Went that a few times before the pandemic. It was ran by a Peruvian family. The foods were authentic and delicious. Loved the coffee there as well as it's quite strong. Now seems like the ownership has changed, and they are no longer offering coffee. Foods are ok but not as authentic or great as before , and the portions were getting smaller..... read more

Q'ero is hands down my favorite Peruvian food nearby. Their pollo empanadas and aji de gallina are my favorite things to order, along with their sangria which is the best I've ever had. I'm also now addicted to their house made "panca" sauce, which they serve on the side but is also available to purchase and bring home. I have to have a bottle in the fridge at all times! read more

Our recent visit to Q'ero in May 2023 was a major disappointment. All entrees we ordered (Seco de Cordero, Calamari, Lomo Saltado, and Sudade de Pescado) were so salty as to be almost inedible. The otherwise juicy lamb meat of the Seco de Cordero tasted almost bitter, and was accompanied by a rice that had the appearance of mashed potatoes. The Calamari were a huge disappointment, salty, rubbery and tasteless. They were supposed to be accompanied by shiitake mushrooms which we were not able to find. The Ceviche Nikei was recommended by the waiter and it was completely characterless - I wonder how much worse the other two ceviches on the menu might have been. The fried plantains that accompanied the ceviche tasted rancid presumably due to the old oil that was used to prepare them. The best thing on the table was the Argentinian Malbec which was sorely needed to wash down the miserable food. So sad, we have been to this place many times over the years, but it has gone downhill dramatically. For full disclosure, we complained about the entrees and got 15% off but this can not compensate for a very disappointing experience. read more

Aguadito, chaufa de pollo, the perfect pisco sour.... I was dang near fantasizing about my Peruvian meal before I even made the reservation! So you can imagine how letdown I feel that my final verdict on Q'reo is "Eh... just o-k." All these 4 & 5 star reviews got me excited... So excited that I only half-read them (guilty!) Had I kept my composure & done my sufficient Yelp research, I'd have noticed that most of the positive reviews were written by those who never had Peruvian food before :/ Post-meal, it totally makes sense. Blinded by those 4 bright & shiny orange stars, we made a reservation. **Heads up - our party of 4 had to book a couple weeks out to snag a table on a Friday night.** Q'ero is tiny & fills up quick. Be prepared to be packed like sardines - it gets just a little too cramped at rush that the cute, intimate charm gets lost. The tall men at our table were just plain uncomfortable. Food was fine, just nothing I found particularly memorable. The calamari starter was pretty good & their homemade aji sauce was also yummy. It was my first time trying maca & I kinda loved it - so gingery fresh. Unfortunately none of my Peruvian fantasy-players were even on the menu ((**tears streaming**)) so we settled with some very average fish & chicken options. Food comes in at 3ish stars but the boiler room atmosphere seriously drops us down to 2 (still generous.) Q gets hot - like, I'm ruining my blow-out sweaty hot. Thankfully we were with a casual crew & I'm so glad I wasn't visiting on a romantic date. Even when we asked our server (repeatedly) to adjust the A/C, we were met with surprised looks and 'oh it's fine' comments. Um... no, it ain't fine. We couldn't even finish our entrees because the heat & stuffiness was so uncomfortable - ((**conserve energy.... don't move fork to mouth... sit still and just stop sweating.**)) Bottom line - we won't be back. Yeah, some of our orders were nice, but Q'ero doesn't even have a lot of our Peruvian favorites. Maybe our palettes are simple, but the flavors of traditional dishes found elsewhere certainly beat-out Q's menu. read more

I'm torn on my feelings of this place. To me a 5 star restaurant meets everything aspect from flavor, atmosphere, customer service, portions, pricing and most importantly how I feel while I'm there. I'm Peruvian and grew up with this type of food as nightly dinner. Therefore I'm going to be a little pickier when it comes to eating out at a Peruvian restaurant. When it comes down to flavors this place is great. We started with a ceviche which tasted really good but was the equivalence of half a cup of fish. For $17 I found that to be a little steep. It was presented on a large plate that made the ceviche appear even smaller. Traditionally it served with a side of boiled yam and Peruvian corn both which were missing. I ordered a side of the yams but was brought out in butter. My husband started the beef heart which he thought was really good and tender. We shared empanadas which neither of us cared for. I think they were Bolivian style though cause peruvian empanadas are smaller and fried. We also tried a papa rellena, which was just okay. Nothing to rave about or go back for. There is a dipping sauce which in served in Peru is served with every meal. It's a creamy spicy sauce that can be paired with just about Anything. Luckily they did offer it but to it was pretty bland in flavor. The feel of the place is a casual, possibly family run place. The prices in my opinion didn't match the feel of the place. I thought it was quite overpriced. We arrived when it first opened so we didn't have a problem getting a table. The service was good and the waiter seemed quite educated about the menu. My overall experience wasn't a WOW nor a really bad one. I'm not sure I'd be back but I would recommend it to someone who's been wanting to try Peruvian food. read more

See all

3 letters to describe this place - W O W!!!!!!!!!! First, this isn't a place I'd usually try. I'm not a big Peruvian/South American food lover (at least not before) so I would not search this place out. Turns out, didn't have to. My wife's grandparents received a gift certificate here from some friends but it was a little too north of SD for them and they knew we would be in the area celebrating our anniversary so they gave it to us. We weren't sure what to expect because we couldn't find anything online except a few glowing Yelp reviews. We first tried to call and make reservations for a Tuesday night but they weren't open and a message on the machine said they were closed on MON and all reservations for SAT were taken already... (good sign). So we called TUES morning only to find out they were closed for a wedding. We finally nailed down a reservation on THUR. The place is small. Only about 11-12 tables inside and another 2-3 outside. Some fit 4, some fit 2, anything larger you'll need reservations for sure. It is also very colorfully decorated with a South American theme. We had a table for 2 in what seemed was the main walkway through the restaurant but oh well. We each had a couple glasses of Sangria which was just ok and I'm a big Sangria fan. We detected either banana or plantain in the drink which seemed a little off but overall it was still good. For apps we had to get the "orgasmic sea bass ceviche" as described in another review below. It was awesome. It was my first time trying such a dish and I loved it which says a lot. Very flavorful! We also ordered a chicken empanada based on the owner's recommendation. It was pretty good. They put olives, raisins and some other odd additions inside but it was good. Not orgasmic ceviche good, but good. For the main course, my wife got the lamb shank and loved it. It was cooked well and served with rice and veggies in a thick gravy type pool. I ordered the skirt steak and was blown away. This thing had sooooo much flavor, melted in your mouth, was just awesome. I'm not aware of the different Spanish spices used but this thing was great. We had no room for dessert but other people seemed pleased. The lamb chop special was also available that night and it seemed someone at most every table ordered at least one because we saw them go by a bunch of times and we were getting jealous. Walk-ups had quite a wait to get in but as I was walking out, I told them it was worth it. If I could give this place 7 or 10 stars I would. It was one of the best meals I have ever had in a restaurant. We can't wait to go back!!!! -------------------- Update 9/17 - Had the opportunity to return here tonight with my wife to meet up with her dad and sister for a meal. Made reservations ahead of time which of course was a good idea. This place does not rush you and dinner can easily be 1.5 to 2 hours. Sorry, I'm not adventurous so I ordered the Ceviche and Bistek a la Trujillana again and again was BLOWN AWAY. I think this might be my favorite restaurant. I also talked my wife into the Bistek. My sister in law order the Lomo Saltado which was also very good but I prefer the Bistek. My father in law ordered the pork shank special. Get this, it was slow roasted like a osso bucco and then fried at the end to be moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Kinda like carnitas only 100 times better! The restaurant was full so I cannot stress enough, MAKE A RESERVATION. DOUBLE WOW!!!!! read more

Qero Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

My gf turned me on to this place and it is very extra special. So small and cozy. Everything is yummy. Shared the calamari to start: lightly breaded, ample garlic, shitake mushrooms, at a medium spiciness. I could eat an entire bowl and lick it, if the table next to me wasn't so close. The lomo saltado skirt steak had great seasoning spices and the gravy and fries reminds me of poutine but even better. I normally think quinoa is for the birds but they make it really luscious and scrumptious here with spinach, its like butter. Our server was super nice and brought out a box of assorted herbal teas. The apricot tea was aromatic and didn't need any additional sweetener other than the alfajores. :) read more

Qero Restaurant - alfajores - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

This quaint family operated restaurant offers wonderful Peruvian cocktails and wines before embarking upon unique beautifully prepared tasty dishes. We enjoyed a mixto ceviche followed by a lamb dish which had been slow cooked. Delicious! read more

Qero is an expensive restaurant with that expense, I expect better food and more professional service . for the most part the food was ok. The server was attentive and very good. Portion size are mesium to pretty small we went to eat after we ate there. parking is very tight. The alcohol drinks are watery and cheap. My sangria had little alcohol. The fish flavor was okay prtion size is very small great for dieting. The lomo saltado had good flavor but the fries were burnt and had burnt flavor. The French fries were half the meal in that dish. The potato is one of the staples in the Peruvian diet Peru invented the potato. I asked the server why the potatoes / french fries were burnt and he said because that's how they cook it in Peru. I asked him if he had ever been to Peru and he said no. I informed him I have been to Peru several times and had a Peruvian with me right there - my wife. I don't never got burnt french fries. If you can't cook frys properly don't blame it on peru. The peruvuans take their food very seriously. If a bad restaurant is claiming to have Peruvian food, that is embarrassing to Peruvians. I gave the restaurant 2 stars because the server is nice and because the calamari diablada was very good. Qero is in downtown in Encinitas a great area but the restaurant is very small and the bar is jammed with servers. The restaurant has a cramped feel. We went to this restaurant 10 years ago and were underwhelmed ten years later the menu is changed but the attitude towards the food remains along with the high prices. I understand its a high rent district but if you're going to charge high prices you better have good food and decent portions. At least pour a decent drink so that I don't have good judgement If you want half decent Peruvian food and you're not married to a Peruvian you will have to drive to Racoto in Los Angeles. If you want to grossly overpay and get small portions and a so-so experience go to queros. read more

See all

wow, what an amazing experience. i have passed by this place countless times (esp since next door to 101 diner, yum), and have never ventured until this night. parking: abundant street parking, may have to drive a block or so, but not a problem for the most part. ambiance: super beautiful, dark, cozy, Mediterranean style. candles everywhere, nice dark colors. small venue, but perfect for date night/intimate night. no kids please, not the type of place. service: great time with amy. knowledgeable, friendly, good service. the manager came by to say hi, and told us a little bit about the owner and her venture into Peruvian food. drinks: super smooth and refreshing red sangria, small apple chunks and other fruit made it delightful. not too sweet which is how i like it. food: can i say oh wow!? 1. started apps off with the "conchita en sajta". quinoa crusted scallops. cooked divine, very succulent, beautiful sauce. 2. 2nd app was "papa rellena" which rocked my night. potato stuffed with beef, raisins, spices. i fell in love with it, especially combined with the pickled red onions next to it. amy served us a house salsa/habenero which accompanied it perfectly. 3. started dinner with "Pernil de Chancho"- a super succulent pork shank served with roasted oyster mushrooms, sautéed with shallots and finished in an aji amarillo sauce, served with roasted fingerling potatoes. really to die for, i am craving it again. 4. we shared a mixed green salad prior, which was large, and well priced. dessert: we finished our lovely evening with espresso and: "tulum": a roasted walnut tart covered with vanilla cream cheese. it was very light and served with strawberries and a bittersweet chocolate drizzle. perfect way to end the night. light, and airy, and GF to boot, fyi. overall: very amazing time. i'm looking forward to hitting Q'ero up again. i love the ambiance the best, very romantic and sweet. thanks for a great experience! read more

Qero Restaurant - Papa Rellena - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

If your smart about ordering it's a good deal on the best Peruvian food (I.e. Empanada w/salad) but if you have appetizer, drinks, dessert it'll be $100 definitely most expensive lunch I've ever had but it was delicious. We had arepas, empanadas, sangria (really strong but good) Lomo and a tres leches cake (really really good but $12 a slice! Not listed on menu too) the atmosphere was beautiful but owner seemed kinda mean and she kept scolding our waiter in the dining room which made the vibe weird. They also automatically add a 18% gratuity to your check regardless (it was my husband and I and our 5 yo). And then when you go to sign it has a "tip" line too. Gratuity+tip!? I was confused. I don't know if I'd go again but it was certainly delicious. read more

THIS PLACE FOOD IS THE WORST! 100% I suggested two friends to go try this place this past Sunday while we are in Oceanside, I have to say that was worst experience ever!!! Food was really bad, this is not a Peruvian place to go at all, and to all the Peruvian community be aware of this place, is not the price but the food!!! lomo Saltado was sour, they put ingredients that does not go with the recipe. My son was sick all night and have to take him to the doctor,so I called the place yesterday and left a message asking to talk to the manager or the owner, but awful customer service I received from Patrick "the manager" who tried to say that I was lying. And this is not about the money, they said they have 20 years on business, and this never happened, I never ever experienced something like this before!!! Service was good FOOD NOT AT ALL, you can fool people who never try Peruvian, but not us. The chef should watch you tube a least to know how is their food! I'll report this to the BBB. Ohh and I forgot to say the the manager said since is a family business they can charge whatever they want for tip as 20% for 6 guests or more read more

My friend has really hyped this place up so I decided to take my boyfriend there for his birthday and it was pretty amazing... The place is really small but the decor is nice. I like the wine box toilet paper holder in the restroom. The menus are also pretty cool. The only bad thing was that this place wasn't as packed as it normally says to be but service was pretty awful. There was one good waiter but he wasn't our server so he didn't come around to us and our server wasn't really serving anybody or doing much but she rarely came... The sangria is one of the best I've had. It had a cinnamon-y type of flavor to it that added a great touch. It was sweet but not too sweet... more like fruity from the natural fruits inside. The wine was not dry and so refreshing to drink! We shared the chicken empanada and scallops baked in quinoa and both of them were so delightful! The chicken empanada was flakey and full of flavor. The scallops had a great touch breaded in the quinoa and went perfectly with the spinach. The short ribs were sooooooooo good. The meat just fell off the bone and was so juicy! I also really enjoyed the corn on top... very unique! This was on top of mashed potatoes that were also tasty! The steak stir fry was my least favorite just because these were sliced pieces stir fried and there was nothing special to it. We tried this one because the waitress said it was authentic but I wouldn't get it again. The tres leches cake was also great. I like how it's not too sweet but had a good touch to end the night! read more

See all

This came highly recommended and I went in late June and I thought the food was just ok. Had the lomo saltado, aji de gallina, some of the appetizers and it was very average if not below average. I would not come back again. I really wish I could like it more because I've been craving Peruvian food lately. Not sure if there is a new owner or cook because this place has such good reviews so perhaps something has changed. Bummer. read more

I have been to el Q'ero Restaurant three times and every bite of food that I have tasted was spectacular. The ambiance is fun with ethnic undertones and the dining area is bustling with activity. My husband and I had lunch last week starting with empenadas. Typically empenadas are doughy and bland, however these had a lemony thin crust that was stuffed full of vegetables and lentils. The platter came with a delicious spicy sauce and two vegetable garnishes. Our lunches were equally delicious and nd I only wished that I had a spoon to get the last bits of sauce off of my plate. I had to ask the server how often people actually lick the plates because I was so tempted to do just that. The thing that sets Q'ero apart from many other restaurants is the fact that most of their meals are healthy and not loaded with fat and processed wheat. I loved the quinoa that came with my lunch. This is a great restaurant for a date or if you have an urge for some special food. It costs a little bit more than most restaurants but the quality is superb. read more

Love the ceviche! Just look at my photos and I promise they taste as good as they look. read more

See all

Called to order to go on a Thu eve. They told me to do it online. I did. Set the time to 7:30 pm. I got there early - 7:15. Food was not ready. 7:30, still not ready. 7:45 pm, finally ready. Drink almost forgot. It's not like they were very busy. Lomo saltado was very tough to chew. Yucca was good. I asked for utensils as I was going to a hotel. The guy said I put several in the bag. I got to the hotel and no utensil. I guess they don't need repeat customer. I will not stop there next time. The Baja place across the street seemed more vibrant. read more

Went here for work. Small restaurant. We had a large group and rented out the entire place for the evening. Great food and service. I thoroughly recommend this place read more

Fabulous! Such a delicious meal, wonderful staff and cozy atmosphere! Buy the sauce...amazing!!!

Was taken here by a friend while visiting San Diego. Delicious food and sangria with great service. A hidden gem!

I love the ambiance here. In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better place for a first date, birthday, anniversary, or other intimate occasion. It's a nice mix of cozy and festive. Also, the service is very friendly and attentive (yet not overly either). The food is quite good, but not consistently so (minus one star), and many dishes feel greasier than they should be. As an example, on a recent evening there my scallops were sitting in a film of oil, and the beef in the lomo saltado was fatty and gristly. And minus another star for the prices. Some may not agree, but I think everything is priced about 20% higher than I would expect to pay for food of this quality. For example, the $21 plate of lomo was unspectacular, and a $16 price point seems more appropriate for it. In any case, I'm a little particular when it comes to Latin American food, so chances are decent you'll be enamored with this place (like most others), even if I'm ambivalent. read more

We come here every year for my boyfriend's birthday, it's his favorite restaurant. This weekend we were craving Q'ero and couldn't wait to come back again so we found the perfect excuse: date night! As always we were very pleased. You really can't get a more delicious and unique meal anywhere else, such good food. This time we both got the specials; The trout with shaved fennel was amazing and so was the filet with quinoa and the dungeness crab appetizer. If you've never had Peruvian food just try anything on their menu and you can't go wrong. I love their wine list too, lots of great malbecs and red blends. Oh and don't forget to make a reservation at least a week or two in advance, there's a reason why they book up quickly and they don't take walk-ins. read more

Qero Restaurant - Trout with shaved fennel and filet with quinoa and mushroom sauce - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

It's been a couple of months since I ate there with my wife, but make no mistake, this little Peruvian joint is phenomenal! The place is tiny and all the decor is excellent - from the South American styled leather bound menus to the little condiment containers - everything hits the mark. Truly awesome food. We started with the empanadas. It was a controversial choice b/c the wife was leaning towards something else. Luckily for me, the empanadas were awesome (whew!). Just a hint of sweetness and great texture. Super starter! Do not skip the maduros. Perfect plantains! We had the pleasure of visiting Costa Rica last month and ate tons of plantains - none as good as Qero's. I chose the lamb shank for my entree. It was the best lamb shank I have had in years. In 2000, I worked at a hundred year old Creole restaurant in the French Quarter. This is the first time I have found a lamb shank that compares to what we served in New Orleans - great flavors and it just totally fell off the bone! Wife chose a nightly special - hangar steak. It was also good, although it was the only item that didn't have a real wow factor. Very nice service as well. Best restaurant I've been to in a long time. Definitely make dinner reservations as we had been turned away a week or two before - they were booked for the night! read more

Qero Restaurant - Lamb Shank - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

I love Peruvian food. Love the concept they've created here. love food presentation and taste but wayyyyyy too overpriced.

Had been thinking about eating here for many months, since an old friend had told me about it. Ceviche "Don Cucho"(aji, salt, lime juice and fresh fish)wow. Anticuchos de Corazón-( grilled beef heart) delicious. Ceviche Mixto-mix sea bass, bay shrimp, marinated in citrus juice, served with yucca fries. I bet you think I was full by now, wrong just started to eat. Our next order consisted of the following: Bistek a la Trujillana-grilled Brandt Steak some of the best beef available in the US. Brandt is the money. Pernil de Chancho-Pork shank cooked confit style( slow cooked in oil) there goes my cholesterol. But I'm a pig when it comes to pork. Costillas en Jora-short ribs slow cooked and braised.the meat falls off the bone. Patacones-Plantain chips with garlic mojo dipping sauce Arepa- Cheese filled cornmeal cake. Several bottles of wine and the celebration was on. read more

What a nice surprise! We have been eating dinner and lunch at Q'ero for many years, and its one of our local favorites. This morning, walking down 101, I noticed they were open for breakfast, so decided to give it a try. This review is just for breakfast (I'll write a dinner review then next time I eat there). Unfortunately, I was the only one there - I hope they are going to be able to continue offering breakfast, since my meal was wonderful. I ordered the Tacu-Tacu - a traditional Peruvian dish. It consisted of a base "loaf" of rice and beans, topped with spinach, a fried plantain, and a fried egg (as well as a little garnish of pickled onions). Of course, I added some of their famous Aji Panca chili sauce (and bought a bottle to go, since I was running out at home). The service was friendly, the atmosphere the same lovely tiny place it always is. A few more people would have made it perfect. I recommend that you stop in for breakfast while you can. read more

Qero Restaurant - Tacu Tacu (it looked so good, I had to grab a couple bites before taking this pic) - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Went here for birthday dinner; reserved in advance - there were half a dozen parties turned away at the door while we were there (and one group who decided to eat outside in the cold and wind). Got there at 5:30 on Saturday. Inside, the waiter was super friendly; had warm fruit punch and an empanada while we waited. Very cute decor and cozy atmosphere. The other half of our group arrived, had another empanada and wine and their cold salad which as citrus-y with tasty sharp cheese. I had the Buffalo Rib Eye which was marvelous, tender with tasty sauce, a bit fatty but I like it that way. The cooked cauliflower and spinach were a bit bitter for me but the mashed taters were great for sopping up sauce, The rest of us had garlic chicken, garlic beef, fish; all enjoyed them. Across from us someone had the lamb chops which looked tasty too. The dulce de leche cake was moist and quickly devoured even though we were full. By the time we left, the place was full, but we never felt rushed or crowded. read more

Definitely one of the best restaurants in Encinitas! Fresh and interesting flavors, whether just doing small plates or full meals. I am very picky about salads and their Amici salad is my favorite salad in town. We like to get a ceviche, a salad, and either small plates like Arepas or empanadas, or entrees like the calamari or flank steak. I've probably tried almost everything on the menu and you really can't go wrong, just go with your mood. Small but nice wine list and sangrias. This is a truly special family-owned restaurant with great food, not overpriced, that outshines so many of the new fancy corporate spots coming in. read more

Came here for lunch and loved the sea bass ceviche! We also ordered the aji de gallina and lomo saltado, which was a chicken and steak dish respectively. The aji de gallina came with Peruvian potatoes and tasted like curry. The lomo saltado came with fries and quinoa salad mixed with spinach and onions. The sauce tasted like soy sauce and was a bit salty, which we washed it down with their signature drink: chicha morada. The drink was blasted with cinnamon and clove. I hope we did get the antioxidants and vitamins from drinking it! read more

See all

Great food wonderland service and incredible recipes! Love this restaurant and would recommend it to everyone

This spot is delicious! They are serving take out and doing outside seating during Covid-19. Get the lomo Saltado and papa rellena. The ceviche is delicious. The chicha morada sangria goes great with the meal. read more

Only place on the street that was not crowded. People clearly want bar food instead of Peruvian or anything exotic (San Diego for ya) . This place is amazing. Get the empanadas. Filling and delicious. Ceviche was good. I'll be back read more

El Q'ero is a great night out in Encinitas, bring all the flavor and experiences of South America right to the California coastline. The lighting, the knowledgeable waitstaff, and the food all make the experience worth every penny. We started with the antojitos as an appetizer. They were wonderfully crisp, and very garlic-y. For dinner, my husband had the nightly special - an elk chop that was incredibly tender, and didn't even have that "game" taste that you might expect. I had the aji de gallina with rice, which made my mouth water just to look at, and it still does when I think about it. The chicken was juicy and the rice rounded out the meal perfectly. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and was able to explain the ins and outs of every dish, which was helpful since we couldn't even begin to choose between all of the wonderful dishes. Their house beverages (non-alcoholic) were a great compliment to the meal, even if having roasted corn in a fruit like punch seemed unusual at first, it was great in ways we could have never expected. While the meal was on the pricey side, it was definitely worth the expense. The only, potential, drawback is the size of the restaurant. There are only 11 tables inside, so reservations are recommended. No alcoholic beverages are allowed outside the restaurant, so if you want to drink, make sure you specify that in your reservation. read more

Amazing! That one word pretty much sums up the entire dining experience at Q'ero. The food, the ambiance, the service. My boyfriend surprised me with my birthday dinner at Q'ero. We first learned about this small restaurant while exploring Encinitas over a year ago. We tried to have dinner then but they were booked and we quickly learned that reservations would be a necessity. Flash forward to over a year later and we finally had the pleasure of dining at Q'ero. While the restaurant may be small (I recall maybe 10 to 12 tables), the atmosphere is spectacular. Very nicely decorated with what I assume is Peruvian art and the dim lighting makes for a romantic dining experience. Despite the close quarters, it was still relatively quiet. As neither my boyfriend or I have ever had Peruvian food before, we had no idea what to expect. The menu may as well been a foreign language (which parts of it actually were). We decided to be adventurous and jump straight in with four appetizer/side dishes. - Saltenas - We chose the chicken variety and I largely enjoyed it. I'd compare it to a drier version of a chicken pot pie with chicken, potatoes, peas and raisins inside a crust. - Antojitos - An assortment of yuca and plantain chips with garlic oil and parmesan cheese. It was like a twist on chips and salsa. I preferred the yuca chips but the plantains were better than ones I've tried in the past. Out of all the appetizers, this is the one that I would be most likely to order again. - Arepa - This cheese filled corncake was good but nothing special. - Kiwicha - Again, it was good but I'm still not entirely sure what it was. It looks similar to the Arepa though. The highlight of the meal was definitely the entrees. I had the Lomo Saltado, a mixture of flat iron steak, potatoes, onions and tomatoes in a aji colorado sauce. I had no idea what to expect but the waiter assured me it was amazing. And it was! The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce was delightful! I'll definitely order this again! My boyfriend had the Costilla en Jora, beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and had my dish not been so amazing, he would have been more than happy with his selection. But he thinks that he'll order the Lomo Saltado next time too. Since it was my birthday, we closed out the night with a couple desserts. The tres leches cake was melt-in-your-mouth amazing and my boyfriend enjoyed the Coco Loco. All in all, the restaurant tops my list of favorites. It's a bit pricey and our bill came to $100 without tip. But for another special occasion, we'll be back. Or maybe we'll just try the lunch menu next time. :) read more

Bottom Line: An intimate spot to enjoy the yummy flavors of Peru. In a Few Words: Food - flavorful and spicy Drinks - authentic Service - attentive Atmosphere - warm The Details: El Q'ero is a Peruvian Gem on South Coast Highway. Smarty pants me decided to pick this place for my birthday dinner and I am so glad I did because it was wonderful! We had a reservation, which I highly recommend for this small restaurant. Upon arriving, although there is no defined hostess stand we were immediately greeted and showed to our reserved table. It had a card on it with our name on it which made me feel kinda special. We started the meal with the Peruvian beers and Piso Sours. Whether you like beer, mixed drinks or booze you can't go wrong here. Then it was on to the calamari. The calamari was a bit different than your average fried squid. It was breaded and fried perfectly but it's the spiciness is what made it really stand out. I could have easily had another plate of it for my dinner but I decided steak was in order. Given that, I decided on the Bistek A La Trujillana (skirt steak with a caramelized onion, aji amarillo, and chicha de jora sauce) and bf had a steak special. The sauces at this restaurant are simply magnificent. If they bottled them, I would buy them. Throughout the night we received great service and that combined with really food and a welcome atmosphere made for a really special night out. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Delicious Peruvian cuisine in a cozy atmosphere! Definitely need reservations and they only do seating times now, so that's not so great but we loved the meal. The appetizer of the day was a sea bass ceviche served with a delectable passionfruit/chili/cumin scented marinade that I could have just drank on its own. Beef heart appetizer was very tasty as well. Loma saltado was perfect; quinoa very good but a little heavy on the salt. The tres leches cake was the best I ever had. Pisco sours to boot! We plan on returning just to order from the appetizer menu which is just wonderful! read more

Amazing! The food is authentic, with lots of flavor! Loved the sangria and the tres leches cake!

El Q'ero is the hidden gem of North County. Honestly, this quaint little place brings so many explosive flavors to the table, it's unbelievable. It has a great ambiance and very friendly service. Though this place is quiet expensive, it's well worth the money. The ONLY critique I have about Q'ero is their new reservation rule. If you reserve a table for 6 or more you need to give them your credit card # because each person in the party must spend atleast 30 dollars. It's kind of a hassle, but really, each person WILL spend that much because it's freaking delicious! I've been here 3 times for dinner and once for lunch. I ALWAYS order their Ceviche when I come here. It has some heat to it, but it's well balanced by the acidity of the lemon juice. Very flavorful :) The Antojitos...good lord...If you're a fan of cheesy garlicky chips, this is the dish for you. PURE. GARLICKY. GOODNESS. And the sauce that comes with it takes the dish to the next level; it's sweet and tangy, just so many unique flavors. The Calamari a la Diablada is another appetizer that's a must try for new-comers. It almost has a kung-pao seasoning going on, but with peruvian spices. VERY tasty and pretty spicy as well. I had The Quinoa chicken for lunch, but you can also order it as an appetizer. It's like gourmet fried chicken :) YUM. The texture of the Quinoa crust is so crispy and it works perfectly with the moist chicken. Now my favorite Entrees are their Bistek a la Trujillana (Skirt steak) and the Seco de Cordero (Lamb Shank). Their meats are seriously cooked to PERFECTION. The steak is sooo tender and is an EXPLOSION of flavor with the sweet potatoes combination. And the lamb....it just falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. I HIGHLY recommend these 2 entrees :) The Tres Leche Cake is their signature dessert. It's light, decadent, and not overly rich. It also has a sweet sponge cake-like texture to it. A very delicious treat to end the meal. El Q'ero is a top notch restaurant that will blow your expectations away. It's a great place to bring a date or just try something fun to eat. Trust me, It won't dissapoint :) read more

See all

New favourite place! Excellent service (vamos Antonio), great authentic Peruvian environment and top notch food! PS: try the sandwich de chancho and of course pisco sour. read more

Qero Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Great place. Cool vibe. Great food and service. Marcus and Luke were great!! Other staff was great as well. Overall excellent experience!