We've been here 2x recently. When we first walked in and saw the two life-sized stuffed llamas in the entrance, I knew this would be a fun experience! Don't miss that great photo op, btw. Lots of colorful decorations hanging from the ceiling in the main dining area. Very festive! The staff here are all very pleasant, from the hostess to the servers. The menu is a bit pricey, but the presentation is BEAUTIFUL and the food delish! But we mistakenly ordered a $60 appetizer for 4 people. It was good but definitely priced too high. The calamari was crispy and tasty, though. And the paella is super delicious, full of flavor. The sides are really interesting. Make sure you order the yucca fries!!! Totally addicting with their green sauce. YUM!!! The lentil side dish was one of my favorites. The flavor was amazing! For my meal, I ordered the Asado Criollo, tender roast beef cooked in wine with raisins. The meat was extremely tender! Another time I tried the tacos, which were unlike any I've had before. Fairly simple but again, tasty tender pieces of meat! The presentation of the food and drinks definitely added to the whole enjoyable experience. Oh, and I even liked the textured pink water glasses!! Definitely a fun time. Try it! read more

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I first visited Cora Cora Peruvian Restaurant in West Hartford within its first year of being open, but I hadn't been in a while until recently. Some Yelpers persuaded me to return. After seeing it at another table, I ordered the mixto ceviche topped with fried calamari. Why fried calamari on top of ceviche? Because Peruvian restaurants love you back. The ceviche goblet presentation was terrific. The good acidic and citrus flavor, along with the contrasting textures of the soft seafood and crisp vegetables, makes this dish awesome. I also ordered fried Yucca stuffed with cheese. The cheese was super stretchy. The flavors and oils from the Yucca and cheese were a great counterpoint to the acidic ceviche. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice. Service was efficient and friendly. I'll definitely return to sample more of the menu. Five Stars read more

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Love, love, love!! Friendly service plus food and drinks are sooo good! They always have a smile on their face and go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and comfortable. I am new to Peruvian food. They are always so patient explaining the dishes and drinks. I went with a group of friends and cousins another time. We had so much fun. Drinks came out and was just simply beautiful and delicious. We had the seafood paella and steak, ceviche, a heart appetizer (had to try it.. not bad!). A finalist for the James Beard Foundation award. Check it out and you'll know why! read more

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Last Friday night we decided on a whim to grab some food out late as we hadn't had dinner. I've been to Coracora several times over the years, and always get the ceviche because it is the BEST around. But we decided to try some different items for a change, and they did not disappoint! One great thing about this place is you're in West Hartford but don't have to pay for parking. But don't let the fact that it's not in West Hartford Center for you. I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. It's definitely the food that draws the crowd here but the decor is very fun and intimate, with a couple of spots for great social media pictures. On busy nights it does tend to get loud, but the side porch area is a bit quieter. My date wanted the Brasa Tequenos to start. I obliged, thinking they just really didn't sound that great to me: rotisserie chicken in a wonton wrapper with cheese. Boy was I wrong! They had so much flavor. You could definitely eat them on the wrong, but I loved the dipping sauce that was offered for an extra $5. It was way too much sauce for the amount of taqunos. They should save themselves some money and serve half that amount of the sauce, but next time I would save it to use with the rest of my entrée. My date being a total steak guy, he had to try the ribeye a lo pobre. It had such amazing seasoning on it that it really didn't need any salt. And the price cannot be beat! $31for a 10 oz. It came with plantains, fried egg, white rice and fries. That's a double carb but nothing was left on his plate at the end. You can always switch out for another side if you'd rather. But they also serve another 10 ounce ribeye for the same price that he may need to try next time. Since I decided to try something other than ceviche, I went for the rotisserie chicken this time. The skin on it was so perfectly crispy and delicious, and I got to choose any two sides with it. It was very hard to choose because there's french fries, rice, potatoes, sweet potato, purée, broccoli, asparagus, just to name a few! Word on the street is these go fast so I was very lucky to have one left on a Friday night at 9 PM. The half chicken was so large I was able to take some of it home with some of the sides as leftovers. We did splurge on cocktails, of course. The Pisco Sour is a must. Not sweet or really sour at all. Just delicious. And we did one extra rare splurge for us: dessert. All of the choices sounded good, but we went with the traditional churros. I'm already thinking about what I wanna order next time I go in but I know I will be definitely going back to my regular order of ceviche. Cheers! read more

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I have eaten at Peruvian restaurants all over the world. For nearly thirty years I have traveled back-and-forth to Perú from the U.S. about every 4-6 weeks. I know Perú and I know Peruvian food. Coracora is a rock star place! One of the top three Peruvian restaurants I have had the pleasure of dining outside of Perú. The food is simply fantastic. A strict adherence to the traditional recipes, means you get a fully authentic experience. The Ají de Gallina is AMAZING! The ceviche is so fresh and light. Add to the deliciousness of the kitchen with a bar service that may be the best Pisco Sour I have ever had - away from Sr. Eloy at Hotel Maury in Lima. The atmosphere is approachable and inviting. The staff are all very knowledgeable about the menu and Peruvian food and culture. The owner is a veritable top-chef and celebrity - as well as a down-to-earth and approachable person. Coracora is one place you do not want to miss. Honestly, this is the sort of place that I would travel across the country to dine. Oh wait, I did just that! If you live in the Hartford area - go! Often! You will JT be disappointed. read more

We absolutely loved the mussel appetizer and Pescado a lo macho (bronzing) was amazing! The server, Sebastian, was also excellent and very helpful!!!! read more

Food was tasty and the staff was very friendly, open to answer any questions. I will devote 2 of my touchdowns next season in honor of this place. read more

Upscale Peruvian restaurant that is ornately decorated and has a great menu of classic Peruvian dishes I have been coming here since I was in high school, and the place has really transformed over the years. What started out as a restored McDonals has become a fine-dining establishment Instead of bread they serve you complimentary toasted corn with a homemade sauce. I recently found out that you are supposed to mix the two together rather then dip the corn into the sauce They used to have a huge menu, but since the place became higher end they cut the menu down by more than have. They also significantly raised the prices, but the food is worth it. Growing up I always got their roasted chicken, which is extremely tender and practically falls off of the bone, but most recently I got their Lomo Saltado (steak dish) which was delicious as well. In fact, I have never had a bad dish here Great cocktail menu as well Also have great mints read more

I'm not a Peruvian cuisine connoisseur but the food was spectacular. We sat outside. Place looked clean. Service was super quick. Portions were generous but not excessive. read more

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So I've been trying to find the best restaurants in CT to find the known good spots. This place was nominated for a James beard award for best in the northeast, so I had to give them a go. Called in a reserve, made the trek, and had to wait for seating but eventually managed to get a seat. Location is not what you would expect. It weirdly had a lot of similarities to the nightclub I went to for Peruvian food. Had greenery on the wall, neon lights, loud music and lots of fairy lights. Server was very friendly, but it did take them a while to get to us. When the order was placed, we got our food quickly. The drink we got was a purple corn drink, not sweet but just a tad sweet. It's an interesting flavor, like a less pronuced sugar beet. But I digress The food was very fresh and prepared well. Best bite being the empanadas. The dough was soft, not overworked like most pastries. The filling was ample and spiced well. We got the chicken, beef, and guava with cheese. The guava was the only weird one, only because the cheese was very dense and chewy. The others were very tasty bites The tacos were also flavored well. They charred the beef and cooked it perfectly. The tacos were wet but had penty of sauce. I did hope for a bit more heat. It had enough flavor to be good, but I was hoping for some kick. The chiveche appetizer was good. The waitress tried to warn us that the app was very spicy. It had some heat towards the back end, but it wasn't hot. Fish was marinated and was a nice aciditic bite of fresh fish. The churro split was a great end to the meal. The ice creams were nice dense but decadent scoops. The passion fruit was extremely tart, the Leche one was creamy and sugary, and the Peruvian fruit in the middle was the more neutral flavored one. Churros were not caked in cinnamon sugar which lead to a more savory bite, but it was still very good. If I never had Peruvian food, this place would be awesome! I did review a place in hartford that put out similar dishes though. The fare was lacking the presentation element, but the flavors were significantly bolder at the Hartford Peruvian place I tried. The price was also very high. Ended up spending 80 bucks on the 3 apps, 2 drinks, and dessert. They know they have a good spot and they charge accordingly. Overall, it's a great bite at a expensive price point. If you never had Peruvian, or if you happen to be in the area and want some very fresh food, this is a great spot to consider. read more

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Jean Franco our server was amazing, whatever he is getting paid he deserves a raise. He takes his job very seriously. Very friendly, attentive all night and helpful when ordering foods. All 4 of our meals were show stoppers. We started with the ceviche and empanadas both of which were amazing. Had the pescado a lo macho for my main course and I licked my plate clean. For dessert we had the ice cream sampler. Very tasty and a great way to end our meal. 10/10 experience can't recommend this restaurant enough. Shout out Jean Franco you're the man. read more

So I've been here several times, and to be clear - the food never disappoints, ever. Flavors are off the chart. I went there last week and noticed two things: their menu option selections were reduced AND their prices went up. I was SHOCKED to see one of the entrees for $40. No shade, but this is on Shield St. I can't remember seeing entrees in the center of WH or Glastonbury or Old Wethersfield charging this for any of their entrees. Then... we ordered Papa a la Huancaina as an appetizer and the serving had gotten smaller (and the price probably increased, but I can't say for sure). So I won't be going back. As one of my Peruvian acquaintances said, 'Peruvians don't go there... their prices are crazy, and they really think their food is so good or better than what we've had at home or Peru?? - not worth it'. read more

It felt like I was transported back to Peru! The festive ambiance, the cozy family feel, the authentic food, it all comes together in an impressive restaurant. My husband and I shared the arroz norteño and aji de gallina. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and ridiculously good. They also bring out the complimentary Peruvian corn in the beginning and it's so good and crunchy! I highly recommend you check Coracora out for a fun night out. read more

I came here for my husband's birthday and was pleasantly surprised. Upon arrival, we were thrown off by the appearance - the building was obviously an old fast food restaurant, the interior though is festive and colorful. To start off our dinner, we ordered the Empanadas - one chicken, one beef, and one guava and cheese. The empanadas were great, our favorite was the guava and cheese. For my main meal, I ordered the Rotisserie Chicken with sweet potato fries and yuca fries. The chicken was so good - very juicy and well seasoned, and the fries were just as good. I also enjoyed a delicious and refreshing Virgin Pina Colada. My husband ordered the Arroz Con Mariscos and loved it. We shared a slice of Tres Leches to finish our meal - not the best we've had, but still satisfying. I'm happy we didn't judge CoraCora by the exterior alone because the food is excellent and we will be returning for another great meal! read more

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Having grown up in Los Angles, one has access to many fine examples of world cuisine, and there are several places of Peruvian-Chinese food (or Chifa) that I've tried in the past. It was a pleasant surprise to find a Chifa restaurant in Connecticut. For those not in the know, Chifa food came about from the influx of Chinese workers going to Peru (like Chinese railroad workers), and Chinese traditions and influence infused with the local culture -- like cooking with a wok and soy sauce with Latin ingredients and flavors as well. (If you can believe it, I actually picked up this info on the back of a menu at a Peruvian-Chinese restaurant in Southern California! LOL!) Upon walking into Coracora, it has a colorful and festive ambiance. (It made me smile!) The staff is friendly and inviting. Tables are immediately served cancha or canchita, which is a Peruvian corn nut (snack) often made from choclo (Peruvian corn that has larger kernels than what Americans are accustomed to). The cancha or canchita seems to be served with aji amarillo - a cream-based sauce made with yellow chili peppers. We ordered the empanada appetizer, which comes with a choice of 3 fillings, and we opted for one of each -- beef, chicken, and guava/cheese. We jumped at sampling all of these , so I failed to take a picture. They were not oily, crisp and flaky on the outside, and each had a yummy flavor. With the exception of one of my sons getting the pan-seared salmon with 2 sides (for which he chose rice and fries), every other dish was a really large hefty amount of food. The pan-seared salmon was delicious (actually not dry, even though it was pan-seared and looked dry), but it was just a large square fillet, a rice-bowl of rice, and a mini square fry basket of french fries. Don't get me wrong; it was filling, prepared well, satisfying, and enough for my son. It's just, in comparison to the other dishes at the table, this plate had the least amount. (I took pictures, but I don't think my pictures do the portion sizes justice.) My other (teen) son had tallarín saltado with chicken and a side of fries. This is basically a chow mein, noodle stir-fry. Here, it is linguine pasta stir-fried with scallions, red onions, red bell peppers, and soy sauce. You have a choice of protein, and my son chose chicken. Now, my teen (who could eat us out of house and home) had leftovers that made for another meal at home. While this is a dish that is $18+, it's a very large amount of food; all that pasta is very filling. Besides a side of fried plantains (just because he really likes them), my husband had arroz con mariscos, which is a seafood paella -- a stir-fried mix of seafood with rice and vegetables. It is beautifully presented and was delicious. I had the pescado a lo mancho, thought it was delicious, and was thoroughly satisfied. You have a choice of fish, and I chose the white fish. It's a dish of mixed seafood (mussels, shrimp, squid, and fish) in a sauce of aji panca (Peruvian red chili), tomato, cilantro, and white wine served over golden potato wedges with parmesan cheese, half a boiled egg, and a side of white rice. It's very filling dish. Overall, I thought it was a very enjoyable meal. Also, kudos to them for being a James Beard Awars semifinalist this year (2023). read more

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When I recently went to CoraCora with some friends, I knew exactly what to order, I was going to get Ceviche. They even had one as a special the day I went. CoraCora is where I had this dish for the first time last summer, it is very easily my favorite food discovery of 2022. CoraCora is so beautiful and inviting on the inside, the entire space has string lights hanging off the ceiling. Right by the entrance, you'll notice a large lama that's bedazzled in colorful tassels. Then there's a beautiful mural of Machu Picchu right across from where we were seated. We were given a small cup of their signature fried corn, with aji sauce. This was such a hit, we got it replenished a few times. I of course ordered the fish Ceviche another friend also ordered it, and my other friend got the Brasa salad. This was a great choice on my part. My tilapia was finely cut, while it sat on lime juice, it was surrounded by corn, onion, and sweet potato purée, which offered a nice contrast of flavor and texture. My friend's salad was also really fresh. It was a quinoa base, with avocado, beets, tomato, it also came with a very generous portion of chicken on top. This was truly tasty, I loved all of the fresh ingredients in this salad. We also got a serving of three beef empanadas. These are pretty unique since they come coated with a fine dusting of powdered sugar. These might be my favorite empanadas I've ever had. They're so flavorful, and full with a nice and perfectly soft outer layer. We had a great time at CoraCora. I can't wait to be back and try another version of the ceviche. read more

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So nice! My parents love coming here but I hadn't been since they first opened. The ambiance has definitely changed for the better, I love the decor. The waitstaff were really attentive and really kind. We ordered the trio of empanadas. Unfortunately it was sent to the wrong table while we waited but our waiter Klener took care of us. When our empanadas arrived, they were fresh and hot. I liked the chicken empanada the best, but all three were pretty good. You have to keep in mind these are dusted with powdered sugar, even the savory ones. But IMO, it's a nice unexpected combination. I ordered the Jalea Mixta which is a pretty safe bet if you've never been there, but still delicious. A good assortment of fried shrimp, mussels, and calamari over yuca fries and a red onion salad. My husband ordered the seafood rice (similar to paella), which was really flavorful. We ended with some churros drizzled with caramel. Yum. We'll definitely come back. Next time I'll be eyeing the leche de Tigre and Chaufa (which is really my favorite Peruvian dish). Enjoy! read more

Coracora Original - Jalea Mixta - Latin American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Had to get back to this place which I frequented several times in the past. Now things have changed here but the food is the best. The dining room is larger, the decorations more evident, the waitstaff has doubled but the quality, presentation and taste of the food hasn't. I started with a Mojito and it was fine. My entrée was the Pescado a lo Macho: Fried fish fillet hidden under a mixed seafood sauce containing mussels, shrimp, scallops and calamari! What a fantastic meal and it came with golden potatoes and white rice. The sauce was so smooth and the seafood so fresh. I took a large portion home so I could have room for dessert. Good move. The Crema Volteada was flan on steroids. Will definitely be back and force myself to try something else on the menu. read more

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I ordered the lunch special pollo saltado and a cherimoya ice cream. The pollo saltado had quite a few onions, wished the ratio of the chicken, rice, fries, onions, and tomatoes were better. The cherimoya ice cream was good, but did not expect it to be a sundae. Overall, this lunch was ok, but this place may be better in person! read more

Coracora Original - LUNCH Saltado, Chirimoya Ice Cream - Latin American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

The food is really good here! They are family owned and run and super nice. I would definitely come here again! The presentation of the dishes were beautiful! read more

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I recently took my father to this restaurant because he loves ceviche. I personally have never had the ceviche here, but I had tried a few dishes and really enjoyed everything. I ordered the causa and yucca fries. The causa is chicken salad in between potatoes - it's good! It's one of the better ones I've tried in other places. The yucca fries are filled with cheese and served with a dipping sauce. I'm not quite sure what the dipping sauce is but it is delicious! My father ordered the ceviche, and while it is not his favorite compared to other places, he did like it. He liked that it had the giant corn in it, called choclo. The presentation was very nice. The service was excellent. Our waiter checked in on us often and was very friendly. I have previously tried their chaufa (excellent), and would order that again or try something new. Don't be turned off by it's awkward location - it's part of a plaza and has recently put in a drive through. read more

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Wonderful experience at Coracora. Cocktails were delicious and the ceviche could have been a meal in itself! I did order the Lomo Saltado as my main course but could barely even eat it because I was full from the ceviche. It was a bit on the saltier side though. I also tried the coracora dirty martini which I'm not sure I would try again bc I'm used to more of the vodka martinis-this one tasted a little more like gin (it was made with pisco so a little more herbal tasting). Other than that, great service! Definitely on the pricier side. read more

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Wonderful authentic casual spot in a renovated McDonald's location. We started off with complimentary Peruvian beans in a spicy sauce. The Pisco sours are made from scratch NOT from a mix. Fish ceviche delicious - pork tamale appetizer : large piece with onion salad very good. We split the shredded chicken pecan entree - it was tasty but a bit heavy for my taste. They put a lot of effort into presentation. The spices are tangy but not overwhelming. The service is wonderful. Reasonable prices. Festive atmosphere. read more

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If you love Peruvian cuisine, this is the perfect place for you. It's super decorative on the inside and everything is very authentic. We got a lot of appetizers and items to share for the table. The paela was the stand out dish. Packed with tons of flavor and seafood. Overall everything was good. We ended up spending 50 per person, so your average cost for Peruvian cuisine. Definitely a fun group setting for dinner. read more

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We had heard about Coracora from friends and we were not disappointed. It's unassuming from the outside, but the ambiance once you enter is wonderful. We went on mothers day and they had it decorated beautifully. The staff were friendly and welcoming and made the experience that much nicer. The menu has a wealth of options that make it hard to decide. We ordered the empanadas, Asado Criollo, a Mother's Day special pasta, the spicy margarita, and a few desserts. Each item was as good as we could have hoped for. I don't think anyone should miss the Taste of Peru ice cream sampler. It was amazing. Our waiter, Marco, was great. He was warm and welcoming, offered great recommendations, and was attentive but not intrusive at all. This is a great restaurant that we are eager to visit again. read more

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This was our fourth time at Coracora and we were disappointed in the basic execution of the dishes we tried. First, we ordered empanadas as appetizers. I have never in my life, and I'm sure you haven't either, had powdered sugar sprinkled on your beef and chicken empanadas. I'm sure this was a kitchen error. I then ordered a basic dish, friend fish with yuca fries. I was really looking forward to having this dish as all of my previous experiences had been amazing. The fish and yuca did not have any seasoning. Not even the basic salt sprinkle that is customary to use after frying. It was so bland I had to ask for salt and pepper to make it taste like something. The white rice that came with the dish was okay but lacked flavor and imagination. We probably will try going here one more time but if we experience mimicks today's, we will be looking for a new Peruvian spot. PS: I did give this feedback to our waiter, he told us he shared it with the kitchen. No one bothered to check with us on our experience. read more

Coracora Original - Bland rice, yucca fries, and fish. - Latin American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Wow wow wow! Everything about my experience at the restaurant gets 5 stars! I made a residing open table which was super helpful! This restaurant is located in a plaza but there is plenty of parking! It looks like when it's spring/summer there is some nice outside seating available. The decor is so beautiful! It was a few days after Valentine's Day. So, there was flowers and nice lights everywhere. The staff approached us right away and were aware by name that we had a reservation. Seating is decent here with good amount of space between tables. Very clean. The staff are super attentive and switch out your silverware after appetizers and main course. Your water is always refilled. All the food is served quickly, tastes fresh and are big portions! Seriously some main courses can be shared! I truly enjoyed the sauces! My favorite app was the wonton wrapped chicken and cheese and make sure to get the macho sauce it's worth it!! The roasted chicken is the BEST so tender and flavorful ! I'm sooo glad I tried this place out! read more

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Food is always amazing and well prepared at Coracora. I have always enjoyed the dishes as well as presentation as the staff always has an awesome attitude and happy vibes. The restaurant interior is always very clean, well kept and has beautiful fun decor. read more

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The food here is amazing! Absolutely love the Chicken Chaufa! Not to mention the rotisserie chicken and onion salad. Desserts were out of this world! World class customer service as well. Marco was very attentive and a great server read more

Coracora Original - Chicken Chaufa - Latin American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Wonderful server! Husband is Peruvian, so they have a high bar- definitely met his expectations. Drinks are good- excellent vegan tamale. Lovely presentation. Vegan ceviche was good, but I favor mushroom or heart of palm over avocado. Love the conchita!!! Clean and nice dining environment; offer in and outdoor seating read more

Coracora Original - Trio Orgia Marina - Latin American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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My fiancé and I ate at Coracora for the first time this weekend. Our food was phenomenal, the service was excellent, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]we also enjoyed the decor[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Our waiter, Jeremy, went above and beyond and even surprised us with champagne and dessert to celebrate our anniversary. We loved our visit and will definitely be back!! read more

Food is pricey but worth it! Pork chops are super tender and perfectly seasoned, not greasy or overly heavy. Rice with veggies was flavorful, i know it's a basic plate but was soooooo good! i usually order out and they're super fast & polite with the service. the energy is very nice, i would like to have a sit down when i have the time! read more

The service was fantastic! Our server, Jean Franco, was personable and attentive. The food was delicious and fresh! I will definitely be coming back, and recommending to others. read more