Peru Cuisine: Traditional Food and Popular Dishes

Cuisine in Peru

What can you expect from the cuisine in Peru? Our experts have some tips to share with you.

Peru tours are incomplete without sampling some of the country’s famous cuisine. Currently, Peru is one of the top gastronomic destinations in the world, and you’ll find that this entirely justified.

Extremely creative young chefs are defining a new Peruvian cuisine that reflects the bounty of natural resources and various cultural influences that make up this unique country. Peru’s food is fresh, colorful, and full of unique flavor. On the coast, seafood is popular, especially the emblematic dish Ceviche.

The cuisine of the Andes regions includes more meat and starch, such as llama or alpaca meat, quinoa grain and a plethora of potatoes, all which are native to the Andes. Many ingredients that make up the food of Peru come from the exotic and bountiful fresh produce found in the Amazon. Don’t be shy to sample some exotic fruits on your Peru tours – they are delicious and a complete surprise to the senses!

Mealtimes are different in Peru than in other parts of the world. Dinner is typically served between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm, lunch can be anytime between 12:30 pm or as late as 4 pm. It is typical to have a merienda (light snack with tea or coffee) around 5 or 6 pm. During our Peru trips, you will find all types of eateries – from a streetside diner to famous fine dining restaurants such as Astrid y Gastón in Lima. The cost of a meal depends on the type of restaurant you choose and meals at high-end restaurants can even go up to USD 100 per person.