Description: Located just outside the main tourist area of Cusco is this delightful restaurant serving a full range of dishes, from your typical American hamburger and Italian pizza to traditional Andean dishes, including guinea pig and, of course, the national staple, potato. There is also a wide selection of sandwiches and an array of breakfasts. As this is not in the more frequented parts of tourist Cusco, the prices are very reasonable.
Inka Food is located two streets behind Catedral del Cusco and the main square of Plaza de Armas on Calle Choquechaca. Unfortunately, the restaurant isn’t as easy to find as others on the same street, as you have to walk through a small alleyway to a courtyard and then upstairs before finally reaching the restaurant. Normally there is a person standing on the main road with a menu, which makes things a whole lot easier.
While the nontraditional dishes of pizza and sandwiches tend to be cheaper than those offered around Plaza de Armas, it is the local delicacy of guinea pig at less than $6 per serving that makes this restaurant a hidden treasure.
Luckily, the guinea pig meat comes rolled around cilantro dressing, which I think is much nicer than taking the meat off the guinea pig itself. If I had to describe guinea pig, I would say it is a cross between pork and turkey. Alongside the guinea pig, you also get a selection of potato recipes, which although doesn’t look much on the plate, soon fills you up. As long as you aren’t vegetarian, then I think it would be rude not to try this delicacy at least once. Even if you are vegetarian, like my girlfriend, the restaurant still has a large number of edible dishes, so much so that my girlfriend spend longer choosing her meal than I did!
The restaurant has a relaxed, ambient atmosphere, and if you have the choice, try to sit at one of the tables on the window balcony, overlooking the street below. The staff is very friendly, and during my visit, the chef even came to our table to greet us and offer us free Pisco Sour. You really can’t complain when a restaurant offers you free alcohol!
If you decide to try and sample some of the local delicacies and don’t fancy paying over the odds in the main tourist area, then you can do no wrong choosing to eat here. Expect to pay between $4 and $10 for a meal, depending on whether you are eating for lunch or for dinner. For more information, you can email Inka Food on inkafood@yahoo.es.
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