Qero Restaurant

I’ve been wanting to try this place but i was quite disappointed when I left. The place was quaint and dozy. I loved the ambience. The staff were friendly. We got seated right away. We ordered many dishes to share. The special of night - ceviche mixto was a disappointment. It was loaded with onion with maybe 5 shrimps and a few small pieces of fish (i didn’t even find one piece that looked like a piece of fish). Papa Rellena was good and it came out first. After we finished first two dishes, they brought out an empanada alone. It wasn’t anything special. We waited for a long time after we finished the first three dishes. We wanted to cancel the rest at the end but then the waiter said they were almost ready. They brought out maduros alone. They were very sweet but I liked them. And then they finally brought out Sudado de Pescado. It has a good flavor but it was very salty even with white rice. I ordered a glass of sangria. It didn’t have a wine taste. When we paid for our bill, we noticed that they charged us 5% surcharge which is higher than other restaurants. Overall, the food isn’t worth the price.

Was excited to go to Q’ero for some time. Went for happy hour ceviche and empanadas. Sadly the food was pretty rough. Ceviche was really salty and didn’t have great flavors and the steak empanada was just so so at best. Good drinks and a somewhat good value for happy hour but not sure we will be back.

Everything was great from food to drinks, yet there were some wiered charges on the bill 5% service fee, 3% credit card use andist of the suggested tips starting from18% lol Patrick, the server was great nevertheless.

AMAZING experience. Seriously one of the best date nights we’ve had in a while. Patrick, our server, was outstanding. So attentive, friendly, and you could tell he really loves the restaurant and cared about our experience. So refreshing. The food was FANTASTIC. We got a couple specials- the special ceviche (literally one of the best ceviches we’ve ever had) and the slow cooked tri tip. The empanada was amazing and the sauce that came with it was to die for. We will most certainly be returning.

Incredible food! Simple, flavorful, perfectly cooked. Amazing value! Can’t wait to return! (No A/C tho!)

Here’s a glowing review you could post for Q’ero Initiative based on your experience: --- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Truly Memorable Dining Experience at Q’ero We had the absolute pleasure of dining at Q’ero this weekend with friends, and it was hands-down one of the best evenings we've had in a long time. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, setting the perfect tone for the night. Our server, Marcus, was phenomenal—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the menu. He guided us through a culinary adventure, recommending a variety of dishes that showcased the best of what Q’ero has to offer. Each plate was a delightful surprise, bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. We sampled a wide range of items, and every bite was better than the last. The attention to detail, the freshness of the ingredients, and the unique flavor combinations made it clear that this place is something special. If you're looking for a place that offers exceptional food, outstanding service, and a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere, Q’ero Initiative is it. We left with full hearts and full bellies, already planning our next visit. Highly recommend! --- Would you like me to tailor this for a specific platform like Yelp, Google Reviews, or TripAdvisor?

So lovely from start to finish, the food was amazing, fantastic staff and the service was impeccable, the ambiance was cozy and feels like being home . I love all the art work and decorations reminds me of being in Peru . You will love this restaurant and want to come back. I love it all the vegetarian empanadas, sauces , the vegetables platter make vegan and the yucca fries . The wine was incredible . I Highly recommend this restaurant if you want to authentic food from Peru and South America . It is in great location in encinitas and easily find parking. I will return back and bring my friends and family . Blessings thank you for beautiful experience.

Loved this place! It’s very cute, tucked between shops and other establishments, but stands out in all aspects. The chicken soup was the soup of the day and I almost licked the bowl. Next time I’m going to order the empanadas to go. Definitely recommend coming here!

All three courses were excellent. So tasty. Really cool space, staff were so friendly. And the water was delicious! Might need to come back tomorrow it was so good. Thanks for an amazing meal.

You haven't lived .... Until you've tried their empanadas. I keep coming back for the carne. It's better than anywhere I've tried. The music envelops you in, the decor is authentically peruvian to the last detail. The empanada itself. How to even describe it? Rich and decadent might not so if justice. There's an authenticity in the way it's presented, and the composition of ingredients on the palette that are just hard to even compare to anything else. The service of course is also accomodating and helpful. The warm embrace of Q'ero is one of a kind for encinitas and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something different.

Ambiance was lovely, decorated beautifully with Peruvian goods. Customer service was on spot. The menu was limited compared to what we had anticipated according to Yelp and Google. We ordered the ceviché, tasty but missing a few key items we are used to in this Peruvian dish; pine nuts and hominy. Plenty for 4 of us to share along with 3 large tostones. Also ordered the very tasty, freshly baked chicken and beef empanadas, again more than enough for the 4 of us. 2 dishes of aji de gallina/shredded chicken and rice and 2 dishes of the lomo saltado beef. The beef saltado was flavorful, pplentiful but salty. The aji dish was very tasty, just not sure if we would order it again.

Loved: calamari a la diabla, alfajores and the service Meh: ají de gallina didn't have the ají pepper spice I was looking for. Too bland and I wouldn't order again. It's not the most comfortable dining experience. Knees knock the metal tables underneath. Metal chairs aren't inviting/comfy. But I do like the Peruvian decor. It's hard to bring that charm to the outdoor tables though.

Que Rico! Love this place. Came for happy hour empanada and beer for $10. Or sangria same price. The yuca Freitas were deliciously. Got some empanadas to fry at home as well. Dulce Lethe is a must. Service was awesome. Aplausos to the team. Music and ambiance is very nice.

Amazing food! We tried a variety of food options. The chicken empanada was big and had a good flavor but was even better with the pickled onions and sauce on top. The papa rellena had a similar taste to the empanada since it was the same toppings, just potato rather than fried dough, I still enjoyed it. The maduros (fried plantains) were my favorite, they were cooked amazingly and packed a lot of flavor! The Lomo Saltado was cooked to perfection, the meat was very tender and flavorful and it paired so well with the rice. The pollo saltado was also good, the chicken was very moist and had a lot of flavor, just the meal was a bit too salty. Service was great, it did take a while to come take our order initially, but afterwards the waiter was very attentive and overall a nice person. The other staff who cleaned the tables, collected the plates and brought water were also very nice. We sat outside and it felt like being in Europe, I liked the intimacy of the seating. Peaking inside the decor was also beautiful! My only true negative about this restaurant is that the cups of water were very distasteful. It was water with no ice, which I know is a common thing in Europe and South America, but the water itself overall tasted like unfiltered tap water, and who knows, maybe it was, but it just was very nasty unfortunately even after adding ice. I like to drink water as it's something that won't interfere with the flavors of the foods I eat. Since I didn't see water bottles on the menu, I ordered an iced tea to quench my thirst which was great! Overall I liked this restaurant and would definitely recommend it to friends and family to check out.

My new go to restaurant in Encinitas. Incredible food with intimate & friendly indoor seating as well as a nice outdoor patio. The team here do a great job of taking care of guests and introducing the dishes. The highlight is the empanadas. Overall such a fantastic experience and truly my new favorite restaurant in the area!

4/5- didn't have everything on the menu. With the menu already being a little on the smaller side, not having 4 things was a lot. We made reservations for 11:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and it wasn't busy (on the weekends for brunch it's packed). We were given the pick of indoors or outdoors. It was warm inside with no air circulation- since there wasn't a breeze, it was a little uncomfortable. It was lunchtime, the sun was beaming and there wasn't any shade, so we opted for indoors. The service was amazing! Both servers were attentive, friendly and informative. Food: everything tasted fantastic. It did take longer than expected especially since it was slow, but can't complain since the food was clearly all prepared on the spot. Yuca Fries were crispy and yummy. I didn't care too much for the hello sauce too much. Empanadas - the cheese ones were SO good. We also got a beef one, but it wasn't favored and tasted a little drier. *Aji Pollo - super yummy and packed with flavor. I got it with the quinoa, and that was prepared very good as well *Lomo Saltado - My husband enjoyed it, great flavor and authentic flavors. Also used an obscene amount of their house hot sauce... we bought a bottle for home :) Enjoy!!!

The restaurant was ok. The tables outside are basically next to the sidewalk and you will have people walking past you the entire visit. Thank you Covid. It doesn't create an intimate dining experience. It feels more like being in a fishbowl. We are on display for anyone walking or driving by. The service was good. We went there after a Encinitas Classic Car Cruise night and they were 2/3 full. Nice waiter, attentive and guided our selections. The bottled bubbly water we ordered is actually sourced from South America and it has a funny taste. Not recommended. We ordered Calamari a La Diablo. It was ok. It was not delicious. Not flavorful, kind of bland. Nothing special. We also ordered the Salmon dish, Sudado De Pescado. It has good flavor. The fish is swimming in a bowl of flavorful broth with onions and tomatoes. It had a little kick to it, some spice, that was unexpected. I don't remember seeing a spice rating on the menu. But I did enjoy it. We should have ordered the empanadas. Apparently they are amazing.

Good tres leches cake. Bad presentation for the price compared to other bakeries but super moist and fresh

The service was great. My salmon dish and my girlfriend's chicken dish were both delicious. Small, quaint neighborly restaurant.

My most favorite Peruvian food restaurant in Southern Cali. Their Papa Rellena is delicious and you can purchase a bottle of the Peruvian (hot) sauce that's made in-house!!

What an expesive Peruvian restaurant! The best part was our $5.00 beers. What we ordered: beef empanada ($8) Lomo Saltado ($24) Calamari a La Diablada ($18) with a side of rice. The beef empanada was super stuffed with a delicious and juciy beef filling (almost like a shredded beed stew with onions and spices). Yay for our starter dish and beer went well with it. The entrees were forgettable. Although I liked the soy, vinegar and peppery flavors of the calamari dish, I probably vould have gotten something similar and better at a Thai or Chinese wok spot if they served fried squid. Also, for twenty dollars a plate the kitchen could try not to just throw crumbling rice into a plate haphazardy with no effort. No idea why, but our server didn't even go over the dinner specials (we heard the other server go over the two specials as well as rave about the owners and some history of the spot). Even with a gift card we paid too much for this meal. I guess I would return if I wanted a beer and and empandada but I wouldn't drive all the way here for snacks.

Homemade empanadas are incredible. Lomo Saltado is my favorite entree. Staff are friendly and the ambience is great as a local/family owned restaurant. Not to mention their signature homemade sauce is like nothing else!

Amazing homemade empanadas! All your Thanksgiving favorites in one empanada: Turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries. SO GOOD!!!!

A nice little Peruvian restaurant in Encinitas. They try to keep things as authentic as possible. We were seated outside with heaters, which was good but still cold. The servers were sort of friendly but not too friendly. We ordered a bunch of different appetizers to share and then the main entrees. Our absolute favorites were the yucca fritters, the ceviche and the maduros. The crispy plantains were good, but not as good as the maduros. Among the empanadas, we ordered the veggie, chicken and beef ones. The veggie ones were a hit among the vegetarians in our group. Between the beef and chicken, the beef empanadas won hands down. These empanadas are gigantic and definitely meant to be shared. My friend enjoyed her lam shank a lot but again, it was too big. The lomo Saltado was good but I would've liked the meat to be more well-done than it was. I also ordered a tres leches to go and it was fantastic. I got a pisco Sour to drink and it was excellent! All in all, this was a great culinary experience and definitely similar to another great Peruvian restaurant I like. I would recommend giving this a try! P.S. parking is a problem so start hunting for one as soon as you are about half a mile away!

Great ambiance, very hearty food, not my first time trying Peruvian so I know how Lomo should taste and this was just right. Very nice staff

What a fantastic restaurant. Very authentic vibe and the food is consistently amazing. Waiters Patrick and Marcus are outstanding. Highly recommend.

Simply delicious. Their special (non alcoholic drink): 10/10 The Yuka Fries: 10/10 Salmon: 10/10 Ceviche: 9/10 Will definitely come back and try more dishes!

The beef in the lomo saltado was very tough and chewy. Service was a bit off too. I did enjoy the sangria though.

Well... you secure an amazing location, and then blow it. Service and ambiance good. Food.. bland.. and weird. I've never been to Peru but now I don't want to go. The food in Ecuador is great and this should not be too different.

My husband and I came here for lunch on a weekday while visiting Encinitas. It was a bit late for lunch, around 2 pm, when we came in, so they had largely done with the lunch rush. There were only two tables of diners but the waitress seemed very harried. When she seated us a few moments later, she seemed more relaxed and friendly. My husband wasn't very hungry so he just had an empanada, which he said was good. I had the aji de gallina, which consisted of chicken in a creamy walnut sauce. I'd never had anything like it before and really enjoyed it. It was served with roast potatoes on the side. They had both indoor and outdoor dining available when we came, but it was pleasant enough to sit outdoors without a heater because of the southern California weather. Would recommend if you're looking for a great meal in Encinitas.

This place was the best. Great food, great vibes, great service. The ceviche was amazing

Who knew that Peruvian Food could be so good, besides Peruvians? Now anyone smart enough to dine at Q'ero in Encinitas. Since it was nice out (and it pretty much is most of the time in Southern California in summer), I opted to sit outside. There was ample area with many tables to accommodate lots of patrons. I had the Pollo Empanada on my first visit. On my second, I opted for the Papa Rellena. Both dishes were tasty, with just the right amount of spices. It was filling, and after I was done, I feel like I'd eaten something healthy, too. I chased it down with a hot Chica Morada (and took the rest to go when I couldn't finish the drink). The atmosphere was pleasant, the food great, the service very good, decent prices, and people watching was good, too. Can't ask for much more than that.

A total overpriced ripoff ! Tiny, tasteless bland food portions. Terrible, very slow service. Sneaky, hidden 5% surcharge added to your bill with no advance disclosure. They also charge you $100 to make a reservation. Complete waste of your time and money !

Had a wonderful girls night with some drinks and great food here. We had so many good items like the ceviches, empanadas, beet salad with flank steak, aji de gallina...but my favorite was the Calamari a la Diablada (calamari, mushrooms, chilis and green onions) paired with the Maduros (carmelized plaintains topped with sour cream & onions). That pairing blew my mind! Thanks to the owner for that suggestion. Overall, had a great experience here will definitely be back for some more.

We ordered vegetarian option and so amazed on the flavors all dishes, highly recommend to visit this restaurant. Of course it's very cute culturally decorated place

I walked in alone and requested to get seated and busboy had to check first before letting me sit at an empty table. I was dressed in the comfortable clothes and a backpack that I've used to walk some trails/beaches. So I can understand the slight hesitation. Then it seemed as though I was almost forgotten about before they finally took my order. Perhaps I'm overthinking it so I'm not going to deduct my one-off experience a star. The food was delicious! The decor was beautiful. I had ordered chicha morada to drink, yucca frita as an appetizer and a plate of lomo saltado. The guy brought me their homemade panqa sauce to go with the lomo saltado. The flavor was there with and without the extra sauce. I did enjoy the sauce so much that I even bought a bottle to take home for my wife to try.

I met some co-workers here for lunch, it's located downtown and parking can be a challenge but there is a paid garage just up the street. They have great outdoor seating and a small interior restaurant as well. I can't remember the name of the dish that I ordered, our server recommended it and I'm glad I ordered it... It was delicious.

By far one of the BEST restaurants in Encinitas. If you are going to take your hard earned money and spend it on dining, try this place! The flavors are amazing and the quality is exceptional. The service was great, the hot sauce is out of this world delicious and each plate will leave you wanting more! Perfect restaurant for a date night, foodies, or with the family!

We went here after a day at the beach just to try something new and it was pretty good. The Ceviche was good and it was interesting to have the plantain chips to eat it with. There was a lot of new stuff to me in all the food that I'm not sure what it was but it was all good. I had the Seco de Cordero which was a big lamb chop with some rice and beans and it was sooo good. The meat just fell off the bone. My friends had empanadas that they really liked and one of my friends got the Papa Rellena which was meat surround with potato which was just kind of alright. Their signature Aji Amarillo sauce is really tasty and not too spicy at all. We sat out on the street which was really nice and our server did an excellent job of introducing us all to Peruvian food.

Food is delicious, service was fast and thoughtful. We sat outside because the weather was lovely but we didn't get the cool ambience of the indoor seated area. I had the veggie empanada and yucca fries. My friends shared the ceviche and special and they raved about it. We picked it because they have clearly marked vegan as well as gluten free choices and so it meant there was something for everyone.

One of my two favorite Peruvian food spots! The majority of what I've had there has been delicious. The fried yukas are so good with the sauce!! The chicken empanadas were filled to the brim and so flavorful! The tress leches french toast is so unique! The ceviche is a good portion. And while the aji de gallina tastes good, I don't love the texture of the shredded chicken, personally. For drinks, absolutely get the Pisco Sour and the Chicha Morada, both Peruvian classics and so so good! Or get their sangrias which are homemade! The service is super friendly but a bit kinda slow sometimes, they're super apologetic for the delays though I know it's not their fault. The ambiance is rustic and feels like an authentic family owned restaurant. I recommend it!

OMG, what a gem of a place. Quality, colorful, intimate, just right. The lamb plate was sooooo good. The chicken empanada was just as delicious. I'm coming back.

Beware of their reservation system. $10 per person in case of not making it for lunch. This place is so booked and no people waiting for seating that the place loses money automatically for a no show? I prefer services where there is a trust between the customer and the business. Reservations at this place is not for me. Will go there without reservations, and if they are booked, I will gladly go to a nearby restaurant. Glad it is so popular that they feel they can scam their potential customers with a $10 charge per person with no good reason. Good for them and good luck!

Found this restaurant while visiting Encinitas. Said Peruvian food and so I had to try it of course. Ambiance was okay. You know that is something very important for me. Food was good. I had Lomo Saltado and here, they make it their way. The food was good although it could have been better. In lomo saltado every ingredient is equally in quantity so that is important to keep in mind. Amount of lomo (meat), was good amount of potatoes and onions not good. You guys need to put more. Always consider that if you are charging $$ you got to offer quality and amount. I hope that if you (reader), are in Encinitas, you consider to stop by and try the food at Q'ero. Happy meals!

It was pre-COVID the last time we ate at Q'ero. We returned today for a Peruvian lunch. Indoors the restaurant has four tables, but the expanded outdoor seating (where we sat) adds another eight. For lunch we had: * Empanadas -- I ordered three Empanadas (beef, chicken, and frijoles) which were very good overall, although I prefer a thinner crust -- the chicken empanada was best (4/5) * Sudado De Pescado -- Peruvian steamed fish stew made today with salmon that was overcooked and dry (2/5) Service was good. Parking in Encinitas at lunchtime is a challenge at best. After almost 10 minutes of looking, I finally found a space on E Street a block away from Q'ero. Food . . . . .  3/5 Service . . .  4/5 Ambiance . 3/5 Wine List . . 2/5

Q'ero is a family owned Peruvian Restaurant that has been proudly serving the Encinitas area and beyond since 2000. The food is so authentic and even has its sauce recipe made from their great grandmother and passed on through the generations! It was delicious, and good on everything we tried! I Could really tell that everything was made with love. We ordered: *Chicha Morada drink * vegetarian empanada *carne empanada *Maduros *Arepas *Papa Rellena *Ail de Gallina *Nana's Tres Leches *apple empanada We had an amazing server and he was very attentive. We sat outside but the inside is very cute and decorated in Peruvian paintings. They also have blankets and things for sale inside

Amazing delicious food and always exceptional service! They make us feel like royalty

My wife and I were looking for a different type of place to eat in Encinitas and found Q'ero...and, we're glad we did! Here is what we liked: - Great outdoor seating...although it looks like the city of Encinitas may again limit restaurants from taking up parking spots - Amazing food! We decided to sample several items and really liked them all. The Queso Empanada was probably our favorite...great sauce too. The Calamari Diablada was a pretty good sized portion (even though it looked like a small bowl) and was so tasty. The Arepas were delicious, as was the special Ceviche. - Very attentive service too! Bottom line: We'll be going back to Q'ero again...great food, great service, great new option!

I've been coming here for many years and have never been disappointed. The food here is incredibly delicious and perfectly prepared. They have plenty of outdoor seating. I always order the aji de gallina with a side of panca sauce. This dish is so yummy. IRS like the perfect chicken stew. I get it with white rice. Their panca sauce is yummy on everything. You could put this sauce on dirt and it would taste great. Hubby got the pan seared fish which was salmon. He almost licked the plate . The fish was perfectly cooked and the sauce was to die for. We also enjoyed the amici salad though I could do without the candied pepitas. Qero is not cheap but given how fantastic the food tastes it is worth every penny. By the way they do sell their aji panca sauce to go. Get it!!!

Amazing peruvian cuisine. Lamb shank and peruvian canary beans are to die for. Make sure to sit outside for ambience and get reservations as they will fill up.

I have two regrets after leaving this restaurant: 1. Not ordering more food and 2. Not dining at a Peruvian restaurant sooner! I was completely surprised at how delicious everything tasted! I loved the flavors that everything I tried had. We stopped here because they have a great lunch special for students which was an empanada, side salad, and a drink for around $10-11 dollars. We ordered the beef empanada which was packed with filling and had a very rich flavor. The sauce that it came with was delicious and made in house. The drink was unlike anything I had ever had before and both rich and sweet. The side salad was bigger than we expected and had a very refreshing citrus flavor. We also ordered the Don Cucho ceviche. I loved that it was fish instead of shrimp. The fish was extremely tender and we loved the seeds that it came with! I will definitely be exploring more Peruvian spots throughout San Diego after this delicious meal!

Food tasted good and was fresh. We enjoyed the unusual dishes, especially the ceviche. Servers were nice. The biggest problems were the very small portions (we left feeling hungry after appetizers and mains for lunch) and dishonest pricing. They add a service charge of 5% *before* calculating the tip, which isn't right, and, unlike other restaurants with a surcharge, this fee wasn't visible on the credit card computer when you paid. Tips ranged from 18%-23%, so the minimum you're paying for service if you don't do a custom amount is 23% which is too much given that the food is already super overpriced. They need to be more transparent about what they're charging. If left a bad taste in our mouths. There are better options in Encinitas and we won't be back.

Makes you feel like you are eating in someone's house - in the best way possible. Highly recommend the chicha morada and tres leches cake.

I enjoy Peruvian cuisine especially after having been to Peru. For the appetizer, I ordered the pollo empanada and for my entree, sudado de pescado. The orange sauce from the panqa bottle had a nice tang which paired well with the empanada. The pollo filling was flavorful. The pescado dish came after and I liked the salmon and broth with white rice. The salmon was not overcooked. The inside is cozy and there were many outdoor seating as well. Overall, I'd come back and would like to try their ceviche which is what they are known for.

The food was extremely flavourful and felt authentic. The indoor space is relatively small, but they have an expansive outdoor space. If the weather is nice, it is a lovely date spot. They had a handful of vegetarian options as well as empanadas. I opted to start with a salad, ordered two empanadas, and left satisfied. Service was slow, and we had to ask for water refills a few times but overall a great experience. I will be back for the food!

Came here for a nice weeknight dinner with a friend. We ordered the plantains as an appetizer and shared some empanadas. The veggie empanada was my favorite item of the night and the queso empanada what so-so. I also had the quinoa which was great too. The service was awesome, Our server was able to give us a ton of information and recommend things on the menu too. We were recommended the house sangria and were even given the chance to taste it before ordering it. It was amazing and I would highly recommend giving it a try. The food came out fast as well. Fun little restaurant and a great place to eat out in Encinitas.

The ambiance was so cute and very authentic. The service was fast and friendly. We had the sangria without the alcohol and it was refreshing flavour. Also got a fijoles empanada..Yucca fritas..and chicken and quinoa. I loved it. It was also authentic and.so good. The food was not oily at all. Plenty od food.