Peru offers one of the best cuisines in the world. Currently the city of Lima is considered the ‘Gatronomic Capital of the Americas’. It is estimated that around 200 thousand people come to Lima for the food. Cusco and Machu Picchu are no exception. Visiting both tourist destinations allows you to discover the best of Peruvian gastronomy with dishes such as: fried trout, stuffed cause, lomo saltado, baked guinea pig, suckling pig and, of course, ceviche.

• Does Peru offer one of the best gastronomy in the world?
• Peruvian gastronomy in Lima
• Peruvian gastronomy in Cusco
• Peruvian gastronomy in Machu Picchu
• The best dishes in Peru
• Peruvian gastronomy: photo gallery
• More information
• Questions and answers about Peruvian gastronomy on the trip to Machu Picchu

The exquisite Ceviche, the maximum expression of Peruvian cuisine

Peruvian gastronomy is delicious, varied and nutritious. In the coastal region, dishes such as ceviche, carapulcra with dry soup, ají de gallina, stuffed potato, and salted loin stand out. In the region of the mountains, dishes such as fried trout, chiri uchu, baked guinea pig, stuffed rocoto and pachamanca stand out. In the jungle region, dishes such as juane, tacacho with cecina, chonta salad, inchicapi and more stand out.

Does Peru offer one of the best gastronomy in the world?

• Peruvian gastronomy is considered one of the best in the world.
• Its exquisiteness, fusion and variety is the result of the mixture of cultures, flavors and ingredients throughout its history.
• Dishes such as anticucho de corazón (beef heart skewers), tacu tacu and carapulcra have an African influence. The pastas and variety of sauces with Peruvian ingredients have an Italian influence.
• Ceviche is the most emblematic dish in Peru and has great Japanese traits. But many Chinese immigrants who landed in the port of Callao between 1849 and 1874 also contributed their share.
• Lima is considered the secret jewel of gastronomy in the world since it has surpassed the most traditional kitchens. According to the most important culinary magazines in Europe, seven of the fifteen best restaurants in the world are in Peru, surpassing the fabulous cuisines of countries like Italy and France.
• Peru is blessed with an abundant variety of natural resources in its three natural regions: seafood, Andean products, and spices and fish from the Amazon.
• For example, Peru produces more than 3,800 varieties of potatoes (potatoes), the largest variety in the world. The result is dishes such as papa a la huancaína, causa rellena, papa rellena, and more.

Peruvian gastronomy in Lima

• Lima is the capital of Peru. It is worth spending a few days there to enjoy Peruvian food, before arriving at Machu Picchu in Cusco.
• Unless you’re a seasoned foodie, you’ll realize this will be more difficult than it sounds; In the menus of Creole restaurants, you will be able to find an almost unimaginable variety of dishes, since Peru has more than 500 typical dishes.
• The best gastronomic tours are in the city of Lima. These include a visit to a traditional Lima market, a tourist restaurant, and even cooking classes.
• It is estimated that in Metropolitan Lima and Callao there are 39,095 restaurants. Almost all of them offer typical Peruvian dishes, such as: lomo saltado, ají de gallina, causa rellena, ceviche and more.

Peruvian gastronomy in Cusco

• Cusco is the most tourist region of Peru. It is there that important tourist attractions are located, such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Mt 7 Colors, the Humantay Lagoon and, of course, Machu Picchu.
• Due to the high demand of tourists, in Cusco there are some of the most important restaurants in Peru.
• In the best restaurants in Cusco, in addition to Creole and gourmet food, you can find Novo-Andean food, made with Andean and organic ingredients, brought from the towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the South Valley.
• It is because the Andean region stands out for including nutritious and delicious ingredients such as: quinoa, corn, kiwicha, tarwi, aguaymanto, oca, olluco and, of course, the potato and its thousands of varieties.

Peruvian gastronomy in Machu Picchu

• Machu Picchu is the number one tourist destination in Peru. It is estimated that the Inca citadel receives about 1.5 million visitors a year. Given such a high demand of visitors, the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town located just 10 kilometers from the archaeological site) offers an important diversity of restaurants.
• Restaurants in the town of Aguas Calientes vary according to the type of food they offer. There are pizzerias, cafeterias, buffet services, fusion meals, international meals and, of course, the best of Peruvian gastronomy.
• Some of the best restaurants in Aguas Calientes are: Tinkuy (the only one located next to Machupicchu), Indio Feliz, Chef House, Julian restaurant, Inti House, Mapi, Cala Tratoria, Full House , the Mapacho and more.

The best dishes in Peru

These are some of the most outstanding Peruvian dishes:

• Ceviche (Peru’s most representative dish).
• Salted loin.
• Grilled chicken.
• Filled cause.
• Rice with chicken.
• Potato a la huancaina.
• Chicken pepper.
• Baked Cuy (guinea pig).
• Stuffed rocoto.
• Antiques.
• The Earth.
• Tiradito.

Peruvian gastronomy: photo gallery

More information

• In Peru there are more than 200 varieties of soups.
• Sauces are an essential part of Peruvian food. These are made with typical Peruvian ingredients such as chili peppers or hot peppers.
• Peruvians love sweets. Among the most famous desserts that you have to try are: suspiro limeño, arroz con leche, mazamorra morada and picarones.
• Peru is also famous for its cocktails. Most of them are made from pisco (a spirit native to Peru). Cocktails such as: the chilcano, the pisco sour, the machupicchu or the algarrobina cocktail stand out.
• In Peru you can find a variety of fruits such as: apples, bananas, strawberries and other more famous around the world. They also highlight fruits from Peru such as. The aguaymanto, the custard apple, the pacay or the granadilla.
• There is scientific evidence that potatoes (potatoes) were domesticated ten thousand years ago, in the Andes Mountains (in southeastern Peru and northwestern Bolivia). Around 3,800 varieties of potatoes are grown in Peru.
• Spices play a fundamental role in Peruvian cuisine, and they vary from region to region. Probably the most used aromatic herbs are cilantro (cilantro), huacatay, oregano and basil. However, there are many more that are essential to traditional Peruvian dishes.

Questions and answers about Peruvian gastronomy on the trip to Machu Picchu

1. 1. Can I eat ceviche on the trip to Machu Picchu?

   Yes, ceviche is one of the most consumed dishes on the trip to Machu Picchu. In the town of Aguas Calientes there are restaurants where trout ceviche is prepared, a river fish widely consumed in Cusco. Some of the most famous restaurants to consume it are: Indio Feliz, Tinkuy, Julian, Inti House and Toto’s House.

2. 2 Which is the best restaurant in Machu Picchu?

   In the town of Aguas Calientes, located 10 kilometers from the archaeological site of Machupicchu, you can Find the best tourist restaurants on the trip. Restaurants such as: Tinkuy, Indio Feliz, Toto’s House, El Mapi, Julian Restaurate and Mapacho stand out.

3. 3. What is the cheapest restaurant in Cusco?

   The cheapest way to have lunch in Cusco is in the food section of the San Pedro market. This popular market is located 750 meters on foot from the city’s Main Square.

4. 4. What is the cheapest restaurant in Machu Picchu?

   In Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) definitely the cheapest way to have lunch is through the district food market. The cost of a menu (soup, main course and soft drink) is 10 Peruvian soles. The market is a few steps from the main square of the town.

5. 5. What are the most representative dishes of Cusco?

   In Cusco, representative dishes stand out such as: chiriuchu, fried trout, baked guinea pig, baked suckling pig, stew, chairo soup and more.

6. 6 Where to eat chiriuchu in Cusco?

   In Cusco the most representative dish is the chiriuchu. This dish is made with guinea pig and boiled chicken and can be eaten in traditional restaurants such as: La Cusqueñita, La Chomba, Casa del Chiriuchu and, above all, in Corpus Christi (festive date in Cusco).

7. 7. What is the best restaurant in Lima?

   The city of Lima is famous for the excellent quality of its restaurants, among which are: Central (rated as the best in the world), Maido, Kjolle, Mayta and more. They are all on the list of the best restaurants on the planet.

8. 8. Where to eat ceviche on the trip to Cusco?

   Ceviche can be consumed on the trip to Cusco. The most recommended Cusco version is the trout ceviche. Some of the most recommended restaurants are: Kusykay Peruvian, Yaku Cocina de Altura, Pachapapa, Ceviche Meat & Wine, Mr. Ceviche, the Republic of Ceviche and more.

9. 9. What is the most exclusive restaurant in Cusco?

   Cusco stands out for its exclusive restaurants, among which stands out: MIL – Food and Interpretation Center, located a few steps from the archaeological site of Moray. The restaurant offers a different culinary experience through each ingredient, its cultivation, harvest and history.

10. 1 Where to eat buffet in Machu Picchu?

    On the trip to Machu Picchu, a good option is to enjoy a varied buffet. The most recommended buffet restaurants in the town of Aguas Calientes are: Tinkuy, Mapi, Toto’s House, Julian and more.

Advice from people who have been there

Cusco

By: Paco N

“Praise of Peruvian cuisine“

“ I'm on a trip to Peru, and as always when I visit this country, I can't stop being amazed at how good the food here is. These days I've had excellent soups in roadside restaurants, well-marinated tiraditos in hotel buffets, or well-prepared chili peppers. seasoned in humble village places. That is what makes Peruvian gastronomy great in the eyes of a traveler.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 14, 2023