Fun fun dining with yelp friends! It has been a few years since I have been to this Gardena location as well as the Cerritos one. Was surprised that I have not reviewed yet! My go to is the lomo saltado. It is a Peruvian dish that has steak strips, tomatoes, onions, and french fries. That and the sauce over rice is scrumptious! Lomo saltado sauce has soy sauce, white vinegar, aji amarillo paste, garlic, red onions, and salt and pepper. Although the meat was more on the well side, the dish was still very tasty. Our friend shared ceviche with us which was also good. I did not attempt any of the dipping sauces for the bread to avoid allergic reactions to them. Overall, a delicious meal and good service. Will be back for sure! read more

El Rocoto - Ceviche with friends! - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

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Dinner in Torrance, Los Angeles, California... I hadn't visited South Bay yet, so, I asked my friend, Lilah, where to go... She suggested El Rocoto because she had been there before and liked it. Jun, Aaron, and I were first timers. Tim and Craig had dined at El Rocoto in the past. Lilah said that it was Peruvian cuisine. I thought that everything would be spicy, but, it wasn't! The complimentary bread and butter were served with two kinds of sauces. The green one was spicy for me. The red one wasn't too spicy. I couldn't really tell because I was feeling the effects of the green sauce for a while. I should have tasted the red sauce first... Haha I ordered the Pescado Vapor: steamed fish, shiitake mushrooms, bok choi, ginger, soy sauce and sesame seed oil. The fish was topped with a bit of savory black bean sauce. The entree came with a bowl of white rice. I really liked our meal! We also had a chance to try the ceviche that Tim shared with the table! Everything was fresh and the service was efficient and friendly! The environment was spacious, clean, and lively. We appreciated the free shared parking lot, good air conditioning, and convenient restroom! Note: I went early and visited the huge Daiso store next door, on the right! Ranch 99 is on the left of the restaurant. read more

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07/03/2023 A few of us came here for dinner. I was told we are having Mexican for dinner. I knew the name and have been here before so I told them this is Peruvian. Bread and aji verde and aji rojo to dip in. Butter as well if you prefer. It's a complex menu yet simple. I always order Lomo Saltado which they have angus beef. I wanted to share ceviche called Mixto Cruello on the menu. I should have remembered to ask for rare on the beef and also add a sunny side-up egg on top of the rice. Service is excellent and the decor is nice. I would come here again and again. read more

The ceviche was very fresh and a good size portion. The Arroz con Mariscos was full of seafood and good flavor. The steak was the only disappointment. It was overcooked and a little tough. The service was the best part, they were attentive and friendly. read more

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Went to El Rocoto for dinner with my wife. She had the Pescado Sudado. It was a delicious stew like dish, tender fish with a lot of flavor. I had my usual, Lomo Saltado, the meat was tender and juicy and cooked to perfection. The potatoes were cooked well, crispy on the outside. It's a very nice atmosphere, lots of seating and very cozy. The servers were attentive and gave great suggestions if you've never been there. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I would definitely return here!!! read more

We love this place. It's authentic and delicious. We have always done take out and they make sure it's packaged well and hot for us to eat. The sauces are delicious, the portions are great and it's just amazing Peruvian food. The staff is always nice when we come to pick it up. We love this place so much. My only down side is the parking lot of where this is located. Granted I am there after school hours , but with 85 and mc Donald's there it's a complete shit show when it comes to parking. read more

I had oxtail pasta. It was ok. Service was really slow here. We asked for the check, to-go boxes and other things; we had to wait a while for their service. read more

El Rocoto - Oxtail fettuccine - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

We got a table right away which was surprising for Friday night at 7:30. We ordered the pescado sudado and the fettuccini oxtail to share and it was so delicious. The pescado sudado was rich and the stew over the rice was perfect. The fettuccini was creamy and the oxtail was cooked well and fell right off the bone. I would love to try otter dishes next time but it's hard not to get those again because they were fantastic. read more

It was my first time in the restaurant and my husband's second time. I went in with no expectations since I'm not familiar with the Peruvian cuisine. But wow, the beef tasted really great and tender, the sauce goes really well with the rest of the potatoes and veggies! (I know the beef looked a little burnt but they weren't , trust me!) The seafood plate that my husband ordered was delicious, too! Shout out to our waitress, Betty, who has a beautiful and warm smile. We had a great chat with her :) The restaurant is clean and spacious. There's a little bar in the restaurant, we would like to try their drink menu next time! Overall, it was a good experience. Thank you for the great food and service. read more

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

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Been coming here for years! I've always had a soft spot for the Tallerin Verde. It is one of my favorite meals. Their takeout was seamless. Although there was a small hiccup where one of our items wasn't bundled with our food, they were very open to helping us find a solution to help all parties involved. read more

We drive from Reseda , like a 40 min + commute. But alwayssssss worth it !! The flavor is authentic & some plates are fusioned which is nice . The service is depending the time can be a little slow but still friendly no matter how busy. Also, very accommodating to our 10 month old. Ordered a side of camote & they weren't difficult about it. read more

Authentic Peruvian spot in the Daiso complex. Came here with a friend for dinner around 6pm on a Tuesday evening and there was no wait. Indoor dining only. They also have a private area where there was a birthday party happening. Credit cards accepted. They do serve alcohol and big groups can be accommodated. We got a spread of things, which included the fried yucca, potato croquettes, and ceviche exotica. The food overall was on the pricier side but it was a legitimate restaurant and the service was really nice. For the entree, we split the lomo saltado and the aji de gallina. The potato croquettes came in 2 and were quite large (and tasty). They also give complimentary bread with a green and a red sauce, both of which were quite flavorful. I think the lomo saltado was decent; the aji de gallina was on the sweeter side. read more

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Interior was clean. Food was good and very good portions. Id say all were good...except lomo saltado was a bit dry. I wish the bread wasnt just 1 round. The 2nd round of bread costs $. Their passion fruit drink was sooo good. It didnt feel artificial. Yay! Flan was not overly sweet. Recommend this spot! read more

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My first time at El Rocoto and will not be my last! The food was so good. We ordered the lomo saltado because you can't go to a Peruvian restaurant without ordering Lomo saltado but my favorite was the chicharrón calamari and the oxtail fettuccine both were so delicious and fresh! Our kids had the tallarin verde with breaded chicken breast. For dessert we ordered the leche asada and alfajores but next we will just order the Alfajores they were so yummy! Our server was so friendly and nice and the inside nice and casual. Definitely will be back! read more

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Years ago I stopped coming here because the one thing I wanted was removed from the menu. Green noodles with a breaded beefsteak. It's back so I returned. It was good but remembered enjoying it more before. It's kinda soupy now, before it was more like coated noodles on the dryer side. The steak was different too. Service was on the weak side. Took my order, disappeared, back waiter brought it out, then had to ask for the check after waiting a reasonable amount of time. A visit after the food was dropped off would have elevated my impression much. So the experience wasn't terrible. I'll probably return at some point. read more

The food is out of this world! A mix of Peruvian / Asian flavors, very sophisticated plates that are full of flavor. Even the bread is amazing! read more

Good place to get Peruvian food! I've had amazing Peruvian food and this place sadly doesn't make the cut BUT it is still good. Lomo Saltado is one of my favorite dishes and it was super yummy here. What disappointed me was the ceviche! It was edible but not tasty - I didn't even finish! The Pisco Sour was amazing and I can tell they make their drinks well. I love the location of this restaurant because it has such fun stores next door! I have been here a few times over the years and it has remained consistently good. I only do reviews for places I've been to multiple times as I find it unfair to rate based on one experience. read more

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Came here for lunch and were seated right away. It's beautiful inside, it appears that it's been newly remodeled, I haven't been here in about 8 years. I ordered the chicken and it appeared small in Portion but after I dug in, it was plenty of food. The service was good and the food was great. Like everywhere else, the price of the food was a little elevated, but considering how everything else is expensive, it was fine. read more

Super delicious the oxo plate to die for every single plate I've ever had there no complaints whatsoever. Everything super good. You can't go wrong with anything you order there. Everything is pretty much made to perfection. Services great. read more

Always warm, welcoming atmosphere with knowledgeable, friendly hosts and servers. The complimentary green and red aji sauces and bread are a highlight. Find menu items to dip or pour that sauce on! I haven't stopped by in awhile, but have never been disappointed with a dish. Today was no exception. So many amazing flavors. Keep up the great work! read more

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A family favorite. Love their breakfast menu but if you miss it, no worries because their lunch and dinner options are just as good. I'm half Peruvian so finding good Peruvian food can make me picky but Rocoto has always been delish. We used to live in the area but now we are an hour away, but will always make the drive to eat here. read more

Driving through Gardena and had a little hankering for Peruvian. We've been several times to this location as well as the Cerritos location. Consistently great food and good service. The restaurant itself is fairly casual but nice. We both ordered the Saltado de Pollo and it was excellent...as usual. Great stuff and we'll be back for sure. read more

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I normally don't leave reviews, but my last couple of visits have warranted one. I've been coming to this location for YEARS. Although the food has always been amazing, the service has many times fallen short. These past couple of times, my husband, children and I have been served by Paola. Paola is sweet, personable, efficient, and all around amazing. It has really made a difference in our visits here and taken our experiences to another level. Thank you, Paola! We hope you are getting the recognition you deserve read more

Food was good, inside area was clean and our server was polite and attentive. Would come back again.

I love this spot! This Peruvian spot is hands down one of the best in the area. Every item I have ordered has been amazing and the flavors are just chefs kiss! The service is amazing as well! read more

Worst Lomo Saltado I have ever tried. Completely flavorless. This used to be my go to restaurant for Lomo Saltado and recommended it to a lot of people. I moved and this restaurant is not close to me anymore, but I went back a couple of days ago for the first time in several months and what a disappointment. Luckily now there are many more options for Peruvian food out there, so I'm never going back to this one. read more

Almuerzo para dos por unos $100. Comida mediocre y falsa representación del Perú. Qué vergüenza. Lo más rico fue el pan. 1) Las conchitas son scallops, corrijan ese menu, no son conchas de abanico porque confunden 2) La papa a la huancaina era crema de palillo (cúrcuma). Para ahorrar ají amarillo lo pintan con palillo, no sabe a nada. Eso no se hace. 3) El chaufa de mariscos no sabe a chaufa, no tiene ginger (kión), dónde está el toque oriental? 4) El ají verde está salado y no pica, hace no disfrutar la comida 5) La chicha está bien pero no tiene el color morado tradicional, parece doble hervor de maíz para economizar 6) El arroz con pollo el arroz está demasiado cocido 7) El pan del inicio y el servicio fue lo mejor del lunch. Como peruanos nos vamos bastante descontentos y seguiremos fieles a otros restaurantes. Gracias. read more

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The food was so delicious! The service was on point! I loved the ceviche - so fresh and chunky. The lomo saltado was flavorful and the meat was tender. The Pisco passion was refreshing. So glad that we tried this restaurant . Will definitely come back! read more

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Some of the best Peruvian food you can get in SoCal. Service really depends here had good and bad service here before still the food makes up for that definitely a try if you're in the area. read more

I love the food at El Rocoto, but I just wanted to write a note for the restaurant that there is an issue across multiple apps (I have seen the same issue on Yelp, Postmates, Uber Eats, and DoorDash) when trying to order here online. When trying to order chicken tallarin verde, it asks you to make a selection between fried and grilled chicken, but charges additionally for the required selection. For example, the combined dish with pasta and fried chicken is $29 to begin with, but the option for fried chicken is $23, so the total price for one dish becomes $52 when you try to order it. I think it was meant to be that there is an additional charge if choosing grilled chicken instead of fried chicken, but instead it double charges the price of the whole dish. Please fix this. I wanted to order delivery instead of picking up but I could not order delivery properly with this issue. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. Whenever I want to have fresh seafood dish, I always choose this one first. Their seafood soup is always good and other fried rices are good. I highly suggest here. read more

Excellent food. I ordered modified food suitable for vegetarian. It was a pickup order and the service was very good. At a glance the ambiance also looks good. The staff at cash was also very cooperative . read more

The service was disrespectful. I was waiting to be seated for nearly 10 minutes and only got attended when another couple walked in. Even then they got attended before me! Then my waiter looked annoyed when his manager assigned him to me. I wanted to leave so bad but I was meeting someone here for business related reasonings. Food was okay, nothing special. read more

Location: In a strip mall near Artesia and Normandie. Nearby businesses include 99 Ranch, Daiso, 85C Bakery, and more. Parking: Manageable. It might be busy depending on when you visit but there will always be spots available. Vibe: Airy, clean, and modern. Our table had a bit of a wobble to it, but nothing a stack of napkins can't fix. Menu: ceviches (diced raw fish), tiraditos (sliced raw fish), anticuchos (skewers), seafood dishes, chicken/beef plates, noodles, and other Peruvian appetizers. They have a few vegetarian options, and some dishes can be prepared without meat. Desserts include leche asada (creme caramel), helado lucuma (ice cream), alfajores (shortbread cookies) and picarones (doughnuts). If you want to pair your meal with a drink, they have a couple of cocktails, wines, and beers to choose from. Complimentary bread: Served with butter, a green sauce, and an orange sauce. Both sauces are spicy; the type where you feel fine after a couple bites, and then it hits you later. The bread was warm, a good way to start the meal. Pescado Sudado: A tasty poached fish with moist and tender flakes. There was a fresh mix of tomatoes, onions, and salsa criolla on top, which added more zestiness. The accompanying sauce had a tolerable spice level. This dish also came with rice on the side, which was mushy. Verdict: I'd come again, will have to try their lomo saltado and oxtail fettuccine next! read more

El Rocoto - Pescado Sudado ⋅ Gardena, California - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

3.5 stars. Went there for dinner on a weeknight. They start off with complimentary bread and two sauces. The bread was nice and warm. I got the aji de gallina. I was slightly disappointed. It wasn't as flavorful as I remember this dish to be. It was still decent. Service was good. Lots of parking. read more

El Rocoto - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

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This our go to for date night. Their ceviches are flavorful and fresh, a must have. Their calamari is also delicious. And their saltados and tallarin are also very good. I've not had a meal there that I don't like. Also, their cocktails are very well made with a balance of sweetness and alcohol. We go here all the time, so I decided to write a review because overall less than 4 is criminal. Their service staff is always friendly and responsive. I highly recommend it. read more

Of all the Peruvian restaurants ive been to, this is the most authentic. The service is amazing and I always get ceviche and kebabs and a soup. Id reccomend any of the dishes. read more

WOW!!! The food here is phenomenal. So incredibly flavorful. Portions are huge. Drinks are STIFF and service is amazing. Came with coworkers after work and will definitely be back! read more

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This was my first time having Peruvian food and it was absolutely amazing. The dish has a lot of flavor, but not spice so don't expect anything spicy. Service was superb as they gave recommendations. We were first served bread with butter and two salsas (orange and green) which were smooth and full of delicious vegetable taste. The bread was definitely fresh with that newly baked smell too! The lomo saltado is exactly as described on the menu with the chicken being juicy and the tomatoes tender. I was very filled and ended up taking a small portion of it home with me. My partner ordered his with beef and it was just as great :) Summary: flavorful and all around a great introduction to Peruvian food! read more

El Rocoto - Lomo Saltado pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California

Wow! This place was amazing. Walking in this place was very nice very clean very busy. Ordered a Paloma... very strong, just what I needed. Our server was awesome very fast to get our food out. Never have I had delicious food like this before . This is my new favorite spot read more

El Rocoto - Paloma - Peruvian Near Me - Gardena, California