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    Llama Sam

    4.8 (27 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    Seafood rice divine!
    Virginia T.

    Cute, small Peruvian spot tucked on a side street off Main Street in Hackensack. It has a cozy vibe with a few tables inside and charming decor. Service was warm and attentive. The owner/chef even came out to greet guests, which was a really nice touch. Food highlights: the chicha morada was refreshing, the lomo de pollo was flavorful, and the seafood rice was absolutely divine--similar to paella and packed with flavor. The lucuma cheesecake was a standout dessert, and the croquettes were fantastic. It's a bit pricier than you might expect for the size of the place, but the quality, presentation, and service make it worth it. BYOB!

    Jalea

    Their Ceviche Llama Sam is the best! I also enjoy the lomo saltado. Overall very clean and friendly establishment

    Pesto Tallarines Verdes With Lomo Saltado
    Mel T.

    Was running some errands in the area when I remembered I had this place bookmarked, so I ordered online for pickup. We ordered a few items to share: -Tallarines Verdes (fettucine, Peruvian-style pesto sauce, parmesan cheese, marinated skirt steak, and potato huancaina sauce) - this was the best dish. It was nice and flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I did ask for medium rare on the steak though, and it was more of a medium -Chaufa de Mariscos (sautéed seafood mix, scrambled eggs, soy sauce, chopped scallions, dash of ginger and a touch of sesame oil) - pretty salty but at least they don't skimp on the seafood -Jalea (breaded seafood dish of calamari, shrimp, mussels, crab leg, fish and yuca lightly battered and fried served with sarza criolla) - I really only like the calamari, fish, and yuca. There was very little shrimp, only one mussel, which I ate and it did not taste fresh. The hot sauce was really good though There are some other dishes I'd like to try, like the ceviche so I might be back for that. I also saw they have a good lunch special deal Mondays through Fridays, so maybe I'll pick one of those days. Next time, I'd ask for less salt on the food. Note - there's a service fee if you order online but then there's also a 5% discount for first time orders, so it cancels out.

    Cheesecake
    Monika K.

    We checked out Llama Sam in Hackensack and had such a great experience. The restaurant is new, inviting, and easy to access with street parking available. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. The yellow sauce is unreal. It is rich, creamy, and the kind of sauce you want to put on everything. Every dish we tried tasted thoughtfully made and full of flavor. The service truly made the night special. Nikki was warm, attentive, and brought such a positive energy to the table. The chef even came out to greet us and talk about the restaurant, which made the experience feel personal and welcoming. It felt less like dining out and more like being hosted by someone who genuinely cares. Amazing food, kind people, and a great atmosphere. I will definitely be returning. Highly recommend

    8 oz. Lomo Saltado With Skirt Steak
    Laura D.

    I went to Llama Sam with my husband and his family. It is a small, unassuming restaurant from the outside. However, once you walk in you see a super cute restaurant, nothing too fancy but with lots of beautiful little details. The staff were very accommodating of our 6 person table and they were super helpful and welcoming. The food is excellent! We had some chicken croquettes which we were so excited about I forgot to take a picture and then we each got an entree. I had the tallarines saltados which were delicious. I love Peruvian food and I was not disappointed with the food at Llama Sam.

    Tiffany S.

    Llama Sam in Hackensack did not disappoint The food was SO good--full of flavor, fresh, and honestly hit the spot. Everything tasted like it was made with care and the vibe was super chill. What really stood out though--the owner came over to greet us, was so nice, and made sure to ask how everything was. That kind of service just makes the whole experience even better Definitely one of those places you go once and already know you're coming back. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area

    Kids Salchipapa
    Nari L.

    Excellent Peruvian food! Today I had the Chaufa de mariscos, Jalea, and Maduros. The fried rice was loaded with seafood, and the crispy topping was excellent. The red onion salad paired with the Jalea was a perfect match. The maduros had perfect caramelization--I hadn't had one this good in a long time. The service was great and very attentive. Definitely worth a visit.

    Sopa de trigo
    David O.

    Checked out Llama Sam for lunch and really enjoyed it. It's a smaller spot but they had available seating when I went. They offer rotating lunch specials, which is a nice touch. I had the sopa de trigo with salchipapas, followed by the beef ribs with rice and salad. The lunch special also comes with a drink. Overall, the food was great, and the waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Definitely planning to come back have lots of other options on the menu I want to try.

    Lomo Saltado
    Sophia R.

    We had an amazing dinner at Llama Sam. The ambience of the restaurant is very welcoming and our waitress, Nicky, was super attentive and friendly. I upgraded my classic ceviche to the house recipe (Ceviche Llama Sam), per her recommendation and I'm so glad I did. As an avid ceviche lover, this is one of the best I've had. We also ordered the lomo saltado, which was super delicious. And for dessert the arroz con leche which was the sweetest way to finish the meal. For drinks, of course we ordered Peruvian classics Chicha morada and passion fruit juices, which paired nicely with our meals. Bergen county has been lacking with Peruvian restaurants, and Llama Sam is an excellent addition.

    Ceviche Llama Sam
    Kimberli M.

    We happened up Llama Sam for a late lunch while in Hackensack. Delicious!! Great service and wonderful food! We will be back.

    Ravioli and risotto
    Jack N.

    If I was able to give Llama Sam 1000 stars, I would. Each dish from the Valentine's Day special menu was made with such thought and care - beautiful and delicious! The service was wonderful as well - my girlfriend and I felt like family pretty instantly! The chef, Moises, came over to introduce himself and ensure we had a great experience. Highly highly recommend!! We'll bring the husbands with us next time! :)

    Betty S.

    I decided to bring my sis and my granddaughter here for dinner after seeing TikTok video Food is Pricey so I expect Amazing food but my pasta was cold and everything was just ok !! I rather go to my Peruvian spots in the hood half the price double the portions and seasoned !! My sister food came out like 15 mins after mine why I don't know cause we were the only table what made me say im never coming back here is the fact that they added $21.32 gratuity tip on 2 adults and 1 child but then at bottom of receipt made a suggestion how much more I should tip and then when the waitress who was very nice brings me the tablet for my payment she had it pulled up to the tip portion and was asking for a tip !! I said didn't you add it already and you could feel the energy instantly!! Man times are hard out here I tried to represent the place but too sneaky and greedy !!! I will not go back!!! She would have got a bigger tip than $21.32 but yall wanna try to be slick

    Chicharron

    New spot in Hackensack with very high quality Peruvian food. I was on my own so I only got to sample two items, but they were both very good to great. Chicharron are Peruvian style (no breading), but very well seasoned and so tasty. The sweet potato chips and classic Peruvian onion and tomato salad on that plate were also both excellent. Lomo Saltado was delicious - some of the best I've had in NJ. Meat was cooked to temperature (medium rare), sauce was spot on and the rice came topped with a yummy handful of choclo (Peruvian giant corn). Nice space, very good food and prompt, friendly service. Will definitely be back here to sample more menu items.

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    2 months ago

    Delicious food, the waitress was super kind - and they put on the world cup game!! Had the Arroz De Mariscos and it was good

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    Jarana

    4.0
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    We stopped by Jarana at American Dream after a full afternoon at the mall, and it turned out to be…read moresuch a fun dinner. The restaurant is colorful, lively, and has a great atmosphere without feeling too formal. We started with the Tuna Wantacos. Our server warned us that they were spicy, and he was right -- definitely a little kick, but very flavorful. The white fish ceviche was bright and refreshing, with that tangy, salty leche de tigre that really wakes up your appetite. The Lomo Saltado was hearty and satisfying, but my favorite dish of the night was the Seafood Arroz Chaufa. It came topped with an omelet and had squid, fried shrimp, and plenty of seafood throughout. Really comforting, savory, and filling -- I would absolutely order this again. We also had chicha morada and a passion fruit drink. I've always liked purple corn drinks, so the chicha morada was an easy favorite. We finished with a chocolate dessert, which was a nice ending after such a big meal. Overall, a very enjoyable Peruvian dinner with fun décor, good flavors, and plenty of variety. I'd definitely come back, especially for the seafood fried rice.

    We came to Jarana with high expectations. As fans of Peruvian cuisine, we were excited to try a…read morerestaurant associated with such a well-known Peruvian chef. We left with the impression that this is probably the kind of restaurant someone should visit for their very first introduction to Peruvian food--not because it represents the best of Peru, but because it offers a simplified version of its flavors. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It's clear that a significant investment was made in the design, atmosphere, and overall experience. The service was friendly, and we noticed that many of the servers were Colombian, which isn't surprising since Colombians are well known for providing excellent hospitality. However, there were moments when it seemed that some of the traditional Peruvian flavors and drinks weren't fully understood. For example, the Pisco Sour we ordered was much sweeter than it should have been. We decided to start with the jalea, hoping it would set the tone for the meal. Unfortunately, it did the opposite. The dish was overly salty and lacked the balance and excitement that a great Peruvian jalea should have. Instead of reminding us of the vibrant seafood flavors found in Peru, it tasted more like generic fried seafood than an authentic Peruvian recipe. After that dish, we chose not to continue with the rest of the menu. To make matters worse, both of us experienced stomach pain afterward, which confirmed our decision to leave. One thing that also caught my attention is the restaurant's description of its food as "approachable Peruvian cuisine." Making Peruvian food approachable should never mean lowering the quality or authenticity of its flavors. Simplicity and accessibility can absolutely coexist with exceptional taste. The beautiful atmosphere should be matched by food that delivers the same level of excellence. Considering the premium prices, the culinary experience simply didn't justify the cost. If someone has never tried Peruvian food before, Jarana may serve... again: may serve as an introduction. However, for anyone looking to experience what Peruvian cuisine is truly capable of, there are several outstanding Peruvian restaurants within just a few miles that offer more authentic flavors, a better overall dining experience, and often at a lower price. I genuinely wanted to love this restaurant because the concept and ambiance are impressive. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting or the reputation behind the name.

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    Jaimito's Chinese & Peruvian Restaurant

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    If you love Chifa style food, Jaimito's is a must! Easily some of the best Chifa in the area and…read moreone of my favorite hidden gems in North Jersey. The food is always amazing, the portions are very generous, and the service has consistently been great every time I visit. The combination of Chinese and Peruvian flavors is comforting, flavorful, and absolutely hits the spot. Come hungry you will not leave disappointed! The location itself is small and cozy, which honestly adds to its charm. My only issue is parking, which can be a little challenging, but aside from that, I have nothing but great things to say. One of my favorite food spots and a true hidden gem. If you haven't experienced Chifa cuisine before, this is a great place to start! Jeffrey Umaña @jeffrey.umana

    We usually order takeout from here because the food is consistently delicious, but today we decided…read moreto dine in, and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming. The food was absolutely amazing, just as we've come to expect, but enjoying it fresh in the restaurant made it even better. Sometimes life gets so busy that you forget to slow down. Sitting down together, sharing an incredible Peruvian meal, and simply enjoying each other's company was exactly what we needed. It turned an ordinary meal into a wonderful date. If you're looking for authentic, flavorful Peruvian food with excellent service, I highly recommend this place. We'll definitely be back, whether it's for takeout or another relaxing meal in the restaurant.

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    Llama Sam - peruvian - Updated August 2026

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