One of our favorite neighborhood spots! Love the new outdoor seating and friendly vibes.

Authentic + love the chicha morada. The food took a little while to get ready but worth the wait because every dish tasted fresh, and made-to-order. They have a nice outdoor space as well. read more

This place used to be the sh*znit. But now, the quality and quantity has gone down. I ordered the rice that comes with beef, chicken, and shrimp. It was oily AF and had no flavor. I don't know what has happened to this place in the last couple of months, but I definitely won't be going back. read more

Lima Criolla's ceviche is amazing! Plus, a huge plate of it is like $11, so really hard to beat. Have only tried a handful of the other traditional Peruvian dishes but all have been tasty. read more

We went here for dinner, and while I was really looking forward to some good ceviche, I was pretty disappointed. My husband got the ceviche limeño, and I got the tiradito. My tilapia was cut into large slices, which made it feel like I was eating raw fish. It also had a horribly fishy taste to it. I couldn't even attempt to finish it. My husband's ceviche was better but still not great. We had the spinach and cheese empanadas as an appetizer, and you could tell they'd been freshly made. They were delicious, and the service was very attentive. Those are the only two things that kept me from rating them even lower. read more

Unassuming spot with a small dinner crowd on a Monday night. I order a Lima Mule, which is a fun play on a Moscow mule sub pisco for vodka,and it was very tasty. My date got a pisco sour and was very happy with that. I then ordered the tuca-tuca limona. It was stellar. All the flavors came together from the beans with rice to the stir fried steak and veggies. Everything was juicy and savory. Service was fantastic as well. I highly recommend coming in. read more

Ají de gallina is my favorite dish. I have always sought out Peruvian restaurants that prepare it. This dinner was such a complete joy and made me nostalgic for my week in Peru back 2009. I LOVED it. The pisco sour was very good too. The space gets a bit loud, but it's wonderful otherwise. read more

The food is amazing! The owner is friendly and attentive to her guests. The prices are very reasonable. The food is 100% authentic - as if you are in Peru! Highly recommend this place to everyone!!! read more

My first time at Criolla Lima and we were celebrating a friend's birthday. Well I gave it 4 stars because the food was delicious and so we're the drinks(sour drink maracuya,and mule drink) I had ordered the chuletas DE puerco. The reason I didn't give them a 5 star was because the waitress forgot to put in the order for a friend and they wanted to charge us 18% gratuity for 3 person meal order,and they didn't apply the gratuity to my friends(2 person meal order. No worries we did argue that and we did not pay gratuity. We did tip the waitress after the fact. read more

All I can say is - Wow! Well ok, i'll say more then that, Lima Criolla is an unassuming restaurant that is teeming with wonderful food & wonderful service at a reasonable price. We ate here for the first time when my mother in law was in for a visit, who just so happens to be a native Peruvian, and let me say she was more than pleased and actually stated that the food tasted like her Moms! I highly recommend eating here! Try the Papa a la Huancaina, Causa Limena, and Ahi de Gallina Limeno! read more

The quality of the food keeps going down every time I try this place, to the point that I doubt I will ever come back. The food has almost no taste, they are constantly out of items, and the food arrived cold by the time delivery got to my door, however, they insisted it was hot and offered no remedy. If you are Peruvian, you will not get the true experience of Peruvian food. I may try this place again later on and avoid any of the dishes I've already tried, but for right now I'll stick to the other *better* Peruvian establishments around town. read more

Pleasant friendly service. Flavorful food. Great pisco sour. We enjoyed our meal very much!

SO GOOD OMG!! We got the papas rellenos, aji de gallina limeno, carapulcra and tallarines verdes. I liked the tallarines verdes best -- the beef was cooked so well and it was super flavorful (and I'm not a big fan of beef!!). The aji de gallina limeno was good but I preferred the carapulcra (the pork was cooked really well and the sauce was yummyyy). The papas rellenos were also super tasty! read more

Zeke and I had some rare Thursday afternoon free time this afternoon and decided to try something new! Nothing is better than good food and stolen time with your sweetie. We were already north running errands but it was getting a bit on the late side for lunch. I was having one of my low blood sugar slumps but luckily the hubby was on it! This was my first time trying Peruvian and boy was I in for a treat. First, the restaurant is located in a strip mall near Highland Mall (the same one where Austin Film Society is now located!!). From the signage it looks like this is a new location for them. The restaurant was fairly empty but, again, weird lunch hour hence the low blood sugar... The menu was fairly extensive and clearly organized, which Ze and I appreciate since we both have some limitations. We also appreciate it when restaurants clearly mark the vegan and vegetarian options (big plus). I went for the Arroz con Pollo and Zeke went for the vegetarian platter. I got a side salad and Z a side of fries (the waiter thought he said rice LOL). Food was fresh (Zeke loved the zesty lime quality of the salads), well prepared/ seasoned and delicious. Our one pointer for our sweet vegan brothers and sisters is to check the sauce that comes with the veggie options. The atmosphere was rather basic but welcoming. They are going for the bar/ restaurant vibe. They had a soccer game PROJECTED on to the wall but the sound was off and they were playing some really nice slow jams that made the meal quite romantic. Something for you and your man... I'll be honest, we totally fell in love with their staff. They were so kind and accommodating. I nearly melted when we saw the brother/ sister (??!) duo singing along with one of the songs. This may not be a regular spot for us but two thumbs up for this trip! read more

They are ok with their service and regarding they food, we'll it's the only Peruvian place available in austin area so far so they it's nothing to compare but they are not that bad. read more

I'd normally give a place like this a solid 4 stars, but I'm giving it 5 stars because there are very few Peruvian options in Austin and their dishes were not only tasty but also priced reasonably well. Other highlights for me? No wait... even on a weekend night, which is helpful for me because I'm not the best planner and neither is my husband. :) I missed Peruvian ceviche and they DID. NOT. disappoint. If you read about their amazingly delicious cookies, please note how much effort they are to make. The cookies are made of a fine starchy recipe and they fall apart easily. The dulce de leche in between is difficult to apply in between when sandwiching them together. And yes, they will melt in your mouth at each bite. Most latino countries have their own version. Peru is no exception for this deliciousness. read more

The food and drink here is excellent, but in the handful of times I've been here it has been painful service (though not unfriendly) every. single. time. I keep thinking it's server specific, but it's not. Everything takes a long time: getting food, getting drink refills, and the check process is a 20 minute ordeal. The sports bar atmosphere is also not very pleasant. As much as I want to make this a go-to place to eat out, I have to relegate this one to pick-up orders only, which sucks because their pisco sours are delish. read more

Lima Criolla is located in what used to be called Lincoln Village...I guess they have now modernized it to "The Linc". It's across from the old Gold's Gym and near the IH-35 feeder road. I was in the general area and had recently read that it was now open, so I popped in for lunch. I asked to start with the ceviche mixto ($15) because this is how I mainly judge Peruvian restaurants. They have lunch specials for $7.99 that include your meat of choice with rice and a soup or salad. I chose the adobo limeno and the sopa de pollo. Unfortunately, I was sad when they brought everything out at once. I really prefer things in courses, but I was too hungry to discuss so I dove right into the ceviche. THIS is what my Peruvian dreams are made of! The super fresh fish, squid and shrimp were perfectly balanced with the citrus lime and a touch of heat from a jalapeno. I could truly eat this everyday. It was accompanied with toasted corn (think corn nuts) and hominy. They provided some texture as I was chomping away. The sopa de pollo was hearty all on its own. A chicken thigh swimming in delicious broth, carrots and a mix of macaroni and penne noodles. It was a tad bit oily, but it did not deter me from finishing most of the bowl. It did not need any additional salt or pepper, which is unusual for me as I am more often than not adding pepper to almost everything I eat. The adobo limeno is Citrus-marinated pork and sliced sweet potato in a delicate stew and is served with steamed garlic rice. The pork was a tad bit dry but when i asked for a bit more of the adobo sauce, it fixed it all up very well.The sweet potato was a nice touch as it added a tiny element of sweetness to this otherwise savory dish. And the rice was perfectly steamed and garlicky. The owner Susana is an absolute doll and I want nothing more than for her to succeed. I will be running back for ceviche all the time as this is close to my house and I am so happy that more flavorful food is in close proximity. I hear that the pisco sours are amazing and that there is salsa dancing on some evenings. I cannot wait to return!!! read more

I'm kinda a Peruvian food nut. After growing up with it in Miami you get that way. So of course I was thrilled when friends wanted to try this place that's right in our backyard. Good ambiance, it was pretty busy. Bar and table seating. There is an opportunity to arrange the tables better - they're packed in and difficult for customers and servers to navigate. My favorite Peruvian dishes are the Papas a la Huancaína, lomo saltado, and the green spaghetti (I never remember the name!). I opted for the papas and spaghetti, since I am sadly on a vegetarian kick. The papas were good, a bit bland. But really they never really kick - they're just meant to be creamy starch! What got me was the spaghetti, which is to be served with meat traditionally. So when I asked for just the spaghetti I got just a massive portion of that. I guess I expected the price to be adjusted, but I was still charged $15 for it. The spaghetti itself was, not quite right. At least not in the usual Peruvian green spaghetti way. The drinks were where the restaurant shined - Pisco Sours! And a version of the Pisco with Passion Fruit nectar - so good. Oh, and they have Inca Kola. So overall, misses the mark for me on Peruvian but come hang out for a Pisco and soccer watching. read more

First of all, this place is great! Why? Here goes... The interior is well lit. And there is are two screens to view sports (I'm guessing its going to be mainly showing soccer). One is a huge projector screen so you can pretty much catch the match from everywhere. The interior is well lit and while there aren't much decorations around, it has a very clean feel to it. Most of the tables in the place can seat about 2-4 people, although you can probably put tables together if you have larger parties. The restroom was pretty clean, no complaints. The servers are great and can provide recommendations if you are unsure of what you want. Didn't have to wait too long for the food either. The food is pretty awesome. Big portions, you'll definitely leave satisfied. For the price you pay, its a pretty solid bunch. I'd try most everything given the chance. The only downside to this place is that it may be a bit hard to spot from the main roads. It is in a plaza off the highway, but I'd never have heard about this place if my friend hadn't recommended it. There is plenty of parking since it is in a plaza. Parking should be of no issue. Will definitely return often and with friends! read more

I was super excited about visiting a Peruvian restaurant. I've never eaten Peruvian food so I was looking forward to trying it. I definitely would have given this place a higher rating but our waitress knocked it down a star. She wasn't excited about the food when we asked her if she would recommend this dish or that dish. She basically said she didn't like any of it. Not those words exactly but that's what she implied. Her standard was how much food you got verses the quality of it. I was not impressed. I appreciate her honesty, but if you don't like the food in the restaurant where you work, maybe work somewhere else. I ended up ordering a rice and meat mixture and it was fine. Nothing to write home about. I would like to go back and try something else. I was also disappointed because I ordered the alfajores and they were OUT! The waitress told me the last customer we saw bought the last one. I thought that was super unprofessional for a restaurant. Don't put something on the menu unless you have enough to serve all your customers all day. Anyway, I'll probably give Lima Criolla another chance, but I hope to have an improved experience the next time around. read more

Service was fantastic, but the food was disappointing. The entrees I tried definitely sounded and looked better than they tasted. The Lomo Saltado was bland and dry, not at all what I am used to. They have some intriguing items on their menu, so I may try again, but it wasn't a great first experience. read more

The veggie platter was full of delicious flavors. The yucca and sauce, and plantains were my favorite. The lomito saltado and fried rice were amongst our favorites too! read more

Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Okay, those STROOONG Peruvian cocktails for only $5 each? Yes, please. Looks like they have a lunch special (Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), where you get a soup or salad plus an entree for $7.99. I'll try to catch that. Otherwise, Lima Criolla does pretty well. Our entrees were good. Alicia was crazy for her dessert, though it really just looked like a cookie to me. Our server was sweet but didn't seem to understand us at all. We gotta learn Spanish. EDIT: apparently they have happy hour Monday through Friday 4 to 7, so I'm not sure what the drink prices are during that time. read more

I got there today for lunch time and I waited 20 min for someone to ask me for my order Nothing happened , I stood up and I ask for my order by myself . This place have a great food but need more people working , they need to remember people take one hour for lunch break . And it is absurd wait a lot time for being serve !! read more

The food is terrific! Thumbs up on the vegetarian platter (with an exceptional variety of textures and flavors) and the rice/seafood dishes. The arroz chaufa de mariscos was really marvelous. Friendly wait staff. Reasonable prices. Only issue: our entrees did not come out at the same time, but several minutes apart. Very excited to go back! read more

Lomo Saltado is a must try! Perfect amount of spicy, the ingredients they use compliment each other just right!!!! I've been chasing a good Lomo Saltado since I first tried it in Venice beach. The others have failed miserably until this place! read more

Found them via Google Maps, near my hotel and found pictures of their vegetarian platter and knew I wanted to try. My friend and I drove literally across the street, ordered the vegetarian platter and was delighted by the variety of flavors, textures and colors! The mixture of sweet and savory was a perfect blend for a light dinner. The quinoa salad, fried plantains, yucca and sweet potato was one of the best meals I've had in a while, especially for my first introduction to Peruvian food. The owner was very helpful and shared that she realized she needed more vegetarian options and her sweet soon to be daughter in law helped her with this platter! I'll be back! read more

Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Meh. Large quantity of food but lacks quality-service leaves a lot to be desired. Clearly cater to their own crowd, waited quite a while to be acknowledged and never was checked in on after food arrived. I was there alone for lunch, maybe just hit them on the wrong day and time. read more

Oh wow, I wish I would have discovered this place sooner! I studied abroad in Peru for a year (I've missed Peruvian food ever since) and this place is pretty authentic! I went with a couple coworkers for lunch and we started with the ceviche. If you think you've had ceviche (most likely, at a Mexican restaurant), think again! Peruvian ceviche is waaaaay better! More citrus-y with high quality, fresh fish. We also had the yuca frita. Yuca is a great, starchy potato, cut into a large sticks, served with huancaina sauce, made by blending queso fresco and yellow Peruvian aji pepper. It is not cheese, as another Yelper improperly noted. Lima Criolla offers great lunch specials. For $7.99, you get a soup or salad, plus any meat place. I ordered the carapulcra, a pork dish with dried potatoes, rice, and sauce, which was delicious! My coworkers (one is a Peruvian) enjoyed their arroz con pollo and aji de gallina. Needless to say, we were stuffed and content with the great meal. I'll definitely come back sometime soon, and get a pisco sour next time! They also have Inka Cola, which you should try if you never have! read more

Food is delicious and we've been here about 30 times in the past 3 years they've been open. We were eating their food before when they were in highland, but I'm rating the staff. It's like everyone we come they do a worse job. It's gotten to the point where they don't even refill our beverage anymore. It's up to us to take our cup and go up to the counter where the waitress is busy having a conversation with another waiter. read more

We had Arroz con Mariscos and Cau-Cau delivered for dinner. They tasted so great that we would like to go their restaurant to order those and try other dishes too. read more

YES, DEFINITELY DO COME HERE - if not to become a part of their success, then to experience the dining pleasure while it lasts. In spite of being in a notoriously bad location (not a destination area, not near a residential area), Lima Criolla is a true gem (albeit a possibly short-lived one). After passing by about a hundred times, my brother, sister and I finally made an occasion to stop by and check out this ominous new place. It was my best decision all week! Though there are a small handful of similarities, the nuances of South American food done right is a world apart from the typical Mexican/Tex-Mex cuisine that we, in Texas, are used to. There is a different pallet that comes into play the farther south you go. Their use of potatoes, Yuca, and plantains is a work of genius. Bean and rice pancakes are something I'd never even heard of until we walked in that day. You can't find that just anywhere in Texas. I had the Bistek á Lo Pobre, a well-seasoned skirt steak, with a fried egg on top, a side of fried plantain and a side of fries. My sister had a shredded chicken entrée with pecan and yellow pepper sauce. And, big brother had a steak plate with onions and a side of Yuca. Each entrée was different, each one exquisite, and we will all three be back ASAP. read more

OMG! This food is amazing. The ceviche is the best I have ever eaten. The Peruvian noodles with cilantro pesto has a flavor that is so inviting. You just want to keep eating even beyond full. The service was excellent and the price was right. I will be back. Yum! read more

As a northerner living in Texas it is exciting when a restaurant opens and it doesn't serve Tex-Mex or BBQ. When I heard that a Peruvian restaurant was opening nearby I was excited to try it. I was so not disappointed. The food at Lima Criolla is excellent and is one of my go-to restaurants. My girlfriend and I have toured almost the entire menu and everything is really, really nice. I eat all the fish dishes and she eats all the meat and chicken, with my favorites being the Jalea and Arroz con Mariscos, and her favorite the Aji de Gallina Limeño. Recently they added a vegetarian platter with friend plantains and yucca, toasted corn, quinoa and more, that is really tasty and filling. The fried yucca has to be the best in town. A lot places serve their fried yucca soft and chalky, but Lima Criolla make them golden and crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside. The different Pisco drinks are good, too. I have no notes on the desserts because the mains are so filling that there isn't room for dessert. We plan on going sometime just for dessert and drinks. The food doesn't come out right away, so I get the feeling everything is cooked to order and not microwaved, and it feels like a family restaurant. On service, there is one slow and apathetic waitress that we try to avoid, otherwise, service is really good. read more

Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant - Vegetarian platter - with toasted corn, fried yucca and plantain, sweet potato, hominy, quinoa salad. - Latin American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Update: have been here another 20-30 times (hey it's close to home and our daughter loves the yucca fries) and not a single bad experience yet. Sometimes it gets busy but they keep up really well considering the space they are working with. Staff has always been friendly. Piscos always on point. Food has been super consistent. Consistently good. Still five stars for me. read more

I've been wanting to come here for a couple of years. I decided to try the seafood soup. Not only was it the best seafood soup I've had, it was the best soup of any kind. It was completely filled with fish, shrimp, clams, squid, and octopus. A great broth! Aimee got the chicken with parmesan/pepper/pecan sauce and Barbara the noodles with pesto. The kicker was the super nice waitress. I needed comfort food and I got it! We will definitely be back. read more

Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been a loyal customer since I first discovered them at the highland mall 2 years ago. The owners are wonderful people and the staff so friendly. I told them I was new to Austin and missed my Peruvian friends back home and they were so welcoming. Onto the food, it is so delicious and makes me nostalgic. They have empanadas and alfajores for a quick bite, but my go-to meal here is the tallarin verde. Back at their highland location it wasn't on the menu but the owner would make it if someone ordered. Now it's one of their house specials! The sauce is perfection, great for cold days. If you like more meat, have the lomo saltado! In fact, have anything here, I've taken lots of friends and everyone has left full and happy. I will continue to come back and introduce more people to the wonder that is Peruvian cuisine. read more

Yum, everything I tasted was wonderful. I had the beef with rice and potato's. What a nice surprise. Our server was wonderful, she knew everything about every dish and made great suggestions. I will definitely be back. read more

Food was ok. Waited 2 HOURS!!! I have never waited 2 hours after ordering for my food to come out! RIDICULOUS! Terrible service, not even a "thank you for waiting" or "sorry for the wait" or heads up about it either. Was so excited to come here bc I love peruvian food and I hadn't found my place in Austin. WILL NEVER BE BACK!!! read more