Would rate higher if I could Came during lunch in late afternoon, ordered tallarin verde con bistec. There was only one person running the restaurant, i believe the name was Clayver, and he was very polite and had our food out fast. The food was amazing, one of the best I've ever had. Portions were enough to fill everyone up with extra left. Would come back often if I lived around the area. Amazing service and food. Highly recommend if you are passing by or looking for good traditional Peruvian food. read more

I came here for dinner on a weekend, which wasn't too busy. It's my first time at Emelina's #3 (Emelina's Plus). I usually go to Emelina's #2, but came to this one since I learned they serve picarones on the weekends. However, when I went they said they didn't have any. Not sure if they sold out or wasn't making it the day I went. Anywho, for two, we ordered the trio Marino #1 and the tacu tacu carne. The trio con Marino #1 comes with arroz con mariscos (seafood rice), ceviche de pescado (fish ceviche), and chicharron de pescado (fried fish). The arroz con mariscos had mussel, shrimp, scallop, and clams which were good. Though want to note, the mussels beard was not taken off. It sort of reminded me of a paella but also a risotto but a little drier. Flavors were on the lighter side. The chicharrón de pescado came with fried fish with yucca and came with tartar sauce. It was alright. Lastly the ceviche de pescado, as always is the highlight of the meal. It was not too tart or acidic. I saw that at every table they also had a fish ceviche. For the tacu taco con bisteck, this is a familiar item we've ordered at Emelina's #2. However, for the one we had here it wasn't as flavorful, but still good. In addition, got a complementary side of corn nuts and a sauce. The sauce was green with a slight kick which went nicely with the meal. Overall, good experience, good food and portion size as well. Definitely recommend trying their mixed combos of appetizers so you get a taste of what you like or not. Also, have to get the fish ceviche here. So good read more

Emelina's 3 - Trio Marino 1 - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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Service is ok but food is good worth the wait good civiche good everything so far this is really good out of all of Emelinas around read more

Emelina's 3 - Civiche borrocho - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Solid food but nothing really stood out. My friend and I ordered a trio to share and I got a Lomo Saltado for myself. The trio came with chicharron de pescado, ceviche and arroz con mariscos. The chicharron de pescado was standard. Lightly battered fish, nicely seasoned. The arroz con mariscos was filled with seafood and flavorful but too mushy. The ceviche wasn't my favorite, the fish was cut too big for my liking. The Lomo saltado was okay, some of the meat was super chewy. Overall, it was a decent experience. Friendly service and average food but wouldn't return. read more

Emelina's 3 - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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Bright and fresh looking interior... very clean and comfortable. Oh, there's a parking lot, which in this area of San Jose is a big plus! Our waitress was friendly and helpful. The food was very good; prices were good and the portions were generous. To me, nothing set this place apart as a "wow, I've got to come back here!" But it's certainly a place I wouldn't mind eating again if I were in the area. read more

Emelina's 3 - Front entry - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Looking for Peruvian food on a recent road trip. Everything was very flavorful and we will return, when in the area next month!! read more

Emelina's 3 - SECO DE CORDERO & LOMO SALTADO - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Theres parking but it's an interesting area (across Spartan tacos). I ordered the ceviche and leche de tigre. Side order of plantains and yucca fries. The child ordered the bistek with fries and rice. We were first at the restaurant but service was really slow. read more

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Everything was soooo yummy. Service was friendly and food came out quick. I would definitely come back again for lunch. read more

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This restaurant had high ratings on Yelp, so we had to see for ourselves. The restaurant was clean, and the server was friendly. The restaurant has two big screen televisions and a mini stage. They got some cheerful Spanish music playing in the restaurant, and we enjoyed that very much. After ordering, we were given complimentary plantain chips with spicy dipping sauce. The server warned us of the spiciness, and thank God he did because it was super-spicy. We ordered the El Borracho and La Chiclayana, their signature dishes. Both items had a great presentation and a good portion. However, they were too salty, and the saltiness disappointingly ruined the dishes so we won't be back in the future. read more

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Bae told me about Emelina's in Santa Clara. Hear their Lomo Saltado is the best. Came to downtown location near closing and was not disappointed. Already knew what we both wanted. Bae had tofu and veggies saltado and I had the paella. Taste was perfect in every way. Service was excellent. Price was worth the plate. Tucked away in the residential, accessible parking and I love that they have music videos up. Sets the moment while dining. Can't wait to check out their other locations. read more

Emelina's 3 - Saltado de Vegetales con Tofu y Hongos El Borracho - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Update (December 2025): Been coming here for over a year now and it's easily become my go to spot in downtown San Jose. The food is consistently great, flavorful, comforting, and made with care. Whether it's the Lomo Saltodo, Chaufa, Ceviche, or simply just grabbing some Inka Cola for caffeine. What really distinguishes this place from others is the people. It's a family run restaurant, and you feel that the moment you walk in. Over the year, I got to know the owner, and he's genuinely kind. You're never treated like "just another order". If you're looking for some Peruvian food in the South Bay, this is a must visit. And if you are a SJSU student, you get 10% off. read more

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The five stars is for the pickled onions on top of one of the seafood paellas. The shrimp had a faint citrus taste and the octopus was extremely tender-soft, and was a good replacement for squid. One side of the rice was mellowy spicier while the other side was not. The two large chunks of fish helped make the plate more filling, and complemented the smaller pieces of moxed scallop and shellfish. Emilena's is located within a cluster of three strong Latin eateries, and three more Latin eateries, on the busy evening corner of 10th and William. Out of all 6 eateries, Emelina's is the only one which has a hardcore dinnertime menu. There is a 7th Vietnamese eatery there, but they seem mostly active for lunch these days, The interior is similar to how the City Fish in downtown and how the Chipotlé in downtown - they all suffer from having flourescent tube fixtures, which do not make the highlights and shadows in the food come out enough. But the food looks a lot better once the setting sunlight comes through their large windows. read more

Emelina's 3 - Seafood rice - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Great place to experience an authentic Peruvian food . This is their 3rd location in the Bay Area and our first time to try. We went here for an early dinner and place is not busy so we have our server's attention. He is very attentive and able to take our orders in send it tot he kitchen in a flash. Food came decently in an amount of time starting from appetizers which we have couple of sample of there ceviches. We ordered mild and the ceviches were fresh , citrusy and seasoned to perfection. Then we have 5 Main dishes from Cordero de la Norteno X3, La Chiclayuna, Chaufa and Tallarines Veree con Pollo la Blanche. They came out piping hot from the kitchen and smell so delicious. We enjoyed our meal thoroughly for it is flavorful, meat are tender, seafood not overcooked, chicken not dry . Just fantastic meal and a great dinner experience. Portions can served 2 people depending on your appetite. We took our left overs to go . read more

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If I could give 0 stars, I would! This place is horrible. Came in today with my mom and two young kids just to grab something to eat since we were in the area. We stood at the entrance for 15 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us and seated us. The moment we sat down, I realized this is not a family-friendly restaurant at all it felt more like a bar. People were drunk, loud, and obnoxious. When we finally asked for the menu, the waitress told us we couldn't order anything unless we paid $30 per person for a "private event" that wasn't even starting for another two hours. There were no signs anywhere, and nobody mentioned this when we were seated. I told her we just wanted to eat and weren't interested in paying for something we didn't even know about, and she told us to leave right there in front of everyone, completely embarrassing my family. Unprofessional, unorganized, and definitely not a place for families. I'll never come back here again. read more

The food is amazing Very delicious I love it El servicio de las personas es muy bueno read more

I ordered a seafood paella, and the pickled onions were an amazing addition. The food was reasonably priced and came out quickly. The interior reminds me of a great local Mexican place I visit: a bit sparse, sometimes a bit loud as the kitchen is right in front. But this is the type of place I would come back to solely because of the food. Service was great. No complaints. Only 4 stars because of the plantain appetizer. First, it's not on the printed menu in the restaurant, so you have to ask for it. Second, I thought they came with a side of salsa based on a review I had seen. Which, third and related, they didn't have the kind of flavor I'm used to with fried plantains. Even the garlic that topped them was a bit bland. Would opt for a different choice next time. read more

Delicious flavorful Peruvian food! 10/10 recommend. Their dishes are family style size. Their green spicy sauce elevates the food too. ‍ read more

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Great Peruvian food and service ! Flavor was on point and the place was clean too. I'll go back to try more dishes. read more

Emelina's 3 - Pescado a Lo Macho - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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Came out here cause we were in the area and place had good reviews. The place was clean but not spectacular. The waitress and service were great! she was very sweet and attentive! She was also by herself. The food was mediocre. It had flavor, but came short. I'm accustomed to the Límon and what not. The ceviche was solid! And the lamb shank was decent, could of been just a little more tender. The lomo saltado was lacking. Edible, but not what we were accustomed to. All in all, if you're looking for solid Peruvian food in the area, go try them out! But if you are looking to be floored, keep looking. read more

A gem!! Long overdue review- we come here all the time because the food is authentic and so delicious. The service is great and is a clean and nice place to eat. I have tried many dishes here and truly enjoyed them all. The chicha morada and leche de Tigre is the best I've tried in the bay area. Also the prices aren't as high as other peruvian restaurants. You will leave very happy and content. Buenazo!! read more

Emelina's 3 - Picarones- Peruvian style donuts with a special syrup. weekends only but if you're lucky they may have it on a Monday - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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Tucked away on E Williams St near San Jose State with parking in a lot alongside the building. The food here is so good and they have menu items from different regions of Peru which gives you the option of trying different flavors that not all Peruvian restaurants provide. The interior isn't anything fancy but the food and service were spot on! Starters 1) causa de pollo con camerones - this was deliciously prepared and came with both the chicken filling and camerones. Definitely a hit at our table 2) ceviche de Pescado - this ceviche varies as it's the fish special of the day. This was prepared differently than other ceviches we've had and it was very enjoyable. So much that we are going to try mailing it the next time we make ceviche. The fish was tilapia, very thinly sliced and seems to have been "rolled". Was extremely easy to cut thru and the citrus and seasonings were extremely flavorful Entrees 1) Lomo Saltado- can't ever pass up this dish at a Peruvian restaurant. Very flavorful and the meat was very tender 2) Seco de res - a beef stew server with beans and rice. Nicely prepared and well seasoned. Beef was fork tender 3) la chiclayana - this was absolutely amazing. It's a northern Peruvian paella with what I think was a cilantro base as it was green vs the traditional yellow coloring. Paella is one of my favorite dishes and this one is now may favorite. My son had my leftovers the next day and remarked "that paella is FIRE! We need to go back" Our server was Luz Elena. She promptly brought us our menus and explained menu items that we weren't familiar with. Food was brought out quickly and at good temperatures. She was friendly, checked in and brought water refills quickly. Value was very good for delicious food and good portion sizes. Highly recommend Emelina's 3!! read more

Pleasant service. Large open space. We had mostly cold dishes. Nice colorful presentation and generous portions. However they tasted as if they had not been recently prepared, rather, they had been stored in the fridge for a while. Too much mayo in chicken salad. Too much chicken in soup that could have been balanced with more vegetables. read more

Came here for a belated birthday dinner on a weekday. I ordered the copa borracha and said super spicy and they sure didn't disappoint! My parents ordered a lomo saltado, anticuchos, and bistec a lo probé. I got to try some of my dad's lomo saltado and the flavor was great. The anticuchos were nice and tender and flavorful. Service was a bit slow since there was only one server which is understandable weekdays most restaurants don't get much foot traffic. I will most definitely come back here since its so close to home and work. I was excited to try their picarones but noticed is only on the weekends so I will be coming back to try those! read more

Emelina's 3 - Copa borracha - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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All the food is delicious, and the waiters are friendly and gentle, they are always very attentive to what you need

Friendly staff, and very tasty food. I had the lomo Saltado, the meat was very tender and yummy. I would like to go back and try other items from the menu. read more

This is our second time eating food from Emelina's and I have to say it did not disappoint. Good peruvian food and the service is polite. I hope they keep their quality :) read more

Emelina's 3 - Fresh Picarones! It was yummy! - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

Food is amazing! Had something fish and it doesn't smell fishy at all Had steak and rice and it's soooo flavorful and good Would definitely come back to try more read more

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I spent two years as a Peace score volunteer in Lima, Peru. I've always loved Peruvian food. This is the best I've ever had probably better even than what I eat in Peru, since I could only afford the eaten sort of dive restaurants. read more

Consistent delicious food. My boyfriend and I always get the Lomo Saltado medium rare. I love how tender & juicy the meat is. the meat sauce is such a nice addition to the rice!Employees are nice and helpful. The Peruvian music is fun but not too loud which I appreciate. I would definitely recommend this place :) read more

Emelina's 3 - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

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bsolutely phenomenal! Every bite was bursting with flavor, clearly crafted with care and high-quality ingredients. We ordered ceviche de pescado, lomo saltado, ají de gallina. The presentation was stunning, and the service matched the food--warm, attentive, and timely. From the first taste to the last, this meal was unforgettable. Best ceviche I've had hands down! Highly recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional Peruvian dining experience! read more

Loved their food! Their leche de tigre is sooo good. I recommend checking this place out

We're so glad we tried this new addition to the neighborhood! The service was super friendly, helpful and casual. Each of the dishes we tried we great, too! Try the beef heart skewers! The seasoning was tasty and they were quite tender. I had the lamb shank, and it was a large portion with a great sauce. The plantains were wonderful, too! read more

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The food was great! Got their beef hearts and lomo saltado and their beef flavor was great! Their chicken pasta was extra creamy. Also enjoyed that they give you some fried corn + avacado salsa and a caramel at the end. Waitress was also very attentive and provided great service. Overall the food was very tasty. I think the only thing they could improve on is the time it takes for the food to come out. read more

The absolute best Ceviche!!! If you haven't had Peruvian Ceviche you have not experienced the best. Leche De Tigre is my personal favorite because it's so bright, bold and beautifully prepared. Also Lomo Saltado Tallarnes Verdes Absolutely amazing! Go! read more

Siempre recomiendo este lugar a gente interesada en la gastronomía peruana. Los platos están deliciosos y a un precio cómodo.

So delicious! I got the ceviche and lomo saltado and they were amazing. The ceviche was so fresh and flavorful. The lomo saltado hit the spot! read more

Food is off the hook, ordered a loma soltado. The vegetables were fresh and the steak was tender, I would definitely come back.

Amazingly fresh seafood in downtown San Jose. If you love seafood or Peruvian food, this is the place for you. Ceviche Emelina's is delicious. I wasn't expecting to find sweet potato in it, but soaking that in the delicious broth from the ceviche was amazing. read more

So delicious please try. Lomo Saltaldo all the way. Price is worth it. $25. I highly recommend. read more

Emelina's 3 - #1 dish!! Lomo Saltaldo (steak with what you see) - Peruvian Near Me - San José, California

The food is great and reasonably priced. This is the second time I came with my daughter and we tried different dishes: she had the Copa Borracha and I had the Chiclayano. We also shared the Causa with shrimp. All very good. For dessert we had the Lucuma ice cream. We get good potions so you can bring the leftover home. We definitely will go back read more