What is it about Peruvian food in New Mexico? The best restaurant in Angel Fire (probably by far) is Peruvian. Son who lives in ABQ says favorite one there is Peruvian. And our best dining experience ever in Taos has been AJI. Great hospitality from the owners, with nice ambiance in the restaurant. But the food is special. All dishes creative and not like anywhere else. Everything mouth watering. I do wish the restaurant were more vegetarian friendly, but South American restaurants tend to be very carnivore-centric. read more

My husband and I came to Taos for a getaway and thought Ají looked like a great place for a first meal. We walked from our B&B and it didn't look like much from the outside but it is classy inside. Upon entering the air was a bit stifling. The windows were open and there was a breeze so we asked to sit by the window which was no problem. The decor was tasteful and. It overdone. The service was a bit slow but staff is friendly. Our server always kept a distance we are aren't used to when being served and it seemed as though she wanted to drop things off with arms stretched as far as possible and in fact she didn't pour the bottle of wine we ended up with. I appreciated her recommendations and especially when I asked about the wine she recommended a different one than the one we first suggested. She was right! We ended up getting a delicious Koyle Cabernet. We ordered the duck and the lamb. The duck was 10/10 amazing! The lamb was cooked medium well for some reason as we were not asked and assumed it would be medium rare. Don't assume they say! It was dry and fatty. Seems strange I know but there you go. But definitely try the duck!! read more

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Good food. Entrees are better than appetizers. Service was good overall. Good for friends and gathering. Very chilled vibe. read more

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BEST MEAL IN TAOS! Hands down the best food we tasted on our trip (even better than medley) I had the duck which we agreed was the favorite entree. It was cooked perfectly- tender with distinct flavors and unique sides. My husband's lamb and my son's trout were also excellent. We were super thankful they allowed our dog in the dining room (the patio was closed that day). read more

Great dining experience! I had never tried Peruvian food before this. Very friendly wait staff - the waiter recommended the salmon with corn pudding, and it was DELICIOUS!! read more

Wow! What a fantastic experience. The ambiance is both cozy and romantic. They lowered the lighting around 6pm, setting the mood. All the food we had was both flavorful and filling. Highly recommend the trout and quinoa risotto;phenomenal! Our waitress was both attentive and friendly. She was the only one serving the other patrons, as it seemed to be slow on a Thursday night but she was a hard worker. Highly recommend this gem of a restaurant! read more

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Reviews online sounded very interesting so hubby and I went for his birthday dinner, hoping for a very good Peruvian meal experience. The interior was clean and very happy to say we did not see any flies inside even though the windows were open for cross ventilation on a very hot day, and one of the screens was bent with a fairly large opening. We really dislike flies in a restaurant and we had a few recent meals elsewhere with fly issues so this restaurant was a big plus! Server was polite and eager to answer questions and make us comfortable. Hubby chose paella after asking about the shellfish and size of portion. I chose the salmon entree. My entree was nicely sized portions of salmon and corn pudding. Salmon nicely cooked and moist, and corn pudding flavorful. A small portion Of salad was also on the plate. I was very happy with my choice. Hubby said paella was "ok". Small portion size in a heavy metal or cast iron round pan about 8" across, with very little shellfish. He said the rice had a bit of flavor but overall it was just ok. My wine was by the glass. Very little options to choose from and especially by the glass. All but 2 wines on the menu were from South America . I ordered Malbec and it was mediocre. Hubby had a gin cocktail. I would definitely go back and also try other dishes - just not paella. read more

Very enjoyable meal overall and glad we went for dinner! We started with both ceviches and both were enjoyable. Asian style one was way more acidic than expected. The brussels sprouts were very tasty but relatively small. Salmon with chimichurri and Lomo saltado were both good, particularly the corn pudding with the salmon. Sadly the beef was not all tender in the lomo saltado. The Peruvian shrimp and corn chowder was amazing, clearly the highlight of the meal- rich and flavorful, just great. The lucuma sour was great, pisco sour tasty but a little strange as it was semi frozen. read more

For a change of pace, we decided to go Peruvian for dinner tonight in Taos, NM. So glad we did... Aji rocked the house! Great meal from start to finish! Navitidad was our waitress, she was awesome! Attentive but not intrusive! Navitidad, thanks for your wonderful service! We started the evening with a couple of Peruvian cocktails... a Pisco Sour and a Maracuya Sour. Both were delicious, hat tip to the Maracuya Sour for its passion fruit flair! For the appetizer, we opted for the beef heart, "Antichucos." My oh my, delish! The beef heart, marinated, served on skewers with thinly sliced potatoes, hominy, and a killer chimichurri sauce on top! So good, we could have ordered five more servings and been happy... but, we didn't! And for good reason... For our entrees we selected the Pato (duck leg) and the Seafood Pasta. Both were outstanding! The duck leg was served atop fabulous creamed sweet potatoes and yucca strips... the dish was incredible! Likewise, the seafood pasta was over the top great. Served with "Aji Sauce" very flavorful and with a surprise kick of heat (hot pepper) on the end. Plenty of baby scallops and shrimp, with mushrooms and peas, OMG good! The pasta was freshly made and served a perfect al dente.... We enjoyed a wonderful bottle of Albariño El Terrano from Spain, which was perfect for the duck and pasta! We were stuffed, so we passed on dessert this time around. The restaurant space is comfortable and cool! It was packed by 7:30pm when we left! Art for sale on the walls, pottery, sculptures, etc. Even the bathroom space was beautifully tiled! Bossa nova pop hits from the overhead speakers was awesome! (It's what we listen to at home!). What a meal... highly recommend Aji for a "change of pace" meal in Taos, NM. read more

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We have visited Taos during winter break for the last 3 years, and cannot believe we never ate here before. Aji offers the best Peruvian food we have had in a long time since moving to TX from the NYC area. A few dishes we ordered over and over were the Lomo Salteado, Anticuchos, Yucca Frita and both ceviches which were amazing. So much so that we came back for round two. Service was friendly, and professional, and the ambiance was a cozy romantic yet allowed for families with kids to feel welcomed. Aji will be our top restaurant every season read more

Excellent food. Nice small restaurant ambiance. Had llomo saltado, ceviche, empanadas, and Peruvian pesto tagliatelle (can't remember the name). All dishes were excellent, particularly empanadas. read more

In town for a night after a 7 hour drive and checked into this beautiful restaurant. We entered it felt so comfortable and perfect for 30 degrees Fahrenheit weather! We ordered the yucan chips to begin with..followed by the paella and duck. OK SO, the duck leg, Pato, was the star. It feels like warm comforting hug. This paired with the Malbec, The paella was equally amazing!!! Do visit if you come here! read more

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The food was excellent - well prepared and very tasty! We are seafood snobs and my wife's salmon was done perfectly.

What a nice little gem in Taos. We had read the reviews and driven by but decided to try it when our daughter came to visit. Cute setting, quiet, great food and great service. I will definitely be back to try more! read more

The moment you walk through the door, you'll know that you're in for a gastronomic treat. Spices fill the air as you enter this cozy spot with artwork around every corner. The empanada pastry is perfection with a superb beef filling. Words escape me when I reflect on the superb trout and salmon entrees! As I devoured my meal, I wondered if it's acceptable in the Peruvian culture to lick one's plates and bowls! Undoubtedly, it was one of the tastiest dinners ever! read more

Aji Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

This was such a wonderful find! The ambiance was perfect. Vibey music, and atmosphere. And the lady who served me was sweet, with a wonderful warm personality. She was the cherry to the sundae! I ordered the beef hearts as a starter and the paella as main dish. Very flavorful and delicious. This resturant is a must. read more

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My favorite dinner restaurant in Taos! Every menu item I've had is above excellent, the service is above par! The deserts are to live for! read more

If you live in Taos or are just visiting you simply must try this unique and charming restaurant. The food was out of this world delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. I recommend the ceviche to start, the paella and duck entrees. All were outstanding!! We had a memorable experience and so will you. Can't wait to try other Peruvian dishes! read more

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Made reservations for our family on Valentine's Day. The 4 course meal was excellent, and appropriately priced. I would say it was *way* more food than necessary, though. It felt like we were served 3 full sized meals rather than 1 large one. The portion sizes of each course was too generous and quite rich. Some standout dishes included the squash soup, lamb, and fried seafood. There was a creamed chicken dish that was great in flavor but very odd in texture. The chimichurri sauce was extraordinarily salty, and the tiramisu was a bit mushy for me. I think it was meant to be more similar to a tres leches. Overall very good quality food. I took off a star for ambience. The furniture is downright uncomfortable and would cause me to not return. The chairs have this odd short wooden frame with mushed, torn cushions that cause you to sink in and put too much leg pressure on the frame. The tables are a drum style so you can't put your feet in front of you, you have to turn to the side the whole time or straddle the table. Not a good position for sore ski legs. We were in a room next to the room with a bar. I do not recommend being anywhere near the bar. There is a security camera that randomly shines a super bright light towards the tables for a long time. Very annoying. And there's too much wait staff traffic though this area. Constant movement, not relaxing. The bathrooms were missing supplies even though we had a very early dinner reservation. I took off another star for service. Very slow, it took us 2.5hrs, they must be understaffed. A couple near us thought about leaving because it took so long to even order drinks. You do tend to feel abandoned at times. There was oddly silverware missing from the napkin bundles and it took forever to get replacements (even after the food came). Food sometimes came out at different times rather than together, so my son waited until almost the 4th course for his primary meal. We shared with him up until that point but it was pretty ridiculous. Lastly, the description of cuisine seems off. I would not call it Peruvian fusion. It's just "fusion" is general. There were dishes mildly influenced by several cultures. This was disappointing to me as I love Peruvian food. Perhaps the regular menu is more Peruvian? read more

We stumbled upon place while hunting for a dinner option on Taos. Oh my gosh the food was incredible, the drinks were awesome, the waiter was fantastic, and the atmosphere was quiet. We definitely recommend this place when you visit Taos! read more

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The food was amazing, their fries were just delicious. The service was great, the food came out pretty quickly and everyone looked like they were having a fun time. The ambiance was pretty chill and there was good lighting in this semi-fancy place. read more

Such a neat experience. Peruvian food with the restaurant seating area emanating a cozy in-house feel

They had delicious food and were a nice place for an intimate dinner. They were able to serve people with food allergies, but we had to make sure to double check our meal and make sure it was correct. read more

BEST Paella and steaks ... Was pleasantly surprised with the food and service at this place

This place is a gem in Taos. Food and drinks were great. Wonderful ambiance and friendly service. Highly recommend!

The food was really delicious. The service was good. The ambience was OK. It was hard to tell if they were open or not because they did not have the light on that says open. This was quite a while ago, but I really did enjoy it when I went. read more

What can I say except everything was absolutely delicious! We had two appetizers - the street ceviche and the dip. For the large dish we shared the paella - it was the best paella we've ever had! I'll Start with the dip - it was complex in flavor and was so incredibly delicious with the homemade tortilla chips. The street ceviche had roasted corn, sweet potatoes, and steamed Peruvian corn (don't remember the name of the type). The flavor profile of the ceviche paired perfectly with both the white (Sauv Blanc) and red wines (Syrah) we got. We could've eaten both of those small dishes again. But then came the Paella, it was so complex in flavor and the lime onions/cilantro that came with it added so much depth. The meal was absolutely incredible. No pictures because we were too busy eating everything read more

Excellent! Our favorites are the salmon, duck, trout, and beef strips - so far. Good beer and wine selections and great service. We look forward to our next visit to Taos so that we can explore more menu options. read more

Visited Taos 2 weeks ago. Four of us had dinner at Aji the last night in town. So happy we capped off our visit here! Super friendly and welcoming staff. I noticed the parking lot and restaurant entrance was easily accessible for everyone as well. The table split three appetizers - Brussels, yucca, and empanadas. All were good and the empanadas stood out as fantastic to me. My wife had Lomo Saltado which is one of her favorites. She said it was the best she's had. My daughter had the Tallarin Verde. I tried it and the beef and pasta were super flavorful. Another in our party had the Paella. I didn't taste it but he said it was really good. I had the ceviche for my entree. Super fresh and tasty. Wine prices were very reasonable and the flan my daughter ordered for dessert was spot on delicious. So happy we visited Aji and if I am ever in Taos again will definitely return! read more

I'm sad to give this place 3 stars because the food was really good. But they took a long time to get our drink and appetizer order. We waited for 30 mins and no one had come by. And they forgot a couple of orders. We were a group of 7 so maybe they are not used to having a large group? Though there was a couple sitting next to us that were really upset about the slow service and decided to leave. We sat in the back where it was really cold, they brought a heater which helped a little but still a bit uncomfortable. Outside of the service, if you are a patient person, the food was phenomenal. Beef empanadas were a hit, we got 3 orders of the ceviche Nikkei and I loved my paella. The rest got the trout and salmon and were all scrapping their plates so they enjoyed it. Some cocktails were not that great so probably best to stick to wine and beer. read more

Lovely dinner for my birthday. I totally forgot to take pictures! We had ceviche, Brussels sprouts, yucca, plantains, beef empanadas and paella. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. The service was excellent, the dessert was wonderful. Flan and cheesecake. A keeper. read more

Outstanding! We were blown away by the unique flavors in their Peruvian menu. Such a breath of fresh air in the Taos restaurant scene that is growing stale. Aji was eager to welcome us, even on a Saturday evening when many restaurants were closed. read more

Super solid four plus stars. The food and service were close to perfect, only the exterior of this business drag the total rating down. From the outside, the untended landscaping and surrounding buildings give a "Bates Motel" vibe. Inside however is clean, modern, and well maintained. Our server, who I believe was one of the owners, was very nice, prompt, and helpful. The quality of the food was very high, and well worth the price. We started off with a pisco sour (pisco is a clear distilled spirit common in Peru and Chile), and a sangria. We had the Brussels as an appetizer which were very tasty, especially the ones that had a crispy caramelized side. The spicy sauce and bacon were very nice. My wife had the paella, not a traditional Peruvian dish, but made with Peruvian spices it was delicious. One might rightly worry about ordering a seafood dish so far from the ocean, but in this case those fears are definitely misplaced. The dish arrived bubbling and steaming in a scorching hot cast iron pan. The seafood elements were cooked to perfection, neither too raw nor overcooked and tough. Bringing all the elements of this dish together with perfect doneness on each part is a test off a chef's skill. The chef nailed it! I had the Pato (slow cooked duck) which was also very well prepared and delicious. A bite of the tender duck combined with a bit of the sweet potato and the slightly spicy Amarillo sauce was a memorable pleasure. We finished dinner with a shared cappuccino flan. We had intended only to eat half of it, but the sharp sweetness of the caramel and the slightly bitter cappuccino custard caused it to disappear! Don't let the exterior of this restaurant put you off. If you are in Taos this is definitely worth a visit. read more

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WOW! We thoroughly enjoyed Aji. Split the Brussels, yucca, and Pato and waddled away from the table. The Pato is amazing! Do not miss!

loved this place! my family and i were joking about finding some peruvian restaurants in NM while roadtripping and luckily enough we found this place. As peruvians our selves we found the food and drinks to truly be authentic. Felt like we were eating homemade food that my mom makes. Thanks so much for a lovely time! read more

This place was phenomenal. What a hidden gem. I visit Northern New Mexico for work frequently and always looking for the best local stops. Though I love New Mexican cuisine, I was wanting to mix it up. That being said, this scratch kitchen with Peruvian influence sure hit the spot. The restaurant is situated in a cozy old home with quaint atmosphere. Service was great, our waitress handled the entire restaurant smoothly and was so genuine and kind. Gave excellent recommendations. The duck was fall of the bone, empanadas were buttery and savory and steak was tender. Entrees took a bit long, assuming from high volume of guests, and they kindly comped our dessert for us, which was very unnecessary, but appreciated. Definitely will be stopping by next time I'm in town. read more

Food and service were great. We had the Lomo Saltado and Paella and they were great. Very attentive service. We were celebrating a birthday so they gave us a free dessert (cappuccino flan) which was great. Very happy with this restaurant choice. read more

We were only in Taos for one night on this trip and specifically were looking for a place with "good food that serves wine" and Aji delivered ABOVE AND BEYOND with this request. When we return to Taos we would definitely come back here. HIGHLY recommend this as your dinner destination. The food was wonderful and staff was very friendly. Our favorites were the Ceviche Nikkei and Paella. The paella was so good, we ate it too quickly to snag a photo. Do yourself a favor and check this place out! What we ordered Small Plates: Aji De Gallina Empanada, Ceviche Nikkei & Anticuchos Large Plates: Paella & Pato Dessert: Passion Fruit Cheesecake read more

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We stumbled upon this little gem one weekend as we were rolling into town. What a find! We now eat here every time we are in Taos. The food is absolutely amazing. We had the Anticuchos (beef hearts in a chimichurri sauce) to start and the Patos (duck) and Tallarin Verde (NY steak and fettuccine in a pesto cream sauce).They were all delicious, perfectly seasoned and prepared with outstanding sauces on each. The sides were delicious too. I don't know what they put in the mashed sweet potatoes but oh my gosh! This charming little place should not be missed. Cannot wait to return. read more

First of all, when we entered the restaurant it was stifling hot. I asked to be seated near a swamp cooler (that didn't seem to be taking down the temperature even one degree). Then we waited over 30 minutes for someone to take our order (I had to ask the bus boy to track our waitress down). We were served warm tap water with no ice or lemon. I ordered a Pisco Sour (a famous Peruvian drink) but it came frozen like a slushy (I have had hundreds of Pisco Sours at a ton of different restaurants and had never been served a frozen one) and was quite short on Pisco. My cocktail came with no straw or spoon and I was unable to drink it directly from the glass. I asked for both a straw & a spoon. I got a soup spoon and a very thin piece of plastic that looked like a coffee stirrer, I tried but couldn't drink my frozen drink through it. I had to wait for my drink to melt before I could drink it. My husband asked for a very cold beer in a frozen glass (can you tell we were roasting?). What he got was a warm beer in a regular (non-cold) glass. When the food came, I received 5 tiny shrimp on a bed of quinoa and nothing else (cost of this meal was $22). My husband's Paella was mediocre and cost $23. When the bill came we were charged a % of the bill as a "Card Payment Fee" (never, ever had a restaurant charge me extra to pay with a credit card before!). Needless to say, we left a 2% tip to make a point. Personally, I think the waitstaff were overwhelmed. There was one waitress and one bus boy to service the entire restaurant. I hope the waitstaff take the owner aside and demand more help and supplies. I blame the owner for most of the issues we experienced. read more