My favorite south american place. They have really good home cooked food. I usually get the steak and fries (forgot the name) and inka cola. read more

This place is a quaint, smallish restaurant. It is a full service (waitered) restaurant ,but it doesn't have the typical table place settings and decor. Think a middle ground between a full restaurant and a taco joint. Anyways, the food here is quite good. I got the Arroz con Mariscos, aka Peruvian Paella. The portions are big, food prepared properly, and the service decent. It's not the cheapest place for a restaurant that barely classifies as a sit-down place, but it's well worth it. The bread is above average with a tasty green sauce, but it could have been better if the bread was hot and fresh. Definitely at the top of my list for this type of cuisine. read more

Inka Mama's - Peruvian Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

If the Peruvian food in Peru is this good, then man.....I definetely have to taste the real thing. We walked in an hour before sundown on a lazy sunday afternoon, not too many people, weather was good and there was plentiful seating. We decided to try this place after running errands, and we were starving, and the name caught our eye. Also we were itching to try something different for some time. The decor was welcoming and charming, not over done. They played Jack Johnson in the background, so it was relaxed and mellow. We were then greeted by the supposed "Inka Mama," she was really nice and was very helpful in answering all our quetions, since this was our first time with peruvian. We started with the ceviche, we went with the seafood mix for a dollar extra, which included shrimp, fish, calamari, lots of red onions, fried corn nuts, then finished off with the lime juice. This platter had a kick, the amount of spiciness was manageable, but was of the lingering type that burned my tongue throughout that dish. Oh, and then there was the infamous "green bottle" which we found out was jalapeno when we asked what it was. And it was addicting, adding more flavor to anything you eat it with. We then shared the peruvian pallela, it was a sizeable serving and we didn't even finish it and had to box it up. But it as good, and it tasted even better when the numbness of the ceviche worn off, then the true flavors of our main dish came out and it was even more tasty. We then followed up with desert, and we were torn between a few that looked really good, but in the end went with the flan. It was probably the best flan, I've ever had. It was rich, dense, and had uniform texture throughout. The syrup was perfectly carmelized on top and the bottom, and also had a liquor hint to it as well. The prices are reasonable for the serving sizes. People are friendly, and the food is excellent. In fact, I just finished the left overs as I started writing this review. It's still good, but much better last night. I miss this place already, and it hasn't even been 24 hours since we left the place. read more

We came here for a late lunch, around 1ish, during the mid-week and they were still packed! We ate out in their patio area but we weren't neglected one bit; service was great! I made sure to call ahead of time and explained that my son has multiple food allergies, and the server/manger was very understanding and accommodated to my family's needs. He said to not worry that somehow, someway, they can make something for my son. Families with children who have allergies can relate to our situation and understand how difficult it is to find a restaurant where everyone can eat together. They made a a chicken bowl with bell peppers and rice for my son. It was a very simple dish but my son was very happy and excited to try something made outside of my kitchen. I've never had Peruvian food, so I didn't know what to expect upon coming to Inka Mama's. Boy, oh boy am I glad I tried this place. I started my meal with the civiche mixto, which BTW is the best civiche I have ever tasted. It's comes with a mixture of fresh fish, calamari and shrimp marinated in lime, lettuce, potatoes, and cancha. I was expecting the cancha to taste like toasted corn kernels, but I was wrong. These are like magic Andean chulpe kernels! They taste soooo good and combined with the civiche is unbelievable! I ordered a chicken dish that looked like a stew (I forget what it's called) and it had chunks of chicken breast, potatoes, and bell peppers. It was okay, nothing spectacular about it, but it wasn't bad either. I decided to try their chicha morada drink, which is a purple corn drink. If you don't like spicy flavored drinks then this isn't for you, but since I tend to enjoy it once in a while, it was definitely a nice treat. The smell and taste reminded me so much of the fall season, with every sip came a nice and refreshing taste of cinnamon and clove. I had a pleasant first-time experience trying Peruvian food, and the service was very comforting and welcoming. I would definitely come back and give Inka Mama's another try. read more

Inka Mama's - Ceviche Mixto was superb! - Peruvian Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

This place is very good and nice ambience, but you will wait a LONG tome to get your food, if you go for lunch on a weekday. I recommend going for dinner or the weekend when you have more time. My advice to the owners: hire more people for your busy lunch time, otherwise, you will lose your business to other great nearby Peruvian restaurants. read more

At Inka Mama, I want to sample the flavors of the South American Coast. I want to dance to the Peruvian rhythm of the land. Here, my tastebuds dance and sing like a joyous fiesta of flavor! No really...this place is so awesome that it makes me deliver inappropriately used descriptive terms. From their delicious sampling of ocean delights in the Arroz con Mariscos, or the deep-fried seafood platter version, the flavors are wonderfully comfortable, inviting, but at the same time, exciting. Their sarza criolla is my side-dish addiction with it's tangy and delicious bite. I've been here so many times and eaten so many of their dishes that I vehemently attest that their menu is strong, consistent, and distinct from cover to cover. Inka Mamas delivers food that does more than fill your belly, but somehow, on it's journey, it manages to warm the soul as well. read more

Been eating here for years since the first day they opened. They just opened a new location in Aliso Viejo. The food is consistently good. It's family owned. If you've never had Peruvian food, you gotta try it here. My favorites: Arroz con Mariscos: kinda like seafood fried rice, it's fantastic Empanadas: stuffed pastry with either beef or chicken Calamari Fritti: so good, so crunchy I consistently order these dishes because I'm kinda a creature of habit when I like something a lot :-). But, you should try other dishes, I have, and they are also good. read more

Inka Mama's is always a reliable spot for a delicious meal. Both my family and my friends agree that the Foothill Ranch location (the original) is a bit more on-the-mark than the Aliso location (haven't tried the other two). First-timers often get the Lomo Saltado which is delicious. But branching out will yield the most "wow" for the outing. My faves are the Aji de Gallina (we call it "Peruvian Pot Pie"), Estofado, a saucy green stew of veggies with cilantro base (try the veggie or chicken, both are amazing), Cabrito Norteno, their famous fall-off-the-bone braised lamb dish or Tallarin Verde (pasta with a green sauce -- think Pesto ala Peru). The ceviche is also highly reliable and stands up to Mexican-style ceviche like at Javier's any day of the week. Service is always friendly -- they get pretty packed on a Friday at 6pm... but who doesn't? Eat as much bread and green sauce as possible and plan to take home a container or two from your meal because the portions are generous. Great bottled-beer selection. They recently started carrying the Lagunitas Pils which is worth every penny. Sangria? Yes, also amazing. I suggest getting a pitcher because 1-2 glasses won't be enough and everyone in your party will want some. read more

We didnt know this place closes at 3pm until 5pm and was promptly yelled at when we walked in by the waitress\old lady. The appropriate thing to do was to tell us hey sorry we are closed from 3 to 5, not yell hey we're closed! Yup we will never be giving you guys business again. read more

The food here is incredible! Get the Aguadito de Pollo (cilantro chicken soup), pour some green sauce in it and enjoy heaven. Seriously, I could eat that soup all day (and its not a bad hangover cure). Haven't tried anything here that I didn't like. I passed by this place hundreds of times thinking "I have no interest in trying that place" and now I lament those wasted opportunities to eat here. Tip: Put the green sauce on everything. Bread, soup, rice, chicken...everything. It's delicious. Ok, maybe don't put it in your beverage. read more

We love this place, the owners and the owners son are super nice and genuine when we come in. Great family owned place!!! I usually eat the gluten free ahiaco de pollo- great dish with tons of flavor. My husband is a big fan of the inks special, we highly recommend this place! read more

Strip mall location with seating outside. Have been enjoying meals from Inka for more than 10 years! Love this location the service is great and food is amazing! Have never had a bad meal! read more

Have not had a lot of Peruvian food but I like how they put fries in their food. Can't go wrong with fries, meat & rice! I ordered the Beef Lomo Saltado. It was full of flavor... the beef was a little tough, but still good. My friend ordered the Seafood fried rice type of dish and that was delicious! (recommended by the waiter) The service was superb! They came by to fill our water glasses often and even asked if we wanted more bread. Overall service, food, and tradtional setting of the place was great! Thumbs up, Inka Mama. Keep up the good work! read more

After having dined at Inka Mama's, I know two things to be true: 1) Tallarin saltado de mariscos is the new seafood paella. Sauteed noodles with cod, calamari, shrimp, cabbage and red peppers, all dressed in a boldly seasoned sauce...delicious. 2) Peruvians are HOT! From the group of spanish-speaking women in the corner to the doe-eyed waiter who charmed everyone in our multi-generational party, this place suffers no shortage of the good-looking Latin types. While the conventional presentation and strip mall location did little to get me amped about trying Peruvian cuisine for the first time, the food itself was exquisite. Crisp empanadas and sweets francesca (fried banana rolled up in a crepe and topped with caramel) rounded out a meal of exotic and tantalizing flavors. read more

Love this little restaurant for lunch or dinner. Is a tad pricey but full of flavor!! Ate here more than 10 times and have yet been disappointed. Saltado de Mariscos - Freshly cut pieces of cod filet, shrimp & calamari sautéed with onions, cilantro, tomatoes & French cut potatoes- served with rice. Tallarin Saltado de Mariscos - Freshly cut pieces of cod filet, shrimp & calamari sautéed with cabbage, onions & cilantro - mixed with spaghetti and red peppers. (pretty similar like the one above) Calamari - not bad Fried yucca - yummy; tad greasy These are the 4 items I normally ordered. Need to try their Empanadas next time and will try to conquer their entire menu :) read more

Friendly service, however the food was okay... pretty bland unless you douse it in the aji sauce (which we all did). we got the saltado de pollo, arroz con mariscos and tallerin de lomo, lomo saltado, and they were all eh- nothing spectacular as i've definitely tasted better. It is on the pricey side $10+ per person for dinner so i would suggest somewhere else if you're looking for good peruvian food, i.e. mario's or el rocoto. They also charged us a 17% gratuity for 4 adults and 2 kids... really??? wasn't much service going on at our table, plus the waiter got one of our dish wrong! ... so our friend had to wait while they re-make the food. Don't bother! read more

Loooove Inka Mama's! My family and i have been coming here for a few years now and it's still as good as the first time. It's pretty small and it gets really packed during lunch on weekdays. I live and work close by so it's convenient for me to come on weekends as well. The staff is really nice and helpful but they can get a bit slow when the place is full of people. I love the Salad with Shrimp (Salpicon de camarones) it comes in a pretty big bowl with lots of shrimp and a light vinaigrette. It's safe to say everything i've had there was delicious and never disappointed. They also have a large vegetarian section on their menu. Give it a try, I highly recommend it. Enjoy :-) read more

Not quite as good as Inka Grill in Lake Forest. Funny, this is a "somewhat" family owned business with Aunt's, cousins, brothers and sisters all owning their own "Inka" something or other. There is no consistency at all. I ordered the Ajiaco de Pollo. The dish was bland to say the least. Very little chicken. Quite dissapointing because I've had a similar dish in the Lake Forest restaurant and enjoyed it immensly. BF ordered the Jalea. It was quite good and definately a dish to be shared. The lightly floured and fried fish and calamari was plentyful and flavorful. The beef empanadas were fantastic. Our server was very attentive and sweet. Thank you! read more

Ive been wanting to try this place for years but for some reason I have never pulled the trigger on going until today. The wife and I came in for a late lunch and had a great experience! Took me a bit to decide on a dish. They had 3 others that I really wanted to try. After a difficult decision and strong suggestions of my diet coach (the wife) the Saltado de Vainitas con Pollo is what I went with. This thing is really tasty and loaded down with lots of vegetables, chicken and rice. I forgot what my wife ordered... Something white and probably not nearly as awesome as I got because she kept stealing shit off my plate. I cant wait to come back. Oh yea, I also had the Cilantro Chicken Soup and it was pretty awesome! Get it. Only complaint... Waiter never refilled our drinks. We were one of 3 other couples in the place. read more

Been patronizing this restaurant since 2005; had mostly lunches and few dinners (since I use to work just down the street). I had dinner as recent as June 2009 and nothing has changed -- this is a very good place to have dinner. - great, hardy food; good change from all the usual food around Orange County (ie. Mexican, Chinese, etc....they're good, but once in a awhile you want a change). - friendly, prompt service - reasonable price and very good value No negatives. read more

I was looking forward to this place. Close to 5 stars on Yelp with over 150 reviews....who wouldn't expect the best. Unfortunately, I've experienced better. Though a little salty for my taste, the table ordered the Pollo and Lomo Saltado, side of fried bananas, soup, side salad, empanadas....tasty treats. The food itself gets a 3.5 but I've been to numerous Peruvian restaurants throughout So Cal and can't help but compare. Pricing for instance.....they're sticking it to south county folks. Same plates at El Pollo Inka in Torrance, which by the way is a 5-star for me, are $3 cheaper on average....and you get more food, the soup is included, and the bread basket is to die for. Freshly baked bread, hot out of the oven, not the day-old baguette that was served at Inka Mama's. Service was good. Great atmosphere. Great people. Though, again, they stick it to you south county folks. A party of 5 and gratuity is included. On average, restaurants include gratuity on parties of 8 or more. Not that I won't tip well, but I found the gratuity policy of 5 or more to be a bit annoying. At the end of the day people, I spent over $100 for a party of 5....and one of those in the party was a 5 year old. No alcoholic drinks. Just overpriced Peruvian food. read more

Great patio dining and really good food. I have been to a few other Peruvian places in the area and this place surpassed them all. The woman the served our table was friendly and attentive, which is a rarity with many restaurants that are open right now. I highly recommend for those looking for something different and a meal full of flavor. The Leche De Tigre was ordered in error (my fault as I thought it was something else) but turned out to be an AMAZING addition to our meals. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Just moved to OC in January. This is the best meal that we've had since moving. Evangelous was an amazing host. They have great happy hour specials. The beef empanadas are great. The starter bread and dipping sauce was a great treat. So many great meal options to choose from. This is our new spot. P.S. Please add Champagne splits to the menu. :-) read more

My family loves this place. Never had a bad meal here and I've tried almost everything on the menu. A few of my faves are the Parihuela boullibase, Ajiaco de Mariscos, and Peruvian Paella. Very friendly staff of servers. When you sit down they give you soft baguette bread to smother in the Aji chile sauce...so good! read more

I STILL LOVE Inka Mama's!!! I want to drink that green sauce with the bread, and this time I put it in my entree, too. My favorite is still the Inca Special. I always want to try something else, but the Inca Special is just SO GOOD, I can't resist! Please bring a location to Temecula!! I need a Peruvian place out there!! read more

This place is the reason why I fell in love with Peruvian food (not that fake Inca Grill). TLC everytime we ate here. Family owned and extremely delightful people. Did I mention the quality and portions? 5 stars. read more

The food here is nothing short of incredible. My significant other and I have tried many different things on the menu and we agree that the "Pescado a lo Chimbotano" is hands down the most delicious dish served at this location. The only reason this location gets 4 stars is due to the fact that they don't have a bar (an essential for my bf and me), and the beer and wine selection is very limited. read more

Great food. Stinky service. Was SOOO excited for the empanadas... but the waiter forgot to put them in. Oh well. Next time. The food was delicious, but they brought the order out wrong. They have inca cola though. YUM. Get the Saltados and the Chicken with Green sauce pasta. YUMMY. read more

I work down the street from Inka and visit quite often for lunch. It's always busy and the food is always good. It's a family run type of place, always warm greetings (even my first times there) and they always make excellent suggestions. The food is made fresh and I have a feeling they don't entirely follow a strict recipe - sometimes there is more spice than others. Always, you have the fresh green sauce on the table (not sure what's it's called), to add a little heat. My favorite dish (as a meat eater) is the Lomo Saltado - if you get it and like eggs, have them add 2 fried eggs. I'm drooling now, just thinking of it. Delish rice, meat, potatoes, tomatoes all tossed together and easy to eat, throw in the luscious egg . . . mmmm. read more

I have three things to say about inka mamas restaurant in foothill ranch: 1. First and foremost the food is unique and absolutely delicious. If you haven't tried Peruvian food, you will be pleasantly surprised and possibly find a new addiction. If you have tried Peruvian food, you Will be very happy w the food. I recommend the ceviche mixto, aguadito de pollo, lomo saltado, inka special, and ajiacos de pollo. Btw the green sauce they give w bread is amazing. Don't hesitate to use it on the whole meal! 2. The people here and atmosphere is awesome. It is a family run business and I am a frequent visitor w my girlfriend and feel at home and comfortable at the place. 3. Unlike a lot of restaurants, inks mamas always seems to satisfy me no matter what my appetite is feeling that day. They have things that are light like the spicy grilled veggies w rice, and they have heavier dishes, rich dishes, seafood, soups, unique deserts, etc. Something for everybody I believe. Thanks inka mamas for a full belly !!! ( I'm sitting out front finishing my ceviche right now lol) read more

First time here ordered to pick up and my food was ready when I got there ! I ordered the Paella which I completely love ! Can't wait to try different stuff here next time read more

Inka Mama's - Delicious Paella - Peruvian Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Taking a star away. The food is still great, but the service, especially the billing has been consistently messed up as of late. Not just on one visit, but on multiple occasions. EX - 2 friends split a check, one CC was double charged, the other wasn't charged at all. Ordered a lunch special, but was given and billed for the full sized lunch. Ordered the lunch special and never got the soup. They gave our table the wrong bill. Service is also getting really slow lately. To quote Friday, "Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions". This place isn't new, I expect the entire experience to be as good as their food. read more

Came here for lunch and everyone in the party love their dish. I had the Tallarin Verde con Pollo and it didn't disappoint. I filled myself up with so much bread and green sauce that I needed to pack the pasta to go. The pasta was just as good the next day. The atmosphere here is also a little more upscale compared to all the other Peruvian restaurants that I've been to in LA. read more

One word: delicious. More words: I am a big fan of Peruvian food and this place did not disappoint. It's always crowded at lunchtime, but we were able to get a seat quickly for our group of 5. Aji sauce (the yummy green deliciousness in a bottle) makes everything better: bread, rice, soup, and meat. I even wanted to eat my napkin after I got some sauce on it. read more

I ate, like, a ton of bread. Their green sauce, whatever it is, is too good...such an understatement! As an appetizer, I tried the Papa a la Huancaina, which is boiled potatoes in a spicy ricotta cheese sauce. It was an amazing start to the amazing meal to come! (BTW, you can go on their website and get a coupon for a free order of the Papa a la Huancaina if you buy 2 entrees for dinner.) I've also had their Choros a la Chalaca, which is mussels topped with chopped veggies over a lime marinade. On a separate occasion, of course. The portions here are pretty sizeable so my friends and I like to get multiple entrees and just share. My personal favorites and recommendations are the Arroz con Mariscos and the Mama Scampi. Location wise, I live closer to this one so I'll come to this location if I'm just popping in for a quick meal. However, if you plan on going with a large party, I suggest going to the location in Santa Ana. It's a lot bigger. The food/service/cleanliness is pretty great in both locations. read more

Me, my brother and our friend wanted to grab dinner at a local place, so Inka Mama's stood out to us. I love Peruvian food, so I was excited to try it. It's a small family restaurant with super cute Peruvian arts and crafts. We went on a rainy Sunday afternoon and it was super busy, which of course was a great sign. The service was super friendly and quick. We all ordered the passion fruit juice, which was a bit sweet for my taste but still nice. We also continued to copy each other by ordering the Lomo Saltado for dinner, which had nice strips of steak, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes served with a side of rice. We all agreed it was really delicious. My brother of course wished there was more rice, but I'm sure the next time we go he could ask for extra :) read more

Inka Mama's - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Food: tasty Try Aji de Gallina Inka Special Price: affordable for the LUNCH special! Service: this is where they lost 2 stars for me!!! and believe It hurts me writing a negative review, but I have been there several times and have brought others from work to try this place, and I barely get a HELLO... lol at least acknowledge your returning customers, right! it's because people like us that you are still in business.... I'll give them a chance! now that I posted I will tell them next time I come in! but you should try it regardless of my opinion. read more

We are a family of 5 and Live a plant based diet. With that said there are very few styles of food that cater to our family dinning preferences. We heard about Inka Mama's and we visited there tonight for dinner @ about 6 pm. We sat outside because our 4 year old is kinda rowdy but they turned on the outside heaters. We ordered a Vegan version of the following 3 Vegetarian Itmes on the menu: Ajiaco de Vegetables Saltado de Vegetables Tallarin Verde con Vegetables Ajiaco is my husbands favorite (I might add he is a Chef) its a little spicy for my taste buds but it had a great flavor. Both of the other dishes were phenomenal. My daughter who is 8 (and very very particular) loved this place. The best part was that we all ate until we were stuffed and out the door with tax, tip and all came out to a meer $40-ish dollars. Amazing! This is a new family favorite. read more

Inka Mama's is a family owned business that is run by the family as well. The Foothill Ranch location is small and intimate. I've been here too many times to count. The food is delicious and the prices fair. Bread is served after you are seated and accompanied with a ridiculously tasty, somewhat spicy green sauce. Menus items that are our family's favorites are: Cabrito Norteno Pescado a lo Chimbotano Tallarin Verde con Pollo Apanado (Kid's favorite) Chaufa de Vegetales I always order a side of Sarza Criolla as well. You won't be disappointed, the food is great! read more

I was looking forward to go to this place , unfortunately, I have experience better. I ordered lomo saltado and escaveche de pescado both plates were salty; the escaveche de pescado look like yellow soup with onions and fried fish. I'm peruvian and i know this is not the way the this plate looks and taste, the bread was cold and it taste old the aji was ok and the lomo saltado ok. nothing spectacular prices are higher dinner for two $47.00 If you are looking for authentic Peruvian food visit El Rocoto or El Misti you will love it. read more