What a pleasant surprise, and unexpected quality from a small place oriented to take-away! I am so eager to write the review, I cannot yet think of any text art or creative tangent (yet). This is a branch of the Argentina Cafe owners, which explains the attention to quality of flavor. Seating is not conducive to lingering: Stools and a granite bar along walls and windows. As I peruse the menu, which is not too extensive (that's a good thing), I see a lot of unusual dishes that interest me. Now that I know the chef is so good, I will indeed be back... with reinforcements. Causa Chicken (potato puree with yellow pepper): This appetizer is deceptive. The first bite is not that impressive. But the subtle flavor of that bite gets your attention, and pretty soon you realize you want it all to yourself. It is served cool. Asparagus Soup: This has a few chunks of the veggie and is creamy and not real thick, but the flavor is just so-o-o good. The seasoning is well-balanced and savory. Addictive. Chicken Rice Soup: It has sparse vegetables (I wish it had more), and not a lot of chicken, but sufficient. The cilantro gives it a slight green appearance, but it does not overwhelm the dish. Once again, the dish is a well-balanced seasoning. Peru Chicha Morada: This is a specialty drink like no other, and made daily. Purple corn gives it s purple color. There are small chunks of pineapple, but you probably would not know that is an ingredient. You know what I am going to say next: It is a balanced flavoring that is just good tasting. I am so happy to find a place that does not over-salt the food, and let the mix of balanced seasoning and fresh ingredients show off. P.S. You get a lot of soup for $4 (see the pic). read more

See all

I hate to write this review because the food was good. I had the Peruvian Chicken Fried Rice which I will admit was delicious. My problem was that the food had to have had MSG based on my reaction. I had a MASSIVE headache and nausea shortly after eating the food and it lasted all night and well into the next morning. If you have no sensitivities to MSG, nothing to worry about. But if you do, just a heads up. read more

Dish: carne a la parrila/grilled steak with plantains & salad Ordered my food for delivery. This meal was okay at best. The steak was overcooked which made it hard to cut and eat. The plantains were undercooked. The salad was a basic salad. I had high hopes for this place. I hope part of this mediocre meal being so mediocre was the delivery aspect. Maybe it's better in person. Not sure I want to try it again though. read more

My first visit to Peru Cafe Express. The food was fantastic and the service was great. So so yummy! We will be back!!

I have my wonderful ex to thank for this treasure! She wasn't lying when she said that Peru has some of the best food in the world. I absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. Marita and Carlos (the owners) are fantastic. They opened this place because they wanted Houstonians to experience true Peruvian cuisine. The Lomo Saltado is to die for. It's my go to dish, every single time. Lomo Saltado is strips of sautéed beef with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and red wine served over French fries with a side of white rice. Is your mouth watering yet? They also have killer empanadas (appetizer) and alfajores! (dessert) Make sure to grab an Inca Kola! (lemongrass soda) If you want to come for lunch make sure to show up early! Due to the exquisite food and outstanding customer service this place has a tendency of being packed during the lunch rush. But don't worry if the restaurant is full you can always take an order to go or even better place the order before showing up! Happy dining! I hope you enjoy the magic of Peruvian food as much as I have. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo Saltado with an inca cola! - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I have been craving Peruvian for a long time! This place is beyond perfect for what I was looking for Arroz chaufa, ceviche, flan, alfajores... tasting delicious Definitely coming back!!! read more

Well lets start saying this is the very definition of a hole in the wall. Very little space inside, but that is nonissue with the warm and friendly staff inside. We had the ceviche and it was amazing! A little taste of the high class Miami Peruvian Food scheme in Houston, TX I had to try the widely recognized as the typical Peruvian plate of Lomo Saltado. This was a very good choice, the meat was tender and the sauce was very good. Overall this is a great hole in the wall for local Peruvian food. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Ceviche Mixto - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

This was my first time eating Peruvian food, and I had a great experience! We came for lunch on a Saturday and there were open tables inside even though it's a pretty small place. I think a lot of people come here to get take-out. The waitress and owner (I think) were really nice and helpful because it was our first time. They had pictures of the dishes and recommended items that were more authentic. We ended up ordering the safe bets- beef empanada, lomo saltado, and aji de gallina. The beef empanada was delicious! I don't even like olives but the flavor was good and the crust was super light and flaky. The lomo saltado and aji de gallina were also good. The lomo was more flavorful and the aji de gallina was more bland, but I enjoyed both. We also tried the chica morada (purple corn drink) and it was very refreshing! It didn't taste like corn at all, FYI, in case that scares people away. I think they have off the menu specials on Saturdays and Sundays! I'll be back to try those :). read more

Peru Cafe Express - Beef empanada - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I had the pleasure of consuming Peruvian rotisserie chicken not too long ago rivaling that of H-E-B (crazy, right?), so this place caught my eye when I was looking for a quick lunch in the Greenway area. Other reviewers weren't kidding when they said this place is tiny. I haven't involuntarily sat so close to others since fifth grade. They didn't have rotisserie chicken, so I ordered the lomo saltado as suggested by the gracious lady behind the counter. This dish was almost Chinese beef stir fry, except atop a bed of french fries instead of rice and drowned in soy sauce. While the lomo saltado was somewhat palatable, I could feel my insides shriveling up with each bite. My sea legs aren't sturdy enough to handle that tsunami of salt water. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo saltado (sauteed beef) - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have eaten here from delivery and in person. Both were great. My in person visit was with a friend from the DR who was new to the cuisine. Our server, a younger dark haired man, was very accommodating with our questions and provided excellent guidance on the menu. My companion thoroughly enjoyed her fish ceviche (she is allergic to shellfish and the kitchen obviously pays attention) without incident. I sampled it too and it is fresh and wonderful. The steak mains are on point. I particularly like the pesto pasta and steak and the bistec A lo pobre. A small gem in a strip mall along 59 north near buffalo speedway that should be tried. read more

I used to live close to Peru Express and ate here very frequently (since the days when they were a much smaller restaurant down the street). The staff knows me by name haha. I've since moved a bit away so I don't go as often, but I still make time for one of my favorite restaurants in Houston. The food is AMAZING. I highly recommend the lomo soltado (sautéed beef) and the chicken empanadas. These are my favorite items on the menu. The staff is also great. I'm always greeted with a big smile and wonderful service! read more

YUMMMYYYYY Peruvian food located in The Greenway Area of Houston! I love coming here for lunch or a quick bite. They have great empanadas, ceviche, and other dishes. Really cute place with good food. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

The potatoes appetizer wasn't cooked all they way they was very disappointed! . The Jalea was good! the cerviche was missing lemon and some salt.. the causea lemon and salt missing ! It's got to have some kind of taste. It's not what' I expected.. I've compared other places cause my wife and mother n law is Peruvian Sabor y Sazon is still our favorite.. read more

See all

Excellent food, excellent service and extremely kind. Curbside was great and convenient as well. Food was on time and portions are very generous. read more

This restaurant was pretty good. It was our first time there. As an appetizer we got the chicken and beef empanadas. They were mediocre. Not so flavorful. You can get very good empanadas at Argentina cafe. For dinner we ordered the Lomo Saltado and Bistec a Lo Pobre. Both dishes were very good. My favorite was Lomo Saltado, like beef stew. I subbed the fries for yucca. It's cooked in a red wine sauce that gets soaked by the rice and yucca, add in the red bell pepper and onion bites. Scrumptious! Bistec a lo pobre was very flavorful as well. The rice, beans, and plantains mix was really good. The Bistec has something like chimichurry on top boasting with flavor only on the areas it had it, otherwise the meat was a little bland. Both plates the meat was juicy. The food is just as good as Latin Bites but cheaper. The ambience of the place is very casual and very small. So small it feels crowded even when it's not packed. Most people coming in and out were ordering to go. I would say it had about 7 tables including the 2 outside. Not a good place for groups. I wouldn't come here with a group size larger than 4. I'd def come back and try their ceviche. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo Saltado. Sub fries with yucca. Riquísimo! - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

First time eating Peruvian food and I really liked this place, make sure your order the LoMo Saltado Is soooo good, ceviche is delicious, the side of plantain and yuca also good, carne a la plancha was super good too, seriously everything I tried was good and the services was on point! read more

Wow! I didn't know about this place until today. It is SO GOOD! I'm a vegetarian, so I couldn't partake of the carnes and ceviches that seem to be this place's specialty, but I still had a great meal. There are some vegetarian options in the appetizers section, and the one I ordered was a good size and filling. I also got the spinach salad (which was very nicely put together), and I was comfortably full. And I think that, in general, I eat more than the average person. I ordered the fried yuca dish, which came with this amazing yellow pepper sauce. It didn't look very good when it arrived. It looked like some potato pieces covered with baseball game nacho cheese sauce. But it tasted AMAZING! I don't think I've had anything like it before, so I can't compare it to anything. It was somewhat rich, but it definitely didn't taste like nacho cheese sauce. The best thing I ordered was the signature Peruvian drink, made from purple corn, apples, and lemons. It was a real treat! It was sweet, and the spices were super. I really, really liked it. You should eat here for the delicious food. It's also pretty cheap and has a casual atmosphere. Enjoy! read more

I grew up in Peru and was excited to have my children try authentic Peruvian food. Sadly I didn't find it here. The ceviche is better at Costco....no joke! Fried yuca was good but 3 small pieces per order is outrageous. Fried rice was tasteless was the huancaina sauce and corn. No utensils or napkins included. Kids now don't like "Peruvian food" even though I've explained that you can't judge Peruvian food by what we got at this restauran. Seriously disappointe! read more

I came here for lunch after having this new takeout spot on my radar for the past month or so. In my quest to try every great Peruvian restaurant in the US in hopes of recreating memories of the best green aji sauce I ever tasted at El Pollo Inka in Gardena, CA, I came to Peru Cafe. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, which is my typical first dish at Peruvian restaurants and freshly made chicha morada. When the plate came out, its presentation was great, the smell was right on, and the taste of my first bite was superb. This was a great example of Peru's greatest dish. I had to ask for a side of the aji sauce and it came out in a plastic to-go container. The sauce was not creamy in appearance to many other sauces I've seen. It was not really spicy at all either, but it was a great add-on to the white rice's blandness. My coworker ordered the chicken fried rice, it happened to be on special today, and they enjoyed their dish and didn't leave a spec of food on their plate. Here they do not have a special lunch menu, the menu is posted on the back wall behind the counter and on color flyers. Each entree is going to run you about $11. Minus 1 star for atmosphere and roominess in the dining area (if you could even call it that). read more

I don't understand these misleading 5 star reviews. Customers service was great but food was exceptionally average. read more

First time trying this place. I had been craving some Peruvianish ceviche. So I of course had the ceviche, the flan and the fried seafood platter. So the flan was amazing....one of those share over a chick flick in bed after dinner. The ceviche meh. Beautiful presentation though. The fried seafood platter was fried so hard it's wasn't even edible...one bite and it just crumbled. Where's the fresh homemade not commercial, not drowning in some sweet red tomatoish sauce ceviche that doesn't cost a pinky toe!!!!! :( read more

First time having Peruvian food ... And it did not disappoint. The place is small. It has a home feel to it ... The gentleman and the lady attending us were very nice... Now back to the food I order the bisteck a lo pobre .. And it was delish !!! Kid of reminds me of a bandeja paisa (Colombian dish) but better, the meat was more tender and well seasoned!.. I'm definitely coming back to try other plates! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Just had the most delicious fish ceviche in town, very delicious, very fresh fish and amazing pieces of corn. Nice place and very nice and helpful server. The owner came to us and checked on the food, very friendly place. I recommend this restaurant read more

Peru Cafe Express - Amazingly delicious ceviche! - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Alfajores are to die for! Don't leave without ordering some. The ceviche isn't my fav but the lomo saltado was delish. It's deff worth giving it a try, you won't regret it read more

The Fish Ceviche alone is worth coming here. I could probably eat it everyday. Best I've found in Houston so far. The Bistec a Lo Pobre on it's own is worthy of a trip. My fiancé craves the beef Beef Empanadas. We make the 25 minute drive at least once every two weeks to satisfy our cravings. If you're a big eater like me, you can handle an entree and ceviche and still be hungry, so prepare to drop some cash. You won't be sorry. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

This is a cute little place right off of highway 59. I have passed this by place many times, but this was the first time I went inside and I'm so glad I did! I went with a friend on a Sunday afternoon and the owners warmly greeted us. Once we sat down, more customers came in and all the table were full by the time we left! We ordered Lomo Saltado and Mixed Seafood Ceviche. Both dishes were great! Lomo Saltado came with sautéed beef cooked with soy sauce and red wine on top of french fries with side of rice. Some onion and tomatoes were mixed with beef as well. The flavor was so yummy! French fries and bottom of rice pile were soaked in the juicy sauce, so it was even more flavorful. Mixed Seafood Ceviche came with white fish, shrimp, calamari soaked in lime juice with red onion and cilantro. It also came with two types of corn (crunchy and soft) on the side and sweet potato. Everything tasted so fresh and they were very generous with their seafood portion as well. We also asked for some hot sauce on the side and the waitress brought out one green and one red hot sauce in these cute little bowls. I would definitely come back here again to try other dishes! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo Saltado and Mixed Seafood Ceviche - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had never experienced Peruvian food and OMG this is the place to try!!!  It is conveniently located off Hwy 59 and very accessible.  The location is small but this was perfect for us.  It had a great and pretty lengthy selection.  Our group all ordered different food and so we all got to share.  It was all incredible!  I am a huge fan of seafood and both plates we ordered with seafood was fresh and full of flavor.  I recommend this location due to its authenticity and location, location, location! read more

See all

Was browsing on Yelp the other day and this spot came up. Decided to give it a try since I've never had Peruvian food. Not knowing what to expect I tried the cheese, chicken and the beef empanada. (Cheese & beef were really good. Also tried the Bistec a lo Pobre and I was not disappointed. Overall i thought it was really good. I would definitely go back! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I just started a new job, was looking for some local lunch spots, and this place did not dissapoint. The food is excellent, the staff is helpful and friendly, and the place looked clean, and inviting, although it was a bit small. I ordered the bistec a lo pobre, which is a grilled steak with beans, white rice, topped with a fried egg, and fried plantains. First of all, the visual plating was quite nice; unexpected from a small place like this. The steak, I think it was flank steak, was grilled well; quite tender and flavorful. The egg, topping the rice was cooked to perfection; a nice, slightly runny, soft yolk, and the plantains were soft, sweet, and slightly caramelized, adding just the slightest bits of crispness. Overall the food could have used a little more seasoning, and it seemed the rice lacked any salt at all, but that was easily fixed with a few shakes from the salt shaker. Shake it like a salt shaker! Oh, I almost forgot about the beef empanada that I tried. It was excellent as well. The filling contained beef, raisins, and olives, providing a good mix of salty, savory, and a slight sweetness, which was well balanced. The crust was perfectly crispy, delicate, and well seasoned. The menu contains a nice variety without being overwhelming. It fearures a variety of ceviches, tamles, soups, fried rice, stews, empanadas, steak, chicken, and seafood dishes, among other things. The place is quite small, containing only 7, 2 person tables. It was mostly full by the time I left, but it still felt calm, and not overcrowded, and the food was delivered quickly, which encourages take out, as I saw a few people order ahead, and pick up. I didn't care for the drink situation. They did have a variety of Peruvian drinks, but most of the drinks were single serve bottles and cans. I'm a thirsty guy, and I like to have a couple of refills, without having to pay for more drinks. Of course that's only minor, and that, with the lack of salt in the food, and the small size of the place kept me from rating this place 5 stars. In summary, the food is excellent and the staff is friendly. Be prepared to shake it like a salt shaker, and don't expect to seat a party of more than a few, and I'm sure you'll enjoy this place as much as I did! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Bistéc a lo Pobre - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is the bomb! Service was great and prices were reasonable for the large portions! We got the mixed seafood cerviche plate and the grilled steak plate that comes with 2 sides of your choice. Both were delicious! The steak was cooked nicely and the cerviche was pretty great. The plaintains were also fantastic! I highly recommend this place! It's cheaper than other Peruvian restaurants. read more

Overall, I had a decent meal here. This is a very casual cafe that feels traditional from the moment you walk in. The food was pretty good, but overpriced for the quality and atmosphere in my opinion. We ordered the ceviche mixto (8/10) and the lomo saltado (7/10). Our server was sweet, but not very knowledgeable or attentive. I ordered a glass of wine and it tasted like it may be a bit old/musty. I would maybe return someday for a second try since there were many items on the menu that looked good. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Ceviche mixto and Lomo Saltado - pretty tasty - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Its okay....i have had better ceviche at home..leche de Tigre was lacking all flavors needed...when I asked for extra they just gave me some lime juice read more

Lots of food for the money. We had the seafood fried rice plate and shedded chicken rice plate. Both plates were tasty and full of proteins. Table service was attentive and friendly. We will be back. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Top-Seafood rice, $13.99. Bottom-Aji de Aji De Gallina (shedded chicken), $11.99. - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is a good place to stop for an empanada snack. I went for one chicken and one beef, preferred the beef. They were larger than I expected. Turned from a snack to a lunch. I got it to go, but there are a few tables and really friendly staff. Seems like they would have more space for tables. My complaint, and it is a huge pet peeve of mine, is that the empanadas were supposed to come with sauce. When I got home, just the empanadas. Not worth going back and still decent without but annoyed. read more

Delicious, affordable, authentic. This place was still bustling at 1 pm with a mostly Spanish-speaking lunch crowd. I loved the aji de gallina (shredded chicken in thick yellow sauce with rice). So big! I could barely eat half. It cost $11. I got more delicious dishes to go for dinner. Hubby loved the "bistec a lo pobre" (thin skirt steak with a fried egg, rice beans and plantains) - reminded him of cuisine back home in his native Brazil. I enjoyed what can only be called chicken lo mein (though they had a Peruvian name for it - maybe tallarines saltados) - it's inspired by the Chinese population in Brazil. This spot seems family-owned and is very friendly. Clean and cute. Love that they have takeout and delivery! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Aji de gallina (this also comes as an empanada filling) - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I usually just order to go Favorite dishes: Bistec la pobre - really flavorful and tender pairs well with the neutral rice and beans. I enjoyed the plantains too - they're more thinly sliced and nice and oily. Yum. Ceviche Not my favorites: Aji de gallina - this is my first time having Peruvian food so didn't know what to expect. The dish was bland and spicy at the same time. Didn't like the consistency of the shredded chicken. Just not for me. Empanada - they have raisins in them. Not a fan of sweet meat, but I liked how fried they were. read more

This little Peruvian restaurant is tasty! I love the seafood soup. They have other typical Peruvian dishes. Yummy. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

The sides (rice, beans and plantains) were good but the steak was dry. The chicken rice was okay. They were very unsure about allergies, which made me anxious. The server overall seemed uncertain and poorly trained. read more

This place is 100% legit. Took my sister to eat last night and we feasted like champions. 1. Lomo saltado 2. Bistec a lo pobre 3. Anticuchos 4. Maduros 5. A coke and a Crystal I felt like somewhat of a glutton after eating all of that food, now I can't wait to go back. If you want to take a culinary voyage to Peru without leaving Houston, Peru Cafe Express is your best bet. Well done!! read more

The pescado ceviche here is simply the best. The portion is large, the fish is fresh with red onions, corn, and sweet potato flavored with a delicious lemon flavor - you can also ask them to make it spicy. The place is small, has about 5-6 tables but it's always busy whenever I come. There is a fried calamari dish that I usually see on everyone's table but I have to to try it. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Pescado ceviche is the best - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas