Lima is one of the world's premier culinary destinations with diverse dining options across all price points and dietary preferences.
Good to know
Good to Know
- Menu del día (lunch special) at casual restaurants costs 10–15 PEN; eating lunch instead of dinner saves 50–70% on meal costs.
- Ceviche is best eaten at lunch when fish is freshest; many popular cevicherías (La Mar, Al Toke Pez) do not take reservations—arrive early (before noon) to avoid long waits.
- Top fine-dining restaurants (Central, Maido, Kjolle) require booking 2–3 months in advance; popular restaurants (Astrid y Gastón, La Mar) need 1–2 weeks' notice.
- Street food and markets offer authentic, budget-friendly meals; anticuchos, empanadas, and prepared dishes are commonly found at Parque Kennedy (Miraflores, evenings) and central markets.
- Tipping: A 10% tip is customary at mid-range to upscale restaurants (often included as 'servicio' on bills); street vendors do not expect tips but appreciate rounding up.
- Chicha morada (sweet purple-corn beverage) is a traditional non-alcoholic drink pairing with ceviche; pisco sours are Peru's national cocktail.
- Many mid-range and budget restaurants accept cash only; carry PEN currency.
- Lima's vegan and vegetarian dining scene is particularly strong in Miraflores and Barranco; many fine-dining restaurants (Central, Maido) offer sophisticated plant-based tasting menus upon request.
- Nikkei cuisine (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) is a distinctive Lima specialty reflecting the city's large Japanese-immigrant community.
Chains
Wong
- Type
- Premium supermarket
- Note
- High-end selection with imported goods; comparable to Whole Foods; multiple locations in Miraflores and San Isidro
Plaza Vea
- Type
- Mainstream supermarket
- Note
- Largest chain in Peru; budget-friendly essentials; widespread throughout Lima
Tottus
- Type
- Large supermarket/hypermarket
- Note
- Full-service hypermarket with wide product range; multiple Lima locations
Vivanda
- Type
- Upscale supermarket
- Note
- Focus on organic and gourmet items; premium pricing; select locations in Miraflores and San Isidro
Metro
- Type
- Supermarket (cash & carry)
- Note
- Budget-focused with emphasis on local products; lower prices than Wong
Local Markets
Mercado De Surquillo
- Neighborhood
- Surquillo
- Description
- Lively local market with fresh produce, ceviche stalls, traditional snacks; where Lima's top chefs shop
Mercado De Magdalena
- Neighborhood
- Magdalena del Mar
- Description
- Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood at affordable prices
Budget
La Lucha Criolla
- Price Range
- PEN 25
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Peruvian classics; famous for pork sandwiches, papas fritas, lomo saltado
Al Toke Pez
- Price Range
- PEN 25
- Neighborhood
- Surquillo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Ceviche; minimalist cevichería
Bar Cordano
- Price Range
- PEN 30
- Neighborhood
- Centro (near Congress)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Peruvian criollo dishes (lomo saltado, causa, pan de jamón)
Mi Barrunto
- Price Range
- PEN 28
- Neighborhood
- Centro
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Peruvian home-cooked recipes; large portions
High End
Central
- Price Range
- PEN 550
- Neighborhood
- Barranco
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Innovative Peruvian tasting menu exploring Peru's ecosystems
Maido
- Price Range
- PEN 480
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese fusion) cuisine
Astrid Y Gastón
- Price Range
- PEN 450
- Neighborhood
- San Isidro
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Sophisticated Peruvian cuisine in historic colonial mansion
Mérito
- Price Range
- PEN 420
- Neighborhood
- Barranco
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Peruvian-Venezuelan fusion with Andean ingredients
Mid Range
Canta Rana
- Price Range
- PEN 50
- Neighborhood
- Barranco
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Peruvian staples; fish and seafood
La Mar Cebichería
- Price Range
- PEN 55
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Ceviche and seafood
Tanta
- Price Range
- PEN 60
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Peruvian; lomo saltado, ají de gallina
Huaca Pucllana
- Price Range
- PEN 65
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Peruvian with views of illuminated pre-Incan pyramid
Food Delivery Apps
- Description
- Multiple platforms offer convenient food delivery across Lima with diverse restaurant selection.
Apps
Rappi
- Note
- Market leader covering Lima and major cities; multivertical platform including restaurants, groceries, pharmacy items; rapid expansion with ultra-fast delivery (Rappi Turbo) in select Lima zones
PedidosYa
- Note
- Merged with Glovo in 2022; extensive restaurant catalog including gourmet and fast-food options; covers Lima
Uber Eats
- Note
- Available in Lima; user-friendly interface with diverse restaurant options (Uber Eats exited Peru in 2021 but legacy noted in sources)
Local Must Try Dishes
- Description
- Peru's culinary heritage flows through Lima's iconic dishes, shaped by indigenous, Spanish, African, Chinese, and Japanese influences.
Signature Dishes
Ceviche
- Best Places
- La Mar, Al Toke Pez, Punto Azul
- Description
- Fresh fish marinated in lime juice with red onion, ají peppers, sweet potato, and toasted corn; recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2023).
Lomo Saltado
- Description
- Beef stir-fry with onions, tomatoes, yellow chili, vinegar, soy sauce—a Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) fusion dish served with crispy fries and white rice.
Ají De Gallina
- Description
- Creamy chicken stew with yellow chili, garlic, bread soaked in milk, and pecans; served with boiled potatoes, rice, and black olives.
Causa Limeña
- Description
- Layered cold appetizer of mashed yellow potatoes seasoned with lime and ají amarillo, typically filled with chicken, seafood, or avocado.
Anticuchos
- Description
- Grilled beef heart skewers marinated in vinegar and spices, served with boiled potatoes and ají amarillo sauce; Afro-Peruvian street food tradition.
Pan Con Chicharrón
- Description
- Peruvian breakfast sandwich of crispy pork belly, sweet potato slices, and salsa criolla on fresh bread.
Tacu Tacu
- Description
- Golden patty of leftover rice and beans, typically served with grilled meat, fried eggs, or seafood.
Chifa Specialties
- Description
- Arroz Chaufa (Peruvian fried rice) and Tallarín Saltado (stir-fried noodles) exemplify Lima's vibrant Chinese-Peruvian fusion heritage.
Nikkei Specialties
- Description
- Japanese-Peruvian fusion using fresh seafood and refined preparation techniques; elevated ceviche variations and creative tiradito dishes.
Picarones
- Description
- Deep-fried pastry made from sweet potato and squash, topped with sweet syrup; typically eaten as evening street food.
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Description
- Lima has a robust vegan and vegetarian dining scene with dedicated fully-vegan restaurants and creative plant-based versions of traditional Peruvian dishes.
Venues
Florencia
- Cuisine
- Fully vegan restaurant specializing in plant-based Peruvian dishes (vegan ceviche, seco de soya); beautiful historic building in Barranco
- Neighborhood
- Barranco
La Verde
- Cuisine
- 100% vegan bistro with salads, wraps, sandwiches, quiches, organic bread, vegan waffles; includes organic produce shop
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
Raw Café
- Cuisine
- Small vegan restaurant with organic store; fresh salads, raw pizzas, tacos, sandwiches, raw cakes; breakfast bowls and smoothies featuring Peruvian superfoods
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores (multiple locations citywide)
Gastronomía Vegana
- Cuisine
- Fully vegan Peruvian cuisine; specialties include risotto marino (mushroom seafood substitute); traditional dishes adapted for vegan diet
- Neighborhood
- Surco Viejo
Asiánica
- Cuisine
- Vegetarian restaurant with solid vegan options; Nikkei-inspired (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) with Asian influences (Korean, Thai); sushi, ramen, pad thai, ceviche, causa; excellent vegan anticuchos with seitan and cashew huancaína sauce
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
Armónica Café
- Cuisine
- Vegetarian-friendly café with varied vegan options including vegan pasta (lasagna, Pomodoro, cashew pesto), quinoa burger; smoothies and brunch offerings; Eastern-inspired décor
- Neighborhood
- Miraflores
Description
Modern supermarket chains and traditional markets cater to diverse shopping needs.
Michelin Restaurants
- Note
- Central ranked #1 in World's 50 Best Restaurants (2023) and top Michelin honor; Maido and Kjolle are other major award winners.
- Description
- Lima hosts several Michelin-starred establishments recognized globally for innovative cuisine.
Top Establishments
- Central (Barranco) – World's #1 culinary destination (2023); Michelin-starred; tasting menu exploring Peru's ecosystems
- Maido (Miraflores) – Nikkei cuisine; World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking; Michelin recognition
- Kjolle (San Isidro) – Michelin-starred innovative Peruvian cuisine
- Astrid y Gastón (San Isidro) – Michelin-starred; culinary pioneer Gastón Acurio
International Cuisine
- Note
- Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, and Middle Eastern cuisines widely available in Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro neighborhoods.
- Description
- Lima's position as a global city offers authentic international dining alongside traditional Peruvian fare. Particularly strong Asian cuisines (Nikkei and Chifa) complement European and Mediterranean options.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.tripadvisor.com
- 2.ohlalima.com
- 3.getperu.com
- 4.peru-explorer.com
- 5.ohlalima.com
- 6.freewalkingtoursperu.com
- 7.worldoffoodanddrink.worldtravelguide.net
- 8.peruwayna.com
- 9.goaskalocal.com
- 10.happycow.net
- 11.theveggiekey.com
- 12.machutravelperu.com
- 13.myvegantravels.com
- 14.kimkim.com
- 15.itravelperu.com
- 16.machupicchu.pictures
- 17.limaeasy.com
- 18.expatexchange.com
- 19.ohlalima.com
- 20.taylorchapters.com
- 21.perusim.com
- 22.madventures.me
- 23.peru21.pe
More About Lima
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.