Lima has been setting the table for centuries. Long before the city became synonymous with Michelin stars and the World's 50 Best Restaurants, its kitchens were already blending cultures in remarkable ways. Indigenous traditions from the Andes and Amazon met Spanish colonial cooking, African ingenuity, Chinese wok techniques and Japanese precision, creating a food culture unlike anywhere else in the Americas. Before we get started, our tour reflects the local cuisine and the limitations of traditional eateries mean we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction. Here's an honest appraisal so nobody is disappointed: ⚠ Possible for pescatarians, gluten intolerance, mild peanut and tree nut allergies, mild seafood allergies, and no pork diets, though some tastings will be unsuitable ✖️ Unsuitable for vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerance and halal diets.
Our first bites take us deep into the Peruvian Amazon. At first glance, chaufa amazónico looks familiar, but this is Chinese migration viewed through a jungle lens. The wok remains, yet soy-heavy Cantonese flavours give way to fragrant rainforest herbs and ingredients found nowhere else in Peru. Alongside comes tacacho, smoky mashed plantain folded with pork crackling and finished with vibrant ají de cocona, a bright chilli sauce made from one of the Amazon's most distinctive fruits. It's proof that Peru's greatest recipes often begin thousands of kilometres from Lima itself.
No city celebrates seafood quite like Lima. We'll discover why ceviche became Peru's national obsession, where impeccably fresh fish meets lime, chilli and onion in a dish whose simplicity leaves nowhere to hide. Crisp yuquitas emerge fresh from bubbling oil, while golden papas rellenas conceal richly seasoned fillings beneath delicate potato shells, served alongside chicha morada, Peru's refreshing purple corn drink enjoyed since long before the Spanish arrived. As dusk settles, charcoal grills begin to glow. That can only mean anticuchos. Once humble street food, these smoky beef heart skewers have become one of Lima's defining evening snacks, accompanied by delicate quail eggs and fragrant ají de huacatay, the intensely herbal green sauce every visitor wishes they'd discovered sooner.
Our journey continues into historic Pueblo Libre, one of Lima's oldest and most characterful neighbourhoods. Here, family bakeries perfume the streets with freshly baked caramanducas, soft aniseed bread rolls that have comforted generations of locals. Nearby, yucamochi reveals Peru's continuing culinary curiosity, transforming cassava through Japanese inspiration into a dish that perfectly reflects the country's remarkable ability to reinvent tradition. Sometimes Lima's greatest flavours are also its most unexpected.
We'll finish where Peru's culinary story comes full circle. Inside one of Lima's oldest eateries, tradition is still served daily. Raise a perfectly balanced pisco sour before trying tacu tacu, the ingenious Afro-Peruvian creation that elevates humble rice and beans into one of the country's greatest comfort foods. Finally comes sizzling lomo saltado, where Chinese wok cooking collides with Peruvian ingredients to create a dish many now consider the nation's unofficial favourite. By the time we return, you'll have discovered far more than Lima's famous restaurant scene. You'll have explored the neighbourhood markets, family kitchens and historic dining rooms that quietly built Peru into one of the world's great food destinations - places few visitors ever find without a local tastemaker leading the way.
Awesome tour, tons of food in local neighborhoods. The guides did a great job and it didn’t feel rushed. Visit a mercado, eat street food, have some plates from a local establishment.
This was an awesome experience! We were hesitate to book outside the Miraflores tourist areas but were so happy we decided to do it! A tremendous food-history tour of areas you won’t experience in the tourist zone! Diego helps you experience Lima through the eyes of a resident with local bakeries, restaurants, markets, street stands, churches and people! Uber made the door to door trip simple & safe and it was exciting to see all the children and families out in the neighborhoods we visited. This tour is a gem so wear good walking shoes and bring a BIG appetite - empty stomach!
We loved this tour! Honestly we were hesitant to book it as it is outside of the tourist area. So glad we booked it! We saw the real Lima where families live, eat and play. We felt totally safe and we tried 17 different things! It was all so good! From mercados, street food and restaurants. If you had a friend living in Lima and they said, “come visit and I’ll take you to my favorite places” that was what this tour was like. Super chill and we felt like we were with friends enjoying food and conversation.
Me and my friend I had a great time with Diego! Take his advice - 14 dishes is a lot so pace yourself if you want to enjoy all the culinary delights he’ll treat you too alongside a wonderful bit of history on the Peruvian gastronomy! Wahid
Come hungry and ready for four hours of local immersion with local foods, neighborhoods, cultures and customs. Diego started out as our guide, but we walked away as friends! Great foods, great company, great experience!
My girlfriend and I took the Criollo Nights Food Tour yesterday, and it exceeded every single expectation! We spent four fantastic hours exploring Lima's food scene, stopping at incredible spots that we never would have discovered or tried on our own. I truly think that’s what makes this food tour so special. A huge shoutout to our guide, Diego—he was genuinely amazing! His passion, knowledge, and warm energy made the entire experience so engaging and fun. If you love food and want to truly experience the culture of Peru and Lima through your palate, you have to do this tour with Diego. 10/10 recommendation!
🍽️🇵🇪 Discover the authentic flavors of Lima on an off-the-beaten-path food tour! Explore hidden local gems, taste delicious Peruvian specialties, and experience the city like a local, all with an absolutely amazing guide who is passionate, friendly, and full of great stories. A fun, delicious, and unforgettable way to discover Lima beyond the tourist trail! Come hungry — you’re going to eat A LOT! 😋🌮
Lima and Peru is famous for its food so this tour felt extra special to experience the cuisine in a local and authentic way. Our guide Diego led us through lovely neighborhoods and stalls that I would not have known to visit as a tourist. It was more meaningful to enjoy the delicious ceviche or quail eggs or local fruits I’ve never seen before, all while learning about the people behind the counters that served us food. Needless to say, there was so much to eat and each bite was delicious. Lima’s food lived up to the hype and this tour was an excellent way to enjoy it!
It was a fantastic time eating our way around Lima, and especially seeing and experiencing the local eateries. In most of the locations, we were the only tourists and it was such a treat to immerse ourselves into the day to day lives of locals. We got to try such a huge variety of dishes: from snacks, to homey meals, to savory bites and sweet treats. Especially loved eating from the street stalls and meeting the stall owners. HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you're looking for a food experience off the typical tourist path and especially if you have an appetite for trying a variety of foods!
We were very excited about this experience from the moment we booked it and had very high expectations. Honestly, it was exactly as we had imagined, if not better. My tip for anyone planning to do it is to pace yourself and eat lightly at the beginning so you can fully enjoy all 14 courses, because the ending is truly the cherry on top. Every dish and every option was thoughtfully designed, and none of them disappointed. The entire experience beautifully preserves the essence, authenticity, and creativity of Peruvian culture and cuisine. Diego was outstanding. You really couldn't ask for a better host. He explains the origins and history behind each dish, shares up-to-date knowledge, and communicates everything with genuine enthusiasm and passion. It is clear that he truly loves what he does. Without a doubt, this was an amazing experience that we would gladly repeat. We had a wonderful time, and Diego's company made it even more memorable. Highly recommended!
Had a great time! Diego was a great guide. Very knowledgeable about the food scene and the city of Lima. Tasted many new foods I have never had!
Diego was awesome! Super knowledgeable and friendly. He knows all the restaurant workers, all the best spots, and he knows Lima and the food well.
Absolutely brilliant experience! Had Diego for a guide and he was incredible. Really knowledgeable about the food and every spot we visited had such good tasting stuff
This the best food tour I have partake in. The structure , walking around trying LOCAL cuisine, fruits and drinks , gave a real feel of Peruvian/Lima local experience, and not just a tourist experience. The good food was a lot and tasted good! Belly buss/full. We could not eat it all. Had to get to go boxes. Last and definitely not least, our tour guide, Diego is the best. Real down to earth, cultural aware, charismatic and attentive. Made the tour so much better. Walking around, chatting, laughing, eating for 4 hours was a breeze . 10/10 would recommend.
This is the best food tour hands down. The structure to walk around and experience local living and also taking public transportation gave a real feel of Lima. The foods were awesome, belly full. And lot of different authentic Peruvian/Lima cuisine , food and fruits to try. Last and definitely not least, our tour guide, Diego is the best. Real down to earth, cultural aware, charismatic and attentive. Made the tour so much better. Walking around, chatting, laughing, eating for 4 hours was a breeze
It was a really super experience! The food is delicious. Diego is very passionate, which is super contagious. What do you recommend doing on the tour on the first day, you will immediately get tips from Diego and know what you can do in the city of Lima.
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