The ceviche institution that anchored Downtown Miami's Peruvian dining scene, serving over fifteen varieties of the national dish alongside a full menu of lomo saltado, anticuchos, and causas that testify to Peru's claim as South America's most sophisticated food culture. The room is always full, the noise level is high, and the ceviches arrive in portions that respect hunger rather than artful plating. Juan Chipoco built this restaurant on the principle that Peruvian food in Miami should taste like Peruvian food in Lima, and the immigrant communities that fill the tables nightly confirm he succeeded.
Location
Downtown, Miami
Insider Intel
Ceviche clasico to start — the benchmark version against which all others in the city are measured. Lomo saltado as the main if you want beef, or the arroz con mariscos (seafood rice) for the table. The causa limena (layered potato and seafood terrine) is a Peruvian staple done correctly here. A pisco sour is mandatory. The leche de tigre (ceviche marinade served as a shot) is the hangover cure and the aperitif in one.
Lunch from noon to 2pm when the Downtown office crowd packs the room and the energy matches the food. Weekend dinner from 7pm to 9pm for a slightly more relaxed pace with families. Reservations are recommended for dinner; lunch is first-come at the bar. The kitchen runs at full power regardless of the hour.
Located on NE 3rd Avenue in Downtown Miami. The restaurant is larger than it appears from outside and can accommodate walk-ins at the bar even when the dining room is full. Reservations recommended for dinner. The Peruvian community in Miami uses this restaurant as a genuine gathering place, not a cultural exhibit. Prices are remarkably fair for the quality and portion size. The menu is extensive — do not try to order everything on the first visit. Parking in Downtown garages or ride-share.