Peru Criollo

From top to bottom, this place has got it figured out. We ventured out to Portage Park after a friend of mine suggested trying out a family owned authentic Peruvian place. Having food prepared just like you had it in Peru is nothing short of amazing. Our server Airi was also phenomenal! We got a few apps and shared an entree which was plenty of food. Portions are abundant! We will definitely be regulars at this spot.

Trying Peruvian food for the first time was a great experience at Peru Criollo. It was highly recommended by a friend, and I must admit we were not disappointed. They are attentive, patient, and very friendly! The service by our 3 waitresses was phenomenal, they went above and beyond to make my father's birthday very special. The food was 10/10, and it is a BYOB restaurant.

Araceli greeted us and saw to our every need, ensuring we had a spectacular first visit to Peru Criollo. We drove an hour plus to try the famous perviuan food and it quickly proved to be worth the drive. The fresh passionate fruit juice, along with the mixto ceviche was delicious. Our main course of pescado frito and y res con papas have us planning our return visit.

We tried Peru Criollo for the first because we wanted Peruvian cuisine. We just went on the reviews and the 4.8 star rating. Believe me, it was the best! Everything we ordered was served with the most beautiful presentation and the flavor and preparation was perfect! We will be going back soon and are recommending this restaurant to our friends and family. Also - the service was spectacular. Very clean and the decor was very nice! Thank you Peru Criollo for a great experience!!! 5 stars!!

Customer service was outstanding ! Girl knew about her food as it was our first time trying Peruvian food. Ceviche was amazing and my steak as well. The cheesing potatoes were so good. I had. Purple drink which was amazing ! I would come again!! Highly recommended !!

Wow this place is amazing, the vibe, the service and the food omg you are going to just bob your head yesssss because it is delish. Evelyn M was our waitress she was super sweet and had such great energy. Check on us at all time. I have to give a huge thanks to the cook because wow the flavors and the art of food they did was incredible. We will be coming back .

Our first time here and the service and food was delicious. Really authentic if you’re looking for authentic Peruvian food. Criollo means in Peru old tradition. My husband is from Peru and we def enjoyed our meal. We had anticuchos, ceviche de mahi mahi, causa rellena (chicken), lomo saltado, tallerines verde (ribeye), and cau cau. So delicious! Our server was Alejandra and she was so polite and sweet! Thank you Alejandra for such wonderful service.

Great Peruvian art, decor, and music vibe, comfortable but fancy-feeling atmosphere, superb service, and deliciously authentic food. We had cilantro beef stew and ceviche-WOW!

"We had an amazing dinner celebrating our friend's elopement! The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff was exceptionally attentive, making the night even more special. A perfect place for a memorable celebration!"

If you are contemplating where to go for outstanding cuisine paired with a sexy, chill vibe and superb service; do yourself a favor, book your reservation and prepare to be WOWED! My husband and I met friends here for dinner who highly recommend Peru Criollo. Being our first time experiencing Peruvian food, we didn't quite know what to expect but we showed up ready to take on the adventure. Appetizers: Our friends took the liberty of ordering a plethora of appetizers including Ceviche (mahi-mahi), Anticuchos (veal heart), Tamal Peruano (Peruvian Tamales) and Choros a la Chalaca (mussels on the half shell). Each dish was a delicious explosion of flavor. What was most exciting was trying dishes I'd never have otherwise tried like Ceviche, mussels and veal heart and being absolutely blown away! All DIVINE!! Main Course: Lomo Saltado (flank steak), Seco de Carne, Churrasco Peruano and Churrasco Encebollado. I'm not sure what magic potion goes into the preparation of their meats but they were super tender and the flavor was outstanding! We all sampled our varying dishes and none of them disappointed! Dessert: I've never been a fan of flan but the flan at Peru Criollo changed my life! Absolutely delightful. This BYOB dining experience will definitely go down in history as one of the best we've encountered. Incredible food, outstanding service - thank you Alejandra, lovely ambiance and the delightful company of friends!

Peru Criollo was my second experience with Peruvian food (after Cabra) and my first experience with home-style Peruvian cooking. I could be way off-base, but I think this is as authentic as it gets. To start, I had an opportunity to try the Empanadas De Carne (Peruvian Baked Turnovers), and the Choclo a La Parrilla Con Queso (Peruvian Grilled Street Corn). For a main, I had the Pollo al Vino (Chicken in Red Wine Sauce). Empanadas = these were as fresh as could be. Even after spending a couple minutes on the plate, the filling was too hot to eat (how embarrassing!) The dough was tasty and in perfect amount and firmness; just enough to add some flavor and not fall apart. The filling was fantastic! The seasoned steak (with accompaniments) was scrumptious and brought great flavor forward. Just one question: why powdered sugar to create a fork outline? A little did make it to the empanada. Didn't hurt anything, just curious. Street Corn = Excellent! The corn was Peruvian (Choclo) where the kernels are notably larger than the standard corn at the grocer. It was cooked to perfection with the grilling adding a perfect amount of smokiness and firmness to the texture. The cheese and sauce added some creaminess and savoriness also. Lastly, I loved that eating this wasn't nearly as messy as I was expecting (as things go for corn on the cob). Chicken = This one is how I know this place is the real deal. The helping was large, the bird was hot and tender, and the sauce was a little sweet and very savory. The veggies were great to add some freshness, and the rice was cooked perfectly. The large piece of potato did not really do it for me. It didn't really hurt, but with the rice already providing a starch element and having the benefit of soaking up any excess sauce, the potato felt like it was only there to add bulk. Guava Turnover = A delightful dessert! The feeling was flavorful and reminds me of entenmann's pastries that I loved but were discontinued, only better! The dough meanwhile was fresh and somewhat flaky. Chicha Morada = I'm finding it difficult to find the words to properly describe this drink. Only to say it is a little bit sweet, and has a little tang/slash funk from the spices added. I think it comes from the cloves. Trust me, this is worth getting. Finally, I want to give some credit to the service that was kind, welcoming, and fairly attentive. I also enjoyed their vibe, and found a decor fun and not overdone. Okay, now I have to justify why I am awarding four stars instead of five. There are two reasons, and very much a 'me' thing: 1. If someone asks me to recommend an authentic Peruvian restaurant, I would 100% share Peru Criollo. At the same time, if someone asks me where to eat in Chicago more broadly, it wouldn't make the list. I also can't say I am particularly drawn to return, not that I would be against it, I just don't feel the pull. 2. Bones. Look, I get that if I'm going to order chicken wings, for example, there's going to be a bone or two within. I also know that some chicken dishes will not be boneless. However, I must say finding random smaller bones throughout my meal wasn't pleasant. There I am, chowing down only to hit a bone. No teeth were broken, but I can't say it was pleasant, neither was pulling them out of my mouth in front of my friend.

We have been here a few times and gatekept long enough. The food am here is exceptional. The servers were so kind to help us the first time we can in and added their delicious suggestions. They also make delicious juices that change from flavor we had passion fruit one time and a different one the second time we came and both were a laid it on the hands of the server again and it did not disappoint. Let me forest mention that they are BYOB. There is a liquor store literally walking distance from there. For starters, I suggest getting the corn ribs. The Churrasco Peruano was cooked perfectly and we recommend that as well with some extra chimchurri on the side for dipping. We got the ceviche and it was so-so but definitely still decent, it's just that the corn nuts threw me off and it might have just been a "me" preference thing. My hubby got a soup because he wasn't feeling well and he loved the soup so much I didn't get to try. Parking on the street was decent and the entire meal was affordable. I would 100% come here again and suggest you do too!

The food was excellent and the weight staff specifically Alexandra was wonderful and very accommodating. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Our dinner at Peru Criollo was a lovely Valentine's Day treat! The dining area is spacious with bright gorgeous murals contrasting the moody black walls & ceiling. There's an elevated feel with faux candles and black table clothes (played down with a paper cover). There's also bar seating near the back; it's a great mix of elevated and casual. Their menu is easy to navigate and we quickly knew what we wanted for our main entrees: charrasco steak (special) and a classic lomo saltado with steak. For apps, we ordered chilled cooked mussels on the 1/2 shell and Peruvian Street Corn. It was fun to try something new for apps, but it was really our mains that wow'ed us. My husband loved his steak and I was delighted by the flavors of my lomo saltado (a brilliant Asian and Peruvian fused dish that always satisfies). Although this spot is a bit of a trek for us, we'd love to come back with friends to try more dishes. The service was personal and warm -- thank you Alejandra. We felt right at home!

The food was amazing!! The ambiance was very chill, good music throughout the night, our server was very sweet and knowledgeable about the whole menu. Definitely recommend going! And remember it's BYOB

Our waitress was a sweetheart and I really enjoyed the lomo Saltado here! Delicious. The ambiance was perfect for a nice Sunday date with my honey.

We just had our valentines dinner here at Peru Criollo and it was great energy and vibes from the start! We were greeted very kindly and our reservation was honored immediately, our server for the night was Alejandra she was incredible :) the sweetest lady who was extremely friendly and attentive. We ordered the Peruvian stir fry and potatoes a la diabla both were so tasty with great flavor! We will be coming back for more date nights :)

The food was amazing. I went for a birthday dinner with 10 people. Each person enjoyed their meal. The restaurant is family owned. The owner introduced himself and thanked us for dining with them. You can tell they really take care of their restaurant. Highly recommend eating here. It's also BYOB!

Came here for my birthday couple months ago, forgot to write a review. This place was recommended by a friend, and my boyfriend and I were looking for a good Peruvian food. So we decided to come here, let me just say the service was awesome and the food are delicious. We order appetizers and entree with a dessert. Everything was delicious and we walk out with a smile on our face and stomach was happy. Would definitely come back and recommend family and friend. Street parking. You can host a birthday party too. Plenty of space.

The restaurant is beautiful, incredible paintings on the walls, very clean and elegant decor. The food was delicious. It is hard to find traditional Peruvian food in the US but this is the place to go! The food was delicious and the server was so friendly and overall just a great experience. We had the anticuchos, chicha morada, arroz con pollo, and seco de carne and it was all sooo delicious!

I'm kind of upset that our last encounter here was not the best. I recommended my bf to come here and tbh our waitress was very rude. She did not take her time with our order - she was passive aggressive and at the end of the night she basically rushed us out because there were reservations. Which we understand but the way she approached it was rude. If it weren't for her our experience would have been amazing.

The food was great! Family dinner and we had the tamales, papa rellena, and ceviche....delicious with the perfect amount of spice. The seafood was excellently prepared. My family was very happy and pleased with the food as they can be very picky. I saw this as a big win! Thank you for the great service as well, very prompt and friendly

I visited Peru Criollo on 5/22 for the first time during my most recent Chicago trip. A very clean, well-kept, establishment with romantic vibes fasho fasho. My server Evelyn, had such a dope vibe about her! Helpful, soft-spoken, and she answered all my questions about the food. Thanks Evelyn! Now about the Lomo... YO. Bomb.com. Lots of umami, good tang, and the perfect fries (made in house) for a Lomo Saltado in my humble opinion. The flavors are coming back to my mind as I'm writing this review. Yes, my mouth is watering! Great meal and amazing dining experience overall!

Great food and great service by Alejandra. We had ceviche mixto and chupe de camarones. One of the best Peruvian restaurants near Chicago. This was our second visit

Love it when a restaurant has the perfect mix balanced. This place has a very clean and inviting ambiance. Open space and tables are not on each other. Easy street parking at night. Some paid parking during the day. Amazing quick, professional, helpful, and friendly staff. The food is superb. Everything I had was fantastic. Peruvian cuisine is top notch, but when done well, it is a home run, and this place does it flawlessly. Ample menu, and I only tried specific items and loved them all. And then the value! Great prices with good portions. A $30-50 per person for high-quality flavorful food.

First time dining here, my friend was celebrating his birthday and spend days looking for the perfect place for dinner! The experience was so exceptional that makes us all very happy! The food was better than expected and for a moment, we all close our eyes and wow we were in peru! Araceli our waitress was, no words! The best in every way ! So amazing that I recommended %100 !! The owner /chef , Diana , came out to check on us, and to say happy birthday to my friend ! The best time ever !!

The ambiance was very nice and the food was killer. The arroz con pollo, hot sauce, ribeye and FLAN. Alejandra was very sweet and her service was phenomenal. Thank you for a lovely date night

This is a true gem!! The place is clean, nicely decorated, the service is amazing and the food is authentic and delicious. Our server, Alejandra, was so nice and gave us some recommendations. We ordered the bottle of chicha (purple corn drink), and appetizers to start. We tried the papa a la huancaina, causa rellena and steak anticuchos. Everything tasted incredible and my kids have not stopped asking about the causa. We then ordered ají de gallina and seafood rice, both were super delicious. We will definitely be going back to try the rest of the menu. The place is BYOB, so that's nice too. They also have a kids menu, we didn't try it because our kids ate the same as us, but it's great to have that option.

I give this hidden gem a 5/5 star, not only is the food great but the service was amazing, thanks to Aracely, we came from Indy just to try more amazing Peruvian food. Me and my partner got the Aji de Gallina, presentation and taste was fanatastic. As our appetizer we got papa A La Huancaína, our favorite sauce of all time,and a tasty tamal, this place had such a unique taste, and would recommend to anyone who likes to try new foods.

It was such an incredible experience at Peru Criollo. Wonderful service, delicious food and amazing ambience. Highly recommended for authentic Peruvian cuisine

Food and ambience were great. I had the Churrasco & my fiancé had Lomo Saltado, both were delicious. Araceli was our server, super friendly & accommodating. Solid place to eat, definitely recommend.

I was looking for a Peruvian food restaurant.and I found it.. honestly the food was amazing delicious nothing better that what I want for MI birthday dinner ..aracely was our server and she was the best. Thank you so much I'm glad I celebrated my birthday there

My bestie and I were in traffic today and saw this Peruvian restaurant and decided to try it out. Walking in the ambiance is very inviting! The murals on the walls are stunning and the owner and her brother in law did them with their own hands! The food was amazing! And our server was Evelyn who was just the sweetest!! She brightened our day and made our first visit here amazing! Will definitely be back!

This place has cool atmosphere, with authentic food! The mixed ceviche is a must, their green sauce is addictive, and the 10 of us all loved each of our meals. Will definitely be back!

We ordered the steak and cod. Both dishes were prepared very well and delicious. Lovely ambience as well. Alexandra did a great job. You should visit. Recommended!

Food here was amazing!! The service was great, the atmosphere was relaxed and the food was well- priced. I recommend the lomo saltado. You will not regret it! Don't sleep on this place. Let's support small businesses!!

Great service, ambiance, and food. I dined here during the Thanksgiving holiday with my family. There were 14 of us with a few babies - so not an easy crowd. Alejandra and Araceli were outstanding! Food was impeccable and the food tasted so fresh. I felt like we were treated like family. Will make sure to circle back here when we're in Chicago again :)

This place is a hidden gem. Been driving past for awhile and finally got to try it. The service, the atmosphere and most importantly the food was all 5 stars. Didn't know Peru had a Creole population but damn their food is fuego. Got the paella and papas al diablo. Was not disappointed at all. The server was very nice and the interior was perfect. I'll be back many times over.

This place is a hidden gem! I've been to Peru several times and the food here is definitely authentic. But before I get to the food, I want to mention that it is a lovely spot for a date night. The decor is beautiful, service was quick, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that Evelyn may have been the nicest server I've ever encountered. I got the Chicha Morada and was so excited about drinking it that I forgot to take a picture of it. It was perfectly sweetened and brought me right back to being in Peru. I regret not asking for one to go. For appetizers we got the ceviche de mahi-mahi and costillas de choclo con queso, which were both sizeable portions. The ceviche was nice and fresh and I love that they serve it with the conchitas to add some crunch. The choclo was so tasty with the honey butter and seasoning that I honestly considered ordering another plate of it. For our entrees, we went with the lomo saltado (classic) and papas a la diabla con pollo. I didn't try the lomo saltado because I don't eat beef, but my partner said it was delicious. The papas a la diabla con pollo was a fantastic dish. The huancaina was flavorful, the rice was cooked perfectly, and the chicken was thin but still super juicy. We ordered a pastellito de guayaba for dessert, but I don't have a photo of that either because my partner demolished it. Luckily I got a couple bites before it was gone and it was the perfect sweet treat to end a fabulous meal. I have already recommended Peru Criollo to multiple people and I will for sure be going back in the future!

As always, the service at Peru Criollo was awesome. The food arrived on time a piping hot . The Lomo Saltado was amazing and the Papa Rellena De Carne are absolutely the best I have tried. I will definitely be back . Love this place

New Peruvian joint in the Six corners area. Grabbed some carryout the other evening after shopping nearby. Tried their tamale and mixed paella. The tamales had few pieces of lechon stuffed inside. The masa was pureed so finely the tamale was something new. The paella was a let down for two reasons. In the description it mentioned tomatoes but in the entree there were none and I'll tell you, the taste of that paella was lacking. Being that we're still not out of the effects of the pandemic I wish they had mentioned not having tomatoes, then I would have ordered differently. Even just a tablespoon of tomato paste could have elevated the entrée. Another bummer was that a few of the scallops had not fully opened. They were a crack open so I was cautious. Nowadays, chefs might say even if they open a crack they are still safe. Having eaten unopened/ barely opened mussels in the past and suffering through food illness, I was hesitant to continue eating. Nice people & good to chat with. If their reviews keep trending with 5 stars maybe I'll make another go and try to dine in.

Wow. Our group could not believe how delicious our dinner was at Peru Criollo. Having been to Peru and this spot hit all the marks. Authentic comfort food is hard to find and we are so happy to have found this gem. Service 100% - Our server Evelin was wonderful at explaining the dishes to our friends visiting from China and Oklahoma. Ambiance 100%- the paintings on the walls make for an elevated experience. Perfect for a date night Food 100%- We had the Pollo Saltado, Noodle Saltado with Steak, Papa Rellenos, and Antiguchos. We could not decide what we enjoyed best as they were all delicious. But the Papa Rellenos were so darn delicious we fought for the last one! This is a MUST visit. I wish I took a picture of everything but we were too hungry.

Beautiful wall decor. Excellent service. Delicious food. I will come back We had the Causa and Palta Rellena for an appetizer. Both were delicious. Then I had the Tallarin Verde with Bistec for dinner. So creamy and great flavors!!

Went here tonight for a birthday dinner and it was absolutely amazing! Delicious food plus BYOB?! $10 corking fee was worth it! Our server Alejandra was so patient and sweet and recommended some of the best food I've ever eaten! We had the avocado boats as an appetizer and they were filled with chicken salad! We also order the lomo Saltado, the green pasta with steak, and a shrimp/seafood dish, all of which were absolutely delicious! Everything was so flavorful and authentic, I can't wait to go back and try more items! All of the staff were so kind but Alejandra was definitely a cut above the rest! When you go make sure you ask for her, and make sure you bring a few bottles of wine!

My friend would not stop talking about how she enjoyed her ribeye and how she insist on going back soon. I love Peruvian food and so far this restaurant is my favorite in Chicago. We got in an hr before closing and knew what we wanted. Ordered salchipapas to start us off along w bread w butter and a spicy sauce. Next Churrasco encebollado. Medium rare and what a delicious meal we had. So much love was put into this. Enjoy y'all

Great service and delicious food! A group of 8 went before a performance at the Gift Theater and the entire experience was wonderful. BYOB was a bonus.

Hidden gem in Portage Park. Amazing food and fantastic service. Perfect spot in this great neighborhood.

Stopped in on a Saturday night with large group (reservation made too). The place looks unsuspecting from the outside but inside it's very inviting, modern and reflective of the beautiful Peruvian culture. Our waitress was very patient with our table. Also very kind and attentive to our orders. The menu has a lot to choose from. They got all the typical Peruvian food with the exception of Peruvian chicken (could be wrong though). We bought some wine to share and they charge a fair price for BYOB. For drinks we had ordered two bottles of the Passion fruit. We enjoyed it a lot! It was very refreshing and paired well with our mostly seafood dishes. It does not taste watered down as well. Our table got bread and some hot green sauce which was very good I ordered the anticuchos de corazón (beef hearts) and they came with roasted potato and some hot sauce. It was delicious and up to par with what I've had in the past from other establishments. I did the Pescado a lo macho. Just for note: I hate Cod fish but I was craving fish plus I was torn between this dish and the tallarines. The dish includes other seafood items and it comes in a sauce. I found it to be very tasty; the sauce did well to cover the cod so I was very pleased. Dish definitely has a place for cod lovers. I do not regret ordering despite my distaste for cod lol. We did share some dessert at the end. The arroz con leche with mazamorra morada. They were decent. Overall, enjoyed everything and will return! Note: Unfortunately my smartphone's battery died during the meal so no pictures for now :(.

Love this local place, so good. Six of us visited for the third time, when relatives from Guam were in town. Had a wide variety of dishes, everything exemplary, we had so much fun. BYOB and Binney's a few blocks away, and Walgreens. Loved my red snapper. The patatas (no, papas ala diavala) with lovely yellow sauce was so perfect. Our server Evelyn, was caring, competent, clever and pleasant. Really a gift for the far northwest of Chicago, and six contenders in particular. I hope they'll be here well, well into the future. Love it. The ambiance is comfortable, my expectation and hope is that it will be here for the long-term

A welcome edition to the 6 corners neighborhood!! Fast friendly service... delicious Peruvian food at a reasonable value! We ordered the Lomo Saltado - it might as well be the national dish of Peru. It was awesome... fries are mixed into the dishes, they soak up some of the sauce... also served with rice. Also had a shrimp chowder that was as good as any we've had. Huge portion.. could've been a meal in and of itself. There are lots more items on the menu.. look forward to our return!

Hidden gem in portage park !!! Amazing food, so fresh and unique! We had so many questions about the menu and Diego was so patience! Please support small businesses and try this incredible place. I would recommend Rib eye with tiger shrimp Palta rellena Ceviche mixto. I can't wait to go baj

Charming establishment! This is the second time visiting the restaurant, the service and food were good both times. Pleasant ambiance too (I would maybe just work on the music selection ). Thank you Alejandra for the great service and your attention to detail. Thank you Peru Criollo for serving flavorful dishes and keeping a tidy restaurant and bathroom! Can't wait to go back and try other stuff on the menu.

We decided to stop here for dinner as we were headed downtown for a show. We pick this restaurant based on previous reviews. What a wonderful find! Easy to get to, parking was close, but the best parts... the service was fantastic, the ambiance warm and welcoming, and the best... the food! Wow! Rich deep flavor and so satisfying. I had the cod, my partner the beef stew dish. Every bite was heaven. Do yourself a favor and give them a try. Highly recommend!

Delicious food, great ambience, friendly service. Aji de Gallina is a fantastic, hearty dish. Be sure to get a bottle of house-made chicha morada-- purple corn juice with clove-- never had anything like it before!

Delicious food and wonderful service (thank you Alejandra!). Excellent shrimp fired rice. There is a delicious Peruvian drink --Chicha Morada (purple corn juice)--try it. Also a wonderful starter-Papa a la Huancaina that is a bit spicy and comforting.

Had the classic LomoSalteado and the ceviche mixto Both items were great but nothing uniquely amazing. Evelyn's service was professional and personable yet not overwhelming-- which I can appreciate.. very tidy venue but our table near the front door was uncomfortably cold .. try the INCA cola ..would recommend.. can't wait to contrast as we are headed to Perú for the holidays.

Delicious food and it served very fast!!! This place is fantastic. We had ceviche, potatoes with sauce, steak lomo tosado and entree chicken. We enjoy it so much and love every single bite highly recommend! We definitely comeback !!! Thank you the owner, chef. Alejandra and service are wonderful. They are also wheelchair, family friendly Couldn't be happier