Aji Limón • Alajuela — Restaurant in Río Segundo

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Well-Intentioned Try at Peruvian Cuisine

As someone who has traveled to Peru over 30 times and dined at many of Lima’s top restaurants, I came to Ají Limón with high hopes, but left feeling underwhelmed. The food wasn’t bad by any means, but for those familiar with true Peruvian flavors, it missed the mark.

I started with the causa with shrimp, which was one of the better dishes. The texture was right, but it lacked the punch of lime and salt that typically elevates a good causa.

My fettuccine a la huancaína with beef tenderloin had potential. The beef was tender and flavorful, definitely the star of the plate, even though it wasn’t cooked medium as requested (I didn’t bring it up because it was still delicious). The sauce, however, needed more ají amarillo and seasoning. A touch of parmesan might’ve helped deepen the flavor.

My son had the arroz chaufa with chicken, which was unfortunately a big miss. As someone who can make a better chaufa at home, I found this version bland and uninspired, far from what you’d get at even a mid-range chifa in Lima.

My wife’s soup also suffered from under-seasoning. It had promise but needed a boost in flavor to stand out.

Dessert was the biggest disappointment. The suspiro a la limeña didn’t resemble the classic at all. It tasted more like vanilla pudding with a heavy layer of meringue and barely any of the rich custard that defines the dish.

We spent just over $100 USD, including a Coke, an Inka Cola, and a strawberry juice that unfortunately was not good.

The staff was lovely, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but the food felt more like an attempt at Peruvian cuisine than the real thing. I won’t be returning, not because the meal was bad, but because it simply didn’t deliver on the flavors that make Peruvian food...

Okay so for me service is super important and maintenance of a space so that's where the 5 stars comes.

The food is pretty good, not spectacular. I do appreciate it compared to a lot of the junk around. The meat I got was very bony and a lot of fat. All things that can be improved.

The service however is amazing. They were quick, kind, and engaging, all things I appreciate.

El servició fue excelente ! La comida estuve buena pero no espectacular. Mi carne tenia muchos huesos y gordo... Pero aprecio este opción porque hay mucha comida gracioso y no...

When I arrived at the restaurant the waiter suggested a special and I asked how much it cost. He wrote on a napkin 16,000 colons. When I received the special it consisted of an overcooked steak, frozen vegetables and instant mashed potatoes. Then I received a bill for 19,500 colons plus a tip and after questioning the waiter, a very rude lady came to the table and gave me the receipt with no adjustments and glared at me. I assume she was the owner or manager of this fine establishment. Nothing else was said and I...