Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Inka Mama's

    4.0 (585 reviews)
    ModeratePeruvian
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Inka Mama's Takeout or Delivery

    Inka Mama's Photos

    Business Info

    INKA MAMA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Inka Mama's

    Recommended Reviews - Inka Mama's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Breaded steak
    Aramis G.

    I stopped into Inka Mamas because I enjoy Peruvian food and there are not many places around that offer it, so when you find a good one it really stands out. This restaurant has consistently been one of the better Peruvian spots I have tried and it always feels like a treat when I come here. My favorite dish is the breaded steak. It comes out with a crisp coating, tender meat, and a side of tasty rice. The small salad on the plate has a simple vinaigrette that brings a fresh, bright flavor to the meal. Before the food arrives they bring out complimentary bread with a spicy green sauce. It has a little heat but it pairs so well with the bread that you keep going back for more. Service has always been warm and welcoming. The staff checks in at the right pace and makes the visit feel relaxed. The restaurant is clean and well kept. It sits in a town center area with plenty of shopping and activities nearby, which makes it a convenient place to bring the family. Sometimes parking can be a pain, but it's manageable. Overall, Inka Mamas is a great choice when you want flavorful and comforting Peruvian food. I highly recommend it for families, date nights, or anyone who wants something different from the usual dining options.

    Chicken Empanadas (YUM)
    Alan P.

    Craving Peruvian fare New Year's Eve and San Clemente location was closed.... Thankfully, the restaurant in Aliso Viejo was firing on all cylinders! Followed waitress recommendations for Chicken Empanadas and Pisco Sours (original) both happy hour specials for Tuesday's. Pisco Sours (Peruvian "margarita" using Pisco instead of tequila) were on point for me, slightly sour for my wife's pallet. Okay, so the Chicken Empanadas arrived hot, perhaps the best I've ever tasted, with tender chicken seasoned to perfection, Peruvian olive, hard boiled egg slice, and DELICIOUSNESS. We split an order of Loma Saltado, which did not disappoint and left with an order of melt in your mouth Alfajores (small cookies with dulce de leche inside).

    Sandy B.

    Friendly service to help guide your choices. Located on the corner of a large shopping center. Authentic cuisine. Be sure to try the plantains. Good sized portions.

    Salteado Mix + platano
    Jean Luc M.

    Food was outstanding. Service was great. Good vibe in the restaurant. Would definitely recommend!

    The house salad with a great simple oil and vinegar dressing!
    Ali A.

    I love this place! I usually get the same stuff saltado de vegetales or arroz con pollo, with their house salad ( great simple oil and vinegar dressing). Both entrees have so much flavor!! But this time I ventured out!! We tried the chicken and beef empanadas, delicious! Causa with shrimp, it's really good. Imagine creamy shrimp cut in nice small pieces mixed with peas, carrots and red onions layered between 2 potato pillows and covered in a mild yellow pepper sauce. It's enough for two people to share as an appetizer. The Yucca HUANCAINA so crunchy and good also comes with the yellow pepper sauce that I can't get enough of, soooo yummy!! Service is always great and they have a lot of tables outside, perfect for summer dining!!

    Chicken Empanadas & Tallarin Verde Bistek
    Alex M.

    Was craving something a little different. Noodles were so creamy and buttery. Empanadas were good but I'm not a big fan of olives.

    Chicken Causa
    Amy L.

    I really enjoyed this place! The service was super nice (shout out to Victor for answering all our questions), the ambiance was cozy, and food was great! Every table comes with some complimentary bread and butter. Then we also get the beloved green sauce (sauce of the gods) aka aji, Peruvian spicy green sauce. What we ordered: Chicken causa ($15.70) - we wanted to try something new and thought this looked interesting. It was really good.. kinda reminded me of chicken pot pie combined with an egg salad. It was delicious! I put some on top of the bread and put some green sauce and omg even true comfort! Arroz con Mariscos - another favorite dish full of flavor and sprinkles of seafood! So good. I would definitely order this again. Beef saltado - I thought this one was just okay because I have eaten at other restaurants with better versions of this (maybe because the other places were a bit more saucy). I will say though, the rice was so good! Seems like they cook it in chicken broth because it was so flavorful!! Brazil beer - can't remember the spelling of the second part of the beer name but this served in a cold glass was absolute delight. So refreshing and a good lager indeed. Lastly... aji sauce! Complimentary bottle on each table and we literally drenched EVERYTHING with it. We would probably drink straight out of the bottle if that were acceptable. Overall, great experience and great food. Victor was kind enough to answer all our questions about the ingredients and the how the flavors are created. Kinda feels like a hybrid between a fancy restaurant and a local fast food, to make fancier, I'd suggest fancier plating but aside from that I'd definitely come back for the food. I truly don't think we would go wrong with any dish. Parking is also plentiful because there's a ton of other restaurants around in a big plaza.

    Jamie A.

    Inka Mama's for dinner last night was delicious! The flavors were so fresh and the chicken was incredible. We opted for the rottisserie special $18.99 which comes with half chicken and two sides. Since we shared this we chose double rice and added their half off happy hour chicharon con pollo (this was soooo flavorful and perfectly crisped! Paired perfectly with the red onions on top). I also got their Saturday happy hour special sangria which was alright. I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 as the service was friendly but felt overly attentive since the hostesses kept checking in every few minutes - this made me feel like I was being rushed and nagged despite there only being two other parties seated inside. Indoor seating is ample and there is a ton of outdoor tables as well for you to enjoy the fresh air. Would come back for sure

    Arroz con Mariscos
    Mervin L.

    1/10/2024 110pm I was in the area and took one of my friends to lunch and she suggested this place. We got seated right away. The restaurant was small but nice. The servers were nice and friendly. We had the Arroz con Mariscos and individual Jalea. Both tasted great. Adding the green sauce elevated the flavors more. Would come back when I'm in the area,'would love to try the other dishes.

    Jonna G.

    This was my first time trying Peruvian food. My mom suggested this for her Mother's Day treat. Our waitress was very friendly and checked up on us. Food: + Calamari Frito: This was one of their special and it was only $10. The calamari was very tender and had the right seasoning. I ended up dipping it in the green sauce which was amazing! + Arroz Con Mariscos: Peruvian Paella- Such huge portions! The dish came with an assortment of seafood: shrimp, scallop, squid, fish and one mussel and the rice was cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the spice that it had and had a lot of leftover for the next day. + Tenderloin Lomo Saltado: My mom's favorite when she comes here. I tried a few bites and the meat was very tender. Also there's french fries in the dish! Overall, I'm glad I got to try this place out since my mom has been wanting for me to go. Can't wait to be back.

    Mama Scampi and Beef Chaufa
    Michelle N.

    We rarely ever get Peruvian food, but when we do Inka is the only spot that comes to mind. We usually see them at the Taste of Aliso, and they are always sampling delicious food. Here is what we ordered: Beef Chaufa ($18.95): This is like a fried rice. It comes with sirloin and it was so chewy, almost impossible to eat. It also had bits of scrambled egg and spring onions. Kind of a basic dish and not worth the price. Mama Scampi ($24): This was really good! I really liked the sauce. It was not fishy like most scampis I have tried. It also had a little kick to it that was enjoyable. The shrimp portioning was good, but it was a bit dry. Seemed like the shrimp itself was a bit overcooked. I called in my order, and they told me it would take around 15 minutes. I walked in and was not greet by anyone. The couple in front of me seemed like they have been there for a while and were trying to get seated. They were peaking in the back door to see if there was anyone working that could help them. Someone finally came out and sat them and rang me up for my order. It seemed like my order was not even started until I had arrived 20 minutes later, so it ended up taking almost 40 minutes for my food. Overall, it everything was just average. Price was high for what you get.

    Mama scampi, calamari and Chicken dish
    Vincent P.

    Went here last night and still great. Last time I was here was during pandemic. I think they improved from last time. Well-seasoned dishes and the service is pretty nice and quick. Everything is delicious and comfy ambiance great for casual night outs.

    Half of chicken empanada on left, half of beef empanada on right.
    Pat F.

    It had been a while since we last dined here at Inka Mama's and we were passing Aliso Viejo on our way back to San Diego from the LA International Airport. It was approximately 2 hours prior to them closing so we opted to dine in and enjoy some delicious Peruvian food. We started with some empanadas (one chicken, one beef). They were served hot & savory, they weren't dry like many other empanadas we've tried at other restaurants. Then we shared a Chaufa Combinado (Peruvian fried rice sautéed w/beef, chicken, shrimp, peas, carrots, scrambled eggs, ginger, black bean sauce, red bell peppers, and green onions) and it was delicious and just the right portion for us to share. Had we both ordered an entree each, it would've been far too much food for us, and we would've had to take the leftovers home. I believe this was our first time ordering their Chaufa Combinado and were quite pleased with it. This restaurant also accepts AMEX cards, a plus for us as it's our payment of choice.

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Loved it new fav spot I tried the beef saltado plate comes with rice. I added the green house sauce and it was soooo good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali A.
    0
    52
    90

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy L.
    644
    512
    2638

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brett M.
    1
    240
    25

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Francesca B.

    Francesca B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pat F.
    1262
    916
    3347

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sierra F.
    124
    64
    21

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam L.
    15
    61
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Taylor T.
    238
    28
    14

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jack D.
    1
    26
    16

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great food, not sure about service, overall it was an ok experience, server might not having a good day (arroz chaufa and ceviche awesome).

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 15

    Inka Mama's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Inka Mama's

    Do they take reservations?

    From when are lunch specials going to be available?

    Is Inka Mama open during COVID season?

    Yes

    Is there a happy hour? If so what are the days/hours?

    Yes weekdays 3 to 6. They have daily specials on food and drinks.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Peruvian 8,088 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Inka Grill

    Inka Grill

    3.7
    (605 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Grab-and-go

    We enjoyed our meal here it was delicious. We ordered the empanadas to start, the cheese, chicken…read moreand spinach, and it was accompanied by a bright, citrusy sauce that complimented the stuffing of each empanadas so well. We also ordered lomo saltado and a seafood/marisco saltado. The meat in the lomo saltado was a hearty serving along with the rice and fries. The jugo/juice in the saltado was delicious! Not soggy, just the right amount of juicy. The seafood saltado was delicious, the variety of seafood was excellent! We absolutely enjoyed the green sauce which had a great spice to it, we enjoy spicy!!! And the service was attentive and kind, thank you Alberto! We had to make sure we took some sauce for our leftovers! 10/10 would highly recommend. We're Latine soooo this really hit the spot!! Thank you! Alberto

    I ordered through Grubhub: one order of spinach empanadas and two orders of huancaína potatoes…read more Unfortunately, the meal fell short from start to finish. The empanadas arrived with the lime sauce spilled all over it, leaving it a little soggy instead of warm and crispy. The flavor itself was decent, but the texture completely took away from the experience. Both orders of the huancaína potatoes were cold. One of them felt like it had been taken straight out of the refrigerator. At $13.65 per order, that's simply unacceptable. I contacted Grubhub and was offered a $10 credit, which doesn't come close to addressing the issue, considering I paid $27.30 for food I had to reheat myself. Overall, extremely disappointing. For the price, I expected far better quality and basic attention to food temperature and packaging.

    Photos
    Inka Grill
    Inka Grill
    Paella
    Paella
    Inka Grill

    See all

    Inka Grill
    Inkas

    Inkas

    4.1
    (665 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    I've been to Inkas many times before, but it had been a while since my last visit. I decided to…read moretreat myself to a solo dinner here last weekend, and it was phenomenal, even better than I remembered. I was greeted right away and seated quickly, which made for a great start. The atmosphere is vibrant and inviting, with a bright and colorful space and both indoor and outdoor seating. I chose to sit inside and really enjoyed the ambiance. For food, I ordered a variety of empanadas: steak and mushroom, chicken, and a steak empanada served with amarillo dressing. The steak and mushroom was my personal favorite, so flavorful and perfectly cooked. I also had the huancaína potatoes, which were absolutely delicious, and paired everything with a chicha morada that was incredibly refreshing and tasty. Before heading out, I grabbed some alfajores cookies, and they were so good. Even though it's about a 15-20 minute drive for me, it's completely worth it. I will definitely be back again soon.

    + The Lomo Saltado was delicious at first. Firm, yummy, decent amount of steak complemented by…read moreseasoned fries and plenty of onions and rice. + I like the complimentary bread & flavorful spicy green sauce too. - But halfway through the meal the meat was gone and there were so many, many carbs left. Fries, rice, bread. Carbs galore! - Besides the onions, the meal comes with practically no other vegetables. Not quite a healthy, well-rounded meal. - For the rest of my meal, I couldn't stomach the bland carb-overload, so I took a few more bites then begrudgingly disposed the rest... . Usually ordering directly from the restaurant saves you a few bucks from 3rd-party platforms. + However it seems the opposite with Inkas: save $2 ordering thru UberEATS. + Quiet, peaceful ambience. + Nice, helpful staff. . Service speed was okay. - Huge but very crowded parking lot, - with few exits. I had: $20.95 Lomo Saltado + tax = $22.57

    Photos
    Outdoor seating area
    Outdoor seating area
    Scallop Ceviche Flacas
    Scallop Ceviche Flacas
    Chicken Tallarin Verde- spinach basil pasta

    See all

    Chicken Tallarin Verde- spinach basil pasta
    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine

    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine

    4.3
    (3.3k reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$

    I've always wanted to properly dive into the world of Pho? Well, after an amazing hike in Irvine…read morethe other day, I was absolutely famished and decided it was the perfect time to make that happen. I spent a little while scrolling through options, and boy, am I thrilled I landed on this particular spot! Seriously, it was such a great decision. From the moment I stepped inside, the whole atmosphere was just fantastic - really warm, inviting, and had a super cool vibe. And the food? Oh my goodness, the pho itself was utterly incredible! The broth was incredibly rich and flavorful, and all the fresh ingredients just hit every single spot. It wasn't just good; it was truly the best pho I've ever tasted, by far! The staff, especially the person who served me, was so genuinely friendly and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I even had a bit of a comical struggle trying to master the chopsticks (still a work in progress, haha!), but honestly, it just added to the fun. I'm already daydreaming about my next visit - I absolutely can't wait to go back!

    I've enjoyed the food here on previous visits, which is why this experience surprised me a bit…read more This time, I ordered the ribeye pho and my friend ordered the meatball pho. Both bowls seemed noticeably saltier than what I remembered. In fact, we both found ourselves constantly reaching for water throughout the meal. The ingredients were still good quality, and I generally like what Sup Noodle Bar does with its food, so I'm not sure if this was just an off day or if the recipe has changed. The broth still had depth and richness, but the saltiness overshadowed some of the other flavors. Because I've had better experiences here before, I am still giving it 4 stars and would likely return. I'm hoping this visit was simply an exception rather than the new normal.

    Photos
    Our Beef Belly Pho Lunch Special is back! Valid for dine-in only from 10AM to 4PM.
    Our Beef Belly Pho Lunch Special is back! Valid for dine-in only from 10AM to 4PM.
    The answer to all your cravings!
    The answer to all your cravings!
    Garlic Chicken Wing with Aji Sauce

    See all

    Garlic Chicken Wing with Aji Sauce

    Inka Mama's - peruvian - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...