Finally tried El Inka Restaurant for a weekday lunch. They do a mix of Colombian/Peruvian/Salvadorian/Mexican dishes. The inside is no frills with 26 seats (7 tables). Service was friendly. Main dishes are $14.50 to $32.00. Sadly, no pupusas when we went. - 3x Empanada Colombiana ($1.50) - hot, crunchy - Tamal ($5.00) - chicken was a touch dry but good flavour. Topped with pickled red onion - Arroz con pollo ($14.50) - best dish that we ordered. Tasty green rice (with peas and diced carrots), chicken leg was nicely roasted - Bandeja paisa ($27.00) - crispy chicharron, tasty chorizo sausage. Not much shredded beef. Pricey plate; would try something else instead - Picado criolla ($21.00) - cassava and plantain were great. Nice variety with pork ribs, sausage, potato read more

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Authentic, flavorful, friendly. A neighborhood fav. Everything is good here. Only critique - I wish they sold tamales by the bag. read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Salchpollo - it's a lot of food. The shoestring fries were perfect. - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

I've been dining here for a few times since my last reviews. Every time I've been overwhelmed by the food they served. I stepped in there one time and I was overwhelmed by the flavour in the place. I ordered against my usual habit of ordering the mixed clams salad. In an instant a huge plate with flavours that were heavenly ,was placed in front of me. My request to serve only little fries and a small salad. Oh man, was that delicious! read more

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I came here since I was starving after a hospital visit, I tried their own version of horchata, and yuca fries, cilantro rice and fried chicken The fried chicken leg was divine, it was soooo good and so special. I wasn't a fan of this new type of horchata, the girl at the register did warn me before that it is not the typical Mexican style. Yuca fries is very good, I kinda wish there is Mayo. Staff who worked there were soooo lovely and the price is so cheap. It's a small shop but with big flavors. read more

Tucked away in a relatively quiet plaza on Sunset Street just off of Boundary, El Inka is a hidden gem on the cusp of the Burnaby and Vancouver border. This mom and pop shop has been around for quite some time and had built up a reputation for those who live in the local neighbourhood. I always get the Arroz con pollo which is a crispy chicken with green rice cooked with peas, red pepper, carrots and a side of onion salad. The service is simple but fantastic here at this no frills eating establishment. Make sure to pick up a Jarrito to drink -- my favourites are the cola and hibiscus flavours. If you are in the area, you definitely need to check this place out! If you are looking for a very authentic Latin cuisine, the food here is a must try. read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Arroz con pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

Nothing negative to say about the courteous service. My criticism has to do with the name of the restaurant and the type of food. It's a huge lack of honesty and transparency to not fully disclose that this really isn't a Peruvian restaurant. My understanding is that the previous owner sold the restaurant to the current owner. The food that is presented as Peruvian doesn't resemble that and I'm Peruvian, I would know. Please consider changing the name in order for people stop being deceived to think one will be eating at a location with true Peruvian cuisine. It was a waste of my drive to be disappointed and upset. I would suggest to offer the cuisine that best identifies your Latin American ethnicity and you will be most successful. read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

I have been craving Mexican food, specifically tamales and empanadas. I remembered seeing Yelp reviews for this place and thought to finally give it a try. It closes early around 630 pm usually, which makes it hard to pop by for dinner. I finally made it when I took the afternoon off and came over for a late lunch. There were parking out front but they were metered. I guessed it was too close to the Burnaby Hospital for free parking. I decided to try the snack food on the menu instead of a proper entree. I ordered the tamale, Colombian empanadas, cheese empanada and the mixed pupusa (cheese, beans and pork). They were nice. I liked the Colombian empanadas best. Small and crispy and flavorful. The cheese empanada was good but too cheesy for me. I could not finish that. The tamale was steamed nicely but was a tad too salty. The pickled onions cut through the salt which made it more palatable. The chicken inside was a bit tough. The pupusa was yummy, the chewy texture reminded me of the gu chai kueh (steam chives round dumpling) in Singapore. The place is very homely and seemed to be run by just the lady boss and the cook. So it does take some time before your food will appear. read more

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Holy smokes, why have I not come here sooner?! We stumbled upon this little neighborhood gem while Googling South American cuisine but could never make it due to my late work days and this restaurant closing fairly early. Based on all the Spanish overhead in this restaurant, it is definitely authentic. This feels like a family run business and you can taste it in the food. The portion sizes are generous and reasonably priced. Everything came at a good pace and steaming hot. The empanada was piping hot, crispy, flaky pastry decently filled with cheese. Hands down the favorite of our table. The anticuchos was a little on the spicy side, but very filling when accompanied with the corn and potatoes. Loved the tripe soup. Comes with a plate of rice and half an avocado. Big serving of ceviche mixto. Was a little too strong for me, and not enough assorted seafood for my liking. (had some small shrimp, a mussel or two, a few squid tentacles) It's a small establishment, so limited seating. Only thing we didn't really like was how chalky the horchata was. Lots of free parking out front. Free wifi. read more

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This is a hidden Latin cuisine gem in Burnaby that Vancouver is lacking as Peruvian cuisine is gastronomy that is blowing up back home and in my search for the best 'hole in the wall' small family owned known for legitimate food places, I really enjoyed my lunch today as they know what they're doing. This is a Latin deli that was on my bucket list in 2020 and glad they survived these difficult years for restaurants. They have Cuban, Colombian, Peruvian and Salvadorian delicacies. I wanted to order a chicken empanada but they stopped making them. So to start, we ordered the yuca frita, which is fried yuca and anything fried is tasty and the sauce that it came with was supposed to be spicy as it was made with habanero peppers but it was not that spicy. I ordered the escabeche de pescado which is fried fish in grilled red onions and peppers, boiled egg and sweet potato with rice. It tasted like lomo saltado but without the French fries and not as salty and since I do not eat beef, I usually ask restaurants back home to substitute the beef for fish, but she recommended the escabeche which was a great suggestion as it was a better alternative to Saltado. I definitely would go back even though it's in the burbs when I'm looking to fill my Peruvian craving. read more

The food here is amazing! Highly recommend the Bandeja Paisa, fried fish, the horchata is made in house Salvadoran style. This place is the definition of a hidden gem read more

Perfect little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, very much a "Mom & Pops" joint. Authentic Peruvian delicacies! I recommend the arroz con seco: a flavourful slow-cooked beef dish, a must-try (ask for an egg and avocado on top!). Cheesy empanadas are always fresh. Those are our favourites, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We've been coming here for years, and hopefully many more in the future. So glad this small business survived COVID. (Tip: You don't wanna skip out on the homemade hot sauce!) read more

Really good food. Will be the basis of my further opinions of Peruvian and Salvadorian food that I will eat in the future. Had the empanadas, Bandeja Paisa, and Lomo Saltado. Unfortunately they didn't have Tamales available for some reason (the one dish I was really looking forward too). The food was flavourful and interesting, also visually pleasing. Coming from a filipino background I couldn't help but make comparisons and connections with the food. I was pleasantly surprised by the similarities and the differences between them. Food was takeout, service was fine and non pressured (since we took our time deciding our choices). At the end I knew I wanted to explore more of the cuisine. A nice intro. read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Bandeja Paisa - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

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Really wanted to like this place but unfortunately, we tried 5 dishes and none were good. yucuitas - very dry patacones - honestly didn't look or taste like there was banana in this, seemed like just fried oil cheese empanada - filling was good but pastry was the worst I've ever had for an empanada popusa salvadroean - ok but not much flavour salchipapa - fries were good, hot dog and salad were basic chicah morada - seemed watered down with little flavour and odd texture, had much better elsewhere read more

Fried Fish Plate, Fried Yucca, Green Rice, Lomo Saltado.... wow tons of amazing stuff. Salvadorean Papusas - yes they have those too. The arroz con pollo with green rice is great. Love the Lomé saltado with fries. Yucca is great esp with spicy dipping sauce .... truly a gem this place. read more

A great place for some authentic food. We ordered an assortment of food, everything tasted great especially the Enpanadas de Queso and Lomo Saltado. They have a great selection of Latin drinks as well. The Chicha Morada was excellent. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Great service. Taste of home. Good value. Their aji sauce is delicious- they offered to give us extra for our leftovers. Friendly staff

Hole-in-the-wall location tucked away near the Burnaby hospital! Wonderful food, so filling and tasty. The owners were friendly and there was no one inside (I was there around 4:45 and ordered take out). Surprised this place isn't more popular! read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

Went here with 3 other people, since my family immigrated from peru I'm very familiar with their food, so I wanted to try everything ! I was so excited. Chi cha morada- purple corn drink was amazing, inspired me to make my own, I make it all the time, everyone says I should bottle it, as I make a healthier version, AMAZING! If you can't make it, you must must try it here. Ceviche- huge portions and absolutely delicious. Yuka fries- crispy, fresh and hot, I wish there was more for the price but a must try. Pupusas- my daughter loved them, we all loved them :) Potatoes with a fresh crime cheese sauce with sliced egg, YuM ! Deep fried pork with yucca fries. I love quaint little places like this, not the best in decore but homey feeling. Loved the daughter and son helping the parents. Had to give the kids a $15.00 tip making my toal for 4 people $90.00 Was it worth it YES! My grandma who immigrated from peru in 1970, said eating there brought her back to Peru, great food and service. read more

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things you'll find at this place: -Food made with care and love -Food that is true to its culture -Mostly South Americans filling the tables and taking out orders -Food that makes you smile and want to take another bite -Super friendly staff - A very rustic and casual setting. It's like visiting a South American grandma - Food that's worth spending $25 per plate. - Soul things you won't find: - Overhyped, trendy restaurant - Beautiful platings - Pretty designs that satisfy the aesthetic sensibilities of the regular folk Tip: get the passion fruit juice with added milk. read more

Small restaurant near my work place...family owed business and at my big surprise he was my co worker in one of my casual on call job...small place,peruvian inspired decors and cuisine...street meter parking...accept cash and card,quite place,service average...we tried a lot of the dishes mostly uses plantain...the empanada were smaller and uses vinegar for sauce this is very similar to my homeland...im lovin the fuds...me 2 other friends were very satisfied,affordable...ill come back soon... read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

Holy moly I finally ate at this place and it was better than I expected! I can't believe I walked by this place so many times and hadn't stopped in until now :( Patacones (friend smashed plantains): for something like $5 you get two small plate sized crisp-all-the-way-through patties of plantain. I've had these before and they are often soggy in the middle. Not here! They come with cheese to sprinkle over and melt over their hot crispness, and get some of their delicious chilli sauce to dip them in. So. damn. good. Arroz con Pollo (rice with crispy skin chicken): Delicious. The dark verdant yellow-green rice was a hint to the flavorful spices and vegetables cooked into it (seriously some of the best rice I've ever had) and the chicken was crispy as promised (even after a ride home in the car in a takeout container and well seasoned, although a wee bit on the dry side. The mild pickled onions offered a bit of acid to cut through the richness of the chicken &a rice. For $11 it was an extremely generous portion. After eating the Patacones I could only get through half of this dish, and I'm a big eater! I love that this is a small, nondescript hole-in-the- wall, friendly family business. It's quiet sometimes when I pass by after work, so I encourage people to go support them (and eat some fantastic authentic Latin American food at the same time!) read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Arroz con Pollo, extremely generous portion and big chicken leg for $11 incl tax!! - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

I had stumbled upon this place a few years ago when my wife was in the hospital near by. Yes, I felt guilty that when she wasn't feeling well, I was stuffing my face. I've been back here with her a few times now. The food here is delicious. It's truly is a hole in the wall, but a true gem. Today I tried the tripe & housemade sausage soup. The broth had deeply developed flavor and the meats were tender...true comfort food. My wife had a fried chicken leg with green rice. I had a couple bites of green rice and really liked the herby (is that a word?), savory flavor. I also must have the chicha morada when I come here. It's a drink made of purple corn, very refreshing. The family that runs this place are hard working. I can see that in the food and the care that they try to put into the restaurant. I feel good about spending my money here. If anyone is in the area, stop in, say hi, grab a bite. You won't regret it. read more

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Unique, different and from what i was told, pretty authentic. Our friend brought us here, ordered a bunch of stuff and we loved every single plate. I actually don't remember what we had off the top of my head since its been a few months but I know we all really enjoyed everything and will make the trip out to have some more. read more

Excellent suite of Peruvian and El Salvadorian dishes. I brought a few people with me who had never had this kind of food, and they loved it. I will always plan to come back when I'm in the area. A++ read more

NO LONGER OWNED AND OPERATED PERUVIANS. Didn't have Ceviche on Friday afternoon. Rice for both entrees was terribly over cooked. So sad because Peruvian food done well is worth travelling to enjoy. This fails to meet that standard by a mile. read more

Wow, the food here is amazing. It's so rich and full of flavour, but also fresh and not heavy. It's a bit hidden behind BGH. I come here every now and then with my co-workers as it just a few blocks from where I work. The burritos are a great size and come with a side salad as well. Pretty much everything on the menu is great. I've tried the tostada, quesadilla, huevos rancheros, empanadas, nachos and everything is really good. I'm honestly surprised this place isn't busier. It could be the location. The food is really good and we hardly have any South American food in the city. read more

Great find! Everything was very flavourful and tasty. We came on a Saturday afternoon and there was no one there so we had the place to ourself. It's not a beautiful location but it was clean and service was fast. We ordered the cassava (yuca) fries, the Colombian empanada, the fried plantain (patacones), pupusas, and the chicken with green rice. The yuca fries were delicious. Fried pretty well and very crispy on the outside although I think maybe the oil wasn't quite hot enough because they were a touch on the oily side. I'm a huge empanada fan so I decided to try the Colombian empanadas but I could've gone without. I found the empanada to be a bit tasteless but the texture was good. The patacones were good but again, I think a bit oily for my taste. The pupusas were very tasty. Perfectly cheesy and went really well with the spicy sauce and the pickled salad it came with. The chicken and green rice dish was my favourite. The chicken was fried very nicely and the meat was juicy and succulent on the inside. The green rice was so tasty I couldn't stop eating it. I found that the dish went really well with the spicy sauce that came with the yuca fries. The only thing on the chicken dish I didn't enjoy was onion "salad" but it was easy enough to push aside. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and would definitely return. Although the fried elements were sometimes a bit oily, it definitely wasn't unbearable and didn't hinder the taste of the food too much. I really enjoyed the spicy sauces and each of the sauces went well with the dishes they were served with. Would like to try the other empanadas next time we go. read more

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El Inka Latin Deli is one of the best places if you are going through 1 of the following situations - Breakup with Your Partner - Having a Bad Day - Finishing a Leg Workout I say this because I have heard that Peruvian food is mainly a fusion cuisine combining elements of Asian, European and also Latin cuisines. The place was fairly accessible by taking the #25 bus from Brentwood Town Centre and also some other buses like the #28 Inside was a fairly small restaurant. My friend and I basically sat down and were very hungry. I ordered the Lomo Saltado which was basically beef with 3 colours of bell peppers, french fries and a side order of rice. Wait a minute, this is something I never even heard of. Putting french fries in a dish along side with rice. It is a new thing to me since every time I think of french fries, I think of it as hand-food. But it turns out you can eat it with a fork. My friend ordered Bandeja Paisa which is basically too much food to even list. Well... I will list in it anyways. It contained red beans with sweet plantains with a side of ground beef, rice, slice of avocado, fried egg, deep fried sweet plantains, homemade chorizo (sausage) and chicharron (pork skin). (Goodness me. How many plantains are in this dish?) (Not only that, how many things did I list out in the Bandeja Paisa?) From what we can see, each dish is made to order for all the dishes. From what I can tell, the cooks there definitely has put passion in their food. It definitely came out very exciting to eat. There was a hint of some sort of tomato sauce mixture with garlic. The beef was somewhat dry, but it was tasty to the point where there was so much meat. The fries were on the bottom of the beef and pepper concoction. The fries were soft which would make sense because the sauce would make the fries a bit soggy. It did add a balance of the meal because not only there was beef and peppers, but it needed a root vegetable in it since potatoes are a common thing eaten in Peru if I am not mistaken. They gave a small cup of rice and for a good reason because there was so much food in my plate. My stomach managed to survive one of their meals. I was extremely satisfied with the food and the pricing which was $14. My takeaway is that this cuisine is probably one of the most underrated because many people have hardly heard or eaten this cuisine before. I am happy to say that El Inka can definitely represent Peruvian and possibly also Central and South American cuisine. I would definitely come back here for sure. read more

El Inka Latin Deli - Lomo Saltado. The best post workout meal ever. - Peruvian Near Me - Burnaby, British Columbia

Oh Oh Oh!!! My totally cool boss took me here today. This little Peruvian place looks pretty grotty on the outside. I kind of wondered why we would go to a little dirty hole in the wall. (Read on people... note my 5 stars above?!?!) This place has 8 tables. The menu has many pages because they have a picture and full description of every item. This is helpful for clods like me who have no clue. SO we ordered these little fried things with beef and potato in them, and they came with two of the best dipping sauces I have EVER eaten. Everything we ate was made like at somebody's house, it was so carefully prepared. My boss ordered this juice that is made from blue corn (the owner showed us the cobs he uses) and mixed with pineapple juice, and Cinnamon. It was so cool and very different tasting. My steak fries and salad (don't judge me) was exceptional. I don' t know what they marinate their steaks in but it was so tasty. Both my dining companions ate every last bite of the interesting dishes they ordered. This place is a find, and I am so happy it is near my work. Honestly, don' t let the outside put you off. Eating there is like going to your favourite Latino friend's house and his Mom makes you dinner. read more

Wow. I don't think I can say enough good things about this restaurant. One of the most welcoming and attractive Latin food joints I've ever been to as far as service and food quality goes. Truly authentic food - I had the arroz con pollo, it was delicious. It is very affordable given the quality. Service is also very nice, and it all makes for a great package. Will definitely return!! read more

It's a small place, and unless you are in the neighborhood, it seems you'd never know about it and therefore would never drop in. The blue corn drink is awesome. Refreshingly unique, sweet and tasty. Everything is good here - love the empanadas, especially - although I think some things are a little pricey for dinner, but for food you can't have everywhere (ala sushi, burgers) to pay a few extra bucks is not that big of a deal, I suppose. read more

I'm a 1st generation Peruvian\American and have tried many different restaurants. Being new in town, this was the first restaurant I decided to visit. El Inka Latin Deli is a rather small restaurant. Its run by a mom and pop who are Peruvian themselves. I was starving and craving some fine Peruvian cuisine! Reviewing the menu, prices were not too bad, cheap by Vancouver standards. Make sure you always get the Inka Kola, you will love it. If they had some better decor, they'd maybe bring in more clientele. For an appetizer, I always order the fried Yucca. They were fried to a golden, flaky, juicy and pleasantly flavorful Yucca strips. I have tried their Aji De Gallina, which is supposed to be creamy. This place has a more watery version and they use different cheese. Overall it was just OK. And I have tried their Fried Fish Plate, which is excellent! They usually have chicha morada (corn punch) and it is highly recommended! This is a family owned restaurant. They family works there and they do a great job with everything. Highly recommended! read more

Last night my husband took me to this little hole in the wall restaurant for a Peruvian dinner. My husband is Peruvian and told me how good this place was and how much it's the closest to the food his mother made. I had to try it and so glad I did! I had the aji de gallina and it was delicious! The restaurant us a family run establishment. The husband and wife do all the cooking while their teenagers are the waiters. Highly recommend checking this place out! I'll be back! read more

I recently had an appointment at the nearby Burnaby Hospital and decided to stop by for lunch on the recommendation of a Peruvian friend. Mrs. Meal Ticket had dinner there a few weeks previous and enthusiastically recommended the ceviche. For the gourmands reading this, ceviche is a basically a melange of citrus marinated seafood and El Inka does their's very, very well as attested by my order. The seafood was fresh and had a firm and savory bite accentuated by the tang of lime juice accompanied by hits of cilantro and, I think, parsley. It was a bit pricey for an entree, but the portion size was more than enough to make a big meal for one or to share for two. The empanadas we ordered were exceptionally tasty even though it was evident that they were reheated in the microwave. Try the spicy-savory dipping sauce accompanying it. Definitely ask for a glass of chicha to accompany your meal as it's downright tasty, sweet and refreshing. If decor plays a big factor in your dining experience you'll be sorely disappointed. The place has a definite slapped together, well worn feel and the placement of some things can be best described as...odd. Hmmm...does anyone find it weird to have a pair of freezers right next to the...uh, unique (but clean) washroom? Yet...there's very much a homespun mom 'n pop feel to the place. Our server and host just happened to be the owner and it was quite evident a few minutes in our conversation that he was proud of the food served. All in all, we enjoyed our lunch experience and plan to come back to El Inka soon. It's gonna cost a wee bit more to dine there and the seats -- the ones that match -- will hurt your butt after awhile, but you get a uniquely enjoyable and tasty homespun meal in return for your hard earned $$$. read more

Very good South American fare in a tiny little place. This is kind of in my neighbourhood in an extended walk kind of way... and I just felt like exploring out a bit from the usual 'along Kingsway' fare. So glad I did! The hours are a little short... but managed to get in for dinner with the wife. She had the quesadilla... I went with lomo saltado. Both were really tasty (we ended up splitting them... mostly to her insistence when she saw and smelled mine). Food came out quickly, and it tasted really scratch cooked... so nice. Will definitely be back again! (and again..and again!) read more

This is a great little find tucked away in Burnaby, but well worth the trip. They have a selection of food from Peru, Colombia, El Salvador, and México. The food I had, a Madongo soup, was amazing and brought back memories of visiting Colombia. The service was good and friendly. I will definitely be back. read more

Delicious food! Family-run restaurant. A hidden gem. The yuquitas are sooo delicious. If you're vegetarian (as I am), try the yuquitas for an appetizer and then the beans-and-cheese burrito -- you'll be stuffed and satisfied when you're done. read more

Alright, the food was good. It was truly what mama would cook. However, I thought it was a bit too expensive for what it was. If some of the main dishes were like $11.95 instead of $14.95, I would have enjoyed more (does that even make sense?) However, please try Pony Malta drink. It so good, I wanted to find a place where they sell them by cases! read more

I was in search for some Latin food and found this place on yelp. Not much options seem to show up and this isn't too far where I was situated at the time. El Inka is small family run business which seats about roughly 20 people. We went during dinner time and it was relatively quiet with just one other couple that was seated before us. For a family run business, they have quite an extensive menu with dishes of different Latin countries. Things we ordered were: -Yuquitas (4.5/5-$4.00): This was a bit high on the price point but taste-wise they were good! Crispy deepfried cassavas, can't say no to that! I like it without the dipping sauce. I was spicy with a bitter aftertaste. -Empanadas Columbianas (3.5/5-$1.00 per): These were about two bite size. The filling ratio was good; not too much nor too little that you can't taste it. This type of empanadas was the deepfried wrap instead of the flaky kind. We initially wanted to order the empanadas chilenas but they were sold out. -Pupusas (4.5/5-$2.75 per): We had two of these. One with pork and cheese and the other mixed (cheese, beans and pork). This came with a salad because they ran out of slaw. Both pupusas were good but the mixed tasted a tad bit better than its alternative. -Mondongo Soup (4.5/5-$11.00): The soup came with a side of rice, arepas and half of an avocado with a wedge of lime. Not quite sure how we were supposed to eat this but when my grandma used to make this soup, we had them with the arepas only. The soup was flavourful and had lots of mondongo. -Anticuchos (4/5-$11.00): Bbq beef hearts. These were tender and had nice flavour to them. Comes with potatoes and corn. These were nothing to rave about. Simple broil potatoes. -Horchata (2/5-$3.00): This was disappointing. Didn't like the flavour of it and had some grainy particles. Overall, it's not a bad place to go. I'll definitely come again for my latin food fix. I wanted to try their tres leches cake but according to their sign they close at 7pm and we stayed till 8pm. It was nice that they didn't kick us out. The service was not bad either. Pretty attentive. Always checking up on us etc. read more

I'm Peruvian and can say that this is the best Peruvian you can find in the Vancouver area by far! Good sized portions and fair prices. Authentic dishes! Love this little restaurant. read more