Lomo Saltado
Photo: WikiHes · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Lomo saltado emerged from the 1849-1874 Chinese contract-labour wave that settled around Calle Capon in Lima's Barrio Chino. Cantonese wok technique met Peruvian aji and the Spanish-introduced beef and tomato; the French fries arrived in the 20th century. Now the most-ordered Peruvian dish nationwide.

Common allergens: Gluten, Soy

Make it at home

Yield Serves 2Hands-on 15 minTotal 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g sirloin or tenderloin, cut in 1cm strips
  • 1 red onion, cut in thick wedges
  • 2 tomatoes, cut in thick wedges
  • 1 aji amarillo, deseeded and sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Coriander, chopped, for garnish
  • 300g potatoes cut in chips and fried
  • Cooked white rice to serve

Method

  1. Heat a wok or large skillet over very high heat until smoking.
  2. Add oil, then beef in one layer. Sear 60 seconds without moving, then toss to seal all sides.
  3. Add garlic, ginger, aji amarillo and onion. Stir-fry 90 seconds until onion is just translucent at the edge.
  4. Add tomato wedges, soy sauce and vinegar. Toss 30 seconds.
  5. Remove from heat immediately. The tomato should hold its shape; the onion should still have crunch.
  6. Plate with chips on the side and rice. Garnish with coriander.

Tip from the editors. The wok must be smoking hot; cool wok turns it into stew. Sear in batches if your pan is small.

Where to eat lomo saltado

Lomo Saltado in Lima

Madam Tusan ★ 4.0

$$ PeruvianMirafloresUntil Daily until 00:00

Madam Tusan at Av Santa Cruz 859 in Miraflores Lima runs till midnight every night, Gaston Acurio's chifa for late dinner with the canonical lomo saltado.

OrderLomo saltado and a chaufa, ideally past 22:00 when the room is quieter.

TipOpen every night till midnight; bar service runs to closing.

Directions

Wa Lok ★ 4.3

$$ PeruvianBarrio Chino

Wa Lok at Jr. Paruro 878 in Barrio Chino is among the oldest chifa restaurants in Lima's Chinatown, Cantonese 100-dish menu and Peking duck nightly.

Why locals goThe oldest chifa house in Lima's Barrio Chino on Calle Capon, Cantonese dim sum breakfast and Peking duck dinner away from the Miraflores axis.

TipDim sum breakfast 09:00-11:00 has the variety; Peking duck dinner is the headline.

Directions

Salon Capon ★ 4.3

$$ PeruvianBarrio Chino

Salon Capon at Jr. Paruro 819 in Barrio Chino is a Cantonese-Peruvian institution on Calle Capon in Lima, a multi-level chifa with a vast classic menu.

OrderA dim sum tower plus arroz chaufa and the wantan frito, the chifa trinity.

TipLunch service is calmer than dinner; cash is safer than card on weekends.

Directions

El Bolivariano ★ 4.3

$$ PeruvianPueblo Libre

El Bolivariano on Pasaje Santa Rosa in Pueblo Libre Lima is a criolla institution in a republican casona, far quieter than the Miraflores tourist axis.

Why locals goA republican casona in mid-city Pueblo Libre, off the Miraflores-Barranco tourist axis, with criolla tradition dating to the 1780s.

TipOpen from 07:30 for breakfast tamales; Sunday lunch is the family-table service.

Directions

Isolina ★ 4.6

$$ PeruvianBarranco

Isolina at Av San Martin 101 in Barranco is Jose del Castillo's 2015 criolla taberna, a tribute to his mother Isolina Vargas and her Lima home cooking.

OrderThe tacu tacu with steak and a portion of the carretillero ceviche.

TipWeekend brunch service runs 09:00-11:00 before the regular lunch carta.

Directions Book

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