Had a great experience here! I ordered the Steak Lomo Saltado and it was delicious. The steak was tender and flavorful, and everything came together really well with the onions, fries, and sauce. The portion was filling without being over the top, and the food tasted fresh. Service was friendly and the overall atmosphere was enjoyable. I'd definitely come back and would recommend the Steak Lomo Saltado if it's your first time here. Ask for the spicy sauce! It's...spicy read more

Emelinas #2 - Steak Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I decided to give Emelina's #2 an opportunity despite having some initial reservations about whether a restaurant operating multiple locations could maintain consistent quality and attention to detail. Unfortunately, my first visit only reinforced those concerns. I ordered the Tallarín Verde con Bisteck, listed on the physical menu as an 8 oz. New York grilled steak served with creamy pesto pasta. My girlfriend's steak was perfectly acceptable, while mine was composed largely of fat and was, for the most part, inedible. I asked whether the steak portion could simply be replaced. I was told it would take approximately 15 minutes, by which point the pasta would have been cold. I was then informed that I would need to purchase an entirely new entrée. The fact that I had touched the food was also raised, even though cutting into the steak was the only way to determine the extent of the issue. My girlfriend is Peruvian, and I chose this restaurant in the hope of surprising her with a well regarded local Peruvian dining experience. Instead, the quality of the steak and the manner in which the situation was handled made the experience feel markedly less refined and professional than expected. I left my phone number and requested that the owner contact me, as I am still giving the business an opportunity to address the matter directly. A sincere apology and a reasonable resolution would have been enough to preserve the relationship. As it stands, however, Emelina's #2 lost what could have been a loyal, long term customer. read more

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Located in Santa Clara, parking is limited and available spots are hard to find. The interior is sizeable and good for medium sized groups. Tallarin Verde Con Pollo a La Plancha (3.5/5): sauce was good and noodles were a good texture. The chicken was a bit rubbery though and the sauce was a bit much in terms of oil. Tap to pay is accepted. Also food takes a while. Overall, Emelinas could use some improvement. Food is alright and service is ok too. read more

Emelinas #2 - Tallarin Verde Con Pollo a La Plancha - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Food is awesome... Ceviche is off the hook... the chicken soup is enormous and delicious The ceviche was pretty large as well.. This place rocks! read more

I found Emelina's on an Apple Maps guide for Santa Clara. Since my family love Latin American cuisine, we decided to drop by for lunch. The vibe here is very down to earth so don't expect a fine-dining setup, but do expect a welcoming atmosphere with very reasonable prices. After checking photos on Yelp, we noticed the portions looked generous, so the three of us shared two main courses: Arroz con Mariscos + Ceviche de Pescado: The seafood was incredibly fresh, and the rice was packed with flavor. A must-order! Cordero a la Norteña (Lamb Stew): The seasoning was spot on and very authentic. My only minor critique is that the lamb could have been braised a bit longer; the meat was slightly tough. Overall, we were very satisfied with both the service and the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back to explore more of their menu! read more

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The food and service were great . Came on a warm Sunday. The restaurant was a bit stuffy, would recommend invest in an ac unit. The service was attentive and the dishes were good. We got a Peruvian style seafood rice (very creamy) , beef heart skewer and temele. I asked for no peas on the rice and they still gave me peas. Beef heart skewer was not on a stick and rather tough even tho it was medium well. The temele was basically all corn dough and 10% chicken. There was only 1 host/server. But food was delicious . Will comeback again. read more

This place is a GREAT Peruvian place in a random strip mall in Santa Clara. The food quality compares to more expensive places, though it's pretty small and doesn't seem like it from the outside. Once you get inside, the food is particularly great. I ordered the anticuchos (beef heart skewers) and they were super delicious, as well getting a pretty generous portion. I also ordered the mixed ceviche which also had a pretty generous portion of fish and shrimp, so didn't even need a main course. The service was ok - though there was only 1 other table at the time, so not sure how it is when it's busy. The parking was easy but very limited, so that could be a problem during busy times. read more

Emelinas #2 - Ceviche Mixto (mixed ceviche) - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Delicious food!! And if you never had alfajores before, make sure to grab some on your way out!

It's been a bit since I've been back here, but I wanted some Peruvian food and try some other dishes I haven't before at Emelinas. We ordered the El Borracho and the Piqueo 1 but we made a substitution on one of it. The El Borracho (Chef special) is a Peruvian style paella with fish, plump and large shrimp, mussels, clams, pepper, carrots, and topped with onions. This taste was flavorful, good quality seafood. We got the Piqueo 1 appetizer, but from our previous visit we saw other people order a different combo, so we asked if we could change one of the items. Instead of the Causa de Pollo, we got it with the Tiradito de pescado. It also came with fried calamari and fish ceviche. The tiradito cut of fish was more firm and thin compared to the fish ceviche which had larger cuts. The fish ceviche was my favorite, it is a bit acidic but that's how I've had Peruvian ceviche. Calamari was fine, nothing too special. Also the chicha morada jarra was a nice refreshing drink. Reminded me of a spied mulled wine but non alcoholic and iced. Overall, really good meal and will come back again! read more

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Was going to go to a different place, but this place was far more affordable. Glad that I ended up here! Great prices & the flavor was there also, which is key for me, FLAVOR. Ceviche de Pescado was delicious & used the remaining juice from it to pour over my Lomo Saltado (medium rare)! UGH! TO DIE FOR! FULL OF FLAVOR! Went with my go to drink when ordering Peruvian & got the Chicha Morada. My mother ordered the Tallarin Verde con Pollo & was mouth watering amazing! For dessert the Caja Alfajores is always a classic choice to make & was bomb! They have a whole lot of other locations & will be going back to any of the other locations for sure. When my mother & I arrived there were only two other tables occupied & by the time we received our food the place was packed! They need to have their A/C running, especially on hot days with having a packed place it was like a sauna in there & wanted to leave back to the air conditioning vehicle. Nevertheless, the service was okay until she got busy with all the other tables she was the only person running from table to table. She forgot my salsa for my to go order that as taken back to Santa Cruz & could not just go down the street to get it. Fer, the server, you did a great job & keep it up! read more

Emelinas #2 - Lomo Saltado (medium rare) - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant Review The food here is amazing--flavorful, authentic, and served in generous portions for what you pay. While it may feel slightly overpriced for a hole-in-the-wall spot next to an adult toy store, the quality makes up for it. The customer service is excellent, and while the tables and seating give off more of a casual taqueria vibe, the experience is still very enjoyable. If you're looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine, I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Emelinas #2 - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I came here on a Thursday night and was seated pretty fast. Service is okay, my partner walked up to the register a few times for things we needed since no one really approached us. What we ordered: - Ceviche de Pescado: I forgot to ask for the fish of the day, but the fish was fresh! We requested for mild and it wasn't too bad for me. The dish itself is very citrusy and can leave a lingering aftertaste. I wish there was a bit more plantain chips in the dish since there was sooo much fish in the dish. - Tallarin Verde Con Bisteck: This was my favorite dish out of the three! The steak was cooked well and had a nice sear to it. The pasta had a subtle pesto taste and was creamy. - El Borracho: I was okay with this dish- this was seasoned well but the rice was very mushy. Almost like a porridge consistency but not quite. Lots of seafood in this dish though! read more

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We've been to the original location in San Carlos and I think while they're both excellent I may have liked this a tiny bit better. We were also starving so that always adds to the experience. Service was great and the food was delicious. I'm pretty picky about Peruvian Food but Emelinas never disappoints. prices are great and the portions are hearty! read more

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The service was in point. That ceviche was so different and delicious. The marinade was delicious and spicy. The hot seafood on top was something new for me.... But it was the perfect dish. I will definitely try this place again when I am back in town read more

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Decent Peruvian food. Parking is tight. Service is good. Small business feel. I might come again if I can figure out the parking solution read more

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Was introduced to this restaurant for their authentic Peruvian cuisine. El Borracho - Seafood Paella - This was tasty and full of flavor in every bite Chaufa de Pollo -Peruvian Fried Rice - HIGHLY recommend this, the bits of crispy fish completed this dish very well Passion Fruit Juice - Made fresh in house Anyways, I definitely recommend y'all try this place out when you're in the area. read more

I had a difficult time deciding what to get here because everything here sounded good and appetizing. I was almost tempted to order like four plates of food, but I controlled myself. It came down to ceviche or the steak with pesto pasta. Ultimately the red meat won. Pretty good I have to say, steak was decently cooked and the pesto noodles were actually el dente, which is a huge plus. Then I got myself a chica morada which I believe is a purple maize drink, I don't know how to describe the taste it's sweet but at the same time not sweet it's strange in a good way and is very refreshing. I need to come here again and try some of their other dishes, can't wait to see what else they offer! read more

Emelinas #2 - Chicha Morada Jarra - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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4 stars for the food and service because I can see the 4 staff working their tails off. But 1 star for the almost 1 hour wait for lunch at 130pm. Clearly understaffed and with two very large parties to served, I could see the one server and two cooks and one person in the back were struggling. Probably better to not seat new people without a warning on the extended wait time. The ceviche, calamari, and causa de pollo were good. A good amount of fish for the trio dish. Would come back if the wait is not like it was today. The alfajores cookie was good. read more

Emelinas #2 - Piqueo 1 - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Papa Rellena - 5/5 amazing flavor. The ratio of the mashed potato and filling was great. The crispness of the chopped onions with lemon base mixed in with every bit just seals the deal. we could have easily had 5 more of these but knew more was coming. - Quantity: 3.5/5 because it's one larger than average sized croquette. For the price this was not worth it. Tallarin Verde + Pollo Plancha - 5/5 flavor so good and buttery! The chicken was tender with some chimichurri over it and the green sauce on the pasta was delicious. Pasta itself was thin fettuccine and surprisingly very light! The combination of the chicken with pasta is well balanced in a bite! - Quantity: 5/5 we packed the left overs which would easily supplement 2 more meals El Borracho - 4/5 the flavor was very good but unfortunately it was a little more on the salty side for us. This was a recommendation. Again, if it was not salty for us then it would easily be a 5/5, no questions asked. - Quantity: 5/5 we packed the left overs which would easily supplement 2 more meals Ambiance: 3/5 mellow hole in the wall Staff: 5/5 very friendly and attentive to their customers Cleanliness: 5/5 Overall: 5/5 I would give more stars if I could given the flavor profile and quantity of the entrees. read more

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Relatively small restaurant with an average ambiance and open kitchen. We got Causa de pollo:4/5: this is a mashed potato, mayo, chicken appetizer topped with a fried shrimp and some avocado. It's served cold and tastes exactly as one would expect potatoes, mayo, chicken etc to taste. There was nothing done to elevate it further though the fried shrimp on top was delish. The whole dish was a bright yellow color, I hope it was saffron and not some artificial food color! Chicken fried rice: 2/5: this was a disappointment. In addition to being extremely dry, the chicken was overcooked. Seafood paella: 3/5: a very seafood forward dish. The rice tasted like seafood as well. There were shrimp, fish, mussels, clams etc in it. It was topped with some sliced onions which added some vibrancy to the dish. Though it had a better flavor profile than the chicken fried rice, it was still not a great dish. The clams had a lot of sand as well. read more

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We started with the Papa Rellana, a potato croquette with minced beef in the middle. It was just OK. Then the Ceviche Emelina's arrived. Wow. It just popped with fresh flavor. The shrimp and the octopus was perfectly "cooked" in the juice. I felt the white fish could have soaked a little more. But it was great - I loved it. We also ordered El Borracho which is a slightly different take on the standard Arroz con Mariscos. there was an abundance of seafood along with the tasty rice. Lastly we had the standard Lomo Saltado. The beef was very, very tasty and really tender. Overall, it was a fantastic meal. The interior of the restaurant is kind of a standard strip mall restaurant. So don't expect anything fancy. The parking lot was small and full. But street parking was not a problem. However, service was wonderful. For drinks, we only wanted water - our normal. The glass mugs came cold from the fridge with ice cubes. Nice touch. The food did take a long time to come from the kitchen, so that would be my only gripe. read more

We love to try new Peruvian places and went to try this place before a concert at the SAP, we ordered their seafood Jalea with a side of huancaina sauce and two inka colas. My husband and I have been so sick, we have food poisoning from this meal! The absolute worst experience with Peruvian food! Will NEVER go to back to this place. The food was awful! read more

This started out as a solid 5 star review... Yelp waitlist, but was NOT needed as there were almost no customers. Quality/Quantity - Simple menu done well. Tallarin Saltado De Carne - Not on the menu, custom made this for me, and for $1 less than the Lomo Saltado! I was craving noodles. Many of the Peruvian restaurants I frequent have a noodle option. 5 stars for service. Then she asked if I like it spicy and brought me this amazing extra, extra hot green sauce! Loved it. Arroz Con Mariscos - Seafood Paella, so good and generous portions. We will have leftovers tomorrow for lunch. Thank you. A few cookie selections for dessert, see pictures. Atmosphere - Small location, indoor and outdoor seating. Open kitchen. Located in a strip mall with another two very successful restaurants = NO parking. There was always a car waiting for a space. And there are cars that just about park anywhere... We chose to stay away from these drivers and got a very good space a block away on the residential side of the street. Open 7 days a week from 11am to 8pm, 9pm, or 10pm. One clean unisex bathroom Service - Okay, what started out as a 5 star experience dropped slightly as the evening went on. First of all, no customers... But the other two restaurants had a long wait list. Because it was so slow the 6 team members basically hung out with each other. I had to ask for stuff like water, extra napkins, etc. They gladly accommodated, but with 6 team members and almost no customers, I would expect 5 start service from start to finish. The good news is that they were having a good time, blasting their music, playing their playlist, singing, etc. I was happy for them. I can see how you can easily be 5 stars. Price - $53 + generous tip. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2011 and since 2023 at this location and now with your 3 locations total. read more

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This is a pleasant dining experience for sure. We always like Peruvian food as it has lots of seafood dish options. This is a no frill neighborhood diner type of place. However, the plating is pretty and appetizing which is a big plus. The food actuallytastes good didn't hurt either. LOL!!! Our mash potato appetizer with shrimp is on point. It's great that they don't put too much mayonnaise in it. The only thing is that I thought it included avocado per the menu, but ours didn't have it and when I asked the waitress, she just simply said they don't have avocado. ??? We like our fish ceviche in a giant wine glass like glassware. It comes with plantain chips, toasted corn kernels and fresh corn kernels. I especially love the fresh corn kernels,they are big and satisfying. For the main courses, we have grilled fish. It's decent quality not dressed with too much sauce. The salad that comes with it hasabit too much white sauce. The sautéed filet mignon is decent as well. Though besides the taste of salt, the brown sauce doesn't really do much for me. I would say this place is of a good value for what get. I'll be coming back. read more

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I read good review of this restaurant. And I had craving for seafood paella. So we went. Ordered Peruvian style seafood paella, but it was too wet. Another dish we ordered was shredded chicken with yellow sauce with potato, comes with white rice. Both just OK level. Restaurant looks like fast food, really casual, I think price was high compared with the quality of the food. read more

Hands down the best Peruvian food in all Bay Area. The chef is incredible at getting the flavors just right. The service is amazing and attentive. Love it here! read more

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This place is in a small strip mall on El Camino. It replaced another restaurant that had been here for years (Flamas?). They have inside seating and a couple table outside in the side. When we went for lunch there weren't many people there. I had the Peruvian paella and it was delicious and the seafood was fresh. I got the little cookie sandwich with caramel tasting filling in the center (can't remember the name). The food was great so I hope that they get more marketing so they can stay around. read more

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The quality of the food was great for a small location. You get what you pay for and that means a generous amount of food. We just moved to the area and have already placed this location in our dinner rotation spots. read more

We were strolling the SCU campus and decided to get dinner so I came across this place doing a Yelp search. It is on the main El Camino Real in a tiny shopping center with enough parking. It was almost empty as we arrived at 4:15. There was only one server, one food prep person, and one cook, so service wasn't as quick, but we didn't mind. The only time I wanted the server was for a water refill but he was talking to other customers. The menu is large and has a lot of yummy options. The prices are what is expected of a Peruvian restaurant in California, especially if you consider most of their dishes are seafood or steak. I wanted one of the paellas with cilantro but it wasn't available. The server recommended the Chefs Special paella (Borracho) which has a little bit of rum. I went with it and it was delicious but felt a bit one note. I really like spicy food so I ended up adding some of the liquid from my husbands copa de borracho ceviche which was very spicy. It added another layer of flavor and tasted much better. My 16 month old had the papa rellena and loved it. It is a fried potato ball with a crispy breaded exterior and mashed potato with ground beef filling. It has some hard boiled egg but Big enough pieces to pick out. He has had this at a Colombian restaurant but this one tasted much better. We ordered a box of alfajores to go for dessert. They were delicate and melted in my mouth. Truly an amazing bite! The restaurant was clean and it has one restroom. There is plenty of seating including high chairs. We were all very happy with our food and we look forward to returning. read more

Emelinas #2 - Papa Rellana (stuffed potato ball) - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I love it here! Always drove around this area and it popped up on my maps and so happy I pressed it the food reminds of Miami! Love the green hot sauce! Can't wait to try something else next time super worth it 5 stars! read more

Emelinas #2 - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

It was my first time trying Peruvian food, and I had a good experience at Emelina's! They were busy, but I was able to get seated and got my order in quickly. Something interesting that they do is serving water in old liquor bottles, which can be a little confusing at first. I got the bisteck a la pobre, and the steak was well seasoned and tasty. One criticism that I have is that it was cooked a little to well done, and so it ended up being chewy. Overall would recommend people to try it out though! read more

Emelinas #2 - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Had the steak saltado and it was really good. Tender meat, well-seasoned, and generous portions. Fair prices for the quality. Definitely coming back. read more

I have not experienced much Peruvian food, but I was really surprised to see so much pesto pasta on the menu. I was a little skeptical of pesto just because that feels Italian to me, and I generally think pesto is too oily, so I ended up ordering the steak with rice and salad. The steak was good, the rice was really flavorful, and the salad was... just salad, nothing special. I do think there was too much salad and not enough rice though. However, my friend was more adventurous that day and they got the pesto pasta with chicken and now, that was amazing with a great portion size! It's not the usual type of pesto, it's a thicker, greener pesto than you'd get at an italian restaurant. Apparently after googling things later, pesto is actually a common Peruvian food - who knew! But yes, would definitely recommend getting one of their pesto dishes. read more

Overall, we had a good 1st experience at Emelina's #2. We came around 4:30pm and it wasn't busy at all. This was great as I was starving. The staff was prompt and attentive. The ambience was fun. They had music playing and lights that blink to the music. Our almost 1-year-old loved it! For the food, for the most part...good dining experience. We ordered... Piqueo 3 - I love ceviche and have to try a variety. The sauce was flavorful and well-balanced. The seafood was good as well. One fish was a little chewy but still good. Side of fries - Big, heaping portion! They were fresh and hot when we got them. They were not too crunchy which was great for the baby. La Chiclayana - I liked this dish a lot. Good balance of flavor and decent amount of seafood. Rice was cooked well. All it was missing was hot sauce, and it would've been perfect. Lomo Saltado - This was our only qualm about the experience. My wife was really craving and looking forward to trying their version. When she received it, the meat was cooked at a nice medium-rare, but she immediately noticed it wasn't filet. Upon asking the server, he confirmed that it was a different cut due to their supply. This was understandable as we know the pandemic has created challenges for many businesses. However, a courtesy heads-up would have been nice as she probably would not have ordered it and would have went with another dish. We appreciate the staff being understanding and gracious about the feedback. We will have to come back to try the Lomo Saltado. read more

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My husband and I came in for lunch as we'd noticed this as a new place just opened up. We are newbies to Peruvian food, I don't think we've ever tried this cuisine before? We ordered the entree Aji De Gallina and the appetizer Papa Rellena to share. The the appetizer was really unique, a mashed potato on outside stuffed with ground meat and then deep fried, came with a side of fresh (or maybe pickled?) onions. The whole thing was very tasty and I loved the onions. The chicken entree had shredded chicken in a yellow sauce with potatoes and rice. It was also very tasty. The waiter was friendly and nice, brought water out in a chilled wine bottle which kept it super cold. The inside of the place was super clean and everything looked new. I would definitely come back and try more things here! read more

Emelinas #2 - Peruvian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This is located in a super tiny strip mall. Parking is HORRENDOUS!!! They are next to the popular Dusita Thai Restaurant and Ilbunjee KBBQ. This marks the 2nd time we have tried Peruvian cuisine. The wait staff was patient, friendly, and attentive. Causa de Pollo/Camaron: Mashed potatoes, avocado, egg, chicken or shrimp, mayonnaise, and green peas. We went with the shrimp. (3.5/5) This dish is served cold, which we didn't know, but the shrimp was slightly fried with salt and pepper. The dish was creamy and tasty. Papa Rellena: Traditional Peruvian stuffed potato w/beef stew. (4/5). This dish reminded me of a croquette. Creamy smooth mashed potatoes delicately deep fried. The onion salad was tasty and was not spicy at all! You know how onions have that bite sometimes. Cordero a la Nortena: Northern Peruvian style Lamb w/beans, cassava, and rice. Served with onion salad. (4/5). Fork tender lamb that was cooked to perfection. It didn't fall off the bone, but you needed to coax it off the bone. The texture was so good. It wasn't gamey or anything. The beans were delicious, and the red and white sauces on it were good. The white rice reminded me of Jasmine rice. Again, this came with the onion salad, which gave the dish a crisp bite and different texture. I'd get this dish again! The food presentation was awesome! We will be back to try the paella and ceviches. read more

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Such a hidden gem restaurant. I went for lunch during the weekend and the food was so good. Lamb shank is my favorite with lot of flavor and I also love the beans go with it. The shrimp potato dish is also very good and refreshing since the potatoes was cold and creamy. The croquettes were hot and crunchy. A little oily for my taste but the seasoning was great. The price is affordable with big portions and we left so satisfied and full. Not too crowded since they just opening and the service is extremely nice. They have few outdoor tables. The ambiance is fun and more like a casual lunch place. I will definitely come back! read more

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Love meself some Peruvian cuisine! The deep love affair began when I was living in Florida. I've been to the original restaurant in San Carlos and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was glad one opened in the South Bay. It's still very new. The inside looks like it wasn't quite finished, perhaps they will get to it in the future...unless they are attempting for that raw unfinished look. Nothing fancy about the venue, it almost looks like at fast food joint or a Taqueria. The staff is pleasant and service is good, it was a bit slow when they got some serious food traffic. Refreshment: ~ Chicha Morada - 3.5/5 Purple Corn Juice. Interesting flavor, something very different and not too sweet. #PeruvianEats: ~ Piqueo 3 - 5/5 A little bit of this and a little bit of that. A brilliant way to sample multiple appetizers. Each one bursting with flavor. Great way to be introduced to Peruvian cuisine. I wish they gave some bread to dip in the sauce. ~ Leche de Tigre - 5/5 Brilliant appetizer: Cirtusy, Creamy, Tangy and slightly Spicy. It's all about that sauce. The presentation is an extra bonus. Deliciousness... ~ Cordero a la Norteña - 5/5 I wasn't prepared for this one...outstanding! I didn't know Peruvians could do lamb this well. It was perfect, not gamey at all; supple, juicy, tender and fell of the bone. ~ Arroz con Mariscos - 3.5/5 This is basically Paella. A good amount of seafood with decent flavor. ~ Pollo a la Plancha - 3.5/5 To begin, this dish was an accident. Miscommunication somewhere along the lines and we ended up with this... I'm sure its good by itself, on this day it was overshadowed by every other dish on the table. In comparison it was bland and flavorless. ~ Aji de Gallina - 3.5/5 This was good, but not the best I had. I had better expectations of this. When I lived in Florida I was told this dish should be perfect at a good Peruvian restaurant. I thought it was lacking in the creaminess and flavor department. ~ El Borracho (Chef Special) - 3.5/5 Peruvian Paella. It was OK. Not the greatest, I thought it could use more flavor. My mum makes a brilliant Paella...I have yet to have one that beats it...even from the Spaniards!! I know... I'm spoiled! 3.5 *** rounded up to 4 **** I reckon this location will eventually get better over time. read more

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Is this a new spot? To be honest, I'm not sure. I was invited out by a friend. At 7:30pm, the parking lot was completely full. It's a small parking lot so I ended up finding street parking. The door facing Los Padres Blvd remains locked. Walking in, we were seated and provided menus. There are a bunch of 2 seat tables, and we saw a large group in there (combined a bunch of tables). Beer is in the fridge but not listed on the menu, they have some Peruvian beers! The menu isn't too overwhelming and has a lot of food I really want to try, but I settled with the chef's special paella and a side of fries. Asked for hot sauce on the side and they gave a delicious green sauce that had a bit of heat. Yum! Prices are about 20-25/entree It's a chill environment and I feel like they're still getting set up. I'd come back, I want to try the ceviche. read more

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3.5 STARS Santa Clara is THE place to go to for Korean Food in the bay. But, sometimes you need a break from all the soju shots... And, losing your dignity. Plus, no one wants to wake up and find themselves on TikTok because of their drunken shenanigans. I had bookmarked Emelina's in San Carlos so was happy to see they opened a second location in Santa Clara's K-Town area. They're open for takeout, delivery, indoor dining, and limited outdoor dining (dog-friendly). We walked in for dinner on a quiet Saturday evening and was promptly seated. M E N U Peruvian cuisine: Apps ($7-$20), Ceviche ($16-$24), and Entrees ($14.50-$27). Bottled drinks available including beer. F O O D * Causa de Pollo y Camaron: Mashed potatoes, avocado, egg, chicken, shrimp, mayo, green peas ($13): https://tinyurl.com/3u8ejr7d The layered mashed potato & chicken salad casserole was dry and bland, missing the citrusy flavor. * Anticuchos de Corazón: Grilled beef heart skewers marinated w/ panca sauce, golden potatoes ($15): https://tinyurl.com/y2352566 Fav dish, the beef hearts were pleasantly gamey with a firm tender chew (like gizzards). Nice smoky and fruity flavor from the aji panca. Served with a side of tender roasted potatoes and mild aji verde sauce. * Cordero a la Norteño: Northern Peruvian-style Lamb w/ beans, cassava, rice, onion salad ($27): https://tinyurl.com/bdhxdx53 When I'm craving a homestyle meal cooked by a Peruvian grandma I've never had, I think of Seco de Cordero...meltingly tender lamb shank served with stewed buttery peruano beans and fluffy rice. Unfortunately, this northern version wasn't it. The lamb shank needed to braised longer, as it was not fork tender. Flavors weren't developed and was one note: salty. Beans were creamy with a bite. Rice was dry. * Yuca Frita (5 pc - $8.50) The yuca fries were hot and crunchy with a soft interior. Accompanying huancaína sauce (pepper cheese) was bland. S E R V I C E Polite but needs improvement. After taking our order and delivering it, we didn't see our server again. I had to go inside to ask for takeout boxes and to pay the bill. They were not busy at the time with two servers and two other tables. Fast food service so that's always plus! A M B I A N C E Barebones with 7-8 tables inside and an open kitchen. Three two-tops outdoor in the parking lot. P A R K I N G Limited parking in the shared parking lot with Dusita and IIbunjee. Overall, it was a 3 star experience at Emelina's. IMO, the seasoning and cookery needs work but I'm sure it's a matter of new opening kinks. Adding .5 stars and rounding up for a new small business. read more

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