Although Lima is known as Peru’s culinary capital, Cusco isn’t far behind. Cusco is filled with excellent restaurants that range from cheap to upscale, and you’ll find Peruvian cuisine along with many other types of food. As a foodie who spent a month in Cusco and ate out for every meal because the hostel that I stayed at didn’t have a kitchen, I never got tired of the food in Cusco and was constantly finding new restaurants.
You don’t have to spend that many days in Cusco to experience its culinary scene though. Here are some of the best restaurants in Cusco, as well as specific dishes that I recommend at some of these places. Whether you want to discover authentic Peruvian food or simply eat good food that reminds you of home, you’ll find something delicious in this list.
Peruvian food
KUSHKA Restaurant
KUSHKA Restaurant is a sleek-looking restaurant that serves a variety of Peruvian mains and starters. It offers well-known dishes like lomo saltado, ceviche, and papa rellena, as well as a small selection of pastas. However, compared to other Peruvian restaurants, such as Yaku Restaurant and Nuna Raymi, KUSHKA has a smaller menu.
One of the best things to order at KUSHKA is their trout ceviche, which contains fat chunks of fish, sweet potato, large kernels of Peruvian corn, and avocado. Another highlight is their crispy roasted potatoes and green sauce that they give you for free at the beginning of your meal.
Yaku Restaurant
If you need to find a restaurant that has something for everyone, Yaku Restaurant is your answer. It has a large, varied menu that not only includes Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado, ají de gallina, and quinoa soup, but it also offers several pizza options, burgers, and salads that use fresh local ingredients and have a Peruvian twist to them.
Yaku Restaurant is on the pricier end, although their food and drinks are high-quality. I had one of the best lomo saltados of my trip there but paid 62 soles (about $16.86 USD) for it.
Rico Rico’s Pollo a la Brasa
To eat where locals eat, head to Rico Rico’s Polla a la Brasa, an affordable place to try Peruvian chicken. I paid 23 soles (about $6.26 USD) for a quarter of a chicken, which also comes with rice, fries, salad, and soup.
The soup only consisted of some noodles and chicken broth, but the broth was full of chicken flavor. The rice and fries were all solid, but the star of the meal was clearly the chicken. It was juicy, tender, and flavorful. I almost regretted that I had only gotten a quarter of a chicken, but there was so much food that I ended up not needing dinner later that day.
Nuna Raymi
Nuna Raymi was one of my favorite restaurants in Cusco for Peruvian food that features local Andean ingredients. The restaurant prioritizes sustainability and works with family farmers to bring organic food to diners’ tables. Hospitality was also excellent when I visited, as I was warmly greeted once I stepped inside and my server was friendly and took the time to explain my food and where it came from.
I visited Nuna Raymi when I had traveler’s diarrhea, so I unfortunately wasn’t able to order their main courses. Instead, I opted for their caldo de pollo criollo or Peruvian chicken soup. I mostly had Peruvian chicken soup while I was getting over my traveler’s diarrhea, and after having several versions at different restaurants, Nuna Raymi had my favorite. The broth had a great chicken flavor and I loved all the extras that came with the soup: roasted corn, lime, chili pepper, and green onion.
Ofrenda Peruvian Healthy Food
I ended up at Ofrenda Peruvian Healthy Food after our group tried to go to a nearby restaurant that was full. Although Ofrenda wasn’t our first choice, it was an amazing choice. Our group of six people received fantastic service, as our server patiently provided recommendations and came back when we needed more time to decide.
I had one of the most beautifully presented lomo saltados of my trip here. The lomo saltado was garnished with edible flowers, sprouts, sweet potato crisps, and what looked like shrimp chips. The bowl of rice that came with it was just as carefully garnished.
While everyone was thoroughly happy with their food, our experience was even better with the free dessert and tea that came at the end of our meal. According to reviews on Google, this isn’t unique, but I’m not sure if they offer it to everyone.
Western food
Chakruna Native Burgers
Chakruna Native Burgers specializes in burgers made with local meat and cheese. They also have beef, chicken, and vegetarian options. If you want to try alpaca, having it in a burger is a good introduction.
I tried alpaca for the first time here and it didn’t disappoint. The meat was juicy, and I thought it tasted like a cross between beef and lamb. I also enjoyed the assortment of sauces that came with the fries.
Avocado, toast & more
As reflected in its name, Avocado, toast & more celebrates all things avocado. It’s in many of their dishes – either diced, in a sauce, or in a purée. In other dishes like their avocado fries, guacamole, and smoothies, avocado is the featured ingredient.
For any avocado lover, Avocado, toast & more is a must visit. Even if you just like, but don’t love, avocado, this restaurant is a great place for healthy salads, bowls, sandwiches, and toasts.
Avocado, toast & more is located in San Blas, but there is a second location (Avocado, toast & more 2) that’s close to the main square, Plaza de Armas de Cusco.
Jill’s Cafe
I typically don’t go back to a restaurant more than once, since I prefer to try something new than go back to a great place. However, Jill’s Cafe is one of the few places that I went back to during my stay in Cusco.
It’s actually a bit difficult to categorize the type of cuisine at Jill’s Cafe. The restaurant specializes in paninis, quesadillas, and baos, and there are Asian, Western, and Peruvian influences. The menu features American sandwiches like a reuben and tuna melt. Yet, you’ll see Peruvian ingredients like smoked trout, while baos are Chinese.
I always went for a panini and was never disappointed. If you like spicy food, be sure to also ask for their hot sauce.
Organika Bakery & Cafe
Organika Bakery & Cafe has a large menu, making it a good choice for groups or picky eaters. The restaurant has all-day breakfast with classics like pancakes, croissants, avocado toast, and eggs. For lunch and dinner, you’ll find pastas, sandwiches, and salads.
The restaurant also has an adorable gray cat, which you’ll love if you like cats or want to avoid if you’re allergic to them.
Cervecería Del Valle Sagrado Cusco Centro
Cervecería Del Valle Sagrado Cusco Centro is the best place that I went to for local craft beer. Since it’s open later than restaurants, it also became my go-to for either a late dinner or drinks at night. The taproom is fairly large, with a couple of different rooms to sit in and some seating at their bar and on their balcony. If the weather is nice, I recommend sitting on the balcony to people watch.
I liked the beers that I tried here, but for me, the highlight was the ciders. I love interesting cider flavors and was incredibly excited when I saw their menu. There was a cider with mango and cardamom, and another with pear, pineapple, and coconut. They leaned on the sweeter side, but I still enjoyed the unique flavors.
If you’re not into beer or don’t drink, the taproom has cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. There’s also typical bar food, such as burgers, fries, chicken wings, and pizza.
La Osteria
I discovered La Osteria when I was walking around one night looking for dinner and noticed a bunch of people waiting outside the restaurant. It was clearly a popular spot and the reviews on Google backed it up. I didn’t want to wait though, so I came back another day for lunch and had the entire restaurant to myself. I had a great chat with the server while enjoying their ossobuco with fresh pasta.
If you want to try La Osteria, I recommend going for lunch instead of dinner. The restaurant only has four tables, so it’s best to strategically time your visit or expect to wait.
Asian food
Chikara Sushi – Nikkei Kitchen
Chikara Sushi – Nikkei Kitchen is a tiny sushi spot owned by a lovely couple. Because there are only a few tables inside, I recommend either making a reservation or showing up early in order to make sure you get a table. The sushi is not only carefully prepared and fresh, but the service is also excellent.
While you can order individual rolls, there are also omakase options. I went for the omakase and really appreciated that they tailored the rolls to my preferences, as they asked if I liked spicy food and if I minded cream cheese in sushi.
Kfood Cusco
Kfood Cusco is both a restaurant and a shop selling Korean snacks, drinks, and instant ramen. Although it’s a bit outside of the city enter, Kfood Cusco is worth the short walk. Their menu features ramen, tofu soups, a variety of barbecued meat, and gimbap/kimbap (a sort of Korean sushi). Everything comes with several side dishes. Plus, water is included, which is rare to find in Peru.
Sa Rang Che
For Korean food that’s much closer to the center of Cusco, Sa Rang Che is located on a street off of Plaza de Armas de Cusco. The menu here is smaller than Kfood Cusco, but the food is just as tasty and you’ll get an assortment of side dishes with your order. Given its convenient location, this is a popular place with Korean tourists.
Vegan/vegetarian food
Parada Vegana Restaurant
Parada Vegana Restaurant serves vegan food that spans a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean. There’s soup, pasta, pad thai, curry, falafel, desserts, and much more. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend sitting outside in their colorful courtyard if the weather’s nice, as it’s filled with plants and art.
El Encuentro
Dining out can be expensive in Cusco, but El Encuentro is an affordable vegan/vegetarian place that locals eat at. While there is a menu that you can order off of, El Encuentro also has a menu of the day (menú del día). In my opinion, getting the menú del día is the way to go here.
When I got the menú del día, I paid 12 soles (about $3.26 USD) for their self-serve salad bar, a soup, an entree, and a drink. This is a great deal, but you have to be okay with having limited choice. I was only able to choose my entree, as there was only one option for everything else. Everything I had was good though and felt like home cooking.
Green Point Vegan Restaurant
While El Encuentro is homey and rustic, Green Point Vegan Restaurant is modern. The restaurant is stunning, with a large outdoor space full of greenery. All of their food and drinks are beautifully presented and portion sizes are large. When I visited, there was live music too.
Even as a non-vegan, Green Point Vegan Restaurant was one of my favorite and most memorable meals in Cusco. I ordered their vegan grill, which is a massive grill overflowing with vegetables. The grill can easily serve two people or one very hungry person.
Miscellaneous
Nick’s Food Co
Nick’s Food Co can’t be neatly placed into a category of cuisine since it serves an interesting combination of Mexican and Indian food. The place is small, with only four tables and some counter seating, but it’s full of character. Its checkered floors and red, blue, white, and yellow color scheme reminded me of a retro diner.
The restaurant is the best place to go when you’re looking for something different that’s not Peruvian, Asian, or Western food. Nick’s Food Co has Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, samosas, and naan, as well as Mexican staples like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos.
I can’t speak to their Mexican food, but their Indian food was pretty good for a restaurant in South America. If you come in with the right expectations, I think you’ll enjoy Nick’s Food Co just as much as I did.
I had the chicken tikka masala, which had a nice amount of spiciness and tender chicken. The yogurt sauce, tomatoes, and onions that came with it provided a nice contrast that also balanced out the spice. I also ordered their garlic naan, which was more like a flatbread but still good.
More resources for traveling Peru
- How Many Days to Spend in Cusco
- How to Spend One Day in Cusco: 3 Complete Itineraries
- Rainbow Mountain in Peru: Complete Travel Guide
- Complete Salkantay Trek Packing List: Everything You Need
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Trek: Tour Review & Recap
