The city of Cuzco offers a variety of restaurants where you can find all kinds of food, including typical dishes from Cuzco and food from other places.
One place that specializes in the dishes and drinks of our Imperial city of the Incas is the Picantería Restaurante Cusqueñita. It is a warm and inviting place with good service found on Tullumayo Ave. number 345. It is just up from the Paccha, the fountain where the two traditional rivers of Cuzco come together to form the Huatanay.
La Cusqueñita is open every day of the week from 9 in the morning. People begin to arrive in groups, and continue throughout the day, in hopes of enjoying the traditional dishes they offer.
While people are enjoying the food, when you least expect it, a group of young people appear suddenly dressed in costume. They make your day happy by dancing on the small stage with lots of energy the traditional dances of Cuzco.
As they are entering the large hall of the restaurant an announcer gives the name and background of the dance and then the music starts.
Once done, they leave, only to return a quarter hour to twenty minutes later with another dance.
Often, they involve people in the audience in their show.
Tourists from many countries as well as people from the city of Cuzco go to the Cusqueñita. It is becoming one of the obligatory experiences of being in this ancient yet modern city.
La Cusqueñita offers a variety of dishes that are like a list of Cuzco traditions. Just reading their name makes you juices start to flow.
As appetizers they offer choclo con queso (sweet corn kernals and cheese), a stuffed rocoto, zarza de patitas, zarza de criadillas, and soltero de kuchikara. These last three, made from knuckes, testicles, and pig-jowls, are very traditional yet hard to find elsewhere in Cuzco’s restaurants.
You will also find soups such as adobo, caldo cusqueño, caldo de malaya, caldo de gallina, caldo de costillar y capchi de zetas,
As main dishes you will find: el lechón (roast pork), chicharon (crisp fried pork), chuleta de cerdo (pork chop), cuy chactado (deep-fried guinea pig), cuy al horno (baked guinea pig), malaya frita (fried beef), costillar frito (fried ribs) , asado de cordero (Lamb), bistec montado (thin beefsteak with a fried egg), trucha frita (fried trout), lengua entomatada (tomoatoed tongue), estofado de canuto (Canuto stew). churrasco al jugo (grilled meat in its juice), ubre apanada (breaded udder), and guiso de rabo (stewed tail).
Also available are standard Creole dishes, such as ceviche, lomo saltado, milanesa de carne (kind of a beef Wiener schnitzle), Chicken milanesa (a breaded and fried Chicken cutlet), seco de cordero (lambo r beef stewed in cilantro sauce), locro de pecho (a stew), tallarín con pollo (fettuccine with Chicken), and stewed veal.
The restaurant also offers some combinations as well as Cuzco’s classic chiriucho, its cold plate.
For your pleasure, you will also find an offering of beverages, such as corn chicha, strawberry chicha (frutillada), and the cusqueña cerveza (beer). You will also find soft drinks and chicha morada.
This is a great place to go as a family to share a wonderful lunch and to enjoya n thrilling and lively show.
