Olé the food and the service. Thank you Niurka and Dani for your service you guys are great. Thank you Antonio and Pablo my food was so delicious! read more

We were seated immediately in a cozy booth. The miti miti drink is delicious: truly cinnamon and passion fruit! Taya was very helpful with assisting us through the menu. There are many delicious sounding options! We had the calamari, the meat skewers and the paella. The paella was divine!! The lucuma ice cream to finish was delicious: it really does taste like caramel coffee. Highly recommend! A refreshing and flavorful meal. read more

El Mono - Lucuma Ice Cream - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Christian was a very nice server! He helped us choose some dishes since it was our first time trying Peruvian food. We got the arroz con pollo and Antonio's Pescado Al achiote.. both were amazing ! Definitely coming back here. read more

Food and Service is excellent! Taya is super nice!! Highly recommended!! It's our fave Peruvian restaurant! read more

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In a small strip mall with limited parking.I haven't been to the new location and they had a couple of guys playing music. It was nice to have live music.It is small but bigger than the old location. We started off with some fruity drinks and a sangria. Next was the Seafood ceviche and then I had paella. I liked the seafood paella but some of the other dishes the fish with shrimp wasn't what he thought it would be and thought it was ok. But the other dishes were good. We will be back for the full fried fish they didn't have it on the menu that day. read more

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The first thing I noticed was how amazing the atmosphere is here. You walk in and Peruvian music is playing. People are talking and laughing and they welcome you. Taya was our server and from the get go she was friendly, and helpful with choice of food and drinks. Food came out in a reasonable time. I got the carne seco and it was beyond delicious. Highly recommend. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Andres & Dani were really nice and gave great service. The food was excellent! I will de return. The music was nice and the booth was comfortable, great ambiance read more

Niurka, Karina, and Dani were so generous in serving our table of 5 and the food is delicious! I've been coming here for years and will continue to do so! read more

Dani, Karina, and Niurka were very attentive and provided excellent service to my family. The food was flavorful and the highlight was their paella. Great vibes inside the restaurant and would return any time! read more

El Mono - Peruvian Paella - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Soooo.... they need to get their inventory together, big time. For example, I came in and looked at their wine by the glass list and requested a sav blanc. The server told me she didn't have any chilled ones but could put it on ice for me. Spoke with somebody and apparently they didn't have any sav blanc at all but directed me to the list where I could purchase a bottle. For one person? No thanks Time to order drinks. I asked about sangria and she gave me three options. Ordered sangria and then she came back and told me they actually weren't selling it. And then ordered the special for the night. She put the order in and about 10 minutes later I was informed they didn't have that either. You think they would have prepared for a dinner weekend rush? My reservation was for 1800 on a SATURDAY night. Three strikes and this place sucks. Actually four strikes.... I was just informed they were out of another dish I tried to order in place of the special. read more

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Marlene you are outstanding with your service! Buen trabajo y servicio muy atenta, Gracias!!! read more

Some of my best friends and I decided to indulge and try out El Mono for lunch a few weeks back and we were content with what we experienced! Staff were very nice and attentive while working with our extensive order. We already anticipated that parking would be a hit or miss since we frequent another restaurant in this area, so be aware that the lot can get packed fast. Inside the restaurant we were welcomed and seated at a both with some adequate lighting. After contemplating our orders we got: - Peruvian Paella (4/5): SHARE THIS. The plate might be small but the proportion between the rice and the seafood is a bit imbalanced. You'll get too full eating this solo. Seafood was delicious though! - Lomo Saltado (3/5): Pretty good and very filling! The meat is more on the saltier side compared to other places that sell lomo saltado. - Platano Frito (4/5): Delicious start to the meal that comes with a yummy aioli. - Miti Miti 16 oz (5/5): Ordered this and loved the refreshing taste (and sense of healthiness) while drinking it! - Maracuya 16 oz (4/5): I was able to try my friend's drink and appreciated the sweetness of it! - Chicken cilantro soup (10/5): OUR ENTIRE GROUP LOVED THIS. We downed the soup without a single word spoken. It was so good with the green sauce they have here as well and we can't wait to have this soup again. For a first time, we liked the vibes and the food. Something we're eager for in the near future is trying the cocktails and food on the dinner menu! read more

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Update! Revisiting on Tuesday Night, everything was great as it always is. Poor Man's Steak, Seco de Res and Mojitos were FIRE. Shout out to Kaya our server, kept the drinks & food flowing with friendly, positive energy. Can't wait to check out the Berkeley location. read more

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Food was amazingly delicious. The plantains had an outer crunch that stayed throughout the meal. The calamari wasn't covered in thick breading and was delicious. Rice dish is a must we had to take home leftovers. Pro-Tip- check in on Yelp and get a free Fresca. Unfortunately I checked in and just gave my card at the end and realized that they charged me for it. No biggie it was my fault. But I will say the service did lag a little for me. I came with a friend in the middle of the afternoon and she only had two tables. I had to ask for more water, soda for my friend, our boxes and the check. I don't mind asking, but simple check ins would show the attentiveness to the customers. I would come back and would love to try other dishes. This parking lot is small for all the businesses so keep that in mind for when you come during peak meal times. read more

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As always a great place for catching up with friends. The food and service are always top notch. I went with the steak sandwich today. Meat was tender,chimmicuri sauce amazing side of crispy fries. On point appetizers are always good for he casuca tuna.delicious. server Marlene was friendly, helpful and very attentive. read more

They keep changing the plating, but the Trio Del Mar is still one of my favorite things to get when I come here. I have been coming here on and off for about 4 years now, still love the food as much as the first time. I highly recommend the fried fish in sauce and the Trio Del Mar. Did you hear about the new location in Berkeley? I cannot wait to go check it out! read more

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Taya at El Mono made our first Peruvian food experience unforgettable. She was so friendly and personable, which made us feel welcome right away. The food was fantastic. We shared the frito sampler--those sweet potato fries were perfect, and we loved all the sauces. I had the Tallarín Verde con Camarones and the portion was huge and super flavorful. My partner got the Lomo Saltado, and we really liked the French fries it came with. To top it off, we finished with the Miti Miti--absolutely delicious, especially the subtle cinnamon aftertaste. Can't wait to come back and bring my parents. I know they'll love it! I recommend making a reservation it does get busy. read more

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Excellent food and outstanding service! Karina and Marlin made our experience even more enjoyable with their kindness, attentiveness, and professionalism. The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. They made us feel welcomed and well taken care of from start to finish. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this place. Thank you, Karina and Marlin, for such a wonderful experience! read more

What a neat spot! I stopped by after delivering something to a customer in El Cerrito. Marle, Karina, & Dani were all AMAZING! I love Peruvian food, but there aren't that many places that I know of. So I decided to stop by and give it a try. The yucca fries are my favorite appetizers of course I got those! And they were excellent, non-greasy. The green salad I got was also fresh and flavorful with a light vinaigrette dressing. The seafood paella was the best! The seafood was really fresh and the rice was perfectly cooked...not too soggy and with a nice crunchy bottom from the pan. The service of course was top notch...really friendly and inviting. Definitely recommend this cozy place to hangout and eat flavors of Peru. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Solid Peruvian spot with tasty food, although a little on the pricy side. Came here on a Friday evening on the way back from wine tasting. Arriving at around 6 pm, there were about 3-4 tables occupied and plenty of seating. We chose a table and then scanned the QR code for the menu. For a group of 4 we tried: - Mixed ceviche: Honestly just ok, I felt like there could have been a lot more flavors and also, a little more protein for the price. I would skip this if I came back. - Lomo Saltado: Solid lomo but not my favorite ever. I probably would go 50-50 on ordering this again, - Aji de gallina: My first time trying this dish, I really enjoyed it! I don't have other ones to compare it to but I loved the flavor in the stew and would eat it again. - Tapado a lo pobre: This was also my first time trying this dish and I thought it was tasty! But I would order the chicken stew over this. We also got the following desserts: - alfajores & cream: the alfajores were standard but I loved the lucuma ice cream! Super creamy and flavorful - yuquitas dulces: skip this, it was basically fries with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup. Very underwhelming. The servers were friendly and kind, and when we were there they had a live performer too. Seems like a nice local spot, but I personally wouldn't go too far out of my way to try it again. read more

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Thank you to Taya Karina and Dani for awesome service. The food was amazing. Great chill atmosphere. We'll definitely be coming back soon.

One of my favorite restaurants in El Cerrito! El Mono has delicious Peruvian cuisine with amazing flavors! The pescado frito is one of my favorite dishes and it was perfect as always. I had a coupon for the fish cevichito so I tried it, but unfortunately it was not for me. So far, it's the only thing that I've had that I didn't like and I've tried almost everything! Service is always good even on busy days. read more

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Great flavors and cozy atmosphere, the service was good too! We had the seafood paella, which easily fed two. Cheesecake and flan were both excellent desserts with nice Peruvian twists. read more

Good food and service! I Had the chimichurri steak sandwich. The fresh corn nuts were great.

We had a reservation for a casual dinner at El Mono. We arrived on time but unfortunately weren't greeted when we walked in. After a few minutes, a staff member finally acknowledged us with a quick "I'll be right with you" before disappearing again. When he returned, he said, "just a moment," then proceeded to take another table's order. Eventually, he told us our table would be ready shortly because it needed to be cleaned. More waiting followed. We overheard him tell another server a table number "for two," and noticed that while there were several empty tables in the front, he was setting one up for us in the very back--near the restroom. At that point, the vibe felt off, and we honestly began to feel like our presence wasn't welcome. That's disappointing, especially since we've enjoyed dining here in the past. We politely let them know we were leaving, and only then did the same staff member say, "Oh, your table is almost ready"--but it clearly wasn't. It wasn't the wait that bothered us--it was the lack of courtesy and regard. We hope this was just an off night, but it left a sour impression. read more

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Steak was cooked medium, It wasn't overcook, or under. The flavor was good. I also added a side of four shrimp they weren't over cooked. My wife's beef heart was pretty good, but I think the chimichurri was a little oiler than I'm used to, it tasted good with the heart. My wife's drink was good a little sweet for my taste.. when I go back, yes I will be going again. I'd like to try something else maybe the paella or come on the weekend when they have lamb shank. read more

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I wish I would have taken pictures of the food but it looked so good and delicious I couldn't help but dig in right away. Marlene served us today and she was so sweet and attentive. She made us amazing drinks and helped us when we had questions. The restaurant showcased new pictures of Peru which added to the ambiance. We really loved this place and will definitely be back again to try more dishes because everything that came out of the kitchen looked incredible. read more

El Mono - Miti Miti Inca Kola (12oz) - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Finally tried El Mono and it was a very tasty experience! Parents, baby and I decided to do dinner there and we def feasted! Fried calamari, seafood paella, lomo saltado, plaintains were fire! The calamari was super tender, flavorful and big enough for 4-5 ppl. The prices are kinda high but the portions are pretty hefty and more importantly, delicious. Vibe is intimate for couples with dim lighting and candles, but also fam friendly with vibrant colors and booths on the other side. Loved the Peruvian culture nods too. Service was top notch! Our girl was very attentive and gave great food recs. Will be back! read more

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really solid food and great service :) i always get the lomo saltado with a fried egg, their chicha morada-maracuya drink, and split a ceviche with the table. the gravy on their lomo saltado is excellent!! and i've really never had a bad experience here. read more

I really enjoy coming to El Mono. The food is always fresh and delicious. I like the variety of different food options they offer. My favorite dish is the Lomo Saltado, it is very flavorful. For drinks, Miti Miti is always a good option. Love dining here with both family and friends. Would definitely recommend to others. read more

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I recommended to my girlfriends to try El Mono in El Cerrito in East Bay. We all love Peruvian food. I made a reservation at 12:30 pm for 5 people. We all drove from San Francisco. Daniella, the owner, was so helpful since it was my friends' first time dining at the restaurant. I ordered Mati Mati & my friends' got Peruvian Beer. My drink was refreshing. We started with Calamari & Ceviche. We enjoyed eating them with the sauce provided. So appetizing. We shared like a family style the Lomo Saltado & Super Mariscos. My friends were impressed seeing the whole Branzino fish on top of the Seafood Paella. They enjoyed both meals that I recommended. We did not have dessert as we were full. The service was great. The food were delicious. The ambiance was simple as a Peruvian restaurant. It was nice they have a big screen TV on the wall showing the greatest visits around the world including Peru. My other friend said she will bring her husband & her sons to dine at El Mono. I don't mind returning and I believe this was my 5th visit to El Mono. read more

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El Mono is a gem! My boyfriend and I ate here tonight, and I must say--the food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. We ordered the Lomo Saltado, Chaufa de Pollo, and the Poor Man's Steak. The Lomo Saltado is a flavorful classic Peruvian dish that truly sparked my taste buds--it was so yummy! My boyfriend loved the Poor Man's Steak with the chimichurri sauce. Even the side of white rice was delicious! The ambiance at El Mono is cozy and warm. The walls are painted a rich orange and beautifully decorated with Peruvian art, which made the space feel inviting and authentic. The service was exceptional. Taya, Karina, and Dani were incredibly warm and welcoming. Special shout-out to Dani and Taya for taking extra time to chat with us and make us feel right at home. We also appreciated Dani sharing tips on what to do when we visit Peru! We absolutely loved this place and will definitely be returning very soon! read more

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The food is outta this world ! It's my favorite Peruvian food restaurant in all the Bay Area . Service is brilliant and the atmosphere is def Peru . Thank you to my server today , she is very pleasant and professional . Thank you Bella read more

El Mono - Peruvian stew - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I've heard amazing things about this place and was excited to try! We came on a Friday right when they opened and there were plenty of tables and parking was easy to find in the plaza. I loved their paella, that was my favorite - they have 2 sizes and the individual was MASSIVE. Prices are very reasonable and they also have great drinks! Highly recommend! Delicious bites, quick and fast for the food to come out and flavors are bold and yummy! read more

Marlene at El Mono provided amazing service, so friendly and attentive! The food was incredible, and I highly recommend the Lomo Saltado. Can't wait to come back! read more

El Mono - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

El mono, my first time trying Peruvian food, didn't disappoint. Every bite was incredibly good. I couldn't stop raving to my husband, saying, "Wow!" The customer service was top-notch, and the owner, Dani, was very friendly. The cozy ambiance, complemented by the pleasant music, created a great atmosphere.We're definitely going back. read more

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My first experience of Peruvian food. Service 5 stars, Food 5 stars, Atmosphere and Vibe 5 stars. I went with some friends who were able to show me the ropes and soon our table was groaning with food -- Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, Chaufa, etc etc. The interior is cozy and not fussy -- perfect for meals of two or bigger parties. The dishes containing seafood were all super fresh and the whole meal was bursting with flavor. I was really surprised, in particular, by how well prepared all the meat was (tender and flavorful). An honorable mention goes out to the Miti Miti -- a combination of chicha morada and maracuya (sweet and tart). The drink was the perfect refreshing beverage to pair with the already delightful meal. read more

Taya was amazing as our server and the food was awesome! This was the first time I ate in the restaurant - definitely worth the food presentation and experience. read more

El Mono - Saltado de pollo - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Give this place its roses, I wish I found this place sooner. I use to go all the way to Pacifica and Half Moon Bay for decent Peruvian when I should have stuck to my gut and known that the best Peruvian place to eat at is in the East Bay. El Mono is clean, spacious, and its interior is absolutely charming. I love the decor, everything is so thoughtful and the Nazca Line artworks were just amazing to look at. Not too sure why this place was empty on a Saturday lunch? Because the food is absolutely amazing. We ordered the Cerviche Mixto, and Lomo Saltado. It was the perfect amount. I was taught that the measurement of a Peruvian Cerviche's integrity, is that you have to be able to drink the juices that the seafood ferments in. While most of the time my flavor profile biasly leans more sour, the Cerviche at El Mono was made to perfection. I drank the little shot that came with the plate and I drank the remaining liquids right out of the bowl. There has only been two times in my life that I was willing to down the entire thing and it had to be good for me to even consider it. El Mono, you hit the damn spot and you were the second. Last but not least the Lomo Saltado. Oh my God, IT COMES WITH A LITTLE RICE PYRAMID. Like how amazing is the attention to detail?! Not only was the presentation amazing but the rice itself was delicious?? Its definitely not your ordinary rice. As for the beef, onions, tomatoes, and fries, each too were beautifully plated and cooked so well. I will definitely be returning and what a wonderful first impression. Highly recommend. read more

I was in the area of el cerrito today and decided to try this place out for lunch with my son Walked in and was greeted real quick. They brought us roasted corn and it was so good. I ordered a cup soup and it was the bomb. The pesto pasta with chicken was delicious. Overall it was very good and I would definitely come back again. The service was excellent and the restaurant was clean. Affordable rates in their menu Definitely a good place for lunch or dinner read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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