I've been in search of the best Peruvian food since moving to the Bay Area and discovered this spot last Friday. We arrived about an hour before closing and we were greeted by Milagros. We order two lomo saltados and one lomo con tallarin. Best meal I've had in a while BY FAR. I loved my food so much that I had to thank the chef and learned that Rosa and Victor are the magic hands in every dish. Amazing. We will be coming back to try new things. read more

I ordered the escabeche de pollo, and the chicken served to us was spoiled--it both smelled and tasted of rot. It was heavily smothered in excess sauce and onions, which seemed like an attempt to mask the foul odor of decomposing meat. On top of a major health code violation, the service was unacceptable. Elvira, who handled our table and register, took our order nearly an hour after we were seated and treated us with outright hostility and disrespect when we asked for a moment to look at the menu. There was zero accountability or apology. Serving hazardous food paired with disrespectful service is inexcusable. Avoid this place. read more

Food is some of the best Peruvian home cooking I've ever had in the states and is a must try. The lomo saltado (steak and rice) and chaufa mariscos (seafood fried rice) were great. We highly recommend the goat and ceviche Classico. The chicha Moreno was not too sweet; just right. Their salsas were also super flavorful, but you may need to ask for them. read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Classico ceviche, goat over rice, and chicha morada to drink - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

I was in the area looking for some Peruvian food as it's one of my favorites and I came up on this place on google. My partner and I arrived and got no greeting even though the guy was in front he just started at us. We sat ourselves and he just kind of dropped two menus in-front of us and left for a little. He came back and took our order ( 2 lomo su mare & 2 incacolas) he immediately brought us our drinks which he very roughly put in our table. Our food came out in record time and the cook came out and nicely asked if we needed anything more. The meal: My partner and I both agreed that it was just okay, not something we would come back for. It was very greasy and did not taste like lomo Saltado( it lacked the juice the lomo Saltado usually has and this juice literally makes the plates flavor) the fries were regular but had no salt (again if the lomo Saltado had the juice the fries having no salt would not be a problem as it's usually a bit salty because of the soy sauce). We finished our meals and I got up to pay trying to get alfajores but got informed they were unfortunately out. In total I paid around $75 without tip. The price is very high for it to lack the traditional flavor. I would not come back to this place but not essentially because of the food but the service as well. Although this place has a wheelchair ramp the restaurant is so tiny and has no place for a wheelchair to actually enter ( we brought our baby in a stroller and had trouble coming in) read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant opened where Nick's Pizza was. New decor on walls. Just a few tables inside. Outside Parklet no longer used. Offerings (Peru): breakfast, drinks, meats, chicken, fish, seafood, soups, appetizers, pastries. Tried to ask server questions re: menu. She couldn't reply in English. Ordered. Food came 21 minutes later. Only 1 patron... Slurps: Parihuela (24.99) Peru Seafood soup. -served with roasted corn nuts, lime squeeze on side. -broth tasted of various spices (garlic, salt, pepper, chilies, oregano) premade soup stock, tomatos. -lotsa thick fish fillets, probably basa, not sea bass. -broth had faint seafood notes. Clams, mussels, squid, octopus all chewy, bland. Tiny deveined shrimp crunchy, flava minimal. Potatos too. -1 check in? 3ish stars. Not worthy, quantity: minimal, quality: below average. If repeat, would skip seafood, fish. read more

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The atmosphere is absolutely amazing. You got art on the wall of Machu Pichu. The restaurant is clean. I had Arroz Chaufa (my favorite) and it certainly didn't disappoint. Would be coming way often if I was a local. Owners were friendly and treated us all with respect. read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Gracias, gracias, gracias Wow! The food is incredible! I wanted everything on their menu. Right off the bat the owner mentioned that they did not have a couple things listed, but I appreciated that since it gave me guidance on what to order. The food makes you feel like the comfort food back at home. They opened several months ago, but as always a new restaurant is always working out its kinks at the beginning. The restaurant is not too far from me which makes it more convenient. Parking was also not terrible (street parking). The space inside is a bid oddly shape with the ramp and tables... but I'm sure at some point this will work out too. One thing that did annoy me a bit is I asked for our drinks like 20 minutes in, and they took awhile to bring it. But otherwise, everything was food. Can't wait till they are on uber eats or doordash. read more

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Locally run and quite quaint. About 6 tables only. Lovely food and very friendly service. No alcohol, but you can buy it across the street and they gladly provided glasses. It's nice to support a small business like this with lovely food! read more

It's my friend's birthday and she wanted to eat authentic Peruvian nearby and we decided to come here for first time. This place is a "hole in a wall" Peruvian restaurant with only 4 or 5 tables inside (they have outside seating too). Street parking is limited, better if you cone in early so you can get a good spot in parking. We ordered 3 kinds on the menu, a fish ceviche (spicy) so good!; Arroz Chaufa (we prefer beef /add on extra $2) and lastly, the chicharon de Pescado (fish crackling). For the drinks i ordered Inca cola. It's great for all the food. (try it!) Presentation of the food is superb! It's appetizing! We finished our plate no leftover. I commend the chef! We've had a blast!! We love it. I might cone back again! Thank you management for the heartfelt welcome! Especially the fiod! read more

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Service was abysmal: Wasn't offered water when we sat down, took 25min for a waiter to show up to take our order, had to ask *several times* for plates even after being served our first dish. Food: Insanely unfair prices, paid 28$ and waited 30mins for what we *thought* was a whole chicken, turns out it was barely a thigh for a family of 5. Insulting small portions. I would never come here again, and I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Dinner time.... Peruvian style. Hands down, one of the best restaurants I've eaten in the Bay Area. It rivals any place in San Francisco and I don't have to pay a bridge toll or spend an hour trying to find a parking spot. I highly recommend their ceviche and tallarines. 5 read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche Carretillero - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

Good Peruvian food with authentic flavors. Asu Mare is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and just five blocks from La Peña, Berkeley's Latinx cultural mecca. I had Loma Saltado for $25 and it was delicious. This is homestyle cooking. Unassuming, just a nice, clean restaurant heavy on Peruvian vibes. I love the brightly-colored Machu Picchu mural with a smiling llama. They even have Inca Kola, which I tried for the first time. They are just getting going and didn't have menus yet. Plus, still doing some light construction work in the kitchen. So it will be good to see what it's like once they're fully established. I will be back to see how things develop and it'll likely go up to four stars. A su mare, is Peruvian, slang and it's used to indicate surprise or astonishment. And I have to say, wow, this restaurant is a nice surprise! Come support a dose of culinary diversity in the neighborhood. read more

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A newish neighborhood place, our expectations were hopeful but we ended up being disappointed. Food was pricey: ceviche and 2 soups, each item was around $25! No alcohol either. Food had some character but nothing to get us to return. Ambiance is really poor: Lighting too bright and overall a bit dirty. We really didn't know what to order, menu was in Spanish with sporadic translation. I tried google translate but didn't get anything accurate. I'd recommend revamping menu and prices, adding some inviting decor, offer wine and beer and make this a neighborhood gem. read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche on top of way too much potato! ($24). - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

Realmente muy rica la comida, me recordó esos tiempos en los menú de mi casa siempre estaba rico. Pedí un pollo broster que desde la ensalada te sabía a Perú. También pedimos tallarines verdes, la consistencia de la salsa verde estaba muy bien, ni tan cremosa ni tan aguada, el sabor super y el pollo me imagino que tenía un sazonado especial porque era como suprema pero también, y sorry por sonar repetitivo, tenía un sabor a Perú. Muy rico. Y no hay fotos, solo del plato vació. Food was delicious. I ordered pollo broster and I was surprised to taste the peruvian flavor from the salad. The waitress offered me mayo which is something typical to go with fries and broster and suggested evaporated milk for the coffee which made a difference if you just add cream. I also ordered Tallarines Verdes and the sauce consistency was surprisingly balanced, not to creamy not to watery, and tasted delicious, especially the potato with huancaina which was slightly fried, a good sign this was truly peruvian. In general, you could see this was a family restaurant with authentic peruvian flavor. I read other reviews and I can just say that you have to give it time for liquor license and all that, customer service is friendly when engaged. Menu is too large but so far he have hit gems. Just go and taste the food, wait and enjoy! read more

It was a bit of a wait but worth every minute. We have been all around the Bay Area looking for a good Peruvian restaurant and we have finally find it! Authentic Peruvian food, we had the papa a la huancaina, chicharron de pescado y sudado de mariscos, all super flavorful. We will def be back. The servers super nice. read more

I was so happy to see a new Peruvian restaurant here, after many years of hardly any. What a disappointment. I'm no expert on Peruvian food, but i can tell you, this ain't good Peruvian food. a former friend of mine opened a Peruvian restaurant and when she was cooking it excellent. this place, however, was lackluster and boring. We tried the ceviche, which is a must-order at any Peruvian place. How can ceviche be boring? But that's what is was, b--o-r-i-n-g. There was hardly any flavor, not even lime flavor, and you make ceviche by soaking the fish in lime juice. We didn't finish it. We also tried tallarín verde, green noodles, which were nothing to write home about. They came with fried chicken, nothing Peruvian about that. It was like something out of any little American greasy spoon joint. Agua fresca de maracuyá was so watery it was basically colored sugar water, with a tiny touch of fruit flavor. I asked the waitress for no ice and yet she brought me a glass full of ice. I said, "Hey i asked for no ice." She said, "It's already made like that." "Well you could strain it." Can't she even think of that? But it was too late. it was mainly water, which i don't care to pay $5.00 for a glass of. The one good thing was Peruvian seafood rice, which is basically like Mexican rice (orange rice with carrots and peas) with seafood. That had flavor. I was surprised to see it was just like Mexican rice and wondered if it was Authentic Peruvian food. They haven't gotten their liquor license so you can't get Cuzqueña. I suppose that will be coming. This is a tiny, very casual place, maybe just 4 or 5 tables, all squished together. The lights are too bright, like you're in the drug store, not a dinner place. It's definitely not for a romantic date. For the low-key, dirt-cheap environment their prices are pretty damn high. They did make the effort to paint colorful murals of Andean women standing by what the artist apparently meant to be Machu Picchu. FAIL. Oh well, at least they tried. That makes it feel like a Peruvian experience. I give them credit for that. One Peruvian restaurant i went to years ago doesn't have a single Peruvian object in the entire place and it looks like they're ashamed of being Peruvian (Limón). Never going back there. Try this place if you want. Maybe you'll find something good. I wish i had a good review because i appreciate the effort to open a restaurant, but the food we had just didn't cut it. Maybe they will improve, get a better cook or better recipes, do SOMETHING to stay in business. But as for us, we ain't going back there. read more

Atmo/Vibe: Bright and unpretentious, the interior of Asu Mare is tiny and sparsely furnished with 6 tables. Two murals and a smattering of colorful decorations add to the vibrant feel. Everything is clean, the music is at a pleasant volume, and the people are eager to please. I say people because it feels more like a family than a staff. We had our order taken at our table, but paid at the register. Everyone inside (customers and staff) was speaking Spanish, too. We saw couples and folks with babies in highchairs, which (combined with the small size) enhanced the feeling of being in a family environment. The restaurant was quite chilly, with windows and door open, but that added a little street food nostalgia to the place, which enhanced the experience of authentic Peruvian dining. Bring a sweater, and an appetite! Food: The menu could use an improved English translation, but everything we had was good. The portions were generous, more than offsetting the cost. Two of us shared an appetizer, a ceviche, and an entree, and brought two boxes of food home. We can't wait to go back and try more from their menu! My partner was raised in Peru and said the Seco de Cabrito reminded him of his grandmother's recipe. Our hostess described the Ceviche as very spicy, then asked if we wanted mild, medium, or full spice. We went with medium, and it was "buen picante" (spicy by gringo standards, but not unapproachable). When we told them we were celebrating, we were treated to huge goblets of their homemade Maracuyá (passion fruit drink) with a side of ice. Asu Mare does not have a liquor license, but there are plenty of non-alcoholic drink options. In conclusion: We look forward to working our way through the menu! Definitely recommend! read more

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This place has to be one of the Best Peruvian Restaurants that we have been. The menu is Excellent and with change of Dishes Weekly. We travel all over the Bay Area trying different Peruvian Food and we've found a gem. I compare my food to my aunties cooking and rarely do I find anything Comparable. We tried my Favorite today, which is "CAUCAU" and it made me forget my aunties Caucau!!! read more

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The ultimate hole in the wall Peruvian spot. The flavor speaks for itself. I wish them ultimate success so I can keep coming here. I've had three different items from the menu and each time I'm blown away. The food has real authentic Peruvian food. Come hungry bc you will finish your plate every time! read more

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This review is for a hidden gem for exquisite Peruvian food, Asu Mare, on the border of Berkeley and Oakland. The interior is small and simple, with only a few tables and a parklet for overflow dining on Shattuck, and you're clearly coming here for excellent food more than ambiance. It's easy to miss the restaurant (just south of Alcatraz on Shattuck), but well worth the trip. The family that owns and cooks is warm and welcoming. The menu is extensive, in Spanish and English, with translations for most of the items (but not all, and some of the English translations will be a little hard to decipher if you're not familiar with Peruvian food). But the most common Peruvian menu items are fairly easy to figure out, so you can order them with confidence. I had the Jalea, a mix of fried seafood and fish. It was perfectly fried, an ample portion of fresh catch of the sea, topped with a Peruvian seaweed for both great visual effect and taste. The Peruvian salad that comes with the seafood adds a nice bite to contrast with the seafood, as does the side of tartar sauce. It showed the kitchen's wonderful attention to detail and clear love for what they are doing. My partner had the Lomo Saltado, with chicken substituted for beef, and she loved it. As a Peruvian, she knows her seasonings and sauces and found it be "best in class." That's high praise! The chica morada drink comes in a large goblet, is made from scratch, in house, and tastes fresh, vibrant and not too sweet. In all, this was a find--a place we just happened to discover by driving down Shattuck and looking out the window. If you are someone who loves to explore new, delicious food from South America, this is a food destination well worth checking out! read more

Came here for lunch with my friend and OMG. The nice man waiting for his to go order wasn't kidding, EVERYTHING IS GOOD. My hg knew she wanted Lomo Saltado as it's a must menu item whenever she goes to a new to her Peruvian spot. I was just tagging along for vibes and happy nice dude shared he was getting the Cabrito A La Nortena. Do I know what that means except it's a northern dish? No. Homie said it's goat. Whatever tf it is, it is INCREDIBLe. How'd they get the beans to be so tasty??? They brought out a small spicy sauce situation and we split a glass of Maracuya. Best lunch I've had in a long time. Highly recommend. Parking was easy af and FREE. Love the Peruvian decor. And I cannot waitttt to go back read more

The food was wonderful, they were very accommodating to my family and my dog, great customer service, thank you very much! read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

The food was amazing ! Se siente como PERU ... al Primer bocado puedes sentirte en Perú !!! Recomiendo 100 este lugar read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Cebiche CARRETILLERO - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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La mesera muy lenta para un lugar tan pequeño ella sola no daba abasto, Los clientes e inclusive yo tuve q acercarme a pedirle nuestras bebidas. Gente q estaba antes que yo no tenia ni sus pedidos tomados. Para ir desde tan Lejos a probar no lo recomiendo porque la comida no estaba tan apetecible. read more

ASU MARE! traditional Peruvian food near me? Yes please. Feels like home. If you're from Peru or been to Peru you know what I'm talking about. The people working this place or very nice and kind. Please go and try their food as they are still breaking in their sea legs. I'm not sure what the menu is like now, but when i went in November 24, they were only serving a few items. I did take a look at the menu that they will or already are serving and it had a nice variety of Peruvian staples. I ordered the lomo saltado, it was great. I honestly have not had someone fry the French fries like that since i was in Peru almost 20 years ago. It really brought me back. Nice portions as well, good flavor. Would def go back and give them a try when they start serving their full menu. Please support this local business! read more

Best Peruvian food in the area . first time here and i will be coming back . Good flavors and best customer service . read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche carretillero and Tallarines verdes - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Would you like to take a short trip to Peru - feel like you're in a typical Peruvian home, meeting with friendly Peruvians, and eating authentic Peruvian food? Then Asu Mare is the place for you! This is the most typical an authentic Peruvian food I've had in the Bay area. It's owned and run by Peruvians. When I went there, there was a crowd of Peruvians cheering the Peruvian soccer team as they played Argentina. There's nothing better than hanging out with Peruvians, drinking Inka Cola, and having really good ceviche (con camote y choclo! - with sweet potato and corn). Their menu features typical Peruvian fare (ceviche, lomo saltado), as well as Peruvian-Chinese (chifa) cuisine. Their beef emapanadas and alfajores are amazing - just biting into them brought my whole family back to Peru. They also have a breakfast menu. I went during their soft opening in November, so the menu was limited. The location is on Shattuck, by its intersection with Alcatraz. You can't miss the bright yellow outdoor seating area and the red-and-white striped flag painted on the front wall. Asu Mare is basically slang for "awesome" in Peru - and I gotta say it fits! read more

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What can I say... Great food. GREAT people. This is a place to get a home cooked authentic Peruvian meal.

Friendly service, great food. Fried seafood was cooked nicely and ceviche was well flavored. Lomo saltado hit the mark and fried yucca was a great combination of crunchy and creamy. Menu is extensive and I'm excited to try a lot more from it. Give it a shot! Very tasty. read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food is awesome! Seating area is a little chilly in the springtime. I suggest the beef heart. I went there for this dish and I was not disappointed. read more

(Yo solo hablo un poquito de español, pero trataré de escribir esta reseña en español para comunicarme mejor con los dueños!) Vivimos en el barrio, y estábamos emocionados por probarlo por primera vez ayer. Qué lugarcito tan acojedor, con personal tan amigable! Desafortunadamente, mi familia y yo somos vegetarianos, y las ofertas vegetarianas en el menú de ayer eran pocas, y se acabó la mayoría de las verduras. Nos preparó un arroz chaufa sin carne que era muy sabroso. Espero que haya más platos vegetarianos en el futuro, y que dejen de usar contenedores de poliestireno... Pero sin duda, regresarémos. Bienvenidos a nuestro vecindario! read more

Just had a large lunch with friends and it was fantastic. I lived in Peru for 6 months and this food brought memories. All the food was fresh and made with care. We had the ceviche, papa huancaina, fried fish and the goat. The chicha morada drive was so refreshing and had great cinnamon flavor. The service was wonderful. Come support this lovely business and give your compliments to chef Angel. read more

I got the Lomo Saltado with a rice delicacy and it was delicious! Made three meals out of it. I'm eager to explore more of the menu, which seemed expansive. The staff was extremely warm and cheerful. Will definitely be back. Also just love their colorful presence on the street, which had been vacant for a while. read more

Easily one of the best Peruvian spots I've had. The Lomo Asu Mare (steak, chicken and shrimp sauteed with onions with heaping portions of fries and rice) is probably my go-to, but their fried fish dishes and ceviches are also delicious. Honestly their menu has a ton of options and I can't wait to try them all. They are always so nice and friendly here too. I'm so glad this place is within walking distance of me so I can go regularly. I will note the food takes a little bit, as great food often does, so don't go here if you are really in a hurry. read more

I am so happy that I finally found a restaurant that has an authentic Peruvian flavor!!! Great food and affordable prices, this is gonna be my go to place for the Peruvian food love treat read more

Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent food beans with lamb in sauce green and spicy seafood rice was very good!! 100 of 100

Delicious food!! Felt like a fresh home cooked meal, will be back! Platanos are sooo good and the fried Yuca!

Came by for some take out. We just tried the seafood soup special. It was really good. Lots of seafood--squid, fish, shrimp, crab--and it was all cooked well. Not overly salted like a lot of seafood soups. Great clean refreshing flavor. We will be back to try more things on the menu, which is really, really extensive. Check out the photos. read more

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This place charmed me tremendously - the "just opened" feel where (as others have mentioned) they're still finalizing the menu, the service in Spanish (my Spanish is limited but it was thrilling to try!) and the charming, family vibe of the operation. As far as food goes, I went with the classic ceviche plate, which was perfect, and accompanied sweet potato, fries calamari, and additional corn-based yumminess. Light, healthy, and filling. I'll be back to try more dishes soon, and to speak more Spanish. read more

Authentic Peruvian food-- delicious and incredible! Hole in the wall vibes with friendly helpful staff/service. They are happy to give recommendations based on your preferences! Really lovely experience! 10/10 would recommend read more