Besides Mexican, which Latin American country has the best food?

Anonymous
Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.


People didn’t mention ceviche. That’s also big in Peru. I think most people say Peru and Mexico. But obviously lots of countries have good stuff. Chilean is sort of boring (sorry Chile), as is Belize. Argentina and Uruguay are heavily Italian influenced. Ecuador has some interesting stuff.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.


My favorite about Peruvian is actually the fish. The Chinese and Japanese influence is what makes it really superb. Some of the best sushi and sushi-adjacent (think tiraditos and ceviche) food I've ever had has been in Lima.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:El Salvador.


+1 especially in this area. There are tons of great pupusas in the DMV
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.


People didn’t mention ceviche. That’s also big in Peru. I think most people say Peru and Mexico. But obviously lots of countries have good stuff. Chilean is sort of boring (sorry Chile), as is Belize. Argentina and Uruguay are heavily Italian influenced. Ecuador has some interesting stuff.


I'm the pp who lived in Latin America for many years and talked about the tiers. I think each country has individual dishes that are good and you can eat OK anywhere, but I think Peru and Mexico are the only places in LA that compete on a global level with countries like Italy, France, Japan, etc. Everywhere else has their things but they fall short of making the real top. Agree Chile is very boring, bottom of the list, food is not a reason to go there.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.


My favorite about Peruvian is actually the fish. The Chinese and Japanese influence is what makes it really superb. Some of the best sushi and sushi-adjacent (think tiraditos and ceviche) food I've ever had has been in Lima.


Again, I am showing my ignorance, but I wasn't expecting Chinese and Japanese influences on Peruvian cuisine. Thank you for the info!
Anonymous
Peruvian and Salvadorean
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all who gave examples of non-chicken Peruvian food! I am ready to leave my ignorance behind re: this cuisine.


People didn’t mention ceviche. That’s also big in Peru. I think most people say Peru and Mexico. But obviously lots of countries have good stuff. Chilean is sort of boring (sorry Chile), as is Belize. Argentina and Uruguay are heavily Italian influenced. Ecuador has some interesting stuff.


I got a chuckle out of your use of interesting. My husband is from Ecuador and generally I dislike most of the foods he loves. 🫣
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Title says it. I have always had a soft spot for Colombian food.


There is really very little difference between most. Some of the islands and Brasil are a tad different, due to French and Portuguese influence.

That's basically like asking what states in the USA have the best food. The same food can be found in many areas, not just where it originated.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Title says it. I have always had a soft spot for Colombian food.


There is really very little difference between most. Some of the islands and Brasil are a tad different, due to French and Portuguese influence.

That's basically like asking what states in the USA have the best food. The same food can be found in many areas, not just where it originated.


Texas:
Texas BBQ + TexMex + Southern country cooking
Anonymous
My neighbor is from Peru, and he moved to here back in the early 90s. His family is full of Peruvian blood and lots of them immigrated here back in the 90s, but I will say this. The recent influence of Peruvian culture and restaurants where I live in MD (Aspen Hill/Rockville) is huge, especially since we have a higher concentration of Peruvians (and the most out of any South America country I believe)

I have tried many other Hispanic foods before trying Peruvian. But after years or so, I think it’s safe to say Peru has my vote, lol. Most people I’ve seen only know Peru because of the chicken, but c’mon, that’s simple. Peruvian food is very diverse because of other foods like chaufa or lomo saltado which are Asian influence and both are amazing. There’s also ceviche which I actually tried last week and it isn’t my favorite, but it’s solid.

My wife and I have been planning to visit Peru some day, but my neighbor does not recommend it for a while especially with the amount of political unrest, violence, and corruption in the country.
Anonymous
Peru!!! Best food I’ve had on an entire vacation. Every meal was incredible and pretty inexpensive.
Anonymous
Along with Mexico, I would add Brazil and Peru to this list.
Anonymous
Another vote for Peru. But echoing that there are great dishes in every Latin American country. Pupusas in El Salvador. Churrasco in Nicaragua. Pastel de choclo in Chile. Ropa vieja in Cuba.

Also, Mexico has a variety of cuisines, as does any geographically diverse or large place! Sonoran food has always seemed underappreciated to me!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor is from Peru, and he moved to here back in the early 90s. His family is full of Peruvian blood and lots of them immigrated here back in the 90s, but I will say this. The recent influence of Peruvian culture and restaurants where I live in MD (Aspen Hill/Rockville) is huge, especially since we have a higher concentration of Peruvians (and the most out of any South America country I believe)

I have tried many other Hispanic foods before trying Peruvian. But after years or so, I think it’s safe to say Peru has my vote, lol. Most people I’ve seen only know Peru because of the chicken, but c’mon, that’s simple. Peruvian food is very diverse because of other foods like chaufa or lomo saltado which are Asian influence and both are amazing. There’s also ceviche which I actually tried last week and it isn’t my favorite, but it’s solid.

My wife and I have been planning to visit Peru some day, but my neighbor does not recommend it for a while especially with the amount of political unrest, violence, and corruption in the country.


Theres a higher concentration of Peruvians in the Rockville-Aspen Hill-Wheaton area in MoCo, maybe that’s why so many people who I know are from Peru (and Bolivia) live around that area, there’s many nice restaurants aside from just the rotisserie chicken.
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