The lunch special is delicious! I've been to both locations (Berkeley and El Cerrito) and have had great experiences at both. I got the Pescado Frito lunch special with chicha. The fish was delicious, and it came with rice, salsa crioa, and choice of soup or salad (I usually get the soup). Everything was nicely presented, and it was the perfect amount for lunch. Taya was great today--friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The food came out quickly, and everything was delicious. Overall, it was a great lunch experience, and I'll definitely be back! read more

I am by no means a Peruvian foodie... I can probably count on one hand how many times I've eaten at Peruvian restaurants (and probably the majority of those times are at the one up in Marin....IYKYK). However, I know what makes my heart happy. And El Mono? It made my heart and belly so, so happy. My friend and I came during lunchtime on Thursday, and as expected, it was fairly quiet. We actually thought it was closed when we peered from the outside, but I was ecstatic when I was able to open the door. The waiter was pretty helpful; we didn't ask too many questions, but he seemed fairly knowledgeable about the menu. He did a decent job with refilling our waters during our time here. We offered the shrimp ceviche, plantains, and paella. I also ordered the Miti Miti. This is one of those meals where the food just kept getting better and better as the dishes came: they arrived quickly too... even the paella! The ceviche looked a little unassuming at first and it is a bit bland IF you don't mix in the sauce. Mix all of it together, and each bite has freshness, crunch, and overall a bright and refreshing app that makes my heart swoon. The plantains were both crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside... so sweet, so delicious. The paella had so, so much flavor and it did not skimp on the seafood. My friend is allergic to fish so we didn't have that in our dish, but I didn't even miss it. We ordered one to share, and there was plenty to go around. Almost too much rice... but that doesn't mean we didn't finish 95% of it before tapping out. And lastly, I ordered the Miti Miti because it sounded refreshing, and it absolutely was. I assume this restaurant is probably fairly packed on the weekends, and it deserves to be. The food is amazing here. 10/10, would definitely come back!! See you in my dreams, El Mono! read more

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This is a wonderful restaurant. -I loved the nice clean decor and the screen displaying areas of Peru. Especially loved the pictures of the street market...OMGoodness would love to shop there. -Service was warm and attentive. - Food: all the dishes we tried had good flavor. I don't have the names for you, but.. had the cerviche & a fish dish appetizer. Both very good flavor. Then had a mixed seafood dish and a steak strips dish. Again both dishes were good, but the steak was the winner. A bit thick slices, but tender and flavorful. The fries were also delicious. Topped off with the strawberry-lemonado & spearmint-lemonado drinks. Both very enjoyable. Truthfully, I'd say the meal was a 4/4.5. (The flavors are tasty, and I would love to try more dishes. Only thing they could look at would be some of the prep work..., but we enjoyed our visit.) read more

Food was delicious. Loved the shrimp skewers. My favorite Peuruvian food is the fried plantains. Great ambiance and service. read more

El Mono - Shrimp Skewers served with corn and red onion/red pepper marinated salad. - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is INCREDIBLE - I recommend the Pescado a lo macho - the broth and breading is perfection. The service by Chris and the chef Alfredo were a true delight and we felt so welcome! I also got the Chicha drink which was delicious! read more

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Food was good not great. I'd eat here again but when I arrived I was asked if I had a reservation. So possibly just make sure you reserve a seat before arriving. read more

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This place was pretty good. Not the best Peruvian food I've had in the Bay - the flavors were good but the meat was a little tough. And it's pretty expensive but the portions were also big. My fiancé and I both took leftovers home. The staff was great though, super friendly and accommodating. read more

Brought another group of friends here to try their delicious food and tried to make reservations for 6 people online but it wouldn't let me so I messaged the business and they were able to make a reservation for 6 people. The food, service and ambiance are on point. Two of us ordered the maracuya (passion fruit drink), while we waited for the others to arrive. One of my friends is allergic to garlic and the restaurant mentioned that they can make food without garlic, as everything is made fresh. My friend decided to order her own dish separately of pasta with shrimp while the rest of us, ordered food to share! We ordered the trio sampler of ceviche and fried calamari which was flavorful, the poor man's steak medium rare and what a big steak that was to cut and share with plantains, fries, fried egg and jasmine rice, very tasty, Isabella salad, paella (more than enough to feed 5 of us and very fresh and delicious). For dessert, 2 of us had coffee, 2 of us had affogado, 2 of us had the lucuma with the cookies and I had the lucuma ice cream. My friends enjoyed the flavorful food and dessert! read more

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This is a high quality Peruvian restaurant , on par with Oakland favorites such as Lucuma. The service here was excellent, especially Cristian, who is incredibly helpful, hospitable, and humorous. The ambiance has a lively and warm welcoming feel that is easy to have conversation with friends over. We easily got seating on a Thursday night making it feel like a well kept secret off Gilman street. I highly suggest the Seco de Cordero and Bistec de lo Pobre if you're looking for dishes that offer high flavor, great protein to carb ratios, and will leave you satiated. Save room for the deserts though because you will be highly disappointed if you don't try the Lucuma Ice cream. This treat is imported DIRECTLY from Peru and is by far the best treat you'll have this week. I'm personally coming back for the Lomo Saltado as I feel that this menu has a lot of great options so I feel like I have finished business here. If only my stomach had a twin... read more

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My husband and I have been to the El Cerrito location quite a few times since it happens to be our favorite Peruvian restaurant in the whole Bay Area. We were stoked when we realized this second location opened up and decided to try it. I love the interior at this location! And they have some parking in the back of the restaurant which is nice. Matt and Andres took care of us and were fantastic. We came in with a hangry toddler and Matt quickly got crayons and a coloring page that kept our baby entertained until the food arrived. They always made sure we had what we needed and offered other sauces to go with our meal (hot sauce, tartar, etc). We ordered our go-to dishes: pescado a lo macho and chupe de camerones. Listen, we've been chasing these flavors restaurant after restaurant throughout the bay, hoping to find somewhere closer to our home that is just as good. Nowhere else has come close to being as delicious as El Mono. Both the dishes we chose are seafood based dishes, with pescado a lo macho having a variety of seafood and chupe de camerones having shrimp. In both dishes, the seafood is cooked perfectly. No over-cooked, rubbery, dry pieces to be found. And the sauces are heaven sent. Oh! I also have always loved the corn nuts they serve complimentary when you first sit down. Definitely eat it with the green sauce they give you. It's scrumptious. read more

El Mono - Chupe de Camarones - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Server was phenomenal with explaining the dishes as well as some history to Peruvian foods. The paella had large portions for 2 people. We were able to take some home. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Paella - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Niurka and criss amazing service ! 10/10 delicious food and great vibes. Highly recommend! read more

El Mono - Virgin Pia Colada and Strawberry Limonada - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Delicious Peruvian food. I had the breaded fish and my wife had the Arroz Tapado. All part of the lunch special menu. If we were local we would be regulars! If you like Peruvian food this is a must visit. Matt was also great. read more

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It was a great experience. My son chose this restaurant since he wanted to try Peruvian cuisine. The food was delicious and Criss was helpful explaining the food. Niurka made delicious drinks. The ambiance is warm and pleasant. Definitely worth the drive and the price. We plan on returning. We've been to a spot in San Francisco however we will be staying on this side of the Bay Bridge read more

El Mono - Entrance to El Mono in Berkeley - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came on a Friday for lunch specials and I was not disappointed! It wasn't busy when I came, but by the time I was leaving, the restaurant was almost full! Matt immediately helped me find a nice spot to sit, and quickly took my drink order. He also recommended several items for me to try, since it was my first time. He recommended I try the cebiche, paella, and their fish with rice. Everything was seasoned to perfection and cooked perfectly. The cebiche was fresh and melted in your mouth in every bite, and pairing it with the veggies, nuts, and sauce it came with, was the perfect combination in your mouth! The paella came out piping hot! It was good and I wish I got 2 plates for this. It's a lot but I wanted leftovers, I couldn't help but finish it in one sitting. The fried fish was delicious and breaded evenly. It didn't feel too heavy and was the perfect amount to pair with the rice that was provided. I can't wait to come back and try more items! Definitely highlights the tastes and flavors of Peru! read more

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Taya was a wonderful server. Food was delicious as always. Trued ceviche trio and lomo saltado, meat was sooo tender. Delicioso!!!

We had a wonderful meal celebrating our friend's birthday. Food was excellent, as usual. Yuca fries and ceviche for appetizers. Lomo saltado and rice with chicken (arroz con pollo) all family style. The rice and chicken is a different style than other Latin countries, but really good. Love the rice and the very flavorful chicken. The lomo saltado is always a winner at El Mono. We finished the meal with the traditional lucuma ice cream. Service was exceptional. Appealing ambiance. If you have not been at El Mono, try it. We have been at the El Cerrito location several times, but this was our first visit to the Berkeley location. We recommend both locations. Cheers. Buen provecho. read more

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This was my first time trying this spot. I've driven by it a few times while passing through the neighborhood, so I was excited to finally stop in. I'm a huge fan of rotisserie chicken--especially the kind you find at Peruvian spots--so it's always great to discover a place that offers something healthy yet hearty. The staff was warm and welcoming, and I really liked the vibe of the place. Overall, it was a great experience. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, salad, plantains and Peruvian beans, and everything was top-notch. My server, Christian, did an amazing job and was attentive throughout my entire visit. If you're looking for good, wholesome Peruvian food, this is the spot. Don't miss out on this gem. read more

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We had the yuca fries (6 piece is sharable for 2) the calamari (small plate) and the family sized Peruvian paella (we wanted leftovers). All the dishes were fresh but well seasoned. Our server, Cristian, was attentive without being intrusive. Have driven past this place a million times whilst in Gilman. glad we stopped in and plan to return. Maybe next time we'll bring the pups. read more

The food at this El Mono is as authentic as the original. Maybe even better. The menu is the same (feels like they got more items). Feels new but traditional food staples are papa la huancaina, (puff potatoes with ceviche). arroz Chanda (fried rice) , and the desért ice cream is a buet chocolate coffee that's delicious. the pulpo parillado (grilled octopus) appetizer is amazing but only available weekends. Also they have a lot indoor and outdoor Spaces. And parking. Taya was our waitress and she was great she had great recommendations and knew the menú back and forth. read more

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Freshly made and well balanced dishes. I'm really impressed with all the sauces that accompanied my dishes -- I don't always like the sauces that are provided at some of my local Peruvian spots, but these were simply delectable. Great service and a menu that has something good for everyone. read more

El Mono - Chaufa de Camarones (Lunch) - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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New spot, big flavors, ceviche that lives rent-free in my head Came through **El Mono's new Berkeley location** to check it out, have a quick bite, and I'm so glad we did. The space is super clean, bright, and welcoming. Right off Gilman in a chill neighborhood. It already feels like it belongs there. The menu looks stacked. Like...so many things I want to try, plus a solid lineup of drinks. Definitely one of those places where you already know you're coming back before you even leave. We ordered the ceviche and WOW. Full stop. That dish alone is worth the visit. Fresh, bright, perfect, and honestly one of the best ceviches I've had. Spring day? Summer afternoon? Random winter craving? I'd come back for this every single time. We literally drank the sauce. Whatever that mix was, I want it on everything I eat for the rest of my life. Also shoutout to the super woman Zoraida. Absolute powerhouse. She was everywhere: kitchen, picking up plates, cleaning, moving nonstop. Total badass energy. Love seeing her efficiency and care. Can't wait to come back for more food and more drinks. If you're in Berkeley, go check this spot out. El Mono is doing it right. read more

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All the dishes were great! We're glad we saved space for desert. The Lucuma Ice Cream was delicious. Matt and Niurka took good care of us. Overall great atmosphere, not too loud and nice place for date. We're definitely coming back to try more of the dishes. read more

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Not my first time at El Mono, but my first time in the Berkeley location. Was familiar with the menu since dining at the El Cerrito location previously. The location is on a corner, and has an outdoor patio, but we dined inside. Service was courteous and welcoming. We shared some patacones and plátanos to start, and I went with saltado de pollo for my main. All was tasty and the addition of green beans to the saltado was a winning move. With the diverse and reasonably priced menu, we'll definitely be back. read more

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First time here. Not sure if this is the same family as the El Cerrito location. I have been to both. The Berkeley one was excellent. We ordered 4 different entrees all were excellent. Nice place. We shall get take out again read more

Great restaurant and ambiance. Have been going to El Cerrito for years. However, I wasn't too happy about the fries in the lomo saltado especially for the price. Service was super friendly. read more

Food: 4.5 out of 5 Spectacular food. Everything was seasoned well with quality ingredients. Service: 4 out of 5 Service was a bit slow. Please try and stagger your servers throughout the restaurant so I don't have to get up to get someone's attention. Environment: 4 out of 5 Interesting restaurant because fantastic food but provides a fast casual restaurant. I would recommend more comfortable seats and cushion. A lot of dishes take time and that's not the problem, but ensure your patrons feel comfortable. Overall: 4.5 out of 5 I was instantly transported back to Peru and reminded of why I enjoy their culinary scene. The chica morada is a must and traditional drink. I ordered it with less sugar and it was still flavorful. Come with a group to try a lot of different dishes and you won't be disappointed. Fair warning that there will be a wait for certain dishes. Amazing food takes time! read more

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We went to El Mono over Thanksgiving weekend and had such a delicious dinner. We had requested outdoor seating (hard to find in the cold, windy Bay Area), and Desiree and another gentleman whose name we didn't catch made it happen. They got the heater running and even grabbed another propane tank so we'd be warm. Above and beyond already. It was my partner's family's first time here (and my first visit to the Berkeley location), so Desiree gave us some of her favorite recs -- and honestly, TAKE HER RECCS. Everything she suggested was spot on. My partner ordered his usual, the aji de gallina, and it was great like always. I got Antonio's Pescado al Achiote, which she highly recommended, and wow... so good. Definitely getting that again. I also really like the Tapado A lo Pobre. For apps, she suggested the trio de antojitos and my hands-down favorite was the beef heart bites. Will 100% be ordering that again. For dessert, I recommend the Peruvian flan. It's rich, creamy, and delicious, but ask for the wine sauce on the side. We both liked the flan a lot more without as much sauce. My only tiny complaint: for the price point, I wish the portions were just a bit bigger. I'm a decent eater, so I need both an app and entrée to feel full here, and I usually like having a little leftover at this price range. And for Antonio's dish in particular, I would've loved one more spoonful of that sauce/soup/curry -- I like my rice saucy and didn't have enough to cover it all. But honestly, everything tasted high-quality and made with care, and the service was incredible. All in all, a wonderful dinner and the staff truly went above and beyond to accommodate us. Thank you to the El Mono team! read more

El Mono - Peruvian Flan! Get with sauce on the side! or light sauce - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food was great, hard to find peruvian food sometimes. The Yuca Frita appetizer came out with crispy fried cassava and servied with zesty rocoto chili aioli. The yuca fries were definitely double fried and came in thinner cuts/slices than I normally see. It was hot and fresh, went well with their aioli. The Lomo Saltado had a decent amount of tender meat and side of fries. It is a classic stir fry tender with angus beef, onions, tomatoes, crispy fries, and cilantro, tossed in a savory soy sauce served with garlic jasmine rice. Recommend passing on the Arroz Con Pool which has cilantro rice served with 1/4 pound rotiserrie chicken, marinated in herbs, spices, and zesty lime before wing roasted. The chicken was dry and wish it had more flavor to it. The herbs and spices seemed lacking on this dish and we ended up barely touching it. The paella was the best dish here. Looked like everyone was ordering the paella and for good reason. Highly recommend trying the selection of paella here and it's large so easy to share in groups of 2 or 4+! 1 dish per person seemed way more than enough for the table and not including the appetizer. read more

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El Mono's paella is superb and plentiful! Loved Cobb salad with chicken as well. With 2 family size paellas we had lunch for 10 people with leftovers! read more

First time visit. Terrific food and friendly service from Taya. Worth the trip. Everything was fresh, marinated and grilled. Bring your friends! read more

Aesthetically pleasing delicious food! The service is amazing. Please set it down quickly. Drinks are great. The place has a good ambience to it. Tasteful decor. Five stars. read more

El Mono - Estofado de Pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Don't skip! Dog sitting for the weekend for my sister-in-law and came across El Mono. BEST LOMO SALTADO! The steak, rice and fries were perfect +the cilantro sauce was so fire. we also ordered the rotisserie chicken which was good as well. we ordered to-go / pick up. The prices are high and it was hard to get ahold of someone on the phone and called 5 times to finally get through to someone. read more

The quality of the food was excellent. What made this place special was the excellent service we received from Taya and Matt. The super mariscos was amazing. We will make this place one of our go to places. read more

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Loved!! Food was delicious and service was excellent, ambience was great. So many other things on the menu that we want to try.. will definitely be back! read more

Criss Niurka gave us amazing service and great food I went with someone friends and it was very nice and a good atmosphere five stars

What a wonderful new discovery. Authentic Peruvian food with a flare. Flavors that you have never tasted before and combinations with proteins that totally work. Not only was the food amazing but everyone we met. There was so nice. Christian was our server and Maisey saw to our needs as well. Located westbound on Gilman Avenue on fourth it's easy to find and they have plenty of parking. I like that they have a nice handicap slot right outside the front door and a wheelchair ramp next to it. I thought that was very forward thinking. I noticed as we approach the front door. They had a nice seating area outside with heaters that were set up and ready to go for customers. Sometimes it gets windy and cool there but you're protected and you get a little heater with it. Once through the front door is walking and I noticed that the place smelled wonderful and Was very clean and organized. With the hard floors and the high ceiling, it can get a bit noisy in there, but that's to be expected with the architectural design. We were immediately seated and our servers and were absolutely wonderful. The three of us shared our specific meals with each other. My daughter had the Salado de Pollo and my wife had the Lomo Saltado. I found these very unique in the sense that they had basically the same spices but they let the flavors of the meat change the overall flavor of the sauce. How brilliant is that? I had the Cerviche which was one of the most excellent and balanced I have had in a long time. Everything and it was cooked perfect perfection, and just the right tenderness and flavor to it without being overpowered by the lime. For dessert we shared the Peruvian Affogato. Surprisingly it's an ice cream in a cup with espresso coffee put over it. What a nice way to finish the meal. My daughter also had the Miri Miri which is a sweet beverage and impaired perfectly with her entrée. It was delicious. Is this a place I would return to for a food experience? Absolutely each of us enjoyed it completely and would certainly return. I have to say it was a truly unique experience. I knew nothing about Peruvian food. I was surprised that I want to explore it again. read more

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Good service and food is delicious. W servers and W food. Adding this restaurant to the W list for sure read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have always loved the food at el mono and I was super excited they opened this new location. The interior is beautiful and it felt more spacious. I also loved how spacious the parking lot is considering that I drive an SUV and parking was always tight for me at the el cerrito location. I just don't know if the slow dining/slow service works for me. I was greeted immediately and was told to sit wherever I liked. After about 5 minutes, we still weren't given any menus so I had to get up and ask for one myself and I was asked "how many do you need" lol as if they didn't remember me walking in or something. It took another 10-15 minutes before someone came to take my order. And as I sat there waiting for my food, I saw them bringing menus, waters, and nuts immediately to other tables so idk why we were the odd ones out. I did have to ask for water 2 times before someone brought it. But don't get me wrong, the staff here are super friendly and as I mentioned, I love the food here, it taste amazing. It's just the slow service that doesn't work well with me and will most likely do takeout in the future versus dine in. It was my boyfriend's first time getting Peruvian food and I recommended the lomo saltado to him and I got the aji de gallina. The steak was a little bit dry but the sauce/seasoning made up for it. Loved the aji de gallina as always. We also got a Shirley temple and the passion fruit juice. Our total came out to be $70 not including tip. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was in the Neighborhood visiting my Friend Dave , He is a Professional Mixologist friend of mine!!! I was Famished when I left his home. So I stopped by El Mono a Peruvian Restaurant!!! I rolled in and was Greeted and Seated!! My very Beautiful Server asked for my Food Order!!! I Ordered Calamar Frito for my Appetizer!!! For my Main Dish I Ordered Peruvian Paella !!! I was brought Roasted Corn Nuts to Start With. Seriously Service is Top Notch!! I was Checked on quite Frequently!!! When I Finished My Calamari Appetizer the Plate Was Cleared within Seconds!!! The Ambiance is really Nice and Clean !!! My Peruvian Paella arrived next on a Flaming Hot Cast Iron platter!!! It was a Delicious and Generous sized Platter!!! For dessert I ordered a Strawberry Flan !!! It Arrived very quickly!!! It was a Nice sized Piece and Each Spoonful was Heaven On Earth !!! Service was Fast and Efficient!!! I paid by Credit Card and Rolled Out!!!? For all These Reasons This Is A Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong !!! read more

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