El Chalán

This Miami institution is unpretentious and simple, like any good restaurant in downtown Lima. The food at this restaurant speaks for itself. But, since you may not have tried it yet, allow me to explain. El Chalán's portions are enormous, as is the menu. After squeezing into a space in the tightly packed dining area and navigating the extensive food menu, you can savor a typical Peruvian dining experience devoid of airs and graces. Even Gaston Acurio sings El Chalán's praises, implying that if Peruvian food chefs are unsure of what they represent in today's culinary climate, they can always go to El Chalán, the "pioneers of successful Peruvian food in Miami."

All of your favorites, such as lomo saltado, mixed ceviche, and Papa a la Huanacaina, are available here. Don't miss out on the delectable lucuma cheesecake. This dessert's lucuma can also be replaced with the equally delicious fruit maracuya (passion fruit). Service in El Chalán appears to be hit-or-miss at best. Many customers complain that the service was slow and the food was undercooked (this could just mean that the food had cooled). The restaurant, on the other hand, has legions of satisfied repeat customers. The best advice is to go to the restaurant outside of peak hours to get less hurried service from the wait staff.

Google Rating: 4.2/5.0
Address: 7971 SW 40th St, Miami
Contact: +56 2 2502 4153
Website: elchalanaruba.com