El Inka
563 N Drake Rd, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009
El Inka Menu
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Address :
563 N Drake Rd
Kalamazoo, MI, 49009 - Phone (269) 978-2400
- Website https://www.elinkarestaurantkalamazoo.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Daniel D.
I have long waited for a Peruvian restaurant to open in Michigan period, let alone in the Zoo. Hallelujah! The wait is over. I tried the papa rellena, which had a nice combination of textures, and the pollo la brasa. The chicken, rice and beans were all great, but for me, it's about the Aji sauce. This sauce is so spicy and flavorful that I had to buy a pint before leaving the best. Looking forward to coming back!!!
(5)Julie D.
Ceviche!!! They have ceviche! And you can order it SPICY! In fact, they serve any meal with two amazing sauces, so you can make anything you want spicy. Don't like spicy food? We had the Papa Rellenos for an appetizer. They were delicious even before I discovered that I could cover them in spicy sauce. As several other folks mentioned, it's not a cheap meal - but definitely worth the little extra for something fun and different and tasty.
(4)Meraki G.
The roasted chicken with cilantro sauce is outstanding. Service can be a bit slow and decor is lacking but it's a family place and very friendly. Very nice to have this unusual cuisine in Kalamazoo.
(5)Erin S.
First off, anyone giving this place any kind of negative review is super loco! There is only ONE Peruvian restaurant in all of Michigan, and they do it good. I've been to Peru, have Peruvian family, and owned a Peruvian restaurant in the past. While I'M not Peruvian, I've eaten a lot of their food. First, the place is nice. Almost all restaurants in Kalamazoo are in strip malls, so this is not out of the ordinary. It was cool, clean, and cute! The server was super nice--although maybe a bit stumped when I asked for Maracuya. ;) So he could maybe use a quick Peruvian food brush up. We had papa a la huanciana, papa rellena, aji de gallina, chaufa, salchipapas, tallarin verde, chicha, and inka cola. Everything was really super great--especially the aji de gallina. Only one complaint, and it's just for the cook, there was just not enough sauce on the tallarin verde. Other than that, kudos to these folks for opening a Peruvian restaurant in K-Zoo... because Peruvian cuisine is some of the best in the world!
(5)Sabine L.
Arriving on what must arguably be the coldest Sunday afternoons this year, we were welcomed by the warm and spicy smells of an ethnic kitchen. Settling into a cozy spot we helped our selves to a variety of delicious foods from their Sunday buffet. Very good food, authentic sounding music and clean facilities. The decor is not posh, but reminded me of a visit to a homey cafe. We will defiantly visit again and bring friends to enjoy this with us.
(4)Anne L.
My friend and I have been looking forward to this restaurant opening and we made plans to go there last Saturday night for dinner. At 6:00 it was packed, and but we did get a table. The food looked and smelled delicious and everyone appeared to be enjoying their meals. Sadly, they were understaffed, and we waited a half hour and never saw a menu, a glass of water, or a server. We finally left, unable to get anyone's attention. We aren't giving up though, the food looked too good. We'll try it on an off -hour some day, for lunch, and I'll look forward to posting a real review then. So go--just not on a busy night.
(2)Sandra S.
Ok, I liked the food a LOT, and there was some attempt to get an Inca-y vibe. VERY small place. Food took FOREVER, the longest I've had to wait for food when there was ONE other person there. I almost had to leave because I was on a lunch break from work and drove across town. The waiter was a little odd, but I can't quite put my finger on it...I think it was that the place had just opened a couple weeks before, and they looked miserable, like overworked, jaded waiters. FOOD WAS WAAAAY OVERPRICED for what you get size way, quailty wise, and atmosphere wise. I had trouble picking because everything was way expensive when I was gambling on a place I knew nothing about. I really liked my dish, like an alcapurria, but it was around 12-15$ for what was essentially one alcapurria, with some rice. My friend got fried rice which was quite good too, but hardly any meat and hers was around $12. SO, because the food was good, I'm torn about going again, but because the location sucks (for me), the wait, THE PRICE, and the amount you get, I haven't been back in the last few months.
(3)Robin R.
May not have the best decor or the most comfortable seats, but the quality of food and service is excellent. We often stop on Sundays after church and have tried numerous dishes-all excellent. Last Sunday, we were discussing how good the food was and wished that we could sample more. That day they had a buffet set up, we were able to try a number of dishes, all delicious. Love the freshness, the cilantro, the food combinations, sauces and friendly service. Recommend trying this place out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jason C.
Came by with family for lunch at about 12:15 on a Sunday. The sign on the door said the place was open, but the restaurant was locked up and there was no sign of anyone. Probably not the best way to run a business.
(1)Matt G.
Well, this was my first experience with Peruvian cuisine, and I have to say I'm a fan now. I had the mixed appetizer plate along with the Aji de Gallina (a slightly spicy dish of shredded chicken in a peanut sauce). Everything I tasted was excellent, and the quality of the food was great. It all seemed very fresh. Although we were the only customers at the time, the service was helpful, but not too intrusive. The owners seemed very friendly, and the decoration was tasteful. Being a fan of potatoes, I really like Peruvian food; many of the dishes feature potatoes, and the papas rellenas and papas de Huancaina were fantastically tasty. I also tried the chicha, a spiced corn drink, and the Inka Cola; both were refreshing, but I really found the Inka Cola to be nice. The chicha was good, and you wouldn't think it was a corn-based drink by its look or taste. I will definitely be returning next time I'm nearby.
(5)Jennifer R.
Visited on a Friday night and found the restaurant empty. The service was good, but the décor was just ok. The booths were uncomfortable/hard seating. I tried the Russian salad, and found it to be interesting, but a little bland. After I added some salt and pepper it was good. We enjoyed the Morada drink the waitress recommended, and it was delicious! My dish of Gallinia wasn't very pretty (bright yellow concoction served with rice), but it was outstanding. My companion had the Tallarine Saltado, which looked really good, but he ended up just picking around it and asking for some of mine, because he didn't like the flavor of the pasta. A friend had the salad dish that has 2 kinds of salad, and she loved it. She said it was fresh and flavorful. The pricing was a bit expensive for the amount of food, but we saw there is a groupon available, so we will likely go back.
(3)Rafael F.
Great place! Only Peruvian restaurant in Michigan, everything has tons of flavor and everything is exceptionally priced.
(5)Diana L.
Loved the multiple levels of flavors.....spicey but not hot (unless you ask the owner/cook to make it so). Owners were very friendly and were very happy to explain Peruvian cuisine, which is nothing like Mexican food. This Peruvian lady can cook! Do yourself a favor and give this place a try....Kalamazoo needs restaurants like this one!
(5)Jason K.
So I had a lot of hope for this place. I always like to try new things. When I stepped in there was a nice man waiting at the door to open it but when you walk in there is little that is appealing to the eye, except for the giant rug hanging behind the counter. It was a little confusing when you walk in because the man at the door opens it but there was no one to seat us. We went to the register and started to look at the menu and that's when someone saw us and sat us. I was a little disappointed that there were no alcoholic beverages. I ended up getting the 1/2 Pollo Brasa dish, this is a half rotisserie chicken that was supposed to be amazing. My Fiance ended up getting a dish that was similar to a Asian stir fry. Hers was good but after a while the flavors kind of blended together and your taste buds get bored. My half chicken was all white meat. I was a little saddened by this because I was hoping for white and dark meat. When it came, the two chicken breast and fries were on the plate along with the salad that was nothing to rave about. The dressing from the salad ended up making my fries all soggy. When I started eating the chicken you could tell that it had a smokiness to it but over all it was just dry and salty. The only thing that saved it was this Aji Verde that was home made and gave a little kick. I think I would go back again but I would definitely try something different. This place needs a lot of tweeking in all areas. It really just feels like a hole in the wall.
(3)Lynn M.
This restaurant has the potential to be five stars. It is just way too small. We stood for a good ten minutes in front if the door and also where the food is bussed which was awkward. We were seated along the wall at a two top which was very small. The wooden chairs were very small and extremely uncomfortable. After about 15 minutes the solo waitress came and took our drink orders. I ordered the Peruvian soda and my husband the chica morada which was delicious! Because we were already waiting so long we decided to skip the appetizer. I ordered tallerin verde with Peruvian spiced steak. The steak was the size of a playing card and just as thin . So thin in fact that there was no flavor. It also was very hard to cut and I ended up tearing it with my fingers. I joked that it was a meat roll-up. Like a fruit roll-up. The pasta was good and there was a lot if it. The noodles had a consistency of udon noodles which I really enjoyed. If you like pesto. You'll like this dish but I recommend topping it with chicken . If you're a vegetarian the pesto alone will serve as a meal. There's a lot of it. My husband ordered Seco de Carne. Oh my! It was delicious! The pinto beans were better when mixed in to the rice which was more like a basmati rice than traditional white rice. There was a hint of sweetness. The stew was very tasty with cilantro being the prominent taste but not overwhelming. The meat was tender and the peas were creamy. The potatoes had a nice texture almost as if they were fried a little. It could have used just a tad more Peruvian spice. I think that the dishes could pop a little more. We wanted authentic and we identified that with the notion of having your mouth dance with flavored. That didn't quite happen. I will definitely return. I will ask for a booth that's for sure!
(3)Nico G.
Listen up, Kalamazoo: You don't know what you have here. My husband and I recently moved and just ate at a Peruvian restaurant. It holds no flame to El Inka. El Inka is one of those restaurants stuck on a strip mall so it's not very big. When we've ate in (usually we would order to pick up) there was hardly ever anyone there. Service was always prompt and food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time. I also found the decor to be quite fun. I only ever ordered the quarter chicken of the Pollo a la Brasa which comes with a side salad and french fries. You also are given a bottle of the green sauce (I don't remember what it's called but it's a gift from a higher power.) The salad was always fresh, the french fries were always cooked perfectly, and the chicken was always flavorful and moist. The price is also quite reasonable for what you get. I want to say this particular dish is under $10? So, if you have the chance, you need to check this place out. Trust me, you won't regret it.
(5)Alicia S.
The boyfriend and I were out running evening errands and decided to wrap it all up with some carry out from El Inka... I'd heard a lot of hype about this place and was very excited to try something new. The one staff member at the front of house was very pleasant, he guided us through the menu since it was our first time and was patient while we decided what we wanted. The restaurant was completely empty Wednesday evening, not saying this is good, bad, or even a common occurrence, just making an observation. However, what was bad is that after placing our order I asked when we should expect our food to be ready and the gentleman at the counter told us 15-20 mins- followed up by another quote of 25 mins max! ...Say what? The restaurant was virtually empty and no other orders were being made. This kind of made us feel like unjustified long ticket times occur often and they wanted to cover their arse. On the positive side, our to-go order did end up being ready in about 15 minutes. I would suggest having a reasonably accurate time quote; if so, the rant above could have been avoided. We were so hungry that we busted out our to-go boxes in the car on the way how... and that's when things got sadsauce. Literally. The sauces had ruptured in the bad and leaked all over- even though it was doubled bagged- A for effort. The first container we opened was the beef dish (pictured), which we were told was the most popular dish. It included strips of "steak", french fries, and peruvian spices. As a long time cook, my boyfriend recognized the dry, tough meat as a quite possible match to GFS frozen steak. The portion size was ridiculously small for the $11 we paid, around 5 oz of food total. We also got the ceviche, a bit better on portion size, but I wasn't convinced the Swai was that fresh. I would normally give places a second chance, but its hard to get over paying $30+ for an experience like that.
(2)Scott H.
Gracious and warm staff who were happy to explain the food and the story of the restaurant. We got the Papa Rellena as an appetizer & it was amazingly tender inside as it was crispy fried on the outside. I got the 1/4 white meat Pollo a la Brasa, which came complete with a Russian salad with beets and a tangy dressing and French fries. The chicken itself was well seasoned and very tender, though a bit on the small side. The skin, though! It was almost as if it had a citrus glaze before the spices were added. Amazing! My boyfriend got their arroz chaufa and the portion was enormous. His dish was just as amazing as my own. Our friend scored the curry-like Aji de Gallina. It was amazingly complex. I don't know why we waited so long to come here, but we definitely won't wait long to come back!
(4)Andrew M.
I've been waiting for a special occasion to come to El Inka and with a beloved friend in town to visit today was the day! The restaurant is clean and brightly lit and the server was a delight, friendly, warm and soft-spoken. The food is AMAZING and not knowing anything substantiative about Peruvian cuisine I was hesitant at first. I'm glad that I walked in the door and I will most definitely come here often. The prices for the food provided are absolutely fair/maybe even underpriced, and the conditions in the dining room are excellent. The green aji sauce with a full order of Arroz Chaufa with chicken has met the delicious bar set by our lifetime-favorite Thai restaurant in Grand Rapids that sadly closed so many years ago. I am looking forward to exploring more of what this wonderful restaurant has to offer in the future. If you are looking for a wonderful night out that won't break the bank you owe it to yourself to give El Inka a try.
(5)Melissa R.
First visit and loved it! Wasn't sure what to expect, but so glad I gave it a try! Really pleasant staff that was willing to make many menu items vegetarian on request. Flavors are fresh and spicy, Interesting and delicious. There is no liquor license. I will definitely be back......soon!
(5)Christine B.
This is the first time I have been to this establishment. My family and I decided to try something new and I believe that this was a good choice. From what I can tell is that they focus mainly on potatoes, rice and cilantro. It's kind if a pricey place but the plates are big and full and in my opinion worth it. We had 5 people come in and we we served quickly and the gentleman in plaid was a nice fellow. If you like tea I would recommend that you try some of theirs. All in all I will be back when I come through town. If you wanna try something different I would definitely recommend you try this place. OH also their spicy sauce is delicious. It's a slow burn and very tasty :^)
(5)Hugh W.
This is my favorite spot in southeast Michigan. Make no mistake peruvian food is amazing!. My favorite is lomo.saltado which is a stir fry beef.tomatoes, and French fries (foreal!) in a soy cilantro sauce. But if u guys want to try this place goto the Sunday buffet and u can try a variety of food on a budget or go at lunch and they have great specials. Highly recommended spot!
(5)