Cancel

Open app

Search

Manka Peruvian Cuisine

4.6 (179 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Manka Peruvian Cuisine Photos

Business Info

MANKA PERUVIAN CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Trendy
Intimate
Classy

You might also consider

More like Manka Peruvian Cuisine

Recommended Reviews - Manka Peruvian Cuisine

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Arroz con Mariscos
Maricela M.

The food was good, but honestly, it wasn't anything to write home about. I ordered the Churrasco a la Peruana, and the steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned really well. I just wish there had been a little more chimichurri sauce. My Peruvian pesto fettuccine was also good, but it needed just a little more salt, it would have been amazing with that extra touch. I was a little thrown off by the potatoes because they were cold. I was expecting them to be served as a warm side, although they did taste good. My friend ordered the Arroz con Mariscos, which was also lacking a little flavor and tasted more like a creamy sauce than anything else. The Lomo Saltado, however, was very good and seasoned perfectly, no complaints there! The service was alright. It was a busy night, so I understand things can get hectic. Our server was very nice, and I have no complaints about her personally. I just wish she had been a little more attentive or noticed that we were low on water for most of the night. We sat outside, which was really nice, especially since we went on one of the hottest weekends. I do think some type of outdoor ventilation or additional fans would have made it more comfortable. Overall, it was a good experience, but there are a few things that could have made the food, service, and atmosphere better.

Beverage menu
Lindsey C.

This was our second time eating here and I'm surprised it took us so long to come back. I want to start with this...when you sit down, they ask you if you want still or sparkling water. If you say either, they bring you a glass bottle of it that you're charged for. You can tell them that you want just regular water, they'll fill your glass from a pitcher, and you won't be charged. It wasn't clear for us when we sat down and we wouldn't have ordered bottled water if we didn't have to when Carlsbad's finest works for us. We started with the Ceviche Limeño which was phenomenal. We've ordered a different ceviche each time and both were outstanding. Then we had the pork bao buns which were also very good. For entrees we had the lobster and the lomo saltado. The lomo saltado was excellent, the sauce was great, very tasty. The lobster was unfortunately fairly overcooked. We struggled to get the meat out of the shell. The sauce was good and when we were able to eat it, the flavor was still good, but would have been better if it had not cooked as long. Overall though, not worth removing a star for, everything else made up for it and I'd like to think it was a one-off situation. The seating outside is nice, cute tables, and overall a nice chill place to have a good meal.

Ruby D.

I brought my mom and sisters here for lunch, and we had such a great experience! The food was amazing, and the drinks were delicious, especially the Flor de Canela. We started with the ceviche as an appetizer, and it was SO good! For dessert, we had a cheesecake with guayaba spread, and it was seriously delicious. Our server was friendly and attentive, and I really loved the laid-back, relaxed vibes of the restaurant. Definitely a great spot for a nice lunch with family. I'd definitely come back!

Lomo Salgado
Jack L.

A great date night last night at a Peruvian spot down in Carlsbad as we stayed down here last night for a work event. Great outdoor area to enjoy, the flavors were fresh yet bold, and the service was incredible. The owner came several times to chat us up about how business has been, and telling us a bit about the Carlsbad landscape. Give this place a try!

Fried rice with chicken, other protein options avail
Julia G.

We enjoyed all the entries that we ordered. They look and taste excellent! Both inside and outside seatings are great! Great service even though they have compact staff and the place was packed. Highly recommended!

Tyler B.

Strong and bold Peruvian flavors make this my go to Peruvian Spot. Certainly the best Peruvian ceviche out there. The Manka was a bit better than the classic we had a few months back. The combination of acid, spice, sweet potato that cuts through the heat and acid, texture with plantain chips and Choclo and cancha for texture. I was drinking the broth. Best authentic rocoto I have found in San Diego that doesn't water it down to make it not spicy. It's rocoto it's supposed to burn. Ají amarillo is silky and luxurious not over bearing and perfectly complimentary to the Branzino we got. Then the freshness of everything from Pork to beef to fish to octopus. Does a great job of complimenting the Japanese influence on Peruvian food with the Nikkei bites. Great wine selection too from Latin America and they have cusquena. I wish on draft but that's got to be a hard one to source. Oh yeah and the service, staff, music and design of the place make you feel like you're eating at a fine dining establishment while it still maintains that laid back southern California beach charm. The patio and inside are both that perfect environment

Wen Q.

A little on the pricier end but food and service are both phenomenal. The branzino was cooked to perfection and deboned (bonus point!) it comes with rice and corn and is a very substantial meal. You have to try the spicy sauce if you like it hot

Ceviche Manka is a must! Top your causa with it, trust me.
Tia M.

Sad to see the place empty but we came earlier in the day to celebrate my husband's birthday. It's the rare moment of just us and my Peruvian husband wanted the causa and ceviche here for our sweet date. Patrick I believe was our server's name. I'm so bad with make, but he was professional and personable. The servers here do well at gauging what the customers want, if you like to chat, they are friendly, if you'd rather not, they give you your space. We got to chat some with him since we were the only ones there. We didn't need for anything, he recommended the Ceviche Manko I think it was, great recommendation! We loved it! Thank you! Well we started with Causa. What a fun food to plate! It was light, refreshing, and tasty. This dish is made various ways, some like more lime and others don't. We added lime and rocoto to it, so if you want more zing to it, just ask for a bit of lime and rocoto, they nicely obliged. Almost finished our causa, but then we had a marvelous idea! We asked for our second dish, ceviche early and topped our causa with ceviche. Perfection!!!! Seriously. It's a dish in Peru called Causa Acevichada, and it is amazing. Easily accomplished here, just order your causa and ceviche to come at the same time and top your causa with pieces of your ceviche with a bit of the 'leche de tigre' (the juice in the bowl of the ceviche) and voilà! Causa Acevichada! *chef's kiss* I need to up my iron so I ordered anticuchos (beef heart), it has over 50% of the iron you need and decently lean protein. They make such great anticuchos. They are thinner than last time, which is wonderful because it's how I got them while living in Peru. When it's thicker they are chewy and can be under or over cooked. Today was the perfect thickness, or thinness I should say. Here it tastes like the ones I eat in Peru, so nice to find a place that cooked them like that. The potatoes with it are well prepared as well. Oh the chicha! Still too sweet for me but truly here ppl prefer sweeter drinks so I think it's spot on for most customers. Easy fix for me, I order a glass of ice then pour it over the ice to water it down. Again I'm the minority here, I only share if there's someone else who thinks it's too sweet. My husband likes it sweet, we've sweetened him up here in the US lol. Oh and they have cloth napkins with silverware rolled inside. It's causal yet upscale. You'll do your loved one well treating him or her or family to the food here. They will feel pampered. And their tastebuds will be doing happy dances, ha! Also good to note that you'll leave feeling satisfied, not heavy like some meals can be. Can't wait to try aji de gallina next time. I've tired so many places LA to the border, Kentucky and Virginia as well, only one place made it like I had it in Peru. I miss it, Chupe de camarones, and aguadito so much, but thankfully I can make the past one well. Anyways. Treat yourself. Yes it's expensive. If they cut the prices a little I'm certain they'd be packed, we'd be regulars, but they serve quality ingredients and presentation is beautiful and thought out, their staff is professional, they make that effort and charge accordingly so go for the quality and experience. Obviously we returned because it is delicious so for such special occasions we splurge and dine here. Giving them 5 stars. Thank you Manka for making our date delicious.

Menu 05.2026
Anna L.

Peruvian/ Asian fusion. Some of their items were really interesting. Like the the Pulpo Al Olivo, when it came to the table we were thrown off by the presentation but it tasted good.. the sauce is olives and you can def taste it. I got the churrasco plate.. came with pasta which is an different take (for me anyway) as I'm usually used to eating it with rice. Hated the potatoes, it was just boiled potatoes with some cold hollandaise sauce on it. Vibe is nice, in a quiet area of Carlsbad. Service was fine too.

Classic Ceviche, Pisco Sour, Potatoes
Michelle L.

Service was solid - nothing spectacular but the server was nice and attentive. It was quite nice to sit outside and I enjoyed their patio area. The pisco sour was super delicious! Perfect sweetness, a nice foam, and tastes like it doesn't have any alcohol. The ceviche is fresh and delicious. It's super refreshing and I definitely recommend trying it. The potato appetizer was just ok. Nothing to write home about. I wouldn't get it again as the flavors were plain but I don't regret trying it. We got the Lomo Saltado as well (not pictured) and it was delicious and was a well done classic Peruvian dish. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the meal!

QUINOA SALAD (red and white quinoa, cucumbers, mango, baby corn, seared cherry tomatoes, shaved radish, and apple dressing)
Scott T.

some of the most photogenic food I've ever eaten. if you can't see that in the pictures, blame the photographer. only a block or two from my old Carlsbad house in the former Pollos Maria location. great job on the remodel. mid-week, anniversary date night adventure. shared a cocktail (KISS OF FIRE: agave tequila passionfruit, lime, aji limon, and red wine float). perfectly spiced, interesting fusion of flavors. the adorable couple were tired and anxious to get home for more intimate adventures and ordered lightly. started with the NIGIRI a lo POBRE (crispy rice with beef tenderloin, sweet plantains, quail egg, and ponzu caviar). what a great spin on the crispy rice offerings from straight-up sushi places. the QUINOA SALAD (red and white quinoa, cucumbers, mango, baby corn, seared cherry tomatoes, shaved radish, and apple dressing) was equally impressive. subtle mix of fresh flavors, textures, and visuals. plates were stunning, and if you're as unfamiliar with Peruvian food as I am, made for an educational evening. looking forward to multiple return visits to sample the rest of the menu.

Churrasco à la peruana $38
Joling F.

Don't get me wrong it was not horrible but it also wasn't the best thing Peruvian food I've had. To me it lacked flavor, even the aji green sauce they brought out had no kick, but they brought out a salsa that was very tasty and definitely helped my food out a lot. The steak was cooked good but the rest of the food on my plate was cold. Had no flavor as well... The ambiance was very clean and nice and the service was great. I was visiting in the area so decided to try it out, unfortunately it was a hit in my book.

Arroz con pata (duck)
Sylvia H.

Took a little stroll along the beach and then headed over to try out Manka which we heard about online as a new restaurant in the area. It had a decent sized outdoor area and a small indoor area. We opted for outdoors given the nice day out. We started off with a pina colada (non-alcoholic) and the alpaca mule - both of which were very refreshing and delicious. For our appetizer, we tried the Causa limena. We didn't know exactly what to expect based off the description but we made a good choice. It was really flavorful, It was almost like a potato salad but extremely elevated. All the different sauces and ingredients made what could seem like a simple dish have nice, complex flavors. For our main course, we got the Tallarines a la Huancaina con lomo saltado which is like a fettucine with a creamy peppery sauce with lomo saltado on the side. Mixing the two together created a delicious, flavorful dish. I was surprised at how tender the beef was. We also got the arroz de pata. This dish I personally didn't like too much but my husband thought it was good. It was duck breast over a type of rice. The flavoring was very reminiscent of chile verde. The rice was a little mushy for my liking but I think that's personal preference. I would definitely come back to try some other dishes. Service was good and tentative.

Lomo saltado

See all

28 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

28 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lala N.
94
16
22

7 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

28 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ruby D.
90
14
4

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Julia G.
0
43
126

14 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tyler B.
6
140
90

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Erin O.
63
19
0

20 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Scott T.
102
1087
10514

9 months ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 5
Love this 12
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

14 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Delicious breakfast, very nice lady from Peru took our order. Strip mall atmosphere.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Bernie S.
12
30
10

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 months ago

The food was delicious! I would come again and again! Yum. I had the lamb chops! I am gluten free and they were so accommodating.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 5

Manka Peruvian Cuisine Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Manka Peruvian Cuisine

Is this open?

June 6 should be the date

View All 2 Questions

You might also consider

Latin Chef Peruvian Cuisine - Beef Hearts

Latin Chef Peruvian Cuisine

4.5(83 reviews)
4.9 mi
•$$

Amazing Peruvian food! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The service was…read morefriendly and welcoming, and the portions were great. Definitely a place I would recommend if you're looking for authentic and delicious Peruvian food. We'll definitely be coming back!

I chose to try this restaurant after reading the positive reviews. I love Peruvian food, having…read morevisited Peru, and have always enjoyed the country's culture and cuisine. We started with the papa a la huancaína, followed by the pollo saltado, tallarines verdes con pollo, and a chicha morada. The papa a la huancaína was decent, but it lacked the rich, flavorful sauce I was expecting. Unfortunately, the chicken in the tallarines verdes con pollo was undercooked. I let our server know, and when the dish was returned, the chicken had been cooked to the point that parts of it were charred black. I also wasn't impressed with the quality of the chicken, as I bit into hard pieces that caused me to spit out my food. The noodles themselves also lacked flavor, so I ended up leaving most of the dish untouched. The pollo saltado was the better of the two entrées, and we finished that plate. The chicha morada was refreshing and enjoyable. As for the sauces, the ají verde was mild and lacked flavor, while the ají panca was much better full of flavor with a nice kick of spice. The service was also just okay. There was one server handling the dining room, and while he wasn't unfriendly, the service felt very minimal. Overall, I really wanted to love the food based on the reviews, but I found it to be average. The portions, however, were generous. I left disappointed and don't plan to return. It's possible I simply ordered the wrong dishes, but since these are classic Peruvian staples, I expected them to be much more flavorful and better executed.

Photos
Latin Chef Peruvian Cuisine - Cool looking statue

Cool looking statue

Latin Chef Peruvian Cuisine - Arroz con Mariscos

Arroz con Mariscos

Latin Chef Peruvian Cuisine - LATIN CHEF PERUVIAN CUSINE OCEANSIDE

See all

LATIN CHEF PERUVIAN CUSINE OCEANSIDE

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery - Bandeja Paisa

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery

4.7(248 reviews)
4.7 mi
•$$

Really tasty arepas! Outside of the arepa was a little crumbly, but the fillings were to die for…read more Salsas were also very good (the red was my favorite). Service was friendly and quick. Inside is clean, organized, and I love how organized the menu is, too. So wonderful to see a Peruvian/Colombian spot in the area!! I will definitely be back. There's so much to try here -- I'm excited to see what I get next.

Solid 4-star experience at Casera Latin Kitchen. The variety across the menu is impressive,…read morebringing together flavors and traditional dishes from across Central America and beyond under one roof. First off, the portions are massive--you definitely get generous, hefty plates that will easily leave you full or taking home leftovers. The Bandeja-style platter came loaded with crispy chicharrón, grilled steak, savory chorizo, perfectly fried eggs, plantains, rice, and beans, all complemented by fresh house sauces. You can tell everything is cooked fresh in-house, right down to the desserts. Pair a hearty plate with an ice-cold Inca Kola and you're set. The dining area has plenty of room, making it comfortable and uncrowded. The food was very good overall across the board; the only reason for holding back that fifth star right now is that I want to explore a few more regional specialties on the menu to find that standout, signature dish that completely blows me away. Definitely coming back to try the rest.

Photos
Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery - Pastry counter

Pastry counter

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery - Tostones, arepa and Yucca fries

Tostones, arepa and Yucca fries

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery - Fried Beef Empanada.

See all

Fried Beef Empanada.

Tamarindo Del Mar - Octopus & Mahi Tacos

Tamarindo Del Mar

4.2(694 reviews)
14.6 mi
•$$

We dined on the patio, which is always fun for watching the action on the street at 15th St. and…read moreOld 101. For beverages, we enjoyed the house Margarita ($14.50), Pacifico and Modelo beers ($7 each), and a double tequila well drink ($16). The server brought chips and then refilled them when we tried the fresh Grande Guacamole ($14.50). The chicken tortilla soup ($7) is a good starter for soup fans. The grilled shrimp tacos, $19, have   The pan-fried Pescado Vera Cruz entree ($26.50) was moist and lightly flavored with Serrano chilies, capers, onions, olives, garlic, and tomatoes, served with cilantro-lime rice. The braised short rib Tamarindo ($28) is a good-sized portion and comes with corn purée. The glaze was a little thin on flavor. Service was fast and friendly. Our two out-of-town visitors liked the casual vibe and wide range of choices on the menu.

It's been a while since we ate here. So decided to stop by last weekend…read more Thankfully it was a bit early for the lunch crowd and we got seated right away. Our waiter, Josiah was very welcoming, pleasant, attentive and professional. We ordered... Cucumber Margarita Colombian Pina Colada Potato rolled tacos Hibiscus beet salad with shrimp Baja Fish Tacos plate with rice/beans. Everything was plated beautifully, was fresh, well spiced, and delicious! The drinks are so good that I can just come by for the drinks and yummy appetizers. They have seating inside and outside. The outside has tables with fire pits and over head heaters on those chilly nights at the beach. If you're visiting or have never eaten here, make plans to come by. You won't regret it

Photos
Tamarindo Del Mar - Interior side 2

Interior side 2

Tamarindo Del Mar - Beat Salad

Beat Salad

Tamarindo Del Mar - Mexican Elote Spears

See all

Mexican Elote Spears

Manka Peruvian Cuisine - peruvian - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...