Peru Cafe Express

First time here and last! Owner was very rude she won’t allow any substitutions even though it’s same price on their menu. Paid the up charge. Ordered Milanesa De Pollo overcook and very dry, soup was puree with not much flavor, salad small with only Italian bottle dressing, then was given dried out limes and warm water with no ice to drink! Definitely would not recommend this place!!

A small and cozy restaurant serving delicious Peruvian food. We had the causa and fish ceviche. The causa was better than the ceviche, the empanadas de ají de gallina were very tasty too. (I'd recommend going for the hot foods)

The shrimp ceviche was so good! It was a reasonable size for one person. The chaufa de pollo was delicious as well. The portion was medium-sized.

To the person that said don't sleep on this place/don't let the looks deter you, thank you! My wife and I stopped by after church and thoroughly enjoyed our food! From the empanadas and potato dish, to the lomo saltado and the alfajores(little cookies with Dulce) each dish was awesome! The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very quaint and warm feeling! We definitely plan to come back! Oh and they have amazing Beef empanadas!

My wife and I loved Peru Cafe Express. The Empanadas were tasty and we loved all of them. Tried a chicken, a beef and a cheese empanada.... they were gone before we knew it. They brought us a small plate with a small salt and pepper shaker and a red and green sauce with tiny spoons. The red had some serious heat, the green was a little milder, both were great. The chicken and rice soup was savory but the rice and chicken were sparse, the broth was stellar. The Tallarin Verde Con Bisteck/ Pesto Fettucine with flat steak was my favorite.....8 stars! I've never tried this particular Peruvian dish before, it's my new favorite! We'll be back for more of these goodies!

Hidden Gem!!! This restaurant is delicious!!! So many authentic plates to pick from. My husband got Lomo Saltado, I got Pollo Saltado, empandas de carne y queso. Kids got Salchi papa and it was all amazing. So much flavor in every plate and everyone enjoyed it. Don't let the small restaurant fool you! Super Delicious. Will be back again soon!

The service was superb! Place is clean and food is delicious! I was here just for a snack in the afternoon and had empanadas and plantains. Probably the best beef empanada in Houston! It was delicious. I would be back for a proper meal next time. Thank you!

Went today,04/23/23. Lomo saltado and the anticuho were great. The seafood rice was ok. Chica Mirada could use a little more sugar and cinnamon flavour. The service was EXCELLENT. Didn't catch the servers name but he was great. Attentive and with excellent manners.

This place is great! I really enjoyed the ceviche- it was very authentic and perfectly citrusy!

I don't like saying anything negative about Peruvian restaurants (since I'm half Peruvian). But I can't let people think this is how Peruvian cuisine should taste. The staple of any Peruvian restaurant is their Lomo Saltado. And the lomo is so bad here, so bland, so DRY, that I'm left wondering if actual Peruvians are making the food here. It's the worst in town. The Peruvian rotisserie chicken place, Pollo Bravo, that specializes in ROTISSERIE CHICKEN has a much better lomo than Peru Cafe Express. Forget even comparing their lomo to La Guitarra con Sazon (the best in town) or Andes cafe (that doesn't even specialize in exclusively Peruvian cuisine). Their papa rellena was sweet (?) somehow. The potatoes in their Papa a la huancaína were undercooked and the sauce bland. The only, ONLY things that were good here were the salchipapas and their pasta huancaina con lomo. Both were good, but not nearly good enough to bring me back here. It's a shame because I love the location, and the owner and staff are very kind and welcoming. But this is not how Peruvian cuisine should taste.

Pretty good food actually. I got delivery today, ordering the steak with the pesto pasta along with the beef empanada. Serving sizes were actually really good. The steak and pasta lacked a little bit of seasoning but the empanada was excellent. Overall I definitely recommend this spot. Will order again.

My wife and I loved Peru Cafe Express. The Empanadas were tasty and we loved all of them. Tried a chicken, a beef and a cheese empanada.... they were gone before we knew it. They brought us a small plate with a small salt and pepper shaker and a red and green sauce with tiny spoons. The red had some serious heat, the green was a little milder, both were great. The chicken and rice soup was savory but the rice and chicken were sparse, the broth was stellar. The Tallarin Verde Con Bisteck/ Pesto Fettucine with flat steak was my favorite.....8 stars! I've never tried this particular Peruvian dish before, it's my new favorite! We'll be back for more of these goodies!

Not my favorite Peruvian place in Houston unfortunately. I've tried Peru Gourmet recently and wanted to compare it to another Peruvian restaurant and chose this place since I've heard good things! Hours are a bit odd since they close at 7p. I ordered the fish ceviche while my friend ordered the lomo saltado. I felt like my fish could have been fresher- it was a little chewy. The portion was definitely generous but I do think I prefer Peru Gourmet's in terms of flavor and freshness. I also wish they had baked the sweet potato so it was softer. I tried my friend's lomo saltado- I felt like they didn't put enough beef. The beef itself was a bit tough and chewy, I thought the flavor was decent but not remarkable. He requested fried rice instead of white rice which was an extra $2. Service was great! The staff came up to check on us multiple times. Prices are reasonable.

A small and cozy restaurant serving delicious Peruvian food. We had the causa and fish ceviche. The causa was better than the ceviche, the empanadas de ají de gallina were very tasty too. (I'd recommend going for the hot foods)

Yummy!! Today I was starving and I got the chicken cilantro rice soup, Chicken empanada Fried plantain side Yucca huancaina style appetizer. Everything was delicious! I didn't feel heavy or bad after I ate. I wasn't able to eat all the plantain but I'll get to it. No pictures this time. Customer service is the best. Great people working there.

Good food from nice people in simple surroundings just off 59 north between Galeria and Medical Center. French fries are the best in Houston. The beef, rice and French fries plate, Lomo Saltado, I got a taste for during my last trip to Peru, is delicious and filling. Would have been better with a hearty red wine ;) but no alcohol sold here. Service is great. This is not fast food as each plate is made to order from fresh ingredients. The restaurant is clean and basic. Usually soccer on the small TVs. Family place where folks get together and enjoy home style Peru meals. They also sell lots of the tienda items you would get in Peru.

Food is amazing, I never try CHOROS A LA CHALACA steamed mussels on a lime juice and pico de gallo omg. Was amazing, but the ceviche misto is the best thing I ever had is just perfect in every sense Amazing

This little quaint restaurant offers an authentic taste of Peru for a modest price. The walls are covered with art from around Peru and the service is quick and friendly. The business appears to be family owned which gives the food an extra layer of deliciousness!

The food was amazing, very filling and well made. The flavor was close to what one would expect in Peru! The servers were very kind and attentive, they took care of all the needs and answered all questions very kindly. The ambiance was nice and friendly, the tables and chairs are spread out evenly to allow for comfortable dining!

Great food quality and service. Employees are attentive. Ambiance is informal and family friendly. I love the ceviche!

The ceviche was bomb! To go orders are always fast and easy to pick up. Parking is pretty easy as the restaurant has plenty space however seating is very limited.

This hidden gem is delightful, we work right by it and when we can't decide what to eat! This is our go too! I recommend if you are looking for something authentic, pay a visit here!

Great food, great price and great service!! Happy we stopped in for lunch! Nice and quiet place as well.

As a Peruvian myself, I can honestly say that Peru Cafe Express us the best Peruvian restaurant there is in Houston, and I've been to almost all. They have never disappointed me or my family. I went in today and had an amazing lunch and brought plates home since my kids couldn't come with me, and they loved their dishes as well. I recommend them 100%

Very good Peruvian food. I came here with my friend whose mother is Peruvian so he had high expectations. The plantains are DELICIOUS. I would say the ceviche was not that good and didn't taste that fresh, but you have to consider that Houston is not that coastal. The arroz con pescado however was delicious and packed with flavor. Would recommend this place and excited to check it out again!

Food I ordered was not top quality cerviche was not fresh . The papa hurricane wasn't all the way cooked. The jale plate wasn't all that great 5/10 it was the first time I've tried it I'm surprised it's still open . From what I heard they thinking about opening a place in Cypress. My mother n law is Peruvian and she can do better. I've tried Sabo y Saxon they have been good so far. La guitarra con sazon is second then lemon tree is next. The one place is in 4th place Peru cafe . There is always room for improvement if they get a better chef. That's the only way this place can be saved. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean the quality will be great! It just facts if you guys meted help improving on your quality on this matter feel free to ask anyone in the Peruvian community we'll be helped time for a change Peru cafe!

Ordered takeout lunch from here. I got the bistec a lo pobre. It is essentially a variant of the popular Columbian dish bandeja paisa but th Peruvians have an edge with seasoning and the Columbian win with that chicharonnes goodness. Also got the beef empanada. The beef in both dishes were spectacularly seasoned. I liked the empanada but was generally thrown off by the powdered sugar on top. Very unusual but it worked. The beans, fried plantain and eggs went beautifully together though I wish the beans had a bit more salt and pepper. As stated the steak was well seasoned but waaaaay overcooked. I asked for medium rare and got medium well. I suspect it's because it's cut so thin. This is the sole reason I docked 1 star. Overall really good food. Final grade: B+ I'd eat there again for sure.

Absolutely love this place!!! The food is alway on point. Every time I'm on this side of town I have to stop in and grab the yummy food

I came here looking for a quick meal with my family. Overall, it was a solid place, and was pretty cheap for a family of four (we ate our entrees family style). We ordered many dishes, so I'll go through them individually. Beef Empanada: easily the best thing I ate at this place. You can tell that it was freshly made with love. The shell was crispy, and the beef inside was soooo full of flavor. Very well seasoned, and has an excellent mouth-feel (unlike some of the other empanadas I've had from various places). If I came back I would definitely order a few of these for the table. Shredded Chicken Empanada: compared to the beef empanada, I thought this was only okay. Sure, the chicken/sauce combo was flavorful, but I believe that inherently, shredded chicken suffers from being dry. The sauce does help with that but it is unable to fully redeem itself. White Cheese and Peruvian Corn: this was my first time trying Peruvian corn, and I found it a satisfactory experience. At first, I was taken aback by the sheer size of it, but once I had all of the components together (cheese, corn, sauce), it was like heaven in my mouth. Aji de Gallina: this was excellent, but the same thing as the above empanada. However, I think the additional rice does add a dimension I felt was necessary with the chicken empanada. The sauce is wonderful, and I could literally drink it like if I had to. Mixed Seafood Ceviche: this was my first ever experience with ceviche, so take this particular review with a grain of salt. I wasn't really a fan of the dish. The texture was a little bit off (cooked, but not really). I would prefer traditional cooking methods or sushi; I'm not really a fan of this cooking by acidity kind of thing. Also, I felt like all I tasted was the citrus/lemon/acidity of the dish; it wasn't balanced very well. Maybe it's something like an acquired taste? Jalea: Oh man, this was delicious. I mean, how can it not be? It's fried food. With fish/seafood, it can be very easy to overcook and make it rubbery. However, every bite I had was succulent, tender, and juicy. It was also very well-seasoned, and its flavors were well-rounded. Not only will this please adults, this will also please little kids who like fried food. Lomo Saltado: some components of this dish were better than the others. The rice was by far the worst part. It was very dry, coarse, and practically inedible. Even the sauce couldn't save it. (The rice on the aji de gallina was much better). However, the meats were PACKED full of flavor. It was juicy, tender, and amazing. I would definitely recommend getting this dish, if the rice was guaranteed to be better. Overall, this is a decent place to go eat. It can be cheap if you go in a group and share foods. That way, you can also try a little bit of everything. 4/5 stars.

Clean, good service and good food. I did it give it a higher rating because of two things. First, the anticucho looked great, but the flavor was lacking. The marinade that was used had not enough vinegar and other r spices (could not detect any cumin for example) to make it close to what a real anticucho flavor is like. Ok, I realize that flavor can be subjective, but I have had anticuchos in many places in Lima and the US. this one simply had little if any flavor. Their Chicha Morada was ok. Ok because it had some good flavor, but not rich enough to make it very good. It was a bit watered down for my taste. I fully understand that others might find it good. Their Aguadito was very good. Their Tallarines Verdes also good. The service good, and the lady owner very attentive. Will be back, but not for anticuchos.

I was so looking forward to there fish & shrimp ceviche and wasn't impressed. Portion size was great but got no plantains or chips to eat with it. Ceviche only which surprised me. When I've ordered Peruvian ceviche I normally get fried plantains but not here. The sweetness of the plantains balance the sour in the ceviche so I had tortilla chips at home and ate some sour seafood. Would not go back.

Oh how I've missed this place! The aji de gallina was excellent and so was the stuffed potatoe or papa rellena! The flavors were all there the portions were huge! Will have to start coming back to eat here for lunch!

Delicious empanadas! We had beef, chicken and cheese empanadas for a party at home. They were a huge hit! Husband and wife running the restaurant are so helpful and kind. Can't wait to have their food again. Highly recommend!

This place is really delicious! Pollo Saltado (sauteed chicken): Comes with rice and french fries but subbed fried yucca for the fries. Other reviewers have noted an extra $1 charge for the substitution, but since I ordered and paid online, they didn't bother charging the extra dollar upon pickup. Chicken was well seasoned and not dry (breast), and the rice with a tart soy sauce was so good! I think the soy sauce + rice combo is definitely reminiscent of an Asian flavor profile Chicken empanada: The Aji de Gallinda (shredded chicken with Peruvian pepper sauce) is another popular item here, but I didn't want to get another entree so decided to try the chicken empanada since it has the same filling. Wow, another winner here. The sauce and chicken combo made a super flavorful and moist filling. Empanada was deep fried and crispy. I gobbled it up in seconds. Plantains: Good as well. I actually want to say these are baked since they aren't soaking in oil like most fried plantains I'm used to, and not seasoned with sugar either. Regardless, very tasty and I would order again. What a great find! Just wished I had ventured here sooner since it's so close to home. Even my husband who normally only enjoys Asian food is clamoring to return. Highly recommend!

(5/5): JALEA (FRIED SEAFOOD PLATTER): This tall tower of crispy fried fish, calamari, crab, and shrimp is a seafood lover's delight. Each bite was so flavorful and the tartar sauce was delicious. The leftovers heated well. It was the perfect next day lunch. (5/5): TALLARIN VERDE CON BISTECK (PESTO FETTUCCINI WITH FLAT STEAK): The thin beef steak was very flavorful and moist. The pesto has a mild flavor but it was a good complement. It seemed like they gave a lot of parmesan cheese but we ended up using all of it. My only issue was the food did come out a little lukewarm but the food was so amazing it's not a big deal. I will be coming back very soon. These two dishes are definitely some of my favorites but there are so many other items on the menu I want to try.

Before picking up food here for my best friend's bachelorette surprise party, I had never had Peruvian food, but since this is one of her favorites, I was super excited to try it. If you're new to Peruvian food, you definitely need to check it out! If you sit in and order, it's quite fast, and the staff is very friendly. They're also great for takeout, it was super easy to order and they pack it all so none of the amazing sauces leak. We ordered the Tamal de pollo, plantains, Yuca and Papa Huancaina Style, and Beef Empanada on our return journey. I don't usually like plantains, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Peruvian preparation. I absolutely loved the yuca and papa huancaina, it is served cold but is also great warm as my leftovers proved. The empanada was delicious, I highly, highly recommend getting your hands on this perfect dough. Against the suggestion of some friends, I got the pescado a lo macho, and they all agreed it was the best dish at the party! I wished I had gotten two orders. It's very reasonably priced, it's delicious, it's quick, and it's unique. I highly recommend this little joint, don't miss out!

3.5 stars. Located off of 59 in a shopping center, parking is a breeze. We were in the mood for some Peruvian and decided to check out Peru Cafe Express on a Sunday evening. Unlike spots like Che Inka which are fancier, Peru Cafe is very casual. With that, comes more affordable prices. The menu features classic Peruvian fare like ceviche and lomo saltado. I started with the yucca appetizer which is smothered in a yellow sauce (can't recall the name). The yucca wasn't the best I've ever had, needed a little more crunch to it, but it did the job. I had lomo saltado as my main dish which is stir-fry​ beef with rice and fries. I added a side of fried plantains and they were my favorite side. The lomo was solid but didn't really stand out. The service was good, only issue was that it took a little too long to come by at the end to bring our bill. I would say Peru Cafe is comparable to some of the other casual Peruvian spots in the area like Pollo Bravo. However, I didn't notice Peruvian chicken on their menu which is a staple seen at many Peruvian spots.

I've never been to Peru, but I imagine that the food here is almost, if not just, as good as the food in Peru! The only thing missing is a stray llama roaming the street! I haven't eaten much Peruvian food in my life (I know, I've been missing out!) so I didn't know too much of what to expect. Naturally, I prepared myself by reading Yelp reviews and scrolling through Yelp photos. The show stealer: Lomo Saltado ($11.95). So I had to get it. Rice, beef strips, onions, and yuca (originally comes with fries but a Yelper recommended yuca and I do not regrets) in a reduced red wine and sky sauce. Wowowow it was delicious! The savory flavor was nothing short of delicious. The only complaint I have is that there was a little too much red wine flavor to me (I feel like I may be one of the only people to ever complain about too much red wine.) Note - the table next to us got calamari and fried rice and it looked ahhhh-mazing. Definitely coming back for more! Also note - they're moving (as of 03/18/17)! Just a couple of hundred feet down to a bigger space near the Fuddrucker's. Okay one more note - the only other Peruvian I've ever had was at Latin Bites and their Lomo Saltado is slightly better, but more expensive from what I remember. Case in point: come check this place out! I know I'll be back for sure.

Food to stifle hunger but not if you are looking to satisfy your flavor hunger. We ordered their steak, it was beaten down so flat you could use it as a bread wrap except its tough. The mixed seafood platter was so so. Price point is high for the quality of food served.

What a great lunch the wife and I had here this afternoon. The food was excellent. She had the lunch special of fish filet and I had the fried seafood platter (jalea). We've been to Peru several times and this is the real deal. Great jobs guys.

Walked in. Sat down. Ordered beef empanadas, yucca with Peruvian cheese, and mixed seafood ceviche. Beef empanadas are fried to perfection. The crust is crispy and so amazing. The yucca is good as well and the ceviche is always perfect. I'll be back.

Ate here for the first time based on reviews. I ordered a chicken empanada and the Lomo Saltado. The good: the empanada was tasty and the crust seemed fresh and fluffy. It came with a side green sauce that had a little kick to it. The so so: The beef was tender and not over cooked. There was a bit too much soy flavor and the onions could have used a little more cook/sautée time but overall it was tasty. The bad: the rice served with the entry was inedible. It was undercooked (hard) so a huge waste of a side. I wouldn't try their rice ever again. Overall for the price, I'd be willing to try other dishes.

8:58pm we arrive, door says open until 10:00pm. Looks pretty open to me, even have live music and the open sign clearly on and working. Door was locked, the waitress (who was working serving tables) instead of opening the door, waves at us like....sorry go away. I call and ask why we were not allowed in when the open sign is on, the hours on the door say they are open for another hour, and there are obviously people eating there. Lady asks her manager what to say, he says tell her we closed today at 8:30. Then I proceed to tell her to atleast turn off your open sign because you look pretty open to me, she says.....our open sign isn't working...... Sorry but you all need to learn how to lie better.

Inspired to write my review after a bad experience at a Urugyan and Argentinian themed restaurant Our friend introduced us to Peru Cafe Express, and boy, what a gem it is! (Thanks, Will!) We didn't know much about Peruvian food, so it was going in without any expectations (other than hoping it tastes good!). Needless to say, it did not disappoint since we have returned twice after our first time. Right of the bat, I recommend getting their ceviche - we only ever tried Pescado (fish), and the portion is pretty large for two people (we don't eat a lot). If your group doesn't eat a lot, one plate of ceviche can feed 4 people. I love how you don't eat it with tortilla chips, and it is accompanied by steamed?boiled? hominy corn and roasted corn pieces. Some of our favorite entrees are: - Lomo Saltado Great flavor on the steak (it isn't really done medium rare though) and I like how the veggies are not soggy - Aji de Gallina It's a comfort food kind of dish with shredded chicken and its signature yellow sauce. - Pescado a lo Macho The kitchen here knows how to handle seafood very well. Fish is not overcooked nor is the shrimp, and the seafood pairs well with the sauce that is pour over it. Another tip is their entrees are also pretty generous portions too so sharing an entree for us was the best choice. When we order two separate entrees, we become too full and could never take advantage of the desserts. We still haven't so will need to comment later on that. TLDR: Overall, definitely worth a visit when you're in Houston or in the area.

New to the area. I frequented a Peruvian spot back home in DC, loved it & have been looking for a replacement for months. This place isn't it. The pollo saltado was extremely bland & the chicken was dry. The lomo was bland as well. So much so that it was my first meal of the day around 1pm & I didn't care to finish it. I ended up ordering more food after spending $45 here. The plantains were good in taste but more mushy in texture than I've had other places. Chicken empanadas were good as well. That said- if you have certain dietary restrictions where you can't have too much salt & what not, the saltado could be a great option. The search for a new Peruvian spot continues.

After many years of coming here, I have to change my 5-Star rating to 1-Star. I have noticed a decline in the quality of the food especially over the last couple of years. Most recently, because of the pandemic, we ordered to go a few times but last week was the worst food quality and worst customer service we've ever experienced. I like to support small businesses and especially Peruvian restaurants because I'm a Peruvian. I l'll even tolerate bad customer service as long as the food quality is there. Last week, my daughter and I ordered 2 bistecks a lo pobre, alfajores, and pork tamales about 1 1/2 hours before closing time at 7pm. We ordered online for pick up using Postmates. However, we picked up our own order. The tamales and alfajores were actually very good. That was fortunate because the bisteck dinners were not good. At all. How hard is it to make something as simple as grilled steaks, rice, beans, plantains, and a fried egg taste awful! This dish is our comfort food. Our favorite to go. My daughter took one bite of her beans and immediately spit them out. Something she enjoyed so much tasted spoiled. She asked me to try it just to make sure. I took a small bite from a clean spoon and immediately spit it out as well. What ruined the dish was that these spoiled frijoles had juice that saturated the meat, rice, and plantains. The meat was tough and dry. The egg overcooked. I immediately called the restaurant with my complaint but noticed that it was 20 minutes before closing time and we knew we couldn't get back to the restaurant on time. The young man who had attended us when we picked up our meal had answered the phone. He said to come by the next day with my order receipt and we would get compensation. We placed our uneaten meal in the fridge to show that we hadn't been able to eat it at all. As soon as I finished work the next day, we went to the restaurant with our meals in tow and a copy of my receipt. We were met with a young lady this time who wasn't sure what to do so she called the manager, Carlos. He might be the owner. I've been to this restaurant enough over the last several years though to recognize his voice over the phone. He was very rude and impatient with me, told me he would replace just the frijoles. He even tried to blame the bad food on Postmates who had nothing to do with our order since we had picked up our own order. I mean I spent $31 dollars for these 2 dishes and he wouldn't budge. I handed the phone back to the girl. I knew I wasn't going to come back. To be treated like that especially since we were regulars for years! Luckily I live in Houston that has a lot of options. So 2 thumbs down for your food and your awful customer service. Incidentally, the next day we ordered from a different restaurant. They also messed up our order however the outcome was completely different. The manager not only apologized but he replaced our food and gave us a free dessert and free drinks as compensation and hand delivered everything himself to my car so I wouldn't have to go inside and wait. That's probably while they'll stay in business.

If you've never had Peruvian food, definitely hit this place up! My friends and I ordered the pollo saltado (stir-fried chicken), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), bistec al pobre (steak), and chicha morada (a traditional Peruvian drink). The bistec al pobre was our favorite, but the lomo saltado was pretty good as well. If you've never had Peruvian cuisine, one of their most popular subcuisines is Chifa, which is Chinese-Peruvian. Lomo saltado is sirloin stir-fried in soy sauce with onions and tomatoes, on a bed of rice and potatoes (usually papas fritas). The soy sauce marinade is terrific, and although I wish their steak was juicier, it was still very flavorful. The bistec, on the other hand, was tender and juicy. Bistec al pobre comes with rice, beans, eggs, and plantains (you can think of it like Peruvian steak and eggs) and is the most bang-for-your-buck dish. Of course, all of the dishes are generously portioned anyways. Chicha morada is a drink made of purple corn (Peru is famous for their corn variety), lemon, apples, and pineapple, and sort of reminds me of Chinese sour plum juice. It was a tad sweet, but otherwise a very special drink. Be sure to finish off all the fruit bits at the end because they soak up the flavor of the juice like a sponge.

completame desagradable. ordene para llevar y lo que me dieron fue comida malograda. los anticuchos estaban secos con sanos extrañ. el limon del ceviche estaba rancio y lo peor fue el tallarín saltado completamente malogrado. la carne estaba pasada y vieja, con olor a vinagre. pague cerca a $100 dólares tirados a la basura

1st time eating Peruvian food and definitely won't be the last! Be on the lookout when you're driving here because it's tucked away on the side of US-59 and if you don't exit in time, you'll miss it in a blink! I came here with a friend on a Wednesday afternoon around 1pm, and there wasn't that many people in the restaurant. The place was nice and clean (even the bathrooms!) and although there were TVs on, there's no sound except for the Spanish music they have blaring at times. The server was nice and friendly, although they forgot our order of plantains and we had to ask for them after we had gotten our entrees. I ordered the FISH CEVICHE, completely marinated in lime and chili, and this was the first time I've had ceviche before. It came with roasted sweet potato and with two different kinds of Peruvian corn, roasted and boiled, and I greatly enjoyed the salty crunchiness of the roasted Peruvian corn. The fish was deliciously refreshing but if you're not used to the lime taste, it'll become overpowering towards the end of your meal. If you choose the spicy option, they give you a side of this green sauce (they never told us what it was), which added a great kick to the food, although slightly neutralized due to the lime. I finished my dish with no problem and felt full and satisfied. My friend ordered the LOMO SALTADO, a beef dish with large red onion slices, French fries, and white rice, and enjoyed her meal except that the beef was dry. She also ordered a side of PLANTAINS and opted to share them with me - they weren't crunchy because they were not fried, which means that they must have been baked, and they were very delicious. I found them to the best part of the meal. My friend and I stayed after for about an hour just chatting and the servers came by twice to ask us if we wanted coffee, water, or dessert, and we politely declined and they allowed us to continue to loiter after our meal was over up until the part where we paid and left, which was actually rather nice of them.

I came here around 12:15 pm for lunch with a couple of friends. The place is clean, staff is nice, food is good, prices are reasonable. I ordered the following: Cheese empanada Chicken empanada Pork tamale Jalea seafood platter Beef baked potato Grilled chicken with basil pesto pasta Cheese broccoli soup The cheese empanada tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich. Would be perfect if they sold tomato soup. It has a good amount of cheese, not too overwhelmingly cheesey and not too salty. 3.5/5 The chicken had more flavor to it. It was basically pulled chicken with onions. A pretty good size. Same size as maybe my palm. 4/5 Pork tamale was delicious. Very moist! I didn't like the black olive in it and it needed more pork, but overall it was good. Tasted great with their green sauce. That sauce is very spicy! 4/5 The seafood platter was good. Came with squid, octopus, imitation crab, shrimp, oysters, and yucca. Everything was nicely flavored but the crab took me from surprised because I thought it was lobster. Yucca was great and fried perfectly! 4/5 The beef potato was a deep fried baked potato With white rice and citrus onions. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. Filling, but the beef was a little too sweet for me. 3/5 The grilled chicken with pasta was filling too. The pasta needed extra parmesan for salt. The chicken was thin and cooked perfectly. Juicy and a good portion size. Great price and this was a lunch entree so it came with the soup. 4/5 Soup was bland. Tasted like Campbell's but it was free. Overall, a great authentic Peruvian restaurant making honest delicious food. It's a small place with limited seating so come during off hours.

Just came back from my first Peruvian food experience with a friend and it was just SO good. My friend ordered a chicken tamale (appetizer), which came warm and fall-apart soft. I am drooling just reliving it. I ordered the Aji de Gallina, which was this super creamy spiced shredded chicken with white rice. The dish was too rich for me to eat in one sitting, so I took it home and am excited for leftovers tomorrow! My friend also ordered a can of Inca Kola; if you've never had it before it's definitely *not* something you'd expect a soda to taste like. It tasted like bubble gum or Tutti Frutti to us! Overall the service was great and our waiter was kind. I'm really happy we spontaneously decided to try this place out for dinner today.

My first visit to Peru Cafe Express. The food was fantastic and the service was great. So so yummy! We will be back!!

When we drove up, it was packed so we were excited as it seemed popular. The reviews on yelp were also very positive. We ordered the bisteca (beef steak) with pesto green noodles. The beef was tender but the whole dish was very bland. Especially the noodles. We had to request some lemons to season the dish. We had to do the same with the grilled chicken entree. Ordered fries and yucca on the side. All bland. They really need to increase the amount of seasoning on these dishes. The beef empanadas were yummy but a little greasy. Don't think I'll return.

I have eaten here from delivery and in person. Both were great. My in person visit was with a friend from the DR who was new to the cuisine. Our server, a younger dark haired man, was very accommodating with our questions and provided excellent guidance on the menu. My companion thoroughly enjoyed her fish ceviche (she is allergic to shellfish and the kitchen obviously pays attention) without incident. I sampled it too and it is fresh and wonderful. The steak mains are on point. I particularly like the pesto pasta and steak and the bistec A lo pobre. A small gem in a strip mall along 59 north near buffalo speedway that should be tried.

Excellent service, amazing waiter and delicious dish. Strongly recommended. Is like handmade food but in a profesional level.

It was interesting to see a kind of fusion of American and Peruvian food (e.g., chicken salad with rice, pasta with steak). We told the waitress that it's our first time there and she took care of us. We really enjoyed their drink, Peruvian chicha morada. Their beef empanada was better than the chicken.

I've been here a few times now and I have yet to find a better Peruvian place in Houston. The restaurant is nothing flashy, located just off 59 in a shopping center that makes it very easy to miss. But the food (at least what I had) was very high quality. I ordered the lomo saltado, one of my favorite Peruvian dishes with beef and French fries, and the meat was seasoned to perfection. I ordered a side of plantains and they were very well done. I also had a Chicha Murada (a local Peruvian drink made out of corn) as this is one of the few places that has it, and it was top notch. For those who the chicha might be too authentic for, they also have Inca Kola, a Peruvian soda you can try. The service was good and quick, but I also went when it was not busy. But I will definitely come back here and try some of the other dishes!