This is it. This is what every white fish that had to give its life for human sustenance dreams of becoming. There are schools of fish in the gulf that say, "When I die, I want to be a part of the great fish ceviche at the Peruvian Cafe. Clean, crisp flavors from the bright acidity of lime juice dancing with the cold heat of green peppers beautifully mellowed out against the fleshy, soft, yet chewy texture of sizable chunks of fish - I normally shy from raw onion and strongly prefer lemons to limes, but the concerto of flavors and textures in this dish is so perfectly balanced that I can't help but evangelize its tastiness. I never imagined I would be saying this - but I would easily give up all the sushi and sashimi in Houston for this ceviche. I can't remember the last time I had been so happy finding a dish - I think it had to have been when I found liempo (grilled pork belly, Filipino style) here in Houston (incidentally that place since has closed so if anyone knows a good Filipino restaurant with liempo, please msg me!). And that's just on food. The young woman at the counter was so sweet and kind. Rarely am I blown away by service, and today, I really was. Also, the way they package to-go orders is exemplary. Saran-wrapped airtight containers. I ordered chicken soup (comforting, btw) alongside the ceviche, and they even bagged them separately (for temperature). So here's my vote for the best-in-class ceviche and service. The restaurant is tiny so call in an order and pick it up to go - enjoy. P.S. Not in any way a fault of the restaurant - but be careful with parking here. The parking lot design is terrible and accident-prone. read more

First off, this place only has 7 small tables (for 2 ppl each) so make sure you don't have a large group or be ready to take your food to-go, hence "Express" :) Service was good, except for the mosquitoes that kept buzzing around. We tried the beef empanada that had ground beef w/ raisins, olives, and eggs. It was really fresh and crispy and slightly sweet. I really liked it and do recommend it if you like empanadas on the sweeter side. We ordered their signature lomo saltado. Meat was tender w/a good sauteed flavor over onions, tomatoes, rice and fries. Everything put together had a good balance of flavors. We also got their fried seafood platter/Jalea which had fried calamari, fish, shrimp, crabmeat, mussles, yucca w/ onions and tartar sauce. The batter was thin and wasn't overly thick, which was good. Ask for the spicy green sauce, it goes good w/ everything (its really not that spicy)! Everything was good and made well, but it wouldn't be something we would really crave to go back unless we wanted Peruvian food (which you really can't find much good ones in Houston anyways). I would probably go back to try the ceviche next time though and see if I can bump this place up a bit. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Fried seafood platter/Jalea - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great food quality and service. Employees are attentive. Ambiance is informal and family friendly. I love the ceviche!

I was so looking forward to there fish & shrimp ceviche and wasn't impressed. Portion size was great but got no plantains or chips to eat with it. Ceviche only which surprised me. When I've ordered Peruvian ceviche I normally get fried plantains but not here. The sweetness of the plantains balance the sour in the ceviche so I had tortilla chips at home and ate some sour seafood. Would not go back. read more

Food I ordered was not top quality cerviche was not fresh . The papa hurricane wasn't all the way cooked. The jale plate wasn't all that great 5/10 it was the first time I've tried it I'm surprised it's still open . From what I heard they thinking about opening a place in Cypress. My mother n law is Peruvian and she can do better. I've tried Sabo y Saxon they have been good so far. La guitarra con sazon is second then lemon tree is next. The one place is in 4th place Peru cafe . There is always room for improvement if they get a better chef. That's the only way this place can be saved. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean the quality will be great! It just facts if you guys meted help improving on your quality on this matter feel free to ask anyone in the Peruvian community we'll be helped time for a change Peru cafe! read more

First impression: Small seating area, clean, easy to find. The owner came to our group and asked if we wanted to dine in with our 7 people. He made a place for us easily. I recommend beef empanadas to start. Meat is fresh, comes with lime and green salsa. The raisins sound gross but are not overbearing. Just try it! I had Bisteck a Lo pobre. Delicious steak with white rice and beans, egg over easy on top of rice. Oh, and plantains that are out-of-this-world delicious. My mouth is watering a day later. For dessert we had alfajores, crepes and coffee. All delicious and authentic. Alfajores are basically caramel shortbread sandwich cookies. Not too sweet. They are small so we ordered two. As they were closing two people walked up to find door locked, but they were invited in and were allowed to place their order. Overall- five stars. Not even joking. I'm currently trying to reorganize my schedule, diet, and commute to make this happen again soon. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Bisteck o Lo pobre - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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8:58pm we arrive, door says open until 10:00pm. Looks pretty open to me, even have live music and the open sign clearly on and working. Door was locked, the waitress (who was working serving tables) instead of opening the door, waves at us like....sorry go away. I call and ask why we were not allowed in when the open sign is on, the hours on the door say they are open for another hour, and there are obviously people eating there. Lady asks her manager what to say, he says tell her we closed today at 8:30. Then I proceed to tell her to atleast turn off your open sign because you look pretty open to me, she says.....our open sign isn't working...... Sorry but you all need to learn how to lie better. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Door locked and would not let us in. Looks pretty open to me - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love this place especially during lunch time. The first dish that I tried was pesto fettuccini with flat steak, it was so deliciously good! They also gave you grated parmesan cheese on the side which enhanced the flavor and creaminess of the pasta. The steak itself was well marinated and tender. The second dish I tried was lomo saltado (sauteed beef), it was disappointed. The beef was dry and was not tender, the sauce was salty. I would not order this dish again. Overall, I still like this place and will come back for the fettuccini. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Sautéed beef - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The ceviche was bomb! To go orders are always fast and easy to pick up. Parking is pretty easy as the restaurant has plenty space however seating is very limited. read more

Inspired to write my review after a bad experience at a Urugyan and Argentinian themed restaurant Our friend introduced us to Peru Cafe Express, and boy, what a gem it is! (Thanks, Will!) We didn't know much about Peruvian food, so it was going in without any expectations (other than hoping it tastes good!). Needless to say, it did not disappoint since we have returned twice after our first time. Right of the bat, I recommend getting their ceviche - we only ever tried Pescado (fish), and the portion is pretty large for two people (we don't eat a lot). If your group doesn't eat a lot, one plate of ceviche can feed 4 people. I love how you don't eat it with tortilla chips, and it is accompanied by steamed?boiled? hominy corn and roasted corn pieces. Some of our favorite entrees are: - Lomo Saltado Great flavor on the steak (it isn't really done medium rare though) and I like how the veggies are not soggy - Aji de Gallina It's a comfort food kind of dish with shredded chicken and its signature yellow sauce. - Pescado a lo Macho The kitchen here knows how to handle seafood very well. Fish is not overcooked nor is the shrimp, and the seafood pairs well with the sauce that is pour over it. Another tip is their entrees are also pretty generous portions too so sharing an entree for us was the best choice. When we order two separate entrees, we become too full and could never take advantage of the desserts. We still haven't so will need to comment later on that. TLDR: Overall, definitely worth a visit when you're in Houston or in the area. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Happy hour menu - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

New to the area. I frequented a Peruvian spot back home in DC, loved it & have been looking for a replacement for months. This place isn't it. The pollo saltado was extremely bland & the chicken was dry. The lomo was bland as well. So much so that it was my first meal of the day around 1pm & I didn't care to finish it. I ended up ordering more food after spending $45 here. The plantains were good in taste but more mushy in texture than I've had other places. Chicken empanadas were good as well. That said- if you have certain dietary restrictions where you can't have too much salt & what not, the saltado could be a great option. The search for a new Peruvian spot continues. read more

After many years of coming here, I have to change my 5-Star rating to 1-Star. I have noticed a decline in the quality of the food especially over the last couple of years. Most recently, because of the pandemic, we ordered to go a few times but last week was the worst food quality and worst customer service we've ever experienced. I like to support small businesses and especially Peruvian restaurants because I'm a Peruvian. I l'll even tolerate bad customer service as long as the food quality is there. Last week, my daughter and I ordered 2 bistecks a lo pobre, alfajores, and pork tamales about 1 1/2 hours before closing time at 7pm. We ordered online for pick up using Postmates. However, we picked up our own order. The tamales and alfajores were actually very good. That was fortunate because the bisteck dinners were not good. At all. How hard is it to make something as simple as grilled steaks, rice, beans, plantains, and a fried egg taste awful! This dish is our comfort food. Our favorite to go. My daughter took one bite of her beans and immediately spit them out. Something she enjoyed so much tasted spoiled. She asked me to try it just to make sure. I took a small bite from a clean spoon and immediately spit it out as well. What ruined the dish was that these spoiled frijoles had juice that saturated the meat, rice, and plantains. The meat was tough and dry. The egg overcooked. I immediately called the restaurant with my complaint but noticed that it was 20 minutes before closing time and we knew we couldn't get back to the restaurant on time. The young man who had attended us when we picked up our meal had answered the phone. He said to come by the next day with my order receipt and we would get compensation. We placed our uneaten meal in the fridge to show that we hadn't been able to eat it at all. As soon as I finished work the next day, we went to the restaurant with our meals in tow and a copy of my receipt. We were met with a young lady this time who wasn't sure what to do so she called the manager, Carlos. He might be the owner. I've been to this restaurant enough over the last several years though to recognize his voice over the phone. He was very rude and impatient with me, told me he would replace just the frijoles. He even tried to blame the bad food on Postmates who had nothing to do with our order since we had picked up our own order. I mean I spent $31 dollars for these 2 dishes and he wouldn't budge. I handed the phone back to the girl. I knew I wasn't going to come back. To be treated like that especially since we were regulars for years! Luckily I live in Houston that has a lot of options. So 2 thumbs down for your food and your awful customer service. Incidentally, the next day we ordered from a different restaurant. They also messed up our order however the outcome was completely different. The manager not only apologized but he replaced our food and gave us a free dessert and free drinks as compensation and hand delivered everything himself to my car so I wouldn't have to go inside and wait. That's probably while they'll stay in business. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo saltado, bisteck a lo pobre, y inca cola. Disfrute! - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

If you've never had Peruvian food, definitely hit this place up! My friends and I ordered the pollo saltado (stir-fried chicken), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), bistec al pobre (steak), and chicha morada (a traditional Peruvian drink). The bistec al pobre was our favorite, but the lomo saltado was pretty good as well. If you've never had Peruvian cuisine, one of their most popular subcuisines is Chifa, which is Chinese-Peruvian. Lomo saltado is sirloin stir-fried in soy sauce with onions and tomatoes, on a bed of rice and potatoes (usually papas fritas). The soy sauce marinade is terrific, and although I wish their steak was juicier, it was still very flavorful. The bistec, on the other hand, was tender and juicy. Bistec al pobre comes with rice, beans, eggs, and plantains (you can think of it like Peruvian steak and eggs) and is the most bang-for-your-buck dish. Of course, all of the dishes are generously portioned anyways. Chicha morada is a drink made of purple corn (Peru is famous for their corn variety), lemon, apples, and pineapple, and sort of reminds me of Chinese sour plum juice. It was a tad sweet, but otherwise a very special drink. Be sure to finish off all the fruit bits at the end because they soak up the flavor of the juice like a sponge. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I came here around 12:15 pm for lunch with a couple of friends. The place is clean, staff is nice, food is good, prices are reasonable. I ordered the following: Cheese empanada Chicken empanada Pork tamale Jalea seafood platter Beef baked potato Grilled chicken with basil pesto pasta Cheese broccoli soup The cheese empanada tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich. Would be perfect if they sold tomato soup. It has a good amount of cheese, not too overwhelmingly cheesey and not too salty. 3.5/5 The chicken had more flavor to it. It was basically pulled chicken with onions. A pretty good size. Same size as maybe my palm. 4/5 Pork tamale was delicious. Very moist! I didn't like the black olive in it and it needed more pork, but overall it was good. Tasted great with their green sauce. That sauce is very spicy! 4/5 The seafood platter was good. Came with squid, octopus, imitation crab, shrimp, oysters, and yucca. Everything was nicely flavored but the crab took me from surprised because I thought it was lobster. Yucca was great and fried perfectly! 4/5 The beef potato was a deep fried baked potato With white rice and citrus onions. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. Filling, but the beef was a little too sweet for me. 3/5 The grilled chicken with pasta was filling too. The pasta needed extra parmesan for salt. The chicken was thin and cooked perfectly. Juicy and a good portion size. Great price and this was a lunch entree so it came with the soup. 4/5 Soup was bland. Tasted like Campbell's but it was free. Overall, a great authentic Peruvian restaurant making honest delicious food. It's a small place with limited seating so come during off hours. read more

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1st time eating Peruvian food and definitely won't be the last! Be on the lookout when you're driving here because it's tucked away on the side of US-59 and if you don't exit in time, you'll miss it in a blink! I came here with a friend on a Wednesday afternoon around 1pm, and there wasn't that many people in the restaurant. The place was nice and clean (even the bathrooms!) and although there were TVs on, there's no sound except for the Spanish music they have blaring at times. The server was nice and friendly, although they forgot our order of plantains and we had to ask for them after we had gotten our entrees. I ordered the FISH CEVICHE, completely marinated in lime and chili, and this was the first time I've had ceviche before. It came with roasted sweet potato and with two different kinds of Peruvian corn, roasted and boiled, and I greatly enjoyed the salty crunchiness of the roasted Peruvian corn. The fish was deliciously refreshing but if you're not used to the lime taste, it'll become overpowering towards the end of your meal. If you choose the spicy option, they give you a side of this green sauce (they never told us what it was), which added a great kick to the food, although slightly neutralized due to the lime. I finished my dish with no problem and felt full and satisfied. My friend ordered the LOMO SALTADO, a beef dish with large red onion slices, French fries, and white rice, and enjoyed her meal except that the beef was dry. She also ordered a side of PLANTAINS and opted to share them with me - they weren't crunchy because they were not fried, which means that they must have been baked, and they were very delicious. I found them to the best part of the meal. My friend and I stayed after for about an hour just chatting and the servers came by twice to ask us if we wanted coffee, water, or dessert, and we politely declined and they allowed us to continue to loiter after our meal was over up until the part where we paid and left, which was actually rather nice of them. read more

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What a great lunch the wife and I had here this afternoon. The food was excellent. She had the lunch special of fish filet and I had the fried seafood platter (jalea). We've been to Peru several times and this is the real deal. Great jobs guys. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Fried seafood platter (Jalea) - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Just came back from my first Peruvian food experience with a friend and it was just SO good. My friend ordered a chicken tamale (appetizer), which came warm and fall-apart soft. I am drooling just reliving it. I ordered the Aji de Gallina, which was this super creamy spiced shredded chicken with white rice. The dish was too rich for me to eat in one sitting, so I took it home and am excited for leftovers tomorrow! My friend also ordered a can of Inca Kola; if you've never had it before it's definitely *not* something you'd expect a soda to taste like. It tasted like bubble gum or Tutti Frutti to us! Overall the service was great and our waiter was kind. I'm really happy we spontaneously decided to try this place out for dinner today. read more

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Food to stifle hunger but not if you are looking to satisfy your flavor hunger. We ordered their steak, it was beaten down so flat you could use it as a bread wrap except its tough. The mixed seafood platter was so so. Price point is high for the quality of food served. read more

It was interesting to see a kind of fusion of American and Peruvian food (e.g., chicken salad with rice, pasta with steak). We told the waitress that it's our first time there and she took care of us. We really enjoyed their drink, Peruvian chicha morada. Their beef empanada was better than the chicken. read more

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I've been here a few times now and I have yet to find a better Peruvian place in Houston. The restaurant is nothing flashy, located just off 59 in a shopping center that makes it very easy to miss. But the food (at least what I had) was very high quality. I ordered the lomo saltado, one of my favorite Peruvian dishes with beef and French fries, and the meat was seasoned to perfection. I ordered a side of plantains and they were very well done. I also had a Chicha Murada (a local Peruvian drink made out of corn) as this is one of the few places that has it, and it was top notch. For those who the chicha might be too authentic for, they also have Inca Kola, a Peruvian soda you can try. The service was good and quick, but I also went when it was not busy. But I will definitely come back here and try some of the other dishes! read more

Lomo saltado for the win! Cheese empanada, recommended by waiter, was actually quite good, and beef empanada with raisins also good. Green sauce - even the mild has a nice kick. Awesome lunch spot and apparently they have a happy hour too which we may be back for read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I have never yet been faced with the question of whether to say "Bonsoir" or "Buenas Noches" when walking into a restaurant called "Cafe Express," but to the great amusement of my French club located directly across the highway at Café Express, there is a Peruvian restaurant also called (Peru) Cafe Express, and I went to both on the same evening after waiting a long time for the need to go out to eat to arise in between the 9-whenever and an occasion to attend French club. Having suffered a ball to the head during a volleyball match, I was in imperfect shape to play sports as per usual at risk of a steep "spike" in medical bills, but I expected to have a "ball" this evening nevertheless. After fighting through various alternate routes and a ten-minute effort to get to the other side of the freeway, I snuck by the back door into the plaza filled with enough Latin American restaurants to instigate a second Franco-Spanish War and walked inside a shockingly empty restaurant. With brilliant lighting, exuberant Latin news anchors on the TV, attractively intimate tables, and a tiny Peruvian grocery behind the front counter staffed by a millennial-aged professional waiter with barely peccable English, there should be no real reason for me to have such complete privacy. My immediate request for a glass of chicha morada was met just as immediately, the delicious apple-flecked purple corn drink keeping me refreshed and attuning my mind to the wonders of Peruvian cuisine laid out on the fairly standard but concise and relatively inexpensive menu. As a relative newcomer to cooking Peruvian food, I specifically wanted to sample papas a la huancaína and ají de gallina, but decided, given my stomach's age rapidly encroaching on the big 3-0, I would be better off just ordering a main dish to see if I would have the "guts" to order any more. At the word of the primary waiter who affirmed it was a popular item on the menu, I waited hungrily for a plate of this white-yellow equivalent to creamy chicken soup without the broth. It only took about six minutes, during which I casually conversed with the staff to find out he is actually Venezuelan and knows "chicha" as a half-horchata and half-hot chocolate beverage with cinnamon, and that the woman beside him seemed either shy or not yet very comfortable with English, for the chicken to appear on my plate smiling broadly at me through eyes of hard-boiled eggs and nose of black olives. Especially when it folded itself neatly into the parsley-garnished white rice, the chicken went down like a creamy Thai coconut curry, the evaporated milk keeping the stew thick but not overpoweringly milky and allowing the spicy ají amarillo flavor to dominate but still remain very subtle and at the ideal heat level. Slices of carefully boiled potatoes kept the dish's texture engaging as shreds of chicken melted away luxuriously. I couldn't name anything wrong with the dish, except that it was more filling than it appeared even at the decently healthy portion size and I knew I was beat for the evening, even as I expended caloric energy furiously typing in Spanish to my Venezuelan coworkers about why I didn't yet know about Venezuelan chicha. And when the woman at the counter headed back into the kitchen with a blush on her face as she talked about an anticipated date in Spanish, I was in the perfect frame of mind as I laughed audibly to clue them in that I actually understood what they were saying. Failing that, I remarked towards the kitchen in Spanish. And then I didn't see her again for a few minutes. And I paid and left, promising to come back quite shortly to try the dishes I missed out on, and knowing I'd found a quick and inexpensive representative of South America's best cuisine and a much more delicious "Café Express." With warm welcoming service and flawlessly executed Peruvian classics, "express" in a world of Panda Expresses almost does the restaurant a disfavor, but it does make itself prone to remaining an undiscovered treasure under the radar. read more

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Anytime I feel like traveling back in time to my trips to Peru, we come here. This food just like the food we ate in Peru, and it is soooo good! We pretty get the same things every time, and like to enjoy a cold bottle of Cusqueña. ;) They've expanded so there is more room and more tables. Check it out. :) read more

Peru Cafe Express - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Delicious empanadas! We had beef, chicken and cheese empanadas for a party at home. They were a huge hit! Husband and wife running the restaurant are so helpful and kind. Can't wait to have their food again. Highly recommend! read more

Very delicious! We had the popular lomo saltado (grilled beef, French fries, grilled onions) and the aji de gallina (shredded chicken in a pepper sauce with rice, olives and an egg). The lomo saltado was really delicious with a yummy pepper taste. The fries were good with the fries and beef. The aji de gallina was also very good with gentle flavor and not too salty, went well with the slightly salty rice and salty olives. We also had the chicken and cheese empanadas. Both had really good flavor and went really well with the pepper sauce that it came with. The cheese had some green onions I think that made it really good and the chicken empanadas had filling that's pretty much the same as the chicken in the aji de gallina. The server was also very nice and gave us good recommendations and checked on us. Great! And I'm excited to try the other dishes. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Aji de gallina (shredded chicken, rice, egg, olive) - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This restaurant is very casual and affordable. We shared: - yuca frita - bistec a lo pobre - jalea (fried seafood platter) - camarones saltados Everything was delicious, it could have used a bit more salt/garlic/seasoning. The staff is friendly but we had to ask for refills and silverware. We would definitely return during lunch and explore the additional flavors. read more

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They used turmeric (palillo) to make the huancaina sauce yellow. If you do this in Peru, they can stone you to death. If you are Peruvian, skip this place. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Huancaina spaghetti with beef - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

A great Peruvian stop with all the traditional Peruvian go-tos! I especially like the ceviche here. Also would recommend the lomo saltado, anticuchos and causa. Also a great place to pick up alfajores if Im cooking for friends and want to pick up something Peruvian for dessert - the "express" makes it great for those to-go needs too read more

Peru Cafe Express - Top: tairin verde con bistec Bottom: lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

The chicken empanadas were good. My grilled beef, fries, and rice was good but there was very little beef and lots of soggy and stale fries which had no taste. My husbands beef dish was very dry and barely edible. After reading all the reviews, I expected tastier. read more

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This was my first time eating Peruvian food. I did not know what I should get, so the nice young lady pointed me in the right direction. So I went ahead and ordered her suggestion, the Lomo Saltado. This dish was so good and flavorful. I also ordered two empanadas as an appetizer, I was stuffed after everything. I will be back soon. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Empanadas - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've never had Peruvian food before but let's say I'm now officially a fan. Huge portions. Great lunch specials. I tried the plantains and they were just ok. read more

This is cute small mom and pop restaurant. It could be easily missed at this shopping center but glad I tried it. I got the lomo saltado and plantains. They did not disappoint. Small place so the service was great. Will def come back if In was the area read more

What a pleasant surprise, and unexpected quality from a small place oriented to take-away! I am so eager to write the review, I cannot yet think of any text art or creative tangent (yet). This is a branch of the Argentina Cafe owners, which explains the attention to quality of flavor. Seating is not conducive to lingering: Stools and a granite bar along walls and windows. As I peruse the menu, which is not too extensive (that's a good thing), I see a lot of unusual dishes that interest me. Now that I know the chef is so good, I will indeed be back... with reinforcements. Causa Chicken (potato puree with yellow pepper): This appetizer is deceptive. The first bite is not that impressive. But the subtle flavor of that bite gets your attention, and pretty soon you realize you want it all to yourself. It is served cool. Asparagus Soup: This has a few chunks of the veggie and is creamy and not real thick, but the flavor is just so-o-o good. The seasoning is well-balanced and savory. Addictive. Chicken Rice Soup: It has sparse vegetables (I wish it had more), and not a lot of chicken, but sufficient. The cilantro gives it a slight green appearance, but it does not overwhelm the dish. Once again, the dish is a well-balanced seasoning. Peru Chicha Morada: This is a specialty drink like no other, and made daily. Purple corn gives it s purple color. There are small chunks of pineapple, but you probably would not know that is an ingredient. You know what I am going to say next: It is a balanced flavoring that is just good tasting. I am so happy to find a place that does not over-salt the food, and let the mix of balanced seasoning and fresh ingredients show off. P.S. You get a lot of soup for $4 (see the pic). read more

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Wow, so many flavors, it was a party in my mouth at Peru Cafe Express! A friend told me about this place a while back and I bookmarked it but had forgotten about it for some time. Decided to come here for lunch on a Sunday with a friend. Located off the freeway in a small plaza, it is a little easy to miss. The staff are genuine and very friendly! The lighting is great because of the big windows. Seating is minimal, but with a party of 2 we had a good amount of tables to select from. Not sure if they take reservations, but I would call ahead coming with a big party. My friend and I decided to share the Lomo Saltado and Ceviche because the reviews raved about it- we loved both dishes a lot! Ceviche was fresh, with variety of seafood and very flavorful! We enjoyed everything about it. The Lomo Saltado was very tasty as well! I would definitely come back to get it again. It is sauteed beef seasoned perfectly, with a side of rice and french fries. YUM! I peered at the soda selection behind the counter and they had authentic Peruvian drinks! Will give it a try when I return, which will be soon! read more

Peru Cafe Express - Ceviche and Lomo saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have my wonderful ex to thank for this treasure! She wasn't lying when she said that Peru has some of the best food in the world. I absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. Marita and Carlos (the owners) are fantastic. They opened this place because they wanted Houstonians to experience true Peruvian cuisine. The Lomo Saltado is to die for. It's my go to dish, every single time. Lomo Saltado is strips of sautéed beef with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and red wine served over French fries with a side of white rice. Is your mouth watering yet? They also have killer empanadas (appetizer) and alfajores! (dessert) Make sure to grab an Inca Kola! (lemongrass soda) If you want to come for lunch make sure to show up early! Due to the exquisite food and outstanding customer service this place has a tendency of being packed during the lunch rush. But don't worry if the restaurant is full you can always take an order to go or even better place the order before showing up! Happy dining! I hope you enjoy the magic of Peruvian food as much as I have. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Lomo Saltado with an inca cola! - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I do not like how the waitress, server, chick behind the counter is not helpful towards individuals who are not familiar with the Peruvian dialect, culture or plain old food menu options! HELP me have a great experience with your food!!! Okay now that that is out... :) I used doordash for this purchase this meal -check them out - delivery is super reasonable drd.sh/4n2qQP click the link for $7 towards your first order!!! My delivery fee was $0.00 last night! I called to get a waiters recommendation and was met with no we dont have that, no, no umm no! Okay for sake of the restaurant, there was a bit of a language barrier - I didnt want to give up so. Yes so, I was able to read the menu on doordash and pick a tasty selection - the Chicken Fried Rice is so delicious! I was skeptical about the sesame seed oil but gave it a shot anyways. The rice was cooked perfectly, the chicken was delightful and the sesame seed oil was pleasing and not to over powering as I had assumed it would be. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Chicken Fried Rice - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Well lets start saying this is the very definition of a hole in the wall. Very little space inside, but that is nonissue with the warm and friendly staff inside. We had the ceviche and it was amazing! A little taste of the high class Miami Peruvian Food scheme in Houston, TX I had to try the widely recognized as the typical Peruvian plate of Lomo Saltado. This was a very good choice, the meat was tender and the sauce was very good. Overall this is a great hole in the wall for local Peruvian food. read more

Peru Cafe Express - Ceviche Mixto - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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lomo saltado is delicious with well seasoned, tender beef, purple onions, and red tomatoes served over a bed of french fries. it comes with white rice sitting in the awesomely savory beef broth, making it a yummy experience for all. only wish is if the portion size was a tad bigger so i could have had lunch later. :P. on the way out i ordered chicha drink to go and it was very good. tart, sweet, with a little fizz feeling and tiny diced apple and pineapple pieces. try it, for $2.50 it's a steal. read more

Peru Cafe Express - lomo saltado beef - Peruvian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm not sure how this place has such high reviews. We came really excited because we love Peruvian food and have a couple of other places in town we really enjoy. Cheese empanada - 4 stars (if you like onion!) Chicken empanada -3.5 stars Carne Asada - 1.5 stars.... Pasta that comes with Carne Asada- 1 star- looks so promising but taste so bland. Rice - 1 star - tasted like when you get Chinese take out rice and come back to it the next day- super bland but also kind of undercooked maybe. They have good plantains- but not any different than any other place you may go. Our lunch for with 1 entree, 2 empanadas, and a side of plantains and rice came out to about $45. For the quality of the food, it certainly wasn't worth it. :-( I really wanted to like this place. read more

Bad service overpriced food!! It's sad to give such a bad review but if you are in the food industry in a city full of restaurants you have to be perfect good just won't cut it. Second time and the end result was worse much worse than the first visit. read more