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    El Mono

    4.4 (2.7k reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    El Mono Reservations

    Order El Mono Takeout or Delivery

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    EL MONO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - El Mono

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    Trina C.

    Food and Service is excellent! Taya is super nice!! Highly recommended!! It's our fave Peruvian restaurant!

    Courtney A.

    Soooo.... they need to get their inventory together, big time. For example, I came in and looked at their wine by the glass list and requested a sav blanc. The server told me she didn't have any chilled ones but could put it on ice for me. Spoke with somebody and apparently they didn't have any sav blanc at all but directed me to the list where I could purchase a bottle. For one person? No thanks Time to order drinks. I asked about sangria and she gave me three options. Ordered sangria and then she came back and told me they actually weren't selling it. And then ordered the special for the night. She put the order in and about 10 minutes later I was informed they didn't have that either. You think they would have prepared for a dinner weekend rush? My reservation was for 1800 on a SATURDAY night. Three strikes and this place sucks. Actually four strikes.... I was just informed they were out of another dish I tried to order in place of the special.

    Danielle M.

    Some of my best friends and I decided to indulge and try out El Mono for lunch a few weeks back and we were content with what we experienced! Staff were very nice and attentive while working with our extensive order. We already anticipated that parking would be a hit or miss since we frequent another restaurant in this area, so be aware that the lot can get packed fast. Inside the restaurant we were welcomed and seated at a both with some adequate lighting. After contemplating our orders we got: - Peruvian Paella (4/5): SHARE THIS. The plate might be small but the proportion between the rice and the seafood is a bit imbalanced. You'll get too full eating this solo. Seafood was delicious though! - Lomo Saltado (3/5): Pretty good and very filling! The meat is more on the saltier side compared to other places that sell lomo saltado. - Platano Frito (4/5): Delicious start to the meal that comes with a yummy aioli. - Miti Miti 16 oz (5/5): Ordered this and loved the refreshing taste (and sense of healthiness) while drinking it! - Maracuya 16 oz (4/5): I was able to try my friend's drink and appreciated the sweetness of it! - Chicken cilantro soup (10/5): OUR ENTIRE GROUP LOVED THIS. We downed the soup without a single word spoken. It was so good with the green sauce they have here as well and we can't wait to have this soup again. For a first time, we liked the vibes and the food. Something we're eager for in the near future is trying the cocktails and food on the dinner menu!

    Poor Man's Steak... perfect medium, chimichurri, sunnyside up egg, fries, garlic rice AND platanos?! SWEET!
    Joey M.

    Update! Revisiting on Tuesday Night, everything was great as it always is. Poor Man's Steak, Seco de Res and Mojitos were FIRE. Shout out to Kaya our server, kept the drinks & food flowing with friendly, positive energy. Can't wait to check out the Berkeley location.

    Rebecca L.

    Food was amazingly delicious. The plantains had an outer crunch that stayed throughout the meal. The calamari wasn't covered in thick breading and was delicious. Rice dish is a must we had to take home leftovers. Pro-Tip- check in on Yelp and get a free Fresca. Unfortunately I checked in and just gave my card at the end and realized that they charged me for it. No biggie it was my fault. But I will say the service did lag a little for me. I came with a friend in the middle of the afternoon and she only had two tables. I had to ask for more water, soda for my friend, our boxes and the check. I don't mind asking, but simple check ins would show the attentiveness to the customers. I would come back and would love to try other dishes. This parking lot is small for all the businesses so keep that in mind for when you come during peak meal times.

    Pescado a lo Macho
    Selina L.

    They keep changing the plating, but the Trio Del Mar is still one of my favorite things to get when I come here. I have been coming here on and off for about 4 years now, still love the food as much as the first time. I highly recommend the fried fish in sauce and the Trio Del Mar. Did you hear about the new location in Berkeley? I cannot wait to go check it out!

    Lomo Saltado
    Selena F.

    Taya at El Mono made our first Peruvian food experience unforgettable. She was so friendly and personable, which made us feel welcome right away. The food was fantastic. We shared the frito sampler--those sweet potato fries were perfect, and we loved all the sauces. I had the Tallarín Verde con Camarones and the portion was huge and super flavorful. My partner got the Lomo Saltado, and we really liked the French fries it came with. To top it off, we finished with the Miti Miti--absolutely delicious, especially the subtle cinnamon aftertaste. Can't wait to come back and bring my parents. I know they'll love it! I recommend making a reservation it does get busy.

    Richard P.

    What a neat spot! I stopped by after delivering something to a customer in El Cerrito. Marle, Karina, & Dani were all AMAZING! I love Peruvian food, but there aren't that many places that I know of. So I decided to stop by and give it a try. The yucca fries are my favorite appetizers of course I got those! And they were excellent, non-greasy. The green salad I got was also fresh and flavorful with a light vinaigrette dressing. The seafood paella was the best! The seafood was really fresh and the rice was perfectly cooked...not too soggy and with a nice crunchy bottom from the pan. The service of course was top notch...really friendly and inviting. Definitely recommend this cozy place to hangout and eat flavors of Peru.

    Mixed Ceviche
    Angela C.

    Solid Peruvian spot with tasty food, although a little on the pricy side. Came here on a Friday evening on the way back from wine tasting. Arriving at around 6 pm, there were about 3-4 tables occupied and plenty of seating. We chose a table and then scanned the QR code for the menu. For a group of 4 we tried: - Mixed ceviche: Honestly just ok, I felt like there could have been a lot more flavors and also, a little more protein for the price. I would skip this if I came back. - Lomo Saltado: Solid lomo but not my favorite ever. I probably would go 50-50 on ordering this again, - Aji de gallina: My first time trying this dish, I really enjoyed it! I don't have other ones to compare it to but I loved the flavor in the stew and would eat it again. - Tapado a lo pobre: This was also my first time trying this dish and I thought it was tasty! But I would order the chicken stew over this. We also got the following desserts: - alfajores & cream: the alfajores were standard but I loved the lucuma ice cream! Super creamy and flavorful - yuquitas dulces: skip this, it was basically fries with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup. Very underwhelming. The servers were friendly and kind, and when we were there they had a live performer too. Seems like a nice local spot, but I personally wouldn't go too far out of my way to try it again.

    Pescado Frito
    Nicole P.

    One of my favorite restaurants in El Cerrito! El Mono has delicious Peruvian cuisine with amazing flavors! The pescado frito is one of my favorite dishes and it was perfect as always. I had a coupon for the fish cevichito so I tried it, but unfortunately it was not for me. So far, it's the only thing that I've had that I didn't like and I've tried almost everything! Service is always good even on busy days.

    Passion Fruit Mousse
    Steve K.

    Steak was cooked medium, It wasn't overcook, or under. The flavor was good. I also added a side of four shrimp they weren't over cooked. My wife's beef heart was pretty good, but I think the chimichurri was a little oiler than I'm used to, it tasted good with the heart. My wife's drink was good a little sweet for my taste.. when I go back, yes I will be going again. I'd like to try something else maybe the paella or come on the weekend when they have lamb shank.

    Miti Miti Inca Kola (12oz)
    Paty C.

    I wish I would have taken pictures of the food but it looked so good and delicious I couldn't help but dig in right away. Marlene served us today and she was so sweet and attentive. She made us amazing drinks and helped us when we had questions. The restaurant showcased new pictures of Peru which added to the ambiance. We really loved this place and will definitely be back again to try more dishes because everything that came out of the kitchen looked incredible.

    Ceviche - Fish

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    27 days ago

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    3 days ago

    Marlen, Dani, y Karina were excellent servers and the food was amazing. The food was verg tasty and I come all the time

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    2 days ago

    The food is delicious and great customer service. Great vibe and will definitely return.

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    2 days ago

    Amazing food! Bella, Karina and Dani gave the most amazing service! Celebrated my moms birthday here and we all absolutely loved it!

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    Page 1 of 69

    El Mono Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Mono

    Hello! Do you guys have gluten free options?

    Absolutely! We have many options that are gluten free and others that can be upgraded to gluten free. Stop by soon!

    Used to come all the time. Then things changed. Are you still using iPads instead of menus? Have you become senior friendly?

    Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts! We truly value your feedback and want to ensure every visit to El Mono feels welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, including our cherished senior guests. While we currently use iPads and QR Codes… Read more

    What is your corkage fee?

    $15

    Hi! What time does the restaurant close? i was trying to make a reservation and it gave me an option for 8 pm but the hours say it closes at 8

    Sunday 12–3:30 PM 5–8 PM Monday 12-3 PM… Read more

    Is there outdoor seating for a party of 12? Not for tonight but for weekend evening.

    Hi there, Yes we can accommodate a group of 12 or more with prior notice or reservation.… Read more

    Is there happy hour?

    All Day Monday & Tuesday 5-7pm Wednesday - Friday

    Does the outside seating is dog friendly?

    Yes, we allow dogs in our outside dining area

    They have pisco?

    Yes absolutely! Pisco Sour among other Pisco based cocktails!

    Do they offer gift certificates?

    Yes absolutely, and right now for the holiday season if you purchase $50 or more in gift certificates then you get a free bottle of wine!

    Can I make a reservation on the same day?

    Yes, but you'll have to call, ahead of time so we can add your party to the list

    Is there happy hour? If so, which days and times?

    I don't believe there is but unsure

    Do you use MSG?

    Absolutely not :)

    Does the restaurant save beer or wine?

    Yes we do serve beer and wine :)

    I'd like to bring my elderly mother in for lunch. She uses a transport chair (a collapsible lightweight wheelchair). Will it be easy enough for us to come into the restaurant?

    Hi there, Yes there will not be any issues with wheelchairs. For your convenience, we also provide… Read more

    Someone here said it was under new ownership. I hadn't heard that. Is that true? The people who owned it at the other location when it wasn't a full restaurant doesn't own it anymore?

    Hello there. That review seems to be a yet another recycled review from about 3 years ago. Either Yelp itself or its "Elite" team seem to go back in time and recycle other people's reviews in order to bring a rating up or down depending on a number… Read more

    Do they have different lunch specials?Also do they serve beer and wine?

    Hello there. We do have different lunch specials and we also serve beer and wine. Thank you for reaching out.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Las Brasas Peruvian Cuisine

    Las Brasas Peruvian Cuisine

    4.3(15 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Las Brasas Peruvian Restaurant in Emeryville is an absolute gem!…read more From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm, friendly service that set the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. The dishes were nothing short of delicious. I started with the ceviche, which was incredibly fresh and bursting with vibrant flavors. The lomo saltado was cooked to perfection, with tender pieces of beef and perfectly seasoned vegetables. Every bite was a testament to the skill and passion of the chefs. The beverages were refreshing. and Maracuys (passion fruit drink) was light and refreshing. While they don't yet have their beer-& liquor license, I expect when they do receive it, it's gonna be a destination. Overall, Las Brasas exceeded my expectations in every way. If you're looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine and hospitality, come here now. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu!

    Authentic Peruvian spot located in Emeryville on a busy street, there's some street parking and…read moreparking within the neighborhood. The servers all speak Spanish and English. Service was quick, we got the Maracuya passion fruit juice, yucca fries. My friend got the Chaufa Especial which was fried rice with prawns, chicken, beef, and egg. I got the Saltado de Mariscod which was sautéed seafood with rice and fries. I def feel like it's a little more on the oilier side but still very good especially with the sauce! We had leftovers and the next day I added more rice to compensate for the oil and sauce.

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    Choritos a la Chalaca

    Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche carretillero

    Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant

    4.3(63 reviews)
    6.2 miRockridge, North Oakland

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

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

    Photos
    Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - Tumi

    Tumi

    Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant
    Asu Mare Peruvian Restaurant - View from the street

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    View from the street

    Parche - EMPANADITAS BRAVAS yuca masa, pulled pork & tamarind, housemade hogao

    Parche

    4.4(610 reviews)
    8.4 miUptown

    Wonderful food, service, lively and vibrantly decorated space at Parche in Uptown Oakland. Offering…read moredelicious modern Columbian food and introduced during Oakland Restaurant Week. Ordered a variety of items to share (family style) and dishes all presented beautifully and flavors on point. From the salad del Norte with lots of textures and flavor, corn arepas with melty cheese, crispy, flavorful brussel sprouts and savory, nicely seasoned empanadas, everything was delicious with no complaints Our server, Celia was friendly, efficient and engaging...great service which made the dining experience really enjoyable! I'd definitely return as soon as many items to try (ceviche!) and repeat as the first visit had me wanting more! Metered street parking

    My husband and I came here on a date night. It happened to be Oakland Restaurant Week, so there was…read morethe option to do the restaurant week Prix Fixe menu or their regular menu. We opted for the regular menu since I wanted to try the whole Brazino. The table next to us ordered the rest week menu, so we got to peek at their food. It all looked really good as well. We even lucky with the tapas platter from the restaurant instead of just empanadas because they kept mixing up our table with the one next to us. The ceviche was really yummy. It was a treat to be able to try a varity of small plate items with the tapas platter they brought to our table by accident. The Brazino was really cool, and tasted fine but it wasn't amazing. There were a few birthday celebrations when we were there. They bring your drink out in this elephant head statue to wish you a happy birthday. Overall, I woudl recommend giving this place a try. I would go again, but not sure that I would rush back soon.

    Photos
    Parche - Bar area

    Bar area

    Parche - Plantains

    Plantains

    Parche - Mocktails - Dark N' Spicy in the long glasses. Short glass were complimentary so I'm not sure but delicious!

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    Mocktails - Dark N' Spicy in the long glasses. Short glass were complimentary so I'm not sure but delicious!

    El Mono - peruvian - Updated May 2026

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