Great good! Tasty...the seco de carne is really good and juicy. Try the picarones as desert!

I have been coming here for years. The food is still great. The prices have increased over the years. However, so have all other restaurants. I highly recommend!! read more

Puro Sabor - Chupe de camerones - Latin American Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Insanely good! I ordered ceviche and tallarín saltado because I can't pick one plate. They're all so good!

I got the ceviche. Didn't taste fresh. On top of it, they have one waitress working which has to delay to ask for our order and to bring the meal. read more

Hands down the best Peruvian food in the Valley with the spiciest green sauce I've ever had. Lomo Saltado has been and always will be delicious. I finally broke away and ordered something else today; breaded chicken w/ Rice & Fries (Milanesa de Pollo? maybe?). It was fantastic x2. You best learn yourself that Spanish before you go because they speak zero English. I am forever grateful to my high school Spanish teacher. My only beef = not enough rice. Then again, I am chubby for a reason. read more

Puro Awesomeness! I love Peruvian food. Cooking it, reading about it, gorging on it...this place did not disappoint by far. (And I have been in some Psuedo-Peru dives, let me tell you) Regularly dragging any and all visitors who wish to eat out to any of several local spots, this place caught my attention recently and I felt that o-so-familiar urge when I had some company from out of town... I ordered for us both as I usually do, since I happen to be a Peruvian raised in a Peruvian household where I became quite familiar with many of the well-known dishes as well as the local small-town 'tipico' snacks I was immensely pleased to see Anticuchos de Corazon on the menu, which was actually beef heart as opposed to sirloin chunks on a skewer and properly seasoned with the traditional achiote pepper paste. As for the Yuca a la Huancaina the fried yucca was fantastic, and the cheese sauce just the right balance of cheesy and spicy. I couldn't resist sampling the Chupe de Camarones, also wonderful and properly (though it shocked my companion) served with a largish whole prawn floating in it. The broth was both light and creamy, and the poached egg just right. I had the Picante de Mariscos, which is typically a very random mixture of seafood in a yellowish-red sauce. The sauce here is full-bodied and savory, a very nice balance of garlic & turmeric complimented the perfectly cooked seafood exquisitely. My companion ordered at my suggestion the Lomo Saltado, and found it to be delicious as well. Not greasy, not overcooked, with a generous portion of french fried potatoes and onions still crisp and lacking the often-found sogginess of the dish. As for the service...the waitress was polite and helpful, smiling at me knowingly when I murmured in Spanish "I don't know how he feels about Yucca...please bring crackers for the sauce, he can't miss that!" Even though we arrived at only 30 minutes to close, we were well taken care of and my apology of coming in late (I thought it closed at 9:30, remembering Las Quenas' hours I think) was met with a large grin and waving of hands. "Come back again!" she said, and I most definitely will; I haven't had my desserts yet! read more

Ah yes, Puro Sabor. I went once and I was hooked. Their aji sauce calls to me like a spicy, minty, siren song. Added bonus - sometimes there's a dude who comes by and plays the traditional Peruvian flute! The camarones saltado is outta this world delicious, and tastes very home-cooked-with-love. The depth of flavor is sooo so good; it's spicy, smokey, acidic, savory - almost a perfect dish except for the fact that's it is not gentle on my tummy. A dish that IS gentle on my tummy and delicious is the shrimp chowder. They use excellent quality shrimp here and the soup is lighty, creamy, and has a wonderful aroma. The beef heart skewers are tasty - the beef heart has a wonderful chewy texture and smokey, beefy, flavor. I LOVE the pounded out potatoes this dish is served with as it perfectly compliments that aji sauce I love so much. And the green onion salad that accompanies this dish ROCKS. The only dish that's disappointed me was the potato appetizer with cheese sauce. It was just plain boiled potatoes with a kraft cheese-like tasting sauce poured over. I wish there were lunch special options. I always have so much food leftover and it just doesn't taste as good the next day. It would help if there was a waitress who could speak English during the lunch hour. We get by just fine and she's very sweet, but she is unable to answer questions about dishes on the menu. read more

I grew up in Lima, Peru so having been raised on a healthy diet of ceviche and arroz con pollo, I KNOW Peruvian food. I can tell you that this modest Van Nuys eatery near Sherman Oaks is a very solid option to get your Peruvian fix. We've been here a few time and so far we've tried: Lomo Saltado - classic, delicious, best bet to please most Tallarin Verde - delicious spaghetti in green sauce, usually served with a pan-seared flattened steak Milanesa de Pollo - perfectly cooked, delicious but the fries were under-seasoned..nothing a little salt couldn't fix Aji de Gallina - excellent cream sauce but I was hoping for a bit more boldness in the flavor of the aji pepper, the signature ingredient of this dish Picarones - THE BEST Peruvian desert I've had in LA. This deep-fried, sauce-drizzled South American cousin of the doughnut is going to blow your mind. Alfajores - these little custard-filled cookie sandwiches are a thing of beauty. Somehow delicate and completely decadent at the same time. Service is decent, price is a little on the high side but they do have a daily special (modeled after the traditional Peruvian "menu" lunch deals) Monday-Friday which I intend to return and sample. My only complaints are that there is no alcohol and the ambience is pretty mundane. I did very much enjoy some live Peruvian music on my last visit, that definitely livened the place up a lot. I'm definitely a fan and we will be coming back...I hope they can get their liquor license squared away and can start serving pisco sours soon! read more

I came here with my wife yesterday for lunch, whom is Peruvian and I think I know Peruvian food well. I've been to tons of Peruvian restaurants here in the states and in Peru as well. Here's the bottom line: 1) Don't come here for the service. The staff is friendly but not very attentive. 2) Don't come here for the ambience. It's a small restaurant. There's nothing special about it. 3) DO come here for the food. The food is pretty good and moderately priced. I had the Saltado de lomo y camaron. It's french fries with beef and a decent amount of shrimp. I enjoyed it very much. It was full of flavor, it filled me up, and the shrimp was kickin'. Also, order the picarones for dessert. They're awesome. Yes, it's near the intersection of Victory and Van Nuys. Some folks, like those that authored a few of their own critiques below may find it ghetto (really???). Hollywood is far more ghetto than this location. Get over it. The folk out in the street are probably more afraid of you than you are of them. Anyways, I do recommend this joint. Enjoy! read more

OMNOMNOMNOM. This restaurant is the reason that I am in love with Peruvian food. I've actually only tried 2 dishes: Lomo Saltado & Ceviche de Mariscos... But why try anything new when you already know what you love? 4 stars only because service is slow... but otherwise I would highly recommend this place! read more

There was a cool little write up about this restaurant in the LA Times which prompted us to check this place out and we're really glad we did. The ceviche de pescado was simply fantastic at Puro Sabor. According to my Peruvian friend this place is very authentic and the Aji (green sauce) tastes just what they serve in Peru. After dinner try the Lucama ice cream or the flan and you won't be disappointed. read more

You should check out Puro Sabor if... 1. You have never had Peruvian food. 2. You have never had these sweet Peruvian pumpkin donuts... Dessert 3. You have never had a Saltado dish. - Get this for your entree 4. That huge corn? WTF? It comes with an order of Ceviche 5. If you like spicy food, that green sauce they have at the table, that is so good, you want more but so spicy you reconsider, then get in a love spice relationship, where it's so tasty/spicy, tasty/spicy, and you say OK, that's enough and you keep eating it... 6. Have you had Ceviche? (Share an order as your appetizer, seriously they will give you enough for 2 people) You can try that, huge mutant corn, pumpkin donuts, and great Peruvian food in one trip and less than $30 for 2 people at Puro Sabor. And....when I went there was this soooo....beautiful/helpful/infomative Peruvian waitress...Support your local Peruvians folks... read more

I must be missing something here. Maybe I was expecting too much from the good Yelp reviews and AAA magazine write up, but I wasn't very impressed. It's a tiny hole in the wall place on a busy street. Not much ambience here. The menu somehow manages to be both very limited and yet also confusing. Go figure. I'm still not even sure I know what I ordered (they didn't speak much English) but it kind of reminded me of paella with pork in it. It was OK, but nothing special. The side dish was just a pool of refried beans with some cheese on top, but it tasted like it was just poured out of a can and microwaved. The best thing I had was the appetizer, carmelized plantains. Pretty solid. This is my second try and I just don't see how this place is averaging 3.5 stars. Is there a signature dish here that I keep missing? read more

I was lucky enough to be brought in by an authentic Peruvian date only to realize how much I've missed out on this beautifully cultured food. It would be a shame for any culture not to try this form of food. Everything was authentic, fresh and delicious. Though this is a small "Mom and Pop" shop, they do a great job of keeping their establishment clean. The only reason I won't add that extra star is just because I would've liked to see this restaurant incorporate more of its Peruvian culture within the design. Knowing absolutely nothing about the culture, I would've loved to see the personality flourished within the negative spaces on the wall. But over all there is nothing wrong with this place. I'd just like to see more about what beauty it has to offer. Mom and Pop shops are honestly the best establishments in my opinion if they can pull off a good meal and a great sense of pride. Check this place out and you'll definitely find yourself a fan of a new form of food. Tip: this shop is owned by good people, don't forget to leave a tip because they definitely put hard work into your meal. And don't forget to brush your teeth, wash behind your ears and stay in school kids! read more

The ceviche impressed me tremendously. I had mixed seafood ceviche with ample shrimp, squid, and octopus. I had eaten at Mamita Peruvian in Glendale two weeks prior. Puro Sabor's ceviche is compellingly better than Mamita's: mas acid, mas picante, mas camarones, more red onion, mas sabor. I will be back to sample more dishes. My current top record for Peruvian in the Valley. read more

oh man this place is good! Not everything on the menu is excellent and sometimes the meat isn't the highest quality, but overall it's a great place for an affordable lunch or dinner. The family that owns the place is really sweet. I've always had 5 star service here. genuinely friendly people. Their beef with cilantro sauce is awesome, although i have had it once where the meat wasn't as tender as it usually was. the lomo saltado is also good. tamales are awesome and the ceviche is yummy as hell. go! read more

Thank you Westways for recommending this delicious Peruvian restaurant! My boyfriend and I went here for a late dinner last night and, though the service was crap, the food was totally worth the wait. I've tried the Lomo Saltado at Mario's Peruvian restaurant and thought that it was pretty good, but it's nothing compared to this place's! The meat was perfectly marinated and tender. And the homemade aji sauce, which was a lot more spicy than I expected (always a good thing), completed the meal. My boyfriend got the Bistec Encebollado which is pretty much the same thing as the Lomo Saltado except that the meat was a little smokier, whole steak instead of sliced and the potato was whole too (the Lomo Saltado is made with home fries). "Sooooooooooo good!" I highly recommend this place if you're patient, or if you want to order for take-out (that's what we're going to do from now on). I gave them a break because it is a small place -- only 2 waiters and 2 cooks. From what we saw, the cooks were only able to get two dishes out at a time. We got there at 830pm and didn't finish eating until 1015ish. Mind you that it only took us about 20 minutes to eat our meal. We also had to ask multiple times for refill on water. The only reason why I rated this place a 3 is because of the service... otherwise, 4. read more

After nearly two weeks of eating our way through Spain, I was worried that we wouldn't come across any exemplary and unique culinary delights in Los Angeles for a while. With my mind still on jamon Iberico and my stomach on strike, we were extremely thrilled to discover Puro Sabor on Van Nuys Blvd. in the Valley a few days after returning back to Los Angeles. It was my first Peruvian dining experience but it won't be my last! There was plenty of street parking and seating in the restaurant, even on a Saturday night. The place is casual with images of Peru adorning the walls. We didn't go for the ambiance so no let-downs there! Also worth noting is that the waitress didn't speak much English though the menu has English translations so you should be on your way to some great ceviche in no time at all! Dinner started with a warm bread roll and a bottle of mysterious green, creamy spicy sauce. The sauce was fantastic - though spicy, it was fresh and flavorful. Pace yourself on the sauce! I ordered the ceviche de camaron, shrimp marinated in lemon and Peruvian seasoning. This was an amazing dish and I can already envision going there once a week solely for this dish. The shrimp tasted fresh and were soaked in a spicy, tart mix of citrus and chile, and hid underneath a small mountain of sliced red onion. The flavor fiesta didn't stop at the shrimp. The camarones were accompanied by a small piece of sweet potato, a chunk of boiled white potato, boiled larged-kerneled corn and toasted corn (midway between a corn kernel and popcorn). The toasted corn kernels were crunchy and added great flavor and texture to the dish. My husband had the Causa Rellena de Atun - a spiced up, mashed potato stuffed with tuna salad - which was good. He also tried the grilled fish, which had a nice mild flavor, and was accompanied by plain white rice and salad. There were a lot of interesting options on the menu, like the skewered grilled cow heart squares and the steamed saffron corn dough with chicken wrapped in banana leaves. Next time, I want to try the other ceviche dishes with fish, octopus and squid, and the fun beverages like the purple corn juice and the fresh strawberry juice. The pricing was pretty reasonable. Dinner for two without alcohol came out to $30. Well worth the time, money and calories! read more

Although I'm on the other side of the hill (West Hollywood) and closer to Mario's, I'm always tracking over the hill to Van Nuys to Puro Sabor's. I usually get the same dish, Pescado Sudado (a lovely fish dish). Man, that dish is incredible! If you get a chance, check it out. As a note: I noticed some reviewers mention that the staff's English is not too good. Ask for Johanna, the owner's daughter, her English is perfect and she's very accommodating. read more

I would have given Puro Sabor 2 or 3 stars if not for their delicious ceviche. Their ceviche mixto has tons of seafood and the mouth-puckering leche de tigre that they use is quite amazing. I am wiping the drool off my face as I fantasize about eating this dish again. The ceviche is served with tons of red onion, boiled yucca and yam, and corn. It's definitely very traditional and authentic Peruvian ceviche. Definitely one of the best I've ever had. The dish will run you about $15 though. Their lomo saltado is, however, a little disappointing. The meat was a little dry and the dish was quite expensive for the portion. The flavor was okay but I wouldn't order it again. The restaurant is usually pretty quiet. The service was good. They give you bread with butter and a very spicy dipping sauce with your meal. Be careful with putting too much of that sauce since it packs quite a punch. read more

Ever wonder what happens to a restaurant that gets a good review in a major publication and it comes out way before the owners expected it? AAA Magazine just gave a nod to Puro Sabor and we got in last night just under the wire. The place was understaffed and apparently ran out of food they were so busy. I'm cutting them slack on the service side because they were clearly caught off guard. Otherwise, we would have been really annoyed, but they were very apologetic. Anyway... Food was very good. We had Yuca Frita, Papa Rellena and plantains as appetizers. 3 different Saltado dishes and Pescado a lo Macho as entrees. All quite good and we'll go back. Well, maybe after the rush dies down. read more

Haven't been here in awhile but recently had dinner at this place and like always, great food! Came here on a Friday night and place was empty which was perfect. Lady that served us was friendly and very helpful. Ordered the Yuca a la Huancaina, Lomo Saltado and Picante de Camarones (my favorite!). I love Peruvian food and this place is worth checking out if ever you're in the Valley. read more

Puro Sabor - Picante de Camarones - Latin American Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Puro Sabor's Lomo Saltado is soooooooo goooood add the aji to it and omg the angels start to sing. I actually prefer to eat here alone so I don't have to talk during my meal, just eat. The tallarenes verdes are really good too. Pretty much everything on their menu is good. The service is okay, but the food more than makes up for it. read more

They have the BEST lunch buffet here! (Every 2nd wednesday of the month $9.99) Why 2nd wednesdays? Probably coz they expect no one to show up. They were so wrong, BWAHAHAA! The chicken, beet salad, fried rice and stir fry noodle dishes were awesome! The area is fine. Stop whining about getting mugged, sissies. read more

Peruvian food is rightly on fire at the moment, and I hope it continues to blaze its way onto the palates of Americans. Peruvian food comprises cultivars of essentially American (Meso and Southern) foods upstream from the ones most North Americans (and much of the world) have come to know and enjoy, to wit: differently domesticated cultivars of corn, potatoes, and most vibrantly, chile peppers. The cultivars of those foods - many of them from the Solanaceae genus - used in Peruvian foods are ancestors of the ones most people consume today. From the corn with its large oblate and starchy kernels, to the chiles including the wonderfully fruity-aromatic Aji amarillo that confers an almost electric mouthfeel to its piquant zing, you'll experience different tastes and foods that will take you on a bit of a culinary vacation. Keep in mind that Peruvians invented the chemically "cooked" raw fish preparation that many call ceviche. Traditionally, it's made with a white fish called paiche, but Puro Sabor invokes the same flavour basis with their excellent ceviche mixto - including excellent octopus (pulpo), shrimp (camarones), white fish (most likely NOT paiche, but an easier to source substitute). The dressing has that "electric" zing on the tongue that all good Peruvian ceviche should have. This is a casual and humble spot, often staffed by a single waitress. Service will be leisurely - others may find it "slow" or "distracted"; but be patient, and you'll be rewarded with good food. Lomo saltado, a Peruvian dish heavily influenced by immigrant Chinese is excellent, as are their house-made empanadas - they make pork ones on the weekends that are definitely first-rate. I can highly recommend their anticuchos, grilled beef hearts on skewers. The meat's given a good marination, and the live fire grilling makes them extremely delicious. Neither my wife nor I are Latin, and we've never had a problem with the service or the quality of food we've been served. People in general need to learn the "vibe" and basis of a restaurant before judging its service, decor, or approach to food against some absolute metric in their minds. Ricardo Zarate's spots are trendier, fancier, and more ambitious, to be sure. But this is a solid and wonderful resource of good quality and authentic Peruvian food, at prices that allow you to indulge in this culinary holiday as often as the mood strikes you. read more

This review is way overdue...AMAZING FOOD, great service, good prices. Authentic Peruvian food. I am Peruvian and not easily impressed with Peruvian food overseas. Take my word for it! Try the Lomo saltado if you've never tried Peruvian food before. Other good choices, tallarines verdes, or chicharrón de pescado. As far as the ambiance, don't expect much, it's a little hole in the wall restaurant, but the food is delicious! ENJOY, WE ARE GOING TO MISS THIS PLACE. THANKS EVERYONE! read more

This was my first time at Peruvian restaurant so I was not sure how it is supposed to taste. I ordered Saltado De Pollo. It was delicious. Really tasty. I cleared the plate... However, I can only give 2 stars due to poor customer service. First I was ignored. Then they forgot about my drink. I had to ask for everything including a straw. I almost walked out. The neighborhood is very ghetto. read more

OK listen, this place is the best hidden Peruvian secret in LA. I've been to many different Peruvian places and this is by far the best, and also the best value. I've been here well over 50 times over the years and they are always consistent. The ceviche is fresh and tasty, the Lomo salt ado is nice and juicy, and the fried plates are on point. Im big into food but not food descriptions and felt I finally had to give this place the praise it deserves. Whenever you're in van Nuys, make it a point to stop here! read more

Que Rico! I am part Peruvian, so I LOVE Peruvian cuisine. I work nearby from Puro Sabor, and when I read about them, I had to try them out. I ordered the ceviche de pescado the first time and was in heaven! Then I got their Aguadito de Pollo, because my grandmother used to make it for me when I were young read more

Wasn't blown away when I was actually there eating, but looking back on it that was a damn good meal. Had the Lomo Saltado (strips of rib-eye steak sauteed with onions and tomatoes in some sort of sauce), which was exceedingly delicious. My only gripe is the side of rice is a bit small, especially for the amount of meat onions and tomatoes you get. Also tried the ceviche, which was super tart but very fresh and refreshing. Come to think of it that's the first time I've had ceviche. I guess I'm into that kinda thing. Oh yea, and the green (chile?) sauce is delicious. Spicy and delicious. Definitely will go back to try more, would highly recommend you all do the same. read more

The fiance and I went on Tuesday night for take-out, at around 8:15 (they close at 9 and were wrapping things up, but were very kind about taking our order). He ordered the Lomo Saltado (beef and onions with french fries (!) in gravy) and I had the delicious fried garlic shrimp, which came with a couple of slices of tomato and some fried potato discs. Both came with white rice, mine had a pickled red onion salad and spicy green sauce as well. Good-sized portions. We also had an appetizer: a kind of beef-stuffed potato croquette. Good comfort food. I'd absolutely go again; I'd like to take a large group and have everyone share. I only take off a star because it's a little on the pricey side for what it is (though generous portions, it's pretty simple food). read more

One of my favorite spots in the valley! The lomo saltado is absolutely delicious! I also love their bread they served you. It's always fresh and warm. Great service too! read more

You gotta love the independent Mom & Pop restos! Its like eatting at a friend's house whose parent makes a great home cooked meal, only you don't have to deal with the annoying inquisitions. Since the first time I had their Lomo Saltado (the most delicious I've had ever!), I haven't been able to bring myself to eat it anywhere else when I have the craving! At this point, I'd feel like such a traitor if I did! My first experience was Mario's Peruvian and I thought it was the bomb before I knew any better. Puro Sabor completely blows Mario's Peruvian out of the water! The sauce is so tasty without the pool of oil that Mario's serves you! The fries in the Lomo sops up the sauce, but still maintaining a slight crunch and the onions & tomatoes are cooked to perfection! Though I haven't ordered anything else (I'm a purist, what can I say?), I have tried their yummy Fried Calamari. Oh and the hubby loves their Anticuchos de Corazon (Grilled Beef Heart) if that's your thing. It's served with a slice of corn with some monster kernels! Needless to say, I'll be back until they get a restraining order on me! read more

I usually order Lomo Saltado for pick up. And really you can't go wrong with Lomo Saltado. I went to the restaurant the other day with my boyfriend and I had a terrible experience. The service wasn't great due to the fact that there was one waitress for the whole restaurant. I order ceviche and pescado a lo macho And they were both salty, specially the ceviche which makes no sense. As a Peruvian I would never recommend this place. read more

I got Lomo Soltado to go. It was very juicy and tasty! I felt like they could add more of those delicious potatoes and less plane rice. Meat was great though! I wouldn't consider this place as a dine in. It's way to casual, and the area is not that save, especially in the evening. read more

The meat in the Lomo Saltado was really good and tender. The Lomo Saltado all together was OK. I thought the green sauce was too watery. Some reviews say this Lomo Saltado is better than Mario's. That was the reason why I came to try it. It was not as good as Mario's. read more

Very authentic! Great food but service is a bit slow. Parking in the back is a plus! The lomo Salado is excellent and definitely try the chicha morada. Definitely top 5 Peruvian restaurants in LA. If you're on the fence, I say go! The food will not disappoint... Just make sure you're not in a big hurry. Enjoy! read more

I read about Puro Sabor in AAA's magazine and like everyone else in the valley flocked to the doors to check out what all of the fuss was about. My boyfriend and I parked in the back parking lot and when we walked in we were surprised that the subway-esque interior which is decorated with Peruvian travel posters. We ordered the yucca fries which were really tasty and I really liked eating them with the creamy dipping sauce and the spicy chimichurri-like sauce. I think I was expecting from scratch in mothers kitchen type of food but it was basically standard grilled food. Probably the most interesting part of our entree was the rice and bean mixture which had a really nice, unexpected tangyness to it. The service was really bad. It took way too long to get an appetizer and entree. It was just crazy. Overall I'm going to give four stars because they're food wasn't that bad and it's a small business; I don't want to completely deplete their good rating. However, I really must take off a star for the service, they obviously need more staff. read more

I only came here to pick up a couple orders of Picarones (Pumpkin-starch Peruvian donuts) for my mom (her favorite). They were around $5 an order for 4 pieces, if memory serves me right. They didn't exactly blow me away (my mom actually makes better, but she says they're extremely time and energy consuming to make!), so we were satisfied given the cost/time/benefit involved. Must try some of their actual food sometime I'm in the area again. read more

Puro sabor is the bomb bizzle! Especially the seafood dishes.