I absolutely loved the lomo saltado! 10/10! I will be back for more! Thank you Emelina!

Very disappointed with the anticuchos. I'm Peruvian and grew up eating anticuchos, so I know how they are traditionally prepared and what they should taste and feel like. When I ordered them, they specifically asked me how well-done I wanted them, and I requested medium-well. Unfortunately, what I received was extremely hard, overcooked, and heavily seasoned. It did not have the grilled flavor or texture I would expect from properly prepared anticuchos. If the restaurant does not grill their anticuchos, I really believe that should be disclosed when ordering, especially when you're being asked how you want them cooked. At $17, this was absolutely not worth it. I honestly felt misled by the dish. I'm leaving this review because I would hate for someone else to spend $17 expecting traditional Peruvian anticuchos and have the same experience. I would personally recommend skipping the anticuchos and ordering something else. read more

Food below par. The "Chaufa con mariscos" or "Seafood fried rice", the seafood had a leathery texture, Overcooked. The rice itself no "chaufa" taste. The "Tallarines verdes con bistec" or "Spaghetti with creamy pesto and NY steak", we send the NY steak back as it was very wiry and hard to cut. Subbed with meat from their "Lomo saltado", ir was OK. The creamy pesto sauce missed the flavor profile, too garlicky. The "Papa rellena", The potato was OK, the filling overcooked. read more

My Peruvian coworker took me here as his favorite authentic local spot. It did not disappoint! We ordered a variety of items to share. The ceviche was absolutely delicious, very fresh and wonderful flavor. We also got the classic lomo saltado and bisteck. Both were very well prepared and it was an overall great meal. It is low key vibes with attentive and friendly staff! read more

At the suggestion of a friend we went here for lunch. This is one of those places that may not be on your radar but it's worth trying out. Definitely a family owned shop. The empanadas are hand made, and the ceviche was amazing not only in flavor and freshness but portion size is enough for 2 people so I had no room to try the Lomo Saltado . You might be serenaded by the kitchen staff sing along to the music. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Empanadas , Palta Rellena - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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This place has been here for years and I remember it being okay and wanted to try it again so I ordered take out from here and it is way better than I remember!!! Everything I ordered was so good, flavored well. My only bad comment was from the calamari as we only got 2 shrimps, 1 clam, 2 mussels and the rest was just the calamari so I felt a little cheated there but everything else was really good! read more

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The food was really good, but it was kind of a weird dine-in experience. They also didn't have the Peruvian ice-cream which was a bummer. Would probably be nicer for a large group as opposed to a single diner. Big portion, filled my belly and left me not needing even a snack more. read more

Wow!! Very impressed with this restaurant. My partner and I hosted his mom and grandma for Christmas, they flew here from Florida but originally they're from Peru. We stopped at this restaurant on our way to show them around San Francisco and we were all blown away!! We ordered anticuchos and papa rellena for appetizer. Both delicious! For mains, we ordered seco de res, tallarín verde con bistec, and pescado a la chorillana. Everything was absolutely perfect. The food was presented very nicely with traditional flavors. No notes. I'll be back specifically for the tallarín verde!! So good. The restaurant is clean with simple but elegant decor, nice ambiance with salsa music playing. My partner's mom said "it feels like we're in Peru right now." The prices here are also great compared to other Peruvian restaurants around the Bay Area. If you want traditional Peruvian food and vibes, this is your spot!! read more

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Arrived at around noon on a weekday for lunch. There were only a few tables occupied when we arrived, so we were seated quickly. We started with the Anticuchos. I've only had them served on skewers, so I was happy to find these ones served without the skewer. They were tender slices and loved the sauce - only wished we had bread to sop up the sauce. Hubs ordered the Pollo a la Plancha and I ordered the Pescado a la Chorillana. The grilled chicken was flavorful and the Tallarin Verde was also good. The fish was tender and I loved the sauce over the rice. The dishes may look small, but they were quite filling. We each packed up half our orders to take home because we were full - looking forward to eating them for dinner. read more

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Basic decor but hearty and filling. I had the paella which was massively bigger than I could eat. It had a good variety of different seafood and tastes great. Will definitely back with friends. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Paella - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Peruvian food was good :) Appetizers are entree size! Good drinks Small parking lot read more

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Aji de Gallina was as expected, flavor-wise. I did have a dry piece of chicken but it was still very good and I would order it again. Ceviche de pescado was also very good and would order this again as well. Loved the sweet potato and corn. Papas fritas were nothing special. They weren't crispy and I could pass on this but it's a good option if you have little ones. Lomo Saltado was very good but the first time I ordered it, the portion was smaller than portions I've seen from other people's posts so I was a bit disappointed (I forgot to post the picture). The 2nd time I ordered it, it was cut up and piled on top of the fries so it was harder to tell if the portion was the same. Still just as tasty though! Pollo a la plancha was good. Some pieces were a little dry and the rice seemed a bit undercooked. It also came with salad. I might pass on this and try a different chicken dish next time. La chiclayana was a huge serving and came with 3 big shrimp, fish, and it was supposed to have octopus but was surprised to find 2 clams and 2 mussels instead. I wasn't mad. There were also 4 pieces of plantain bananas. There's heaps of rice and after a while of eating it, it became a tiny bit salty. I wouldn't mind getting it again though. Parking during lunch on a weekday can be difficult here so would recommend carpooling. Dinner on a Saturday was not a problem. Service was pretty fast as each time I've went, there weren't that many people. Definitely a mom and pop shop vibe. read more

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Amazing food! Decent portions and nicely Plated . Had the Mariscos and Lomo Saltado Plates, Plantains and Beans on the side... All was delish. Service and atmosphere up to par. Luv it and will be back. read more

Another day in the Peninsula, another amazing Peruvian spot discovered. We had the Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Plancha. This was basically grilled chicken on pasta with creamy pesto sauce. The chicken was excellently seasoned. The pesto sauce was rich and aromatic. This was a hit. Next we had la Chiclayana, a paella-like dish with seafood and rice in cilantro sauce that originated from the northern part of Peru. The cilantro sauce is the star of this dish as the hint of herb compliments the seafood perfectly. I also loved the fried plantains and hominy that add a little crunch to the dish. I will definitely be back again to try the Chaufa and Lomo Soltado. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Plancha - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Emelina's is nice find. It is a small family restaurant in the corner of a strip mall. The food was some of the best Peruvian food we have had. Servers were friendly and came by several times to make certain customers were happy. The customers we saw appeared to be locals that may come often. The food was excellent. As I was looking for dimmer in the west bay I came across Emelina's. The menu was extensive and I was sold when I noticed they had Anticucho de Corazon. Since my wife grew up with this protein we had to go especially since one of our favorite Walnut Creek Peruvian place no longer serve Anticucho de Corazon. The fried yuca frita was nicely presented and wasn't greasy. The Anticucho de Corazon (beef heart) appetizer was large enough to be an entrée. It was tender and excellently flavored. The grilled sea bass was excellent. Grilled, in this context, was a flat grill with oil as compared to open fire grill. We didn't taste the oil and the salad was huge. The restaurant is on a corner strip with the standard fluorescent lighting panels. The kitchen takes over Most of the restaurant. They probably have seating for fifty people. We strongly recommend you give them a try. read more

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The best ! Food has an amazing taste, portions are great! Service is excellent! The place is peaceful! El mejor ceviche peruano de la región!!! read more

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Definitivamente el mejor restaurante de comida peruana que he probado. La comida es deliciosa, el servicio es rápido, el personal es muy amable y el ambiente es cómodo y familiar. ¡Una experiencia que siempre dan ganas de repetir! Definitely the best Peruvian restaurant I've ever tried. The food is delicious, the service is fast, the staff is very friendly, and the atmosphere is cozy and family-friendly. An experience you'll want to repeat again and again read more

Great Authentic Peruvian Food! I had ordered ceviche de pescado, platano fritas, lomo saltado and el borracho. My favorite dish was the ceviche de pescado was so flavorful and delicious. The sweet potato and corn nuts is so well balanced with the dish. The platano fritas were so sweet and caramelized, I could probably eat 6 of them in one sitting. The lomo saltado was good but wish the meat was a little bit more tender and had more flavor. This is my first time trying el borracho which is a Peruvian style paella and it was delicious and savory. I definitely prefer Peruvian style paella over Spanish style paella now. I ended the meal with the alfajores, they were so moist and the perfect dessert to end the meal! read more

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Been coming here for years, this is Peruvian, and i come here for the chicken soup. You can love the ceviche and the lomo saltado, but you must ask for the not on the menu, but still on their wall item, that amazing chicken soup. Hole in the wall. Parking is tight and shared with a pho place. Loud Peruvian music and loud Peruvian customers. Authentic cook to order so expect slow and yummy. Great service when they focus on you, but few of them, and 10 tables. Yes, worth repeating. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Chicken soup - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Authentic and delicious Peruvian food ! We came on a Sunday afternoon and before the rush . The restaurant is clean and super chill. The ceviche is to die for omg . We ordered two , it's so zesty and just seasoned perfectly ! The lomo saltado is one of my fav dishes and they did not disappoint . The alfajores are a must you guys ! read more

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This is our second time at this restaurant and we were pleased again with our plate selection. My wife ordered Copa Borracha, from the ceviche section, and was pleased with the flavor and presentation. It was a white fish ceviche and topped with a deep fried calamari. The best of both worlds. I had El Borracho, which is a Peruvian style paella. This was without of though one of the best Paellas I've had so far. We will definitely go back and try one of their other dishes. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - The Copa Borracha seafood option. - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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The Peruvian food here is amazing !!! You must try the heart ... sounds funky but it it deeeliah , if no one tells. You it's a heart , you will never know We keep coming back to make our way through the menu Yuca, plantains, seafood rice , purple chichi to drink or the 3 different t beer varieties ... all the best Try it ! You won't regret it read more

Fresh and bursting with authentic Peruvian flavors! I've tried the causa, 2 ceviches, the pasta with chicken, tamals, even the beef heart! I loved it all (but beef heart just ain't my thing lol) 10/10 recommend as a wonderful casual Peruvian place. Perfect for lunch or casual dinner! The staff were also lovely and warm. Also good for coming alone and having a fast meal! *located in a strip mall with scarce parking. Would recommend beating the dinner crowd read more

Wife and I went here for the first time. We had lunch here. Very quaint cafe. We were greeted as we came in and we're told it was self seating so we grabbed a table by the window even though it was raining outside, lol! All the dishes were very tasty The plantains were not overly sweet and were cooked good. The fried yuca was delicious and the cheese dip it came with had a very mild spice to it. The Peruvian style paella was excellent. Good amount of seafood and taste was on point. It was not salty and did not take long to come out form the kitchen. The seafood soup was also good. The broth was good especially since it was a gloomy day the soup was perfect. The soup also had plenty of seafood in it. The main portions are big enough to share (if you want to ) Wife and I always order 2 different dishes and then split it so we could taste the different dishes. The food is on the pricey side. Our bill was over $70 and that was with no drinks NOTE: The parking is not plentiful there so plan accordingly if you come with a bigger group. We would more than likely come back here. read more

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Vegetarian here! I stopped by on my way to the hotel after arriving at SFO. The staff is incredibly nice, and the food feels healthy. I wouldn't say it's a favorite for me - but I walked out feeling energized. The plates are a lot bigger than I thought! read more

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Ok. . Not fancy but EXCEPTIONAL food!!! And great service. Will definately stop again when driving to Palo Alto or Redwood city. Ordered a stuffed potato with beef stew... As well as a fish and rice dish. It looked good... Tasted amazingly Exceptional!!! Great food... Thank you for all the help.. Much appreciated, Sharine read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Stuffed potato with beef stew. Delicious WONDERFUL dish - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

You open the door to hear the vibrant modern Peruvian popular music. They greet you with a smile and let you sit anywhere. The host and waitress are attentive and friendly, making your visit warm, as if you are family. Now for the food. All the classic comfort foods of Peru, which, according to my Peruvian mother-in-law hold up to her high standards. If you love ceviche, there are plenty of options. My wife always orders the lomo saltado, and it was fabulous. My son, arroz con pollo, which he gobbled up. As for me, i tried the El Borracho (chef's special) and it didn't disappoint! read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - El Borracho - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

One of my close friends took me here on a hot day and honestly, it hit the spot! I love Peruvian food and in the bay, I feel like there aren't enough Peruvian restaurants here. I am so happy that this one is not in the city it is in the heart of San Carlos. I love the mom-and-pop feel of this restaurant. We ordered their famous fresh juice passion fruit drink and it had the best balance of sourness, tanginess, and sweetness. We also got the paella with their yummy house-made green spicy sauce, their seafood is fresh and truly remarkable. I have not had any Peruvian food restaurant I didn't like at least here in California. The service was great! the ladies were so sweet and attentive, that they gave us extra green sauce. I would like to take more people here in the next week or so. The parking is limited which I am not a fan of but it is one of those places where it just will do! read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Was introduced by my Peruvian friend as the best Peruvian food in the Bay Area so I had her order me lunch to take home. The sauce in the ceviche de pescado was so good you can use it on cardboard and it will be tasty. I don't know what type of fish they used and honestly it doesn't matter. If you like a perfectly balanced citrus sauce, try this one. There was also some hominy and dried corn which wasn't expected but it played a good textural addition and something else to eat the sauce with. Papas relleno is the size of a baseball and pretty good! If you have no idea what it is, think of an arancini with seasoned mashed potatoes instead of risotto. This is not a giant potato crochet. The outer papas layer was not thick at all and the filling is chopped, stewed meat. They only make 20 at lunch and 20 at dinner so order them early. The shank, although delicious I felt was too much like baghali polo, the Persian version. But my favorite is the aji de gallina. The sauce is nothing I've tasted before and with the condiments they included, lemon and thinly sliced red onion balanced the richness. read more

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I've been twice in the last month. This place is a great find. It has amazing food. And the service was just as good. I highly recommend the lomo saltaldo. read more

Delicious food, well served portions, fast and cordial service. The place is clean and the food is amazing!! read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Saltado de Mariscos - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Wanted to try this location several times while in the San Carlos area. So today, we decided to try this location. They have several locations. It's a local restaurant, we each othered the following: Bistec a lo Pobre, lomo saltado, pescado a la plancha, la chiclayana and to share Chicharrón de Pescado. For drinks, we ordered pisco sour. The chicharrón de pescado was delicious . Very good. While eating chicharrón de pescado, all our own dishes came, let me say, their portions is huge. The steak was good but a little too cooked for my husband. The lomo was very tender. The Pescado a la plancha was very good, and finally the La chiclayana (seafood paella) very good according to my brother in law. The pisco sour was not as strong as Limon and Puerto 27 but wasn't bad. Mom gave her thumbs of approval for large portions and the lady that helped us was so nice. She was doing everything, from taking our orders, bringing our orders and doing our drinks. She was awesome. Would definitely come back. read more

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Our dining experiences many years ago at Emelina's were mostly good, but we had some hiccups with poor service. So, after a 9 year hiatus, our family decided to give them another try. I'm so glad we returned. In our two recent visits, the food was excellent and the service was good. Our family liked everything we ate and appreciated the large portions and abundant seafood. We highly recommend the following: Causa de Pollo: Mashed potatoes, avocado, egg, and chicken mayonnaise Arroz con Mariscos: Seafood paella served dry El Borracho: Seafood paella in a rum, pepper sauce Plantano frito The yuca frita were excellent on our 2nd last visit (thick cut and crunchy), but disappointing on the last visit (very small/thin and oily). The owner is very friendly and attentive. Parking can be a bit challenging and service can be slow. So, it's better to come during off hours. read more

The fried chicken was delicious. Crispy on the outside (without too much breading), moist and juicy on the inside. The sauce, kind of light, pesto-like, made the fried chicken morsels even more yummy. We had other food, but this in my opinion was the best. Then there was the cheesecake. Wow. Beautifully plated. The taste was subtle: not too sweet, buttery smooth, full of delicate flavor. Service was excellent: kind and attentive. The ambience was cozy but open. Highly recommended. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I have eaten here multiple time on my volition - that must mean that it is good. I like the homy atmosphere and how hard everyone works to make sure my experience it positive. I think the prices are fair and the food is good. Food 4 Taste 4 Presentation 3 Aroma 4 Quality 4 Quantity 4 Service 4 Parking - hit or miss - if you find parking in front 5 else 2 you have to park across the street or behind Wine/ beer 3 limited selection but reasonable prices Desert did not have any Value 4 read more

Delicious and authentic Peruvian food. The service was excellent. I enjoyed listening to classic salsa music while devouring dinner!

I enjoy Peruvian Food so much. Their leche de tigre & ceviches come well seasoned. I can tell that there's a new chef from the previous times I have visited this place. The food isn't bad, but I can tell a difference in the Lomo Saltao and how certain things are seasoned. The jalea comes nice and crispy, so fantastic Clean and nice place to dine in. I went here for valentines day and it was quite busy but we were still served in a timely fashion. Our waiter was patient and kind, provided answers to our questions and offered samples when we were uncertain about an item. Parking is limited but you can always park across the street. read more

THE SPOT FOR AUTHENTIC PERUVIAN FOOD!!! I'm Peruvian and travel to Peru yearly, this place is the real deal. Love the service and atmosphere as well! We ordered 2 lomos cooked medium (yes they came medium!), ceviche de pescado (medium spicy), a chicha morada and inka kola. You won't be disappointed. :) also don't forget to order some alfajores - Peruvian traditional dessert to end dinner with. read more

Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant - Ceviche de Pescado, Chicha Morada Maracuya Vaso, Inka Kola - Peruvian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Had the house special cerviche, which was halibut, and the arroz con mariscos paella. Both were was delicious. Seafood was fresh. Even my my mom approved, which is a rarity for her. My son loved the paella as well. Great service. The passion fruit juice is pretty good too. Just note the parking lot if tight. read more

Staying in San Carlos and got takeout from this gem of a place......we got the ceviche sampler (Oh my goodness, you MUST try this!).... one was like a curry type base, one spicy, one more citrus forward, and some grilled chicken on pasta. Also, the service was just wonderfully friendly. :-) read more