Los Balcones — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So my perception of Peruvian cuisine comes from one if my best friends who is actually Peruvian and dishes like Lomo Saltado and Tallarines Verde are down to earth comfort foods. Los Balcones takes those dishes and elevates them to delicious modern cuisine that showcases the beauty of Peruvian culture.

To celebrate mother's day we had ceviche mixto, lomo saltado, arroz con pollo, arroz con mariscos, pancetta and for dessert had picarones. Our waitress was amazing and accommodated the family including my young niece and nephew. She also answered a lot of questions regarding Peruvian food which helped my family a lot.

I can tell you my family that has never had Peruvian food before loved it. Peruvian food has a mix of Asian flavors which they were used to but still has elements of South American cuisine so it's not too far off the deep end for them since they might not be as adventurous as I am when it comes to food.

At first I was surprised by the smaller portions since im used to my buddy putting heaping helpings of food on my plate and this was also family style, but we were thoroughly full afterwards and even took food home. Everything felt fresh, like they just cooked it, and seasoned just right. Not too salty which I've had with Peruvian food before. I remember even complimenting how good the rice was, especially on the Arroz con Mariscos, which is like a paella. It wasn't dry at all and had the flavor of all the seafood cooked in it without being overpowering. I think the best dish of the night though was the pancetta. Its cooked like chicharron on the outside but tasted like braised pork belly on the inside, all in this wonderful tomato broth. I'd come back just for that. Now I just have to try the rest...

Los Balcones was the first Peruvian restaurant I've been to that was more on the upscale, modern side, since most of the past ones tended to be very casual, hole in the wall. I didn't really know what to expect coming in, but I was blown away by the food. Everything tastes amazing, where do I begin...The ceviche and tiradito were both excellent, using high quality sushi grade fish. These are some of the must try appetizers on the menu, especially if you like raw fish. The tiradito, especially, felt like it had some cool Japanese vibes to it. And then the mindblowing pulpo de olivo, which is their charred octopus with olive spread. Just amazing. Even the toasted bread that came on the side was amazing. This is a must get item. The lomo saltado was some of the best I've had in any restaurant, although I admit that this was more of an unconventional way of making lomo saltado since they use filet mignon (in contrast to ribeye steak) and the coating on the meat was a bit thicker, almost like a sauce. But it was very tasty. And finally, the secho de carne was another homerun. The beef rib was so tender and flavorful, and the meat pairs great with the lima bean spread underneath.

This was indeed one of the best new restaurants I've tried this year. For the longest time, I've only regarded Mario's Peruvian Cuisine in Hollywood as my go-to place, but now I've found another comparable option. Like I said, Los Balcones is different in that it's a bit more modern in presentation. And the food is a bit less Chinese influenced than the dishes at most casual Peruvian restaurants. But it's so good here!

I shot a Youtube video of my experience at Los Balcones in Hollywood, which you can see on my Youtube channel,...

Whisper the words "Los Balcones" in your sexiest Latin voice and then you can glimpse the sultriness this place exudes!

"Los Balcones" luckily didn't have a wait. It's pretty small on the inside but what it lacks in size, it makes up in ambiance. Its dim lighting, Peruvian tribal décor and rhythmic music makes it's a cute date place or equally as nice for drinks with the girls.

"Los Balcones" served up some dishes that were hit and miss. The mixto ceviche (striped bass, choclo, sweet potato, lime, cilantro, and shrimp) had some interesting flavors but entirely lacked in flavor. The striped bass and shrimp were tasty but the choclo (Peruvian corn which are HUGE kernels) lacked flavor and provided an interesting texture but didn't soak up any of that lime juice. The sweet potato fries was an interesting addition but didn't come with enough for all the ceviche. And it was $16 a bit overpriced for the lack of piquancy.

Pero "Los Balcones presented a pleasant pollo saltado that was a worthy redemption from the first dish. This saltado is off menu so please ask for it if you desire chicken over beef and like all saltado dishes this is served with onions, tomatoes, fries and rice. The chicken was oozed all sorts of delectable essences some spicy some sweet all very aromatic. It was undoublty one of the best Peruvian dishes I have encountered. The portion size was a bit small for the price but it was very filling and I had leftovers (and it was even better reheated!)

"Los Balcones" is certainly a great spot for a cute dinner. Parking is ample in the lot across the street and it's not so deep into Hollywood where traffic gets bad. Price wise it's a bit up there but it makes up in...