MAMON — Restaurant in Lake Forest

Mamón is quite the gem! It's hard to find truly great breakfast places around here, and Mamón is one I can now add to my list of go-to spots.

Besides breakfast, they offer some amazing lunch food too. I had the Chancho en Cama, and man what a flavor-filled sandwich.

First, I gotta talk about the fries that I ordered with it: nearly perfect. There are very few places that fry their french fries this well, and as a french fry freak, I would come back just to snack on their fries. If there's one thing they could improve on is adding a little less salt, but otherwise perfection.

Back to the Chancho: it's a pork shoulder sandwich with this mouthwatering aioli sauce, and just the right amount of bread to hang on to. The sweet potatoes inside give a little sweetness and crunch. It's a little on the greasy side because of the pork fat, so be prepared for a bit of a mess. That said, excellent sandwich.

Oh, I haven't mentioned the mango iced tea they served me. It's a sugarless iced tea that really doesn't need the sugar. In fact, if you're ordering the Chancho, this drink pairs perfectly as it is relatively neutral. Really refreshing drink, especially during the summer.

I've saved probably the best for last: the homemade Peruvian alfajor dessert. Mamón is a Peruvian restaurant, and what's a self respecting Peruvian restaurant without a fantastic alfajor cookie? This homemade treat is really something special. It's that fluffy soft cookie that alfajores are known for, and a dulce de leche center that is that kiss of sweetness that brings it all together.

I'll finish my review by saying that the staff were very friendly and welcoming. They followed Covid guidelines to the tee, and I felt well taken care of. Really great job!

I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for excellent food, especially if you're looking for the kind of mouthwatering flavors that only the best Peruvian restaurants...

Wife and I were trying to decide where to eat, I voted for Denny's, but she wanted to try Mamon. I honestly did not expect much, figured it was another one of those trendy places where the food looked better than it tasted. From the moment we walked in the atmosphere was great, everyone was very helpful and patient. We did not receive or order, but over heard a family wondering if they should dine here, the gentleman behind the counter said yes, cause everything was tasty.

When we received our order, he was on point. I had the glazed, which was a pork shoulder sandwich, it was tasty and flavorful. I also liked the coffee which was french pressed. Even the breakfast potatoes were tasty and in most places it is more of an after thought or filler for the meal. My wife enjoyed the 'Smashed' and we are definitely looking forward to going back and trying new things...

Delicious food for an okay price. We came for a later dinner around 8pm on a Friday and it was quite empty. They had to explain they just had big rush because they had run out of at least two of the sides. Of course these were the two I chose and found out the hard way they were out of them.

I'm not sure if it's because their ingredients are so fresh they they don't keep much in stock or just an unusually busy night. But it worked out because I ended up ordering the Moro (rice & beans) from the cashier's suggestion. It was excellent! I think I enjoyed that more than my chicken entree.

Everything was excellently spiced and flavored. It wasn't overwhelming or super heavy, so I walked away feeling just right and content. The salad dressing was a delicious blend of creaminess...