I almost didn't want to review this place because it is SOOOOO GOOOD and want it to stay a secret. Everything is perfect - food, service, ambiance! I forgot to take pics because I inhaled everything as soon as it came out! Lomo saltado was full of flavor and seasoned perfectly - fries nice and crispy as well! The owner is super attentive and came out to tell us the story of him opening and how his restaurant survived the pandemic so he was really appreciative of us being there. read more

Food is salty and horrible, we orden a few items, the Tallarines with meat taste like showmen but horrible taste, ají de gallina, mmmh salty. Pescado empanizado, just look like a frozen fish with fries. My drinks took a while to arrive at my table. Bad service. You can try something else around. read more

This is a little place with excellent food and service. The only complaint was the causa which was a little bland and the sauce for the chicken was very watery. Everything else was excellent. The music was too loud which didn't help make the ambiance relaxing. Service was fast and they were very attentive. read more

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Took one of my corworkers out to lunch on his last day with the company. This place is just a few minutes walks from our office. We both went for the same dish Lomo Saltado. Stir fried beef, onions, tomatoes, rice and yes...french fries. What?! Whoever thought to add fries to this dish should be given a Nobel Prize. What a fanstatic combination. This is my Go-To dish at El Aji Peruvian Restaurant. These folks really put together a nice dish. And now, for the pic. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been fortunate enough to visit El Aji many times now, and I've always had a wonderful experience. The food, in my opinion, is outstanding and reliably consistent. Don Cesar is clearly dedicated, and I always appreciate how he manages to provide quick service alongside such quality dishes. For anyone looking for a great meal, I highly recommend the Ceviche de Pescado--it's incredibly fresh and bright. The Lomo Saltado is also a personal favorite of mine, always so tender and full of flavor. For my taste, El Aji is a fantastic spot to enjoy authentic Peruvian food here in SF. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tiny hole in the wall Peruvian restaurant right on Mission @ 26th Street. The food is very good and very reasonable. Highly recommend. We got the fried seafood sampler and two Lomo Saltados. Extremely happy and for the value, you can't beat it. Would definitely come again. The service is good. They even gave food to a homeless man who came in asking for good. read more

Food was super tasty plus service was awesome always on top of. I will recommend family and couples to go there .

I have been to this place to eat several times, and I can say with certainty that the quality and flavor of the food are consistently excellent and always delicious. The quality is so good that we hired Don César to cater our wedding, and all our guests were astonished by the food. The fish ceviche is my favorite; it's fresh and has a delightful flavor. The lomo saltado is my favorite main course, and here, unlike at other places, this dish is not only delicious, but the amount of beef is quite generous, and please, don't miss the Causa, it is amazing! Without a doubt, this is one of the best Peruvian food spots in San Francisco! read more

Customer service is horrible, bad attitude from the man working there, it doesn't matter if the food is good when they give horrible customer service. Not coming back!! read more

What a hidden gem! This restaurant currently has no sign hanging outside and is located amongst a whole bunch of businesses with bars outside the windows. Not the expected tourist destination, but there was a lot of hype about the authentic Peruvian food, so we had to stop by for a taste. No regrets, and everyone else should give this place a try! FOOD: All 5/5 stars, and I would heartily recommend that you order the same. Next time I visit, I want to try the arroz con mariscos. - Traditional ceviche: Generous portion of fish simmered in lime juice & garnished with pickled onions plus cilantro. There was a side of sweet potato that was both random and a perfect hint of sweetness. I really liked the dried corn, which added a nice bit of crunch in between the bites of fish. - Lomo saltado: So even though the restaurant is well-known in various magazines and newspapers for ceviche, I think the lomo saltado stole the show. The sirloin steak is remarkably tender. The sauce is rich and perfectly salted to complement the rice and crisp fries. It tasted like both comfort food and a luxury meal. SERVICE 5/5: I think the owner circulated amongst the different diners. Very friendly and helpful with navigating the menu. AMBIANCE: Clean restaurant with soccer game playing on big screen TV. The restaurant was nearly full with what looked like locals. Additional items: I understand the importance of living wage, etc., but for once it was so nice not to have to pay some 6.5% additional SF tax on top of sales tax on top of tip when signing the check. Maybe it was build into the price of the food already, but overall a very reasonably priced meal. Parking was street-only. Mission looked like chaos for cars, so we turned onto one of the smaller streets and parked a couple of blocks away where there was 1 hr free parking. read more

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Horrible Customer Service! Mal Servicio al Cliente. Yo e venido aqui y me a gustado la comida. Vine el Dia de hoy Domingo 14, 6:15pm y en Cuanto entramos el dueño dijo "ya estamos cerrados , no tengo arroz no tengo arroz ,se acabo el arroz"parado con su mano en la cintura muy grocero en mi opinion . HAY MANERA DE ANTENDER ESPECIALMENTE CUANDO ERES EL DUEÑO. I don't recommend horrible Custumer service, I came in with my family at 6:15 pm , the owner received us with a negative attitude and his hand on his waist saying we're closed because we're out of rice . read more

We had the Ceviche Chalaco and Saltado Mariscos both plates were simply delicious. The owners are very fast, efficient and so nice! The ambiance is very simple and clean. Best Peruvian food we've ever had, we'll be back! read more

This restaurant is very good; the food was excellent. The service was incredible the ambiance was decent but I loved it. It's hard to find a Peruvian restaurant that's so close to the authentic Peruvian flavor. read more

I have been here four times already, and I keep coming back for the food, of course, and the friendly service. Pescado a lo Macho and Ceviche are my favorite dishes here. The balance of spice and flavor is amazing. read more

3.5 for lomo saltado. 3.5 for ceviche. 4 for papas a la huancain. 5 for service. It doesn't come with bread. read more

Check in and get a free appetizer ceviche So good, we got the appetizer and ended up ordering another one for the table. To start we order papa a la huancaina and a Jalea. Both great; but the crema (sauce) was to die for, I've gone to places where the consistency isn't great and neither is the taste, but here it is just right, and reminds you of home. The arroz con mariscos was ok, the seafood; particularly the fish was a little bland and didn't have much flavor but the flavor of the rice was amazing. The mondongito tasted like homemade as well great taste, and I started salivating when it arrived because I was already starting to get full, but the taste was Aaaamazzinng. And the portion was just right! Lomo Saltado you have to let them know how you want your meet cooked cause my moms order came medium which she didn't like. But the taste was good and the soy sauce was not overbearing. Completely recommend this place- wish I lived closer to eat there more often. read more

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I found out about El Aji through my Peruvian friend's recommendation, but I can't believe El Aji has fewer than 100 reviews on Yelp. For one, their food is great, and then they surely offer the best Yelp check-in deal I've ever seen! In what world can you get a $17 ceviche for free just for checking in?! Well, the deal definitely worked because we are hooked. In addition to the delicious ceviche classico, my husband and I also ordered a lomo saltado, which had great flavor, especially the juicy and tender and plentiful beef. I actually wish it had some peppers in the mix, but oh well, the plate was already large enough. For drinks, we ordered chicha morada, which was was better than probably 2/3 of the ones we had in Peru. We will be back to try more! read more

Good food, good portions, good prices. And during covid-19, they've been giving free surprise sides so you can try many of their menu items with only a couple orders. Lomo Saltado ($16) is probably the most popular Peruvian dish, a stir fry of sliced beef, fries, tomatoes, and onions in a soy sauce-based sauce. It is decent here. Tasty, good portion size. Tallarin Verde (aka. Pesto spaghetti) w/fried fish ($15) - big portion, excellent pesto spaghetti--the best tallarin verde I've had, good enough to eat on its own. The fried fish batter was a bit tough--it would be better if it were lighter and easier to cut with the side of a fork (had to use a knife to cut through the sides). Arroz con Mariscos ($18) - think seafood paella. Good, good portion. Newly in my delivery repertoire, I'll order from them once a week--yay! read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Tallarin verde w/fish ($15), Lomo Saltado ($16) - both good! Tallarin verde (pesto spaghetti) is the best I've had - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

A bit of Peruvian flavor in the Mission District. Seems to be a local favorite. When I entered the restaurant, the customers were speaking Spanish. Staff are Spanish and English speaking. They serve traditional Peruvian dishes here and are known for their ceviche. If you check in on Yelp and spend over $25, you get a free ceviche appetizer of your choice. No problem! Brunch entrees range from $15-20. I had the seco de cordero - a traditional Peruvian stewed lamb dish over a bed of rice and beans. The meat was stewed perfectly and came right off the bone. We ordered the fried plantains as well which were very good. Drinks-wise, they have popular Peruvian drinks including chican morada (purple corn) and maracuya (passion fruit). If you're looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine, El Ají fits the bill. read more

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Great place and very authentic vibes. The ceviche and fish were on point as one of the best in the city for Peruvian read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I ordered their lomo saltado and alfajores for delivery. I love that the lomo saltado wasn't too salty because at other restaurants, it can be too salty for me. The steak was tasty and tender, plus it paired nicely with the rice and fries. The portion size was perfect too. The alfajores was good, but one piece was enough for me since I was so full. Overall, a really good spot for lunch and I would order again. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Unless you count the succulent roast chicken at Limon, all of the Limons, it's been a while since I've had a true Peruvian meal, and I have to give credit to the owners that they are offering true Peruvian food from start to finish -ceviches, salchipapas (hot dogs & fries), cau cau (tripe with peppers), aji de gallina (shredded chicken breast with saltine crackers) - everything you'd expect from a family restaurant in downtown Lima. I was looking for a light lunch and went for the $8.85 Choros a la Chalaca, a quartet of fresh mussels topped with chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, and huge Peruvian corn kernels (photo). Tasty appetizer, and I followed that with the $7.95 Quinoa Salad with red peppers, carrot, more Peruvian corn, peas, and baby lima beans, a nice picnic-style creation that worked for me. At some point, I'm coming back for that $24.95 Pollo a la Brasa, the true Limon litmus test. FOOD - 4 stars...Peruvian fare that's more than fair AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...clean space on Mission SERVICE - 3.5 stars...a bit coolish TOTAL - 4 stars...take me back to Cuzco, cocinero RELATED - In the mood for Latin food? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2Qk6Hg5 read more

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We ordered the causa de pollo, it was very good, the fried yuca, it was very tasty, but it was a tiny portion. It's the reason why I am giving it 4 stars. Yuca is not expensive, the portion should be double the size! The huancaina sauce was amazing! The lomo saltado was maybe the best I have had in San Francisco. And it was a huge amount. Strange how some dishes are such a small portion and others are so generous. I totally recommend the place, other than some dishes really having minuscule portion sizes. Please fix this so I can give you five stars! read more

Okay this placeeeee is delicious & authentic. THE CEVICHE IS AMAZING. The yellow pepper sauce was so flavorful and not too tart; I could not get enough. Same with the seco de cordero. The lamb literally fell off the bone. They have flavorful and spicy hot sauces too! And...they have really good chichas--not too sweet, but just right! Plus, the waiter and the chef were very very kind. I will definitely be back ! read more

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The most authentic flavor I've tried here on SF! A must try!!! Friendly stuff and big portions read more

Food very good. Food is Peruvian and not Americanize. Feels like you are eating a home cooked meal at a family's house

Very good Peruvian food! We really enjoyed their Lomo Saltado, 9/10, great tamales as well. Nice local place in the mission. Definitely not a fancy place. we felt welcomed, my 2 year old got one alfajor cookie upon arrival which was really nice. Ceviches are very solid, but not the best of SF. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Lomo. Delish... - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Service was good, food was tasty, inside seemed clean and well kept, I couldn't find a place at first. The portions were kind of small though, i have never seen a jalea that small for that price, thank you for the free ceviche. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

First of all, I been buying food from this restaurant from a long time ago and never disappointed me, this business represents what a real Peruvian food taste like. The service is fast and friendly, I don't have any complaints about it, the ambiance is great you can go with family and friends, you will feel like home. read more

The best off all , I love this place For the last five years I've been coming here and get the same plate ( the seco de cordero ) is definitely delicious,Oh I love Peruvian food ,This place specific has really really high concentration in the kitchen it's really really perfect, everything come out from this kitchen is delicious like homemade it, I highly recommend it to anyone to come here. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Seco de Cordero - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place was absolutely delicious. The seafood tasted fresh and it was full of flavor. The customer service was very nice but we were also the only ones there. We arrived there right before they closed and they offered to serve us. It was enjoyable. I will be returning. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Pescado a lo Macho - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Drove to SF from Santa Cruz for a museum exhibit and stopped here for lunch. Great service and experience. Ocopa, ceviche, anticuchos. Delicious! Will definitely come back. Highly recommend. read more

Can I just say that this place has fire food !! I ordered on postmates and I'm impressed with the Quality and flavor this food has . I'm definitely going to come here more often . read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Order from El Aji during COVID 19 quarantine and I just want to say, I know this is not the usual reviews but they were great. I just want to acknowledge the service when business are really struggling. The service was fast and the delivery man was very sweet. The man was wearing a mask and gloves which helps the anxiety. Everything was packaged nicely and they even provided me with a free warm chicken soup side. So gracias, that was a pleasant surprise. I order the ceviche clasico which is fish in lime sauce and lomo saltado which is cubed beef with tomatoes, french fries and rice. Both very yummy. I was satisfied and it lifted my spirits to have a bit of a menu change while we all struggle to be home. read more

Great Food. Service was amazing. Our service was the owner of the restaurant. He was a great humble person! A must go to for authentic Peruvian food! read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche Classico, Ceviche Chalaco - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Good food , service was fast , soccer game was on , it felt more like someone's home than a restaurant in a sort of ways while having like a good authentic home cooked meal. I enjoyed my meal and the ambiance. Would eat here again read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Best ceviche in SF! And the Lomo saltado was so juicy and delicious! Their Aji is mighty delicious and has a great kick to it. Definitely a place worth trying! We come out here from Antioch so we can get that authentic Peruvian taste! Unfortunately did not take pictures of all the food but here is the Antichucho and the Jalea de marisco. read more

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It's amazing how walking a few blocks into the Mission can go from overpriced bougie hipster to reasonably priced hole-in-the-wall. I love me some Peruvian food and this place delivered an excellent lunch. Lomo Saltado: Whenever I try a new Peruvian restaurant, I have to start with my benchmark favorite dish. The fries were crispy and there was ample sauce; two areas where many a lomo saltado have failed me. The beef wasn't quite as fancy as at La Mar, but it was a fraction of the price at $14 instead of $36! With all the seasoning, it was just fine. Plus there was so much meat I actually felt like I could have used more tomatoes; a shocking turn for a lomo saltado experience. Overall, was a very satisfying meal. Chicha Morada: Sweet and refreshing, the way it should be. read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Chicha Morada - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I do recommend this spot service,food,price excellent I ordered the seco de cordero,tallarines salteados with sea food jalea mixta and it was delicious hope this review help you if you are looking for a good Peruvian food read more

El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Where do I begin...El Ají has gone above & beyond!!! The service given at El Aji is fenomenal! The chef has been so polite & great to work with. Overall very professional! Recently asked if he could cater for a small private family event & everything came out perfect. He even went above & beyond to drop off all the food at my house. And it was piping hot & very delicious. He made my family's night very special. Kudos! The food is AMAZING! My family and I love eating the seco de cordero, rotisserie chicken & lomo saltado. Highly recommend! But still need to try out his other dishes. I really agree with everyone's reviews: definitely deserves all the respect for keeping the food authentic. Everything is fresh, flavorful & made with dedication & passion. The most authentic Peruvian restaurant I have been to. Highly, highly recommend you try out El Aji! You will not regret it. This the best place to get authentic Peruvian food!!! read more

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