March 20, 2026 | Friday | Venice Beach Boardwalk | What a fun and continued adventure when I met up…read morewith my neighbor once again, as I randomly spotted a colorful looking exotic restaurant! The location turned out to be El Huarique Peruvian Kitchen! What a delicious find that turns up the flavor and definitely the heat! Be careful what you ask for! Haha! Fish Ceviche | Yes, please! Now, at first bite, for some odd reason, I thought the dish was going to be hot, but it was cold and absolutely delicious! Taking our server Mauricio's advice, I tried each item separately on my plate and then mixed it up... Yummy! New flavors had my taste buds doing a happy dance over and over again! Haha! I would absolutely 100% get this dish again! The flavors were electric once combined! Turn up the Heat | Our server Mauricio asked my spice level and I confidently said spicy! He asked if I was sure and I told him the story about me being in India, requesting a spicier version of a dish & the Chef coming out to take a look at me, because he couldn't believe I wanted spicier! Haha! Comedy Hour | I was enjoying every flavorful bite of the Fish Ceviche, when all of a sudden my body started to heat up! I was like, I can handle a bit of spice... And then suddenly my tongue got really warm and I could hardly feel it... Then my eyes started to water... And suddenly I lost focus in the conversation I was having with my friend & the traveler! I could hardly talk, because it was honestly that spicy! Haha! I bet it was also the sneaky little red onions, in addition to the other spices! Help, Please | I spotted Mauricio and asked him if he had any bread or yogurt, because my mouth was on fire! He didn't! He recommended water, which I had already tried! My friend, she recommended plantains, which I had also tried! The traveler ended up recommending the lettuce on my plate, which ended up helping for sure! After a while, my mouth started to cool down, thank goodness! Eye Spot Spice | Just when my mouth started to cool down, my friend accidentally touched her eye, which must have had spice on it! The girl at the next table, dining with her significant other, immediately came to her rescue! I asked our server Mauricio for a cup of water so she could flush out her eye! The girl at the next table told her to rub her eye with her hair... Which oddly helped! Plantains | I can always appreciate plantains, as I love them! They arrived at our table and quite plentiful! I appreciated that the flavor was just the right amount of sweet and savory... Perfect! As conversation flowed easily between me, my friend, and the traveler! I invited him to enjoy the plantains with us, which he did! Fried Rice | My friend, ordered this dish and invited me to share it with her! OMG! I highly recommend, so flavorful and definitely shareable! I happily enjoyed every bite that I put onto my plate! Customer Service | Mauricio was top-tier! He was patient, kind and so much fun to explore the menu with! He really wanted us to have the Peruvian experience, considering it was both me and my friends first time having Peruvian food... as far as I know! Seating | Both inside and outside! We sat on the outside patio! Happy Meeting | While waiting for my friend to arrive at the restaurant, a friendly worldwide traveler, who was currently in town, helped me with the menu! Though his meal included chicken, a dish he frequently orders when he's in town, he invited me to explore the veggie part of the menu and mentioned that the food was really good here! Something made me trust his recommendation and I'm glad I did! We had fun chatting with the friendly traveler! Overall | Oh my goodness! Hahaha! Between the flavorful Fish Ceviche that was too hot to handle, sweet and savory Plantains, the customer service via Mauricio, an extension of me and my friends spa day, & other friendly customers, made for a memorable evening! I'm excited to do it again, definitely turning down the spice level and exploring more of the menu! Thanks again, Mauricio & the friendly traveler! We shall all meet again! Let's go!!

Amazing food!!! Highly recommend…read more The ceviche is so fresh and flavorful The lomo soltado in the plate or tacos is amazing Empanadas were not my fav but good as well. They have nice outdoor patio seating right on the boardwalk in Venice Love this place and have been back multiple times

One word: AMAZING!…read more Food: We ordered the Peruvian Pesto Lamb and Arroz con Mariscos. The pesto pasta was creamy, flavorful, and cooked just the way I like it, and the lamb was tender and well seasoned. The Arroz con Mariscos was simply divine! It was loaded with squid, clams, mussels, and shrimp, and packed with flavor without being overly fishy. This was definitely my favorite dish, and I highly recommend it! Service: Excellent! Ambiance: Casual, clean, with colorful Peruvian decor.

The food was great; the ambience, not so much. It wasn't bad; just not vibey or anything. I could…read morehave been sitting in a high school cafeteria. Kinda meh. Service was also okay; neither great nor terrible. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time. However, we appreciated how attractively everything was plated. The creativity of the ceviche mixto in a hollowed-out cantaloupe and the addition of flowers in particular did make all the plates look appetizing. You know the saying, we eat with our eyes first. We enjoyed the oysters, the ceviche mixto and the arroz con mariscos. We would probably return to sample some of the other dishes on their menu. But a bit of mood lighting or atmosphere would definitely enhance the experience.

This place rocks! Super good food and even better customer service! Ambiance is great!read more

I rarely use social media besides Yelp, but I came across a video about Merka Saltao and had some…read morefree time since my family was at Universal. I was warmly greeted and helped through the menu by a young woman. I chose the Classic Lomo Saltado ($20.90) and upgraded to the tenderest steak for an extra $3.55. They offer many ways to customize your bowl. You get one free sauce, but I asked for the two most popular, Avocado Lime Ranch and Yellow Chili. The second sauce is an extra $1.50. Skip them both! I didn't like either; the Yellow Chili was creamy like an aioli. Instead, use their house hot sauce, The Green Sauce. It's extra spicy, but in a good way! I wish I had asked if they sell it. The bowl included rice with corn, onions, peppers, fries, and steak. The steak was so tender, and the rice was authentic, just like other Peruvian places I go to. The fries were excellent, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The portions are great for the price; I was ready for a nap after my large bowl! It was a very filling meal, even for a big guy like me. This place is a viral gem and absolutely worth visiting! I'll be back!

Ambience was pleasant. There was music in the background but still able to have a conversation…read more Varied food options. Something for everyone and everyone ate a pleasing dinner with the thought of coming back.

Hidden gem, Super delicious, great service , nice…read morepresentation. We tried to Lomo Saltado, fish ceviche , veggie chaufa & pollo chow mein. None of the dishes disappointed . Could be slightly larger serving sizes for the prizes though.

This is a LA classic for authentic Cuban food! I had not been here in years and the flavors and…read morequality of food is still the same! They've redone the interior and it has a nice clean look. The staff here were very attentive and nice. The food came out pretty quickly as well. We ordered the sampler as an appetizer. I loved the potato balls, they were my favorite. For my entree I ordered the Arroz con Pollo. Every bite was absolutely amazing, full of flavor! The chicken was falling off the bone it was so tender. The plantains were probably the best I've ever had. This restaurant is comfort food at its best!

Tried this place because it showed so many reviews and a very good rating on Yelp…read more It didn't disappoint. The place is set up very basic. The beans are rice were so delicious. My favorite was the garlic chicken. I also liked the white fish. Wonderful family friendly place. We were a family of 8. The service was very quick and polite. The place was clean. The plantain was delicious

This used to be my favorite spot for arepas, but after today's experience, I won't be coming back…read more I called ahead and clearly explained my order: three arepa orders, with one having the masa scooped out. I also specifically asked about the price and was told it would be $13 per order, consistent with what's listed online. However, when I arrived, I was told the orders would be charged separately, and the employee became visibly frustrated when I asked for clarification and requested that everything be grouped as discussed. What made the situation worse was the pricing. I was charged $15 per order, which didn't match what I was told over the phone, nor what's listed online or even on Yelp (where it shows around $10). When I politely questioned the discrepancy, the employee became argumentative and made the interaction uncomfortable. I paid, because that's not the issue--but being treated dismissively and feeling misled is. Pricing should be consistent and clearly communicated, and customers shouldn't feel like they're being taken advantage of for asking reasonable questions. Really disappointing experience from a place I used to enjoy.

Have you ever wished for a nice cold coffee drink on a hot day or a warm arepas? Well you've come…read moreto the right cafe. Cafe Bolívar (est 2001) is a cute corner South American coffee shop on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. They have good selection of coffee & tea drinks, selective pastries, salads, breakfast, and special arepas. This cafe has a calming atmosphere with background music that's not too loud, and the staff are skilled. I came on a sunny warm afternoon to grab a cold drink/light lunch. I had a Cold Brew and Chicken Arepas. I enjoyed their refreshing cold brew coffee drink but so much on the pollo arepas. Its chicken was dry; arepas outside was crispy and crunchy but the inside was not moist. Moreover, their size was bloody small. Cafe's interior was naturally bright and aesthetically decorated. Indoor/outdoor seats were comfortable. Prices of the drinks were fair, however, arepas seem expensive. Service was on point. Staff were cordial. Free wifi. Plenty of street parking. Overall, it's a nice coffee shop.

Phenomenal, everyone should have the chicharron sandwich at least once in their life…read more Get the hot sauce, and get the yuca fries.

If you're craving a burger from a food truck in Los Angeles, you're in luck-this city rolls deep…read morewith flavor. This burger is a masterclass in balance: sweet, sharp, peppery, creamy, and savory all in one bite. It's elevated without being pretentious, and every ingredient plays its part without stealing the spotlight. Also tried their Char Siu sandwich: ciabatta pork char siu, pickled daikon, carrots, alioli and cilantro. Perfect combination to create a delicious savory pork sandwich. I will definitely come back soon

It was a cloudy day, and my friend and I happened to be in the neighborhood looking for lunch…read more There were several restaurants around, and I was really in the mood for a good burger and an ice-cold beer. But the name "Mercedes" caught our curiosity, so we decided to walk in. The place was nice and cozy, reminding me of the neighborhood bars you find in the Midwest. The menu leaned toward Cuban fusion, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I already love rice and beans, and the chicken was flavorful and well prepared. My friend, meanwhile, went with a breakfast item scrambled eggs. I guess his sense of culinary adventure hadn't fully bloomed on that cloudy day. Overall, a warm and comfortable spot with good food and a welcoming vibe.

Not my cup of tea. Server was nice but food was not up to…read morepar. No parking lot, hard to find street parking in the area.

super yummy ceviche! the staff was very kind and attentive. will be back as much as possibleread more

Ordered a Lomo Saltado dish, they told me it would take "20 minutes". I checked in after 30…read moreminutes, and it still wasn't ready, but thet reassured me it was coming. After 50 minutes, I just asked to get it to-go, and they said its coming out. But it STILL took them another 10 minutes to complete the order. Don't lie to your customers and say it's going to take 20 minutes, and continue to say "it's coming out" when it'll actually take 1 hour. If you order here, ask how long it'll take, and makemsure they keep their word. As for the food, it was a 2/5, sloppily put together with minimal attention to detail.

I wish to heavens I looked at the reviews before going here. Everything stated was true. The…read moreservice was sssssssllllllloooooowwwww. The portion sizes left a lot to be desired. Zero ice in any of the drinks and to add insult to injury., a sneaky service charge that was not mentioned anywhere. I felt cheated and the entire experience felt dishonest. definitely not worth a visit.. here is a tip for the owner, transition to take-out only and charge 30 to 40% less, and stop sneaking in service charges .. only then will people we feeling like they got value.

Food is amazing and such a nice colorful ambiance :) Lucy the owner is so very sweet and has great…read moretaste, we really enjoyed everything we ordered