# P E R U V I A N - B R E A K D O W N (# of + stars = rating) * A T M O S P H E R E/C O N C E P T: +1 star * F O O D/P R E S E N T A T I O N: +1 star * P O R T I O N/C O S T: -1 star * S E R V I C E: +1 star * R E V I S I T: +1 star I've had much better Peruvian before and I'm not sure if this food is 100% Peruvian, but it was still pretty dang good! I had the oxtail fettuccine and my gosh. The meat was falling off the bone and super tender and moist! The pasta was super flavored and delicious! The tastiness of the dish will totally make me get this dish again! It's so good! The price is a little pricy, but I'll take it for good Peruvian near my house. There's not too many in Torrance! P A R K I N G Not difficult. read more

El Rocoto - Oxtail Fettucine!! - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

The food was okay they give better customer service at the Rocoto in Cerritos. Asked the server for help he didn't even mind coming they're always in a rush they need to give better customer service. Definitely not going again. read more

The best food around. I drove over 100 miles just to eat here. Recommend to anyone who likes good food. Try the Chautauqua especial.

Deliciosas comidas. Muy limpio. Excelente servicio Chupe De Camarones. Si lo recomiendo!!

my first time eating peruvian food!! i have never had it before and el rocoto did not disappoint!! i got the most popular dish, the lomo saltado, and i was SO impressed!! the meat was extremely tender and the SAUCE from the meat and all the ingredients!!! i don't know what it is, i think it is just the marinated meat sauce, but it makes the whole entire dish!!! ~chef's kisses~ i also don't usually eat veggies teehee but these were pretty good mixed with everything! and the RICE!!! i am asian but this rice is pretty awesome. especially with the, you guessed it, the SAUCE, or marinade, whatever it is it's the best. also tried ceviche for the first time, and i hate fish honestly so i did not try it, but it came with this GIANT corn which i guess is normal in peru and these little tiny corns which were like corn nuts but fresh!!! the bread rolls were also good, wish there was butter though!! for dessert, we got the alfajores cookies, which are like super crumbly shortbread sandwich cookies with dulce de leche in the middle, topped with a load of powdered sugar. these are HEAVENLY!! they were much smaller than i thought they would be, but come with four which you would think is perfect for sharing but i ate all of them for myself!! oops!! we also got the picarones, a traditional classic peruvian donut!! i believe they are made from pumpkin and then fried, and served with a delicious syrup!! really yum!! read more

El Rocoto - lomo saltado, ceviche, and breaded chicken dish!! - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

I forgot why I stopped going here and then I remembered all the reasons 1) it is expensive for Peruvian food. 2) their aji sauce is just spicy with no flavor 3) Their garden salads are always a watery mess. The one thing I like is you can substitute boiled potatoes for the regular french fries they put in the lomo/pollo saltado. PASS. read more

They have great Peruvian food! The parking really sucks due to the Ranch 99 supermarket next door. I been coming here since they opened the doors. The food is really good and the new remodel is pretty nice. My complaint is their confusing menu. If its your first time, ask what is good on the menu or looks to see what others are ordering and ask about it. read more

mala la comida el ceviche estaba mal los anticuchos sin sabor secos estaban dura la carne del lomo saltado la señora que nos atendió de malas estaba pesimo sabor read more

El Rocoto is located in a busy strip mall in Gardena near a McDonald's and Daiso. I had no idea this place existed, but obviously I've just been living in a hole. We arrived right when the place opened at 11am on a Monday, but it got bustling by noon! We started with lots of yummy appetizers, because we just wanted them all! Here goes: Yucca Fries- always good, but it was even tastier with the aji sauces that came with the complimentary bread. Ceviche Mixto- Refreshing ceviche made with halibut, shrimp, octopus and squid in Leche de Tigre, peruvian corn and glazed sweet potato yam. My favorite appetizer! Wantan Frito - Fried wonton stuffed with shrimp, pork and chicken with tamarindo sauce. I didn't try this, but my sister really wanted it and seemed to like it. I ordered the Pulo a la parrilla as my main entree -grilled octopus with aji limo, mint and ginger chimichurri. The octopus was perfectly grilled and the sauce, the sauce was so tasty! Service was great and I am making this my go to place to get Peruvian food in the south bay! read more

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Awww, this past visit was a 3-star only. (Wine issue) Service is always pretty quick and friendly..No issues with the service at all. OK, so they ran out of red wine..??? Realllly? That was a bit odd. Seriously, a restaurant that serves beef should always be well-stocked in reds. So I settled for a white, don't even know what it was. I am not really a white wine fan. Eh, it served its purpose well. Anyhow, we had: Tallarin Verde con Bistek Apanado - thin breaded steak with pesto spaghetti - wowo! Lots of garlic in this pesto. It was really just really good. I was craving carbs and meat. This dish hit the spot. And we had a shrimp dish, I forget the name. But it really resembled a Chinese stir fry with bell peppers, red onions, green onions, zucchini, and broccoli. Not bad, but I wished it wasn't so "chinese" tasting. Overall, it was satisfying (minus the red wine..) read more

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Been here a few times before. I see they have expanded and renovated since those first few times. In my eyes, that happens to be a good thing. Not to say that the old look was bad, but with all the success this establishment has had, this new look definitely attracts more customers, and those customers (new or old) will be glad. Doesn't seem like anything was actually sacrificed (from the customer perspective) for these improvements. The food is still awesome. Before I go any further, I should mention to those who have never eaten here before that this cuisine is Peruvian infused with some aspects of Chinese. I'm not sure if that's common for other Peruvian restaurants or not, but the fusion seems to be a good one. Don't be surprised to see a few familiar dishes when you dine there. As for the surprises you do encounter, embrace them. These days, this restaurant seems to fill up with people very quickly. It seems like every time I come here with my girlfriend, we have a few-minute wait for our table. I consider this a good thing because our own wait is not long at all, and I am reassured that a business like this will be perfectly secure and won't shut its doors. It is one of those restaurants where I seem to order no wrong. I have NEVER had anything short of delicious here. The drawback of this notion is that I can't specifically recommend particular dishes. If you have particular taste palates, I believe that other reviews for this place will be much more helpful. Funny little thing that caught me off-guard (despite having noticed this in past visits) is when there is a birthday being celebrated, they blast their special birthday song over the PA system. That part personally makes me cringe, but I also figure it's not a huge deal, and it's actually pretty fun. Many restaurants have their way of handling this, and this just happens to be theirs. And it has no effect on my rating for this place. The dress for this place is generally casual, but don't be surprised to see some people dress a tiny bit nicer. Not necessarily decked out, but not pajamas and sweatpants either. Great place for a date, great place for a group. Versatile dining option. Not nearly as common as other types of cuisine, and that makes this place special. read more

All of the above good food,fast service and customer very good.I definitely recommended to friends and family.My Husband and I always go this place restaurant never fail us for the good food at all times.The best place to eat seafoods. read more

Second time coming to this location. The first time was better since our server was more attentive than the second time around. We ordered the lomo saltado and the food was a little too salty. Once we placed our order, the server never came back to ask how our food was or if we needed refills on our drinks. What caught me off guard was when we were charged $2.50 for splitting one dish. Will not be coming back to this location. read more

Great Peruvian food in Gardena south bay area. Have not had a bad dish. Drinks are also good and prefer this place over it's competitor. If you haven't tried this place you are missing out. read more

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For those of you who don't speak Spanish, El Rocoto means... The Rocoto. The service here is amiable enough and the food portions are quite large and match their $12+ fee. I personally love the fried rice though you can never go wrong with the lomo saltado. Be sure to try out their special green sauce that comes with your order. Also, you get complementary bread. Excellent food all around. read more

El Rocoto - Fried rice - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

Santa Monica to the South Bay for the best Peruvian food in the LA area. Their Lomo Saltado is so perfectly seasoned and the meat is so well marinated. SO usually gets the Aji de gallina and has always complimented this dish. Waiters are all so friendly and ready to serve. read more

El Rocoto - Lomo Saltado and Aji De Gallina - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

If you have the time, drive out to Misky Misky in Covina but if you don't, this is your spot. Yet another amazing spot on the Gardena Torrance borderland, the seafood in particular is exceptional. read more

This place is BOMB.COM. We were recommended this place by multiple people and let me say, it was definitely worth the hype. My husband and I love Peruvian food and have been in the search for a local spot and we are so glad we found it. The aji de gallina melts in your mouth but the lomo saltado stole the show for sure, the meat was so tender and juicy. Also the soup in the photo was scrumptious, I just can't remember the name of it. If you're reading this now it's a sign to start driving there right now. read more

Great place for dining. Food is delicious. Worth driving form DTLA or anywhere. / Cocktails are a plus as well. Enjoy. read more

Bueno. Rocoto. It is really great Peruvian food. Lomo salteado is good. A lot of flavor but who is the star for tonight is Arroz con mariscos. Seafood over there taste really fresh and amazing. Highly recommend read more

El Rocoto - The best arroz con mariscos. - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

I hadn't been here in ages -7 years. It was kinda a hidden gem. Almost everyone goes across the street to EPI. My brother his wife and I decided to revisit. It's been re arranged since I last visited. It looks brighter now. I ordered Tallarin verde con bistec. It's a kinda simple plate but boy it can hit the spot. They prepare it with plenty of basil, perfect creamy texture and plenty of cheese. The noodles are done right. And a hearty skirt steak juicy savory to balance it out. My brother orders the Malaya con Ocopa; it's his favorite. I'll have to come back to try that one, and I only regretted I didn't order Chaufa, as I don't eat it often and recall theirs was good. read more

I got the Lomo saltado and an agua fresca de Mara cuya Everything was so delicious & the service was great. Definitely recommend!

Food is really good! They provide salsas with bolillos. So tasty! I may have ate too many before getting my food. The restaurant vibe is cute. Feels pretty intimate but not small. The service was ok for being a slow day. Probably will visit again to try a different dish. read more

El Rocoto - Pollo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

Great food - any of the main dishes are good and service was nice. Definitely visit if you jave the chance

Solid, authentic Peruvian restaurant. More upscale than El Pollo Inka. Would definitely come back again (gone here twice now). Arroz con Pollo - Wanted to venture outside of Lomo Saltado, and I didn't regret it. The chicken was cooked perfectly, it was tender and flavorful. The sauce on the potatoes was creamy and cheesy. The rice went well with the rest of the dish. read more

El Rocoto - Arroz Con Pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

I enjoy eating El Rocoto's Lomo Saltado which is really good. So this is a good place for a Peruvian Food for a Higher Quality. And I also enjoy eating the appetizers of Mixto Criollo which is a Seafood Mix. read more

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I used to come here often when I still lived in L.A., and just a few minutes away. I kind of liked coming here over the -other- Peruvian place across the street. The service is a bit better but the ambiance is lacking. I mean, I just can't shake off the strip-mall feeling when I walk in. Hard to do when such a good restaurant is wedged in between a dollar store and an asian mom's supermarket heaven. Haha. But anyway. The food is pretty good - for any first time Peruvian food goers I'd suggest the lomo saltado, and the Tallarin verde con bisteck apanado is my second favorite (pesto spaghetti with breaded steak!). read more

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I came here for lunch with my coworker. I've been driving by this place for months and never knew what was inside. The windows are covered from the outside so I couldn't see what was inside. What We Ordered: - Ox Tail Fettuccine - Chaufa Especial I love the sauces they provide with your bread. I don't know what they are but, they sure are good. I tried both dishes and they were delicious!! I did feel like my Ox Tail Fettuccine was TOO cheesy. I never thought that was possible. I LOVE cheese. Maybe I felt that it overpowered the oxtail to much. However, with a little hot sauce, it made it taste WAYYYYY better! I think it was even better the next day when I had it for leftovers! The Chaufa Especial was delicious as well! My friend just wished the shrimps had their tails removed. I didn't mind though. I will definitely come back! read more

We love this place! The ceviche is fresh but very spicy!! I'm sure some people can handle it but I always ask for no chili. The lomo saltado is great and the meat quality is very good. Highly recommend this place! read more

Deliciosa comida PeruanaSuper recomendado El Rocoto muy buena Atencion lo unico que no me gusta mucho es la espera, pero despues todo ok.

First of all Peruvian food cost more and more these days. That would be dandy if the food was on par with what they charge. Sadly, in this place, it's not so. We used to go by driving one hour each way. The pandemic put a stop to eating at a table for 2 years plus. Finally today we arrived around 7:30 PM. Service was prompt and pleasant in every way. Food became the issue. Ceviche Mixto Criollo, $17 each. Ordered 2 and overall was one of the two best dishes. Ceviche, of course, the primary reason to go. 4 Stars. Anticuchos, marinated beef heart, $14. This one with the price hiked, a very sad choice. Why? Used to be 3 wooden skewers with at least 3 pieces of meat in each. Plus typical sauce, and roasted potato. No the wooden skewers were half the size, if not less. 2 instead of 3, and to add insult to injury 2 very thin, hard to chew pieces. Mini Anticuchos is what they should have been named. A joke on us. 2 Stars. Pulpo Parrilla, $18. Pulpo being Octopus , and when prepared right very delicious. This one was half the mark, extremely chewy which to me meant they did not bother to brine the Octopus, unforgivable oversight for the amount and price. 2 Stars. Tamal, $12. Became apparent that the batch were this Pork Tamal came from had seen better days. Crumbly all quality exhibited before missing. For the money spent no good. 2 Stars. Parihuela Salvaje, $22. This dish when prepared correctly well worth its high price? Parihuela is like the French Bouillabaisse a la cheap, or even Sopa 7 Mares Mexican style. When the broth expresses the bounties of the seas, and the selections are in numbers to be savored, definitely a winner. This expensive version was not bad, lacking perhaps a little more variety? 4 Stars. Their sauces are tasty and the free bread old but warm, easy to eat. Service all around, as mentioned, nice. Water only drink a little off, no filter in the back. Total bill: $108 plus. Adding the somewhat fair 15% came to over $122. Peru distinguishes on their quality of food, so what El Rocoto brought to the table lacked that level of quality, yet it costs like if it was. 3 Stars. read more

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Delicious food, friendly staff, clean and elegant! My favorite dishes are the lomo Saltado and Jalea. read more

The food was incredible! Service was great. I drove down from Venice because I heard they had good Peruvian food. I'm still thinking about all the great flavors. Awesome service too. Highly recommend. read more

The flavors here are absolutely incredible. The Halibut ceviche had the right amount of spice with the sweet potato and healthy serving of calamari and roasted corn. Wow! read more

El Rocoto - The Halibut ceviche with the sweet potato, calamari, and roasted corn. - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

Delicious, high quality cuisine. I always feel the explosion of flavor in every dish. Also the menu is impressive when considering how diverse Peruvian cuisine is, you will be very satisfied no matter which category you choose. The Taku style lomo just BLEW my mind. I don't even know what was in the rice, I think plantains??? I've never had anything like it before. And Hondureña and very familiar with plantains and was still surprised. read more

El Rocoto - This is a take out order I served on my plate at home. El rocotto has much better presentation. Ají de gallina and taku style lomo saltado. - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

I went there Sunday Feb 7 2021 and ordered the Arroz Con Mariscos as take out and it was fantastic. It's a large serving with lots of seafood that is wonderfully seasoned. The side of bread and sauces are yummy as well. I highly recommend this place. They are following Covid protocol although their outdoor dining space is rather cramped given their space is the small sidewalk storefront. read more

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This place make a difference kind of food you want they do Asian food island food too

One of the best Peruvian restaurants in the South Bay. We have been going here for years and this place never disappoints us. From the oxtail fettuccine to the green spaghetti to the lamb shank this is top notch food. Octopus appetiser amazing as well as the steak anticuchos. Drinks are also amazing. Whether we get to go or dine in this place is beyond amazing. read more

Good food, pleasant service and decent prices for a whole meal. Overall good experience. The majority got the beef and the others got chicken. read more

Had lunch here during COVID and they had outdoor seating. Our server was great and food was delicious. I love their green sauce has a nice spicy kick to it and also the fried calamari is definitely a must try. read more

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