Picarones in Lima
Picarones, one of Peru's finest desserts
Ah, Picarones! Without question, they rank among the finest desserts to enjoy at the end of a meal—at once simple, rustic, and deliciously sweet. This quintessentially Peruvian dish tastes even better at a humble street stall than in a restaurant, for the charm of "mama's" cooking never fails to work its magic…
Far be it from us to claim knowledge of every restaurant in the capital or to rank them definitively, but this handy Top 5 of the best places to eat Picarones was compiled directly by Peruvians themselves through a survey published in the newspaper El Comercio…
Peruvians tell you where to find the best Picarones in Lima!
Lima's residents are here to help you find the finest places to enjoy picarones in the capital. For those wondering: "but what exactly are Picarones?" Well, they're a sort of ring-shaped fritters made from squash and sweet potato, dunked in chancaca—a deliciously sweet honey-like syrup!
You couldn't ask for a more rustic dessert, since this Peruvian culinary treasure dates back to colonial times. We call it a dessert, but traditionally it's not eaten at the end of a meal—rather in late afternoon or from small carts along street corners, where vendors sell both anticucho and picarones as dessert. You absolutely must try a portion of picarones during your stay in Perú.
Top 5 best places to eat picarones in Lima
1. Picarones: near Parque Castilla in Lince
As we mentioned before, and Peruvians know this well, the best picarones are eaten at a street corner. Here we're talking about a stand near Castilla Park in Lince, their picarones are renowned for their distinctive taste—they're dunked in a luscious fig honey. Be prepared to wait, as there's almost always a queue!
2. Picarones Mary: in Kennedy Park, Miraflores
Here too, you might hardly notice this small red and white cart in Kennedy Park in Miraflores—your attention drawn instead by the site's beauty or the painters lining the park. Yet this humble cart attracts Peru's biggest culinary names; the celebrated chef Gaston Acurio has sung its praises, and the owner of this tiny kiosk has participated five times in Mistura, the national gastronomy festival!
Suffice to say you'll need to queue like everyone else for the chance to taste these delicious picarones.
3. Los Deliciosos Picarones de Marcelo: Jirón San Cristóbal Cuadra 9 in La Victoria
Another street-food success in Peruvian gastronomy! Los Deliciosos Picarones de Marcelo began as a tiny kiosk run by cook Magdalena, who built a reputation throughout Lima for her divine picarones… Today the stand has grown somewhat but retains its simple, authentic appearance, proudly claiming its place in Peru's street cuisine.
Don't judge a Peruvian restaurant by its façade or appearance—that's the lesson this place teaches, having been nominated Number 1 at the 2011 Mistura festival! Nothing short of remarkable… The secret to its success may lie in the mango juice Magdalena adds to her recipe, giving the picarones their uniquely distinctive flavor.
4. Tio Mario: Jr. Zepita 214 in the district of Barranco
This is a place you absolutely must visit during your trip to Perú, should you find yourself in Lima's Barranco neighborhood. What could be more delightful than enjoying a beautiful summer evening in this verdant, charming quarter, savoring Tio Mario's anticuchos, followed by a fresh batch of wonderful picarones bathed in chancaca syrup?
Stop wondering and just go—you'll be licking your fingers in front of Tio Mario's blue façade, thinking of us!
5. Doña Julia: Jr. Huiracocha 1300 in the district of Jesús María
Here's one final address for tasting golden, crispy, and perfectly sweetened picarones. Doña Julia enjoys an excellent reputation and people come from afar to taste her creations. In fact, she made the finals at Mistura for both her desserts and her anticuchos, so why not kill two birds with one stone by sampling two quintessentially Peruvian dishes?
