Best of Lima
Where locals eat in Lima
Start with Al Toke Pez in Surquillo for ceviche Limeño, El Chinito in Centro and La Perlita in Barranco. Here are all 10, with what to get at each.
- Al Toke PezSurquillo
Get: Ceviche Limeño; seafood rice
A cult counter for ceviche made the Limeño way.
- El ChinitoCentro · institution
Get: Pan con chicharrón with sweet potato and salsa criolla, a tamal on the side, and strong drip coffee
- La PerlitaBarranco · bar
Get: Razor clams and fresh ceviches, ají de gallina with crab, olluco with grilled river shrimp, stuffed caigua in a chupe, and the chimbo egg dessert
- Bodega CarboneCentro · institution
Get: The jamón del país sandwich, the fried pejerrey sandwich with sarza criolla, and a strong drip coffee
- Kasa 2REISBreña
Get: Thin rectangular wood-fired pizzas, ossobuco ravioli, ossobuco braised in red wine, empanadas filled with lomo saltado or ají de gallina, and yellow potato bread with pork lard
- Ciclos Café & El CacaotalBarranco
Get: Filter coffee (V60, Chemex or AeroPress) of a single-origin Peruvian bean, then Peruvian chocolate from El Cacaotal upstairs
- HonestoBarranco
Get: Orange wines made from pisco grapes, a pour from the spirits shelf, and a bar of El Ganso dark chocolate
- OigaSurquillo
Get: The vegan anticuchos, a plant-based take on the classic beef-heart skewers; the small menu also has papa rellena and tallarines v
- Pregón de las OnceBarranco (calle Tejada)
Get: Crema volteada de algarrobina, ranfañote, cruffin with Amazonian vanilla, algarrobina iced latte
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What are the local restaurants in Lima?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Al Toke Pez (Surquillo), El Chinito (Centro) and La Perlita (Barranco). All 10 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Al Toke Pez, get ceviche Limeño; seafood rice. At El Chinito, get pan con chicharrón with sweet potato and salsa criolla, a tamal on the side, and strong drip coffee. At La Perlita, get razor clams and fresh ceviches, ají de gallina with crab, olluco with grilled river shrimp, stuffed caigua in a chupe, and the chimbo egg dessert. At Bodega Carbone, get the jamón del país sandwich, the fried pejerrey sandwich with sarza criolla, and a strong drip coffee.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Lima?
Most of these are in Surquillo, Barranco and Centro. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Lima: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Lima
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.