660019 Fri Oct 16 11:49:36 -0700 2009 25 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5108469 I was disappointed with my experience at Los Balcones del Peru last night. I had been looking forward to trying more Peruvian food. The food was only okay, and the service was not great at all. They had one waitress working all the tables. I definitely felt the food and service at Mamita's in Glendale was better. The portions were also larger and tastier. There is a lot of buzz about Mario's. I need to try that next. Any thoughts on the Peruvian restaurants in LA would be appreciated. Thanks. Fri Oct 16 11:49:36 -0700 2009 57689 katkoupai 1 5108497 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/650205 (among many other glowing reviews to be found on the LA board) Fri Oct 16 11:58:09 -0700 2009 5108469 108169 Servorg 2 5108560 Adding link Fri Oct 16 12:17:51 -0700 2009 5108497 108169 Servorg 1 5108511 Give Puro Sabor in Van Nuys a try. I think it's the best Peruvian in town. Fri Oct 16 12:04:07 -0700 2009 5108469 43023 Galen 1 5108893 I love Mario's! The Chupe Carmarones is one of the best soups I have ever had. Don't like the lack of beer/wine or the lines but man-o-man the food is perfect. Fri Oct 16 14:05:08 -0700 2009 5108469 11732 Ciao Bob 2 5109148 Been to both Mario's and Balcones recently and Balcones seemed better--but largely because the last visit to Mario's was a disaster. Has anything changed lately at Mario's--we didn't recognize the guy behind the counter--or was it just cook's night off? Fri Oct 16 16:13:18 -0700 2009 5108893 10131 Chandavkl 3 5113037 I went last week for the first time in many years and thought it was as good as ever, maybe better. Sun Oct 18 17:08:36 -0700 2009 5109148 11732 Ciao Bob 1 5108930 If you are ever in the South Bay, give Kotosh a try. It is Peruvian food and sushi. The owners are Japanese-Peruvians and the two cuisines actually go pretty well together. I also love Mario's. I wish I worked or lived closer to that place. :) Fri Oct 16 14:22:15 -0700 2009 5108469 235517 annapurna7 2 5109520 Second Kotosh - their salsa de aji is just right. Really like Puro Sabor too. Haven't tried Mo Chica yet but it seems they've nabbed the crown for elevated Peruvian cuisine. Fri Oct 16 19:11:37 -0700 2009 5108930 64003 bulavinaka 3 5109547 Normally when one speaks of Peru and elevated my mind usually jumps to some Andean vista or nasal numbing botanical substance. Is Mo-Chica known to be more "higher" end (no pun intended) Peruvian fare? Fri Oct 16 19:34:41 -0700 2009 5109520 108169 Servorg 4 5109679 As I typed that word - elevated - I thought of you - no joke. "Hmmm - maybe I should change this to some other word - Servorg is sure to lambaste me for this. Oh what the hell - let's see if he bites..." :) From what I've read and heard, Mo Chica is about as high-end dining as one can currently find when it comes to Peruvian cuisine. I could be wrong, but aside from Mo Chica, I think tasting menus are unheard of in Peruvian restaurants around here. Fri Oct 16 21:06:50 -0700 2009 5109547 64003 bulavinaka 5 5114775 MO- CHICA MO-CHICA as i posted before- I returned from Gaston's new restaurant in Cuzco and went to Mo Chica three times in the next week. Mo-chica was every bit as good, if not imho better (but no need to split hairs) as said above: the food is the highest, the ambiance is: what can you say- it is definately L.A. where you can't discount food in strip malls and other "unlikely" places. its "urban" fun and they are very nice, AND it is probably one of the best bargains in town (certainly better than any LA Week- or whatever they called that) When Mario gets a new restaurant the prices will at least double Don't miss it- Mon Oct 19 12:01:21 -0700 2009 5109679 278431 gore_mutt 1 5111055 Don't expect good service @ Marios, you go there for the food and "deal" with the sub par service. Despite their sucess @ the same location for over 20 years if I'm correct, they haven't found the need to expand to a bettter, more convenient location for the convenience of their customers, who've made them sucessful, or improved on their service. People still keep going. I guess they must be doing something right, because they're always busy. Their thought must be, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Sat Oct 17 16:54:57 -0700 2009 5108469 13702 Ollie 2 5112539 too bad Mario's doesn't move just a few blocks east to the former Pueblo Viejo spot near Larchmont Blvd. Would allow for beer & wine, and has about the same amount of parking to the rear of the building. Sun Oct 18 12:42:06 -0700 2009 5111055 10359 carter 1 5111605 Charo's Peruvian in Long Beach, near the theatres in the Town Center http://www.charosperuvian.com/ I liked her ceviche mixto. Sat Oct 17 23:25:35 -0700 2009 5108469 71215 mlgb 1 5111946 Heard of a place either in Burbank or Glendale that I was going to track down called Lau's which came highly recommended. Anybody been there? Sun Oct 18 08:01:05 -0700 2009 5108469 12033 Hughlipton 2 5112722 I believe Lau's is out of business. I tried tracking it down a few years ago and found an empty storefront. Sun Oct 18 14:28:08 -0700 2009 5111946 43023 Galen 3 5117831 Spotted Lau's the other day as I was eating at the burger stand across the street. Haven't tried it myself, but would be curious to see what others thought of it. It did seem to be vacant during lunch on a weekday, so I'm not sure about their hours . Lau's 2315 Victory Blvd Burbank, CA 91506 (818) 848-1192 Tue Oct 20 12:56:38 -0700 2009 5112722 15848 ozzygee 4 5117929 If I remember correctly I was told that had weird hours. They were supposed to be open only Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 lunch to 9:00 p.m. How you stay in business with those hours is beyone me but now that you've pinned down the address I may have to give a good look. Tue Oct 20 13:27:55 -0700 2009 5117831 12033 Hughlipton 1 5112873 Our family used to be faithful to Los Balcones. But for the past year we keep returning to El Rocoto. (They also have a Cerritos location) Mo Chica is impressive, but we like going where everyone can get what they want off a more extensive menu, such as soup. El Rocoto www.elrocoto.com 1356 W Artesia Blvd Gardena, CA 90248-3370 (310) 768-8768 Sun Oct 18 15:35:31 -0700 2009 5108469 57690 nectarine 2 5114738 I'm just adding the link for El Rocoto. We went to the Cerritos one and it was okay, I thought maybe the food a bit underseasoned. The lamb shank dish was probably the best of the 3 we tried. Mon Oct 19 11:49:01 -0700 2009 5112873 71215 mlgb 1 5114841 I love Natalie Peruvian. Really great ceviches. Mon Oct 19 12:23:16 -0700 2009 5108469 20877 gourmetla 1 5117918 Puro Sabor in Van Nuys. Their fish dishes are good. Tue Oct 20 13:24:46 -0700 2009 5108469 215207 SilverlakePhil 2 5118042 Agreed on the fish dishes, in general, but their saltado pales in comparison to mo-chica. Tue Oct 20 14:04:40 -0700 2009 5117918 10808 BearCity 1 5118039 Ms. Dr. Oz and I had dinner last night at Puro Sabor -- 6366 Van Nuys Bv., which is just south of Victory. We've eaten there several times, and each time have been impressed by the quality of the food, the size of the portions, and the friendliness. It is a small, obviously family-run place, very clean, very pleasant. We split several appetizers, and shared a nice large portion of truly excellent ceviche pescado (just fish) -- I've also had their ceviche misto, which has fish, shrimp, octopus and squid. On the plate with the ceviche are chunks of potato and sweet potato, a partial ear of large-kernel corn, a lot of thinly-sliced red onion, and a handful of parched corn. I think the ceviche pescado was about $12. Our total -- 3 apps, the ceviche, and 2 drinks (purple corn for Ms. Dr. Oz and a mixed-fruit thing with strawberry, pineapple and papaya for me) was $32 and change, and was more than we could finish. Strongly recommended. Tue Oct 20 14:02:16 -0700 2009 5108469 76480 ozhead 2 5118245 Puro Sabor is wonderful but long drive 4 me. Two places not mentioend. Mi Patria in Pico Rivera is pretty darned good, very large servings, good menu. Norys in Cypress is the best I ever have, BUT it is a strip center divey place, not fancy, just beer and wine, gets very busy with repeat customers. Still waiting for new Pasadena place, with hope! Tue Oct 20 15:23:52 -0700 2009 5118039 51111 MaryT