I had high hopes based on reviews but was not impressed. Beef saltado (requested gluten free) was good but nothing special and the rice soaked up all the juices. The meat was tough large pieces. The ceviche juices were good but the fish was not great. Tough and had a strange flavor. As someone who has been to Peru twice and loves Peruvian ceviche, this was not it. Bathroom floor was sticky, though bathroom was well stocked. Staff was friendly and food came out quick. Maracuya juice was good. I like it a little more sour but it was good. read more

Inkas Irvine - Ceviche & Beef and Vegetable Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! The staff is so friendly and helpful and the food is fantastic!!! Very authentic and tasty. So many things we want to try...we will be back soon. So happy to find this restaurant. Great vibes! read more

Inkas Irvine - Beef Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

First time trying Inka's and I was soooo glad I did, for dinner on 3/21/26. I had the Talarrin Verde Chicken and I just kept saying to myself " Oh my God, Oh My God, this is SO GOOD!". Had the Chicha Morada to drink (mostly sweet with a tiny bit of "sour") -- so good too! The meal came with bread (soft) and butter. My server was so gracious and kind I'm definitely going back to try the other dishes read more

This place runs out of bread many times. It's not once, but many, why don't order enough to last everyone! Saying sorry doesn't help. Today, placed order online, asked them to have it ready by 5:15 pm, got there at 5:30 pm, was told their machine never got the order because they had no paper in it. It will be another 10 minutes. I find their food salty, only order it for my kids. After today, won't be ordering again. For how expensive the food is, your service needs more work. After getting home, opened the food and realized they gave the wrong food. I have one veggie kid and one non veggie and now both dishes have meat. After a long day of work, I just wanted to not have to worry about dinner, but now I have to cook after paying good money for dinner that my kid can't even eat!!! Incompetent people!!!!!!! read more

Inkas Irvine - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

Visited on a Friday evening--reservations were easy to make but not needed. The restaurant is located in an office park with plenty of parking and tables inside and outside. Staff was friendly and attentive. What we tried the Seafood Saltado and Chicken Milanesa over green pasta. Both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. We would return to try more of the menu. read more

Inkas Irvine - Saltado Seafood - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

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INKAS is always a five star with me. We went to one that was not this place and we realized that INKAS Peruvian in Irvine is the authentic original with the most savory flavorful food and the best service. It's been in business almost 30 years for a reason and it's becasue the food is spectacular. Please go you will thank me later. read more

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When food is good, I'll remember a place; but what brings me back is the people. Everyone on staff here is friendly, attentive, and a joy to talk to. I wouldn't make this a weekly stop if that weren't the case. And a highly verbose menu helps with a weekly visit never getting dull. I highly recommend this spot to all of my friends and co-workers and they never come back disappointed. read more

I've been coming to Inka's for a few years now. Most of the time when we dine there, it's fairly quiet, usually just to us or maybe one other table which makes for a relaxed atmosphere. I'm not an expert in peruvian cuisine. But overall, I think the food is good. The lomo saltado, however, can be a hit or miss. On one visit, it felt like there was more onion than beef, which was disappointing. The service has generally been great, especially from Jake (I believe that's his name). He's always been friendly and attentive, and experiences like that are what kept us coming back. That said, our last few visits have me rethinking things. There's one server, I don't know her name, whose demeanor has consistently felt rude and confrontational. I work in tourism, so I truly understand how stressful customer service can be and I tend to give a lot of grace -- I know how one difficult customer can throw off your night. But in this case, the interactions felt unnecessarily tense, despite there being no issue or complaint from our side. It's uncomfortable to feel like you're being spoken to defensively when you're simply trying to enjoy dinner. At this point, I'm not sure when we'll be back. If we do return and see that she's working, we're turning back. I'm trying to have a nice dinner, not be someone's punching bag because they hate their job. read more

Inkas Irvine - Steer clear from this server, I promise she will end up ruining your night for no good reason other than she doesn't want to be there. - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

When there's so much expectation to like a place.. say a hole in the wall fairy-lit Peruvian mama's kitchen-- one try just isn't enough. Upon second visit, once the glow of hunger has subsided and yucca fries counted.. all we're left with is a slight disappointment. Mama has left the building and passed down her recipes to auntie Marie. Unfortunately Marie isn't as good as franchising her pies as she is with making Peruvians bombasset food. Their best item on the menu is probably the vegetable pasta and it's glorious green sauce. It's what got us coming back a second time. But the second try wasn't nearly as drooling as the first. The fried rice was just ok-- disappointing but still carried very juicy broccoli and string beans. I would however like to eat their Yucca fries all the time. Too bad they give so little.. Empanadas are what they are. Filled with cheese, you can't really go wrong with any fried pastry pockets. And lastly the saltado is what it is. Love all the greens in it but flavor still leaves something to be desired. I do feel bad for the state of the restaurant on weeknights.. at times there seems to be more waiters than customers. And more take out orders than tables. Perhaps lunch would be better here when all their other nearby competitors are in business. read more

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the servings are generous and the prices are very fair. Every dish I've ordered has been delicious! the establishment is in a somewhat random location, but the interior is aesthetically pleasing and service is great. read more

We came here for my daughter's 25th bday dinner and it was fantastic! The service was great, the food was amazing and the vibes were very cozy. We enjoyed every aspect of the restaurant but the food was definitely the highlight. We ordered fried plantains and fried yucca for the table. The main entrees were Lomo Saltado, Seafood Paella, and a beef stew that I don't recall the name of. But it was all so delicious! We were so happy. At the end they brought my daughter a bread pudding that was just like the one my Mama makes. It was so good and a huge portion! We shared it and drove all the way home to Temecula talking about how we can't wait to go back. read more

Inkas Irvine - Lomo Saltado was delicious! - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here for lunch during a weekday and ordered the saltado. The service was not bad but we did have to wait for refills on the water. The restaurant was relatively empty today so we got our food pretty quickly. They have a green spicy sauce called aji you can dip in bread as an appetizer or put all over the food. The sauce is very flavorful and definitely packs a punch. The saltado I got with cilantro rice was disappointing and that's why the three stars. The main draw to the dish for me was the meat and it was super dry, tough and overcooked. The cilantro rice was alright but I didn't taste anything except for the cilantro. A bit of salt or some seasoning would make it better. I ended up eating the onions, tomato slices and french fries. The tough meat was unfortunately all left on the plate. To spend over $20 for a dish at lunch is quite pricey and to have dry tasteless meat was just disappointing. Not sure if they are having an off day or what but the quality does not match the price. read more

Inkas Irvine - Loma saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

Absolutely love this restaurant! I messaged them that my daughter and her friends would be coming in for a special occasion. I asked if they could have a table outside. The night was perfect. The table was beautiful, the food was delicious and the waiter was pro. Everyone left full and happy. This is a family owned, woman owned business. Definitely go! read more

I love this place ... great food and service ... like to hang out here with my Brazilian friends! Love that green sauce and plantains ... my favorite. read more

Been coming here for over 20 years. Still the best Peruvian that I'm aware of in South OC but I'm bummed they don't have the fried fish filet any more. But the jugoso is still rock-solid and their green sauce is great on everything. We've never had a mediocre dish other than when our kids were young and we ordered from the kids' menu for them. Make your kids order from the regular menu - it will be much better! read more

This place never disappoints. The calamari is so crispy and flavorful. It's topped with red onions and tomatoes that are marinated in a citrusy sauce. The portion is HUGE! The sauce on the tallarín verde is bright and light. I was afraid that the beef would be chewy but it was tender and perfectly seasoned. Our server very nice and attentive. He as working by himself and he managed to take care of all the carry out orders and the dine in customers. They have a cute little patio and you can sit under this huge tree to enjoy your dinner. read more

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Really good Peruvian food!! Huge portions, fresh ingredients! Food: Loma saltado: lots of beef and fries which is great Ceviche: fish is super fresh and loved the toppings too. Wish the fish was cut a bit smaller though but some of the best ceviche I've tried Drinks: - inca kola: a little too sweet for me but fun to try - passion fruit drink: loved this!! Tart, not too sweet Highly rec if you're in the area! They have a cute outdoor patio as well. read more

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Delicious food, everything we ordered tasted great and the servers Roger and Kat were both really friendly and accommodating and helped us celebrate our friend's birthday :) read more

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Unexpectedly good food and ambiance in a business park. I was meeting up with a friend in the area for dinner and neither of us was familiar with the options. I saw this place on google maps and double-checked the Yelp ratings and it looked pretty solid so we decided to try it. Driving up to the place, however, we had our trepidations--where was the restaurant in this super-corporate business park?! Turns out, once you find it, it's quite nice. It was surprisingly large, with quaint, homey decor. We were super early so we had our pick of the tables, and we were pleased to see that they had a happy hour menu. We ordered a glass of the house white each, which turned out to be fine. We were given some complimentary bread with aji sauce, which turned out to be nice and spicy. I ordered the Tallarin Verdes pasta, which is my usual Peruvian go-to, and my friend got the Peruvian paella. For dessert, we shared a flan. I can't say it was the best Peruvian I've ever had, but it was certainly good enough. The service was nice as well--cordial and efficient. If you're in the area and in the mood for Peruvian, you can't go wrong. read more

Inkas Irvine - Tallarin Verde Vegetable (Pasta) - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

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It saddens me to write this, but I want to give an honest warning to anyone looking for authentic Peruvian food -- this isn't the place. I've passed by this spot many times on my commute and finally decided to give it a try. I called in a pickup order for two lomo saltados, excited to enjoy a familiar dish. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. While the plate had the basic ingredients, it lacked the authentic Peruvian flavor you'd expect. We ended up dining in, so we didn't see the price until afterward -- $30 per plate, $60 total. My review isn't about the price itself; I work hard so I can enjoy good food. But at that price point, the quality and execution need to match. The fries were soggy and drenched in sauce. Traditionally, lomo saltado fries are meant to be enjoyed as fries first, with the sauce naturally coating them as you eat -- not soaked from the start. Aside from the meat being tender (it seemed like sirloin), the dish lacked depth and seasoning and simply didn't taste Peruvian. I really wanted to like this place, but based on this experience, it missed the mark read more

Came around 8pm on a Monday night. The outside seating was very picturesque and the music was great too. The service was amazing--everyone was so kind and very attentive, checking up on us throughout the meal. Everything we ordered was really tasty too: Shrimp Ceviche: 9/10 Fish Ceviche: 9/10 Tallarin Verde Chicken (Pasta): 8/10 (my bf thought it was 10/10) Lomo Saltado: 9/10 Nutella and banana Empanadas: 8/10 (filling was amazing but wish there was bigger portion and better quality ice cream. still super delicious tho!!) Chicha Morada: 10/10 Maracuya: 10/10 Inka Kola: 6/10 Overall, fantastic meal!! I'm so surprised this isn't a more popular spot because the service and food was seriously excellent. Definitely coming back! read more

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The food was incredible and the server was so nice! The air was quiet, homely, and everything on the menu was good. Never been disappointed by Peruvian cuisine. read more

Pains me to rate this place so low. We had it to go. Now let me clarify that I was born and raised in Peru, and I do not expect the Peruvian food outside Peru taste the same, but I can compare it with other restaurants I have tried nearby. It's very upsetting to spend your money to go "good food" and get nothing in return. The empanadas were dry and smelled weird. The lomo saltado was just French fries and the little meat in there tasted absolutely like nothing. Weird because there were plenty of juices to eat with the rice. The meat tasted like it was cooked separately and added last minute, my husband mentioned that it tasted like it was boiled separately and added to the lomo saltado last minute. We had a bad dinner experience. No value, no quality. A restaurant that doesn't understand and value customers by serving something made with care is definitely not worth it. read more

This place is in the middle of industrial area, however they have awesome food!! Service is not so good though.

The food and service was outstanding! The restaurant is clean and cozy. The servers were very friendly and professional. Will definitely come back. read more

This place is great! Every food we ordered was amazing: yuccas bravas, empanadas, calamari, lomo soltado, chaufa combinado, steak and eggs and paella. The flavors were just right and everything was made fresh to order but we didn't wait long for the food to be served. The owner Anna was such a gracious host; she answered our questions with such details and made us feel welcome. I recommend their version of the passion fruit iced tea also - so refreshing. And that lucuma ice cream dessert was unique and a nice ending to our meal. We will definitely be back! read more

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Such a hidden little gem. I grew up in the Irvine/Lake Forest area and never have I been to this corner strip where this restaurant exists. They have a nice little outside area with heaters and good ambiance and inside seating. But since it's the colder season everyone sits inside. They start you off with some bread and butter with the Peruvian green sauce (which I absolutely love). The bread was very dry and stale but I honestly was trying to stay away from the bread so it doesn't affect this rating. I had an idea of what I wanted to get ahead of time so I had ordered the Chicken Milanese with the Green Pasta. Along with that to share I had ordered their Steak and Eggs which comes with fries, rice and plantains. Both were very tasty and packed with flavor. Even the Steak and Eggs as simple as it seemed was very enjoyable as the eggs were runny and adding the green sauce on anything just makes it a hundred times better. The Milanese was tender and the pasta with the green sauce is just such a delight to have. The service was friendly as well but they need to fix some of the lighting stuff on the inside like parts of the dining having no lights working and the bathroom area. read more

Inkas Irvine - Chicken Milanesa with Green Pasta - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Stumbled upon this place during my lunch break. It's overall decent but depends on what you order, if I had to compare this spot to other Peruvian restaurants. Was able to try a variety of dishes such as the paella, seafood soup and potato appetizer. Whenever I had questions about recommendations, the server wasn't really helpful or came off like they cared. We also couldn't pay for the bill until we came to the front. Most dishes are on average are about $20.00. A bit on the pricier side. read more

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A hidden gem near my house! Food was delicious, the bread and ají sauce super delicious, the arroz con mariscos was so tasty. The service was nice, the only thing I didn't like was that it was little bit dark for me but other than that great place to have dinner. read more

Inkas Irvine - Arroz con Mariscos - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

My friend and I ordered the Lomo Saltado with cilantro rice. The food was pretty good but the french fries were sooo soggy and lacked flavor. That was the only thing I didn't like about it. Normally when I get lomo saltado, the fries aren't as soggy. I wish it was fried a bit more crisp because it didn't taste as great with my beef. The cilantro rice was good and we got it because the server recommended it to us. They give you complimentary bread which is nice and their green sauce. The green sauce is a definite must with the lomo saltado and also a bit spicy. Makes the dish taste so much better together. This restaurant is pretty hidden and is in between a bunch of buildings. It's nice because the restaurant isn't crazy packed and it's nice to just enjoy your food with good company!! read more

Inkas Irvine - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

Went on with a friend on a Thursday around 5:30, plenty of seating. It was happy hour ($8 hours wine) so I got a glass of the cab Sauvignon which was decent. Bread was nice and fresh/warm. Ordered the seafood bouillabaisse and got it mild. It would have been great with a side of pasta but they couldn't do that; I'd have to pay $10 for the kids pasta... It was good but I only got 2 mussels and 3 shrimp, a couple pieces of fish and a few very tiny bits of calamari. I left hungry but for $21, it isn't too bad. My friend got the seafood picante which was more of a stew but essentially the same as mine, just a bit thicker in consistent, saltier and came with a side of rice for $2 more. Friendly server but she didn't seem to have much help so she was pretty busy and it was hard to flag her down to order and get our check. read more

Inkas Irvine - Parihuela (Peruvian Bouillabaisse) Shrimp/Seafood Picante (Stew) - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

This place is a hidden gem. Literally hidden being tucked away behind corporate buildings. If you're lucky enough to find it, you're in for a real treat. We go here often. My favorite dish is the Tallarin Verde Chicken. I'm afraid to order anything else but I'm certain everything on the menu is good. Recently my wife had the Chicken Chaufa which is basically a delicious chicken fried rice. We also splurged and ordered the Fried Calamari which didn't disappoint. Inka's has outside seating so it's a great place to take your pups. read more

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Excellent service! I had the shrimp and ajo (garlic). Thick sauce with a lime taste to it, amazing! A little bit in the high price but I don't mind for good food. Well worth it. Trying the ceviche next time. read more

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Had the fried rice, good with a little Peruvian flare. Would recommend service was good as well did an order for pickup.

My family usually orders from the inkas closer to home in lake forest but they are closed so we wanted to try out the irvine location. We ordered through Grubhub. First thing we noticed is our order didn't come with any bread like it usually does :( I ordered the green pasta, it was not like the other locations (lacked flavor and pasta was overcooked and mushy) my son ordered the chicken milanesa plate and his chicken was STILL RAW!! I work in food service so I know how serious this is. We were so disappointed. He could have gotten very sick. I wish the irvine locations food was like the lake forests location read more

Ahhhhh!! Love love this place!! Went here for lunch one day and fell in love with it! The pasta is definitely my favorite item on this menuuu!! And the servers were all so nice and attentive! read more

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Despite being very very close to where I live I don't come to this establishment very frequently but was awarded the opportunity to try the place out twice in one week. Both times I ordered the veggie dishes. Both times dine in! I'm impressed with the level of spiciness and portion size. I feel flavors are fresh and inviting. The staff is super friendly and attentive and the restaurant is beautiful and even their outdoor patio courtyard is inviting and quaint. I think I need to try one more dish just to see exactly what the Je ne sais quoi is but I think it's there! My taste buds are on the verge of climax....just about experimenting with the dishes and hopefully trying their specials to push this to a 5 star. read more

First, the food was really good. Very flavorful and fresh with bold flavors. The service was prompt and friendly. Nice space and the outside dining is under a huge oak tree canopy. We were there early and it was quiet. It deserves more patronage but the location is a little hidden. We only found it because we are fans of S'wich next door. read more

I've had this Peruvian restaurant on my list for some time, finally made it here on my lunch break. it was recommended by one of my clients originally from Peru, and my first visit was great. You can't go wrong with Lomo Saltado, which I ordered & it tasted great! Server was attentive and welcoming, place was busy with people both inside and outside at 12:30 noon, which is a good sign! I will definitely go back here and try more items off their menu. read more

Inkas Irvine - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California

Fast service and filling dishes. A must try restaurant for Peruvian food cravings. My Bf and I came for a weekday lunch, not too many people were here around 1 PM on a Tuesday. There are tables indoor and outdoors. Menu is huge with variety of Peruvian dishes. I got the tallarin verde chicken pasta ($18) and my Bf got the Peruvian paella ($23). We also got the cusquna beer ($6.5 each). Service is super fast here food came out within 10 min. Each table gets complimentary bread and aji sauce, breads was fluffy and aji sauce was spicy, My chicken pasta was cooked to perfection the chicken was juicy and well cooked. Pasta tasted similar to pesto, wish it came with some kind of vegetables but hefty portions. My BFs paella had lots of shrimp, calamari and mussel, good cilantro flavor and came with veggies. Portions are huge so neither my Bf and I finished the dishes. Definitely a must go spot near Irvine spectrum, would come back to try other dishes my next visit! read more

Inkas Irvine - Pasta - Peruvian Near Me - Irvine, California