Emilio Salaverry
A day spent surfing in nearby Huanchaco and roaming the grounds of Chan Chan can work up quite a hunger. Get some dining tips from a local Trujillano!
Menús are a part of everyday life in Peru. It doesn't matter if you're a tourist back packing around Peru on a budget or an expat working in Miraflores – you've seen those blackboards with florescent colors advertising a daily lunch menú or, for the fancier menús, a whiteboard with red or black ink. If you are a menú lover then you've drank out of those huge buckets full of refrescos, sat at tables where your legs can't fit and you have to sit in an awkward angle, used those really thin napkins that tear at the first swipe or probably have tried the spiciest ajà ever.
In Trujillo, just like every other city in Peru, you will find a variation of menus. Lunch in the eternal city of spring could cost you anywhere from 6 to 15 soles depending on the restaurant. After living in Trujillo for 6 years I've found my favorite menú and highly recommend visiting these places to experience authentic Trujillano cuisine. My critiques of ranking these places are three; price, food and stomach virus. All these places have delicious food, a price range for the common Peruvian and I have never gotten sick for eating at these menús.
1. El Ollón
Owned by a couple from Huaraz (a town in the highlands of Ancash which I highly recommend you visit), El Ollón is located in the heart of a university (Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego) and right in front of an international school (Fleming College). This menú caters to university students and during my time at college I would go there almost every day. You have three categories to choose from: 6, 8, and 10 soles. The menu is written on a piece of paper. My favorite dishes are pollo saltado and chicharron de pescado and for an appetizer you have to go with the salpicon de atun or pollo. And be careful with the ajÃ, it's HOT!!!
(Photo: Emilio Salaverry)
2. D' Barcelona
This is your typical menú with all the characteristics I mentioned in the introduction and with the best refresco (apple juice) in town. To eat here and enjoy their cuisine it will only cost you 6 soles. For an appetizer you have to go with the tamal or soup and for your main course go with a milanesa (breaded chicken breast ) or the chuleta (pork). It's not the quality that you will find at a high-end restaurant likeAstrid & Gaston, but it's delicious, cheap. Don't ask for a menu because they don't have one, so you will need to read your options on the hanging boards. Plus they are die heart Barca fans. VAMOS FC BARCELONA! You can find this restaurant on calle Marcelo Corni right behind Janos on Ave. España.
3. D' Classic
This is my favorite menú in all of Trujillo and is the best bang for your buck. For 9 soles you will get a 3 course meal: entrée, main course and dessert, along with a refresco (fresh lemonade, orange juice or chicha morada). They have the best papa a la huancaina and ajà in town and for all you veggie lovers you can order a fresh salad as your appetizer. The go to dishes are breaded fish (toyo apanado) or seasoned rice with chicken (arroz con pollo). Plus you can choose between jello and a typical Peruvian dessert called mazamorra. If you have a little extra money and want to splurge you can order the milanesa suprema (breaded chicken) with french fries and salad. D' Classic is located on Ave. España.
(Photo: Emilio Salaverry)
4. Oviedo
Oviedo is the priciest menú on the list, but it has the freshest food and the location is prime. It's right on the pedestrian walkway Jiron Pizarro in the middle of downtown Trujillo. Lunch will cost you 14 soles, but it is the most complete menú. You get a three course meal, the dessert is always ice cream (hooray for ice cream) and it's the only menu in Trujillo that gives you the option of having a beer as part of the meal. There's nothing better than having lunch in the middle of downtown while drinking a beer and enjoying the spring weather of Trujillo.
Great post. The food sounds great. They call Trujillo the City of Eternal Spring, but does it ever feel too cold or too hot?
ReplyDeleteThanks, it really gets hot here during the summer months for like 2 or 3 months, but it only get to 85 degrees. And it's only cold for like 2 or 3 months as well, but anywhere from 65 to 75 degrees. And this is coming from a guy that's been raised in tropical weather, so 65 and 70 is cold for me.
DeleteInteresting, yes 65 must be cold for you, maybe go North to Chiclayo! But 85 is hot for you? Is it too humid?
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