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    El Aji Peruvian Restaurant

    4.2 (120 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Order El Aji Peruvian Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    El Aji Peruvian Restaurant Photos

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    EL AJI PERUVIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Menu - July 2023
    Nancy H.

    What a hidden gem! This restaurant currently has no sign hanging outside and is located amongst a whole bunch of businesses with bars outside the windows. Not the expected tourist destination, but there was a lot of hype about the authentic Peruvian food, so we had to stop by for a taste. No regrets, and everyone else should give this place a try! FOOD: All 5/5 stars, and I would heartily recommend that you order the same. Next time I visit, I want to try the arroz con mariscos. - Traditional ceviche: Generous portion of fish simmered in lime juice & garnished with pickled onions plus cilantro. There was a side of sweet potato that was both random and a perfect hint of sweetness. I really liked the dried corn, which added a nice bit of crunch in between the bites of fish. - Lomo saltado: So even though the restaurant is well-known in various magazines and newspapers for ceviche, I think the lomo saltado stole the show. The sirloin steak is remarkably tender. The sauce is rich and perfectly salted to complement the rice and crisp fries. It tasted like both comfort food and a luxury meal. SERVICE 5/5: I think the owner circulated amongst the different diners. Very friendly and helpful with navigating the menu. AMBIANCE: Clean restaurant with soccer game playing on big screen TV. The restaurant was nearly full with what looked like locals. Additional items: I understand the importance of living wage, etc., but for once it was so nice not to have to pay some 6.5% additional SF tax on top of sales tax on top of tip when signing the check. Maybe it was build into the price of the food already, but overall a very reasonably priced meal. Parking was street-only. Mission looked like chaos for cars, so we turned onto one of the smaller streets and parked a couple of blocks away where there was 1 hr free parking.

    Papa a la Huancaina
    Stephanie D.

    Check in and get a free appetizer ceviche So good, we got the appetizer and ended up ordering another one for the table. To start we order papa a la huancaina and a Jalea. Both great; but the crema (sauce) was to die for, I've gone to places where the consistency isn't great and neither is the taste, but here it is just right, and reminds you of home. The arroz con mariscos was ok, the seafood; particularly the fish was a little bland and didn't have much flavor but the flavor of the rice was amazing. The mondongito tasted like homemade as well great taste, and I started salivating when it arrived because I was already starting to get full, but the taste was Aaaamazzinng. And the portion was just right! Lomo Saltado you have to let them know how you want your meet cooked cause my moms order came medium which she didn't like. But the taste was good and the soy sauce was not overbearing. Completely recommend this place- wish I lived closer to eat there more often.

    Tallarin verde w/fish ($15), Lomo Saltado ($16) - both good! Tallarin verde (pesto spaghetti) is the best I've had
    Vanessa O.

    Good food, good portions, good prices. And during covid-19, they've been giving free surprise sides so you can try many of their menu items with only a couple orders. Lomo Saltado ($16) is probably the most popular Peruvian dish, a stir fry of sliced beef, fries, tomatoes, and onions in a soy sauce-based sauce. It is decent here. Tasty, good portion size. Tallarin Verde (aka. Pesto spaghetti) w/fried fish ($15) - big portion, excellent pesto spaghetti--the best tallarin verde I've had, good enough to eat on its own. The fried fish batter was a bit tough--it would be better if it were lighter and easier to cut with the side of a fork (had to use a knife to cut through the sides). Arroz con Mariscos ($18) - think seafood paella. Good, good portion. Newly in my delivery repertoire, I'll order from them once a week--yay!

    Maracuya
    Nina Z.

    A bit of Peruvian flavor in the Mission District. Seems to be a local favorite. When I entered the restaurant, the customers were speaking Spanish. Staff are Spanish and English speaking. They serve traditional Peruvian dishes here and are known for their ceviche. If you check in on Yelp and spend over $25, you get a free ceviche appetizer of your choice. No problem! Brunch entrees range from $15-20. I had the seco de cordero - a traditional Peruvian stewed lamb dish over a bed of rice and beans. The meat was stewed perfectly and came right off the bone. We ordered the fried plantains as well which were very good. Drinks-wise, they have popular Peruvian drinks including chican morada (purple corn) and maracuya (passion fruit). If you're looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine, El Ají fits the bill.

    David I.

    Great place and very authentic vibes. The ceviche and fish were on point as one of the best in the city for Peruvian

    Lomo Saltado
    Julian Y.

    I ordered their lomo saltado and alfajores for delivery. I love that the lomo saltado wasn't too salty because at other restaurants, it can be too salty for me. The steak was tasty and tender, plus it paired nicely with the rice and fries. The portion size was perfect too. The alfajores was good, but one piece was enough for me since I was so full. Overall, a really good spot for lunch and I would order again.

    Montage of images from El Aji
    Ed U.

    Unless you count the succulent roast chicken at Limon, all of the Limons, it's been a while since I've had a true Peruvian meal, and I have to give credit to the owners that they are offering true Peruvian food from start to finish -ceviches, salchipapas (hot dogs & fries), cau cau (tripe with peppers), aji de gallina (shredded chicken breast with saltine crackers) - everything you'd expect from a family restaurant in downtown Lima. I was looking for a light lunch and went for the $8.85 Choros a la Chalaca, a quartet of fresh mussels topped with chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, and huge Peruvian corn kernels (photo). Tasty appetizer, and I followed that with the $7.95 Quinoa Salad with red peppers, carrot, more Peruvian corn, peas, and baby lima beans, a nice picnic-style creation that worked for me. At some point, I'm coming back for that $24.95 Pollo a la Brasa, the true Limon litmus test. FOOD - 4 stars...Peruvian fare that's more than fair AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...clean space on Mission SERVICE - 3.5 stars...a bit coolish TOTAL - 4 stars...take me back to Cuzco, cocinero RELATED - In the mood for Latin food? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2Qk6Hg5

    Papa a la Huancaina

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    6 months ago

    Food was super tasty plus service was awesome always on top of. I will recommend family and couples to go there .

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    3 years ago

    Food very good. Food is Peruvian and not Americanize. Feels like you are eating a home cooked meal at a family's house

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    El Aji Peruvian Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Aji Peruvian Restaurant

    Is this place still open? I've called on various days according to their hours posted online but no one answers the phone.

    Hello! Yes we are open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5pm as of right now, hoping to open for dinner & 7 days a week soon!

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    Mariposas

    Mariposas

    4.5(211 reviews)
    2.5 miSoMa
    Locally owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Fantastic! Staying…read moreat the Marriott Marquis so this was about 2 blocks away! Super convenient. I went with the shrimp pasta and it was VERY good. Large, meaty shrimp, good portion of noodles and vegetables, and creamy pasta sauce. I also got the chips, guac, and salsa. Honestly didn't care for the guac too much - was kind of flavorless. But it was some of the best salsa I've ever had. If I was far away I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come back here. Mostly because there's so many other great options in the bay area. But if I was reasonably close then I would certainly swing by again!

    Great food, excellent environment, friendly and accommodating staff! The shrimp pasta was delicious…read morewith a great peppery taste, and the empanada sampler was tasty, made with flour for a perfectly crunchy and flaky experience. It was my first time ever having beef heart on a skewer; I'd rate it as okay, keeping in mind I don't have another reference point, but it was a bit tough in my opinion. There was a bit of a lull between our drinks and actually ordering, which stalled the momentum, but it did remind me of the importance of being in the moment and not feeling hurried to dine and leave. Overall, it actually made for a good experience. The drinks were great, there was excellent latin music selection and the floor to ceiling windows make for great people-watching!

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    Mariposas
    Mariposas
    Mariposas

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    Mochica - Platano Maduro Frito with reduced tamarind sauce yum

    Mochica

    4.1(903 reviews)
    1.5 miPotrero Hill
    $$

    Ordered the Costillas, Pulpo and wish I had space for more food but was stuffed. Service was great,…read morealways refilling water and asking if we need anything more. We had a booth and our view was the curb, wasnt anything fancy but the place was vibin'. Would i come back? Definitely, ive already reserved a time for next week. The flavors on the food was exceptionally good, and price for value was on point.

    I have always been looking to try this Peruvian place from the reviews. Reservations are free on…read moreOpentable, and even if the place may be booked on that website, you can always call to ask for availability. We were promptly seated on a Saturday night dinner around 6:15PM even though they were booked online until 7:45. Service was pretty quick and friendly, but you could tell they were trying to push us on selling drinks/appetizers. I felt like the service staff's mood might've changed a little after we were fine with only water (shocker I know, we usually don't order $17 cocktails...). Other appetizer menu items were similar in pricing if not more expensive than entrees themselves. I ordered an Arroz con Mariscos and a Pollo a la Brasa, and was pleasantly surprised with the portion sizes given the upscale restaurant vibe. I was expecting a lot less food, but turns out they gave regular portions, and boy were they GOOD. The paella is a standard paella, and it was very flavorful. Although it came with only a couple shrimp and other seafoods, the portion was still fulfilling for 1 person. To be fair, it's not really portioned to share unless you order a ton of other dishes. The half chicken was one of the best chickens I've had. The seasoning on the skin and the crispiness from the oven perfectly compliments each other, and my mouth is watering as I'm typing this. It's pretty savory, and the flavors soak through into the breast, so you know it's been marinating for a while. The fries reminded me of McDonald's fries cuts, and the salad was sweet and sour. An appetizer wasn't necessary for us, but if you're hungry, then definitely consider ordering one. The vibe was very cozy, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that since we ordered only 2 dishes, the service team kinda rushed us after ~45min of sitting and dining. To be fair, other tables had at least one cocktail per person, but at close to $20 per drink, we could not justify the price. A solid 4 stars!

    Photos
    Mochica - Bar and kitchen area

    Bar and kitchen area

    Mochica - Lomo saltado

    Lomo saltado

    Mochica - Salchipapas & Eggs

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    Salchipapas & Eggs

    Lomo Libre Cantina - Chicharrón de Pollo (delicious!)

    Lomo Libre Cantina

    4.4(207 reviews)
    3.4 miOuter Sunset
    $$

    Craved Peruvian Food for dinner. Been here for brunch, first time for dinner…read more Started with the Yuquitas a la Huancaina - garlicky yucca and love the huancaina. Kiddo kept the leftover sauce to pour over his rice. Kiddo ordered the Lomo Saltado, additional $4 to make it a la pobre. He ate it all up. I went with the Pescado a lo Macho. The presentation was great and the fish was nice and crispy - yum! Service was great in that she was friendly and checked on us often.

    I have been meaning to stop by here ever since they opened up. Well I finally got the chance. A…read morebright restaurant with bar area in front and dining seating in back serving Peruvian food like lomo saltado and fresh seafood like ceviches. Wonderful, helpful staff and friendly service from all. This place was amazing. I was so happy to try out Lomo Libre. We started with the Cesar salad with shrimp. Great flavor, very fresh, avocado, and shrimp added for some nice crunch and seafood. Next the Oysters with the leche de Tigre and ceviche clasico. Both were briny, salty, citrusy,and plump. Next came the Lomo saltado and tallarin saltado. The sauce was just enough for both and not overpoweringly salty, sweet, or anything. Lastly was the chaufa. Not my favorite, a little over seasoned to my liking, but great still. My favorite from the night was the ceviche clasico and Lomo saltado. Everything from the night was amazing though and I will definitely be back for more!

    Photos
    Lomo Libre Cantina - Lomo Libre on top of the bar.

    Lomo Libre on top of the bar.

    Lomo Libre Cantina - LOMO SALTADO

    LOMO SALTADO

    Lomo Libre Cantina - At the bar

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    At the bar

    Mi Lindo Perú - Mi Lindo Peru - Lomo Saltado

    Mi Lindo Perú

    4.1(834 reviews)
    0.3 miBernal Heights, Mission
    $$

    The Lomo saltado here is the best. Large portion and filled with flavor. Service here is really…read morenice and restaurant is conveniently located along mission street a few blocks up from 24th street bart. Restaurant is pretty large and airy too.

    My good friend, Ana, aka Smitty, invited me to dinner at Mi Lindo Peru on Wednesday, February 18,…read more2026, and without blinking, I was so totally down - I love me some Peruvian food! Offering a rich array of traditional Peruvian dishes, Mi Lindo Peru is a celebrated restaurant known for its vibrant flavours and generous portions. The establishment has become a favourite of go-to spots among locals and visitors alike for an authentic taste of Peru in San Francisco. Located in Bernal Heights, parking can be challenging in this bustling area. Luckily, we arrived around 6:30 PM, so I was able to find a space across the street, less than a block away. Truth be told, though - I did drive around the neighbourhood about 1.5 times before scoring a spot. The brightly lit dining room's ambiance is casual, unfussy and welcoming. Only one table was occupied and no other customers arrived to dine in during our visit. We sat at the half booth table at the very front, adjacent to the entrance. On this evening, the spacious venue was clean; however, a small stack of empty white plastic buckets at the foyer floor stuck out to me like an eye sore. Along with our menus, we were served a complimentary basket of two slices of soft, white bread, a ramekin each of a single ball of soft butter and a non-spicy red salsa. Below are what we ordered: Chicha Morada (Glass, $4.95) - Ana ordered this beverage for me, insisting that I try a Peruvian drink. She described this sweet purple corn juice as a Peruvian Kool-Aid. Her description was pretty spot on. Just a bit too sweet for me, but nonetheless refreshing. Aji de Gallina ($22.95) - I have always been curious about this classic Peruvian creamy stew, so was stoked that Smitty said that she was ordering it. YUM!! I need to order this next time! Lomo a lo Pobre ($28.95) - "A lo pobre" translates to "poor man's style" in Spanish and refers to the simple addition of a fried egg, fried plantains and/or rice and french fries to traditional Peruvian dishes to add another level of tastiness. I'm a big fan of Lomo Saltado, but jumped on this option with the added plaintain and perfectly fried egg. I was conservative and had the egg yolk ooze over the white rice (I could tell that the rice was steaming hot because the yolk began to cook once I sat the egg atop it). I immediately regretted that move, kicking myself for missing out on exploring the added flavour from breaking the egg over the meat, veggies and french fries medley. Next time, for sure! Despite the slight tough texture of the lean strips of meat, my meal was still delicious and enjoyable. Service was friendly and fast. I was taken aback when the check was delivered sans asking us if we were interested in dessert, though,...especially because I was so looking forward to a sweet finale with Alfajores. We inquired, but, sadly, they were out of the dulce de leche cookies due to their popularity during Valentine's Day weekend. The cookie monster in me was SUPER bummed. I initially thought that they had no inventory of postres (dessert) since they didn't offer any at first, but turned out that they did, indeed, still had offerings. We decided to pass on the sweet course. So delighted I was to be introduced to Mi Lindo Peru by mi querida amiga. I would happily return to continue the delectable culinary journey here that highlights the essence of Peru.

    Photos
    Mi Lindo Perú
    Mi Lindo Perú - Fish ceviche and fried plantains... both quite good!

    Fish ceviche and fried plantains... both quite good!

    Mi Lindo Perú - Chicha Morada

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    Chicha Morada

    Kaiyo Rooftop

    Kaiyo Rooftop

    3.8(1.1k reviews)
    2.5 miSouth Beach

    Brunched at Kaiyo Rooftop with a group of friends and it lived up to the hype. I've been up there a…read morefew times in the evening but never during the day, and we got lucky with a sunny one. The wind shields they have set up are a brilliant touch. They block the gusts without killing the view, which makes a huge difference up there. I was with a big enough group that we ordered across the menu and got to try a bit of everything. The Lomo Saltado Roll was a standout. Easily one of the more interesting rolls I've had recently. The A5 Wagyu Burger is my go to here and it didn't disappoint. The Tokyo Matcha French Toast is the move for "dessert". Order it at the end and pass it around the table. Matcha custard, peanut butter mousse, matcha and mate syrup. Honestly unreal. Service is what pushed this from good to great. Everyone was attentive without being intrusive and clearly knew the menu inside and out. Felt genuinely taken care of from start to finish. Will be back.

    Our waiter Alejandro was great, helpful, friendly and quick…read more Love the views and the rooftop setting but it was cold and windy the day we went - recommend going in the summer. The food was tasty but the portions were small in comparison to the price. But hey, that's SF for you. I could skip the beef empanadas next time. It tasted fine but nothing epic about it. I think I have a slight addiction to their plantain chips- they're thin and light and tasty with the cevice or guac - edamame dip. Yummy The drinks were pretty good too! I wouldn't mind coming back to celebrate or experience the rooftop again with friends. But I likely wouldn't come back for a monthly or weekly dinner date.

    Photos
    Kaiyo Rooftop - The inside

    The inside

    Kaiyo Rooftop - Nikkei wings

    Nikkei wings

    Kaiyo Rooftop - Red Dragon Roll

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    Red Dragon Roll

    El Aji Peruvian Restaurant - peruvian - Updated May 2026

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