Nestled in the Jesús María neighbourhood, at the heart of Lima, Doña Julia is one of the best restaurants to discover traditional Peruvian cuisine. Its signature dish is anticucho, a skewer of marinated beef heart, served with delicious stewed potatoes.

History

More than 60 years ago, Doña Julia Gonzáles Cárdenas began making picarones in the Jesús María neighbourhood. Her small business flourished thanks to her delicious fried pastries. Following her customers' recommendation, she decided to sell traditional anticuchos. The dish was equally appreciated by many people. The lady managed to open 7 restaurants in her neighbourhood. However, managing them became increasingly difficult. This led her to close the others and keep only the first one she had created. After her death, her daughter Raquel Ayala took over the business. She aims to make Doña Julia the largest anticucho restaurant in Perú.

Dining at Doña Julia

Setting

Doña Julia is located in central Lima, in one of the neighbourhoods inhabited by Peru's upper-middle class. Its building is modern and comprises 3 floors. The staff is attentive and friendly. The restaurant is ideal for tourists who truly wish to savour traditional Peruvian dishes. However, the menu is not particularly refined, and dishes are served quite quickly.

Menu

Visitors can choose between 7 different appetizers, including rachi, made from beef stomach, served with potatoes and cream, and Mollejitas, sweetbread served with the same accompaniment. The main course is the traditional beef anticucho. However, visitors can also order chicken anticucho or grilled meats. The dessert offered is, of course, picarones. The restaurant's signature drink is chicha morada, a sweet and non-alcoholic beverage typically Peruvian, made from deep purple corn.

Nearby Attractions

Numerous tourist attractions can be found near Doña Julia. After your meal, don't miss visiting the Museo de Historia Natural. Established over a century ago, this museum houses Peru's largest collection of botany, zoology, geology, and palaeontology. The Museo de la Inmigración Japonesa al Perú is also a must-see. It tells the story of Japanese immigration to Peruvian territory, which began in 1899. Campo de Marte is also an interesting site. It is a venue for military parades and one of the capital's largest parks.

Practical Information

Bus stops for lines 2613, 4513, 9405, and IM24 can be found near Doña Julia. The closest is just a 2-minute walk away. However, taking a taxi is recommended to reach the restaurant more easily. For those with vehicles, parking is available.

Opening Hours

Doña Julia is open daily from 12:15 PM to 10 PM.

Prices

• Appetizers: €6.51 to €7.01
• Anticucho beef/chicken: €6.51
• Grilled meats: €6.51 to €7.51
• Dessert: €2.50
• Drinks: €1.25 to €3.75