After finally finding myself down in the Grove City/Lincoln Village area, I can justify the short drives to all the food I've bookmarked down here. I've been craving Peruvian cause aji verde is life. Anyway, this is a little unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. Wasn't too hard to find and plenty of parking. I got the half chicken with 2 sides cause i was HUNGRY. Def could have just gotten a quarter chicken and been fine. For sides I got the sweet plantains and green rice. The sides are what won the show for me. Those plantains were amazing. Crispy, gooey, and not too sweet, just a great dish all on its own. The rice was also flavorful without being too strong. The chicken was good but a little dry. It was great with the aji verde though and I wish I had asked for more sauce haha live and learn! For the amount of food, price, and taste, I thought this was an excellent meal. I'd definitely come back, even if just for some plantains! read more

El Pollo Perucho - 1/2 Charcoal Broiled Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I wanted the Pollo a la Plancha with papas a la huancaina but they were out of it; wanted to replace it with tostones, and it was not available. I asked why still on the menu and was told "Our regular customers know we don't have this available" I guess this restaurant is only for regular customers???? Ceviche was actually REALLY good; fish was fresh and really seasoned well. Last time I came here the ceviche tasted like the rind of lemons. Service actually has improved; if you've come to this restaurant before you know that every plate is made fresh and that the dishes come out one at a time and not all at once. While my dishes came out separate as usual, the timing between dishes to table has drastically improved! When looking up this restaurant on line the cost for meals is listed as $ out of $$$$, however IMO it should be $$ or $$$. These two dishes and one drink (Chicha Morada) cost me $39.59 (3% charge for using credit card) Restrooms are...well they need improvement to say the least. Broken toilet in men's restroom and women's restroom needs cleaning. Overall it was an "ok" experience...I've been here before and because I HAVE SEEN improvement in food quality and service I'll give it 4 stars...otherwise it would be 2 stars if it was my first experience. read more

El Pollo Perucho - Pollo a La Plancha with refried beans and onion salad - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Peruvian here, I was so excited to try this restaurant as I just moved to Ohio, unfortunately this was not a pleasant experience. I ordered to go. Pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken) was extremely dry. Side of rice was dry, flavorless and crunchy (like coscolon). They forgot my salad. Portions were ridiculously small for the price. Ají de pollería was not good. Papa a la huancallina was okay, it had a different flavor than what I am used to but it wasn't bad. Service was terrible! I have never had such a rude encounter with a cashier. I don't remember her name but she had pink eyeshadow and thick eyeliner. She essentially threw my receipt back at me to sign as she looked away from me. She acted bothered to be checking us out. I purchased some Peruvian products from their display and checked out a second time again with the same cashier and she treated me the same way. The same cashier was giggling and smiling at two guys at the bar that seemed to be regulars, and treated us like dirt. She even gave us a passive aggressive goodbye as if she was glad to see us gone. We are nice people, I even tipped because I like to support small businesses and I am Peruvian myself, I regret it. Que decepción y falta de educación de la cajera. read more

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To the best of my knowledge, El Pollo Perucho is the only game in town when it comes to Peruvian rotiserrie chicken (@ me if you know of other places). Fortunately, it's a pretty good one. Got two dishes while I was here. The rotisserie chicken was an obvious choice, and it was as good as any I've ever had. (They're all usually pretty good, to be fair) The piece I received came piping hot from the oven, packed with the aromas and flavors of the herbs and spices. The flavors in the cilantro rice were more subtle, a nice change of pace. The maduros (sweet plantains) were really terrific: I think they were freshly-fried because the texture was firmer and the flavor tangier than other maduros I've had elsewhere. I would probably get some extra to go next time. I also decided to get the Frejoles con Seco (stewed beef in cilantro sauce over pinto beans and rice) and try something new. The stewed beef was cooked very tender and was delicious. However, I'm not sure if the cilantro sauce did all that much for me; nothing really stood out there. The pinto beans might be a bit too liquid-y for some, but I felt that they worked within the logic of this dish: a simple, straightforward plate for filling you up. Overall, it was a good dish and I'm glad I ordered it, but the rotisserie will be my go-to from now on. Service was friendly and considerate, as the manager was kind enough to accommodate my efforts to photograph my dishes and answer a few questions about the food. It's a fine Peruvian place, and I'll definitely come again. read more

El Pollo Perucho - Frejoles con Seco ---follow @willchews - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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It seems the best Peruvian restaurants are in strip malls. I walk in and order their ceviche non-spicy. Will review it when it arrives. As you can see from the photo, this is a proper Peruvian ceviche. Notice the cancha and sweet potato. And it was delicious! I haven't had a ceviche this good since the last time I visited NYC. Everything was prepared perfectly. The leche de Tigre was prepared to perfection. For once I left nothing on the plate. This is also the only true Peruvian restaurant in Columbus that I've found. I'll have to look closer to home.. When I get out this way again I'll be sure to stop in! read more

El Pollo Perucho - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Ordered the quarter chicken dark with two sides; white rice and black beans and a side of plantains. my partner ordered a fried rice dish with steak. The waitress seemed annoyed that we asked for water instead of soda or any of the other drink options My food came out about 10 to 15 min my partner's food came out. The chicken was surprisingly dry. The rice, beans and plantains were ok, nothing out of the ordinary. I am writing this review as my partner is eating his meal. I just looked over and 15% gratuity is going to be added to the dine in bill. But if a waitress is annoyed by my order drink and the food is not coming out at the same time that is an issue of communication with the kitchen. People sit down to eat at a restaurant to enjoy a meal together not separately. Will won't be back not for this food and certainly no the service. I paid my bill and the waitresses seemed to be in a better mood. I didn't make eye contact because I was annoyed and responded to her questions as yes or no. Sometimes when the food is not so great you deal with it because you are treated well. This was not the case here. Food is mediocre at best, service subpar. read more

Top kudos to the people I noticed running the restaurant: Women. Female empowerment at its best! The owner(?) gal was polite and patient with our party of nine. Besides, sensational Peruvian food. Marisol and I decided to beat the odds and split our dishes so we could try more. The menu is simple, everything has a very brief description. Two different potato apps - boiled sliced potatoes covered in a cheese sauce and an olive on top. Tried both - Ocopa and Papa A Lahuancaina. I preferred the later. Couldn't taste the peanuts in the former, must be pulverized? These dishes made me think of nachos, Peruvian style. Both very good dishes. The Causa De Pollo is a chicken salad spread mixture sandwiched between two thick potato pancakes. Highly recommended. Good pulled-chcken flavor, not drenched in a cheap mayo sauce holding the spread together. Really good. "Ceviche" refers to cooking with lemon/lime, and this was the bold flavor of this cold dish. It is tart, serious TART! Made me pucker and shiver. It was a definite new flavor for my tastebuds, but still refreshing and new. I simply adore sweet potatoes, so the slice on the side was a welcome site.The corn didn't have any real outstanding flavor, but that must be an accustomed side to Peruvian dishes? The main entree, 1/4 De Pollo, was 1/4 of Peruvian roasted chicken with excellent spices profile. Fall off the bone tender as the dickens! The cilantro rice and tangy red onions were good sides. I absolutely adore dark-meat chicken, especially roasted. As for the physical establishment, tables were clean, restroom was clean and orderly and I like the open ordering counter so you can see the cooking. I'm assuming this place does a steady take-out business, too, as people were coming in and out to pick up. If I lived closer to the west side of Columbus, I'm positive I'd be getting food from El Pollo all the time. I can't wait to get back. This restaurant is legit! read more

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Excellent rotisserie chicken, cilantro rice and beans... Authentic Peruvian food and drinks .. Loved the food. Location is in a strip mall. read more

El Pollo Perucho - Inside where you order - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Peruvian food. Loved the fries and the chicken was great! Humble storefront, authentic food. read more

El Pollo Perucho - Yellow rice, broiled chicken, yucca fries, corn tortillas - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amazing! Place was closed a little early they let me in and gave me what they had! Thank you for being kind!

Pollo a La Plancha was delicious. Lightly breaded chicken with good flavor accented with avacado sauce and spicy salsa. Went well with side dishes of fried rice and fresh avacado. Friendly service for my carry out. Customers at lunch time were half carry out and half dine-in. read more

Visited Saturday evening place was empty like two guys at the bar. Chicken lacked flavor thought the sauce will add some flavor but it didn't, Chicken was even pale even after asking the guy to make sure chicken was cook more. Yuca was good. Ordered ceviche that was good nice flavor. The staff was nice. Restaurant looked old the music was very loud to keep a conversation. read more

I was thrilled to hear a new Peruvian place finally opened in Cbus :) It is one of my favorite cuisines! This place serves up VERY authentic Peruvian dishes. My favorites were a must to try! -Ceviche (so fresh, served with sweet potato & corn) -Lomo Salatado (one of my favorite dishes, is a traditional Peruvian dish made with sliced beef, hot chiles, and French fries. They serve it with an amazing hot sauce, I could eat by the gallon :) ...and I had to wash it all down with an Inca Cola! This place will be a weekly visit I'm sure! read more

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Peruvian chicken is justifiably lauded worldwide. Honestly, the same could be said for Peruvian food in general. Visit any major city, and even many minor ones, and you're like to discover that Peruvian cuisine is having a moment. Our options for such food in Columbus are limited however. Indeed, at the moment the only restaurant in town offering a full complement of Peruvian dishes is El Pollo Perucho. Although Peruvian chicken is the nominal focus, the restaurant also offers a variety of other traditional dishes. A few of them (arroz con pollo for example) are offered only on weekends. On a recent trip to the restaurant, we did our best to sample a variety of things. The staff was friendly and welcoming when we arrived and were patient as we decided what to order. The chicken was quite flavorful, highlighting one of the reasons that the dish has gained such worldwide renown. It was, however, a bit dry. The dryness was helpfully off set by the table hot sauce. (Which actually wasn't that hot, I've had much hotter elsewhere.) As is the case with most pollo a la brasa, the chicken was served with fries. While nothing out of the ordinary, they were hot and crispy. The accompanying salad was primarily shredded iceberg lettuce, but had a tasty dressing. (You can also substitute any of their other sides for the fries for a slight up charge.) The papa la huancaina, which is cold potatoes with a huancaina sauce (and an olive and hard boiled egg), was fairly bland. The huancaina sauce didn't really stand out. I'd say that you could fairly skip this one. Finally, we had ceviche. The ceviche was well done, and while not the best I've ever had, is probably your best current option for Peruvian style ceviche in Columbus. It was served in a traditional style with sweet potato, dried corn kernels, and the oft seen Peruvian style big kerneled corn. The latter is always terrible and weird. I recommend you leave it on the plate. Overall, I'd say that El Pollo Perucho is a good, but not great example of Peruvian cuisine. Things are done well enough that if you're itching for some of the dishes you already love, then this will help scratch that itch. But if you want to see what all the fuss is about, it may or may not do the trick. I gave it four stars, but if 3.5 were an option, that's probably what I'd give it instead. El Pollo Perucho also offers a wide selection of Peruvian staples for sale. So if you say, pick up Chef Gaston Acurio's new cookbook and need to find yellow aji peppers, this is the place for you. read more

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I don't care much for chicken but had to try what they're best known for. The chicken was moist and flavorful with a clear coal barbecue flavor. Sides with this particular meal weren't extraordinary; just basic fries and an iceberg salad with radish and cucumber under a peppery vinaigrette dressing. As I said I'm not a big chicken eater, but it was better than most so I gave four stars. I'm much more interested in coming back to try some beef options. read more

El Pollo Perucho - Rotisserie chicken. Forgot to take picture until most had been eaten. - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

!!!! I lived in Lima, Peru for 6 months until December 2013 and I had been looking for authentic Peruvian food since returning. I couldn't believe they had a Peruvian restaurant in Columbus. The food was good but not exactly the same quality compared to some of the restaurants I would frequent while living in Peru. They had all the spices though (aji, huacaina) which was great! They also had chicha morada, inca kola, ceviche and anticuchos! (Along with other authentic dishes) I give it 5 stars as the food, price and authenticity were all good. The owners themselves are from Lima, Peru as well which was great! They also had Peruvian television which was awesome. For anyone from Peru or has been to Peru, they had "Esto es Guerra" on the television which made me laugh because I would always watch "Combate" with my housemates. One thing I wish they had was Pisco Sour and Pilsen. I assume, as they are a somewhat new restaurant, that they just don't have their liquor license yet. I recommend this to anyone who has even the slightest interest in trying Peruvian food! GO! GO! GO! I will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! read more

El Pollo Perucho - Jelea Mixta - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Drove from worthington just to check this spot out (30 minute drive). It was totally worth it. Everything was super good. A lot of my family members are vegetarians and they had a selection for them. We ordered seco, papá a la huancaina, bisteck a lo pobre, ceviche, pescado frito, pollo a la brasa, alfajores. Todo estaba excelente! We live in California but would def recommend this spot to everyone in The area! read more

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It was redamndiculous. The rotisserie chicken in particular. The skin was like crisp well seasoned candy from Jesus. And the flesh was as juicy as the rumors at a drag convention. The grilled chicken was ok, and the potato sides were interesting. I think I would've preferred them warm. Salad was crisp and vinegary and added a nice bright punch. We will definitely be back for that fabulous chicken :) read more

El Pollo Perucho - Rotisserie chicken from heaven with hot crunchy fries and tasty salad. - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We came to Columbus (one of our regular quick vacation stops) over fall break this year) with several restaurants in mind. One of those was Los Galapagos, an Ecuadorian place...when we got there, it was closed, despite the hours on the door saying that it should've been open. So, we searched for other places nearby...a sea of Mexican places (which we had just had yesterday) and this. So this it was. We'd had Peruvian once before, in Albuquerque. It was super good so we figured it would be good here too. It was! It was EVEN BETTER! This place was GREAT! We were a little scared that it would be kinda sketchy after driving through the neighborhoods nearby, but it was immaculately clean inside and decorated in bright Peruvian spirit. The waitress was super nice and seemed surprised that we tipped her well...do they not tip at this place? The chicken was phenomenally juicy and yummy, even better than we had in Albuquerque. Both dark and white meat were good, but dark was better. The yucca fries were AWESOME...just how we remembered them. The two together made such a good meal...if we lived in Columbus we would definitely be regulars here and would definitely order their full size chickens to cook at home. My yellow rice was also suprisingly spectactular..don't know what spices were in there but it was different than any I've had before. The food my dad had was good as well, it was some sort of pork on skewers with potatoes and corn that was halfway between regular corn and hominy. Everything was yummy, relatively cheap, service was super, and the place was clean and bright! A+ joint read more

El Pollo Perucho - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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A friend highly recommended it & we finally made it over to try it; oh my! It did not disappoint! The staff was very kind & patient. We got take out; a whole chicken, sweet plantains, cilantro & plain rice. Everything was excellent! Seasoned, fresh, tasty! Should have gotten the beans as well; heard they're delicious, will have to try them next time. Wish we lived closer so we could frequent this wonderful restaurant! read more

Their chicken can only be described by one word, AMAZING! The chicken was nice and juicy, it was not dry. Their plantains had a nice crust on the outside and a nice delicate inside. I highly recommend this place! The restaurant has a nice family vibe when you walk in. Their homemade passion fruit drink is also amazing! All in all a perfect and wonderful experience. Will most definitely come back! read more

El Pollo Perucho - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I tried the "Pollo a la brasa" it tasted as the Kroger roasted chicken. You find it in kroger for 5 dollars and at El Pollo Perucho" for $ 16 dollars. I didn't like because it didn't taste good. I hope a new peruvian restaurant appears somewhere in columbus with better prices and better food. And, better service. read more

I went on a weekend with some friends to show them Peruvian food. When we started to order...they were out of Papa a la huancaina, Anticuchos, Causa AND Arroz con pollo....but they had tortillas, that's not even Peruvian at all. I was very disappointed, I guess I have to call them before hand to see what they will actually have. Before I drive there from Powell, OH. read more

Staff was friendly & assisted me with ordering. Chicken was great but the sides were ehh. Seemed like they were sitting for awhile. read more

El Pollo Perucho - 1/2 Charcoal Broiled Chicken with unsweetened plantains & rice w/veggies - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Small place serving well-made Peruvian classics. We went on a slow night and were the only ones in the place besides the owner's family, but we had a good time. The owner was really nice. She gave us some good recommendations on menu choices and the food that came out of the kitchen was delicious. The beef conseco was a new dish for us and we enjoyed the rich ham flavored beans and cilantro rice. Would definitely order again. There isn't much in the way of Peruvian food in Columbus, so finding this was a nice surprise and turned out to be a hidden gem. They are located close to the casino near Amy's Donuts, a short trip from either the Broad St. or Georgesville Rd. exists on 270. I highly recommend you give them a try and then go get a donut afterwards. read more

Yu-ummmm! We are slowly eating our way through all of the Latin restaurants on the west side... and there are a lot. Peruvian got the nod this week. I may as well say that every little mom and pop place we have been on this side of town has really be outstanding- everyone is extremely nice and helpful, the food is amazeballs, and spaces are simple and clean... and did I mention cheap? El Pollo Perucho was no exception. Our server was helpful with recommendations (and conversation) and we tried a lot of the menu including the rotisserie chicken (this is their thing), two types of plantains, ocupa and papa a la huancayna (both potato dishes), and ceviche with boiled potatoes and corn. Though the potatoes were not may favorite (nothing to do with the preparation, just don't think they are my thing), the chicken, fish and plantains were out of this world. I was especially pleased with the ceviche, which I feel could have been a major stomach-related risk. And our bill was $30 with a generous tip. I will be back. read more

I've been informed that I didn't follow yelp content submission guidelines, so let me give you the full story which only further paints dim picture of El Pollo Loco. Our boss wanted to go try El Pollo Loco out so three of us headed out for lunch one day back last February. On entering the que to order i took a nice long look at the menu and the food on the plates of those already eating while my co-workers attempted to place orders with a confused employee. MMMMM french fries with.... sliced up hot dog coins? What? Welcome to crazy chicken I guess. I wasn't impressed with this place at all. The rotisserie chicken smelled great but small portions on the plates of those already eating (and later my co-workers) plus the relatively expensive prices destroy any appeal Loco could have had for me. The staff has a hard time handling more then two people in line at a time and with straight up disgusting menu items (like hotdog coins and fries) the shortcoming of the chicken becomes more of an issue. As I quickly became frustrated with the very slow ordering process for a line of three people. I asked the woman behind the counter if it was OK if I brought food in from next door. She considered it for a moment then said yes at which point I left and went next door and got a burrito from La Super Torta while my co-workers finished ordering. When I came back with my burrito i walked up to the now empty counter so I could order a drink and a side because I'm well aware that eating food in a dining room from another restaurant is a scum bag move and I wanted to make sure i patronized Pollo Loco to some degree. The same woman who had said it was ok stood there in the kitchen doing nothing but looking at me as i waited for her at the cash register with money and a bottle of coke for about two minutes before finally coming over. At that point I decided I was going to pass on the side and stick to purchasing just a drink. I sat down with my coworkers and about half way through my burrito their food finally came out. Both had gone with the above mentioned rotisserie chicken and the infamous sliced up hot dog appetizer. Both generously offered a some of their food and while I couldn't bring myself to dig into the hot dog french fry dish (the fries were bag frozen with nothing remarkable about them except soaking up hotdog juices), I did try some of the chicken. Amazingly It tasted like chicken! Albeit somewhat expensive for the portion size. I'm familiar with SaRea S's review that cites it being crisp, well seasoned candy from Jesus and as juicy as the rumors at a drag convention, however my personal experience with the product failed to replicate either of those properties. We got to enjoy our fine dining experience under the scornful eye of the cashier who helped me kill two minutes of my life waiting to buy a soda as we played the staring game. After finishing his meal, a co-worker admitted he wished he had gone next door as well and cited complaints regarding the food and the wait times that mirrored my concerns listed above. I cleaned up my mess, bagged it and decided to toss it out back at our office as to not inconvenience the staff with a mess not composed of their products. Based on my customer service experience while ordering a simple beverage, combined with the entree chicken I tried I will not be returning to Pollo Loco. read more

I am of Peruvian descent and was excited to see that there was a Peruvian restaurant in my area. The menu specialized in chicken, however I tried my favorite dish: Lomo Saltado. The wait time was minimal and the food was good. The meat was ok. Not as flavoursome as I'm used to. The rest of the meal was on point. I liked their Riccoto, it was very spicy (just as I liked it.). I will definitely come back again to try there chicken dish. read more

First time ever eating Peruvian food... IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!! My dad got the pollo saltado, and i got the bistek pobre... it's a nice, quiet, clean place to eat, the staff is really friendly,good prices, and over all good food...can't wait till I comeback again ps I wish I can give them 10 stars read more

El Pollo Perucho - Pollo saltado(top), bistek pobre(bottom) - Peruvian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

As a peruvian moving to Columbus I was so excited to find this place! And when I tried it definitely made me feel in Peru! Portions are huge! Just as in Peru. Not super fancy: the plates and the place but you get to taste a little bit of Peru! I actually loved the place, salsa music, peruvian soccer on the tv and amazing service! So its not like one fancy peruvian restaurant you can find in cities like Chicago where I was living (go to Tanta if you are there, expensive but worth it!). But its very home style peruvian food. And the chicken is awesome! Just like in Peru! And even with the ajicito (spicy sauce on the side)! I loved it! Im pretty sure even though I'll be living in Westerville, like 30 min away, I will come at leaat once a month! read more

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Try this place. The rotisserie chicken is delicious and the staff is super friendly. Get a sample of the Chicha Morada (purple corn drink) if you like Chai, as it has a similar flavor (to me). read more

Amazing! Friendly staff, great food, drinks, etc. My husband has fried fish with yellow rice and salad. The yellow rice with veggies is really good. I had ceviche and it was spicy but the right kinda spicy. I'm glad I came. The chicha and maracuya are the real drinks no artificial flavor. A big plus they had Peruvian products for sale. read more

This food is soooooo Good! Whenever I am on this side of town I love to stop there. This Peruvian food is authentic and sooo tasty. It is a little pricy but well worth it. Go and try there rotisserie chicken. Nothing like store brand. read more

Amazing chicken! I had a half broiled chicken combo with yuca fries (fried cassava) and tostones (fried smashed plantains) and I was not disappointed. I was surprised by the nice offering of Peruvian staples, laid back vibe and super attentive service at this family owned establishment. A+ read more

Pretty good food. THE FOOD My favs - ceviche, yucca fries, cilantro rice and the purple corn drink. The chicken is pretty good too. THE ATMOSPHERE Cheery bright, basic new immigrant digs. THE SERVICE Sweet and cheerful. read more

The chicken is amazing!! Definitely I'm coming back. The girl at the counter was very friendly

LOVE the drinks...we had the Chicha Morada, the bottled Malta, and the Inca Cola; each was unique and delicious. The grilled chicken was so tender and juicy, the fried Yuccas EXCELLENT, and the sweet Plantains really good, too. Small place, but enough room for my husband's wheelchair to get in and out. No room left for dessert, which will happen next time. Friendly, too. Fast and DELICIOUS! read more

Love this place!! Great Peruvian chicken, and the black beans are amazing! Staff is very friendly, rest room is clean and the whole place is well kept. Will definitely go here again when we are passing through Columbus area :) read more

Good food but they take too long. The pregnant waitress gives dirty looks every time you ask for something. Makes tired faces and sighs. It's really uncomfortable. read more

I grew up eating Peruvian food and everything I've tried here is on point. For first timers I highly recommend the papas alla huancaina and the lomo saltado. The ceviche is also excellent. read more