Don Cha Peruvian Food — Restaurant in Pensacola

I must start by saying that I have had the opportunity to eat at various Peruvian Restaurants throughout the U.S. and by far DON CHA has been the best restaurant I have eaten authentic, flavorful and well plated Peruvian food.

My wife and I were visiting Pensacola NAS from California and since I was born in Peru, I wanted to eat some Peruvian food. Luckily we were recommended Don Cha from a local family we met on base. We went to Don Cha for lunch and ordered the Mix Ceviche, the Causa Trio, Lomo Saltado, Wheat Berries a la Huancaina with Lomo and also ordered a Pitcher of Chicha Morada.

The Lomo saltado was amazing and true to the Peruvian flavor and “Sazón,” I always remembered eating when visiting my home country of Peru. The lomo was juicy and made to perfection.

The Mixed Ceviche was perfect, the portion was large and full of flavor. I believe Mahi Mahi was the base fish. It also came with shrimp and squid rings. I ordered it light on the spicy level, and this was perfect! The leche de Tigre was well seasoned which made the whole dish stand out.

The wheat berries a la Huancaina with lomo was a Specialty dish which my wife and I really enjoyed. The wheat berries reminded us of Pearl Barley made in a risotto style with Huancaina sauce and topped by slices of Lomo. A very succulent dish that I highly recommend.

The Causa Trio was good overall. They serve you 3 large causa balls (size of a tennis ball each) topped with the different kinds of toppings. The causa was a bit dry but once you mixed it with the toppings the plate came alive, moist and really good!

Lastly the Chicha Morada was superb, home made fresh daily and delicious!! We had plenty of food to eat, with some left overs to devour later, including the Chicha Morada!!

The service was great, our waiter was very knowledgeable and explained everything to us. The place was clean and well decorated.

I would give Don Cha 6 Stars if I could!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

Keep up the Great service and Awesome Cooking!!

We...

Had dinner with family out of curiosity. So glad we came in! Alicia, our server, took our dinner into her hands and told her what we liked and what we were in the mood for and she basically curated our entire meal. She hit every craving on the spot, and to top, the food was AMAZING!! Let me tell you!!

Apps We did 2 different ceviches, one with all seafood (shrimp, mahi, octopus, annd calamari) and one classic with mahi. The hot spicy level was perfect for non spicy eaters.

Grilled octopus - super tender and flavorful. Came with this spicy Peruvian chili sauce on the side and it does have heat, but heat with flavor!

Peruvian chicken wings - sweet and tangy, came with minced garlic and onion!! So good together!!!

Mains Smoked pork with salad and potatoes- the pork was tender as ever and had the perfect texture with a solid element of smoke. The rice was a tad dry, but that’s long grain, I’m used to Japanese medium grain rice. Not even an issue.

Wife did smoked pork and fried rice. SO GOOODD especially if you’re nervous to try Peruvian food.

Fried fish - my sisters meal - this was top notch! Paired with rice and onions with a red sauce.

Beef dish - I do not eat beef but my brother loved it and cleared his plate.

Desserts Tres leches cake. 10 stars. Perfection. Shoulda got a coffee with it!!

Bread pudding. 9 stars only because I don’t like raisins but flavor was so good!!

All in all, DonCha will be put into our weekly rotation of restaurants to visit and Alicia made our night an amazing experience. She took great care of us and we enjoyed our night because of...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Hidden Gem of Peru in Pensacola!

If you're looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine in Pensacola, look no further — this place is an absolute treasure. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and genuine smiles from the beautiful staff, who made us feel like family. Their hospitality alone would be worth coming back for, but the food? Absolutely unforgettable.

The menu features all the classic Peruvian favorites, made with care and authenticity. The ceviche was incredibly fresh and flavorful, bursting with citrus and spice. The lomo saltado was perfectly seasoned and tender, and the aji de gallina was rich, comforting, and deeply satisfying. Every bite transported us straight to Peru.

We also tried the chicha morada and a perfectly balanced pisco sour — both were refreshing and full of flavor. The attention to detail in both the food and the service was truly impressive.

It’s rare to find a place where you get both world-class food and such a welcoming atmosphere. The staff here are not only professional and attentive but bring a beauty and charm to the experience that makes it feel special from start to finish.

If you're in Pensacola and craving something truly special, this Peruvian gem is a must-visit. Highly recommended — we’ll...