Great Peruvian food in San Diego
	Reviewed By howie	Jul 19, 2007
Tags: peruvian

Ever since reading mmm-yoso's posts about Latin Chef, I've been dying to go. I've never had Peruvian food, and the descriptions of Asian-influence mixing with Latin food had me intrigued.

As soon as we arrived at Latin Chef, the very friendly owner gave us a little primer on Peruvian food and suggested a few dishes. We ended up ordering a fish ceviche, the Lomo Saltado (grilled beef with potatoes), and the Aji De Gallina (chicken in a creamy, mildly spicy sauce).

We also tried a traditional Peruvian drink Chica Morada (I think that's right). It's made from purple corn, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon, and it is very tasty -- like a punch with a gently spicy finish.

I absolutely loved the ceviche -- raw fish mixed with thin slices of onion, lemon juice, and chili. The chunks of raw fish are lightly cooked by the acid in the lemon. It was just this perfect balance between sour, spicy, and salty. I could eat this dish every day.

I liked the Lomo Saltado, beef in a salty, tangy, spicy sauce with fries. The beef was nicely seasoned, and was perfectly done -- tender and juicy. The fries were crispy and went well with the sauce.

The Aji De Gallina, shredded chicken in a creamy sauce, reminded me a lot of a mild curry. The creamy sauce was wonderful mixed with rice.

All in all, this was a great experience. I'm sold on Peruvian food, and I'll definitely be back for more.