A Quick Guide to Cusco’s Street Food!
A Quick Guide to Cusco’s Street Food!
Cusco’s Street Food! How do you feel about giving it a try? Some people probably warned you to not try the street food but honestly, living in Cusco as a Spanish student, we think you should go for it! Peruvian streetfood is a very cheap and quick way to sample local the lovely Peruvian fare, with no commitment to a full plate! Peruvian food is amazing, including the street food. We will give you some tips and tricks: a Quick Guide to Cusco’s Street Food!
Cusco’s Street Food!
Lots of people are wary of eating food prepared by a street vendor in Peru. But believe me: it’s the norm here in Cusco, and in most cases perfectly safe. Trust your gut…….if it looks bad…don’t try it! And trust the crowd…if the people are gathered around waiting to eat it, the stand likely got a good reputation and there’s a reason for that! If it’s deserted, there’s likely a reason for that too, and I’m not interested in finding out what it is!
Following is a list of some popular street bites in Cusco…by no means is this list complete…explore Cusco’s street food and let us know what you enjoyed most! Buen provecho!
PERUVIAN STREET FOOD IN CUSCO: TOP # 8
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Anticucho
“Meat on a stick” grilled to perfection on the streets of Cusco after 6pm, that’s what anticucho is. The traditional anticucho is corazon (cow heart) but if you aren’t feeling that adventurous, you can try the chicken or regular old beef. The meat itself is impaled onto what appears to be a weapon of mass destruction (an obscenely sharp skewer made of bamboo) blunted at the end with a (somehow a little) dry potato, (which most locals love).
Be sure to top your meat with the green sauce! It’s a staple at every anticucho stand. These stands can usually be found near Plaza De Armas and the Av del Sol and you will see lots of people standing around eating. Street food becomes a meeting spot for people in Cusco. You and ask the AMAUTA team for the best recommendations.
You can give anticucho also a try at a Peruvian restaurant if street food is not your thing as this is muy rico! Definitely a must try.
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Salchipapa
At first glance this looks like something that only a child would dare to try, and it’s true that kids love it! But, to my surprise I’ve seen many adults order this popular dish with a straight face… (I still can’t say ¨salchipapa¨ without laughing).
The “salchi” on this plate is a fried and sliced Peruvian hotdog and the Papa is French fries, served smothered in ketchup, mustard, mayo, and aji sauce. Ask your teachers for their favorite recommendations on where to try this dish. Try it! You’ll like it! Our Spanish students in Cusco love it! You can find fancier versions of this with chicken and vegetables at restaurants around Cusco but the street food version is the best.
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Toast Pork Sandwiches
Yummy! And you can find them all over Cusco! The sandwich is a crusty bun, filled to the brim with pork, carved on the spot, and a fresh local salsa which includes loads of red onion. Add ketchup, mustard and mayo, and you can walk away with this filling meal within moments! This amazing sandwich is called Butifarra, named after a Spanish sausage that came to Peru in colonial times.
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Avocado and cheese sandwiches
(for the veggies!)
These very simple sandwiches are available in the mornings; pick one up on your way to Spanish class! They are nothing more than bread with local salty cheese or (even better!) creamy Avocado (palta)! The locals aren’t used to putting both cheese and avocado on the same bread, so if you want to try that combo, be prepared to be convincing!FYI : on Calle San Agustin you’ll find the best pan con palta! The cheerful woman makes each one to order so they are never mushy or stale, adds the secret ingredient of love, and will even add cebolla if you wish! They cost between 1.50-3 Soles and you can get carne and chicken sandwiches too.
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Quinoa/Manzana bebida
The above mentioned sandwiches are usually accompanied by a yummy, warm morning beverage, made from quinoa (the protein-rich Andean grain-like seed) with apple juice and cinnamon.
For 1.50 sol, you can warm yourself from the inside out on Cusco’s brisk mornings! You can ask for milk (con leche) and the best way to drink this is in a plastic bag on your walk to the Spanish classes at AMAUTA.
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Papa rellena
As Peru is home to over 3000 types of potatoes, it is not surprising that you can find many traditional dishes made from papas! Papas rellenas, or stuffed potatoes, are no more than a dough made from potato, stuffed with beef, onions, olives, eggs, spices, etc, then fried until golden and served! You can also ask for picante salsa with it – which I would recommend as the potato can be dry.
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Choclo con Queso
On first glance it looks terribly bland, but surprisingly this large piece of jumbo boiled corn, accompanied by a chunk of local cheese is simple, filling, and rather tasty!
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Causa con tuna
This dish is not made in the street but it is sold! Causa is one of my favorite dishes in Peru and can be found being sold in Sacred Valley at the market and in the street – and also in Cusco. Causa is layers of mashed potato and filled with chicken, tuna and avocado.
You can find this being sold mainly in Uramabamba, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The women selling it makes it at home using an amazing recipes and it only costs 5 soles. Finding her is tough sometimes; head to the Sacred Valley and you will find her stoof by plastic boxes filled with food near Plaza De Armas in Urubamba.
We hope you enjoyed our A Quick Guide to Cusco’s Street Food! Let us know what unique bites you have tried yourself while traveling in Peru or learning Spanish in Cusco.
You can also send or send us a photo! 🙂