El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar
2605 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85006
El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2605 N 7th St
Phoenix, AZ, 85006 - Phone (602) 279-8425
- Website https://www.elchullorestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Rafael R.
Peruvian food is eclectic. It's accessible. It embraces multiple cultures and influences from ancient Aztecs to contemporary and cosmopolitan Lima. It's both familiar and exotic. And when it's done well, it can be both hearty and elegance. Superb ceviche,followed by an equally great rice with seafood and shared a dish of green linguini with a pesto sauce that was delicious. Can't wait to go back to try more items.
(3)Felipe Z.
I love Peruvian food! This place is a hidden gem on 7th street. Prices are fair so don't be shocked if you are looking for something cheap. This is not "a five dollar footlong." The place is a family operation and the environment is great. They show south american soccer which is a plus especially during world cup qualifiers. Any soccer fans out there??? Nothing beats a good Pisco Sour or Ceviche. Karen is one of my favorite servers. She is direct and to the point and very Knowledgeable. Her brother in the kitchen is also very funny and friendly. I would definitely recommend making a visit. If your wondering what "El Chullo" means it is like a andean beanie which covers your ears and if you have ever been in Peru, Ecuador or Northern Chile you would definitely understand why its needed.
(5)Cindy F.
Extraordinary food and service. Presentation is mouthwatering. Really fond of the appetizers and desserts.
(5)michelle w.
So impressed with this place, peruvian food is comfort food to me and every peruvian restaurant that I find in phoenix always ends up closing down but I sure hope this place sticks around the food is absolutely amazing and spot on with authenticity! The service is also great our server was very nice and did a great job! This is definitely my new favorite restaurant and I will be back!
(5)Shane B.
My cousin and I had just finished up a tour of the Heard museum and was starving. So we browsed yelp and found this little gem. There is limited parking in the front, so we drove around the back where an ally way led to the restaurant's back parking lot, it was a tight squeeze to get to the parking lot so if your in an SUV or full size truck it's going to be tricky. We went in and sat down and was greeted by the chief who was very accommodating and upbeat. The restaurant is clean an cozy the way a ma and pop place should feel. We ordered an appetizer of fried yucca that came with two sauces that were amazing! For drinks we ordered Chicha morada a Peruvian drink made with corn and spices, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. In fact we had four glasses of the stuff, unfortunately there were no refills for Chicha but the chef gave us our last glass free! Regardless it's worth it. For our entree we both got the ceviche. OMG, I kid you not it was the best ceviche I have ever had. The ceviche was bass seasoned with red onions lime and Peruvian chilis. There was a side of inca corn and sweet potatoes, the potatoes added a refreshing sweet to the tangy ceviche. My cousin who lived in Mexico for two years said he ate ceviche regularly and said that Peruvian ceviche was the best you could get. Please give this place a try you won't regret it!!
(5)Sana H.
Excellent food. We got the cause rellena with chicken, ceviche and Lomo Saltado. The cause rellena was creamy and delicious. The Lomo Saltado was the best one I've ever had, the sauce is so goooood and the meat very tender. This was my first time here but I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Tyrone D.
Arroz con pollo was good as well as the purple corn drink. Sorry dont remember the name of it service was great. It wasnt too busy so may be the reason why others have given bad reviews. But overall pleasant experience with good food
(4)Ric B.
Peruvian cuisine seems to be based on chicken and potatoes- fine with me. El Chullo is a New Times Award winning place on 7th Street north of Virginia. Can't remember the names of what I ordered but the appetizer was a thin sliced marinated fried potato. You eat them like potato chips but they are not dry and slightly crispy. The entrée was a chicken breast, pan fried in a red pepper vinegar sauce with red onion slices. Very good! There was a small side of potatoes and a rather large pyramid of white rice. I love rice but I prefer it flavored. I almost asked for more red pepper vinegar sauce for the rice. It was similar to Japanese sticky rice. The place was small, clean, nice artwork on the walls, flat screen tv with Fox Spanish channel showing a soccer game. They have a full bar so we ordered a carafe of Sangria- iced, filled with what appeared to be fruit cocktail- very good and pared well with the meal. We ate the wine soaked fruit like a dessert. El Chullo has an air of authenticity about it and I most likely will go back in the future.
(4)Phillyman p.
Great food and service... Had Lunch on Valentines Day .... MUST HAVE --- Pisco Sour drink which is made with -fresh lime juice, cinnamon & cloves syrup, beaten egg whites, angostura bitter. ARROZ CON MARISCOS Sautéed rice & seafood mix. Only issue is parking very limited space .....
(4)Matt D.
Excellent food!!! I had the amazing opportunity to eat at this family owned and ran business. The food was outstanding and so was the service. I will definitely recommend this to friends and family.
(5)Michael B.
This is an excellent representation of Peruvian food. Having lived there for 3 years on and off, I can say that most the dishes were authentic. My table had the Chupe de Camarones, which was a meal unto itself, 2 people had the the Aji de Gallina- which was very tasty and quite spicy and one had the Tallarines Verdes con Lomo. We had traditional Pisco sours which were quite tasty as well. The restaurant is very small but clean and the wait staff is vey pleasant. The service is slow due to all plates being made to order but that is certainly one of the reasons the food is delicious. I would definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of Peruvian food or curious to learn about it. The prices are resonable as well. Our tab for 4 came to $153 and that was with 8 Pisco sours. Like another reviewer said-"Viva Peru carajo!"
(4)Teresa S.
I am sorry I hadn't been here before. From the outside you have no idea what hidden treasures are inside. Everything we had as appetizers and our meals were great. I love the new variety to our palettes. I highly recommend you come here.
(5)Alexandria K.
I have eaten here twice now. I get cravings for their delicious cause rellena, which is a stack of creamy potato purée, chicken salad, avocado, and egg with creamy mustardy sauce. Their lomo Saltado is sure to please with perfect strips of beef in a delicious mildly spicy sauce, with a triangle mound of white rice and French fried potatoes. I highly recommend this locally owned restaurant!
(5)Aayush S.
We got fooled by the rating of this restaurant. This is certainly not the best peruvian food we have had. In fact, it was below average. Never going back again! I have had so much better peruvian food in Jersey. This was not worth the money they charge you.
(1)Cherry L.
First tip-Parking lot in the back through an alley. Easier than the front. My friend and I came here to check it out and overall, we loved it. We came on a Saturday for lunch and it wasn't crowded so we got one on one personal treatment with the chef so we learned a lot. Not to sound like a broken record but the ceviche is soooo good. I love the flavors. The ceviche is just the fish marinated and the ceviche mixto is fish, squid, mussels, and clams. I think the ceviche of just fish is the better of the two. It just holds the flavor better. And when they ask you how spicy, they actually mean it. The medium is pretty decently spicy. So impressive since it's hard to actually get something to be spicy here in Phoenix. I can only imagine how spicy hot is. Been here three times and I still crave it. Ok, on to other things I've tried several things and so far only one thing wasn't all that great but everything else has been. The causa rellena with imitation crab would be the one thing i say to avoid. My friend and I didnt think it was all that great esp. The arroz con pollo was yummy. The carapulcra is a pork stew and is like a comfort food. If you like spicy, make sure to ask for the aji rocoto - Peruvian hot sauce/salsa. So yummy. It adds a good spice to the mild dishes. Good lomo saltado according to bf. I do like that the fries are crispy and skinny. The kicker is that if you go now, they finally have air conditioning!!! It was getting to be a bit difficult going during the summer so I can only imagine how the workers felt. Warning though, if you are from California and used to Peruvian food there, they don't carry the green aji sauce that we know and love. Apparently that's only a CA creation since we're so used to jalapeños. This is a must place. From the wait staff to the food, everything is too notch.
(5)Dennis H.
Food was okay...little too salty and it takes a long time to get order. For the cost I was expecting more.
(3)Jonas A.
Food was so good I had lomo saltado and arroz com mariscos yummy and amazing people who work here they sang me happy birthday :)
(5)Alex H.
I've had my fair share of Peruvian food here in the valley. I'm surprised that there actually are so many to choose from. Out of all of them, I believe that El Chullo has the best food of them all. I've had their ceviche, lomo saltado, and jalea. All of which were excellent. I would give it 5 stars if ratings were based only on the food! Not only does it taste great, it even is presented beautifully. Now, what brings this place down is the location. My biggest gripe is the A/C seems to not always be running cool. Not to mention it isn't the nicest looking of restaurants. For the price I expect a bit more class. Not super fancy, just a touch more. And yes, it's central Phoenix. So parking is tight.
(4)Josh G.
Pros: Food, service, price. Cons: Smaller sized restaurant (may be occasional waits), parking (park across the street - see parking section below). The food here is amazing. I had the Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado, which is rice and beans topped with strips of marinated sirloin steak. The rice must be cooked in a small cast iron skillet and flipped over, because it has a seriously delicious exterior with a slight crunch. The beans and lomo saltado are equally excellent. Portion sizes are large, and they have a small selection of wine. Really delicious and highly recommend. Parking: After business hours (ie: 6:00pm) you can park either across 7th street at the auto shop, or across Virginia street, just south of El Chullo, in the parking lot behind the 3 story building (Techniprint).
(5)Leslie M.
I am a big supporter of family owned business so I decided to stop by and see what all the fuss is about. I have never had peruvian food before so I can't really compare my experience to another peruvian restaurant. The lot is small and it's kind of hard to park. The service is good. The server was really friendly and he tried to give us recommendations. I ordered the Lomo Saltado and it was flavorful, but I didn't see the difference between that and the nacho fries that you get at Filibertos for half the price. Now, don't get me wrong. It was a cool experience, but when we got the bill, it was a little much for an appetizer sampler, a drink, one entree, and dessert. I didn't even end up with a doggie bag for the price we paid. I didn't expect to pay as much as what we had paid, but I know they have to pay their bills. It's a business. I get it. I just don't know if I would justify the price and value of the food to come back. If you have never had peruvian food, come on over though and try it. At least once.
(3)Boom Y.
Hidden gem. It has some minor work to do but it earned the five starts. Service was excellent, half the food from our big group came out fast, the other half not so fast, but it was still worth the wait. Appetizers were fast and held us through. Very authentic Peruvian food. I had the Chaufa, its Chinese/Peruvian food and excellent! I can't say enough about the Pisco Sour. The best I've ever had including in Peru!!! Well return for more. Cheat day restaurant for my family.
(5)Gabriel L.
Legit Peruvian in Phoenix! Ceviche came as white hot as can be found in Lima. Anticuchos de corazon were prepared correctly. My only complaints: very little parking and no Peruvian beer to wash down the food. Did I mention that actual Peruvians eat here? That has got to count for something.
(4)Andrea Z.
What a great change of scenery (diamond in the rough) El Chullo restaurant. Visited today for the first time and experienced great service, great food and overall value for my price. Will most definitely be back. A must try in the Phoenix area for any locals or visitors. Muchas gracias to my new favorite restaurant.
(5)Joe N.
Absolutely the best Peruvian food in town!! I have been hesitant to write this review because I wanted to be selfish and enjoy this spot without the huge crowds it can easily draw!! Not a place to rush in and out, it's place to be enjoyed with good company and great Pisco. Enjoy
(5)Alaina S.
Yum! The food is authentic and one of the best Peruvian restaurants that I've eaten in. The service was great. I was the only one in my party that had eaten Peruvian food before and everyone else had a lot of questions. The waitress was so nice and patient. She obviously took a lot of pride in the food they serve, particularly their more traditional food and drinks. This place is a must try.
(5)Sophie E.
I lived in Peru for three years and this is the best Peruvian food I have had in America. Love it. Thank you for taking me on a wonderful trip down memory lane!
(5)Alex G.
All I can say is "WOW" the ceviche was super delish. I've tried a few peruvian places in the past and El Chullo wins in my book. I tried both the ceviche mixto & the ceviche with fish and they are both amazing dishes. I really liked the flavors. I also had lomo saltado and same thing the flavors were soooo good. This is my new favorite restaurant. Enjoy!
(5)Jocelyn G.
My husband and I saw the reviews on this place we are from California visting here for the weekend so we decided to give it a try the food was delicious The service was ok our waitress disappeared for a while I was thirsty and my 2 year old wanted water I asked another waitress for a cup of water and she did but wasnt to kind like if it bothered her she was extra kind with everyone else plus my water had some green stuff in it
(4)Sarah D.
Great service, great apps, great entree, great fruit juice, great dessert. It's so small that is you drive too quickly, you'll miss it. Don't be fooled by the look or location - this place is stellar.
(5)Larry M.
Had a great dining experience here. Papa a la huanca was ok. The lomo saltado however was excellent. Well cooked, well seasoned with a hint of Garlic. I posted some pics below. The arroz con pollo was excellent as well, the cilantro was prominent throughout the rice and was well seasoned. I have been to many peruvian restaurants across the country, and this one is the best in AZ hands down.
(5)Chelsea C.
El Chullo is one of the few authentic Peruvian food locales in Phoenix and luckily for us, is absolutely delicious! The lomo saltado is a must, especially if this is your first experience with Peruvian food. But, you can't go wrong with the fish ceviche - the best I've ever tasted. The Chicha morada (purple corn drink) was also interesting and delicious. To top it off, the service was great. We'll definitely be back :)
(5)Bryan P.
The best ceviche mixto! The lomo saltado is always on point as well as the tallarin saltado. My favorite Peruvian spot in Phoenix.
(4)I. J.
We ended up in this restaurant with a search in yelp. This is a great place overall: customer service, cleanliness, nice environment. The food is fresh and the portions are huge! My mom and I will be sharing next time; had a lot of left overs. I really want to go back to have some pisco sour :) Parking is hard as the store is facing 7th st and there are only 5 to 6 spots in the front; so park in the back and come in. Main cross roads are 7th st and McDowell. Head north on 7th street and it will be in the corner of Virginia - NE corner.
(5)Sebastian R.
Service was nice, but as a Peruvian I tried there lomo saltaldo and I was very disappointed. Too many fries, everything was soggy and the rice was pretty bad too
(2)German S.
This restaurant is a "must" for any lover of Latin A,Erica's cuisine. I had the Frijoles con Seco a la Nortena (stewed beef with rice and beans) all I can say is "wow"! The beef was super tender and the dish had a great range of flavors and seasonings, very well prepared. It was enough to share if you also get an appetizer, as are some of the other dishes. Service was quick and pleasant, definitely a return visit on the agenda, although I'll make sure to share so that we can try the deserts too!
(5)Mikyeila C.
Came here to kill some time between doctors appointments. They were just opening and weren't quite ready for us but it was worth the wait! Excellent food, excellent service. The yucca Frita left a little to be desired but the main courses were amazing!
(4)Meg C.
The brunch was divine: mouth-watering pork, fried sweet potatoes, and bread that could have been manna sent from Heaven. If I could, I'd be here every weekend. The waiter who was from Peru told my fiancé and me all sorts of stories about his homeland, its traditions and its food. Definitely one of the best brunch experiences I've had in Phoenix!
(5)Michelle C.
The food and service here was excellent. The portion sizes were very large. Everything was extremely flavorful. Dessert was wonderful too. The prices were reasonable. I can't wait until the bar opens there. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ashley D.
I loved this place! What a nice surprise. I feel like I should always try these tiny places with "foreign" food but I never really do because I'm afraid most would be misses rather than hits. This was a hit and has inspired to try more places like this! Our friends had heard good things about this place so we gave it a shot and I will keep going back! We ordered a few apps to share: Anticucho, Papa Rellena, and Yuca Frita. We loved them all! The Anticucho and Yuca Fritas were so good I will definitely order them every time I go! Then each of us order an entree. I got the Arroz con Mariscos, Jess got the Arroz con Pollo, my fiance the Ceviche and Josh the Lomo Saltado. To be honest I was pretty disappointed with my dish because it was more like a plate of rice with 4 pieces of seafood. However, Jess' Pollo tasted amazing, it had great seasoning. Mike's cveiche and Josh's Lomo were great too. We all left stuffed and happy! We will definitely be going back. Love the vibe of a family restaurant. We also recommend the Pisco Sours! It is a tiny place so if it's full you may have to wait. It'll be worth it!
(4)Christine W.
Hole in the wall exterior. Parking lot is super small. Don't let that discourage though!! The food is worth it! Our First time here we found the quality of the food rivals Peruvian restaurants in Sonoma and New York. The recipes are spot on. Even the seafood was great. Will definitely be back again and again. No lunch menu so be prepared to share or go home with leftovers.
(5)Alex S.
We decided to live up to our hype of being open-minded and try something unique to Phoenix (i.e., not Mexican; not Vietnamese; not Chinese; etc.). And that's how we ended up at El Chullo; though, to be fair, we almost DIDN'T end up at El Chullo's. A previous reviewers comment about parking being limited is like saying Marlon Brando was slightly overweight towards the end. Let's just say, the parking lot is shared with other businesses; the "lot" is about one car wide; and one has to do fancy gyrations to park and withdraw one's car IF one can get a spot. After driving around three times, we parked in the printing shop's lot across the street (which, I'm sure, will thrill them to no end when/if they read this). Go during the standard 9 to 5 business hours and you may find yourself outta luck or risking a tow. Alas, the parking spots are not the only thing small about El Chullo. In fact, "small" pretty much describes it all: the parking. the restaurant, the portions. I was rather amused (bemused) by the comment from one of the reviewers that the portions are "very large". Really? VERY large? Perhaps for someone who survived internment at Sherrif Joe's Tent City or who usually dines on those diet programs' pre-packaged food (served in upscale concentration camps). Granted, this is not to say that the portions were pretentiously small like a la carte francais food; they were perfectly acceptably sized for people, who eat like they're supposed to (translation: non-Americans). We, however, are of the MOO crowd, so for us, all of dinner was something akin to "snack". (Hey, I workout, get off my case!). We started out with the appetizer platter for $14.95 and chose the Chicken Causa Rell; the Papa Rellena; and the Papa ala Huancaina. Presented very artistically, I would not say it was an appetizer for two AMERICANS. Taste was quite good and unique, though the standout taste was potato (hardly a surprise since "papa" means 'potato'). I had a very spicy cerviche mixto and my other half, the escabeche de pollo. Both very good -- the latter served with rice and a small portion of cold, sweet potato -- but we weren't exactly unbuckling our belts at meal's end. Again, like I said: not small, but not big by the usual, middle-class American standards, where the men are men, eat like men, and doctors buy brand new cars every month with all the money they get from bypass and pacemaker surgeries. Nuff said. The diet Inka Cola, colored like Mountain Dew but tasting like cream soda, is good, but $2.00 a can? For both of us, the bill came to $46.41 without tip. Not tragic, but a bit overboard for the quantity. Maybe reasonable considering the uniqueness of the food. The 20% tip for Omar, however, was well in line. Attentive service without being overbearing and very accommodating. That's one thing I really can't make any complaints about (and as you see, I have no issue complaining). While I agree with the other, previous 17 reviewers that this is a very nice restaurant, I am not wowed enough to give it 5 Stars. Those who read my reviews know I'm not generous with my highest rating and you've got to earn it. For those looking for something different, tasty and served with good attitude, this restaurant is just fine. If you're a big eater, don't expect to come here and not want something more afterwards. No one there looked unhappy and we weren't either ... just not full.
(3)Lema G.
Incredible service and authentic, fresh, flavorful Peruvian food. So happy this place is open! Amazing job so far. Love family spots!
(5)Juan A.
Incredible flavors and great service. As an individual who spent a lot of years in Peru I can appreciate what has been the best Peruvian food I've had in Phoenix - at El Chullo! Highly recommend the anticuchos, lomo saltado, and an alfajor for dessert. I look forward to my next dining experience here! (Probably tomorrow!)
(5)Christopher T.
Stopped in for bunch on a Saturday. The place is small, but cozy. The menu is small, but offers quite a bit of variety. We decided to split a platter for two. It came with fried sweet potatoes, fried pork, and tamales. All were very good. The sweet potatoes on the bottom did get a bit salty. We also threw in a Peruvian version of torta. Unfortunately, I can't actually remember the name of it. All in all, the place was excellent. Great service and great food. Definitely a winning combination. N*joy...
(4)Amrita S.
We were excited to find a Peruvian restaurant with vegetarian options, so decided to try it. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is family run. They were extremely warm and hospitable and the food was freshly prepared home style! Even the piscos were thoughtfully made :) We enjoyed our evening and would definitely go back.
(4)Ben D.
Tasty Peruvian cuisine and very attentive staff. We had great soup, fried fish, and the lomo saltado was scrumptious. I will definitely be going again to explore more Peruvian dishes.
(5)Joni S.
We loved the food at El Chullo always looking for food that reminds us of our child hood Peruvian favorite foods . The Lomp Saltado was amazing, Thank you We'll be back soon Joni Navarro
(5)Veggie Foodie I.
My new favorite Peruvian restaurant. I had the tallarines verdes with the bistek on the side (for my carnivorous husband) because I don't eat meat and they were more than accommodating and did not seem to judge me for doing that (which most places do). The tallarines verdes is the best I've had in Arizona and I will only go to El Chullo to have it. You know how you grab on to your bed sheets because the feeling is so glorious and out of this world? Yes, it's like that! I can't wait to try the other entrees, specifically, the vegetarian options. The alfajores is also delicious; flaky but held it's form and not overwhelmingly sweet - it definitely quieted my sweet tooth. The chicha morada is also quenching - not bitter and too sweet, just right - be sure to order the pitcher because you will drink it like water. It's a quaint place to eat. They have lunch specials/combo. The parking situation is a little challenging, but I would like to go there at least once a week to satisfy my Peruvian food cravings. I hope you check out this place because although it's easy to miss (because of location), you'll be sorry if you don't go.
(5)Olga S.
Can't believe they've only been open a couple days! The meal was fantastic from start to finish. Tried the anticuchos, carapulcra, and alfajores for dessert. Everything tasted fresh, well seasoned, and home made. Great portions too! Will be back for more soon!
(5)Deian O.
Great, great little restaurant. Having traveled Latin America for a while I was excited to try some Peruvian food. And it was great. The beef cuts I had were one of the best marinated pieces of meat I have had. And for desert I had this Argentinean cookie called alfajore... It was great. I love small places like this that do good right and are simple. Will go back for sure.
(5)Aurelio C.
Just like mamma makes! Thank you, Omar! We loved the food and the amazing service! We'll be back!!! The Lomo Saltado was just like home!
(5)Amanda C.
My friend and I came there last night and the small restaurant was packed. Who I believe was one of the owners/main chef greeted us and explained it might be a while before we could order because they were so busy. She was so warm and kind and so was everyone else. My friend and I had a pisco maracuya (passion fruit pisco) and they were delicious. We also split a causa rellena, a cold mashed potato cake with a chicken filling, and the lomo saltado, a dish with beef tenderloin and french fries and rice. Everything was really delicious and seasoned so well but next time I will probably opt for less starch in one meal. I rated this five stars because I really couldn't get over how wonderful the overall experience was to talk with the Peruvian chef and feel somewhat like I was with family :). Also, this woman recommended the ceviche because it's prepared unique to Peruvian culture and I will say it looked amazing at someone else's table.
(5)Jennifer O.
I had the pleasure to go to El Chullo this morning for 'breakfast' (the quotes are because it was closer to lunch time and their breakfast foods are more like American lunch/dinner foods). This place is incredibly authentic. Our waiter (and possibly an owner?) is from a town just outside of Lima, so ya... pretty legit. The way their breakfast works is they have 3 choices that feed two people, each for 20$. The choices are chicharrones with a tamal, bread, and two coffees or a tenderloin sautee with bread and two coffees, or an egg dish with a tamal, bread and two coffees. We decided to get the tenderloin and add a tamal (cuz I wanted to try it). The tamal is large, delicious, and just like the ones I had when I was in Peru last summer... this is the real deal and very distinct from the typical Mexican tamale you may have elsewhere in Phoenix. The tamal has a little hard boiled egg (which obviously I ate and the husband didn't), some meat, some olives, and some hot peppers and served with an onion/citrus salad.... so good. I could just eat those tamals and be happy. The tenderloin came in a sauce of sorts with onion and tomato and we ate it with the giant rolls given to us. The meat was soooo tender and flavorful. Their coffee was even good and we drank it black. The service is great. This place beats all of the other Peruvian restaurants that I have tried in town hands down and really took me back to when I was in Peru....like a little slice of vacation in my own neighborhood. I will certainly be back, I want to try dinner for sure and the chicharrones breakfast.... I think this place has serious 5 star potential, so we will see!
(4)susan c.
Great food and biggest glass of wine EVER. Very nice people. And the lunch special is enough for two!
(5)Iti A.
I don't know where to begin, so let me say this - El Chullo's food is TO DIE FOR. A Peruvian friend had told us about the place two years ago, but somehow we got around to trying it only last night. It's a small, homey, family-run restaurant. The people running the place and running around the place are genuinely friendly, as if they've invited you to be a part of their home, food and lives. We waited near the bar for about five minutes while our table of six was getting ready. I ordered a pisco sour which was amazing. Then there was the food. You know how a server walks past you with a plate of food that turns heads? That was happening with every single plate of food that came out of El Chullo's kitchen. Everything looked so delicious that it was hard to make up our minds about what to order. I am a vegetarian, so I was pleased to see a vegetarian section on their menu. Our group ordered appetizer platters, fries, tacu tacu (vegetarian and seafood versions), ceviche, deep fried sea food platter, frijoles con seco a nortena, and the veggie version of peruvian-chinese fried rice. OH. MY. GOD. We worked on the installments of food for about two hours. Everyone shared, laughed and loved every single bit of it. Of course, I had to stick to vegetarian food but let me tell you, it wasn't a compromise at all. In fact, my meat-eating husband loved the veg tacu tacu and fried rice so much that we are still fighting about who gets to eat the leftovers. The portion size of the entrees was BIG (I'm not sure what dish the guy, who says portions were small, ordered). Appetizers were just that, appetizers, so that you can save space for the delicious food. The food was spicy without being hot, not that we would have minded that. Pricing was reasonable and at par with other similar dining places. Parking is available in the back. But wait! I forgot to tell you about dessert. Of course there's the delicious Leche Asada and Crema Volteada, but the husband ordered Alfajores, which is a layer of caramel between two cookies. I think we died and went to heaven because tasting that thing was an out of body experience. It has been a while since our friend circle has come together and bonded over some delicious food. It has also been a while since we discovered a new cuisine. I now count Peruvian food and El Chullo among my favorites cuisines and restaurants.
(5)Erika C.
Love the food! Exellent service. Highly recommend El Cjullo Peruvian Restaurant.
(5)Walter V.
Don't let the small store front fool you; this place makes up for it once you are inside. Delicious food, very authentic. Glad to have found this. This is the place to come to really have a taste of Peru. They have cultural tv as well. The workers are very nice people.
(5)Me M.
Excellent food!!!! We had ceviche which was fantastic (especially with the included cold sweet potatoes) and Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado which was also very good. We did not have any parking or waiting problems since we arrived at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. It is a small restaurant with only about 8 tables but well worth any wait or parking issues. I will return soon.
(5)Melissa M.
Best restaurant in Phoenix! The Food was amazing. it is run by a Peruvian family. Our server so genuinely enjoyed his work. The food was delicious and artistically plated.
(5)Erica C.
Food was delicious!!! Authentic!!! Restaurant seems to be worked by the family that owns it. The sons who basically does everything except cook, is very personable and has great people skills. His mother is sweet but does not speak English. If you go when it is busy be prepared to wait. What they need to do is designate each one in the family a duty. Son waits tables, mother gets waters and canchitas, father clears and sets tables and helps with bringing out food. Anyways if you have time it is definitely worth the wait. We will go back for sure!! Oh and the pisco sours are awesome!! Along with the anticuchos and aji de gallina. Yum
(4)Gabriel R.
Food was decent. Good cerviche. Fried fish was a bit heavy. Place didn't run their a/c. Checked their thermostat next to the bathroom and it was 91 degrees in the place. Towards the end of the meal it was difficult to even be in there anymore. It's 105 outside today, there is no excuse for not running the a/c. Won't be coming back.
(3)Gp S.
We went for Friday lunch. The food was of mixed quality. Agreed it;s a different cuisine but not worth the two hours( yes you read that right ) wait we had to do.
(1)Kit P.
Delicious and reasonable. A hidden treasure.
(5)Brea B.
I am so in love with this little place! I have lived in the Coronado neighborhood about 5 years and have seen many things go in and out of this location...i have a feeling El Chullo will be sticking around. Everything i've had so far has been AMAZING. The Chupe De Camarones soup and Tacu Tacu De Marisco were seriously out of this world. The service is also excellent. They are so genuinely friendly and make you feel right at home. Can't say enough good stuff about this little gem...and i am beyond picky with restaurants, especially in Phoenix. It is the best restaurant on 7th st. by far in my opinion.
(5)Wenda S.
Tiny spot with limited parking but worth it for some tasty food that is likely different than anything you have had before. The Papa a La Huancaina looks meh but the taste is fabulous! The fried rice dish was so tasty and plenty for me to have lunch the next day. It's a little expensive for an ethnic hole in the wall but the food is good enough that I'm sure Ill be back for more. They are super friendly too!
(4)Ale D.
My favorite Peruvian restaurant in AZ! Peruvian food is probably the best in the world imo and this place sure does demonstrate that. Small restaurant but that makes it one of the best hidden gems in Phoenix. Ceviche, anticuchos and lomo saltado are a must! If you want to introduce someone to this kind of food, start here!
(5)Chris S.
Let's start by getting the 4 stars out of the way. The place was HOT, like really hot, like maybe no AC hot. This made for a slightly uncomfortable setting. Besides the temperature, I loved the place. Seemed like a mom and pop shop which I always like. So lets change it up and talk food. Wow.... It was tasty! Got the Papa a La Huancaina for an appetizer and it was amazing. I was disappointed at first because it looked so plain, just boiled potatoes cut in half smothered in a sauce. However, after that first bite I was hooked. These were amazing. Got a couple of their drinks, and they were pretty tasty as well, however I wouldn't get those again. My wife got Tallarines Verdes and it was amazing. The pasta was a great pesto green color, which had initially concerned me it would have too strong of a pesto flavor. It did not. The pasta was actually nice and creamy with a perfect amount of flavor. I got the Ceviche Mixto. This was outstanding. The assortment of seafood was great, the presentation was pretty, and the sauce was amazing. Packed full of a nice lime-kick with some spice. The waiter talked me out of going 'spicy' and went for 'medium' instead, which was probably a good idea. Medium had a nice amount of spice that built up, but was never too spicy to ruin or mask flavors. I would love to go back and try some other options the food was very good.
(4)Ruthie P.
5 WELL-DESERVED STARS!!!! El Chullo is a small and unassuming hidden gem so we ended up passing it and having to turn around, but it was so worth it! Honestly, we had reservations and a Living Social deal at another Peruvian restaurant but ditched that place to come here because of the great Yelp reviews and SO GLAD WE DID! This place has both the best Peruvian food and the friendliest service of any Peruvian restaurant there has been in the valley for at least the last 20 years. We've tried them all (including some out of state) and by far this place has the best alfajores we've ever had- luscious creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between delicate creamy colored disks of flaky, buttery, goodness- oh my! I'm still dreaming about them. The lucuma ice cream and chicha morada are also must tries. The chicha morada was refreshingly smooth and light- almost like a fine wine. We also had the appetizer sampler, the tamal, the aji de gallina, the jalea mixta, and the bistek and tallarines verdes. Next time we'll order the papa rellena and/or the yucca on their own (the sampler sizes were pretty small) and skip the tamal. The warm welcoming friendliness of the family/staff made our experience such an exceptional one that we ended up ordering a lot more than we planned and enjoying ourselves immensely. We love supporting family-owned businesses and Esperanza and Chef Omar and his cute sisters are so nice they make you want to come back again and again- well for them and the Alfajores :). I only wish it wasn't 30 mins. away, but so good it's worth the drive.
(5)Mary D.
Excellent food and service. Large portions that were delicious. Staff was friendly and informative. Omar is the chef and he took time to explain the different dishes. This is my new favorite spot!
(5)Leslie C.
Flavorful, fresh food; friendly staff; charming decor that evokes Peru. An excellent choice for those looking to try a new cuisine.
(4)Samantha B.
Flavors here are awesome. Everything is delicious. Great pisco sour too! Highly recommend these very authentic flavors.
(5)HappyMom D.
Finally, a Peruvian restaurant we can actually go to in Phoenix! The food was absolutely delicious. The ceviche is outstanding and we'll be ordering that every time. Everything we ordered was delicious and even my 1 year old enjoyed the food and she's a picky eater. Our waitress was Maria and she was great and gave great recommendations. We're definitely coming back.
(5)Adam D.
Really enjoyed our dinner here. We weren't sure what to expect, and as the cuisine was unfamiliar the help from our waiter was much appreciated! I really love when people take the time to explain the food their serving with knowledge and passion. The food was interesting and very tasty. Come here for a not too out there adventure and a departure from the regular burger and fries!
(4)Jennifer S.
This place is ridiculously good...so good I can't wait to go back there again. The parking is very limited, so be prepared to park in the neighborhood and walk. Trust me, you'll forget all about the parking situation once you try their food. We shared a causa rellena to start and it was surprisingly fresh and flavorful. For my entree, I selected the lomo saltado based on our server's recommendation and man, was he right - this dish is over the top good! If you have not yet tried El Chullo, get in there and give it a try...don't let the exterior of the restaurant discourage you from trying this gem of a restaurant!
(5)John G.
First of all - very cool 'hole in the wall' kind of vibe. We walked in and were seated at one of the two remaining tables...good sign We started by splitting a 'choose three' appetizer platter. We got the Papa Rellena, Yuca Frita, and I don't remember the name of the third. The Papa Rellena was really good - tasted kind of like a tamale, but better - and served with some pickled onions, I think? Really tasty - this was the best. The Yuca Frita was good. The other one was about a 4" diameter cylindrical shaped item about 1 1/2" tall. It had chicken in it - I thought it tasted like deviled eggs - it was also very good, but we had to save room for the main course. My wife ordered the Ceviche - it was very good - had a lot of zing to it. Everybody else ordered the Lomo Saltado. It was also really good. Our server was friendly and attentive as well. Very nice place to go and get your Peruvian gnosh on.
(4)A B.
Peruvian cuisine is Interesting, flavorful and varied. El Chullo is a very small restaurant so recommend making reservations. Thee stars only as I thought the staff was not the friendliest and the Sangria was mostly fruit juice and very little wine. The parking lot in front of restaurant is very small with very few spots so be ready to park in the neighborhood. Ordered the Lomo Saltado, which essentially is slivers of beef with French fries. and while I thought was good, could have had more meat considering the price of $ 14.95 . El Chullo is not an inexpensive restaurant. A word of caution, the restaurant closes early on Sundays at 7 P.M so get there early.
(3)Cyn V.
I'm a Peruvian girl and I always think my mom's Peruvian home cooked meals are actually the best. I came to El Chullo on Peruvian Independence Day (July 28th) with my dad in order to celebrate. I ordered the lomo saltado and he ordered the cau cau. As much as I love my mom, I hate to say that this lomo saltado is just as good (maybe even a bit better - please don't tell her). I told my hubby that I have to take him here so that he can try it out for himself. I even loved their rocoto (hot peppered sauce) and I dipped my french fries in them. It was spicy...but a good spice. I highly recommend this place if you want to try good Peruvian food!
(4)Michael A.
I've driven by this hidden Peruvian Cafe many times and never noticed it until tonight. Truly a hole-in-the-wall from the outside but a nice cozy restaurant in the inside. The wait staff were friendly and efficient. I had the Yuca Fritas appetizer and Mariscos con Arroz entreé. I enjoy the Yuca and the two sauces. Some of the Yuca pieces were hard and stringy, but the rest was quite nice. The Mariscos were a disappointment. A few pieces of the seafood were very hard and chewy like they were seriously overlooked. These pieces were inedible. Most of the rest of the dish was good, but not great. I was expecting more flavor that would make this uniquely Peruvian. I will come back again and order a completely different entreé. I want to like this place and I think it's definitely worth another shot.
(3)Erik H.
My trip to AZ isn't complete until I come here. I HAVE to go every time I visit. This is the best Peruvian food I have ever had. Whatever you order will be amazing, I have had damn near everything on the menu.
(5)Lisa D.
In AZ and not sure what to eat? want something flavorful and definitely worth every penny? El Chullo is your spot! go here and you totally won't regret it one bit!!!! ordered: *Lomo Saltado-YUM! flavorful. one of their most popular items at el chullo. i definitely didn't want to stop eating this! everything was very well seasoned and the beef strips were cooked perfectly. the tomatoes were very flavorful as well! *arroz con pollo- this was recommended to me by the staff. which i thought was pretty good. the rice was flavorful and the sauce that came with it was very unique. for my first time having arroz con pollo i was definitely left with a good impression and would definitely try to order this at other peruvian places. overall, staff is really nice. the bittersweet part about coming here is you're hungry you gotta wait quite awhile for your food because they make it fresh. it's like i like the idea of it being made fresh but the wait is long for the food. also they don't have the spicy dipping sauce i've had at other Peruvian food places that you eat with bread. they however give you these unpopped popcorn kernel thing that is lightly salted. personally i didn't care for it. tips: *small front of store parking lot. *cash and credit cards accepted *they post a lot of their food on instagram *serves alcohol. *they have a few TVs. *indoor seating only. *not super ideal for large parties since it's a small little mom and pops place.
(4)Pepper T.
This is a very small Peruvian Restaurant with a bar. They serve mostly Peruvian Food thats heavy with rice and lots of potatoes. They start everyone of with tasty complimentary corn nuts. We started with the Peruvian Specialty Appetizer called papas a la huancaina that means basically a boiled potato topped with a creamy chile cheese sauce. I thought it tasted good but for me this dish is an acquired taste kind of dish because of the texture. I ordered the Arroz Chaufa (a chicken fried rice) because it sounded like the lightest dish on the menu. The chicken in my dish was developed with flavor and was very moist. I thought this dish was tasty but it was an extremely large portion so I took half home. My husband had the Frijol con Seco a la Nortena (basically a beef stew with rice and beans). I tried a little piece of beef that also was prepared well and was flavorful and moist. The pickled onions were bright and bursting with lime flavor. This was also a large portion. The pictures of the desserts looked interesting and mostly different from other desserts I've seen and our server talked me into getting his favorite dessert the crema volteada. It was like a very dense flan with a dark sugar coating. It seemed rich and wasn't too sweet. Service was very friendly and welcoming.
(4)Betsa R.
The food was just ok. I have NOTHING to rave about at all. :( I'm a big fan of Peruvian food and this place just didn't do it for me. I had the Jalea, Cebiche, arroz chaufa, and lomo saltado.
(1)Felipe O.
Authentic Peruvian food. The whole family (mom, dad and sons ) cook at the restaurant. Best dishes to order are lomo saltado and ceviche mixto. The potatoes with huancaina sauce and the yuca frita are amazing appetizers.
(5)Rob C.
Location is cute although the Parking situation isn't the best. Service was exceptional by a young girl. Our first time trying Peruvian food and or server explained some items which we ordered. They also offer great Peruvian beverages like the inca soda. The food was simply delicious in every bite. I seriously can't describe it any further at the moment since I am so stuffed by the food! Certainly worth a try.
(5)Mark C.
Its a good sign when you feel explosively full after a meal and yet still wear a silly grin on your face. Such was the case during my first visit to El Chullo. Admittedly I'm a novice when it comes to Peruvian cuisine so it was with some apprehension that I ventured here on a Saturday around Noon. I had seen the great reviews this place was getting, but honestly had no idea what to order when I got there. Fortunately my waitress helped guide me through it, and helped me make some delicious choices indeed. As with so many Mom & Pop ethnic establishments in the Downtown Phoenix vicinity, the restaurant is a small space in an old building. This space is on the northeast corner of 7th Street & Virginia, in between a barber shop and a convenience store. There's barely any parking up front (though there were available spots when I arrived). There is, fortunately, extra parking available in back (take the alleyway east of the convenience store and you'll run into a parking lot leading into El Chullo's back entrance). The restaurant itself seats about 20-25 including the bar area. When you walk in you immediately hear the Peruvian dance music in the background. When I arrived just before Noon I was actually the only customer there, though the lunch crowd started streaming in shortly thereafter. A quick FYI that from 10am-Noon on the weekends, they serve breakfast only. It was close enough to Noon that they allowed me to go with the lunch menu instead, but just be aware of this if you're coming here on the weekend. I started things off by ordering a traditional Pisco Sour. Pisco is basically a type of Peruvian Brandy and a Sour is traditionally mixed with lime, syrup, bitters, and egg whites. Wow, talk about refreshing. There's enough alcohol to remind you its a cocktail, but truly a smooth, delicious, easy drinking cocktail perfect for any occasion. For an appetizer I went with the Causa Rellena with crab filling (you can also choose a chicken filling). Two potato cakes with crab filling and avocado in the middle, topped with a dusting of cilantro, half a hard boiled egg, and what I believe was a liquified sweet potato sauce. Holy moly was this awesome. It wasn't huge (maybe 3 inches in diameter & 3 inches tall), but remarkably rich and filling. I'm not sure what type of potato they used for the potato cakes, but the texture was smoother than any potato I've had (maybe they used extra butter?). And there was plenty of crab meat in there to be sure. If you're coming here for the first time, get this. I'm making it mandatory. After the appetizer, I had no idea what I was doing, so I let the waitress pick the next two items for me. For the main entree, she recommended trying one of the ceviches since this was my first time here. I went with the Ceviche Mixto since that had a variety of seafood (though admittedly I didn't ask which kinds). The seafood is garnished with onions and a spicy lime juice blend (you can get it super spicy, or go with a mild spice level as I did) and comes with sides of sweet potatoes, sweet corn, and cancha (basically dried corn). Again, didn't look like a huge portion but they packed in a ton of seafood into this dish. In addition to the fish (which I believe was sea bass) there was lots of shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and octopus. I'm not a huge fan of squid or octopus so I was a little apprehensive when I saw it, but actually this style tasted quite delicious. All of the seafood tasted fresh and the lime sauce had the perfect amount of seasoning. There's actually enough food in this dish to be split by two people, which probably explains why I felt pretty full after I finished. Nevertheless, the waitress prodded me to try one of their desserts, so she had me try the Alfajor. Two round flaky sugar cookies covered in powdered sugar with dulce de leche filling in the middle and chocolate sauce on the side. I don't how in the world I had room for this, but I made it happen. The dulce de leche was buttery smooth and the cookie cut with a fork. An awesome, decadent conclusion. Absolutely incredible meal. The presentation, the flavors, and the variety was amazing. They actually have a number of chicken and beef dishes to choose from as well, and I'll be sure to try those upon my next visit. Total cost for this go around including the drink, appetizer, entree, dessert, tax and tip came to $50. Worth every penny as El Chullo's cuisine could easily work as a fine dining experience (though I'm thrilled its just a neighborhood joint that I can wear my flip flops to). I now see why Peruvian cuisine is quickly conquering American pallets, and El Chullo is Phoenix's ground zero.
(5)Laura F.
Omg this is definitely a new favorite! I really didn't know what to expect. As soon as the doors opened the aroma was unbelievable. Everything looked delicious. I settled on the rice with sea food and it was wonderful!!!
(5)Claudia G.
Divine Peruvian food. I had the PAPA RELLENA & the chicken escabeche which both were amazing. I also drank the pisco drink w ginger ale which I like better than pisco sours. I'm going back here ALOT, I'm Peruvian and this is authentic food w fantastic flavor. Can't wait to try their ceviche and seco next time I go.....
(5)Michael M.
I'm very glad my wife and I finally got around to trying El Chullo, a little hole in the wall off 7th street. I got the escabeche de pollo. The chicken is described as pan fried but it didn't taste fried, and I mean that in a good way, and the sauce was very tasty. My wife loved the tallarines verdes-- pesto spaghettis (yes, spaghetti with an s) and steak. And for dessert: a giant alfajor, cookies with dulce de leche filling. Overall, a great first Peruvian food experience
(5)Bao H.
(Lyrics - Restless Heart - When She Cries) The place I have traveled in Is Yelped with good reviews It's littered with several stars That only quite came true When all of my peers were drinking Her food kept me trying She does her best to cook The meal that Bo Bites been through El Chullo's tonight And I really think that I should taste it It can't hide All the meals they make inside El Chullo serves up some authentic Peruvian style food! I just got back from Peru and unfortunately they don't serve Cuy! Now that would be authentic! In any case, my foodie friends and I ordered individually but different dishes. I went with the Tallarin Saltado, a spaghetti like dish with beef. Overall, it was pretty solid. Salty and just a tad bit of spice, with the crunch of the raw onions giving this dish a savory bite! However, my 2 favorites of the night were the beef heart and the fried rice! Beef heart anyone!? Yeah, it came a super spicy sauce you can add and when I say be careful.....BE CAREFUL! Youch! Spicy indeed, but the heart was so tender....uh yummy! The fried rice...I thought my mama made good fried rice; sorry mom! Overall, one of the best bite of fried rice I had in a while. It was a blend of Peruvian and Chinese style so I totally appreciate the fusion and so will you! The service was spot on with our large group plus no mix up with our checks, which is totally awesome. The place is very tiny so be sure to make your reservations! - Enjoy!
(5)Jill S.
I had never had Peruvian food and was excited to try this place. At 11:45 on Tuesday, it was not too crowded. The service was quick and friendly. My friend had the Arroz Con Pollo (Cilantro based green rice with veggies, & pan fried chicken) I had the Arroz Chaufa (Peruvian/Chinese Fusion Style chicken fried rice). Both dishes were great. Mine looked a bit like a standard fried rice but had a much bigger punch of flavor. The highlight of his dish was definitely that cilantro rice. SO GOOD. He ordered white meat and his bone-in breast was a bit dry. I am a dark meat gal, so would order that instead if I get it myself. I have to go back for the ceviche though. I saw a couple plates go by and wish I was not on a 1 hour work break. Those mountains of seafood need time to be savored. Man it looked good! Definitely will return.
(4)Oscar F.
Being from Piura Peru I expect peruvian food to be like home ,I have to tell you this place is authentic very clean and friendly staff not like typical peruvian restaurant in Peru . I certainly recommend this peruvian restaurant. VIVA EL PERU CARAJO
(5)Harvey S.
Went with a meetup group to this place. It's so small, only a local would notice it. I'm really glad I went. While it seems to take forever to get meals, it seems because they really put a lot of care into the cooking and presentation of the meal. For a little place, they don't just throw the food on a plate, but present it with rice molded in pyramids or hemispheres; appetizers can be multilayered in cylinders...all colorful and super flavorful. But a number of the dishes do rely heavily on rice. The one I had, which was basically rice with brown sauce and mushrooms and beans with a few other veggies, had the unique taste that the rice seemed crispy on top, like it had been run through the broiler. I think it is these touches that may help take time to get the food. But the waitstaff is friendly and was more than willing to make suggestions to those at our table that knew nothing of the cuisine. Try the non-alc Peruvian drink...it is delicious, with a nice taste of cloves. I like the unique flavors and generous portions and very reasonable prices. Just don't expect to be in and out. Good place to come with others to pass the time and chat. I'm putting down "NOT good for kids"...because I don't think they'd have the patience.
(4)lisa p.
Found this place on yelp while in Phoenix and decided to to try it out as My husband and I love Peruvian food. Waited outside for 40 mins for opening time and there was a rush of people who entered together. My husband and I were the first to get it..... We seated ourselves and then noticed the servers attended 4 other tables before us.......small establishment so not a lot of tables and service was very slow. Finally got attended to and the food took an hour to come out. Highly salted and my husband lost his appetite after the long wait. The server was nice and apologized but I'm still giving one star because I can't understand how this establishment got such a high rating.
(1)Andrew L.
I'm not an expert on Peruvian food, but I thought the food here was really good. Service left a lot to be desired, as there are only about 6 or 7 tables in the place and somehow it still took our server over 5 minutes to bring us water and about 30 minutes to put our order in. What could have been a 35-45 minute meal turned into over 1 hour... not sure if I'll be back.
(2)Jessica G.
Parking is a little hard, they have limited space in front but have a parking lot in the back via an alley. The place is very clean and quant, I loved the decor! The menu is very easy to understand with descriptive and have a variety of options. The server was very nice and answered all out questions, he told me they make the meals with a medium spice but can request it to be more spicy. I would def recommend this place it's very good!
(5)Renee F.
Lovely experience! Small but cozy place, the staff was attentive and food was served in a timely manner. I had the maracuya sour beverage which seemed to me like pisco sour with a tart passion fruit flavor: LOVED IT! I dined upon the causa relleno with crab appetizer and it was quite tasty. It is almost like a mashed potato disc-cake with a layer of crab in between. I also enjoyed the seafood ceviche, though I prefer to call it by its real name which is la Leche de Tigre. A good amount of spice and heat in the almost milky colored sauce, the Peruvians certainly know how to prepare lime saturated seafood! Definitely will return and eat everything on this menu.
(4)Lilian K.
The food here is actually better than a lot of the food that I had in Peru (not sure what this means). Our favorite is the arroz con pollo with cilantro rice, aji potatoes, and pickled onions. The chicken is so flavorful, moist. The rice has pieces of the giant corn in it. We've also tried the ceviche, escabeche de pollo, carapulcra. All great. Love how they serve cancha, the Peruvian corn nuts, as a pre-meal snack!
(5)Paige G.
This place is definitely legit. Came here for our Early Valentines Dinner on Friday night. The owner and Chef and family are cool and nice. Chef Omar brings out your food to your table. I had a beef pasta (forget the actual peruvian name for it) but it was super tasty and so good. Also, the ceviche is just so much fun to eat and look at. Very tasty and colorful and flavorful. Only downside, my BF made reservations and when we got there one of the sisters at the front foor said we couldn't be seated because they had a big party at 8pm. However we had reservations...in which she had written our name down and finally we got sat.
(4)Maze O.
Simple. Family owned. Authentic Peruvian. The pescado dish is amazing. The garlic sauce they serve is addicting. Quinoa dish is also amazing. Small cozy spot with the whole family r There to take care of you. They know what they're doing and the do it well. I hope this place does well. Phoenix needs more authentic spots like this. Go here. Leave happy.
(5)Ana L.
My God, the flavors of the food were absolutey spectacular. Everything was AMAZING, and we tried more than a few plates. Love, love, love. Will definitely be coming back. I took off one star for service. When we got there it took a long time for anyone to even offer water, and we were extremely thirsty from the heat. When we were ordering I asked for an explanation about the food preparation and the waitress seemed annoyed that I couldn't understand the word in Spanish she was using and she just kept repeating it when I kept asking for a different explanation. The food took a while to come out. I will definitely come back though! The food is just so good!
(4)Michelle M.
Bf and I have never had Peruvian food before. We're in Phoenix for a conference, and while here we went to visit my uncle, who's from Peru. Bf got in the mood to try out Peruvian food, and even though this place was closed the night we saw my uncle, we decided to try this place out anyway because of the Yelp reviews. I got the Arroz Chaufa- very good and enough for two with a Maracuya Sour. Bf got the Lomo Saltado with the chef's suggestion of an added egg (very helpful), which he loved. We shared a Yuca Frita, which was really good, and they were super nice and made a sauce without onions so I could eat it (allergic to onions). If we ever come this way again, we'll be sure to come back. And for all of you who live in Phoenix, definitely take the opportunity to check this place out!
(5)K. R.
Finally! This Peruvian joint is legit! We moved from the Bay Area in California a little under a year ago and have been searching for good and authentic Peruvian food and we're sooo very happy we found it here at El Chullo! Let me add, that in the Bay Area you have the gammit of delicious food options and even there a good Peruvian place was hard to find. So we were super surprised that El Chullo met and exceeded our expectations. 1. The ceviche was fabulous! Good amount of acidity, well prepared seafood, and it had all the fixings (corn, sweet potato, onion, etc.) 2. We split an appetizer plate of 3 fixings and all of them were delicious! The portions were proper size, and the prices were appropriate for the quality of food that was served! We will defninitely be back again. Lastly, we drove 30 minutes to get here and it was worth it!
(5)Tim Q.
Food was excellent and seasoning was great. Portions were large so we would consider splitting a meal in the future. Yucca appetizer was very good. Small kitchen so will take a bit of time to get your meals. Seats about 25 so plan accordingly.
(4)Angelo P.
Ceviche and Anticuchos are outstanding! The Maracuya sour or Passionfruit pisco is so delicious and refreshing. Excellent service. Highly recommend El Chullo
(5)Ashley C.
AMAZIING Peruvian food!! They make an awesome pisco sour and the ceviche was incredible! You have to get the lomo saltado!
(5)Lizabeth L.
My boyfriend is Peruvian and we came here bc of the reviews and obvi the food. The service was awesome and the food was even better. It was a huge place but its good and my boyfriend said it taste like home.
(5)Cc M.
Excellent service,jalea, tacutacu con lomo, chicha, and maracuya Aji de gallina was good (maybe too much yellow paste) Highly recommend. Im peruvian :)
(5)Danny H.
Excellent service and the Ceviche was wonderful. Spicy and the sauce was very flavorful.
(5)Eleana H.
I love this place, my favorite cuisine first of all is peruvian, and I am so happy to say that El Chullo has become my favorite peruvian restaurant (thus far in my culinary journey). The ceviche here is perfectly spiced, the texture of the fish is great, and the sweet potatoes and the canchas (salted corn nuts) offset the spiciness, wow just typing this review makes my mouth water. I literally cannot wait to go back for more! The entree size of the ceviche isn't enough if you are starved, but its a perfect portion for someone who isn't too hungry. My boyfriend and I ordered one ceviche each and then we also ordered a lomo saltado to share. The lomo El Chulo serves is great, delicious thin fries, with nicely seasoned juicy pieces of steak topped off with onions, red onions and tomatoes. Order this if you are a steak and potatoes type of person. For dessert we shared an alfajor, 2 fine light cookies with dulce de leche stuffed between the two, finished off with a slight dusting of powdered sugar and chocolate on the side. To be perfectly honest I was so full already from eating a ceviche and sharing a lomo saltado that I felt that I didn't have any room for dessert, but when the cookie came I HAD to have a taste, so I ate a bite and we ended up packing that bad boy up to go. All in all this place was great, people might think its expensive, but its 100% worth it to me. The flavours I get from peruvian cuisine is so unique and unmatched that I am more than happy to pay for it. Oh and did I mention our server Manny, *unsure if this is the right spelling* but man he was the best!!! He made us feel right at home, and even told us a little bit of himself and Peru as we were eating our dinner. All in all it was a great time and a great meal! I can't wait to go back.. perhaps I'll stop in for lunch and or dinner tonight because honestly I just can't get enough.
(5)Jennifer S.
Incredible meal. Excellent service. It was my first time eating Peruvian food and I appreciated the time the server took to describe the menu items. Wonderful cerviche.
(5)Kris K.
Tasty. Do not pass up an opportunity to dine here. Beef was tender and delicious. Fried egg cooked perfectly. Service is slower paced because it's a small restaurant. Plan accordingly...and keep in mind as you wait that it'll be so worth it.
(5)Patty G.
Went a few days ago. Service could've had been better for a place that wasn't so packed. We had the papa la huancallina (always been a favorite), arroz chaufa y tallarin verde w/steak. Steak was a little on the salty side. To drink we had chicha morada which was bomb! Food was pretty good however, did not like the fact that they brought one of our plates 20 mins apart. Reason why I gave them 4 stars. I'd probably go again.
(4)Ahana M.
This restaurant need not spend any money on advertisement. The food speaks for itself..loud and clear. I am not familiar with Peruvian food but if this is as close to authentic as it gets, I am a fan. Me and friends tried the Tacu tacu ( how can something that sounds so cute not taste good) and the fried rice. The food is well seasoned and flavorful. The service is very good and the portions are very generous. For desert we had the Leche asada and alfajores. I did not think i could like caramel before i had the alfajores. For drinks, try the pisco mango. This place deserves a first visit and then a repeat visit with those who havent been here ( thats how i was initiated!) .
(5)Ruthie P.
5 WELL-DESERVED STARS!!!! El Chullo is a small and unassuming hidden gem so we ended up passing it and having to turn around, but it was so worth it! Honestly, we had reservations and a Living Social deal at another Peruvian restaurant but ditched that place to come here because of the great Yelp reviews and SO GLAD WE DID! This place has both the best Peruvian food and the friendliest service of any Peruvian restaurant there has been in the valley for at least the last 20 years. We've tried them all (including some out of state) and by far this place has the best alfajores we've ever had- luscious creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between delicate creamy colored disks of flaky, buttery, goodness- oh my! I'm still dreaming about them. The lucuma ice cream and chicha morada are also must tries. The chicha morada was refreshingly smooth and light- almost like a fine wine. We also had the appetizer sampler, the tamal, the aji de gallina, the jalea mixta, and the bistek and tallarines verdes. Next time we'll order the papa rellena and/or the yucca on their own (the sampler sizes were pretty small) and skip the tamal. The warm welcoming friendliness of the family/staff made our experience such an exceptional one that we ended up ordering a lot more than we planned and enjoying ourselves immensely. We love supporting family-owned businesses and Esperanza and Chef Omar and his cute sisters are so nice they make you want to come back again and again- well for them and the Alfajores :). I only wish it wasn't 30 mins. away, but so good it's worth the drive.
(5)Mary D.
Excellent food and service. Large portions that were delicious. Staff was friendly and informative. Omar is the chef and he took time to explain the different dishes. This is my new favorite spot!
(5)Leslie C.
Flavorful, fresh food; friendly staff; charming decor that evokes Peru. An excellent choice for those looking to try a new cuisine.
(4)Samantha B.
Flavors here are awesome. Everything is delicious. Great pisco sour too! Highly recommend these very authentic flavors.
(5)HappyMom D.
Finally, a Peruvian restaurant we can actually go to in Phoenix! The food was absolutely delicious. The ceviche is outstanding and we'll be ordering that every time. Everything we ordered was delicious and even my 1 year old enjoyed the food and she's a picky eater. Our waitress was Maria and she was great and gave great recommendations. We're definitely coming back.
(5)Adam D.
Really enjoyed our dinner here. We weren't sure what to expect, and as the cuisine was unfamiliar the help from our waiter was much appreciated! I really love when people take the time to explain the food their serving with knowledge and passion. The food was interesting and very tasty. Come here for a not too out there adventure and a departure from the regular burger and fries!
(4)Jennifer S.
This place is ridiculously good...so good I can't wait to go back there again. The parking is very limited, so be prepared to park in the neighborhood and walk. Trust me, you'll forget all about the parking situation once you try their food. We shared a causa rellena to start and it was surprisingly fresh and flavorful. For my entree, I selected the lomo saltado based on our server's recommendation and man, was he right - this dish is over the top good! If you have not yet tried El Chullo, get in there and give it a try...don't let the exterior of the restaurant discourage you from trying this gem of a restaurant!
(5)John G.
First of all - very cool 'hole in the wall' kind of vibe. We walked in and were seated at one of the two remaining tables...good sign We started by splitting a 'choose three' appetizer platter. We got the Papa Rellena, Yuca Frita, and I don't remember the name of the third. The Papa Rellena was really good - tasted kind of like a tamale, but better - and served with some pickled onions, I think? Really tasty - this was the best. The Yuca Frita was good. The other one was about a 4" diameter cylindrical shaped item about 1 1/2" tall. It had chicken in it - I thought it tasted like deviled eggs - it was also very good, but we had to save room for the main course. My wife ordered the Ceviche - it was very good - had a lot of zing to it. Everybody else ordered the Lomo Saltado. It was also really good. Our server was friendly and attentive as well. Very nice place to go and get your Peruvian gnosh on.
(4)A B.
Peruvian cuisine is Interesting, flavorful and varied. El Chullo is a very small restaurant so recommend making reservations. Thee stars only as I thought the staff was not the friendliest and the Sangria was mostly fruit juice and very little wine. The parking lot in front of restaurant is very small with very few spots so be ready to park in the neighborhood. Ordered the Lomo Saltado, which essentially is slivers of beef with French fries. and while I thought was good, could have had more meat considering the price of $ 14.95 . El Chullo is not an inexpensive restaurant. A word of caution, the restaurant closes early on Sundays at 7 P.M so get there early.
(3)Cyn V.
I'm a Peruvian girl and I always think my mom's Peruvian home cooked meals are actually the best. I came to El Chullo on Peruvian Independence Day (July 28th) with my dad in order to celebrate. I ordered the lomo saltado and he ordered the cau cau. As much as I love my mom, I hate to say that this lomo saltado is just as good (maybe even a bit better - please don't tell her). I told my hubby that I have to take him here so that he can try it out for himself. I even loved their rocoto (hot peppered sauce) and I dipped my french fries in them. It was spicy...but a good spice. I highly recommend this place if you want to try good Peruvian food!
(4)Thomas P.
We got hungry at the perfect time. Driving around and saw this place. It's absolutely amazing. Had the pork tamal peruano, ceviche mixto, and tacu tacu lomo al jugo. Everything was so delicious. Best ceviche we've ever had!! You gotta come in.
(5)Michael A.
I've driven by this hidden Peruvian Cafe many times and never noticed it until tonight. Truly a hole-in-the-wall from the outside but a nice cozy restaurant in the inside. The wait staff were friendly and efficient. I had the Yuca Fritas appetizer and Mariscos con Arroz entreé. I enjoy the Yuca and the two sauces. Some of the Yuca pieces were hard and stringy, but the rest was quite nice. The Mariscos were a disappointment. A few pieces of the seafood were very hard and chewy like they were seriously overlooked. These pieces were inedible. Most of the rest of the dish was good, but not great. I was expecting more flavor that would make this uniquely Peruvian. I will come back again and order a completely different entreé. I want to like this place and I think it's definitely worth another shot.
(3)Erik H.
My trip to AZ isn't complete until I come here. I HAVE to go every time I visit. This is the best Peruvian food I have ever had. Whatever you order will be amazing, I have had damn near everything on the menu.
(5)Lisa D.
In AZ and not sure what to eat? want something flavorful and definitely worth every penny? El Chullo is your spot! go here and you totally won't regret it one bit!!!! ordered: *Lomo Saltado-YUM! flavorful. one of their most popular items at el chullo. i definitely didn't want to stop eating this! everything was very well seasoned and the beef strips were cooked perfectly. the tomatoes were very flavorful as well! *arroz con pollo- this was recommended to me by the staff. which i thought was pretty good. the rice was flavorful and the sauce that came with it was very unique. for my first time having arroz con pollo i was definitely left with a good impression and would definitely try to order this at other peruvian places. overall, staff is really nice. the bittersweet part about coming here is you're hungry you gotta wait quite awhile for your food because they make it fresh. it's like i like the idea of it being made fresh but the wait is long for the food. also they don't have the spicy dipping sauce i've had at other Peruvian food places that you eat with bread. they however give you these unpopped popcorn kernel thing that is lightly salted. personally i didn't care for it. tips: *small front of store parking lot. *cash and credit cards accepted *they post a lot of their food on instagram *serves alcohol. *they have a few TVs. *indoor seating only. *not super ideal for large parties since it's a small little mom and pops place.
(4)Pepper T.
This is a very small Peruvian Restaurant with a bar. They serve mostly Peruvian Food thats heavy with rice and lots of potatoes. They start everyone of with tasty complimentary corn nuts. We started with the Peruvian Specialty Appetizer called papas a la huancaina that means basically a boiled potato topped with a creamy chile cheese sauce. I thought it tasted good but for me this dish is an acquired taste kind of dish because of the texture. I ordered the Arroz Chaufa (a chicken fried rice) because it sounded like the lightest dish on the menu. The chicken in my dish was developed with flavor and was very moist. I thought this dish was tasty but it was an extremely large portion so I took half home. My husband had the Frijol con Seco a la Nortena (basically a beef stew with rice and beans). I tried a little piece of beef that also was prepared well and was flavorful and moist. The pickled onions were bright and bursting with lime flavor. This was also a large portion. The pictures of the desserts looked interesting and mostly different from other desserts I've seen and our server talked me into getting his favorite dessert the crema volteada. It was like a very dense flan with a dark sugar coating. It seemed rich and wasn't too sweet. Service was very friendly and welcoming.
(4)Betsa R.
The food was just ok. I have NOTHING to rave about at all. :( I'm a big fan of Peruvian food and this place just didn't do it for me. I had the Jalea, Cebiche, arroz chaufa, and lomo saltado.
(1)Rob C.
Location is cute although the Parking situation isn't the best. Service was exceptional by a young girl. Our first time trying Peruvian food and or server explained some items which we ordered. They also offer great Peruvian beverages like the inca soda. The food was simply delicious in every bite. I seriously can't describe it any further at the moment since I am so stuffed by the food! Certainly worth a try.
(5)Mark C.
Its a good sign when you feel explosively full after a meal and yet still wear a silly grin on your face. Such was the case during my first visit to El Chullo. Admittedly I'm a novice when it comes to Peruvian cuisine so it was with some apprehension that I ventured here on a Saturday around Noon. I had seen the great reviews this place was getting, but honestly had no idea what to order when I got there. Fortunately my waitress helped guide me through it, and helped me make some delicious choices indeed. As with so many Mom & Pop ethnic establishments in the Downtown Phoenix vicinity, the restaurant is a small space in an old building. This space is on the northeast corner of 7th Street & Virginia, in between a barber shop and a convenience store. There's barely any parking up front (though there were available spots when I arrived). There is, fortunately, extra parking available in back (take the alleyway east of the convenience store and you'll run into a parking lot leading into El Chullo's back entrance). The restaurant itself seats about 20-25 including the bar area. When you walk in you immediately hear the Peruvian dance music in the background. When I arrived just before Noon I was actually the only customer there, though the lunch crowd started streaming in shortly thereafter. A quick FYI that from 10am-Noon on the weekends, they serve breakfast only. It was close enough to Noon that they allowed me to go with the lunch menu instead, but just be aware of this if you're coming here on the weekend. I started things off by ordering a traditional Pisco Sour. Pisco is basically a type of Peruvian Brandy and a Sour is traditionally mixed with lime, syrup, bitters, and egg whites. Wow, talk about refreshing. There's enough alcohol to remind you its a cocktail, but truly a smooth, delicious, easy drinking cocktail perfect for any occasion. For an appetizer I went with the Causa Rellena with crab filling (you can also choose a chicken filling). Two potato cakes with crab filling and avocado in the middle, topped with a dusting of cilantro, half a hard boiled egg, and what I believe was a liquified sweet potato sauce. Holy moly was this awesome. It wasn't huge (maybe 3 inches in diameter & 3 inches tall), but remarkably rich and filling. I'm not sure what type of potato they used for the potato cakes, but the texture was smoother than any potato I've had (maybe they used extra butter?). And there was plenty of crab meat in there to be sure. If you're coming here for the first time, get this. I'm making it mandatory. After the appetizer, I had no idea what I was doing, so I let the waitress pick the next two items for me. For the main entree, she recommended trying one of the ceviches since this was my first time here. I went with the Ceviche Mixto since that had a variety of seafood (though admittedly I didn't ask which kinds). The seafood is garnished with onions and a spicy lime juice blend (you can get it super spicy, or go with a mild spice level as I did) and comes with sides of sweet potatoes, sweet corn, and cancha (basically dried corn). Again, didn't look like a huge portion but they packed in a ton of seafood into this dish. In addition to the fish (which I believe was sea bass) there was lots of shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and octopus. I'm not a huge fan of squid or octopus so I was a little apprehensive when I saw it, but actually this style tasted quite delicious. All of the seafood tasted fresh and the lime sauce had the perfect amount of seasoning. There's actually enough food in this dish to be split by two people, which probably explains why I felt pretty full after I finished. Nevertheless, the waitress prodded me to try one of their desserts, so she had me try the Alfajor. Two round flaky sugar cookies covered in powdered sugar with dulce de leche filling in the middle and chocolate sauce on the side. I don't how in the world I had room for this, but I made it happen. The dulce de leche was buttery smooth and the cookie cut with a fork. An awesome, decadent conclusion. Absolutely incredible meal. The presentation, the flavors, and the variety was amazing. They actually have a number of chicken and beef dishes to choose from as well, and I'll be sure to try those upon my next visit. Total cost for this go around including the drink, appetizer, entree, dessert, tax and tip came to $50. Worth every penny as El Chullo's cuisine could easily work as a fine dining experience (though I'm thrilled its just a neighborhood joint that I can wear my flip flops to). I now see why Peruvian cuisine is quickly conquering American pallets, and El Chullo is Phoenix's ground zero.
(5)Felipe O.
Authentic Peruvian food. The whole family (mom, dad and sons ) cook at the restaurant. Best dishes to order are lomo saltado and ceviche mixto. The potatoes with huancaina sauce and the yuca frita are amazing appetizers.
(5)Laura F.
Omg this is definitely a new favorite! I really didn't know what to expect. As soon as the doors opened the aroma was unbelievable. Everything looked delicious. I settled on the rice with sea food and it was wonderful!!!
(5)Claudia G.
Divine Peruvian food. I had the PAPA RELLENA & the chicken escabeche which both were amazing. I also drank the pisco drink w ginger ale which I like better than pisco sours. I'm going back here ALOT, I'm Peruvian and this is authentic food w fantastic flavor. Can't wait to try their ceviche and seco next time I go.....
(5)Bao H.
(Lyrics - Restless Heart - When She Cries) The place I have traveled in Is Yelped with good reviews It's littered with several stars That only quite came true When all of my peers were drinking Her food kept me trying She does her best to cook The meal that Bo Bites been through El Chullo's tonight And I really think that I should taste it It can't hide All the meals they make inside El Chullo serves up some authentic Peruvian style food! I just got back from Peru and unfortunately they don't serve Cuy! Now that would be authentic! In any case, my foodie friends and I ordered individually but different dishes. I went with the Tallarin Saltado, a spaghetti like dish with beef. Overall, it was pretty solid. Salty and just a tad bit of spice, with the crunch of the raw onions giving this dish a savory bite! However, my 2 favorites of the night were the beef heart and the fried rice! Beef heart anyone!? Yeah, it came a super spicy sauce you can add and when I say be careful.....BE CAREFUL! Youch! Spicy indeed, but the heart was so tender....uh yummy! The fried rice...I thought my mama made good fried rice; sorry mom! Overall, one of the best bite of fried rice I had in a while. It was a blend of Peruvian and Chinese style so I totally appreciate the fusion and so will you! The service was spot on with our large group plus no mix up with our checks, which is totally awesome. The place is very tiny so be sure to make your reservations! - Enjoy!
(5)Michael M.
I'm very glad my wife and I finally got around to trying El Chullo, a little hole in the wall off 7th street. I got the escabeche de pollo. The chicken is described as pan fried but it didn't taste fried, and I mean that in a good way, and the sauce was very tasty. My wife loved the tallarines verdes-- pesto spaghettis (yes, spaghetti with an s) and steak. And for dessert: a giant alfajor, cookies with dulce de leche filling. Overall, a great first Peruvian food experience
(5)Jill S.
I had never had Peruvian food and was excited to try this place. At 11:45 on Tuesday, it was not too crowded. The service was quick and friendly. My friend had the Arroz Con Pollo (Cilantro based green rice with veggies, & pan fried chicken) I had the Arroz Chaufa (Peruvian/Chinese Fusion Style chicken fried rice). Both dishes were great. Mine looked a bit like a standard fried rice but had a much bigger punch of flavor. The highlight of his dish was definitely that cilantro rice. SO GOOD. He ordered white meat and his bone-in breast was a bit dry. I am a dark meat gal, so would order that instead if I get it myself. I have to go back for the ceviche though. I saw a couple plates go by and wish I was not on a 1 hour work break. Those mountains of seafood need time to be savored. Man it looked good! Definitely will return.
(4)Michael B.
This is an excellent representation of Peruvian food. Having lived there for 3 years on and off, I can say that most the dishes were authentic. My table had the Chupe de Camarones, which was a meal unto itself, 2 people had the the Aji de Gallina- which was very tasty and quite spicy and one had the Tallarines Verdes con Lomo. We had traditional Pisco sours which were quite tasty as well. The restaurant is very small but clean and the wait staff is vey pleasant. The service is slow due to all plates being made to order but that is certainly one of the reasons the food is delicious. I would definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of Peruvian food or curious to learn about it. The prices are resonable as well. Our tab for 4 came to $153 and that was with 8 Pisco sours. Like another reviewer said-"Viva Peru carajo!"
(4)Oscar F.
Being from Piura Peru I expect peruvian food to be like home ,I have to tell you this place is authentic very clean and friendly staff not like typical peruvian restaurant in Peru . I certainly recommend this peruvian restaurant. VIVA EL PERU CARAJO
(5)Teresa S.
I am sorry I hadn't been here before. From the outside you have no idea what hidden treasures are inside. Everything we had as appetizers and our meals were great. I love the new variety to our palettes. I highly recommend you come here.
(5)Matt D.
Excellent food!!! I had the amazing opportunity to eat at this family owned and ran business. The food was outstanding and so was the service. I will definitely recommend this to friends and family.
(5)Harvey S.
Went with a meetup group to this place. It's so small, only a local would notice it. I'm really glad I went. While it seems to take forever to get meals, it seems because they really put a lot of care into the cooking and presentation of the meal. For a little place, they don't just throw the food on a plate, but present it with rice molded in pyramids or hemispheres; appetizers can be multilayered in cylinders...all colorful and super flavorful. But a number of the dishes do rely heavily on rice. The one I had, which was basically rice with brown sauce and mushrooms and beans with a few other veggies, had the unique taste that the rice seemed crispy on top, like it had been run through the broiler. I think it is these touches that may help take time to get the food. But the waitstaff is friendly and was more than willing to make suggestions to those at our table that knew nothing of the cuisine. Try the non-alc Peruvian drink...it is delicious, with a nice taste of cloves. I like the unique flavors and generous portions and very reasonable prices. Just don't expect to be in and out. Good place to come with others to pass the time and chat. I'm putting down "NOT good for kids"...because I don't think they'd have the patience.
(4)lisa p.
Found this place on yelp while in Phoenix and decided to to try it out as My husband and I love Peruvian food. Waited outside for 40 mins for opening time and there was a rush of people who entered together. My husband and I were the first to get it..... We seated ourselves and then noticed the servers attended 4 other tables before us.......small establishment so not a lot of tables and service was very slow. Finally got attended to and the food took an hour to come out. Highly salted and my husband lost his appetite after the long wait. The server was nice and apologized but I'm still giving one star because I can't understand how this establishment got such a high rating.
(1)Jessica G.
Parking is a little hard, they have limited space in front but have a parking lot in the back via an alley. The place is very clean and quant, I loved the decor! The menu is very easy to understand with descriptive and have a variety of options. The server was very nice and answered all out questions, he told me they make the meals with a medium spice but can request it to be more spicy. I would def recommend this place it's very good!
(5)Andrew L.
I'm not an expert on Peruvian food, but I thought the food here was really good. Service left a lot to be desired, as there are only about 6 or 7 tables in the place and somehow it still took our server over 5 minutes to bring us water and about 30 minutes to put our order in. What could have been a 35-45 minute meal turned into over 1 hour... not sure if I'll be back.
(2)Renee F.
Lovely experience! Small but cozy place, the staff was attentive and food was served in a timely manner. I had the maracuya sour beverage which seemed to me like pisco sour with a tart passion fruit flavor: LOVED IT! I dined upon the causa relleno with crab appetizer and it was quite tasty. It is almost like a mashed potato disc-cake with a layer of crab in between. I also enjoyed the seafood ceviche, though I prefer to call it by its real name which is la Leche de Tigre. A good amount of spice and heat in the almost milky colored sauce, the Peruvians certainly know how to prepare lime saturated seafood! Definitely will return and eat everything on this menu.
(4)Lilian K.
The food here is actually better than a lot of the food that I had in Peru (not sure what this means). Our favorite is the arroz con pollo with cilantro rice, aji potatoes, and pickled onions. The chicken is so flavorful, moist. The rice has pieces of the giant corn in it. We've also tried the ceviche, escabeche de pollo, carapulcra. All great. Love how they serve cancha, the Peruvian corn nuts, as a pre-meal snack!
(5)Paige G.
This place is definitely legit. Came here for our Early Valentines Dinner on Friday night. The owner and Chef and family are cool and nice. Chef Omar brings out your food to your table. I had a beef pasta (forget the actual peruvian name for it) but it was super tasty and so good. Also, the ceviche is just so much fun to eat and look at. Very tasty and colorful and flavorful. Only downside, my BF made reservations and when we got there one of the sisters at the front foor said we couldn't be seated because they had a big party at 8pm. However we had reservations...in which she had written our name down and finally we got sat.
(4)Maze O.
Simple. Family owned. Authentic Peruvian. The pescado dish is amazing. The garlic sauce they serve is addicting. Quinoa dish is also amazing. Small cozy spot with the whole family r There to take care of you. They know what they're doing and the do it well. I hope this place does well. Phoenix needs more authentic spots like this. Go here. Leave happy.
(5)K. R.
Finally! This Peruvian joint is legit! We moved from the Bay Area in California a little under a year ago and have been searching for good and authentic Peruvian food and we're sooo very happy we found it here at El Chullo! Let me add, that in the Bay Area you have the gammit of delicious food options and even there a good Peruvian place was hard to find. So we were super surprised that El Chullo met and exceeded our expectations. 1. The ceviche was fabulous! Good amount of acidity, well prepared seafood, and it had all the fixings (corn, sweet potato, onion, etc.) 2. We split an appetizer plate of 3 fixings and all of them were delicious! The portions were proper size, and the prices were appropriate for the quality of food that was served! We will defninitely be back again. Lastly, we drove 30 minutes to get here and it was worth it!
(5)Michelle M.
Bf and I have never had Peruvian food before. We're in Phoenix for a conference, and while here we went to visit my uncle, who's from Peru. Bf got in the mood to try out Peruvian food, and even though this place was closed the night we saw my uncle, we decided to try this place out anyway because of the Yelp reviews. I got the Arroz Chaufa- very good and enough for two with a Maracuya Sour. Bf got the Lomo Saltado with the chef's suggestion of an added egg (very helpful), which he loved. We shared a Yuca Frita, which was really good, and they were super nice and made a sauce without onions so I could eat it (allergic to onions). If we ever come this way again, we'll be sure to come back. And for all of you who live in Phoenix, definitely take the opportunity to check this place out!
(5)Ana L.
My God, the flavors of the food were absolutey spectacular. Everything was AMAZING, and we tried more than a few plates. Love, love, love. Will definitely be coming back. I took off one star for service. When we got there it took a long time for anyone to even offer water, and we were extremely thirsty from the heat. When we were ordering I asked for an explanation about the food preparation and the waitress seemed annoyed that I couldn't understand the word in Spanish she was using and she just kept repeating it when I kept asking for a different explanation. The food took a while to come out. I will definitely come back though! The food is just so good!
(4)Tim Q.
Food was excellent and seasoning was great. Portions were large so we would consider splitting a meal in the future. Yucca appetizer was very good. Small kitchen so will take a bit of time to get your meals. Seats about 25 so plan accordingly.
(4)Angelo P.
Ceviche and Anticuchos are outstanding! The Maracuya sour or Passionfruit pisco is so delicious and refreshing. Excellent service. Highly recommend El Chullo
(5)Lizabeth L.
My boyfriend is Peruvian and we came here bc of the reviews and obvi the food. The service was awesome and the food was even better. It was a huge place but its good and my boyfriend said it taste like home.
(5)Danny H.
Excellent service and the Ceviche was wonderful. Spicy and the sauce was very flavorful.
(5)Cc M.
Excellent service,jalea, tacutacu con lomo, chicha, and maracuya Aji de gallina was good (maybe too much yellow paste) Highly recommend. Im peruvian :)
(5)Eleana H.
I love this place, my favorite cuisine first of all is peruvian, and I am so happy to say that El Chullo has become my favorite peruvian restaurant (thus far in my culinary journey). The ceviche here is perfectly spiced, the texture of the fish is great, and the sweet potatoes and the canchas (salted corn nuts) offset the spiciness, wow just typing this review makes my mouth water. I literally cannot wait to go back for more! The entree size of the ceviche isn't enough if you are starved, but its a perfect portion for someone who isn't too hungry. My boyfriend and I ordered one ceviche each and then we also ordered a lomo saltado to share. The lomo El Chulo serves is great, delicious thin fries, with nicely seasoned juicy pieces of steak topped off with onions, red onions and tomatoes. Order this if you are a steak and potatoes type of person. For dessert we shared an alfajor, 2 fine light cookies with dulce de leche stuffed between the two, finished off with a slight dusting of powdered sugar and chocolate on the side. To be perfectly honest I was so full already from eating a ceviche and sharing a lomo saltado that I felt that I didn't have any room for dessert, but when the cookie came I HAD to have a taste, so I ate a bite and we ended up packing that bad boy up to go. All in all this place was great, people might think its expensive, but its 100% worth it to me. The flavours I get from peruvian cuisine is so unique and unmatched that I am more than happy to pay for it. Oh and did I mention our server Manny, *unsure if this is the right spelling* but man he was the best!!! He made us feel right at home, and even told us a little bit of himself and Peru as we were eating our dinner. All in all it was a great time and a great meal! I can't wait to go back.. perhaps I'll stop in for lunch and or dinner tonight because honestly I just can't get enough.
(5)Ashley C.
AMAZIING Peruvian food!! They make an awesome pisco sour and the ceviche was incredible! You have to get the lomo saltado!
(5)Jennifer S.
Incredible meal. Excellent service. It was my first time eating Peruvian food and I appreciated the time the server took to describe the menu items. Wonderful cerviche.
(5)Patty G.
Went a few days ago. Service could've had been better for a place that wasn't so packed. We had the papa la huancallina (always been a favorite), arroz chaufa y tallarin verde w/steak. Steak was a little on the salty side. To drink we had chicha morada which was bomb! Food was pretty good however, did not like the fact that they brought one of our plates 20 mins apart. Reason why I gave them 4 stars. I'd probably go again.
(4)Kris K.
Tasty. Do not pass up an opportunity to dine here. Beef was tender and delicious. Fried egg cooked perfectly. Service is slower paced because it's a small restaurant. Plan accordingly...and keep in mind as you wait that it'll be so worth it.
(5)Ahana M.
This restaurant need not spend any money on advertisement. The food speaks for itself..loud and clear. I am not familiar with Peruvian food but if this is as close to authentic as it gets, I am a fan. Me and friends tried the Tacu tacu ( how can something that sounds so cute not taste good) and the fried rice. The food is well seasoned and flavorful. The service is very good and the portions are very generous. For desert we had the Leche asada and alfajores. I did not think i could like caramel before i had the alfajores. For drinks, try the pisco mango. This place deserves a first visit and then a repeat visit with those who havent been here ( thats how i was initiated!) .
(5)Rafael R.
Peruvian food is eclectic. It's accessible. It embraces multiple cultures and influences from ancient Aztecs to contemporary and cosmopolitan Lima. It's both familiar and exotic. And when it's done well, it can be both hearty and elegance. Superb ceviche,followed by an equally great rice with seafood and shared a dish of green linguini with a pesto sauce that was delicious. Can't wait to go back to try more items.
(3)Felipe Z.
I love Peruvian food! This place is a hidden gem on 7th street. Prices are fair so don't be shocked if you are looking for something cheap. This is not "a five dollar footlong." The place is a family operation and the environment is great. They show south american soccer which is a plus especially during world cup qualifiers. Any soccer fans out there??? Nothing beats a good Pisco Sour or Ceviche. Karen is one of my favorite servers. She is direct and to the point and very Knowledgeable. Her brother in the kitchen is also very funny and friendly. I would definitely recommend making a visit. If your wondering what "El Chullo" means it is like a andean beanie which covers your ears and if you have ever been in Peru, Ecuador or Northern Chile you would definitely understand why its needed.
(5)Cindy F.
Extraordinary food and service. Presentation is mouthwatering. Really fond of the appetizers and desserts.
(5)michelle w.
So impressed with this place, peruvian food is comfort food to me and every peruvian restaurant that I find in phoenix always ends up closing down but I sure hope this place sticks around the food is absolutely amazing and spot on with authenticity! The service is also great our server was very nice and did a great job! This is definitely my new favorite restaurant and I will be back!
(5)Len P.
Love their food! Mixed ceviche is one of my favorites. Great place, very clean, good atmosphere and every one is very friendly. They know how to keep costumers coming back!
(5)Aayush S.
We got fooled by the rating of this restaurant. This is certainly not the best peruvian food we have had. In fact, it was below average. Never going back again! I have had so much better peruvian food in Jersey. This was not worth the money they charge you.
(1)Shane B.
My cousin and I had just finished up a tour of the Heard museum and was starving. So we browsed yelp and found this little gem. There is limited parking in the front, so we drove around the back where an ally way led to the restaurant's back parking lot, it was a tight squeeze to get to the parking lot so if your in an SUV or full size truck it's going to be tricky. We went in and sat down and was greeted by the chief who was very accommodating and upbeat. The restaurant is clean an cozy the way a ma and pop place should feel. We ordered an appetizer of fried yucca that came with two sauces that were amazing! For drinks we ordered Chicha morada a Peruvian drink made with corn and spices, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. In fact we had four glasses of the stuff, unfortunately there were no refills for Chicha but the chef gave us our last glass free! Regardless it's worth it. For our entree we both got the ceviche. OMG, I kid you not it was the best ceviche I have ever had. The ceviche was bass seasoned with red onions lime and Peruvian chilis. There was a side of inca corn and sweet potatoes, the potatoes added a refreshing sweet to the tangy ceviche. My cousin who lived in Mexico for two years said he ate ceviche regularly and said that Peruvian ceviche was the best you could get. Please give this place a try you won't regret it!!
(5)Tyrone D.
Arroz con pollo was good as well as the purple corn drink. Sorry dont remember the name of it service was great. It wasnt too busy so may be the reason why others have given bad reviews. But overall pleasant experience with good food
(4)Phillyman p.
Great food and service... Had Lunch on Valentines Day .... MUST HAVE --- Pisco Sour drink which is made with -fresh lime juice, cinnamon & cloves syrup, beaten egg whites, angostura bitter. ARROZ CON MARISCOS Sautéed rice & seafood mix. Only issue is parking very limited space .....
(4)Sana H.
Excellent food. We got the cause rellena with chicken, ceviche and Lomo Saltado. The cause rellena was creamy and delicious. The Lomo Saltado was the best one I've ever had, the sauce is so goooood and the meat very tender. This was my first time here but I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Ric B.
Peruvian cuisine seems to be based on chicken and potatoes- fine with me. El Chullo is a New Times Award winning place on 7th Street north of Virginia. Can't remember the names of what I ordered but the appetizer was a thin sliced marinated fried potato. You eat them like potato chips but they are not dry and slightly crispy. The entrée was a chicken breast, pan fried in a red pepper vinegar sauce with red onion slices. Very good! There was a small side of potatoes and a rather large pyramid of white rice. I love rice but I prefer it flavored. I almost asked for more red pepper vinegar sauce for the rice. It was similar to Japanese sticky rice. The place was small, clean, nice artwork on the walls, flat screen tv with Fox Spanish channel showing a soccer game. They have a full bar so we ordered a carafe of Sangria- iced, filled with what appeared to be fruit cocktail- very good and pared well with the meal. We ate the wine soaked fruit like a dessert. El Chullo has an air of authenticity about it and I most likely will go back in the future.
(4)Cherry L.
First tip-Parking lot in the back through an alley. Easier than the front. My friend and I came here to check it out and overall, we loved it. We came on a Saturday for lunch and it wasn't crowded so we got one on one personal treatment with the chef so we learned a lot. Not to sound like a broken record but the ceviche is soooo good. I love the flavors. The ceviche is just the fish marinated and the ceviche mixto is fish, squid, mussels, and clams. I think the ceviche of just fish is the better of the two. It just holds the flavor better. And when they ask you how spicy, they actually mean it. The medium is pretty decently spicy. So impressive since it's hard to actually get something to be spicy here in Phoenix. I can only imagine how spicy hot is. Been here three times and I still crave it. Ok, on to other things I've tried several things and so far only one thing wasn't all that great but everything else has been. The causa rellena with imitation crab would be the one thing i say to avoid. My friend and I didnt think it was all that great esp. The arroz con pollo was yummy. The carapulcra is a pork stew and is like a comfort food. If you like spicy, make sure to ask for the aji rocoto - Peruvian hot sauce/salsa. So yummy. It adds a good spice to the mild dishes. Good lomo saltado according to bf. I do like that the fries are crispy and skinny. The kicker is that if you go now, they finally have air conditioning!!! It was getting to be a bit difficult going during the summer so I can only imagine how the workers felt. Warning though, if you are from California and used to Peruvian food there, they don't carry the green aji sauce that we know and love. Apparently that's only a CA creation since we're so used to jalapeños. This is a must place. From the wait staff to the food, everything is too notch.
(5)Alexandria K.
I have eaten here twice now. I get cravings for their delicious cause rellena, which is a stack of creamy potato purée, chicken salad, avocado, and egg with creamy mustardy sauce. Their lomo Saltado is sure to please with perfect strips of beef in a delicious mildly spicy sauce, with a triangle mound of white rice and French fried potatoes. I highly recommend this locally owned restaurant!
(5)Jonas A.
Food was so good I had lomo saltado and arroz com mariscos yummy and amazing people who work here they sang me happy birthday :)
(5)Alex H.
I've had my fair share of Peruvian food here in the valley. I'm surprised that there actually are so many to choose from. Out of all of them, I believe that El Chullo has the best food of them all. I've had their ceviche, lomo saltado, and jalea. All of which were excellent. I would give it 5 stars if ratings were based only on the food! Not only does it taste great, it even is presented beautifully. Now, what brings this place down is the location. My biggest gripe is the A/C seems to not always be running cool. Not to mention it isn't the nicest looking of restaurants. For the price I expect a bit more class. Not super fancy, just a touch more. And yes, it's central Phoenix. So parking is tight.
(4)Dennis H.
Food was okay...little too salty and it takes a long time to get order. For the cost I was expecting more.
(3)Josh G.
Pros: Food, service, price. Cons: Smaller sized restaurant (may be occasional waits), parking (park across the street - see parking section below). The food here is amazing. I had the Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado, which is rice and beans topped with strips of marinated sirloin steak. The rice must be cooked in a small cast iron skillet and flipped over, because it has a seriously delicious exterior with a slight crunch. The beans and lomo saltado are equally excellent. Portion sizes are large, and they have a small selection of wine. Really delicious and highly recommend. Parking: After business hours (ie: 6:00pm) you can park either across 7th street at the auto shop, or across Virginia street, just south of El Chullo, in the parking lot behind the 3 story building (Techniprint).
(5)Leslie M.
I am a big supporter of family owned business so I decided to stop by and see what all the fuss is about. I have never had peruvian food before so I can't really compare my experience to another peruvian restaurant. The lot is small and it's kind of hard to park. The service is good. The server was really friendly and he tried to give us recommendations. I ordered the Lomo Saltado and it was flavorful, but I didn't see the difference between that and the nacho fries that you get at Filibertos for half the price. Now, don't get me wrong. It was a cool experience, but when we got the bill, it was a little much for an appetizer sampler, a drink, one entree, and dessert. I didn't even end up with a doggie bag for the price we paid. I didn't expect to pay as much as what we had paid, but I know they have to pay their bills. It's a business. I get it. I just don't know if I would justify the price and value of the food to come back. If you have never had peruvian food, come on over though and try it. At least once.
(3)Boom Y.
Hidden gem. It has some minor work to do but it earned the five starts. Service was excellent, half the food from our big group came out fast, the other half not so fast, but it was still worth the wait. Appetizers were fast and held us through. Very authentic Peruvian food. I had the Chaufa, its Chinese/Peruvian food and excellent! I can't say enough about the Pisco Sour. The best I've ever had including in Peru!!! Well return for more. Cheat day restaurant for my family.
(5)Gabriel L.
Legit Peruvian in Phoenix! Ceviche came as white hot as can be found in Lima. Anticuchos de corazon were prepared correctly. My only complaints: very little parking and no Peruvian beer to wash down the food. Did I mention that actual Peruvians eat here? That has got to count for something.
(4)Andrea Z.
What a great change of scenery (diamond in the rough) El Chullo restaurant. Visited today for the first time and experienced great service, great food and overall value for my price. Will most definitely be back. A must try in the Phoenix area for any locals or visitors. Muchas gracias to my new favorite restaurant.
(5)Alaina S.
Yum! The food is authentic and one of the best Peruvian restaurants that I've eaten in. The service was great. I was the only one in my party that had eaten Peruvian food before and everyone else had a lot of questions. The waitress was so nice and patient. She obviously took a lot of pride in the food they serve, particularly their more traditional food and drinks. This place is a must try.
(5)Joe N.
Absolutely the best Peruvian food in town!! I have been hesitant to write this review because I wanted to be selfish and enjoy this spot without the huge crowds it can easily draw!! Not a place to rush in and out, it's place to be enjoyed with good company and great Pisco. Enjoy
(5)Sophie E.
I lived in Peru for three years and this is the best Peruvian food I have had in America. Love it. Thank you for taking me on a wonderful trip down memory lane!
(5)Alex G.
All I can say is "WOW" the ceviche was super delish. I've tried a few peruvian places in the past and El Chullo wins in my book. I tried both the ceviche mixto & the ceviche with fish and they are both amazing dishes. I really liked the flavors. I also had lomo saltado and same thing the flavors were soooo good. This is my new favorite restaurant. Enjoy!
(5)Sarah D.
Great service, great apps, great entree, great fruit juice, great dessert. It's so small that is you drive too quickly, you'll miss it. Don't be fooled by the look or location - this place is stellar.
(5)Jocelyn G.
My husband and I saw the reviews on this place we are from California visting here for the weekend so we decided to give it a try the food was delicious The service was ok our waitress disappeared for a while I was thirsty and my 2 year old wanted water I asked another waitress for a cup of water and she did but wasnt to kind like if it bothered her she was extra kind with everyone else plus my water had some green stuff in it
(4)Chelsea C.
El Chullo is one of the few authentic Peruvian food locales in Phoenix and luckily for us, is absolutely delicious! The lomo saltado is a must, especially if this is your first experience with Peruvian food. But, you can't go wrong with the fish ceviche - the best I've ever tasted. The Chicha morada (purple corn drink) was also interesting and delicious. To top it off, the service was great. We'll definitely be back :)
(5)Larry M.
Had a great dining experience here. Papa a la huanca was ok. The lomo saltado however was excellent. Well cooked, well seasoned with a hint of Garlic. I posted some pics below. The arroz con pollo was excellent as well, the cilantro was prominent throughout the rice and was well seasoned. I have been to many peruvian restaurants across the country, and this one is the best in AZ hands down.
(5)Bryan P.
The best ceviche mixto! The lomo saltado is always on point as well as the tallarin saltado. My favorite Peruvian spot in Phoenix.
(4)I. J.
We ended up in this restaurant with a search in yelp. This is a great place overall: customer service, cleanliness, nice environment. The food is fresh and the portions are huge! My mom and I will be sharing next time; had a lot of left overs. I really want to go back to have some pisco sour :) Parking is hard as the store is facing 7th st and there are only 5 to 6 spots in the front; so park in the back and come in. Main cross roads are 7th st and McDowell. Head north on 7th street and it will be in the corner of Virginia - NE corner.
(5)Sebastian R.
Service was nice, but as a Peruvian I tried there lomo saltaldo and I was very disappointed. Too many fries, everything was soggy and the rice was pretty bad too
(2)German S.
This restaurant is a "must" for any lover of Latin A,Erica's cuisine. I had the Frijoles con Seco a la Nortena (stewed beef with rice and beans) all I can say is "wow"! The beef was super tender and the dish had a great range of flavors and seasonings, very well prepared. It was enough to share if you also get an appetizer, as are some of the other dishes. Service was quick and pleasant, definitely a return visit on the agenda, although I'll make sure to share so that we can try the deserts too!
(5)Mikyeila C.
Came here to kill some time between doctors appointments. They were just opening and weren't quite ready for us but it was worth the wait! Excellent food, excellent service. The yucca Frita left a little to be desired but the main courses were amazing!
(4)Ashley D.
I loved this place! What a nice surprise. I feel like I should always try these tiny places with "foreign" food but I never really do because I'm afraid most would be misses rather than hits. This was a hit and has inspired to try more places like this! Our friends had heard good things about this place so we gave it a shot and I will keep going back! We ordered a few apps to share: Anticucho, Papa Rellena, and Yuca Frita. We loved them all! The Anticucho and Yuca Fritas were so good I will definitely order them every time I go! Then each of us order an entree. I got the Arroz con Mariscos, Jess got the Arroz con Pollo, my fiance the Ceviche and Josh the Lomo Saltado. To be honest I was pretty disappointed with my dish because it was more like a plate of rice with 4 pieces of seafood. However, Jess' Pollo tasted amazing, it had great seasoning. Mike's cveiche and Josh's Lomo were great too. We all left stuffed and happy! We will definitely be going back. Love the vibe of a family restaurant. We also recommend the Pisco Sours! It is a tiny place so if it's full you may have to wait. It'll be worth it!
(4)Christine W.
Hole in the wall exterior. Parking lot is super small. Don't let that discourage though!! The food is worth it! Our First time here we found the quality of the food rivals Peruvian restaurants in Sonoma and New York. The recipes are spot on. Even the seafood was great. Will definitely be back again and again. No lunch menu so be prepared to share or go home with leftovers.
(5)Meg C.
The brunch was divine: mouth-watering pork, fried sweet potatoes, and bread that could have been manna sent from Heaven. If I could, I'd be here every weekend. The waiter who was from Peru told my fiancé and me all sorts of stories about his homeland, its traditions and its food. Definitely one of the best brunch experiences I've had in Phoenix!
(5)Michelle C.
The food and service here was excellent. The portion sizes were very large. Everything was extremely flavorful. Dessert was wonderful too. The prices were reasonable. I can't wait until the bar opens there. We will definitely be back.
(5)Juan A.
Incredible flavors and great service. As an individual who spent a lot of years in Peru I can appreciate what has been the best Peruvian food I've had in Phoenix - at El Chullo! Highly recommend the anticuchos, lomo saltado, and an alfajor for dessert. I look forward to my next dining experience here! (Probably tomorrow!)
(5)Christopher T.
Stopped in for bunch on a Saturday. The place is small, but cozy. The menu is small, but offers quite a bit of variety. We decided to split a platter for two. It came with fried sweet potatoes, fried pork, and tamales. All were very good. The sweet potatoes on the bottom did get a bit salty. We also threw in a Peruvian version of torta. Unfortunately, I can't actually remember the name of it. All in all, the place was excellent. Great service and great food. Definitely a winning combination. N*joy...
(4)Amrita S.
We were excited to find a Peruvian restaurant with vegetarian options, so decided to try it. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is family run. They were extremely warm and hospitable and the food was freshly prepared home style! Even the piscos were thoughtfully made :) We enjoyed our evening and would definitely go back.
(4)Ben D.
Tasty Peruvian cuisine and very attentive staff. We had great soup, fried fish, and the lomo saltado was scrumptious. I will definitely be going again to explore more Peruvian dishes.
(5)Joni S.
We loved the food at El Chullo always looking for food that reminds us of our child hood Peruvian favorite foods . The Lomp Saltado was amazing, Thank you We'll be back soon Joni Navarro
(5)Kit P.
Delicious and reasonable. A hidden treasure.
(5)Alex S.
We decided to live up to our hype of being open-minded and try something unique to Phoenix (i.e., not Mexican; not Vietnamese; not Chinese; etc.). And that's how we ended up at El Chullo; though, to be fair, we almost DIDN'T end up at El Chullo's. A previous reviewers comment about parking being limited is like saying Marlon Brando was slightly overweight towards the end. Let's just say, the parking lot is shared with other businesses; the "lot" is about one car wide; and one has to do fancy gyrations to park and withdraw one's car IF one can get a spot. After driving around three times, we parked in the printing shop's lot across the street (which, I'm sure, will thrill them to no end when/if they read this). Go during the standard 9 to 5 business hours and you may find yourself outta luck or risking a tow. Alas, the parking spots are not the only thing small about El Chullo. In fact, "small" pretty much describes it all: the parking. the restaurant, the portions. I was rather amused (bemused) by the comment from one of the reviewers that the portions are "very large". Really? VERY large? Perhaps for someone who survived internment at Sherrif Joe's Tent City or who usually dines on those diet programs' pre-packaged food (served in upscale concentration camps). Granted, this is not to say that the portions were pretentiously small like a la carte francais food; they were perfectly acceptably sized for people, who eat like they're supposed to (translation: non-Americans). We, however, are of the MOO crowd, so for us, all of dinner was something akin to "snack". (Hey, I workout, get off my case!). We started out with the appetizer platter for $14.95 and chose the Chicken Causa Rell; the Papa Rellena; and the Papa ala Huancaina. Presented very artistically, I would not say it was an appetizer for two AMERICANS. Taste was quite good and unique, though the standout taste was potato (hardly a surprise since "papa" means 'potato'). I had a very spicy cerviche mixto and my other half, the escabeche de pollo. Both very good -- the latter served with rice and a small portion of cold, sweet potato -- but we weren't exactly unbuckling our belts at meal's end. Again, like I said: not small, but not big by the usual, middle-class American standards, where the men are men, eat like men, and doctors buy brand new cars every month with all the money they get from bypass and pacemaker surgeries. Nuff said. The diet Inka Cola, colored like Mountain Dew but tasting like cream soda, is good, but $2.00 a can? For both of us, the bill came to $46.41 without tip. Not tragic, but a bit overboard for the quantity. Maybe reasonable considering the uniqueness of the food. The 20% tip for Omar, however, was well in line. Attentive service without being overbearing and very accommodating. That's one thing I really can't make any complaints about (and as you see, I have no issue complaining). While I agree with the other, previous 17 reviewers that this is a very nice restaurant, I am not wowed enough to give it 5 Stars. Those who read my reviews know I'm not generous with my highest rating and you've got to earn it. For those looking for something different, tasty and served with good attitude, this restaurant is just fine. If you're a big eater, don't expect to come here and not want something more afterwards. No one there looked unhappy and we weren't either ... just not full.
(3)Lema G.
Incredible service and authentic, fresh, flavorful Peruvian food. So happy this place is open! Amazing job so far. Love family spots!
(5)Veggie Foodie I.
My new favorite Peruvian restaurant. I had the tallarines verdes with the bistek on the side (for my carnivorous husband) because I don't eat meat and they were more than accommodating and did not seem to judge me for doing that (which most places do). The tallarines verdes is the best I've had in Arizona and I will only go to El Chullo to have it. You know how you grab on to your bed sheets because the feeling is so glorious and out of this world? Yes, it's like that! I can't wait to try the other entrees, specifically, the vegetarian options. The alfajores is also delicious; flaky but held it's form and not overwhelmingly sweet - it definitely quieted my sweet tooth. The chicha morada is also quenching - not bitter and too sweet, just right - be sure to order the pitcher because you will drink it like water. It's a quaint place to eat. They have lunch specials/combo. The parking situation is a little challenging, but I would like to go there at least once a week to satisfy my Peruvian food cravings. I hope you check out this place because although it's easy to miss (because of location), you'll be sorry if you don't go.
(5)Olga S.
Can't believe they've only been open a couple days! The meal was fantastic from start to finish. Tried the anticuchos, carapulcra, and alfajores for dessert. Everything tasted fresh, well seasoned, and home made. Great portions too! Will be back for more soon!
(5)Deian O.
Great, great little restaurant. Having traveled Latin America for a while I was excited to try some Peruvian food. And it was great. The beef cuts I had were one of the best marinated pieces of meat I have had. And for desert I had this Argentinean cookie called alfajore... It was great. I love small places like this that do good right and are simple. Will go back for sure.
(5)Aurelio C.
Just like mamma makes! Thank you, Omar! We loved the food and the amazing service! We'll be back!!! The Lomo Saltado was just like home!
(5)Amanda C.
My friend and I came there last night and the small restaurant was packed. Who I believe was one of the owners/main chef greeted us and explained it might be a while before we could order because they were so busy. She was so warm and kind and so was everyone else. My friend and I had a pisco maracuya (passion fruit pisco) and they were delicious. We also split a causa rellena, a cold mashed potato cake with a chicken filling, and the lomo saltado, a dish with beef tenderloin and french fries and rice. Everything was really delicious and seasoned so well but next time I will probably opt for less starch in one meal. I rated this five stars because I really couldn't get over how wonderful the overall experience was to talk with the Peruvian chef and feel somewhat like I was with family :). Also, this woman recommended the ceviche because it's prepared unique to Peruvian culture and I will say it looked amazing at someone else's table.
(5)Erika C.
Love the food! Exellent service. Highly recommend El Cjullo Peruvian Restaurant.
(5)Iti A.
I don't know where to begin, so let me say this - El Chullo's food is TO DIE FOR. A Peruvian friend had told us about the place two years ago, but somehow we got around to trying it only last night. It's a small, homey, family-run restaurant. The people running the place and running around the place are genuinely friendly, as if they've invited you to be a part of their home, food and lives. We waited near the bar for about five minutes while our table of six was getting ready. I ordered a pisco sour which was amazing. Then there was the food. You know how a server walks past you with a plate of food that turns heads? That was happening with every single plate of food that came out of El Chullo's kitchen. Everything looked so delicious that it was hard to make up our minds about what to order. I am a vegetarian, so I was pleased to see a vegetarian section on their menu. Our group ordered appetizer platters, fries, tacu tacu (vegetarian and seafood versions), ceviche, deep fried sea food platter, frijoles con seco a nortena, and the veggie version of peruvian-chinese fried rice. OH. MY. GOD. We worked on the installments of food for about two hours. Everyone shared, laughed and loved every single bit of it. Of course, I had to stick to vegetarian food but let me tell you, it wasn't a compromise at all. In fact, my meat-eating husband loved the veg tacu tacu and fried rice so much that we are still fighting about who gets to eat the leftovers. The portion size of the entrees was BIG (I'm not sure what dish the guy, who says portions were small, ordered). Appetizers were just that, appetizers, so that you can save space for the delicious food. The food was spicy without being hot, not that we would have minded that. Pricing was reasonable and at par with other similar dining places. Parking is available in the back. But wait! I forgot to tell you about dessert. Of course there's the delicious Leche Asada and Crema Volteada, but the husband ordered Alfajores, which is a layer of caramel between two cookies. I think we died and went to heaven because tasting that thing was an out of body experience. It has been a while since our friend circle has come together and bonded over some delicious food. It has also been a while since we discovered a new cuisine. I now count Peruvian food and El Chullo among my favorites cuisines and restaurants.
(5)Walter V.
Don't let the small store front fool you; this place makes up for it once you are inside. Delicious food, very authentic. Glad to have found this. This is the place to come to really have a taste of Peru. They have cultural tv as well. The workers are very nice people.
(5)Me M.
Excellent food!!!! We had ceviche which was fantastic (especially with the included cold sweet potatoes) and Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado which was also very good. We did not have any parking or waiting problems since we arrived at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. It is a small restaurant with only about 8 tables but well worth any wait or parking issues. I will return soon.
(5)Jennifer O.
I had the pleasure to go to El Chullo this morning for 'breakfast' (the quotes are because it was closer to lunch time and their breakfast foods are more like American lunch/dinner foods). This place is incredibly authentic. Our waiter (and possibly an owner?) is from a town just outside of Lima, so ya... pretty legit. The way their breakfast works is they have 3 choices that feed two people, each for 20$. The choices are chicharrones with a tamal, bread, and two coffees or a tenderloin sautee with bread and two coffees, or an egg dish with a tamal, bread and two coffees. We decided to get the tenderloin and add a tamal (cuz I wanted to try it). The tamal is large, delicious, and just like the ones I had when I was in Peru last summer... this is the real deal and very distinct from the typical Mexican tamale you may have elsewhere in Phoenix. The tamal has a little hard boiled egg (which obviously I ate and the husband didn't), some meat, some olives, and some hot peppers and served with an onion/citrus salad.... so good. I could just eat those tamals and be happy. The tenderloin came in a sauce of sorts with onion and tomato and we ate it with the giant rolls given to us. The meat was soooo tender and flavorful. Their coffee was even good and we drank it black. The service is great. This place beats all of the other Peruvian restaurants that I have tried in town hands down and really took me back to when I was in Peru....like a little slice of vacation in my own neighborhood. I will certainly be back, I want to try dinner for sure and the chicharrones breakfast.... I think this place has serious 5 star potential, so we will see!
(4)susan c.
Great food and biggest glass of wine EVER. Very nice people. And the lunch special is enough for two!
(5)Melissa M.
Best restaurant in Phoenix! The Food was amazing. it is run by a Peruvian family. Our server so genuinely enjoyed his work. The food was delicious and artistically plated.
(5)Erica C.
Food was delicious!!! Authentic!!! Restaurant seems to be worked by the family that owns it. The sons who basically does everything except cook, is very personable and has great people skills. His mother is sweet but does not speak English. If you go when it is busy be prepared to wait. What they need to do is designate each one in the family a duty. Son waits tables, mother gets waters and canchitas, father clears and sets tables and helps with bringing out food. Anyways if you have time it is definitely worth the wait. We will go back for sure!! Oh and the pisco sours are awesome!! Along with the anticuchos and aji de gallina. Yum
(4)Gabriel R.
Food was decent. Good cerviche. Fried fish was a bit heavy. Place didn't run their a/c. Checked their thermostat next to the bathroom and it was 91 degrees in the place. Towards the end of the meal it was difficult to even be in there anymore. It's 105 outside today, there is no excuse for not running the a/c. Won't be coming back.
(3)Gp S.
We went for Friday lunch. The food was of mixed quality. Agreed it;s a different cuisine but not worth the two hours( yes you read that right ) wait we had to do.
(1)Brea B.
I am so in love with this little place! I have lived in the Coronado neighborhood about 5 years and have seen many things go in and out of this location...i have a feeling El Chullo will be sticking around. Everything i've had so far has been AMAZING. The Chupe De Camarones soup and Tacu Tacu De Marisco were seriously out of this world. The service is also excellent. They are so genuinely friendly and make you feel right at home. Can't say enough good stuff about this little gem...and i am beyond picky with restaurants, especially in Phoenix. It is the best restaurant on 7th st. by far in my opinion.
(5)Wenda S.
Tiny spot with limited parking but worth it for some tasty food that is likely different than anything you have had before. The Papa a La Huancaina looks meh but the taste is fabulous! The fried rice dish was so tasty and plenty for me to have lunch the next day. It's a little expensive for an ethnic hole in the wall but the food is good enough that I'm sure Ill be back for more. They are super friendly too!
(4)Ale D.
My favorite Peruvian restaurant in AZ! Peruvian food is probably the best in the world imo and this place sure does demonstrate that. Small restaurant but that makes it one of the best hidden gems in Phoenix. Ceviche, anticuchos and lomo saltado are a must! If you want to introduce someone to this kind of food, start here!
(5)Chris S.
Let's start by getting the 4 stars out of the way. The place was HOT, like really hot, like maybe no AC hot. This made for a slightly uncomfortable setting. Besides the temperature, I loved the place. Seemed like a mom and pop shop which I always like. So lets change it up and talk food. Wow.... It was tasty! Got the Papa a La Huancaina for an appetizer and it was amazing. I was disappointed at first because it looked so plain, just boiled potatoes cut in half smothered in a sauce. However, after that first bite I was hooked. These were amazing. Got a couple of their drinks, and they were pretty tasty as well, however I wouldn't get those again. My wife got Tallarines Verdes and it was amazing. The pasta was a great pesto green color, which had initially concerned me it would have too strong of a pesto flavor. It did not. The pasta was actually nice and creamy with a perfect amount of flavor. I got the Ceviche Mixto. This was outstanding. The assortment of seafood was great, the presentation was pretty, and the sauce was amazing. Packed full of a nice lime-kick with some spice. The waiter talked me out of going 'spicy' and went for 'medium' instead, which was probably a good idea. Medium had a nice amount of spice that built up, but was never too spicy to ruin or mask flavors. I would love to go back and try some other options the food was very good.
(4)