• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Dine Peruvian Style at Lima Criolla in Austin

February 23, 2017 by Dustin Vegas 1 Comment

Lima Criolla Austin

Austinites can access authentic Peruvian cuisine at Lima Criolla

Austin is known for Tex-Mex. Much less noticeably, there has been a recent surge in other Latin American cuisine. It’s about time we start branching out to try these restaurants inspired by Central and South America.

Lima Criolla is one such restaurant. Small and tucked away in North Austin, it’s owned by a family that moved here from Peru. They’re dedicated to introducing Austinites to the authentic food of their home country.

Peruvian Food in Austin

I recently visited Lima Criolla to sample what they have to offer. Since this is a Peruvian restaurant, I had to try their pisco. Pisco is a grape-distilled alcohol with a contentious history. Both Peru and Chile claim to have invented the drink. And to this day, many Chileans claim their pisco is superior to Peru’s version.

Pisco Sour at Lima Criolla

The pisco sour is a delicious grape-based cocktail

Until someone can point me to a Chilean bar in Austin, I’m going to have to side with the Peruvians. I tried both the traditional pisco and the pisco sour, a more contemporary version of the drink. The latter was a refreshing type of cocktail I had never tasted in Austin. You should definitely give it a try.

If you have a love affair with the spiciness of Mexican or Tex-Mex food, you may find Peruvian cuisine to be a strange departure. These dishes tend to taste rich, rather than spicy. You’ll notice the food often leans on pasta as a carbohydrate because of the strong Italian influence on Peru. When rice is served, as it often is, the chefs at Lima Criolla infuse it with a ton of garlic flavor, which I’m all about.

Dive into the Food Menu at Lima Criolla

Lima Criolla Papa Rellena

Lima Criolla’s papa rellena

For my appetizer, I ordered the papa rellena, a potato loaded with spices, ground beef and cheese. While it was a tad heavy, I didn’t feel like the dish weighed me down. In keeping with many Peruvian dishes, the spices added depth and richness not often found in other Latin American cultures. Nothing about the plate was spicy.

A lot of people order the lomo saltado, which is beef with fries, because many Peruvians think it’s a simple introduction for the American palate. While it is a safe option, it’s not going to get you excited. You wouldn’t want to come to Texas for the first time and order a cheeseburger.

Lima Criolla Tallarines Verdes in Austin

Tallarines verdes combines two of my favorite things: pesto and steak

For entrees, my table ordered two dishes: tallarines verdes and lomo saltado limeño. Tallarines verdes included a savory, slow-cooked steak sliced and served over a bed of traditional pasta, with a Peruvian pesto-like sauce. The dish came with potatoes on the side that had been boiled and seasoned with spices. Talk about heavy. This dish will keep you warm in the coldest of Texas winters (which aren’t that cold, but you get my point). The portion was huge, so I wound up taking half of it home.

My friend ordered lomo saltado limeño. It also had sliced beef, but it was served on a bed of onions, garlic, rice and mild peppers. The flavor was intense, but not overwhelming. I recognized the parts that made up the flavor of the dish, but the combination of flavors made something I wouldn’t have imagined.

Lomo Saltado Limeno Peruvian Restaurant in Austin

Lomo saltado limeño

The interior of Lima Criolla is friendly and inviting, and Latin music is always playing. In addition to the delicious food offerings, there’s also a full bar. I would recommend going traditional, but there are many options available if you’re working up the courage to try something new.

Lima Criolla is located at 6406 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Road, #1550. Tell them The Ausitinot sent you.

 

@DustyVegas wants to know:

What is your favorite Latin American restaurant in Austin?

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: north austin, pasta

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Susana C. Osorio
Susana C. Osorio
5 years ago

I am really glad that you came to visit us and tried our Peruvian cuisine. I greatly appreciate your comments and recommendation to the Austinities and visitors to Austin. Thanks.

0
Reply

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of July 4, 2022 include Round Rock Express Vs. Albuquerque, Cedar Park Fourth, and more!

Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. There are things to do on Monday in Austin, of course, things to do in Austin on Saturday night, and everything in between! Some of you may be […]

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend

Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of July 1, 2022, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Dive In Movies – Wells Branch, Bastrop Patriotic Festival, and more!   Top […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Brick Rodeo

10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!

  For summer camp information, check out our page for Best Summer Camps in Austin for 2022!  If you would like to discover more Things to do in Austin this Week & Things to do in Austin with Kids this Weekend, check out Facebook for immediate notifications.

texas swimming holes near austin

Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

If you have been looking for free places to swim in Austin or googling ‘swimming holes near me’, you are in the right place! Texas is known for a lot of things and one of them is relentlessly hot summers. The temperatures are rising in Austin and across the state. Luckily, there are also many […]

Austin trampoline parks - Urban Air Adventure Park (Cedar Park)

Austin Trampoline Parks – Best Indoor Jumping Places for Kids and Adults!

Trampoline parks were among the decade’s most unique leisure attractions. They offer a playful atmosphere where people can defy the laws of physics and have a good time hurling themselves around. It consists of a large room filled wall to wall with trampolines. On the weekend, you may get rid of your boredom and have […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of July 4, 2022 include Round Rock Express Vs. Albuquerque, Cedar Park Fourth, and more!
  • Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Best Lakes in and around Austin
  • 20 Restaurants Open Late in Austin – Best Late Night Food Places For Tasty Eats
  • 7 Popular Lady Bird Lake Activities to Experience This Year
  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

wpDiscuz