South Beach's Best Peruvian Food is Hidden on Alton Road
Break out of your lomo saltado rut
There’s an old joke that says every gringo who’s ever walked into a Peruvian restaurant spends 20 minutes looking at the menu and then orders the lomo saltado. And as a card-carrying gringo, I can’t say that’s inaccurate. But in South Beach, there’s a hidden little neighborhood restaurant that’s encouraging everyone to branch out, even if it means doing things a little differently.
It’s called 5 Esquians, and it’s hiding in the corner of that shopping center on Alton Road with Apple a Day Market. I was turned on to it by some Peruvian South Beach locals, who said it was low key some of the best Peruvian food in Miami. It specializes in sandwiches, a rarity in Peruvian places here but apparently commonplace back home. And after trying it, I’ve got a new go-to for laid-back Peruvian food.
Wait, Peru makes sandwiches? Why have I never seen this?
I’m not sure, but sandwiches are actually a big part of Peruvian cuisine inside the country. Somehow,…
