172535 Wed Nov 24 16:45:36 -0800 2004 15 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 926884 I just recently moved here from Orange County in California where there was this great peruvian restaurant near where I worked. I've been craving peruvian food lately but my quest to find a peruvian restaurant in Alexandria (where i live) has been a dud. I went to one restaurant that was supposedly peruvian in Arlington. It was really nothing but mexican food.... Any suggestions out there? Anywhere in The District or Northern Virginia area would be good. thanks! Wed Nov 24 16:45:36 -0800 2004 0 bethany 1 926888 pollo inka in herndon does some quite fine peruvian food with the only perfectly fried yuca I've had in recent memory. really good lomo saltado and probably my favorite juice drink on earth, maracuya. Wed Nov 24 16:53:26 -0800 2004 926884 0 dusty 2 926914 I second the Costa Verde rec. Excellent food with very large portions. Try a pisco sour while you are there -- they are tart and a great way to begin your meal. Thu Nov 25 11:20:28 -0800 2004 926888 0 Rebecca 3 926922 Third (or fourth) for Costa Verde in Arlington. Fish in white onion sauce is a winner. Sprinkle the cancha over everything and dig in. This is not a Mex-anything restaurant. Strictly Peruvian. Thu Nov 25 21:47:27 -0800 2004 926914 0 Steve 2 927450 Hmmmmmmmmmm. Lot's of suggestions for Costa Verde in Arlington. Well, that is the restaurant that I went to and didn't like... Since there were so many suggestions though - perhaps I went on a bad night??? I found the food to be far to heavy. I had octopus in what was supposed to be a light sauce. I thought it tasted like velveeta... I guess I will have to give it a second chance though. I will also try El Chalan on 19th & I in NW as well as Pollo Inka in Herndon. Thank you everybody for your suggestions! :) Mon Dec 06 15:39:37 -0800 2004 926888 0 bethany 1 926890 Costa Verde in Arlington is good. It is right off Wilson Blvd on what is either Kirkwood Rd. or Jackson St. at that point. Across from a gas station and next door to the Jiffy Lube. Lots of choices of Peruvian dishes and very reasonable. Great ceviche and anticuchos. The saltados are good, too. My husband loves the papas rellenos. I always go when I really need an octopus fix and don't want to put a whole one in the pot. Be forewarned. A cevice and an entree are plenty for 2 people. We always take home food. But that's just fine with me. Wed Nov 24 17:38:14 -0800 2004 926884 0 bacchante 1 926892 I'll admit I'm not altogether clear of exact Peruvian, as you'll probably get from my suggestions. On Columbia Pike, behind the 7-11, near the Cinema Draft House is El Puerto, which claims Peruvian and is nothing at all like Mexican (which the neighboring Abi's is + Salvadoran). I like it very much, though they fry nearly everything. Most abundant is seafood, but they have good yuca, pork, etc. Again, this is the one at the very end of the building. While I've never been, El Cuzco is supposed to be very good and Peruvian. It is just west of Bailey's Crossroads. IN Adam's Morgan is a place that claims Peruvian seafood, yet I haven't ever seen a deep fried thing on the menu (outside of yuca possibly - and it has been too long since I've been). I remember very good seafood dishes in nice light sauces. This is on 18th, a couple of blocks up from U. My confusion comes in from the differences of these two places, how Pollo Inka combines elements of both AND includes the peruvian chicken (as well as some sopas). Then on top of that, there are so many peruvian chicken places. Still, hopefully those will be some places you can try and then report back on. Wed Nov 24 17:49:07 -0800 2004 926884 0 Dennis S 2 928691 Don't go to Abi's. I went there one time and ordered chicken burritos. The problem was for $8.00 a burrito, there were only a few pieces of chicken in them. They were all rice and beans. Ripp Off! Thu Jan 06 08:35:17 -0800 2005 926892 0 sam 1 926901 In Annandale, I think, there is a Peruvian restaurant that a Peruvian friend of mine recommended called El Granja de Oro. La Flor de la Canela at 117 N. Frederick Avenue (near Chestnut St.) in Gaithersburg, MD (#301-519-9100) got a good review in the Post magazine. They specialize in such Peruvian staples as beef heart, seafood stew and, of course, rotisserie chicken (which is supposed to be particularly good there). Let me know where you go! Wed Nov 24 18:58:20 -0800 2004 926884 0 foodiejudy 1 926921 Tia Maria or Costa Verde in arlington. El Pollo Rico for peruvian rotisserie chickn. Thu Nov 25 19:52:41 -0800 2004 926884 0 FOODGEEK 2 926937 How would you compare Tia Maria and Costa Verde? I've never tried Tia Maria and am wondering. Fri Nov 26 14:33:50 -0800 2004 926921 0 bacchante 3 926983 They are different. I prefer Tia Maria....but I prefer divey but authentic feeling places. And they give you corn kernals to crunch on, and have goat on the menu. Costa Verde is bigger, has a larger menu, and has entertainment. Sun Nov 28 22:35:32 -0800 2004 926937 0 foodgeek 1 926941 The best Peruvian is Cuzco on Columbia Pike. Costa Verde is nearby and would be a good second choice. Avoid late night weekend at Cuzco, loud and crowded. Fri Nov 26 18:28:25 -0800 2004 926884 0 Alfredo 1 927156 El Chalan near 19th and I St. NW is authentic Peruvian food - frequented by many World Bank employees. Wed Dec 01 00:50:30 -0800 2004 926884 0 Daniel K 2 927661 I second El Chalan. Delicious goat stew. They also serve Peruvian pisco sours, which are hard to come by. Like the previous poster said, it is often crowded with regulars from the World Bank, so lunches are a bit tight. It's generally less busy at dinnertime. Thu Dec 09 16:03:25 -0800 2004 927156 0 merry 1 928713 hI I HAVE BEEN TO THIS AWESOME RESTURANT CALLED LIMA(IN DC). THEY HAVE ALL TYPES OF PERUVIAN FOOD THERE. VERY WELL PREPARED, I LOVED IT! Fri Jun 16 02:29:12 -0700 2006 926884 0 AZADEH