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    El Aji Picante

    3.9 (92 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Table side
    Jorge G.

    I've seen so much social media hype for this restaurant and I've been looking for a new spot in the SFV for my Peruvian fix. Cause I went to another viral spot in NoHo that was trash! Thankfully this wasn't that bad. Was it great, no but we ate all of our food unlike the previous spot. Service was great, so not an issue with personnel. It's a small restaurant on a strip mall, and on a Sunday evening we parked easily. It's a bit far for me, being that it is in the northwest part of Chatsworth. My disappointment with the cane came from various points. First, I ordered the Seco and it literally was seco. The beans needed more moisture, either from the cook alone or added sauce on top, and they weren't very seasoned either. Also for over $20, the dish had two small pieces of beef. I get it, with inflation it's pricey, but I'd think that you can charge a little extra and give more of it. A couple of bites and I had a place of rice and beans only. With the Lomo Saltado, both my sister and I thought it had good flavor but again was dry and definitely needed more sauce. The fries are solid here, no complaint there. And the ajis are superb, spicy but very flavorful. Didn't reach our collective expectation but it was not a bad experience either. Was just ok in my opinion.

    Lomo saltado with beef, shrimp and chicken.
    Contessa B.

    OMG!! This is a treasure find! I was next door doing laundry around lunch time and decided to come to EAP...the onions were smelling good. I love Peruvian food so I knew it would be good...especially from the photos outside. The place was very clean and we were welcomed as soon as we came in. Everything looked great on the menu looked amazing. After ordering we received bread at our table and a jalapeño green sauce. Our food came out shortly. We were very pleased. Everything was so flavorful! Will definitely be back to support this independent business.

    Great looking saltado but literally spit out every piece of meat impossible to chew. What a complete bummer ruined the whole dish.
    GG M.

    Even though the corner is not exactly the most inspiring one in the valley, I've been wanting to try this place to compare it to Fina Estampa down Mason Ave, aka Amazon takeover lot. Braved myself and said VAMANOS GRINGO. Very simple clean layout; sat and after ordering was served a delicious long thin sourdough bread with the traditional spicy green cilantro jalapeno lime sauce. The bread was simply divine! Delicious and wanted more but held back to have room for the main dish,a Lomo saltado with camarones y carne, my usual order. After 15 min came out and looked great as picture shows; the shrimp was good, the rice was perfectly cooked, fries underneath lukewarm but not unedible still enjoyed. Unfortunately the meat was an epic disaster. I spit out almost every piece; I think six out of the eight pieces if I counted correctly. It was impossible to chew and break down. Almost ran out of napkins from putting spit out meat and rolling up into the utensils bag. Really wanted to give this the big five *****, but with a meat this comically tough, I have to knock it down a couple. I mentioned that it was very hard to chew to the cashier ,, she gave me 10% off, but in all honesty this this should have been fully refunded it was that full of sinew. And I noticed they add the dreaded 4% surcharge for credit cards so the three stars gets auto knocked down to two as I have no mercy when it comes to this bullshit charge that's popping up all over restaurants. I am a small business owner and would never think of charging my customers for using a credit card, but instead appreciate their business and pay for the credit card charge myself as all business establishments should. Fina Estampa remains king and I will probably stick to it when craving Peruvian, as it is just too risky to gamble on unknown Peruvian restaurants and come across meat to this impossible to chew and blow 35 bucks to find out.

    Soup
    Pinky S.

    The big amount of food doesn't make it better. Less is better. My soup was bland. I put two teaspoons of salt and a lotes of pepper, little better but not. I can't eat, I just pay but never come again. We order a Lomo Saltado, and a recommended soup by the waitress and 2 maracuya juice and pay $53.

    Anticuchos
    Jon D.

    Plenty of Flavor and will definitely be returning for more of their menu choices. Until then, Déjame que te cuente, limeño Déjame que te diga la gloria Del ensueño que evoca la memoria Del viejo puente, del río y la alameda Sulpayki

    Chupe de Camarones
    Danielle H.

    The best ceviche I have ever eaten. They also have incredible fried rice as well. I also love the calamari. Everybody there is super friendly and helpful. The inside is simple. I prefer getting take-out as they can get busy.

    Lomo saltado
    Dilly ..

    This place was seriously so good. I'm half Peruvian, so I grew up around this kind of food and I can usually tell right away when a Peruvian restaurant is the real deal -- and this one absolutely is. The lomo saltado was super juicy and packed with flavor, and the ceviche was fresh and honestly one of the best I've had in a while. Everything just tasted authentic and really well made. Definitely coming back.

    Chanfainita which is a special Peruvian dish with potatoes served with a side of rice.
    Kevin G.

    Today's chefs special they had my two favorite Peruvian dishes. The green spaghetti & the crema de rocoto. It was around $12 for the entire meal & it tasted amazing. The crema de rocoto was absolutely creamy, tasty, & had a perfect kick of spice. The green spaghetti was a big portion & I couldn't finish it all but it was delicious & creamy. I recommend always asking what the chefs special is.

    Papas a la huancaina
    Tess S.

    Finally got to try this place. I was a little concerned about the mixed reviews, although I think they are under new management. They have a daily special that includes a starter and entree (maybe a drink too?) . The day I went, it was papa a la Huancaina and ají de gallina. My husband had a saltado de lomo y camarones. So delicious. The green salsa picante was very flavorful. Everything was fresh and the server was very attentive, but not annoying. They also serve bread and butter to start.

    Saltado Cielo, Mar y Tierra

    Never disappoints. Every time I have this plate it seems like it just gets better and better. Like I said and continue to say the best Peruvian spot in the valley 110% Before and after pics....(shrimps did get eaten lol....save the best for last)

    Chicha morada

    The food was delicious and definitely recommended! The chicken causa and the ceviche... sooo good

    Bisteck a lo Pobre

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    4 months ago

    This place gave me food poisoning...so proceed with caution, besides that seems like everyone else enjoyed the vibe and music

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    3 months ago

    buenazoooo su ceviche ,todos sus platos de primera rico , rico se los recomiendo y una atencion espectacular ‼

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    Page 1 of 3

    El Aji Picante Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Aji Picante

    Fina Estampa

    Fina Estampa

    4.0
    (337 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Came for dinner with my husband and our kid for somethinf light Lol that went out the window when I…read moreread the menu. Both my son and hubby ordered the filet saltado which is always a hit. I was between the Tallarin de Mariscos or the Jalea but I did good. Ill just have to try the Jalea another time. Before we stop talking about the food the bread..... woah! The service was great Maria was informative and funny, Thanks for the laughs. See you again soon!

    The dining experience is good, but because of the food, I give it a lower rating…read more When we came in, we were immediately greeted and brought to our table. We were given menus and a few minutes later asked if we wanted anything to drink, and if we were also ready to order. We asked for a few extra minutes. When I saw the menu, I thought, and should have stuck to my gut, that the "Peruvian style Chinese" is a what the hell does that mean situation. Man, did I go wrong for not giving that a hell naah! The waitress brought out some hot bread and butter, as well as cold iced waters for us. We than placed our order. We ordered a chaufa de pollo (chicken fried rice), parihuela (soup), and a jalea (fried seafood). When the food came, all the smells hit, and I just knew it was not what I wanted or expected. I was expecting awesome wok-charred fried rice. What I got was some barely wok-ed rice, no depth of flavor, but lots of a CHINESE flavor/seasoning. HORRIBLE, why would you do this?!? What the hell!!!! This is definitely not what Peruvian fried rice is. No where near what it should be. The parihuela is something I've never had, so I cannot compare it to any others, but from it being my first time trying this, this is what i think. I think it was actually pretty good. It had lots of seafood umami (flavor). It had great depth. It had lots of crab smell, but why no crab? None at all, just the smell. Lots of fish and squid. The jalea, yucca not fried enough, it was slightly under. Lots of lemon-ny red onions on top, which is great as it helps cut all the nasty feelings of eating fried stuff. Only two pieces of shrimps, that were small too! It had 4 pieces of fish, and the rest was calamari. I am fine with it, but the shrimps should be larger. The batter should be thinner. The pieces should be crispier. Nothing great about this dish. It's so easy, yet it was not thought of well enough to make it great. Don't waste your time or money here. It's not authentic. It's not great. It's just passable food. The best thing of this meal was the bread and butter, and the cold iced water. The service was good too, but the food was not up to par. I feel like they may have made my food according to us being Asian, but who knows and who cares, I don't plan on coming back.

    Photos
    Peruvian candy
    Peruvian candy
    Parihuela
    Parihuela
    Outside sign

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    Outside sign
    El Pollo Peru Express

    El Pollo Peru Express

    4.4
    (35 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Delicious! Our favorite p.chicken place closed so we came here to try and it was just as good! The…read morerestaurant was lively, clean, and bright. The service was very friendly. We ordered half a chicken with yucca ($2 extra charge) and plantains (also $2 extra charge), chalaquita wings, chaufa de pollo, and got a chicha drink. The rice portion was huge and very gingery. We absolutely enjoyed everything! The chicken was perfectly seasoned, moist and tender. The wings were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The plantains were perfect. The only thing I would skip is the yucca as it was not quite right. I will definitely come back to try their other dishes. The food here is so legit! It's located behind the yellow hamburger shack and offers ample parking in a shared lot.

    A Taste of Peru in the SFV!!…read more A cozy spot in Chatsworth, CA with fantastic wall art and an open kitchen. They serve authentic traditional Peruvian comfort food with bold flavors and you can see the chef cooking. The flames are cool to watch as he expertly cooks dishes!! Everything we tried over 3 visits (dine in & take out) ~Lomo Saltado - MUST-TRY smoky, savory stir-fry with a hint of tang ~Tallarin Verde Con Lomo - MUST-TRY creamy, herb-packed green pasta inspired by pesto with smoky, well-seasoned steak ~Pollo Saltado quickly sautéed juicy savory chicken with smoky wok flavor ~Tallarin Verde Con Bisteck - MUST-TRY rich, velvety, and intensely aromatic; juicy and smoky pan-seared steak ~Carne Arroz Chaufa - flavor-packed, hearty Chinese-Peruvian fried rice ~Brasa Brava Pollo Rostizado - savory, smoky, subtly tangy, flame-kissed roasted chicken with crispy skin ~Peruvian style Wings - Acevichada style super crispy with a delicious creamy citrus sauce - MUST-TRY ~Platanos (plantains) MUST-TRY (get a large order) ~Frejol (beans) ~Chocolate dessert ~Passion fruit cheesecake (our least favorite) Wonderful and friendly customer service all 3 times we went there! Plenty of indoor seating. Save this spot for your next Peruvian food cravings!!

    Photos
    El Pollo Peru Express
    Salchipapa
    Salchipapa
    Leche de Tigre

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    Leche de Tigre
    Chilenazo

    Chilenazo

    4.1
    (270 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    When we came in, we were greeted right away. The inside is small, but spacious enough to easily…read moreview the menu on the back walls and look at all the baked goods without being too close to other people. Everything looked great. I would love to try all their cakes, they look so good and fresh. The breads are definitely awesome and fresh too, it was coming out from the back when we were there, and you can see some condensation on the display letting you know they are hot and fresh. It took a few minutes of scanning the menu, and looking at the desserts, before we were ready and chose to order. We ended up getting a steak sandwich and the two empanada plate. For the empanadas, we tried the beef and the chicken. The empanadas are not that great. The beef one was ok, but the chicken was not worth trying again. The star of the plate was the french fries. Those were awesome and cooked very well. The steak sandwich was very good. It was loaded with steak. The steak pieces were tender. Everything about the sandwich was good. The bread was the same one they sold in the display. The lettuce and tomatoes, fresh. The avocado that costed $3 extra, loads, probably a whole small avocado. This sandwich is definitely worth coming back for. Overall, I say try it. Or at least, try the steak sandwich with some fries.

    Indeed 3.7! I would like to try more typical meals, but the people working there were really busy…read moreto explain. However, the waitress was very nice. We asked the empanadas that were deliciously, and chip and fish, very tasty. The ambiance is nice and casual. I my husband and I want to try another dish without meat. Price is reasonable, and dish is huge.

    Photos
    Chilenazo 4/2025
    Chilenazo 4/2025
    Chilenazo
    Exterior

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    Exterior
    Sazón Colombia

    Sazón Colombia

    3.8
    (331 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    BOOM!!!! A must stop…read morefor Columbian! Know that this is a very busy place to though.This was a truly amazing experience into the flavors of a Colombian meal. I decided to go with here to taste a different part of the world. The dish I selected, is the Banda Paisano Trifeca which is a macro and micronutrient bomb of delicious vegetables, starches, and protein. Apparently many with very hard physically demanding jobs need a "strong meal," and within Columbian Culture this dish was formed. Beautiful story, AND it has blood sausage!!! The place was slammed but got me the first available seat in 10 mins or so, and though we both couldn't communicate beyond the common cordial words and menu semantics, her demeanor and body language was very inviting and courteous. This place was a class act. Get you some!!!

    I live 4 hours away from this place, so everytime I am in the Los Angeles area I try to stop here…read more I ate at this place on Monday 6/9 around 5 pm knowing that they were closing at 6 pm. Flavor was spot on as usual. Things I did not enjoy this time: 1. I was charged for 2 chorizos when I had only ordered 1. (Always ask for printed invoice and check before leaving). 2. I was charged $6 for a chorizo that was as long as my thumb. In the past their chorizos were much bigger and cheaper. (Do not order chorizos a la carte). 3. The meat in my "bandeja paisa" was ver fatty. Maybe my negative experience had to do with the fact that the restaurant was about to close.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Picada (2 People)
    Picada (2 People)
    Chicken empanadas

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    Chicken empanadas
    Johnny Pacific

    Johnny Pacific

    4.6
    (2.3k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Johnny Pacific has a great reputation of being a special gem, specializing in Latin-Caribbean and…read morePacific Island inspired empanadas. It's been around for over 20 years and is currently in a newer space than it was before; featuring more parking and a larger space. Ambiance: The interior has a relaxed feel with beachy surfer themed decor. It has a clean modern feel with a bunch of tables featuring accent colored chairs. There is music in the background and a TV on the wall featuring surfing videos. Service: You order at the counter, they ring you up and you get the food brought out. You can see the kitchen as it's open. It was my first time and it was a simple and easy experience. Everything came out in a timely fashion. Food: Some of their specialities include the 20+variations of fried empanadas (meats, chicken, pork, veggie, dessert) that come in both savory and sweet types, as well as their speciality plates such as their Korean-style flat iron steak skewers and chicken satay. The sauces they serve with their empanadas are incredible and some of the best I've ever had such as their chimmi-churri, basil-aioli and sweet & sour Thai. I recently did the lunch combo featuring a choice of a 1/2 salad or 1/2 fries, choice of any two empanadas and a canned drink. I chose beef and Kailua pig empanadas; both were great, empanadas didn't break apart and were crispy, everything was seasoned well; the filling of the beef was a bit more than the Kailua pig however. Drinks: They have various drinks such as lemonade, juices, sodas/soft drinks, and some beers on tap. Parking: The lot is large and has ample parking depending on the day and time. Prices: Prices are to the times that we're in...so not too great. Ala carte empanadas are $5+ but as you order more (4, 12) the prices come down a slight bit.

    Amazing food & great service everytime we've gone!!…read more Love their #1 Korean style plate & chicken empanada has become my fave now next to the apple caramel one. And can't forget their yummy guava lemonade!! Thank you for your hospitality!!

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Dessert Empanadas - 1 of each IG: @ammysalamii
    Dessert Empanadas - 1 of each IG: @ammysalamii
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    El Aji Picante - peruvian - Updated July 2026

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