My receipt shows what I ordered as 1 Fillet & 5 Shrimps. I can't seem to locate it on the online menu. Anyway the fish was delicate and the sauce was most pleasing. The shrimp was a good option to take advantage of. It was a Sunday night and business was slow. Previously I had been to the San Pablo Avenue location years ago and I was overdue. I need to come back soon and try some other items. The food looks so good here! read more

El Mono - Fillet & 5 Shrimp - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went here with my family the day after valentines. It wasn't too busy so we got in time to have dinner. This is their newest location and it is quite better. I do miss eating at this restaurant that closed down in Concord and this place was quite similar. I enjoyed the hospitality they gave us. The food was pretty good. We will be back to try other things. In addition, they accommodate gluten free people. read more

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First time trying Peruvian food at a restaurant! The interior and server were very nice though the food can be a bit pricey but the taste was definitely worth it! The ceviche was very proper, fresh, tangy but also fulfilling. All the sauces (both for ceviche & beef) were very tasty. The presence of corn & yuca was amusing. The drink had a strong cinnamon taste, which was not quite my type but not bad either. read more

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We decided to stop by for dinner and try out a new place. El Mono was exactly what we hoped for. Cristian and Andres were very attentive and made the experience even better. As for the food, the Ceviche and Seco de Res were very tasty. There were also nice options for our dog - we opted for the chicken and vegetables. Needless to say, everyone left satisfied. read more

Wow, such amazing food!! Really authentic and unique, and the staff were so friendly and welcoming.

Our first time here and definitely coming back! The restaurant has its own parking lot and is spacious with indoor and outdoor dining options. Inside, the ambiance and decor were nice. Our server Christian was so friendly and welcoming. He gave recommendations and checked in several times. For food and drinks, we ordered the Yuca Frites, Lomo Saltado, Peruvian Paella, Miti Miti and Spearmint Limonada. Everything was delicious and I'd order them all again. I especially appreciated that you can adjust the sweetness of the Limonadas. read more

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Drove by on a Friday night, saw the place packed. Google the spot to see what all the hype was about that night. Found an episode of Check Please Bay Area of the restaurant talking about how good they were. Come in a Wednesday afternoon only to find out it's better than Good. It was amazing. I have only eaten Peruvian once before at a more commercial spot and was like "it's okay." But the journey of real Peruvian flavors MATT took us on was so AMAZING. I have never tasted these flavors interpreted like that before. From the MITI MITI CHI CHA to the Ceviche and the Paella with this green sauce and chimichurri, my wife and I were so amazed. Can't wait to get back. Ask for Matt if you don't know what to eat. But get ready he will take you on a ride to flavor city. Thank you MATT for making our day. Matt. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We swung by for lunch and Julia greeted us and Cristian served us. The food was amazing. Had the causa and the pescado al lo macho. Soo yummy and great portion size. Had enough to take home. read more

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July 19. 2025 1:30 pm 2.9 stars. A conscientious server saved the day. A wise diner once said "If you're craving something in particular, don't go to some place that you've never been to before." Wiser words than this have never been uttered. After reading some misleadingly good Yelp reviews and ignoring a few bad ones, we were off for the first time to El Mono. I planned to share my wife's dreamed about rotisserie chicken with her and a fried calamari plate. At the last minute my son joined us and had an Angus burger and Yucca fries. We dined family style. When we arrived, we decided to sit outside to avoid the din of diners chatting over slightly too loud mood music. The setting outside felt a bit like a parking lot covered with a roof though. Some dying plants, a bit of litter about. Cold breeze and traffic noise blowing through. It definitely does not feel like a "dining out experience". We chose to take our chances with the indoor din. Inside, Mono is very cheerful. The bright wooden tables all look inviting. The staff moving around with their hello's and smiles. A charming server, Bella, with her smile and a warm welcome, brings us home made corn nuts to snack on. We place our order and within 20 minutes we are snacking on a suprisingly large, tasty plate of calamari and enjoying, for our first time, yucca. We snack about 15 more minutes and our half chicken with rice and salad is here. The salad is covered with onions. I'm allergic and will skip that. The chicken looks pretty interesting. I wonder what makes rotisserie chicken that color? And then all dining Hell, at first slowly, and then like hurricane, breaks loose. As my wife is wrestling to cut the both of us portions of chicken, I see my son's burger coming towards us and I notify him. Wait. What? I'm wrong? The server (not Bella) turns left with a burger and heads to another table. That table rejects it and the server takes it back to the kitchen. She has a discussion and 15 seconds later, here she comes with that burger again and she gives it to my son. The Angus burger looks like a masterpiece. Two huge meat patties. Veggies and melted cheese. They even threw a fried egg and I think fried plantain in there. Some new customers with a dog arrive and sit at the next table. Is this damn place Dog Friendly? My wife is afraid of "those filthy biters" . The puppy is on a leash at least. Good. The woman let's the leash out. The dog comes towards my wife and I had to yelp at the mother of the fur baby to pull her child in. Bad. Now my wife has conquered that chicken and I take a bite of the drumstick. It tastes like S**T. Too much SALT. I'm not talking KFC or Popeye's chicken salty. I'm talking almost salt it up so it will stay preserved without refrigeration salty. Now my wife loves to put salt on everything. She thinks soy sauce is an every day spice and even she says it's too salty and won't eat it. Ok. I'll skip the chicken and eat the rice and some of my son's beef that he pulled out of the thick burger. I chew the beef. What?! It's way too Salty. My son says it is the saltiest burger he has had in his lifetime. I decide to eat the rice. Take a bite and it tastes ok. How can plain white rice be salty right? I take another bite and strike three on the food. It is not salty but there is some very unpleasant (to me) sauce under and soaking into the rice. Our party is finished eating and the three of us are chatting. I'm feeling a little annoyed but I dont want to take it out on Bella. She seems to be the best thing about this place. I excused myself to use the one restroom. It is a "choose your own sex" restroom. Darn. Its occupied. I walk back toward my table and see a female employee exit the restroom. I go in. The restroom floor is littered with many formally good but now waisted eighth inch thick piles of seat liners. I look at the toilet and Crap! Some woman has hovered over the seat leaving -well you know. I dont know if that exiting employee was the culprit but she sure as hell should have remedied the situation. I hunt Bella down and in a calm shaking voice explain about the chicken, the burger, and that hoverer. Bella springs into action and takes care of everything. Her employer should have several more like her. First she gave heartfelt apologies for shoddy work that wasn't her fault. Next, she quickly assembled a team to clean up after the hoverer. Then she comps the two s**ty dishes even though I told her earlier I wasn't after that, and brings us two delicious complementary deserts. Flan and some fancy ice cream. Lastly, she also smartly gave each of us a ticket for a free appetizer on our next visit. We gave all tickets to our son. It is highly unlikely I will be back with my family but my son might go with his friends. On our way out, in come more customers with another canine fur baby. read more

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Delicious! it was my first time! Criss was great, served very large portions! choose wisely

Hubby and I came on an early weeknight to try El Mono at their Berkeley location. It's located on the tail end of 4th street with plenty of parking and outdoor patio seating. It seemed like you needed a reservation to sit in the main dining area, but we got a table immediately despite just walking in. We ordered a sampler for the appetizer, with my husband getting the steak for his main. I got the individual sized paella, which was packed full of seafood and had enough food for two. The rice was slightly overcooked but the flavor was on point. I'd love to come back again to try the other menu items! read more

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Customer service was really good. Mat checked on us multiple times. The food was delicous & savory. The poor mans steak was my favorite meat was perfectly made. The flavor on the papa la haucaina was yummy. For desert we got the lucuma icecream which was so good The atmosphere is nice + good music! Will be coming back.. read more

El Mono - Poor Man's Steak - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food is authentic and delicious. Music also good, nice ambiance. Service was awesome- Matt took care of us when we asked for Lucuma ice cream. They were out but he found some for us and it sealed the deal. Will return soon!! read more

El Mono - Alfajores-N-Cream - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Criss!! The food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the service was excellent! read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Our first time here and it was amazing! The food was delicious and the servers were friendly. We had ceviche, causa, anticuchos and tallarin saltado. I recommend all. Criss our server was attentive and very nice. We will definitely be back again. read more

My best friend and I got together for my early birthday celebration. We'd dined at El Mono in the past and enjoyed having exposure to Peruvian food. So we thought, why not try their new location? We both preferred this one for many reasons! My best friend and I arrived at the opening on a weekday. We were one of a few customers but over time more folks came in. The layout of the restaurant is quite spacious and well-lit. There's a bar at the front and ample tables for all parties. Plus a nice outdoor patio. Service was fine. You look at the menu through the QR code but a worker will take your order. From there, your food will be brought out to you but you won't have many interactions or be checked on. My only note was my napkin provided was dirty and there was a plant in my water glass. Since we came in the afternoon, we both got the Lunch Special. I opted for the Aguadito Soup as my side and Tallarin de Camarones. My soup was wonderful and soothing, with lots of tender pieces of chicken and a perfect cilantro ratio. My pasta I also enjoyed. Decent amount of shrimp but a unique sauce--savory yet sweet! My best friend enjoyed her meal as well. For those who like Peruvian food, El Mono is worth a visit. I like this location more off Fourth Street and Gilman Ave. for space and free parking in their lot compared to their spot in El Cerrito. read more

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Service and food was excellent Mateo is excellent!! And Jalen was excellent as well and sangria read more

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

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El Mono in Berkeley was fantastic for lunch today. What a surprise clearly they put care into cooking their food. I had a rice and steak dish with the delicious sauce, seared red onions, plantain, egg, and fries A+ every day. read more

El Mono - Lomo Saltado! - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Our first time here and we really enjoyed ourselves! Taya and Niurka were super sweet and we loved that our dog could enjoy his own dinner!

Food was bomb! I got the Lomo Saltado with a fried egg and a few pieces of shrimp. Defintely the best spot to get Lomo Saltado here in Berkeley and close to neighboring cities here in the east bay. Right off the freeway! Cristian and Julia also were great hosts and even accommodated us right before they closed at 3pm. read more

El Mono - Lomo Saltado with the fried egg and shrimp! - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

First time trying out this restaurant and had an enjoyable dining experience. The ambiance was chill with good lighting. Service was delightful (shout out to Christian for personable and welcoming service)! Drinks: - limonada 10/10, no notes - virgin michelada 8/10, tasty overall but rimmed glass barely had salt or held in place Food: - yuca fritas 7/10, tasty but a bit too heavy/dense - grilled octopus 10/10, perfect balance of charred flavor with firm texture but not chewy - Peruvian paella 7/10, tasty and good portion even for a single serving (forgot to take a pic) Overall: 8/10, looking forward to trying other dishes in the future read more

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Food was delicious, thank you Anibal Orlando! Great customer service with Taya, and Niurka. read more

I had Peruvian food for the first time at El Mono with my family. We were very impressed by the flavor and the friendly staff. We ordered yucca fries, lomo saltado, arroz con pollo, and chupe de camarones. The chupe de camarones was our favorite. This is a creamy shrimp chowder that was rich and comforting and it was perfect with the rice. The yucca fries were also delicious I just wish there was more! The restaurant is nice and clean and the staff was very friendly. I can't wait to go back to to try more seafood dishes! read more

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Criss was an amazing server. The paella was phenomenal!!!! The outside area was nice too. I'd recommend the plantains too. read more

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

Food here is always consistent, delicious, hot and tasty. The service is always excellent! Food here is always consistent, delicious, hot and tasty. The service is always excellent! read more

I came here for the first time and will come back again!! The food was so good, but i really loved how Criss, Niurka and Taya treated me and everyone around me! I came by myself but can't wait to have my girlfriend join me next time for the Aji de Gallina! read more

First time trying El Mono. Some of the dishes were good, while others were okay. I came with friends and I got to try a few dishes. There is a parking lot at the restaurant which is very convenient. The staff is friendly and attentive. Now for the food: -My favorite dish was the Yuca Frita 5/5: these were delicious! Not oily and just right. The dish came with a delightful chili aioli sauce. -Lomo Saltado 4/5: This was my dish. It came with rice, fries and angus steak cooked in a tomato sauce. The sauce was very flavorful, and the fries were crunchy. However, this dish tasted more like steak with tomatoes; still tasty, just different from what I've had at other places. I could choose between a soup or salad to go with the dish and I chose the soup. It was delicious! -Ceviche 3/5: this was ok. It was a bit bland, and it needed more lemon. -Tallarin Verde con Pollo 4/5: My friend had this dish, and it was good but very dense. The noodles came with a green sauce and chicken, using the same tomato sauce as my dish. It came in a large skillet, so this is perfect for sharing or taking some home. I would order this. It was good! -Drinks: we had a Maracuya 3/5, this would have been delicious if it wasn't too sweet. I had to add a bit of water to dilute the drink. Chicha 3/5, same as the other drink. It has a good flavor but it is too sweet. Overall, I had some good dishes here and tasted some ok ones. If I come back, I would try the tallarines. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here but if I am craving some of the dishes, I would still give it a try. read more

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We were visiting from Los Angeles and decided to stop here on our way to the Redwoods. I was especially excited because my boyfriend had never tried Peruvian food before and as someone who loves it, I was really looking forward to introducing him to the flavors. If I'm being honest, the experience didn't quite blow me away. The food was okay, but not something I'd go out of my way to return for. The portion sizes were fair and everything we tried was fine, but it just lacked that "wow" factor I usually associate with Peruvian cuisine. Service was also just okay not bad at all, and I want to acknowledge that the staff were very polite, but it didn't feel particularly warm or memorable either. Definitely not the worst but nothing that stood out. All in all, I'm still glad we stopped by and gave it a try, but for me personally, it wouldn't be a must-stop next time. That said, it might still be a nice option if you're craving something different while passing through. read more

Great food and hospitality from Matt and Niurka! First time at this location but i love it!

Chris was a wonderful server! We had such a delicious meal! Service is always excellent and so is the food! Perfect place to come and have a comforting meal! read more

While searching for our favorite food, we stumbled upon El Mono Restaurant. The food was 100% bursting with authentic flavor; I always say that in another life I must have been Peruvian, given the love I have for this culture and cuisine. Matt was an excellent waiter, and the kitchen--though physically the least visible part of the establishment--is definitely where all the magic happens. From appetizers to dessert--we will definitely be back! read more

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i love lomo saltado so i decided to stop by el mono, and I have no regrets! The lomo saltado was perfectly flavorful and balanced, especially with the addition of the green sauce! The seafood paella was gigantic, packed with seafood, and bursting with flavor. I also ordered the passion fruit juice which was divine. i want to go back already! ps free parking lot!! read more

El Mono - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First time at the 4th street store. Excellent food as always! Had the lomo saltado, paella and a stew beef. It was busy but owner Matt and our serve Criss came over to check on the table multiple times to make sure we are taken care off. Will be back again! read more

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I was in town searching for authentic Peruvian food to remind me of my trip to Lima and Cuzco. El Mono filled the bill--I enjoyed lunchtime causa and a maracuya drink. My daughter's stir-fried vegetables (Vainitas Saltadas) and a Miti Miti were equally delightful. We appreciated the attentive service of Taya and are recommending the spot to others. There is a great ambiance: clean, cozy, and bright! read more

Great food and service! My toddler and I enjoyed our dinner in this family friendly space.

Authentic Peruvian cuisine. We were a party of twelve for my daughter in law birthday. Great service, good food. Highly recommend read more

Everything was delicious and service by Christian was super welcoming. Spacious and easy parking in the back. read more

El Mono - Peruvian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was delicious and portions were just right. Service was slow though. Will be going back again or maybe just ordering to go.

Great food and great service! We had the cevice, limo saltado, and octopus. Everything was amazing. Thank you Matt for taking care of our party! read more

Great food and service by Christian. The green sauce is amazing. The ceviche was fresh and delicious. read more