Mati Peruvian Cuisine — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I was so pleased with everything at Mati, what a great addition for the eclectic Latin food scene in Burque. Through an Afro-Peruvian samba band I sang in for years, I gained a passion for Peruvian food- the OTHER universal language, next to music! That enriching experience led me to want to work for a high-end mom and pop Peruvian restaurant in Long Beach, CA. The chef there taught me so much more about the fare and I’m proud to say they’re still very successful, now more than ten years later. Fancying myself well-versed, I was super excited when I saw Mati open in my hometown and finally tried it last night. They DEFINITELY hit the mark!

The appetizers we had were platanos fritos, served with a zesty aji amarillo sauce- great texture, thought my kid would eat them all! The ceviche Mati was a great mix of super fresh, chilled bass, shrimp and octopus (lovely to see in the desert) with salsa criollia, both fresh and toasted choclo (Peruvian corn) and some Leche de tigre that had us drinking it from the bowl-warning, the rocoto on the side is SPICY! Then, your Lomo Saltado is the “staple dish” like the enchilada, that all places are measured against. This one was classic- tender steak, real and heart fries, tomato and red onion, tender rice and the savory lomo sauce complimented by a fresh huacatay- the famous “green sauce”! The Aji de Gallina is what I was most excited about. Typically blended with Aji amarillo peppers, Parmesan and cream, this comforting heavy sauce is mixed with tender shredded chicken, a boiled egg slice and served with sliced papas and rice. chef’s kiss on a cold day, now my heart is full! Wash this all down with their chicha morada or maracuya juices and you’ll be in heaven! Best part was making friends with Alex, the owner- can’t wait to go back and try the rest! P.S. if they add picarones or alfajores to the menu, I will soon...

I came early to this unassuming Peruvian Restaurant in a strip mall with very limited parking. I was pleasantly surprised by the simple wall decorations conveying warmth and friendliness. This good feeling was amplified by warm greetings. I was escorted to my choice of tables. Getting to a restaurant early has its advantages.

I looked over the menu and chose the Ceviche Mati which has been recommended by ABQ Foodies and Gil’s Thrilling Web Site. Wanting to indulge in the Peruvian ambiance I asked what should I have to drink. Maracuyá (Passion Fruit) was the recommendation and what turned out to be a great compliment to the taste of the Ceviche Mati that I had made fiery. The sauces are what make Peruvian cuisine and I had drenched my dish with the spicy sauce so much so that I asked for more. The spicy sauce mixed with the Ceviche juice formed a very tasty “nectar” that I spooned over the various seafood pieces. I was told that this “nectar” is why this dish is served with a spoon so one wouldn’t miss a single drop.

There are many other Peruvian dishes that I am looking forward to trying on my next visit. Yes, this a restaurant definitely worth...

I’m Peruvian. I’ve had so much Peruvian food in my life so coming in here I had high standards. This place delivered on every aspect. We ordered the ceviche, seco de carne, and lomo saltado. The ceviche was amazing. They use red snapper, a very high quality fish that some places skimp on. As for the seco, it was also very high quality beef. As my favorite Peruvian dish, their seco did not disappoint. The owner served us. He gave us some of the best service I’ve ever received, truly made it feel like we were dining in his home. Also, coming from LA I couldn’t believe the prices. For the same price in LA for these high quality meals you couldn’t even get a sandwich. Super happy with this place and it’s definitely the best Peruvian food in the area. If you are ever considering eating here, I highly recommend it. And if you’ve never had Peruvian food, this place is a great place to try it for...