Great food I had the steak skewers with the chim churi sauce it was delicious. I would definitely recommend

Came to visit this family-owned restaurant (Chef Jorge Chan) as I was curious about Peruvian cuisine. We ordered the cerviche (Mixto Cebiche), soup (Chupa De Camarones), Arroz con Pollo, and Tallarín Verde w/ beef steak to share for two people. The mixed cerviche comes with big chunks of fresh halibut, and plenty of shrimp and octopus. The sour and tangy flavor is perfectly balanced the glazed sweet potato and Peruvian corn and corn nuts. Definitely a must-try if you like cerviche! The soup (Chupe De Camarones) has a thick and creamy (shrimp chowder) texture, with plenty of peas/carrots pieces, fried fish, and a scrambled egg on top. Very hearty and just perfectly seasoned. We ordered the regular size and the portion is plenty enough even for two people to share. The specialty courses Arroz con pollo (rice cooked with cilantro sauce with chicken) and the Tallarín Verde (pesto spaghetti/parmesan cheese with breaded beef steak) are just as delicious as all the other dishes. The pesto spaghetti is al dente, and the pesto flavor is just devine! If you like cilantro, you cannot go wrong with the Arroz con pollo. Both of these dishes come in big portions, plenty to share for two people. Good service as our waitress was very attentive. Great value considering the cost. Good atmosphere, and plenty indoor seating. Parking in front of the establishment can be crowded, but there are also plenty of parking spaces in the surrounding area. If you are craving for Peruvian food, this is the place to be! Also since this is family-owned, please come and support your local small businesses. read more

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I was a big fan of this place for years but lately their food has been terrible. Two Lomo Saltados for $65 and the rice was dry and cold and the meat was hard. Very unfortunate to see this place take such a drastic decline in the quality of food. read more

El Rocoto was my go-to Peruvian restaurant in college and has served me well for many years! Parking can be tricky since they share a lot with other restaurants, but the service is consistent and I never have to wait too long for a table. Their arroz con mariscos is a must-order! I prefer this to Spanish/Cuban paella, but that's just me. Their alfajores are also delicious. read more

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Stopped here on a whim. Food was delicious, the ceviche was my favorite. The lomo saltado was made with quality meat and it did not disappoint. My husband ordered the tallarin plate and he really enjoyed it. They serve bread with your meal and my son liked it so much we ordered seconds. The service was great, our server suggested what dishes to try and we were pleased with his suggestions. The restaurant was clean and the lights set the vibe for a great meal. We'll definitely come back again. read more

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I was greeted with friendly service and the host recommend a very delicious pasta dish. The dining area seems very cozy with a chill vibe. I ordered take out - lomo saltado and the pasta dish. So good! Iced been here 3 times since. read more

Go early so you dont have to wait. We try to make it once a month and we have something different each time. Our server, Jorge, was so attentive and gave a great recommendation. We had the seco de carne and lomo Saltado. Soft but upbeat Spanish music playing in the background to create such a great atmosphere. read more

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The food was amazing we had a group of 10 people and we had no complaints about the warmth and flavors of the food. The chaufa and lomo saltado was my favorite forsure id always recommend that to anyone trying this for their first time... Service and ambience was basically flawless as well don't forget about the free breads you get with your meals as well ‍ read more

El Rocoto - LOMO SALTADO CHAUFA MARISCO Jamaica Drinks Bread etc... - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

A friend and I met up for lunch. We sat down right away. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. We ordered a ceviche mixto and shrimp with rice. My ceviche was ok. It needed more flavor or spice. Just felt like it needed more of something. Shrimp rice plate was good. Bread and sauces are always a hit. The restaurant is very popular and busy. Family friendly environment and nice and clean. I'd come back but not for the ceviche. read more

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El Rocoto is one of those places that doesn't need to be flashy to be good .. it just is. The food is clearly made by people who know Peruvian cuisine, not a watered-down version for mass appeal. The lomo saltado is the standout: tender beef, perfectly sautéed onions and tomatoes, and that balance of savory and comforting that makes you keep going back for "just one more bite." Portions are generous and meant to be shared (or enjoyed slowly). The space itself is cozy and unpretentious it feels like a neighborhood spot where the focus is on the food, not trends. Service was attentive without hovering, which I really appreciated. It's both family-friendly and date-night approved easygoing enough to bring kids or parents, but still intimate enough for a relaxed dinner with someone special. Prices are on the higher side for brunch/lunch, but the quality and portion size justify it. This is the kind of place you bring someone when you want them to experience real Peruvian flavors, not just take Instagram photos. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu read more

Service was spot on, my jameson & seven served fast and stiff. The tacu tacu seafood was hit of the night, the oxtail was over salty. Everything else was tasty and made for a great family dinner....but the bill? $167. read more

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Casual , Peruvian food spot . I was there for lunch, my server Claudia was sweet and provided the kind of warm service I was craving. The menu has all the Peruvian known staples but I went with tallarin verde and Papa a la Huancaina. Something I don't see or cook often and It was yummy , reminds me of my family home cooking Glad I stopped there, I will be back read more

El Rocoto - Tallarin Verde & Papa a la Huancaina - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Amazing service by Jonattan!! Amazing food! Amazing vibe, and amazing chelada drinks! 10/10! Jonattan went above and beyond to find out what drink I was asking for and delivered. I love coming here! read more

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Parking was easy in the plaza. Service was decent. I got the Tallarin Verde with Grilled Chicken. I the pasta bland, chicken was just okay. My friend got the fried rice and she found it bland. Prices were up there, not worth it imo. read more

El Rocoto - TALL S POLLO - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

Came here for 2 Birthdays. We loved it so much the first time we came again. We really enjoy the Peruvian food here. The staff is always welcoming and accommodating. It's not a big place. Very intimate. You can never go wrong with their most popular dishes, their Saltados. You can choose steak, chicken, or seafood. Comes with French fries and white rice. Food is delicious. read more

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Wow! This place was incredible. Jonathan was our server; he was knowledgeable, kind and friendly. We also had a secondary server who was also fantastic but I didn't catch her name. It was my first time but the others had been before and raved about the delicious food. We came for my brother in law's birthday; they even gave him a galleta/ cookie for dessert. The restaurant was cozy and authentic with Peruvian decor; also lots of space for our large party. Our family enjoyed many of the appetizers and main plates including pulpit a la parilla, various sashimi, tallarin verde, tacu tacu de mariscos (especially flavorful) and I had the fettuccine Huancaina, which was absolutely incredible. Our family shared and enjoyed every plate we tried. I don't think this place is hidden; it's been here for many years and it's a gem! Best birthday dinner we've had in a long time. Thank you, El Rocoto! read more

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I stopped in, as I was walking towards Kabuki for dinner... was intrigued by the fact I'd not noticed this Peruvian restaurant here before and walked in. I was initially excited... Jonny was my waiter and initially I was greeted with a welcoming smile. As I was seated and looked at the drink menu, I chose a red sangria and Jonny was happy to take my order. After my drink arrives, on the second request for any questions or an order, I advise I will continue to look through, that I'm a non-meat eater and new here. Jonny comes back for the 3rd time to take any questions or an order, and he kindly reviews a few options with me.... I finally decided on "Papas Fritas", on the menu for $6. To make a seemingly simple story short, I get my food and eat. As im finishing, Jonny asks if I'll have any other items and I politely declined. The 2 starts comes from the last 5 minute of my experience... so a simple order from the menu turns into an item I was charged for that was not on the menu - I was told it was a "special request", yet I'd never been here!?? Jonny didn't come back ....so the Second Gentleman / waiter that went to ask Jonny about my order, they were only 10-16 feet away and I kindly reminded them - that "item was not on the menu", because Jonny seemed confused and to refute my original request for Papas Fritas, as I looked on to the conversation with him and the other man, about my incorrect bill. This was a strange and uncomfortable experience and from what I gathered, I was "inconveniencing" Jonny for my small order, when the menu is quite highly priced. And perhaps he attempted to get over on me for "inconveniencing" him. I will not be back, sadly, as I love Peruvian food, and I was simply testing the waters for a future dining experience with the family. Nope! read more

El Rocoto - Ordered Papas Fritas but got charged for an item that wasn't even on the menu - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

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This was our second visit, and once again we were impressed. During our first visit, the generous portions left us completely satisfied. This time, I enjoyed a perfectly prepared lamb dish while my wife had an excellent seafood entrée. The flavors were bold and well-balanced, and even the coffee was great. I've included photos to show the quality. We'll definitely be back!" Your positive experience really shines through - with a bit of polishing, other diners will get a much clearer picture of what makes this restaurant special.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

El Rocoto - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Solid Peruvian food. The flavors are pretty good. You can find better in the area, but this is convenient and central. Service is good and place is clean. read more

Jonattan was our server and he was great. I had the parihuela salvaje and it was delicious.

My bf took me here a couple times. Very nice Peruvian restaurant in Cerritos areas. Gonna be a wait if you visit during Holidays. The food is great and they have a variety of options. However, in our most recent visit, We had a conflicting feelings about this place. Ambience: Very nice decorations inside, spacious, can handle large parties up to 20 people. Food: Lomo Saltado: usually the quality looks just like in photo, beef is not dry, sauce is good and onions are cooked perfectly. It was Bomb.com when I first visited the restaurant in 2023, However when we visited on a Saturday night recently , during peak time, the restaurant was crowded, the beef was overcooked, and onions were undercooked. Food took forever to arrive . Im understanding that the restaurant gets crowded can affect the food quality, however, the server on that night didn't check on us at all. We appreciate that the Manager had taken action. Wishing the food here is more staple. Corn soup: it was good and shirmp is fresh. Im still giving them a high score due to Management's professionalism and for other times that we visited food was really good. read more

El Rocoto - Lomo Saltado and Soup - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Glad I went to try this place out. For context, I took my grandma out to lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The place wasn't very big and located in a strip mall with lots of other eateries so the parking wasn't super easy. Nonetheless, our wait was minimal (8 minutes max), and we were eager to try Peruvian food. I had been years ago to Don Felix, I think it was called, near Silverlake many years ago. That was my only comparison for Peruvian food. The server was great with helping us choose and explaining the various dishes. Warm bread and butter are brought to the table. We ordered lomo saltado and carne a la pobre (I think) plus an anticucho de pollo. To drink, we got the sangria and the agua de maracuya. The flavors were all very tasty. Prices are up everywhere. For an appetizer, two beverages and two plates it came up to close to $100. I wouldn't come here on a date per se, but it's a nice place to go to with a friend or your family. Seating is a little tight seemingly to try to get more people in. read more

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Delicious food and fantastic service, our waiter Jonathan did an incredible job helping us, especially considering we were a party of 19 ! Thank you Jonathan read more

El Rocoto - Service area - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

The service was attentive and the food was yummy! Portions are big, so come hungry or bring a friend. read more

El Rocoto - Pollo a lo pobre - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

Service. was good, but bistec a lo pobre was the worst ever. Meat tasted awful getting close to go bad. SAD to see a great restaurant go down in all aspects read more

Delicious seco de cordero and chupe de camarón por su puesto una rica mara cuya definitely I'll be back soon read more

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Been coming to this location for years as the one in Gardena. Food is always amazing. I love their wonton soup, even thou it's not on the menu you can still order it. read more

This place was only okay overall. Went on a weekday and the restaurant was nearly empty and service was pretty slow. The flavor in the pasta dish was a little bland and the potatoes in the lomo saltado were not the best and pretty soggy. The meat was good, but I have had lomo saltado many times and other places just do it better imo. Again nothing was bad necessarily just average. read more

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Still my go-to Peruvian restaurant. Ok this is my birthday dinner spot. Over many years my family has come here because NO ONE COMPLAINS! My husband, son, friends & family all enjoy the food here. Over the years I've tried most of their dishes. The fried fish, lomo saltado, ceviche, papa huaccaina, fried chicken, seafood,etc. It's all very good. The free appetizer rolls with red & green sauce is killer. I usually order an 16oz of the green to take home. I've tried 10-15 recipes, and it's just not the same. Yes I purchased the aji huacate,etc. The sauce is GREAT. But don't fill up one this! The papas huacaina is really good. Very slight spice. Creamy cheesy sauce with boiled potatoes. Yummy. Had an off menu item, Tallarin mariscos. Seafood pasta. Shrimp, scallop, fish filet, squid sautéed with onion, tomato, onion & soy sauce(?). It's the "chica" Peruvian style. This is SO good. They deleted it from their menu years ago but will still make it upon request. Hubby had Lomo Saltado. Another standard yummy Peruvian dish. Kind of the Japanese "teriyaki chicken" of Peru. All Peruvian restaurants will have this. It's done really well here. Plus he likes the idea of added French fries. MIL had the rib eye. Another stellar dish. If you'd like to try something different, give El Roccoto a try. They never disappoint. The only draw back is parking. Located adjacent to Target in South & Gridley. LOTS of restaurants in the area east of Target within the same parking block. They're just always busy. But I gotta tell you,cruise around a couple times & a space will be available. read more

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Their food is better than most other Peruvian places in the area. The staff are welcoming and attentive even during peak hours.

Under‑seasoned food, greasy or under‑cooked sides, pricey portions, and meh service is a brutal combo. Took the family to Cerritos Mall for some Xmas shopping, after wife was craving Peruvian food checked in Yelp for the nearest one and El Rocoto came up. We checked the reviews and decided to go. Worst choice ever!! All I gotta say is thank you to all of those with no taste buds leaving good reviews when the food is horrible. Leading others to their doom!!‍‍If your reading this DON'T BELIEVE THEM, IT'S ALL LIES!!! read more

Great food...steak was tender and perfectly cooked! The servers are prompt and can get a little back up when it gets crowded around peak hours. It's a nice contemporary decor and can use a little more vines. read more

When I'm craving Peruvian food this is my go to place. Not only is the food always on point, but the customer service is exceptional. The young lady server is always positive, in a great mood and so sweet. She makes the overall experience even better. The restaurant is always clean and the music is great. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Definitely a go to! My girlfriend and I came here for dinner and drinks. The appetizer was so fantastic! The seafood was delicious. We ordered mojitos and it did not disappoint! The service was a bit slow but it was a busy Friday night, but overall the server was extremely friendly. The place itself is super cozy and very cute decor. We will definitely be coming back for drinks and some dinner. read more

El Rocoto - Great tasting mojito! - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

The food was delicious. There was an appetizer we ordered that looked small but carried lots of flavor. Food here is good, as expected, and no complaints here. Mostly leaving the review for the interesting purplish drink we had. I think it was made with a special kind of corn? We got the pitcher so we could all try it. It was delicious, refreshing, and my family loved it. Worth the visit just for the drink! It's a new taste to us, so I wonder how to replicate the drink at home.... read more

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We have been going to El Rocoto since they early 90's at the original location in Gardena and then the Cerritos location since it opened. I cannot even count the number of times and family dinners we have had and celebrations. One of my fave dishes is chupe de camarones and they have always prepared it as good as my husband's Tia and mine. My husband loves Antiocho de corazon and picante de mariscos. We had moved 3 years ago and so we were very excited to go there for lunch yesterday when we had come down to visit. What a disappointment it was the soup had no flavor that didn't put the cheese in it, I had to ask and then whatever cheese they are now using didn't melt in the soup, the soup calls for a pouched egg they put a fried egg in it, there was no oregano and it had way to much hucatay the size of the bowl shrunk and the price went up. My husbands food was served in a shallow bowl, they use to serve this in a boat type dish much more food, his also was missing the clam, mussel and they put a boiled egg in it, which this definitely does not have boiled eggs. The antiocho's was old beef heart and dry with no marinade seasoning. $89.00 before tip for lunch and completely disappointed. We should have driven over to Orange County to Aji lemoñ, we have never had a bad dish since before when they were Nory's. read more

My first experience having Peruvian was amazing! Lomo saltado and don't get me started on that Hauncaína! Our server Jonathan took great care of us and gave excellent recommendation. Will be back! read more

Our dinner here was a hot mess and nothing but one strike after the other. After spending over $100 on dinner for two, this place left nothing to be desired. Strike 1 - We found hair in the ceviche! See picture. The server had the kitchen remake another one but we had already lost our appetite strike 2 - We were given someone else's bill, and it was not a busy night Strike 3 - When the server finally brought our bill, Happy Hour discount was missed and we had to point it out to get the bill corrected Lesson learned - either never come back again or if must dine here, check everything: check the entree for "non-food" ingredients, and check the bill to make sure it's your bill and the prices charged are correct. Will not return. read more

El Rocoto - Hair in the ceviche - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

I've been here twice and both times, I have been really happy with their seafood paella. The paella didn't come in a frying pan with the rice crispy at the bottom. Nonetheless, I still loved the flavor of this dish and the portion is generous with lots of seafood. It was enough to share for two people. I also loved their complimentary bread with the two dipping sauces. I especially loved the green cilantro sauce. It had a nice kick and kind of addictive actually. I kept going back for more. The restaurant is clean inside and service was good. You get refills for ice teas. It is located in a busy shopping plaza in between Target and the mall. There is free parking outside the restaurant. read more

El Rocoto - Seafood paella - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California

Solid Peruvian restaurant in Cerritos! They have a wide range of interesting and delicious Peruvian dishes to choose from. I ordered their Lomo Saltado which is a stir fried beef dish with onions and tomatoes on a bed of thick cut potato fries. I was extremely impressed with the flavors of this dish, however, the beef was really dry. It was not really tender and overcooked. I loved the free bread appetizer with the two sauces. The sauces complemented all the dishes very well. The restaurant is quite small but has a fair amount of seating. Service was not the quickest but they were all extremely friendly and accommodating. read more

El Rocoto - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Cerritos, California