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Eating is a pleasure and all the more so when you can try foods from other countries that are so special and exquisite.
That’s why if you’re planning a trip to Peru, the city of Arequipa should be on your list. There you will taste some of the best dishes in the country.
Today we tell you what and where to eat in Arequipa so that you can quickly add it to your Peru itinerary and don’t miss it.
What to eat in Arequipa
Peruvian gastronomy, which is full of delicious delicacies that we are sure you want to try. We tell you about the most famous dishes from Arequipa.
Arequipa Ocopa
Ocopa is nothing more than boiled potatoes served with a sauce made of huacatay and peanuts. It is one of the oldest and at the same time one of the most delicious dishes of this city. It is delicious!
Stuffed Rocoto
Stuffed rocoto is a vegetable very similar to a pepper stuffed with meat, onion and cheese.
It is a spicy dish that is usually accompanied by potato pie, perfect as a starter.
Shrimp chowder
This shrimp soup with onion, tomato, beans, potatoes… and other ingredients that vary according to taste and time of year, is a tasty and complete dish.
Cheese Solterito
This salad with cheese, beans, onion, olives, chopped tomatoes… is usually served as a starter. It is a light and fresh dish for hot days.
Where to eat in Arequipa
Arequipa is a great place to eat, cheap and varied. However, if you’re looking for local food and to be surrounded by locals, try to avoid tourist areas such as the Plaza de Armas, where prices will be higher and it will be crowded with travellers.
Central Market
A good place to visit is the Mercado Central de Arequipa, also known as the Mercado de San Camilo. Inaugurated in 1938 and declared Historical Monumental Heritage in 1987.
Don’t leave without tasting the typical sweets like the ”alfajor de miel arequipeño” or the freshly made salteñas and empanadas at very cheap prices (1 sol = 25 cents).
You can also eat in the restaurants inside the market, which are located on the upper floor. There you will find menus for 8 soles (2 euros) and a wide variety of local dishes to choose from.
Cayma Square
On Sundays it is typical to eat adobo early in the morning in the Plaza de Cayma. This is a dish made of pork marinated with spices and served with bread.
After this hearty breakfast it is common to order a piteao tea, which is nothing more than a tea with a glass of aniseed, perfect for digestion and to get the strength to spend the day doing a tour in the Colca Canyon.
In the streets
You don’t have to go far to try some of Arequipa’s delicacies, you can do it in the streets of the city.
A typical dessert of the city is the ice cheese or “helado de tarro”. It is a mixture of ice and milk made in a cold metal container, hence its name. It costs 2 soles (0.50 euros) and you are sure to find more than one stall if you stroll through the streets of the city.
So now you know, if you don’t know what to do in Arequipa… go in search of queso helado (ice cheese)!
Some restaurants
- Restaurante Sabor Norteño: In Calle Pieróla 302 you can try typical Peruvian and Arequipa dishes, especially the ceviche with squid chicharrón.
- Local de la Asociación rayos de Sol: Near the Plaza de Armas, at Calle Bolivar 112, is this café where all the money goes to pay for canteens and school supplies for children from underprivileged families.
- Nueva Palomino: On Calle Leoncio Prado 122 is this cheap picanteria with delicious Arequipa dishes.
- Zig Zag: In front of the Plaza San Francisco is this restaurant specialised in alpaca, beef, sheep meat… you will also find there a saw staircase designed by Gustave Alexandre Eiffel himself, the architect who also designed the Eiffel Tower.
Now that you know what and where to eat in Arequipa, we are sure you want to try all the food by wandering the streets of the city. Which dish would you choose?