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    The Peruvian Spot

    4.5 (105 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    The Peruvian Spot Reservations

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    THE PERUVIAN SPOT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - The Peruvian Spot

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    Picarones (4 Units)
    Daniel D.

    Located in a small business lot across the street from 7 eleven near San Diego Mesa College, this small unassuming casual restaurant serves up some pretty tasty Peruvian food. Parking can be limited but there is some street parking. You order at the counter and pick one of 6 tables to sit at. The decor is culturally appropriate and minimal. The server is friendly and the food comes out fairly quickly except when they get a lot of mobile orders. We went here twice and ordered a ton of food each time. The food is yummy and tastes more like Asian food than you would think. Every dish was flavorful and unique, but our favorite was definitely the chicharron sandwich. Our least favorite was the donut dessert. It is a bit on the pricier side for casual dining, but definitely recommend this spot if you're in the mood for Peruvian food.

    Tin-Trung P.

    I got the ceviche here, and wow it was beautiful! I mean, it reminded me of some of my favorite Peruvian ceviche. Rich in color, full of all the things you would expect. Some sweet potato, some starchy corn, and best of all some heat drizzled on top. All that being said, I felt like I was a bit sad to feel like it didn't quite hit. I personally, prefer a more richly seasoned ceviche, but I won't fault it, because I think others prefer a more light and clean ceviche which actually makes more sense haha. But if I were craving it, I would totally make the trip to pick this up, because the ceviche was very well done. And it's hard to find a place serving ceviche with leche de tigre.

    Audrey W.

    There's not many places in SD that I've found with authentic Peruvian food, but this place is legit. The chicharron sandwich was amazing with a soft bread, and fatty chicharron. Their aji de gallina was also amazing and filling. Portion sizes are big and fairly priced. There are no waiters, you order at the front and grab your tray when called, food finishes cooking quickly. The interior is clean and the restrooms are clean as well. When I went it wasn't too busy and there were many tables to sit at. Overall, I would highly recommend if you are craving authentic Peruvian food!

    The Peruvian Spot!
    Stephen C.

    I seek out Peruvian restaurants. San Diego has several, but none have truly blown me away--until I discovered The Peruvian Spot near Mesa College (close to Mira Mesa). It's only been open about a year, and since I hadn't been in the area, I somehow missed it. I'm so glad I finally tried it! I ordered the Lomo Saltado and their Inka Asada Fries. The Lomo Saltado was spot-on--perfectly balanced, with that just-right touch of vinegar that so many places get slightly off. The Inka Asada Fries were a revelation: a salty, flavorful twist on carne asada fries, loaded with steak, crispy elements, and a vibrant green Peruvian sauce that made every bite pop. And of course, no Peruvian meal is complete without a cold can of Inca Kola (or Inca Coca-Cola, as some call it)!

    Picarones (4 Units)

    Love coming here! The owners are so welcoming and nice. They make you feel right at home. Whenever I'm in San Diego, I make sure to come here if I'm craving anything Peruvian. Everything is delicious. Last time I went for dessert with my parents and they did not disappoint. Try the picarones, chocolate cake, and alfajores. Trust me! Also parking is easy which is always a plus.

    Jamie L.

    stopped by for a quick bite on saturday afternoon. ordered the Tallarines Verdes (Peruvian Pesto) since it came highly recommended. i am a big fan of pesto and this was my first time having peruvian pesto. it was very rich, flavorful and savory. the sauce had a smooth and silky texture. i liked the beef and veggies, although i do wish it was cut into smaller pieces. overall, it was really good! it's more self-service by ordering and picking up at the counter. the restaurant is spacious, bright and airy.

    Shelf of Peruvian goods
    Angela W.

    I LOVE Peruvian food and am always looking to try new spots in SD. The reviews I've read praised the authenticity of this restaurant, so my expectations were high going into this meal. I really enjoyed my food and will definitely be back. The Peruvian Spot is located in a small strip mall, 3 shops down from the bustling Homestyle Hawaiian. As a result, parking was rather difficult but I got lucky and snagged a spot. The shop is spacious and clean, with plenty of seating. This is a very family friendly restaurant, with a small children's play area featuring a Peruvian Restaurant mainstay, a large llama figurine. There is a shelf near the front that sells Peruvian snacks and sauces, as well as a cooler with drinks and desserts. The owner and his wife were working and both were super super friendly! I ordered the aji de gallina and also tried a bite of my friend's tallarin a la huancaina. The portions are large and both dishes were scrumptious. I had enough leftovers for a second filling meal the next day. My aji de gallina came with both rice and thick potato slices, we love a double carb moment. Both starches were perfectly cooked and not mushy. The golden stew itself is savory, packed with tender, shredded chicken, and creamy but not too cheesy. It tastes nostalgic, familiar, and homey despite this dish being something I have only had once before. It is super soothing with a slight tingle of spice that swells with each spoonful. I did like mine with a bit more black pepper, but it was very good regardless. The sprinkling of walnuts on top added a good crunch to contrast the very soft dish. The tallarin was perfectly al dente and the sauce was also super rich. It paired fantastically with the steak and sauce that it came with. After we finished eating, we sprung for ice cream. It is

    Picarones
    Melissa S.

    We came here for breakfast. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, Maracuya - Passion Fruit drink and we shared an Alfajor and Picarones. The highlight for me at this place was the Alfajor and the Picarones. The Picarones were the best I've ever had! We ordered at the counter and all of our food came out quickly. They were nice enough to fry up the Picarones once we were nearing the end of our meal and it was delicious and fresh! We ordered the Alfajor to go and devoured it later in the day. This location had easy parking, was clean and had cute Peruvian decoration inside.

    Outside front
    Michael P.

    What we ordered: * Pan con chicharron - recently won the world cup of breakfasts. Give it a try, but it may be worth splitting as it is heavy. 8/10 * Lomo saldado - classic peruvian dish. Good flavor and quality of meat. 8/10 * Picarones - I am not usually crazy about these, but we received ours freshly fried and had AMAZING flavor. The best I've ever had. 10/10 Service * You order at the counter and then they call your name to pick up your food * Informal, but the cashier was very friendly Ambience * Some nice peruvian decor, paintings, and of course, Sami the llama. * It feels like a local family spot. Classic home style feel with oeruvian music playing.

    Pan con Chicharron

    I've been searching for authentic Peruvian food in San Diego for years, and The Peruvian Spot has completely blown me away. From the moment we walked in, the warm, vibrant atmosphere made us feel like we'd been transported straight to Lima -- cozy lighting, lively energy, and a staff that genuinely makes you feel welcome. The food is absolutely the star of the show. Tamales, pan con chicharron, emoliente, etc. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Our server walked us through the menu with obvious pride and passion, which made the whole experience even more special. For the quality and portion sizes, the prices are beyond reasonable. This is the kind of place where you leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. Easily one of the best restaurants in San Diego, Peruvian or otherwise. Highly recommend!

    Lomo Saltado Beef
    Emily D.

    Wow!! I had such an amazing experience dining at The Peruvian Spot. We were greeted by a super kind lady at the register, who explained the menu items to us and answered all of our questions. I would highly recommend the lomo saltado and chicharron sandwich. I was literally in awe when I saw how huge their sandwich was, and in even more awe when I took that first bite!

    Chicken Causa
    Gianina M.

    I was excited to try this place for a while since there are not many Peruvian places in San Diego. I am daughter of a Peruvian and have eaten the best Peruvian food in Peru and Miami. Finally made it here. Service left a lot to desire. It seemed that they didn't want to take your order. Usually Peruvians are super friendly, but this place lacked so much of it. We were four of us, all peruvians. We ordered two types of ceviche, a Sandwich, Chicken Cause, Fried Yuca and Dessert Picarones. The ceviches were super salty unfortunately. The sandwich ok. The Chicken Causa, the chicken was not shredded but by chunks, so it was so difficult to chew and swallow. Definitely not an enjoyable thing to eat. Picarones should be this fluffly doughnut made with sweet potato. These picarones were so thick in dough that it lost its fluffliness. Definitely may be good for people that have never eaten Peruvian food with no reference but for culinary experts and Peruvians this place is not an option.

    Reyman B.

    Suddenly was surprised to see Milk Tea Lab gone and replaced with a Peruvian restaurant. Never had salchipapas and had no idea it was fries with sausage. Was pleasantly surprised by how simple and tasty it was. Love the egg and extra protein from shredded chicken. Definitely something you can share. I've had a loma saltado, but never as a sandwich. Definitely get your money's worth for the amount of food you get. Love how you can buy sauces and other items as well. Definitely a great addition to the plaza. Love the interior and what they've done to decorate the space. Still feels like I'm in Milk Tea Lab, but with more decoration and better use of space. They also drew a llama on my bag, loved it.

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    Love going here! The best Lomo Saltado. They have a great atmosphere inside and awesome customer service.

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    The Peruvian Spot Reviews in Other Languages

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    Avian Fresh Drinking Water

    Avian Fresh Drinking Water

    4.0
    (176 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I've been wanting to check out Avian for a while now and finally had the perfect excuse... pool day…read morewith the girls + bánh mìs! Avian is a unique spot tucked inside a shopping plaza with super easy parking. It's a purified water shop, but they also have Vietnamese bánh mìs, desserts, boba, smoothies, snacks, candies, chips, and even a lotto machine that everyone seemed obsessed with. They even display how much people have won in store! For drinks, we got 2 Vietnamese coffees and a sugar cane drink. The coffees were strong, bold, and exactly you would expect. The sugar cane drink was super fresh and refreshing, especially for a hot pool day. Now the bánh mìs... SO good. I think it's a nice touch that they ask if you want jalapeños or not because they know it's spicy. It looks like they scoop out some of the bread and then load it up with the fillings. Portions felt generous and honestly perfect for our little pool picnic! Definitely coming back!

    Avian Sandwiches In…read moremy opinion, the bánh mì here tastes better than at the surrounding shops in the area. The bread is fresh and crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside, and the fillings are flavorful and well balanced. The owner is friendly, welcoming, and very attentive to customers, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. I ordered six sandwiches ,three special bánh mì, two grilled pork bánh mì, and one meatball bánh mì, so it took a little while for everything to be prepared. However, the wait was understandable since they were made fresh to order. If you're in a hurry, you can call ahead to place your order and avoid waiting too long. The shop itself is small but clean and well organized. Overall, it's a great spot for a tasty and satisfying bánh mì.

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    Avian Fresh Drinking Water
    Avian Fresh Drinking Water
    Fresh sugarcane juice

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    Fresh sugarcane juice
    Sandwich Emporium

    Sandwich Emporium

    4.2
    (555 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $

    these folks are awesome! and their sandwiches are really good !…read moreAbsolutely a go to sandwich shop. The team is very nice and always helpful.

    Was itching for a bagel but stumbled upon this place and the reviews had me sold! I think it is a…read moresolid 3.5 but nothing about the sandwich, service, or ambiance really pushed it over the top. That's not to say it's bad, I think all sandwiches places should be as good as this was, but it just wasn't special enough to get four stars in my opinion. You have all the staples and classic. Your roast beef's. Your turkeys. Your ham. They also serve breakfast sandwiches which looked super good. There's also a handful for interesting combos which caught my eye. I went with the Pho'wich which has slow cooked roast beef, fresh basil, tomato, onion, cucumbers, house pickled jalapeño, hoisin mayo, on a buttered garlic roll. I cut it in half, added some chips and a pickle. It came out to just about 20 bucks. I was one of three people in there on a Sunday around 1pm and from order to my mouth was no more than 7 minutes. The jalapeño wasn't spicy nor didn't taste very pickled. The hoisin sauce i thought would smack, but sadly it didn't. I love hoisin but thought it made the sub subpar. It fell a little flat from my expectations but the roast beef was tender and the bread was garlicky which added depth to it. I would come back to try the others but I don't think I'll come back anytime soon. The inside was cute and fun stuff on the walls that captured my attention. Service was nice. Can seat maybe 30 inside and another 10 or so outside where I sat with my dog.

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    Sandwich Emporium
    Veggie sandwich with cucumber, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, sprouts, and pesto!
    Veggie sandwich with cucumber, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, sprouts, and pesto!
    Sandwich Emporium

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    Big Front Door

    Big Front Door

    4.4
    (908 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    My new favorite sandwich spot! Portions are proper, ingredients are fresh, and prices affordable…read more Tucked in University Heights there's convenient parking out front. There's and indoor/outdoor area so pet-friendly! They also have a dog treat they make in house as well David and all of the staff today were incredibly welcoming. The chicken salad sandwich was so full and toasted to perfection, the wasabi beef was flavorful and also did not lack protein!

    This place is one of the top 5 best sandwich shops in San Diego hands down. They also serve salads,…read moresoups, and some awesome sides. I heard they're going to start serving beer and wine soon as well! *Best 1st-timer options*: The Keeper (if you like it spicy) or the L.G.B.T. My favorite hot sandwiches are the Cali Cubano, B3, and The Keeper, while my favorite cold sandwiches are the Avocado Highway, L.G.B.T. (lettuce, gouda, bacon, tomato), and Caprese. My favorite salads are the Grapevine and Duck Cranberry. For sides I recommend the potato salad and tomato basil bisque. The aioli they use is to die for -- can't hurt to get a side of it with any sandwich! The restaurant is situated on the corner of Park Blvd. and Polk Ave. (more generally, it's on the strip of Park Blvd. between University Ave. and El Cajon Blvd.). There is usually a good amount of parking on Park Blvd. and Polk Ave., which is nice. The space has a simple-yet-tasteful modern design and interior, is always clean, with friendly and helpful staff. Great for lunch hour or a weekend date. Update: Came back today with my friend and we ordered the B3 and the Turkey & Cheddar Mousse sandwiches, plus sides of potato salad and cucumber salad, and a double chocolate cookie with pistachio and sea salt. Everything was really good, but the Turkey & Cheddar Mousse sandwich was the star of the show. The cookie was great too. We both agreed the potato salad could use some salt, but besides that it was a solid meal all around.

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    Ordering area
    Ordering area
    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
    Checkout area

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    Checkout area
    San Diego Bakery

    San Diego Bakery

    4.1
    (28 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    I just moved to Linda Vista area and there is no espresso anywhere! I arrived at 8am to purchase an…read moreespresso drink and a pastry. Saw their beautiful espresso machine as soon as I walked in. The staff working the register were very nice, but informed me that unfortunately they don't start serving espresso until 1pm which makes zero sense from a business standpoint, because most people want coffee in the morning. I am so disappointed and I will have to continue my search for a nice frothy morning cappuccino in Linda Vista.

    I so wanted to try the coffees, licuados, tortas, and pastries. Posted hours for the coffee shop…read morethe day I went was 7am-6pm. It was 1:30pm when I arrived. I parked in the alley in front of the entrance. I noticed they had security patrols by the building. There is a recycling center in the alley across from the bakery, it was busy over there today! Sadly, the coffee/smoothie bar was closed, and I settled for regular brewed coffee, some pan dulce, and a pollo torta - two out of four things I wanted to try. The prices are very reasonable here. I almost ate one whole pan while waiting for my torta. It was sooo good. The girl at the counter was quick and friendly. My food came out within 10 minutes, behind customers that ordered two sandwiches as well. I didn't mind waiting for made to order at all. The torta was gigantic! Lots of pollo, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, frijoles, mayo, avocado, jalapenos. The taste was omg. Coffee was also good, just what I needed today.

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    Closed coffee bar at 10am
    Closed coffee bar at 10am
    Chorizo Tacos
    Chorizo Tacos
    San Diego Bakery

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    The Peruvian Spot - peruvian - Updated July 2026

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