Merka Saltao

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.

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.

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)

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.

Right from when I walked in, the staff was cheery and welcoming. Ethel was patient with answering my questions, and allowed me to sample a sauce with some fries, to settle my indecision. She checked back in with me while I was enjoying my food and was very sweet. The rokoto peppers they use (amongst others), are very flavorful. I got a Lomo Saltado combination (with fries). Everything was very flavorful and tasty. The meat was tender and cooked to perfection. Recommendation to the owner: List this as a Peruvian restaurant and make sure that Lomo Saltado populates in the search! When trying to find this again and search L.S. this spot didn't show.

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!

Food is excellent, staff is super friendly. The burrito is far better than it has any right to be, and the hot honey chicken really hits the spot. Don't forget to try their culver sour!!

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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Food tastes great, had the chicken saltado combo and the cashier said they just had a yellow sauce. Wish they'd have an aji sauce as they claim to be Peruvian, but they don't have aji sauce. The portions are very small, great for anyone on Ozempic or other GLP1's.

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!

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!

The portion very from who makes them bowl by bowl. The employees also use their hands without gloves to put some of the toppings and doesn't seem sanitary. It has potential to be good!

Merka Saltao is a charming gem. From the calm yet vibrant ambiance to the delicious food, Id definitely recommend for a casual hang out or a quick grab and go spot. If you are into sweet alcohol treats, give the Culver Sour a try - very refreshing! I also enjoyed the Hot Honey Chicken. Not as spicy as it seems but the sauces can give you some heat if thats your desire. I spent around $40 including fries, sauces, and 2 alcohol drinks so not too bad for the quality of the food. Also the staff was very kind - particularly Damian (name might be wrong so forgive me...) he was so helpful and insightful on this unique cuisine and give me good tips on what to try. Pop in support Merka if you are in Culver City. I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

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!

Loved Merka Saltao! Authentic Peruvian flavors at great prices. The lomo saltado is a must-try, the ají amarillo sauce tastes just right (I'm Peruvian and know the difference!!), and the quinoa bowls are perfect if you want something hearty but healthy. Staff is really friendly too, definitely recommend! Next time I need to try their Pisco Sour ;)

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.

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.

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.

My daughter and I went for dinner and we loved it. She had the Peruvian lomo saltado and I had the hot honey chicken. Both were amazing the meats super tender and tasty. We absolutely loved it. Loved the vibe of the restaurant and the service super fast. It will be our new to go place!

I had the steak saltado with quinoa and beans. Everything was delicious. I also tried the sauces and loved all of them. They are so different from each other so I'm still deciding which I like the best. The service was very friendly. Definitely a great addition to Culver City.

Don't let the basic set up fool you! The freshness, food quality and flavors are worthy of fine dining. The lomo saltado was the best I've ever had, and the house salad was soooo good... I've never had a salad I was this excited about. The chicha morada drink was great too. If I lived here I would want to eat here every day. Definitely worth a stop even if you're just driving through!