Signature Peruvian dishes in Adelaide
Ask our regulars what to order and you'll hear the same answer: the ceviche, the lomo saltado and a glass of leche de tigre. Then tres leches or anything with lúcuma for dessert. Here's what makes each one special.
01 · Our most-ordered dish
Ceviche carretillero
Ceviche carretillero is a Peruvian ceviche topped with crispy fried seafood (chicharrón). The name comes from the carretillas, the street carts where Lima's cevicheros have served it for generations.
Ours starts with fresh fish cured in lime juice and our leche de tigre, with red onion and a touch of chilli. We crown it with golden chicharrón de pescado and serve it with plantain chips, Peruvian corn and lettuce: cold, zesty and crunchy in every bite.
- Tastes
- Citrusy, fresh, lightly spicy
- Pair with
- A cold Cusqueña or Inca Kola
- Also try
- Ceviche mixto with prawns and octopus
02 · Peru's favourite stir-fry
Lomo saltado
Lomo saltado is beef tenderloin stir-fried in a very hot wok with soy sauce, red onion and tomato, served with white rice and chips. It was born from the meeting of Chinese and Peruvian cooking, known in Peru as chifa.
The secret is fire: the beef is seared in seconds so it stays juicy, and the sauce soaks into the chips. Ours arrives sizzling, so the aroma reaches the table before the plate does.
- Tastes
- Savoury, smoky, saucy
- Diet
- Prepared lactose free
- Pair with
- Inca Kola or a pisco sour
03 · The secret of a good ceviche
Leche de tigre
Leche de tigre ("tiger's milk") is the citrus marinade of a ceviche: lime juice, fish, chilli, onion and coriander blended into a bright, milky juice. Peruvians drink it on its own, in a glass with a little seafood, cancha and plantain chips.
It's famous as a levantamuertos, a "wake-the-dead" pick-me-up after a long night. At Ají & Limón we make ours in-house and it's also what gives our ceviche its punch.
- Tastes
- Zesty, savoury, a little spicy
- How to have it
- As a starter shot, or poured over ceviche
Also loved
More Peruvian favourites
Home-style criollo cooking for when you want something hearty.
- Seco con frejoles
Coriander stew with beans
Slow-cooked beef in coriander sauce with Peruvian beans, rice and salsa criolla.
- Ají de gallina
Creamy chilli chicken
Shredded chicken in silky ají amarillo sauce, with rice, egg and olive.
- Jalea de pescado
Crispy fried fish
Spiced fried fish with cassava and criolla salad.
04 · Desserts
Tres leches & lúcuma
Lúcuma is an Andean fruit with a sweet, caramel-like flavour, often called the "gold of the Incas". It's Peru's favourite ice cream flavour, and we use it in two of our signature desserts.
Torta Tres leches
Sponge soaked in evaporated milk, condensed milk and cream, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
Esponjado de Lúcuma
A light, airy lúcuma mousse: creamy, not too sweet, impossible to share.
Helado de Lúcuma
Creamy lúcuma ice cream. Take a tub home from our frozen range.
Quick answers
Peruvian food, explained
Short answers to what guests ask us most.
- Where can I eat ceviche in Adelaide?
- At Ají & Limón, Shop 10, 329 Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park. Our signature is the ceviche carretillero, and we also serve ceviche mixto and leche de tigre.
- What is ceviche carretillero?
- A Peruvian ceviche (fish cured in lime) topped with crispy fried seafood, in the style of Lima's street carts.
- What is leche de tigre?
- The citrus and chilli marinade of a ceviche, drunk on its own as a starter or "pick-me-up".
- Is lomo saltado spicy?
- No. It's savoury and smoky from the wok. Ask for ají on the side if you like heat.
- What does lúcuma taste like?
- Sweet and caramel-like, somewhere between maple, butterscotch and sweet potato.
- Is ceviche safe to eat raw?
- Ceviche is made to order with fresh fish cured in lime juice. If you're pregnant or have a seafood allergy, ask our team for a cooked alternative.
Reservations
Book your table, ¡buen provecho!
Shop 10, 329 Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park. Book by WhatsApp or phone. We'll confirm your table.