We ordered takeout here one evening and got the jalea, bistec a lo pobre, and anticuchos. Everything was delicious! You can definitely tell the food is fresh. The service was excellent and fast; I was in and out of the restaurant within one minute. I definitely want to come back and sit down for a meal next time. Pedimos comida para llevar una noche y ordenamos jalea, bistec a lo pobre y anticuchos. ¡Todo estuvo delicioso! Definitivamente se nota que la comida es fresca. El servicio fue excelente y rápido; entré y salí del restaurante en menos de un minuto. Sin duda quiero regresar y sentarme a comer aquí la próxima vez. read more

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This restaurant is my favorite place to get Peruvian food! Their flavors are always consistent and their portions are perfect. We ordered a variety of food including appetizers and everyone loved their meals. I always recommend this place to anyone who would like to try Peruvian food. The service was amazing and the ambience is very lively. They had someone singing and music playing and everyone was either dancing in their seat or standing up! If you're looking to have a great time and eat will I highly recommend bringing your family and friends here! read more

Great food. Great service. We had the opportunity to bring our family from out of town to experience our favorite Peruvian restaurant. Ceviche, Pollo Parrilla, Lomo Saltado, Chicharron de Pollo, Ronda Marina and of course, Pisco Sours were all delicious. read more

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The wait time for seating was around 30 mins. We got seated and ordered appetizers which were good. We ordered the main courses after and we waited for 2 whole hours for the food and it never arrived. We got up, paid and left. The service was terrible. And it's not worth coming for bad service and wait times. read more

My family and I have been here a couple of times to give it chance after chance. And lastly we were incredibly disappointed. The service was "ok". The server on multiple occasions forgot to bring us our drinks. The food was a train wreck. I ordered the green spaghetti's with steak and it was one of the worst Peruvian dishes I've ever had. The steak was full of cartilage to the point where the steak knife was not cutting the steak. When I informed the server of the issue he brought it back and gave me a new steak. Which I thought would be great but this time it was overcooked and with the same issue. Not happy. Never going back. read more

It has been awhile since I came here and lets just say everything was outstanding! A Pisco Sour is a must! The food was so delicious and flavorful that I had no complaint! My family and I were very happy customers with not only what we ate and drank but with the entertainment, the restaurant had. The ambiance were very chill and sophisticated, which I should have taken more pictures. Well, definitely for next time! See you guys soon! read more

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Horrible experience . Had to wait 3 hours for our food to be delivered. Waiter couldn't even take a photo of us when we asked. Very poor service, food has 5 small pieces of steak. Disgusting experience would stay far award from this place. read more

We went on a SaturdayI haven't been there in a couple of years and what an upgrade! Ambiance was beautiful, live music, excellent service and lastly the food was delicious! Cocktails even better I got the Lomo Saltado cooked to perfection!! For drinks I got a mango margarita, it wasn't lacking in tequila! So good! My Sister got the coconut margarita she loved it! Scored a 10 read more

La Candela Restaurant - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

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Just tried La Candela Peruvian food restaurant. (See pix) beautiful food displays. Interesting mix of types of food and plentiful with lime flavor, good server, bright decor. There was a party ping on in back room though very comfortable with noise level. A young lady came around with a camera taking pictures of guest at their tables. She then comes with prints in a frame - 1 of which we purchased at 20 dollars each. To know the names of what we ate , the menu will have to be checked. I found it to be a nice place to later, try something new another time too. read more

My family has been coming here for YEARS. Definitely at least a decade at this point. Coming from a family with Asian tastes, it's crazy how comfortable we feel having Peruvian food. I will start by saying the vibes here have always been immaculate. The live music, karaoke, and audience participating dancing is so warm and fun. I'm happily returning just for these good vibes. Ambiance 5/5. THAT BEING SAID. The great vibes kind of distracts the servers sometimes. It could take a little more effort to get some attention. Service 3/5 The food here is still delicious, but definitely has taken a bit of a hit on quantity (honestly still pretty generous) and quality (some items a bit overcooked sometimes. Food was a 5/5, maybe a 3.5/5 now. Overall, while things have changed over the years, this restaurant is still a staple, and a great place for families. I'm sure my family with continue to return! read more

La Candela Restaurant - Ceviche pescado - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

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I was not impressed with the food, the lomo Saltado wasn't lomo, it was a different cut of meat plus it was badly any meat, the services wasn't great since I noticed no good communication between the waitress and the cooks read more

The ambiance, food, and service were top notch! Definitely recommend this place. You definitely want to eat here. read more

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As you all into the restaurant you first pass under an arch of flowers decorating the front door. You are met by a very attentive hostess who immediately responded to our presence and had us seated within a minute or two. This attitude carried throughout the evening with or wait staff. Johnson, our waiter was a pleasure to have and was on top of everything. The food is absolutely fantastic. We ordered cow heart and grilled octopus as appetizer and probably should have stopped there. The portions were amazing large and delicious. The octopus included grilled shrimp, two roasted clams, a plate full of potatoes and Peruvian corn. The piece of octopus was huge and is enough for a single meal. The cow heart was a pleasant surprise. Cut into small slices, it resembled a dish of skirt steak. It was marinated and was extremely tender and tasty. It too was accompanied with potatoes and corn. My wife and I then decided to share a dinner ordering the Pescado a la macho, (fish filet topped with calamari, shrimps, mussels and clams in a cream sauce. Unbelievably delicious. To top it off we were presented with the most amazing mousse cake for dessert. We then had a very pleasant conversation with one of the owners and got a history of the restaurant and his family. All told, this was a very surprising and exciting experience. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent and we were never rushed or hurried. Having lived in Bethpage for forty years and passing this restaurant untold amounts of time, I have to say I am impressed and would not only return here but make this a regular spot for us. YES, I whole heartedly recommend LaCandela to everyone. read more

Nice vibe and cool music! I had the Lomo Saltado and it was good. I thought the flan was okay read more

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This was my first time eating at a Peruvian restaurant. I went on a Monday night and the restaurant was empty but there were a few customers! The service was amazing, all staff were very kind and attentive checking on us all night. The restaurant is very spacious, and since we went at night it was very dark with red lights. The music was great singing along and watching as they had a projector playing the music video on the wall. It was a very chill ambience! Now onto the good stuff, the food! It was very delicious and well seasoned. From the appetizers all the way to the desserts. As this was my first time, the app & entree menu does have translation in English. I ordered the Lomo Saltado which is a traditional typical dish for Peru. It had white rice, skirt steak with peppers, tomato & onions, and French fries. Drinks were strong and delicious, I ordered the margarita which was fabulous. The dessert was the only challenging part as I didn't recognize a few of the names but I went with what I knew. Overall the place was great! Defiantly would recommend read more

La Candela Restaurant - Lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

Went here last night with a girlfriend for delicious drinks and dinner. Located in a strip mall of other restaurants and small stores in Hicksville. The restaurant is nicely decorated with calming lights and comfy booths and tables set up for all different size parties. The service was quick. The staff was extremely friendly. At the time we arrived the restaurant was fairly quiet but filled up quickly with people wanting to have a delicious dinner. The jalea was delicious. More than enough to share, a seafood dish with lightly breaded and fried shrimp, calamari, clams, fish and Yuka fries topped with shredded red onion. We shared a pitcher of Rose' sangria, which snuck up on me later. The tostones were perfectly fried and deliciously crispy served with a side of a little spicy sauce. Enough food to bring home. The music playing in the background was perfect, not too loud. Will definitely go again. read more

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The food was excellent, the service great, nice and clean location, the only problem I have is that they put an 18% tip on the bill, most restaurants that do this do it for parties larger then five people, it was only two of us and I didn't appreciate that, I usually give 20%, but once you add the tip, you get what you get read more

La Candela Restaurant - Leche de tigre - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

Its very good. They have many option ranging from seafood to chicken to meats. I got the Lomo Candela which was amazing. It was steak strips with shrimp over french fries and rice. The portion size is perfect , for me it was a bit to much but regardless I will be eating it at home later. The Calamaris are good, the breading is bland which was a bummer they tasted like nothing really. The staff are very friendly and the place is clean and nice. Definitely coming here again as my peruvian spot read more

La Candela Restaurant - Lomo Candela - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

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This was a Friday night I brought my friend here for her birthday, they had music playing by DJ, it felt like i was eating in a lounge. I noticed that they do outdoor seating with heaters. The food was delicious and the service was great read more

La Candela Restaurant - Birthday dessert - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

So, had dinner there tonite. Very, very loud. Waiter dropped white sauce all over my black jacket - gave me a rag and told me to go into the bathroom and clean it off. Really? Such bad service! No "I'm Sorry", no "can I help you?". Will never go ack. Too much chaos and not enough consideration or care. From now on, I'll only go to restaurants that actually give a damn. read more

This restaurant serves great Peruvian food. The grilled appetizer platter with beef tripe was just divine. My only complaint is that the lomo candela I ordered was way too salty and almost indelible. Both passion fruit and regular piscos were excellent. For dessert, the Lucuma tiramisu was nice, but I ordered the lucuma mousse and was served this instead. Would love to come back to have more piscos and try other dishes. read more

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Visited this place on the 19th of October, 2024 at about 8:45pm. I was welcomed by the restaurant host. Place was nice and vibrant. They had nice live music with a nice environment. However, the first red flag was that my companions and I were seated in the back room away from the entertainment and where the actual restaurant was and with enough seats available. The waiter took over 10 minutes to check up on us and greet us, assuming he didn't know we were seated in the back room. Once we ordered what was offered on the menu and the food had been served, we were told to move to another table while eating to accommodate a larger party. Manager seemed angry that we couldn't move so we had no more waiters for the night. Yes, we never saw our waiter again and we had to flag another waiter just to get our check. I have never experienced this type of service ever before and it was a traumatizing and a horrible experience. I'm glad I'm not from the area so I know I wont see or hear about this place again. By the way, this is my first ever review of any kind but had to do it to save others from traumatization. read more

Amazing how they are adapting!! We loveee our favorite Peruvian restaurant!! We love that there is outdoor seating and the staff are all ready. They are wearing masks, gloves, and cleaning off all surfaces. Outside they have separators if needed and they have a DJ on some days. What entertainment!! We will be back, of course to support our Peruvian spot. You may have to get there early but certainly it is worth the wait and the food continues to be the best Peruvian food we know read more

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Perfect, fried, fresh, seafood is what we got tonight at La Candela! My first time coming to this restaurant that I've passed by a million times and I'm so happy I was able to finally dine here. My boyfriend and I both shared the Jalea which came with fried shrimp, cod, calamari, yuca and whole calamari pieces, too, which I love. The food was so fresh and crispy, not greasy at all. The red onions on top were a great addition, as well as the sauces served on the side. We look forward to coming back and exploring more of their menu! read more

The ambiance is comfortable and the service was great. Business lunch went without an issue. Everyone enjoyed the lunch and the food tasted great. I ordered the Chaufa chicken rice. Very tasteful and generous portion. I plan to visit this location for dinner these coming days. They are plenty of items in the menu. If you in the area, stop by. read more

La Candela Restaurant - Arroz chaufa de pollo (is like Chinese rice, Peruvian style) - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

I use to love this place and came here every time I could sadly it is not the same and the flavor has changed. The time wait is usually 1h 30 min which I believe is not so great. The attentions alright didn't really like my time here nor the taste. Wish it was the same as before I was happy to wait one hour because the food was good but now it is worthless. The waitress every time asking they put excuses and forgot about my table only half of the people did there order and left. read more

La Candela Restaurant - Parihuela Especial - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

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Used to love eating in at the restaurant. Recently ordered takeout and the portions were small compared to dining in the restaurant. We ordered the Lomo candela and pollada. The lomo candela had no shrimp. The whole "stirfry" part of the takeout filled only 1/3 of the regular take out container. There about 5 slices of beef. Next time, I'll opt to do Chinese take out at half the price and double the quantity. The pollada was tasty, but it's more like a quarter chicken. There was no breast meat and no wing section. The drumstick part was the size of a wing drumette. The dish came with a quarter potato and some corn. Other restaurants do better. I would not order take out from here again. They swap out quantity and quality. With all the restaurants around, I doubt if I would be tempted in ordering or eating here again. read more

Another find! Foodie and I were on the same page. Jen , how about la candela restaurant? We are seated, it is much to hot near a window with sun blazing in Waiter mr. osman gets us another table perfect. I request a pisco sour which I saw recommended on yelp. Jen starts us off with causa crocante . My first bite amazing made to perfection. I knew from the start this lunch was going to be good. The restaurant starts to get busy, good looking clientele, casual dress. Live music at 4- we finished about 3. My sorted fish,shrimp,over a bed of yellow rice with a. Side of onions with a tang flavor that complimented the fish. When foodie tasted the onions she said it also went well with her steak. I highly recommend la candela, will surely return. read more

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Always look forward to dining at La Candela /Hicksville especially since not having been here for a while.. Then ordering Jalea for two which is a fried fish, mussels, shrimp, calamari ,yucca and onions. The fish was fine but everything else was over cooked and chewy.. My mistake was that I didn't send the dish back. Very disappointing lunch. read more

The food is good. My first time in this place and my family and friend really like it. They need to work a little more with the costumer service. But the environment is good the music too. read more

La Candela Restaurant - Pisco coronita drink - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

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Great food. Just be aware that parking is a little challenging, so get there earlier than your reservation. My favorite dish was the ceviche, but trust them when they say that the ceviche is spicy!! read more

Went for a birthday which seems to be the trend there. We did a package for $80 a person for a set menu. Quality of the food was not good. It was a big group so we all got different things and no one seemed to enjoy what they got. The place is extremely loud we couldn't speak to the people next to each other. Only thing we can order for dessert was flan and that was not good either. I've bought store bought flan better than that. The cake they gave the birthday girl was very dense and she did not enjoy either. Just overall not worth $80 a person. Employees were really nice though. read more

I've never seen La Candela as packed as I did on a Friday night, and the bartender said that that was nothing! I've been coming here for years and each time I've had the following: great service, a fun ambiance, and DELICIOUS food. Believe me, coming from a Peruvian background, this is the place i go to whenever I'm craving lomo saltado or arroz chaufa, my two favorite dishes! Because it was so packed, we decided to sit at the bar. The bartender was extremely attentive, and I was impressed with his ability to stay calm while taking orders, making drinks, and moving out of the way from all the hustle by the waitstaff. I ordered a pisco sour, and had the candelaso as an appetizer, which consists of ceviche (raw fish mixed in a spicy lime juice, OH SO good), papa a la huancaina (baked potato with a creamy yellow sauce), and fried seafood. And of course, for my main dish I got lomo saltado (strips of beef sautéed in tomatoes and onions and fries *heart eyes*). The portion sizes are more than generous so needless to say we had leftovers for the next day. Whether you're coming here for a date night or with the family, you will always get a great meal at La Candela. read more

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Love the lomo saltado and coronitas here but during my last visit, I see the restaurant going down the drain. Our order was taken and we were given no utensils, no big deal but 15 minutes later we got our food and the waiter just dropped it off and ignored us when we called him for utensils. They clearly need more dish washers and a busser. All of the dirty plates were just stacked by the bathroom. When we finally did get our utensils [5-8 mins later... (food getting cold),nice], the food was good but the portion sizes were smaller than usual. We had asked for green sauce earlier along with the utensils, and we received it when we were already 75% done with our food. Our waters were refilled when we were getting ready to leave. The bathrooms were filthy and there was no toilet paper. When we were finally ready to pay the waiter took 10 minutes to ring up a card. It wasn't that busy, and there was plenty of staff but clearly not enough. TLDR: Level of service is trash and portion sizes are getting smaller. read more

Delicious authentic food. Went with coworkers, several of which are Peruvian who frequent this restaurant (this is a good sign). We ordered a variety of dishes for our party to share. Delicious flavor and strong drinks! The only con is music is a little loud especially for the day but not unbearable! read more

La Candela Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

Fui hoy por primavera vez a este restaurante pero regresé con hambre. Ordenamos jalea y la trajeron en menos de un minuto así que ya estaba preparada y recalentada. Todo lo que ordenamos no tenía sabor y recalentado. Servicio; horrible!!! La Mesera se nos perdió y no volvió a preguntarnos si deseamos algo y la propina ya incluidas porque éramos 11 personas. Los meseros ya ni intentan dar buen servicio porque ya tienen la propina incluida. read more

The three times I've been here with my family and with my girlfriend the food and service have been fantastic. That's why I keep coming back. The drinks are also amazing, I recommend the maracuya drink they make with the coronita in it. The lomo is delicious, great flavor and cooked perfectly. The chicharrón de pescado is a really good fried fish meal, I love it. The fried rice the make is also fantastic. I want to try more menu items because their food truly is delicious. I recently went during COVID guidelines and they have adjusted quite well. More space between tables, some tables were separated with a plastic screen, as well as outdoor seating now available. Overall, I will definitely be coming back in the future to try more of their menu! read more

Bad service and the food wasn't even real Peruvian food. I would order drinks and they would only bring 1 at time. They charge a service fee as well. When the service was so bad. Don't recommend read more

10 months ago was the last time I ordered from this restaurant. I was so upset about my experience and yet again I decided to give them another chance and this time was worse than the last. Me and some girlfriends were hanging out and wanted to order food. We called the restaurant and it was almost impossible to hear the Woman on the other line. I felt like I had to scream the whole time because of the loud music in the background. After finally giving her my order about 6 times (which included the jalea and 2 orders of linguini with green sauce and skirt steak) I wanted her to confirm the order and she hung up on me. I should've called back and spoke to someone else but instead my Boyfriend went to get the food 30 mins later and low and behold there was only one order there which was the Jalea. At this point I asked for the manager who agreed to remake the entire order and asked for us to wait 10 minutes. My boyfriend decided to pick up the kids food down the street and come back. When he comes back, he's waiting for whomever to come to the desk to pay for the food but upon looking into the kitchen he notices the cook brushing the grill to clean it and then puts the brush on the floor. YUCK! After seeing this my boyfriend tells the Manager to have the cook clean the grill with soap and water and remake our food. I wish my boyfriend called and told me this before having the food remade because I would've cancelled it at this point. I will absolutely NEVER return to this restaurant. The staff is rude and the cleaning process is disgusting. You should never place anything you clean where food is being prepared on the floor. read more

La Candela Restaurant - Jalea with no mussels - Peruvian Near Me - Hicksville, New York

Ordered the fried chicken dish and the peruvian beef fried rice and calamari for appetizer. Both meats were not cooked. Cut chicken and inside was raw. They sent it back and just refried it (which dried it up and basically hard). Showed waiter the raw beef (basically every piece in the rice) not even cooked at all inside. He just took it to show chef but did nothing about wither dishes or said anything. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Special sauce was bland and gross. Save your time & money. These people don't care. They just gave the full check at the end without caring about customers or serving them raw food. We did not make a big fuss about it and was respectful. Still- this place ruined my love for peruvian cuisine. I will rather drive to queens for my favorite peruvian food. DO NOT EVEN BOTHER. WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. read more