7 Of The Very Best Cusco Foods To Enjoy During Your Peru Vacation

Are you curious what kind of Cusco food and cuisine are worth exploring during your time up in the Peruvian Andes?

One of Latin America’s quickest-growing cuisines, Peruvian food is now famous all over the planet – thanks to its incredible diversity of ingredients and award-winning restaurants. Andean cuisines like those found in Cusco are known for their rich meats and wholesome flavours – and as such it’s worth learning about the different dishes on offer up at these higher altitudes.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Cusco foods. This includes the very best dishes to try when here, and what makes each one so special and novel. Later we’ll also answer your most frequently asked questions in our FAQ section.

7 Mouthwatering Cusco Food And Dishes That Are Worth Trying

Papa A La Huancaina

Starting with perhaps one of the most popular Andean dishes, Papa a la Huancaina consists of boiled potatoes covered in a creamy and slightly spicy sauce – made from native ají amarillo peppers, fresh cheese and milk. Served alongside boiled eggs and olives, it’s a perfect introduction to traditional Peruvian cuisine.

Caldos

Caldos are essentially traditional hot Peruvian soups, with many kinds hailing from the cooler Andean highlands. Prepared with ingredients such as meats, vegetables, potatoes, aromatic herbs and more, these hearty soups provide both much needed warmth and nourishment up at altitude – and also great for those suffering from altitude sickness symptoms. Within Cusco, travelers can try popular caldos such as Caldo de Gallina and Caldo de Cabeza.

Picarones

Here we now switch over to the sweeter side of Andean desserts, with perhaps the most popular Peruvian treat throughout the Andes. Resembling donuts, they are made from sweet potatoes, squash and flour, and are fried and served with a sweet chancaca syrup. Best eaten warm, they are commonly found on menus in luxury restaurants, as well as being a popular street food around the Cusco Plaza de Armas as well as in local markets.

Ají De Gallina

A classic comfort food hailing from the Peruvian Andes, Ají de Gallina features shredded chicken, a rich sauce made from ají amarillo peppers, cheese, milk and bread. It’s usually served alongside rice, boiled potatoes and olives to make quite the filling dish – and is both a local and tourist favourite in traditional restaurants in Cusco and beyond.

Pachamanca 

Dating back thousands of years to the pre-Inca times, Pachamanca is both a unique underground cooking method and hearty banquet to be enjoyed. Consisting of marinated meats, potatoes, corn, herbs and more wrapped within bijao leaves, it’s then cooked under the earth by heated stones. Travelers can find this authentic dish and culinary tradition in restaurants throughout the Historic Center.

Pollo Al Horno

Featuring roasted chicken seasoned with garlic, cumin, ají peppers and other aromatic spices, Pollo al Horno is one of Peru’s most popular dishes. It’s typically accompanied with rice, roasted potatoes and salad, and is both a comforting and popular local dish – as well as a good first local meal for travelers to try as they start exploring Andean and Cusco cuisine.

Cuy Chactado

Oven-fried Guinea Pig, Cuy Chactado is cooked until golden brown and served alongside fresh salads, corn or potatoes – and is a popular delicacy worth trying at least once when in Cusco. Dating back several thousands of years, it offers travelers the opportunity to experience an important part of Peru’s rich Andean culinary heritage.

How To Enjoy Cusco Foods Safely During Your Visit

Cusco cuisine is extremely varied and delicious, and for this reason we highly suggest trying various dishes during your visit. However, unless you will only be eating in high-end or luxury restaurants or hotel venues during your entire stay, it’s important to take proper precautions. This includes only eating in local restaurants that are popular or recommended by expert guides, and avoiding raw vegetables or ordering ice with your drinks where possible – as food poisoning is more likely with these.

Here at Cusco Transport and Tours, we operate privately guided experiences around Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Here your lead guide will share experienced advice on where the best places are to eat traditional Cusco food and other rich Peruvian cuisine – while also showing you around incredible historic sites such as Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán Ruins and the Plaza de Armas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cusco Foods

In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about Cusco foods that are worth trying when here, as well as anything else you need to know.

What Food Is Cusco Famous For?

Cusco is famous for its abundance of ancient ingredients and dishes, however Cuy is perhaps the most famous of all. Dating back several thousands of years to the times of nomadic groups and the early pre-Inca cultures, Cuy was a very common food to eat during these times. Rich in protein, Cuy was also an important ceremonial animal back then – and today can either be eaten roasted or fried in restaurants throughout Cusco.

How To Avoid Food Poisoning In Cusco?

The majority of food poisoning cases in Cusco occur when eating in the street, or in non-vetted restaurants or markets. By instead dining in better-known Cusco restaurants, you instantly reduce your risk. As well as following our local tour guides expert advice, we recommend travellers avoiding raw vegetables or ordering ice where possible when eating in Cusco.

Where Do The Locals Eat In Cusco?

The strong majority of locals either eat at home, or at local restaurants in Cusco. The latter is where we will find the menu ejecutivos – which are more inexpensive set meals that include a starter, main and drink – and are ideal for trying typical Peruvian cuisine such as Papa a la Huancaina, Caldos and Ají de Gallina. Guests on our Cusco tours will be accompanied by our local expert tour guides, ensuring you eat at only the best local Cusco restaurants.

Overview Of Cusco Foods And Cuisine

And that’s all for this guide on everything you need to know about Cusco foods.

From the ancient traditions of Pachamanca and Cuy Chactado, to the tasty desserts of Picarones as well as the comforting Caldo soups – Cusco cuisine is a great way for travelers to better connect with the city and surrounding Andes. And for guests staying in the Historic Center or San Blas areas of Cusco, you will find numerous gourmet restaurants and local dining experiences that are perfect for trying these dishes.

Here at CuscoTransport, we operate unforgettable local tours where expert tour guides help you uncover the city in the most comfortable way possible. During our Cusco Day Tours, you will not only have the opportunity to eat typical Andean cuisine, but also visit some of the very best city sights and local ancient ruins in style.