My favorite place to get some Peruvian food, I've been coming here since I was a baby & the food/service has always been amazing. The interior of this place is so romantic and intimate. Always playing soothing Spanish music & the lighting is always a bit dark to set the vibes! My favorite dishes are the seafood soup, tarragon chicken & the bistek (steak) with rice mainly because it is served with a nice big egg, so my taste buds always go crazy for those 3 dishes. They also have very interesting options that are always delicious such as heart. It may sound scary but it is cooked to perfection, you wouldn't even know where it came from. Lastly, I'd recommend the calamari; fried or grilled they are both amazing! Thank you Pepe for having this place around for more than 20 years, it is absolutely my favorite place to eat around town! read more

Paracas Peruvian - Fried calamari - Peruvian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Was just absolutely blown away by the Seco De Carne. Incredible. Meat and potatoes were perfect, sauce was fantastic. All tied together nicely and I couldn't get enough of it. I also really liked the salsas served with the bread, they were spicy and complex. Cozy atmosphere and good service. Will certainly dine here again and try something else on the menu. read more

Paracas Peruvian is a decent restaurant for Peruvian food, and their menu is bigger and has more options compared to most other Peruvian restaurants in the area. The interior is nice, snug, and cosy. Making a reservation is a must as they tend to fill up, especially on weekends. I found a lot of the dishes to be quite salty. The Ensalada de la Casa (House Salad) was pretty oily and salty. The Vegetables a la Parrilla (Grilled Vegetables) were overcooked and hence very soft and limpy. The Paella Peruana al la Marinera contained a lot of seafood, but Peruvian paella is quite different than Spanish paella (the former being closer to chaufa / Chinese Peruvian fried rice in terms of taste and ingredients... definitely a lot saltier and I didn't taste the saffron at all). Cazuela de Pargo Sudado Con Mariscos Estillo Norte was pretty good - it consisted of a whole steamed red snapper fish, tons of seafood (tiger shrimps, giant & baby clams, mussels), and boiled potatoes with saffron sauce. The sauce was quite tasty. My favourite dish was the Pescado Frito - the simplest out of all the ones we ordered, and it reminded me of my time in Peru because it was one of the most common dishes in a lot of restaurants there. The grouper fillet was lightly breaded and crispy in the outside, soft in the inside. The flavour was spot on - not too salty, yet delicious and went well with the warm white rice and boiled potatoes. It also came with a small bowl of simple fresh green salad. The positive things are that their portion sizes are generous, and they don't skimp on the seafood. Every table gets a complimentary warm bread basket with 3 different kinds of dippings (very spicy, medium spicy, and butter). Even the Seafood Anticuchos appetizer comes with a small portion of white rice (first time having an appetizer come with rice!). The down sides: Dishes that were too salty, grilled vegetables that were overcooked and limpy, paella that was more akin to chaufa (Chinese Peruvian fried rice), and the absence of corn in the dishes. Peruvian cuisine is supposed to be big on corn (especially the giant corn kernels), but I didn't find any corn in any of the dishes we ordered. read more

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I absolutely adore this place. I have been coming here ever since I was months old & nothing has changed.. the same owners, same food and top notch quality of service and quality! Very low key and intimate, amazing music always and the parking is never an issue for me. Thank you for keeping this place up and running, it's truly the best restaurant in Toronto 1000% read more

Yum! Love this place. Small but classy. White tablecloth and napkins, personal service. I have been 4 times, never disappointed

How have a lived so close to this place and never gone?! What a dummy! I came here with a half dozen friends. We each picked a dish off the menu (no easy feat) and shared everything. Everything was amazing: balanced flavours, good texture, excellent use of spices. The beef hearts made us all groan in joy. They were cooked medium rare and had a fantastic bite to them. The baby goat stew was meaty, and addictive. We considered ordering another. The paella was the best I've ever had. The rice was cooked PERFECTLY and the fish melted in your mouth. The steak was more well done than I like, but the crusty char more than made up for it. We also had a mixed meat platter with ribs, chorizo and lamb. Scrumptious. The hot sauces that accompanied the meal were out of this world. One was blended with parsley or coriander. I could have drank it from a glass. The ambiance is also wonderful. The staff is warm and the decor makes you feel like you are in another part of the world. Peru maybe, I don't know. I've never been there. This is my new favourite spot in the neighbourhood. Standing ovation. read more

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We were driving on St. Clair West and randomly found this restaurant as many were not open on a Monday night. The first impression was that the place looked closed, despite the only couple sitting at the entrance. Barely any lights were on in the restaurant and no one greeted us upon entering. We sat down and found the prices to be a little higher than expected. Nice salsa music was playing in the background and we eventually agreed on the baby goat and grilled salmon. The servings were huge and impressive (we both needed take out containers). The baby goat was a stew but it came on a plate that made it a bit difficult to eat especially without a spoon for the sauce. The sauce was very flavourful however one side of the goat felt a bit chewy. The grilled salmon was done to perfection with a nice flakiness to the meat and crispy outer layer. The dill sauce was delish! A flavour that I've never had before, a nice tangy sweetness to the salmon. The grilled vegetables were a nice touch to the dish. The food was worth stopping for, but the ambiance was a bit lacking with the cold air, lack of lighting and not the cleanest bathrooms for a more fancy place. They did try to set the mood with slower romantic music after seeing we were the only couple in the restaurant. read more

Paracas Peruvian - Baby goat stew with yucca and white kidney beans. - Peruvian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'm giving five stars to this charmin place, because we enjoyed authentic and delicious flavors; we were treated like friends; and because "Don Pepe" is a fantastic character. We went on Tuesday night. There was only one table of six people debating about life and it's vicissitudes, so, at the beginning I felted out of place cuz we were on celebration/party mode. However, Don Pepe, the wine, the Pisco, and the food made us forget about the pretentious talk, and transported us to Perú. We ordered anticuchos de corazón; papa huancaina; chupé de mariscos; and paella de mariscos. In every single bite of the anticuchos, I felted love and exotic flavors. The red salsa Pepe brought like a sider, with the bread, was spicy and with notes of ginger (pleasantly surprised). The chupe de mariscos was the perfect soup for warm up the soul in a cold era. So tasty!!! It doesn't ask anything to the Pho, Ramen, etc... This soup by itself is like a meal. The paella had crab, lobster, shrimps, clams, and a lot of character. The white corn made it really special. I just would advice the place to perform some of those sweet Pisco cocktails we girls like, cuz Pisco sour, for a stubborn Mexican like me, tasted like a bad margarita... Gracias don Pepe por el pastel y la calidez. Nos vemos pronto!!! read more

One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Toronto. A mom and pop shop with great flavors and freshly made food everyday! Everything I order here is amazing from their cow's heart, ceviche, to their seafood paella! Their lemon veal is to die for! If you want great authentic food and great service, this place is a must! read more

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I'm updating my earlier review, but still 5 stars! Are you tired of downtown hipster joints that charge you $12 for a "sharing plate" that's so small you guard it with your life? Have you grown weary of these douche caves serving you octopus and ceviche and acting like it's something new to Toronto? Paracas has been serving this stuff up for years in generous portions with nary a pair of skinny jeans in sight! Of course, if you speak Spanish, you have an advantage. If you want to eat delicious Peruvian delights, you're definitely in the right place! Ask Pepe, the owner for a recommendation on what to eat and drink if you are unsure. Service is always helpful. This is a true mom and pop place with all the charm and value you'd expect. Sit back and enjoy the fire and garlic of the orange habernero sauce. Have a pisco sour or huge litre of sangria that's spiked with cloves and cinnamon (not to mention alcohol) and soak in the wonderful food, service and atmosphere of Paracas. Possibly my favourite restaurant in the city. read more

A true hidden gem in the city. This is a restaurant where meatlovers meet seafood at the intersection of flavour. Everything i tried was excellent and it's been a long time since i've enjoyed dinner this much and have been so impressed by new yet familiar flavours. The sauces are what makes everything really interesting. They clearly know how to cook seafood, and slow cook meats (but you might not get a perfect medium rare steak here) but the sauces is what takes every dish to whole new level. When they start your meal off, they bring you a generous basket of bread and you wonder how anyone could go through all of that - then you realize you can when the sauce your dipping in is that good. Standout dishes for me are the baby goat and the beef hearts. I sincerely can't wait to come back for another meal. read more

WARNING: this place serves raw chicken!! We were really hoping to enjoy a family dinner on Peru's independence day, and we decided to try Paracas as we had never been before. There were 9 of us, 6 adults and 3 children. Everything seemed to be going well during drinks and appetizers until the mains arrived. The lomo saltado was not great (dry and lacking flavour) but edible. This is unfortunate because it's what most people order. Then came my husband's milanesa de pollo, and as he swallowed the first bite he realized the chicken was raw. We complained right away, and the waiter and waitress apologized, but the damage was already done. My husband did not want to eat anything else as he felt disgusted; rightly so. I asked the waitress if I could speak with the owner, who went to look for him. We saw him going into the kitchen and exchange a few words with the cook, but he never came to our table. We reminded the waitress that we still wanted to speak with the owner, and she told him, but he didn't come. The cook came out and gave us what she thought was an apology, but it was far from that. She told us that since my husband had only had one bite he would be okay (so she's a doctor now), and that because they are so busy, these things happen. Unbelievable! No concern for food poisoning whatsoever. My nieces had eaten the same dish a bit earlier, and I hope that one was cooked properly. The owner wouldn't even look at us, what a horrible person. So I thanked him for nothing as we walked out. This place ruined our whole evening. We will never return. Additionally, do not look under the tables as it is filthy!! And no toilet paper in the washroom. BEWARE if you are thinking of eating here. The food may not be safely cooked, and they seem to be okay with that. read more

Had a horrible experience here all around. I was served raw chicken and since I was preoccupied with my daughter, I took a bite of the Milanesa de Pollo (which was very small, severely overpriced and they got my order wrong!) and didn't realize it was raw until I swallowed it. It was the edge of the chicken that I ate so I hope I don't get sick! Needless to say I will never be going back. The waitress apologized which was fine but the owner refused to come to the table despite being asked 3x by another waiter. The chef came out to offer what I thought would be an apology but only to be met with flimsy excuses (we were busy - incredible!). I paid the bill minus the Milanesa and the owner didn't utter a WORD. Instead he chose to be facetious when my wife thanked him for nothing in his native tongue. The washrooms wreak of something awful, there was no toilet paper or hand dryer/paper, under the tables you'll find bits and pieces from everyone who sat at this table and ate previously. I generally love Peruvian food and was hoping to celebrate 28 Julio with my family but Paracas ruined it. Be careful out there! read more

We had a delicious Estofado de Pollo (Chicken Stew) and Lomo Saltado (Cooked in a real Wok) and a Causa Rellena as an appetizer. It couldn't be more delicious. Good service. Taste is worth the price. read more

Paracas Peruvian - Estofado de Pollo. Chicken Stew - Peruvian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We, my family and me, had great expectations for this restaurant, only to find sub-par food and even a more sub-par owner who is unfit for running a business. This owner does not have a clue on how to deal with people and opts for hiding himself from customers' complaints. We wanted to express our displeasure about the raw chicken served to my son-in-law, but he never bothered to come to our table, opting instead to sit down and drink beer with his friends on another table. SHAME ON YOU. This was a lamentable day for our family who wanted a typical restaurant for a special day, and that is the reason why we chose it for Perú's national day, July 28. I do really regret having chosen Paracas Peruvian Restaurant. We will never come back; this, our first experience was very bad, and for sure the last one. read more

Omg. Love love love this place. So damn good i can taste the food in my mouth two week later. I wish I went here instead of the place I choose tonight just up the street. My boyfriends mom has been coming here for over 20 years she brought us last Sunday and after eating elsewhere but same type of food I'll I could think of was I wish we went back to this place read more

Came in as a walk off from street. Ordered ceviche thinking it had to be good. The food was terrible. The whole thing was sitting in lemon soup. It was so sour i cousnt eat more than a bite. Worst experience ever. Will never go back read more

On second visit I've come to the conclusion my prior review was overly harsh, this is a four stars restaurant. The fish is very fresh and well prepared, the service is friendly and the ambience is comforting. read more

Spent a fantastic evening here with friends. Lovely intimate vibe, fresh tasty food, charming and personal service from the owner, great music selection at the right volume. Unpretentious and cozy night out. read more

Amazing service, delicious dishes, decadent desserts. This place is amazing and I make sure to visit it every single year for my birthday.

Overall it's ok, but it's too expensive for what it is. Breaded chicken breast costs $22, and it was so-so. The menu is quite big making it hard to decide. Our service was quite slow due to a backed up kitchen but the owner was nice enough to treat us to a round of drinks. When paying my bill, it turned out a dish go missed so I got two bills. I don't regret coming here, but I don't know if I'll be back. read more

I called to order take out and was rudely told that they will not take orders over the phone unless you have been there before. Usually I would have avoided an establishment for that kind of silliness but I had read that their ceviche was really good so I went anyway. Whoever wrote that their ceviche is good must not know much about it read more

It's good food, sometimes too salty. Makes me think that they do it on purpose so that one consumes more alcohol. The sangria taste good.. a bit pricey, especially if they won't drain the red cloves from the sangria. Try the jalea.. which is flour dusted seafood like calamari and other seafood tid bits.. deep fried. Also try the lomo salteado.. its beef strips with french fries sauteed with onions and tomato... a hint of sesame oil to boost its flavor-full-ness... all on a bed of rice. Its pricey,, but service is good.. so depending on the girth of your wallet.. thread carefully. read more

I went to this place to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The food was amazing my daughter ordered chupe de camarones and the dish was filled with delicious flavours that reminded me of my youth when I was living in Lima, Peru. It took a while to make but since we ordered appetizers it didn't feel like we were waiting too long. The quality of the food and ingredients was noticeable and hats off to the chef. I am Peruvian and the food was very authentic and traditional. The staff was so lovely and nice that they brought my daughter free dessert upon learning we were celebrating her birthday. My friend is Portuguese and she ordered a dish -though I can't remember the name- filled with meat. She was amazed at the quality of the cooking and the flavours from her dish. It is an honour to be in the cathedral of the Peruvian food cooked by Peruvians and attended with a charismatic smile. The uniform of 'Mr Paracas' with his vest and colourful representing a man from Huancayo. The decor is so detailed and organized and the food is so fresh that it is worth to wait a little bit and pay a little bit more for an amazing experience and excellent food! God bless the restaurant and the food and the owners and take them high to the sky like the flight of the condor. read more

We had dinner here on a warm Sunday night and we were pleasantly surprised. All our dishes were excellent-- we had the anticuchos, grilled calamari and the chupe de camarones (shrimp). The seafood dishes were made with exceptionally fresh ingredients and were wonderfully executed, which is very hard to find in Toronto. A cozy little Peruvian hideaway with a touch of old world elegance. read more

We advised them of a serious food intolerance multiple times when ordering. The dish the restaurant served had that ingredient which was not listed on the menu. The person with the intolerance started to eat the dish without noticing. We told the server the person would now be seriously ill; the server apologized but there was not even a discount on the bill. Good food. Terrible service and customer relations. Stay away. Not safe if you have allergies or intolerances. read more

The food maybe ok for a non-Peruvian. As a Peruvian this is maybe the worst Peruvian restaurant I have visited in Toronto. The ceviche was clearly prepared the day before (overcook and out of the fridge), the jalea has almost no fish on it and it is only lettuce, the anticucho and the lomo saltado was ok not greta....there is better places in Toronto read more

Ummmm... what the hell was that? Was the sentiment I felt after dining at Paracas. Upon initial entry, everything seemed to have a layer of dust on it, from the out of place wooden clown to the oversized glassware. It was as though one had gotten in a time machine, gone back to the 90s and found themselves in a restaurant that had closed several years earlier. Though the hours indicated they were open until 10 (and we were there at 7:30), half of the lights were off on one side of the restaurant. Nothing but a pale flicker of a television as our waiter (the only waiter) sat idly watching as we choked down our food. Now finally, to the food. It was edible but that's about as far as it goes. "Authentic Peruvian" if that means poor quality ingredients, lazily slapped on a dish drowned in a pool of sauce. You've been warned. There are plenty of other Peruvian restaurants near by unless you want to take a trip to the sub par Peruvian twilight zone. read more