Mama Olla Restaurant — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

TripAdvisor tourist trap with poor food quality

-12.123065, -77.026622 Located in the neighbourhood of Miraflores, this restaurant with #69 ranking on TripAdvisor and Travelers’ Choice 2024 award looked well enough to pay a visit.

As many readers of travel guides and travel websites have experienced, high ranking can have many challenges and unintended consequences, such as overcrowding (lack of physical space), tourist‑pricing, staff burnout, long wait times (locals may not come anymore), decreasing consistency (“pumping out plates”), “dumbed down” menu (more about Instagram than food), rushed service (busy floor with less time for interaction or hospitality), unrealistic expectations (“this place is legendary”), backlash in reviews, alienation from locals (from loyal clientele to mass tourist market), loss of authenticity (“crowd-pleasing”), identity drift (they’re no longer “themselves”), etc. Accusations of “tourist trap” can quickly surface, especially on TripAdvisor.

In April 2025, we visited Mama Olla restaurant with seating downstairs in an open veranda and upstairs. Upstairs was closed. No locals inside. Our first impression of the restaurant was the lack of coordination and communication between staff: as if they had no experience of hospitality. We ordered the tiradito 3 colours, three slices of fish marinated in lime, rocoto and yellow hot pepper sauce (54 Sol). Service was not quick but when the fish arrived it was covered in the three sauces. This was not marinating but covering. When food is covered with sauce, every guest knows that the chef has something to hide: 3 inconspicuous pieces of food, probably thawed white fish. No taste at all. The sauces were made of sauce powder. We left very disappointed without ordering dessert.

Mama Olla has fallen victim to its popularity on TripAdvisor and is now a genuine tourist...

Following google-research I was planning to order take-away from another place, but changed my mind when arrived there. My kids were hungry waiting in the hotel, so I had to improvise on the go and do not regret that I have chosen this place for my order. Probably, the waiting time was a bit more than 20 minutes announced to me, but that is because they had other visitors: you can see the kitchen from the ground floor and they had 3 people cooking non-stop, while I was waiting. The scallops under parmesan were delicious and even my 6 year old daughter ate 2 of them, although she might be skeptical to the seafood sometimes. The rice with the seafood was very tasty as well and the portion turned out to be rather big, so we had to leave it for the next day. The grilled fish with a scallop sauce from the special menu was also amazing: when I ordered it, I didn't expect: it was not just a sauce but had several whole scallops lying on top. I can't compare with other places in Lima as we stayed there only 1 night, but I would rate it as the 2nd best place in our 3 week trip around Latin America. I paid less then $40 for the three meals and the quality exceeded my expectations, so I am happy and would...

I ordered grilled chicken with fries and salad (pechuga de pollo con papas fritas y ensalada). First of all, the price said 23 soles on their online menu, when I went there, it was 39 soles. Why don't you update your prices online? It tasted okay however when I pay 11$ I'm expecting a huge portion, well that's not the case either, I'm a skinny guy and the chicken breast was smaller than my hand (which is already small). They charged me 8 soles just for water... Water for Christ sake! It's free in most countries. Most people would think that it's because it's in Miraflores, well if you're thinking that... You're wrong too! Because if I'm paying for luxury I expect luxury too! The restaurant was too hot, no air-conditioning, toilets were always occupied and the atmosphere was very dull. Not to mention the waiters don't smile at all and don't even try to do any effort. I...