self-serve kiosks (there are two). We ordered at the front. My friend ordered the Lomo Saltado Combo and a Passion Fruit Juice. I ordered a Chicha Morada and a Build Your Own Saltado with Chicken, Rice, and a House Salad. We decided to sit outside in the covered patio area. Our food was delivered to us pretty quickly. The Chicha Morada was good. It was light and refreshing with a moderate cinnamon flavor. The Saltado was a good portion and flavor was good but the chicken was very dry. The rice and house salad were standard. Overall, giving Merka Saltao a 4/5. Prices are reasonable for the portions, although the Lomo Saltado Combo might be a tad on the pricey side. We were happy with our drinks. My main comment is that the chicken in my Saltado was dry and tough. If we come back, I would try a different protein.

Quite SALTADO that I just discovered this hidden gem, but you need to check out @merka.saltao for the most incredible Peruvian food I've had! They specialize in authentic, customizable Peruvian dishes, with an extensive menu consisting of classics such as lomo saltado and chicha morada, a super hard-to-find sweet refresher crafted from a purple corn infusion with fruits and spices. I love how you can choose between USDA grade sirloin, chicken or mushrooms for your protein and rice, quinoa, air-fried fries, beans or any of their three salads for your base, making it perfect for bulking, healthy eating, or vegan lifestyles. Definitely stop by if you're in the downtown Culver City area (especially for their great happy hour deals), and support the sweetest and most deserving small business! All the employees were so sweet and helpful, and the manager even kindly walked me to my car (since I had a lot of takeout + drinks) and offered water to a customer with a dog. There's also free validated parking in the Culver Steps parking garage for 1 hour, as well as very affordable parking in the nearby Cardiff garage. Featured here: lomo saltado saltado burrito (I got this with chicken) rocoto hot honey chicken quinoa bowl (I got this with steak) aji Amarillo sauce + signature green sauce (my favorite) chicha morada passionfruit juice culver sour

Delicious! Steak was perfect and salsa was bangin'. Ambiance was cute and fun. Service was good.

I love love love Peruvian food and Lomo saltados so I was excited to try this. I ordered the steak Lomo plate and it was pretty pricey. It tasted a lot like Chinese food to me. The sauce they used was similiar to Chinese food. Their fries are airfried so that's a plus. They had great flavor. The meat itself was so tender and juicy. The chicken was great flavor too! Just a tad bit too pricey for what it was. Meter parking nearby

I ordered the salad bowl with beef lomo saltado. I selected the house salad and it was very flavorful and delicious. I love the big Andean corn kernels. However, I do wish that the beef was a bit softer. I also ordered the frozen culver sour. It tastes a lot like the frozen version of Simply Limeade which is delicious! I could not tell if there was any alcohol in it at all, but it was refreshing regardless. There was plenty of seating and the employees were very nice.

So tasty, great vibe and friendly service. Really enjoyed the quinoa power bowl, air fried fries and chicha morada drink. Will definitely be back!

Ambiance: it's a fast food style place for Peruvian food, limited tables inside and outdoor, it's also good for takeout orders Service: fast and friendly, you place order with tablets near the entrance or with the cashier, and pick up food at the counter, the turnover time is very quick, and they clean the table adequately Food: simple menu with customized options Saltado Bowl - **** classic Saltado with stir fried protein choice of beef, onions, yellow chilli, tomato, cilantro, spring onions and the signature sauce, with side choice of quinoa, very tasty, recommend Rocoto Hot Honey Chicken - *** Juicy stir fried chicken with onions, yellow chili, tomato, cilantro and green onion with the rocoto hot honey sauce, served with a side of rice with andean corn, chicken was a hit dry, sweet and not too spicy Price: small portions but worth the cost, expect $15~$20 per person for a quick bite

The delicious wave of Peruvian cuisine expands in Culver City! I checked them out on their opening day (Wed. Aug. 6th at 11am) and I happen to be their first customer, first official order in! Merka Saltao brings the Peruvian superfoods to you. With many customizations available to your liking! The same superfoods that our ancestors consumed in building Machu Picchu :D I tried their High Protein Saltado Bowl with Quinoa! The steak was juicy and tender, crunchy red onions and tomato. Quinoa soaks up the juices from the steak and veggies. So good! Many more delicious options like bowl specialties, burritos, or build your own bowl (you pick your saltao or salad bowl, pick your protein, your side and salad.) Their The Green Sauce is Rocoto-based hot sauce and it's not to be messed with! It's a hot sauce with a big punch! If you want mild one, I recommend their Yellow chilli cream. Service is super friendly and nice with a casual and open ambiance with outdoor and indoor seating available. Metered street Parking and garages available across under the culver stairs. Congrats on the opening and best of luck! Can't wait to be back.

The mushroom quinoa bowl was quite tasty. Friendly staff. Food took about 15 minutes to come out. I thought the bowl was just a little bit too oily but overall solid taste. Reasonable prices.

This is my third time coming to this restaurant and it does not disappoint! The food is amazing and tastes fresh with good quality ingredients each time I go. The staff is friendly and the owner took the time to chat with me about the restaurant and the food. I will definitely be back!

Ethel provided wonderful service to assist my fiance and I in selecting the food since it was our first time trying the restaurant. The food was wonderful and delicious. We plan to come back again.

Me encanto!!!!! Lo recomiendo! El mejor Culver Sour! Fui con unos amigos peruanos y el lugar muy bonito muy bien ubicado

I went here and tried the Lomo saltado it's very fast food style with counter service only and picking up what you ordered via text message. I do wish they accepted cash. Cash tips are appreciated more by those in the industry.

Bright and cheery new shop in DT Culver. I love food bowls and love Peruvian so was happy to head over. Nice folks working. Went for the Saltado bowl with steak and rice mixed with big corn. They make it to order so if in a hurry best to order ahead. The steak was excellent. Great flavor, tender and really nicely prepared. I'd go back. It's a good fast casual option in the area.

If you've ever had Lomo Saltado, you'll find that Merka's take is a fresh, fast-casual, delight. And if you've never tried Saltado, I think it'd be a fabulous first for you. The beef in my order was tender, onions and meat brilliantly cooked, and the fries were FABULOUS. We'll be adding Merka Saltao to our eating out rotation and are so thankful to the staff for their neighborly warmth. We are so fortunate to have a new, clean, and delicious spot on the block! A 10/10 experience.

Very clean, good quality steak meat, staffs were friendly and service was attentive. They didn't even ask but before we seat outside one staff member immediately put their house green sauce on the table. The lady at the cashier was helpful to choose what to order. Bathroom is large and clean.

Just what the neighborhood needed! Finally, some fast-casual food that isn't ramen, Mexican, or pizza. As someone with Peruvian relatives who's also visited Peru, I can say the flavors here taste authentic: fresh ingredients, bold seasonings, and that unmistakable lomo saltado magic. The owners are super nice and always up for a chat (as long as there's not a long line behind you). Pro tip: If you're a meat lover, get the High Protein Bowl. It's hearty, flavorful, and worth every bite.

This new place is absolutely amazing ! They honor the Peruvian culture and flavors so well and it's so authentic. Adding the green sauce rocoto-based hot sauce to my lomo saltado brought me right back to my in-laws family dinners in Peru. The ambiance and aesthetic is beautiful and colorful. The owner is so welcoming and nice and takes his time to explain each dish. The Frozen Culver Soup play on pisco sour was so refreshing on a hot summer day. My husband and I will be coming back frequently.

This was REALLY tasty. I got the chicken lomo saltado with french fries. The chicken was very sell seasoned (surprisingly so!). and the fries themselves were great and crispy and tasty. And then as you gradually ate the dish, the fries would get soaked in the sauce from the chicken and vegetables and get even tastier. The hot sauce on the side was really unique and tasty as well. My wife got a mushroom burrito amd she thought it was really good. Overall, I enjoyed this way more than I thought I was going to!

Love this idea of easy fast Peruvian food. The beef lomo saltado was very tasty. Portion-size for the price I thought it was a bit pricey. Especially in comparison to Mario's where you get a full box full of food. The food also could use some vinegar as I thought it needed more of a kick. Otherwise this place is great for fast high quality food.

This place is beyond amazing ! Everyone there was so welcoming and nice , and the manager Ethel truly the nicest! The food soooo good ! The lomo saltado was so good, the beef so tender , perfect amount of fries . I highly recommend everyone this place .

Had such a great time at Merka Saltao! The Lomo Saltado Combo was so flavorful and delicious -- and the green sauce is seriously everything. You'll want to use it on every dish! I also had the quinoa bowl, which was surprisingly flavorful, and the burrito, which was awesome. Love that the fries are air fried -- they were crispy and light. Ended with the lucuma dulce de leche, and it tied the meal together perfectly -- not too sweet, just right. The space is super fun and full of llama décor with a nice outdoor area. Friendly service and great vibes all around!

I would really highly recommend Merka Saltao! The food is super delicious and the staff are all so kind. We got the mushroom saltado, mushroom burrito, and chicha morada - everything was fantastic!

Loved the steak lomo saltado, it was juicy, tender and flavorful, the rice has a nice garlic taste and the fries are perfection! The kale caesar salad was fresh and tasty! The portions were big, I guess the restaurant made changes to portions after their soft opening. My kids loved the food too! Must try the yellow chili sauce and the chicha morada. I'll definitely come back to try the chicken and the veggie options. (No pictures, because I was too excited to try it)

This is the most underwhelming Lomo Saltado. Super salty, with no flavor and without the usual rice. I really wanted to like the place.

A really great edition to downtown culver. I've gotten the burrito and the bowl and was impressed with both. Large portions and super flavorful.

Really love Merka and the fast casual Peruvian food they serve up that leans on the healthier side (air fries and instead of deep fried), less oil in their saltados, quinoa options, salads to name a few. Prices are very approachable especially for downtown Culver City. The saltado could use just a bit more smokiness (wok hei) but was pleasantly surprised that strips of aji amarillo (Peruvian yellow pepper) were in the saltado. This is common in Peru but rare for a saltado in the US which is more commonly blended into a sauce or not used at all. The quinoa option is a nice option for those who are anti-white rice. Speaking of Peru, did you know the ubiquitous green sauce (aji verde) found on every Peruvian restaurant in the US, isn't really a thing in Lima? So I was enthralled that the friendly manager gave me the more common aji amarillo crema that a lot of restaurants in Lima serve up. On every table they have a nice table salsa. A hot rocoto (red pepper) mix. Smokey and sharp. It had my nose running and a drops of sweat forming on my forehead. Merka packs a lot of flavor and bring a lot of "sabor" to the area.

The food here was delicious and very flavorful. Will definitely be back again. My boyfriend and I ordered the lomo saltado which came with rice and French fries. I also got the kale Cesar salad and passion fruit juice.

The food was phenomenal; packed with flavor and even though the portion seems small, it was actually really filling. The service was smooth and food came out pretty quickly. The ambiance is a cute little spot, nothing extravagant but comfortable. If we lived in CA, we would visit more but to fly across country for the meal, would be a little expensive haha!

Omg this place was so good! Not only was everyone nice - the manager, the person at the register - the food was AMAZING. This is the perfect place to grab a great meal on the fly, but also a healthy one too. Like, who needs meal planning when you have their bowls. Chicken, veggies, carbs - done. And it was delicious! Ok the manager taught me one trick. You gotta get the super spicy spicy sauce and mix it with the yellow chili. It was... unbelievable. Thank you all!

Got the Lomo Saltado with chicken and rice as the side dish. Chicken didn't have a lot of flavor and was dry. They said it's cooked in the yellow chile sauce, which I didn't really taste. Oh well, gave it a try.

We had a great experience in Merka Saltao, The Lomo Saltado was delicious and we also enjoyed the Chicken Burrito. Ethel, the manager was very pleasant and fun to talk to, don't forget to order one of their special sauces , we tried the yellow chili ( amazing) and can't wait to go back and try those mouthwatering fries with their spicy Mayo.

This is a great restaurant that puts a healthy spin on Peruvian food without sacrificing any of the flavor! The mushroom lomo saltado is had all the amazing flavors of lomo saltado but felt much less oily than a typical lomo saltado. The olive oil air fried french fries were super crispy and had a great flavor from the olive oil. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes here, I'm so happy to have found a vegan friendly, healthier, well priced Peruvian restaurant!

We were excited to try this place as we met the chef Ignacio in Peru, three months ago. His exhibition kitchen in Peru was spectacular. Unfortunately the day we came he was not here to oversee his kitchen. We ordered 2 combo Peruvian lomo saltado. The meat was overcooked. The fries and rice were semi warm and not hot. Add our 2 ounce yellow chili sauce was definitely not worth it.... Was it really 2 ounces? Needless to say there are several other Peruvian restaurants nearby to try.

Came here for an impromptu meal when our dinner plans fell through, and had such a delicious and memorable experience!! My husband and I both ordered the lomo saltado. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the rice was so good that even my baby kept asking for more. The fries were also bomb. Will have to come back to try more items!

Stumbled across this place while walking around. The food tastes amazing and authentic. It was very flavorful. My order was ready pretty fast and the staff was friendly. Loved the vibe and definitely will be returning !

The best Lomo Saltado in town ! I will definitely come back to try the other dishes . I highly recommend to try the ají verde, ají amarillo and rocoto sauces , these are great flavor touches to your lomo saltado and other choices. The Lucuma tres leches is an amazing sweet end of your meal !

As a vegan 10/10 recommend. Their burritos are amazing, the green sauce is spicy FYI, their mushrooms are perfectly sauced! 10/10 their staff is super friendly and the decor inside is aesthetically pleasing.

Quinua with Chicken and vegetables, amazing dish, Peruvian are the best cooks and the variety of flavors together, It felt like a firecracker in my mouth, thank you guys. Too bad I can't give you more stars

Finally a Peruvian restaurant close to my house if you want to taste a really good lomo Saltado and Pisco sour , you need to come here !!! Good customer service !!!

Went here during their soft opening on a Thursday night. There was a line when I came in but they conveniently have two options for how to order - self-serve on a tablet or by someone at the register. I ordered at the register and the service was very friendly. I got the Peruvian style lomo saltado. It comes with their saltado mix, steak, rice, and fries. The food came out surprisingly quickly given the line that was ahead of me. My meal was delicious! Steak was tender, favors were strong, and the fries were crispy. A highlight was their hot sauce. I had to ask for a bottle because they keep it refrigerated behind the counter. It was SO good. According to them, all of their sauces use ingredients that are authentic to South America. You can tell that they put a lot of care into their food. My meal was filling, and that was with my boyfriend stealing some bites. I could see the bowls (which only come with one side) being satiating for lunch. Others around us had the burrito and it looked like a good size and tasty! Will be back to try other items. Can't emphasize how friendly everyone was too!

Food was really amazing, probably the cleanest healthy lomo saltado I've tried. The vibes were cool, also the owner gave my daughter a free drink, said it was his daughter's favorite. Drink was good.

Great fast casual place with an offering of healthy food. Loved the sauces, but they are spicy! Respect them if you don't want to walk back to work with a sweaty forehead. Go nuts if you want to clear your sinuses. I got the chicken bowl, well seasoned and filling. I also got the Chicha Morada which was delicious and helped offset the heat.

The flavor and Quality were fantastic! It a very original idea and in my opinion, a very good new option to Chipotle or Chick filet, more tasteful and light at the same time. It's nos about adding more ands more condiments, it's about combining the less condiments possible and get the desired flavor! Friendly, happy, smiling faces every where. Presentation, food quality, etc... love it! The place was very clean and well organized. Even the bathrooms are impeccable, which also speaks a lot about the commitment to food safety.