Let me start by saying, I really love this resturant! This is my second time going there, as I went there last week with friends, and wanted to go again as their menu was extensive! I wanted to wait and give a review after the first time as I hoped it wasn't one of those, ("the first time it was great! The second time...not so much.), let me reassure you that was not the case with Autentico! On my first visit, I had a seafood selection, and it was so fresh and so good! I was also checking out my buddy's chunks of beef that were part of his meal, and wanted that too! He gave me a chunk and it was so tender, juicy and good, I knew on my next visit, I would have to order some form of their steak! The service was spot on, and food order time to table, was exceptional! My next visit came yesterday, and yes I ordered a steak! It was a late Friday afternoon, and even though they were busy with a few large tables of people, service was still outstanding and the food was even better than the first time! If you have read some of my reviews, by the time I think to take pictures, there's not much left to take a picture of! Also, I know some people just take pictures and not much else, and while something can look really good in a photo, you have to dig into it to unearth what's really good about the dish, and everything I have tried at Autentico, was superb! I ordered the NY Strip with fries and instead of the rice that comes with it, I asked if I could substitute veggies for the rice? They said no problem! While the first time I had a couple bottles of their Corona, which was very cold and was also provided with a frosted glass, this time I asked for a Modelo Especial. I was told they had it on tap! Major points, as I love all of Modelo's products especially the stouts! It was just my buddy from work this time and me, and we had such a great meal and the ambiance was awesome! I had joked my first time visiting there while driving in, that there was an Irish resturant right next to it! I mentioned that we should go there after for a couple pints. We never got around to it, as we were too full both times to make it in. But that resturant is in the back of my mind for a future visit! So if you do go to Autentico, you won't be disappointed. It's a great location that's worth the drive, and an exceptional resturant! read more

Back again after their recent rebranding from Pio Pio to Autentico. Came with the same friends who first introduced this spot to me. I ordered the seafood mix paella and it was so delicious that I finished the entire portion by myself. I initially wanted to save it for dinner. I'd love to come back again to try other food on their expanded menu. Likely the most authentic Peruvian food spot in nova. read more

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Probably THE best Peruvian spot in the DMV that's a hidden gem! Food was absolutely amazing and the serving sizes were well proportioned that will leave you super full. Def recommend going as they are a Toast tab service where you can gather points for your next visit! read more

Autentico - HUACHANA BITES, LOMO FRIES - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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Food was decent. The service was fine. The ambiance on a Sunday is crazy crowded. People come in and just sit and talk for hours. This isn't good for a restaurant, but it's what the people did while we were there. A table of 6 was finished eating when we came in and had paid, but sat the entire time we were there with no signs of leaving when we left it's not your typical "Peruvian style" place. It's a scale or 2 up. read more

Autentico - Saturday lunchtime - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

Again an absolutely delicious pleasure again!! Definitely come by. The new Menu is amazing and staff service is on point. A little loud but what do you expect when their so popular. Love this place! read more

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Tried this place for the first time yesterday, and WE WILL BE BACK. Delicious food, great portions, GREAT MUSIC, fast service. We had a large group of 8 and 2 littles and were all served quickly. The service was wonderful. I had the bistec with plátanos, fríes, and a salad and it was perfect! Everyone in my group enjoyed it as well. We will be back to try the ceviche next time! read more

Delicious and authentic Peruvian food! Restaurant looks casual but the staff and the food couldn't be more high end. Although the pollo a al brasa of fantastic, I encourage you to try something new. Wait staff were friendly and happy to answer questions. We've been several times and will be back. read more

The menu is a bit overwhelming, there's a lot of items and I think it's best to go with someone who's been here before for recommendations. To be frank a big menu isn't a downside for most but it's a little bit all over the place even if they did try to organize it. Anyway that's my only gripe. The place is fantastic otherwise, inside feels cozy and it's fairly small but they can seat large parties (6-8) just fine. Outdoor seating also looked good. Service is somewhere between great and exceptional, very friendly and quick. Food of course, I think the current rating speaks for itself, it's genuinely good. Wish I got more yuca fries. read more

Autentico - FILETE DE NEW YORK - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

Autentico was an amazing experience, and a big part of that was our waiter Ingrid P. She was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcomed from the moment we sat down. She was knowledgeable about the menu, gave great recommendations, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. The service truly elevated the whole experience. If you're dining here, ask for Ingrid P -- she'll take great care of you! read more

Service. I can't be more disappointed with the server we had. He charged my credit card WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION to get his own tips. I had to realize with my statement when I saw the amount different of what I signed. Thankfully my cc will reimburse me but What kind of moral this guy had. Hold on to your receipts. And after speaking to the owner, he apologized to say we will refund the tip. I don't trust this restaurant anymore read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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Autentico is a casual Peruvian restaurant with a large menu and a friendly staff. The portions were large enough to share and my friend and I enjoyed the ceviche mixto and the lomo saltado. The beef was very tender and tasty. Being that we were celebrating, we also raised a glass of pisco sour which was also a generous pour (and, thank goodness, not overflowing with ice as is the case in so many places.) For dessert, we had the flan and the alfojores. Neither was too sweet and the flan had a perfect consistency. As we were eating, we would see these huge plates go by which we were told are seafood platters. If we ever come back with more people - we'll have to try one of those. The space is clean and airy with a vibrant mural painted on the back wall. Parking is easy in the lots nearby. read more

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The restaurant is very nice. The ambience is good. The food is good as well. We were not happy with the service though. Something went really wrong. My husband ordered ceviche the original one. The waitress asked him what kind of fish he wanted. (Normally they just bring the original that is on the menu). She made a suggestion, ended up to be another dish (Mahi Mahi) which was more expensive. She did not mention that she was changing the order. She did the same thing with me. I ordered lomo a lo pobre ($27) and she changed it to lomo saltado ($33) without telling me. A more expensive dish as well. We got the food and we thought someone made a mistake but when we saw the check we understood what she did. What a disappointment! It's not really about the money, but that was just not right. No desire to go back there any time soon. read more

They have happy hour Monday-Friday until 6:30 PM. We arrived at 6 and there was not too many people, but the it was packed. Reservations recommended. Pulpo al olivo was great. Service was great read more

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Tasty food and welcoming service. It is a must go if you are in great falls area. We went there mid Sunday and it was pretty busy, however the service is quick and the food tasted amazing. We tried the piqueo caliente, pollo anticuchero and chicken pasta. Everything was delicious. read more

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Back before the pandemic, former Pio Pio used to be great! Now its just not as memorable. After trying their anticuchos and pollo la brasa, the restaurant is just an average restaurant. However, their pollo la brasa had more flavor than expected. But their yuccas are one to skip out. The anticuchos were not as tasty either. A solid 2.8. read more

Autentico - Pollo La Brasa - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

Food was tasty; pisco sour was spot on. Ceviche was wonderful. First timer. We will be back. read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

My friend and I went to Pio Pio to catch up over dinner in the Great Falls Village and loved the experience! The restaurant is very much Mom and Pop style with plenty of seating and classic checkered table cloths. Loved the decor with its Peruvian touches! We started off with crispy Canchita, Peruvian Popcorn. I've had this snack at past restaurants and found Pio Pio's to be the best! Think of it as a semi-popped kernel and is crunchy and salty. I found myself popping some into my mouth during my meal! For my entree, I got the Tallarines Verdes - Peruvian style Pesto, skirt steak, and roasted potatoes with what seemed to be a spicy cheese sauce. The pesto had an interesting twist I had never tasted before - it was a bit more herby and was quite thick in comparison to pestos I've had in the past. This paired very well with the medium rare steak that was juicy, well-seared, and seasoned to perfection. The potatoes were crisp and the sauce was delicious. Such a filling meal that provided a burst of flavor in each bite I took. The portions were HUGE! Plenty to enjoy at the restaurant and for leftovers the next day. For only $23-$25 dollars per entree, this spot provides great deals! Not to mention, Pio Pio has daily $7 Happy Hour with a different drink featured each day of the week. Very fun to try out! The friendly staff were speedy and provided us with great menu recommendations. The only issue was we got our water quite late into our meal. Otherwise, they were very accommodating and translated all of the menu items :) So happy to support a local Great Falls restaurant and will be back soon! read more

Autentico - Tallarines Verdes* - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

This place lost me as a customer, went in during the holidays with my 84-year-old mother when it was below freezing out for lunch. They were booked and I asked when a table would be available, they said if I wanted, the tables outside were available if that would be OK. Walked out went to The Old Brogue next door, won't be back here again. read more

Top choice for Peruvian food in the area if not the region or larger! I have gone to Peruvian restaurants across several different states and this one takes the picarones. Large menu with a variety of food. Fresh cooked. Meat so tender it melts in your mouth. Friendly service but helps if hablo espanol. Give it a try! read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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We came here for dinner and it was so good! We were extremely impressed. The service was phenomenal and the food was so good & fresh. We ordered the Mahi mahi avocado ceviche, a lamb dish and a mahi mahi dish (mine was supposed to be tilapia but I switched it to mahi for an extra $4). We loved the roasted corn that came when we were seated. I also got the purple corn lemonade, I've never had anything like it and it was delicious. We highly recommend coming, we will definitely be back! read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

Made a trip to God's Country in the small town of Great Falls, VA. We have a saying in Great Falls "Try that Peruvian food in a small town". So I did. Had an amazing lunch on a Saturday. I will return one day. read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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My lover choose this place to celebrate my birthday. I was expecting something a little fancier but I am not complaining. The service was good and the food was better. I got the Loma Saltado and it was as if I was back in Peru. Everyone else enjoyed what they ordered. Most likely I will be back for my next birthday. read more

It left me with a smile. when you arrive, you will find a home with a welcoming ambiance. you're sat down by very nice waiters who welcome you as if you were family. the food was all around amazing and made me wonder what the other dishes taste. the dish i ordered was quinotto saltado, hands down mouth watering. it had a rich, creamy, cheesy underside with the savory lomo saltado at the top. the ONLY thing i would say is add more qinoa! and maybe find a way to balance the sauce to texture ratio.aside from that i was blown away. I highly recommend this place if you are a carnivore looking for savory and flavor explosions. THE CHEESECAKE absolutely amazing, a much different flavor from other cheesecakes but still keeping the same aspect of a traditional cheesecake read more

Autentico - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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This is a likable neighborhood restaurant that we recently tried after our trip to Peru. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was very good and authentic, although we would probably ask for some of the sauces to be served on the side (we don't really like sauces to douse our food). We will be back. read more

Got the chance to try this place earlier this week. I was very impressed with everything. I went for lunch on Monday afternoon and the place was PACKED! That was the first hint that it was going to be a great experience. The service was quick and efficient. The food was delicious and everything was so flavorful. I got to try the A Lo Pobre Saltado and the ceviche Mahi Mahi Avocado. They were so good!! I definitely plan on going back again read more

Autentico - A Lo Pobre Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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We tried Pio Pio a few months ago with friends and were lucky to sit outside on a pleasant afternoon to enjoy excellent ceviche and dinner. Excellent food and service on a gorgeous day. I did not go inside, but we will return and I can review the inside separately. read more

We came back again since our first time here was so good. This time I felt I had to try the Peruvian rotisserie chicken, and my wife and daughter shared chicken comfit which came with fried rice, house salad and they got the slightly spicy sauce on the side. I decided to try just the rice and fries on the side. Both chicken dishes were fabulous. If someone in your party is not adventurous they would be happy with either choice. While you would probably be happy with either of these choices, I would highly recommend going out of your comfort zone though, and trying some of the other dishes which you may not have ever tried before, because they are wow! read more

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Ordered Aji de Gallina, Mixto Ceviche (mahi mahi), chicharrones for party of 3 hungry adults. Each one was SUPER DELICIOUS! and portion size fed us all to completely full with no room left for dessert. This was our second visit during lunch on a weekday. No problem getting a table especially since the outside patio is now open (June 2025) with lots of shade, so sitting capacity has doubled. Get a reservation during happy hours and on the weekends. I live halfway between Great Falls and Merrifield. I could go to Inca Social in Merrifield but I prefer Autentico in Great Falls for portion size and freshness. Plus there is parking available!!! read more

Autentico - Chicarrones, Aji de Gallina, Mixto Ceviche YUMM! - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

I might come back to this place one more time soon because I really like the atmosphere and the staff's attitude here. 7/10

This is really one of the best Peruvian places I've been to in this area! My dad's Peruvian so I always try to look for restaurants that have good piscos/drinks/food. I thought it was so delish! I went two days in a row! They have really big portions of food, my boyfriend and I had the ají de gallina and the seco (lamb). The service is always fast and sweet! The atmosphere is also nice, it's in a nice part of Great Falls. They have out door and indoor seating. To be honest, it's all I've been thinking about ever since, I really need to go again! I just had how it is so far away from me (45 minutes not too far but ) read more

My boyfriend is Peruvian and throughout the years, I've loved home made food. Pio pio ranks very closely and has delicious options. They're located in great falls and parking is sufficient. The interior is modern and simple. They also have outdoor seating. They have various drink options but I love the pisco sours and the Chicano's (maracuya - passion fruit - is my favorite flavor). They give you toasted corn - cancha - as a starter to munch on while you wait for food. They have a variety of sharing platters which are always good. My favorite item in the sharing platter is the Rocoto shrimp - it's like a bang bang shrimp but better. Their leche de Tigre is delicious as well as their ceviche. They have plenty options of ceviche as well. For leche de Tigre, they have various spice levels. The jalea brava is always a nice meal to share and leaves you full. Also, the anticuchos is delicious. I recently tried the pescado a la mocha and it was really good and filling - I even had leftovers. Lastly, when we went for a birthday they did give us free lucuma mousse which was great. This place also delivers on various partner apps like Uber eats/etc. and we've never had an issue with the food through delivery. Service is always good for dine in as well. Highly recommend for Peruvian food! read more

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Great food, amazing taste in everything. Ambiance is nature like and artwork is beautiful. Service is good. Definitely will return again. It was a great experience eating here. read more

Autentico - Ceviche CLASSICO corn Sweet Potato (2) ceviche - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

I have been to this restaurant twice. I love peruvian food. This time I brought my sister and nephew that are new to peruvian cuisine. Just to say they savor every bite and left nothing in the plates. We ordered different plates so they could try something different from each of us. Food is always perfectly seasoned and cooked. From the anticuchos to the fish. The Chicha morada is always prepared perfectly, never extra sweet like other locations. They serve a good amount of food for the prices. We dont even live close to this restaurant, but we always travel to come eat here. I highly recommend for those looking to try Peruvian. read more

This little spot was absolutely amazing. The different sauces were spectacular. The beef heart was so tender and delicious better than a lot of steaks I've had, the calamari was so flavorful. Must try. read more

Autentico - Calamari - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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We been here a couple of times. This can be very busy at times. The parking can also be busy during those times. The first was a real hit. We got Jalea Mixta and Tallarines a La Huancaina. My wife and I loved it. The corn appetizer is unique for us but it was good. At first you may think it will be a challenge to bite but it wasn't at all. The next we got the Jalea again with a friend. We tried the 15$ appetizer with crab, tuna and (sigh) forgot the other one. It is like 3 volcanoes topped with a lump of crab/tuna/etc. over a round mashed potato and a garnish of alfalfa. I wish there were pictures on the menu or we would tried something else. It wasn't bad just not what we are expecting. The arroz de mariscos is an experiment. I was craving for a paella, the Spanish version with saffron and so I had to try this version which is the closest one in their menu. It wasn't cheap at all at 26$, but I can see why. They didn't cut corners, it is full of calamares, mussels and scallops. I just got disappointed that it wasn't close to what I was expecting. It was also bland. Not bland in saltiness, but bland in flavor. Service is also 4 stars. Didn't experienced anything negative at all. (5 star is for something exceptional). read more

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We saw this place highlighted on WETA's Signature Dish. We were at Great Falls Park and stopped since it was close by. We were greeted by the owner, Danny. He was so welcoming, nice, and gave us some recommendations. We tried the ceviche mahi mahi avocado featured on the show, lomo saltado (known to be the best in the area by Peruvians), and pollo ala brasa. The ceviche was an incredible blend of fresh and bright flavors and textures--highly recommend. The lomo was also flavorful with tender beef, onions, tomatoes, fries with rice. Pollo was equally delicious. Cant wait to come back and try other dishes. Sooo good and great service. read more

Autentico - Ceviche Mahi Mahi Avocado - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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We ordered takeout from here after searching for ceviche close to Herndon. It was legit! We definitely over ordered as portion sizes were huge (and we're big eaters). We ordered a quinoa salad and 3 ceviches (mixto, tres leches, passion - we upgraded to mani mahi for tres leches and passion). Our favorite was definitely the mixto and the quinoa salad exceeded expectations, I'd order again! Standout was how sweet the sweet potatoes were. Also loved the crunchy corn. read more

Autentico - Ceviche Mixto, Ceviche Passion, Ceviche De Camarones - Peruvian Near Me - Great Falls, Virginia

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I never leave reviews, but this place is special. In a time when Peruvian restaurants are popping up everywhere, Authentico is miles ahead! The food is fantastic!!! Beats not only the chains in RTC, but even the fancy places downtown. The prices are very reasonable, the menu is large and the ambiance is perfect. You feel like part of the family. Our favorites, the Loma Saltado with beef tenderloin, the Mahi ceviche and the roast chicken with black beans and cilantro rice. We have never been disappointed. GO THERE. read more

Quaint small place with well presented food. It was tasty and the wait staff was very friendly. The kitchen is under reconstruction so the menu is more limited while this is going on. Food was fresh and was my first introduction to Peruvian food. I would recommend this place for a light and refreshing meal. We went during lunch and the portions were sufficient. read more

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My parents went to this place and it was absolutely disgusting. They went early in the morning and the food was burnt and extremely salty. The potatos looked old and weird we aren't sure if it was leftovers from the day before or if it was just made that way but when my mom asked about the food being salty they told her that's how it was supposed to taste. I took these pictures of the food and called the manager she assured me a refund would be done and she apologized. We waited a week I contacted her and she said the business owner said to just do a $50 gift card to go back to the restaurant... only thing is my parents never want to go back plus NOBODY had contacted us to inform us of this change. The food is awful and the service seems worse. read more

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