Best Anticuchos in Lima

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Famous for its "Ceviche de Carretilla" style—rustic, spicy, and served in massive portions that capture the spirit of the Lima streets with restaurant-grade quality. — various (San Isidro / Malls)

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12:30 PM; a high-end "street food" concept by Gaston Acurio.

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While she has a restaurant now, the "spirit" of the street anticucho is best felt here, eating from a paper plate under the trees of Miraflores. — Miraflores

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6:30 PM; the original "cart" location is often represented by her apprentices.

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A favorite for theater-goers and downtown workers; their marinade is notoriously spicy and they are known for serving the largest pieces of "choclo" in the city. — various (Centro)

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7:00 PM; a traditional and reliable city-center landmark.

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The portions here are meant to be shared; the Lomo Saltado is rustic and served with "tacacho" or traditional rice, representing the "hearty" side of Limeño cooking. — Miraflores

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1:00 PM; a Gaston Acurio "taberna" that focuses on large, affordable comfort plates.

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This is the most atmospheric "street" experience in the center; dozen of grills operate in the alley, filling the historic air with the unmistakable scent of ají panca and charcoal. — Centro

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6:00 PM; a pedestrian alley filled with historic food stalls.

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Known for its "speed and heat"—the anticuchos are served almost instantly from the grill, ensuring the meat is at its absolute peak of tenderness and temperature. — Miraflores

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7:30 PM; a humble but legendary neighborhood grill.

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While famous for their stews, their "Ceviche con Chicharrón de Calamar" is a masterclass in the classic Limeño style, focusing on generous portions and high-quality, traditional ingredients. — Barranco

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12:30 PM; a traditional "taberna" that serves massive family-style portions of historic Lima dishes.

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Famous for large-format Peruvian comfort food; their Ají de Gallina is famously rich and use high-quality yellow potatoes, representing the "hearty" side of Limeño home cooking. — various (Miraflores / San Borja)

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1:30 PM; a boisterous and very popular "Criollo" grill by Gaston Acurio.

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You buy the fish by the kilo and the kitchen prepares it in several different ways, including a world-class ceviche; it is one of the most social and high-quality lunch experiences in the city. — Surquillo

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1:00 PM; a communal-table restaurant that recreates the traditional lunch houses of Arequipa.

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Famous for the "snap" of the heart meat—indicating perfect freshness and expert flame control; their potatoes are also notoriously buttery and well-seasoned. — Magdalena del Mar

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7:30 PM; a popular neighborhood favorite with a loyal following.

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The "emergency" anticucho spot for post-party crowds; while fast-casual, they maintain a very high standard of grilling and the marinade is robust and savory. — Miraflores

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3:00 AM; a legendary 24-hour restaurant famous for late-night refuels.

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Known for its massive portions and its incredibly smoky flavor; this is where local "anticucho connoisseurs" go to avoid the higher prices of Miraflores. — Lince

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8:00 PM; a humble and very authentic neighborhood grill.

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Grimanesa is a street-food icon; while her fame comes from anticuchos, her high-heat "Saltados" use the same masterful flame control to produce a spectacular smoky flavor. — Miraflores

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7:00 PM; while famous for heart skewers, her side dishes are world-class.

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9:00 PM; small carts set up along the path to the Bridge of Sighs.

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A favorite among Lima’s middle-class families for its consistency and value; her anticuchos are notoriously tender and the "ají" sauce served on the side is considered one of the best in the city. — Jesús María

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7:30 PM; a legendary neighborhood spot that has been serving locals for decades.

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Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura is the master of Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) fusion; his "Tiradito" and "Ceviche Nikkei" use Japanese techniques to elevate Peruvian ingredients to an elite level. — Miraflores

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12:30 PM (lunch only for the full tasting experience).

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A massive and legendary spot that is the "temple" for Alianza Lima fans; the ceviche portions are enormous and the atmosphere is electric, especially on game days. — La Victoria

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12:00 PM; located right next to the Alianza Lima football stadium.

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While famous for soup, their Lomo Saltado is prepared in massive woks in an open kitchen; it is fast, high-quality, and one of the most popular late-night meals in Lima. — various (Lince / Surquillo)

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3:00 AM; legendary 24-hour spot famous for its lines and its soulful soups.

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Winner of "Mistura" (Latin America's largest food festival) awards; their marinade is slightly sweeter than traditional versions, appealing to a younger generation of foodies. — Surquillo

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7:00 PM; a rising star in the Lima anticucho scene.

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The most scenic place in the city to eat anticuchos; the restaurant is a Barranco institution known for its traditional marinade and its lively, family-friendly atmosphere. — Barranco

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7:00 PM; located right next to the iconic Bridge of Sighs.

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