Thank goodness someone told me about this place. It doesn't look like much from the outside and…read moreeven after you enter. But, take your time looking at the menu and pictures of their selections. EVERYTHING is delicious, and reasonably priced. I got the whole chicken to last me for a couple of days. And always the sweet plantains. The flavors are out of this world. And try the flan, some of the best I have found and a good size portion.

Chios Rotisserie is a small family-owned Peruvian restaurant located in Garner. We placed our…read moretakeout order at the counter and it was ready in about 10-15 minutes which was just enough time for me to finish my beer. I ordered the quarter white chicken with tacu tacu (rice topped with beans) and corn plus a side of plantains to split with the group. My husband ordered the quarter white chicken with plantains and corn and my mom ordered the arroz chaufa. We all thought that the food was good.

Nice little Peruvian spot in Garner. Food is similar to Alpaca but very good in its own right!…read moreService was great! I highly recommend visiting Mi Peruvian!

This is the short summary: Don't go, this place is infested with cockroaches see pics. Complete…read morereview: I came here with my whole family and my in laws on Saturday. I am Peruvian and I've eaten at the Mi Peru restaurant in Durham a few times and I always liked it, it was too far for me though. Once I found out another Mi Peru opened closer I had to try it. For starters the strip mall where it is located is not the nicest location. The restaurant itself feels a bit old and not very clean. I was about to leave but I decided to take a chance. We ordered a few dishes to share: ceviche, chicharron de pescado, arroz chaufa, aji de gallina and seco de res. And even desserts : Alfajor, tres leches and crema volteada. Food overall wasn't bad, I actually liked it, it wasn't amazing but not bad at all. The service on the other hand was terrible, there was a young guy and a young girl who had no idea how to wait tables, we were missing silverware, we had to ask for plates and glasses, .... That duo was a mess. They seemed too occupied flirting with each other than caring for the 2 tables that were occupied. Anyhow, when we got to bill I noticed that an 18% tip was mandatory !! 18 % for the terrible service I had received, that was really unfair. I paid over $180 for 5 adults and 2 kids and terrible service. Up until that point I was determined to leave and just give this place 3 stars . But then I decided to go to the bathroom and on my way to the bathroom there was a cockroach in the hallway, that was disgusting so I moved quickly into the bathroom. Inside the bathroom under the sink there was another cockroach !!! I almost threw up wondering how many cockroaches are probably running around in the kitchen!!! It is sad for me to post this as a Peruvian but I care more about the safety of the people and the reputation of the Peruvian food. My advice to the owners of Mi Peru.( the original ) which I respect. Don't destroy your brand, close the restaurant and fumigate it completely, then remodel it, clean it, hire better waiters and then reopen. Or pick a nicer location if possible. I am not coming back and will advise everyone I know not to go either.

Rating based on: Consistency, Cleanliness, Quality, Taste, and Presentation…read more Let me be REAL with you....I walked into Che Empanadas thinking this was some ordinary empanada spot. I was magnificently WRONG. This place is absolutely BANGING, and I'm so glad I found it tucked away here in Raleigh, NC. First up, the Beef Empanada. Listen. The meat is juicy, tender, seasoned with what I can only describe as impeccable love. The crust? Flaky, moist, golden perfection. Ground beef, onions, peppers, olives....every bite hits different. You can TELL they put their heart into this.... Then I tried the Dino Cheese....a scrumptious four-cheese blend wrapped in that same magnificent golden crust, dipped in their Chimichurri sauce, and oh my GOD. The flavor combo is luscious beyond words. That chimi hits like a flavor bomb and elevates every single bite. Now let me keep it honest with you because you know I'm a REAL one....in the pictures, the empanadas look a lot bigger than what they are in person. But with that said, if you have the urge to put up a couple extra dollars, this experience is WORTH it. Every. Single. Penny. The Knish....a Jewish-Argentinian classic with homemade potato and caramelized onion wrapped in flaky dough....MELTS in your mouth. I'm telling you, it's worth the drive alone. Scrumptious doesn't even begin to cover it. And the sweets? The Cubana....guava and cream cheese pastry....is luscious, buttery, and hits that perfect sweet spot. The Alfajor de Chocolate....dulce de leche sandwiched between crispy chocolate wafers and dipped in chocolate....absolutely MAGNIFICENT. Sumptuous is right. I tried about 80% of the menu and everything was delicious. And believe me, I KNOW good bakeries. I grew up a few blocks from Delancey Street in NYC....you feel me? I've been to more bakeries than I can count, and Che Empanadas? It takes the cake. The presentation is clean, the packaging is on point, and you can taste the authenticity in every bite. This isn't some mass-produced nonsense....this is handcrafted, Argentine soul food done RIGHT. Do yourself a favor. Go. Now. RIGHT NOW.. for a religious experience and I don't even care if you're atheist or not this place will blow your mind away.!

Che Empanadas is located inside Transfer Co. Food Hall on the southern edge of downtown Raleigh…read more Coming from North Raleigh, it's a bit of a trek, but Transfer Co. has become a regular destination for us despite the drive. Parking can usually be found outside, but on the Sunday morning we visited, the lot and nearby street spaces were full. I circled back to Chavis Way, where parking is more reliable, and from there a short trail leads straight into the food hall. There was no line, and our order was taken promptly. We started with: Bacon, Egg & Cheese Empanada Sausage, Egg & Cheese Empanada At $9.20 + tax and tip for two, it was a light but flavorful start. The empanadas were so good that we each went back for another round, bringing the total to $18.40 + taxes and tip for two empanadas each which was plenty of food for breakfast. The empanadas themselves were excellent: flaky crusts, generous fillings, and thoughtful seasoning. Both flavors were outstanding, and in past visits we've had the same experience with other varieties. Seating was plentiful inside the hall, and water is available in the center. Servie is prompt and friendly. In my opinion, these are the best empanadas in the triangle, and maybe the best we've ever had. Highly recommended.

I found Buena Papa Fry Bar on places to eat in Raleigh on TikTok and was not disappointed. The…read moreladies who work here are so friendly and were very helpful with giving me suggestions on what to choose. I opted to go for the boricua which had roasted pork and lots of other yummy toppings. Everything was delish! My only con is that the fries were fried a little too well done for my liking, but other than that everything was great!

I'll give it a 4 because fries are amazing and price isn't too bad. You get a good portion, the…read morelarge fed two with leftovers! The fries could've been more fresh, doesn't seem like they cook them to order so they got soggy and cold fast. Service wasn't all that. She said nothing entire transaction.

This place was absolutely amazing. All I can say is, we made a lot of happy noises while eating,…read moreand there were plenty of "oh my God" moments at the table. From the staff to the manager to the food, everything was on point. The food truly speaks for itself. They serve small plates, which we love because it gives you the chance to try different things and experience a variety of flavors. We started with the fried pork belly on tostones. It was perfectly seasoned, topped with avocado, and every bite just melted in your mouth. Next, we had the tamarind sticky ribs with a tamarind mango barbecue sauce. This was a perfect example of how simplicity can create complex flavors. The ribs were cooked just right -- not completely falling off the bone, but tender enough that when you bit into them, the meat pulled apart so easily. They were juicy, full of flavor, and had just the right touch of spice from the chili flakes. Then we moved on to the mini arepas, and oh my God. They had slow-cooked pork, guava barbecue sauce, and fried papas on top. The arepa itself was crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The savory pork paired with the sweetness of the guava barbecue sauce was incredible, and the crunch from the fried papas took it to another level. Now, I have a bit of a sweet tooth, but my wife does not. I wanted dessert, and we were leaning toward the tres leches, but our waitress highly recommended the bread pudding. I am not usually a fan of bread pudding at all, but her recommendations had been on point all night, so I decided to trust her. I am so glad we did. They take a Mexican bolillo, soak it overnight in tres leches, then pan-sear it to create this crispy caramelized outside while keeping the inside warm, soft, and sweet. It is topped with crema and toasted coconut, then they pour warm guava syrup over it and serve it with a scoop of coconut sorbet. The layers of flavor in that dessert were unreal. Honestly, it may have been the best dessert we have ever had. And remember, my wife is not big on sweets -- she usually only takes one bite of dessert, but this time she tried to eat over half of it. Lol. I highly recommend this place. The food, the service, the drinks, and the atmosphere were all amazing. And after dinner, you can even head upstairs to work off the food with salsa lessons and a dance club. This is definitely a spot worth checking out! Este lugar fue absolutamente increíble. Lo único que puedo decir es que hicimos muchos sonidos de felicidad mientras comíamos, y hubo muchos momentos de "¡Dios mío!" en la mesa. Desde el personal, hasta el gerente, hasta la comida, todo estuvo excelente. La comida realmente habla por sí sola. Sirven platos pequeños, algo que nos encanta porque te da la oportunidad de probar diferentes cosas y experimentar una variedad de sabores. Comenzamos con el pork belly frito sobre tostones. Estaba perfectamente sazonado, cubierto con aguacate, y cada bocado simplemente se derretía en la boca. Después probamos las costillitas pegajosas de tamarindo con una salsa barbecue de tamarindo y mango. Este plato fue un ejemplo perfecto de cómo la simplicidad puede crear sabores complejos. Las costillas estaban cocinadas en su punto: no se caían completamente del hueso, pero estaban tan tiernas que al morderlas, la carne se desprendía fácilmente. Estaban jugosas, llenas de sabor y con el toque perfecto de picante gracias a las hojuelas de chile. Luego pasamos a las mini arepas, y ¡Dios mío! Tenían cerdo cocinado lentamente, salsa barbecue de guayaba y papitas fritas encima. La arepa estaba crujiente por fuera, calientita y esponjosa por dentro. El sabor salado del cerdo combinado con la dulzura de la salsa barbecue de guayaba fue increíble, y el crujiente de las papitas fritas lo llevó a otro nivel. Ahora, a mí me gustan mucho los dulces, pero a mi esposa no tanto. Yo quería pedir postre, y estábamos pensando en el tres leches, pero nuestra mesera nos recomendó mucho el budín de pan. Normalmente no soy fanático del budín de pan, pero sus recomendaciones habían sido excelentes toda la noche, así que decidí confiar en ella. Me alegra muchísimo haberlo hecho. Toman un bolillo mexicano, lo remojan durante la noche en tres leches y luego lo sellan en sartén para crear una capa exterior crujiente y caramelizada, mientras que el interior se mantiene calientito, suave y dulce. Lo sirven con crema y coco tostado, luego le vierten encima un jarabe tibio de guayaba y lo acompañan con una bola de sorbete de coco. Las capas de sabor en ese postre fueron irreales. Honestamente, puede que haya sido el mejor postre que hemos probado en nuestra vida. Y recuerden, mi esposa no es muy amante de los dulces; normalmente solo prueba un bocado del postre, pero esta vez intentó comerse más de la mitad. Jajaja.

This was my first time coming here since they rebranded and reopened. I already enjoyed the…read moreprevious concept and was anxious to see what was different. The essence of it still feels similar with a few differences in ambiance and menu. They still over an oyster option, but we didn't try it. The octopus was good - cooked nicely. I enjoyed the ceviche. It's not the best I ever had, but a solid choice and the portion was excellent. The cocktail was well balanced and tasted good. The skirt steak was nice, but I was full so didn't eat all of it. There are black beans under the skirt steak that were AMAZING. It was just a small option of the dish - not the size of a side portion but almost like a "sauce" under the steak. It was perfect. This place remains a solid choice. I would come here again on a date or with a girl friend.

Esmeralda Grill is a very authentic local Mexican spot that does a lot of things right, especially…read morewhen it comes to classic comfort dishes. I usually rotate between the tacos, enchiladas, and molcajetes, and while the tacos themselves are just okay, the overall experience is solid. The fresh chips are easily some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant (warm and crisp). Add queso to those chips and it really seals the deal. They more than make up for the tacos being a bit underwhelming and are honestly reason enough to come back. This is a great neighborhood spot if you're looking for authentic flavors, generous portions, and excellent chips and dips (biggest downside is no liquor aka no margaritas). Not every dish is a knockout, but the highlights keep it comfortably in 4-star territory.

Esmeralda Grill absolutely rocks, and it was almost a restaurant that I considered avoiding because…read moreI ordered the wrong thing. I was really one mayonnaise filled torta away from missing out on my favorite Mexican restaurant of Cary. The food is some of the freshest and most authentic in the area, and is consistently spot on. Forget heavy burritos or overly sauced enchiladas, this place is the real deal. When you come to Esmeralda Grill, you should really focus on the meat heavy dishes, whether it be via land or sea. There are so many different options to choose from, from both categories. When thinking seafood, expect the full fish. If you find yourself with the fresh grilled tilapia, you will receive a delicious whole fish that tastes as if it was caught that morning. It is such a fantastic option. I also appreciate the camarones a la diabla, or Diablo shrimp. The shrimp are plump and juicy, the spice of the dish is excites your taste buds and is a great dish. My favorite entrees are the land meat dishes though. El Trio Perfecto is my go-to order, it is grilled steak, chicken and pork all on one plate with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas. The Mexican spice rub on the meats is absolutely mouth watering, the flavors are so bold and tasty. The meats are all cooked to perfection and the portions are gigantic. You can make different tacos with the various meats, it is seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes. I would highly recommend this! Additionally, Esmeralda Grill has so many other wonderful dishes for different flavor profiles. My grandparents are pretty particular about empanadas, but simply cannot get enough of Esmeralda's version. They also make some killer tacos, and some very affordable ones if you were to come on Tuesday! The moral of the story? Don't base your opinion of a restaurant after a single visit. You don't come across a fantastic hole in the wall every day, Esmeralda Grill is one that every Mexican food lover should know!

Overall, it seemed very slow when we arrived. A handful of people were sitting at tables and only…read more1-2 people ahead of us in line. The workers seemed slightly slower than the other location I have been to. No biggie. Finally, when it was my turn to order, the guy motioned to me and said something (I couldn't understand him, but it was obvious he wanted me to place my order) so I started my order and then he mid-sentence of me saying the order, he looked down at the monitor and said "one minute" as an online order came in and he started to proceed to make THAT order as I stood there waiting to finish my order. I am not thinking the world should revolve around me at all, but I have also learned that in customer service the person in front of you should be the priority. So finally, I placed my order and moved on through to the cashier. She had ZERO smile and ZERO eye contact. I pride myself on being a cheerful, polite person who also tries to give a genuine smile. She seemed to be tired and definitely didn't want to be there. I had to WAIT to pay bc she was turned waiting for something. No explanation like, "I'll be able to get your payment in just a second" or anything of the sort. The food was delicious, nonetheless. The lighting at night inside is a little too much on the cool side. We decided to take our order to go. Will we be back? yes, but to the Spring Forest Road location instead. the staff is friendlier and way faster!

Gluten Free Arepa now! Had vegetarian arepa $6.29 Not bad…read moreFilling and pretty healthy Kind of slow waiting for the gluten free arepa Good

I love Mami Nora's chicken! Sure, the place is not decorated like an upscale bistro, but it isn't…read moresupposed to be. It's Peruvian. It comes complete with Peruvian attitude and casualness towards time. If you're in a big hurry, this is not the place to go. If you're relaxed, visiting with friends and not worried about the clock, it's perfect. I love the chicken and the plantains. I really haven't tried anything else because I like what I always get.

After the Covid pandemic, Mami Nora's has never been the same. Every time I visit Raleigh, I I was…read morelooking forward to eat here, but it seems they've changed their recipe significantly. The chicken has undergone a complete transformation, resulting in a completely different taste. The Horchata used to be the best, but now it seems like they just took it out of a package from Food Lion. It's beyond terrible.

I love this place so much! Their pupusas are always so good and the staff are always so friendly…read more I'm honestly shocked that whenever we go there is barely anyone there because this is one of my favorite places in Cary and deserves all the hype. I also HIGHLY recommend getting their atol de elote drink when it's cold outside. It is so comforting and taste like Christmas. I always get the #7 and it is the best of all worlds.

El Cuscatleco in Cary…read more Came with a friend and my meal was the plato típico. Came with a nice variation of different foods and flavors. Generally speaking the food was super yummy but not the best ever. The tamale was very bready with little filling, but was good. The yuca fries and sauce were the best ever that i've had. The portion to price ratio is retry good. My plate was roughly $15 but lots of things to nibble on. Atmosphere was nice, staff was friendly. Nothing memorable of this place though.

I like to support local food spots, but this truck was a total disappointment. Perhaps I've gotten…read morespoiled by Arepa Culture. Their prices are pretty high for what you get. Two classic arepas were $13 and two signature were $15. This is more expensive than Guasaca and Arepa Culture, and La Arepa's aren't as large. Overall, the flavor was really lacking and the arepas themselves were hard (It reminded me of an English muffin). I've saved the best for last! I was halfway through eating my second arepa when I looked down to find a DARK HAIR! Both my friend and I were done eating at that point, disgusted. Another review mentioned finding an object in her food, so this seems to be an issue. I won't be ordering here again.

The worst arepa we ever had. Both my sister and took 1 bite and threw both away. Disgusting!!! Go…read moreto Arepa Culture or Guadalcanal for delicious Arepas.