El Fogón

This is my go to spot for Peruvian food. I highly recommend their seafood soup, Papa a la Huancaina, and their Lomo Saltado.

Great service and delicious food. I tried the jalea which was delicious and my date was very pleased with the ceviche. Recommended

I used to love this restaurant. Food was great, fresh and flavourful. My last visit was such a disappointment I’m hesitant to ever go back. We arrived for lunch and there was only one other couple at the restaurant. The only server was on the phone (a personal call we were able to hear all of it while staring at her hoping for service). Then she finally decided to come over. When our food arrived, it tasted stale, it was probably prepared sitting in a Tupperware and it was freshly microwaved for us.
Bad food+bad service. I used to recommend it, not any more.

We were looking for a place to eat in the area and El Fogón had the best reviews out of all the ones we looked at. It’s a very cozy, homely restaurant. I’d never had Peruvian food before, so I didn’t know what to expect. To me it seemed to resemble Chinese food — my friend got fried rice with chicken and I got fried fish on top of rice. The food was pretty good and our waitress was very friendly. I wouldn’t travel all the way to eat here, but if I’m ever in the area looking for a place to eat, I’d definitely come back.

I’m currently sitting in the restaurant. Ordered one hour ago. No food. No eye contact from waitresses. Asked for bread. They ran out. So half the customers have bread half don’t. I’m the third or fourth table waiting for food… Not understanding the wait. Walking out after an hour and 15 mins

I grew up in Peru and I have to say the food is very authentic, highly recommend the Lomo Saltado. My one strong criticism is the service, very slow, not attentive to the table, did not bring all the mains out at the same time, etc. If they approved the service the restaurant would be much better.

Have been here three times and have been unimpressed on each visit. Food tastes generally like cheap takeout.

Ambience was nice, family oriented. Service was bad. The lady — apparently who was on charge — was first by herself and would come to our table only when we calles her. Then two more started but they were sent ro do other stuff but assisting the tables. At the end one of them assisted us and was very very kind. In general service was horrible. I ordered fried fish. It has a lot of oil and Inwas expecting a whole fried fish. Instead I received an oily breaded fish. It was ok, it wasn’t horrible. We also ordered the grilled chicken that comes with potatoes and rice and it was excellent. Really really good. We also ordered mixed ceviche which I liked in taste but the fish out of the whole mix was kind of hard. We are foodies and one of our fav is ceviche and when we see one we know. This one was good in taste only not that tender (the fish). We also ordered the «escabeche» chicken which was also good and some house wine which was chilean and was good. At the end we ordered a dessert similar to «flan» and similar to «crème bruele». It came a little broken and the fork was all messed up with the dessert. I think something happened on its way to the table but they didn’t checked it and we had to clean the fork to use it. The dessert itself was good. I guess what mostly bothered me was the poor service. In several ocassiona we had to ask for more water and they were not even around to ask them. My daughter received her dish and her spoon didn’t come after ordered until I asked for it again. They only came to the table when asked. In general, food was good. Just a twist in service and the fish of the ceviche tender and explain in the menu that the fried fish is really a fried filete and not a fried fish and they are good to go.

I came here for dinner and was not too impressed. We split a bunch of different dishes but the only dish that really stood out was the sea bass ceviche. It was really really good. I would come back here for that, but not much else.
The drinks were ok, nothing exceptional though.

I was there 3 weeks ago. This is my experience.
1.-My friend ordered a Margarita (with Alcohol), when they brought it he told them that it has no alcohol, and if it would be possible to make it a little stronger; so, they took the drink to the kitchen again, a few minutes later the waiter comes out of the kitchen and tell my friend that the Margarita is a little stronger because they put too much alcohol and they will have to charge extra for that (They make a first mistake of no adding alcohol, then they take it to solve the problem and they make another mistake and they want to charge extra for that). My friend asked the waiter, how come you know that the drink it is too strong, does that means that you tasted it; The poor waiter was speechless. My friend told them that they can’t decide for the client what is strong or not strong for a drink.
2.-I order a dish with a meat called «Churrasco», I think the name in English is «Skirt», The waiter bring me a Pork Chop, which it is totally different than the Churrasco (Is a meat that looks like a stake or a rib eye), the difference is extremely obvious. I call the waiter and tell him, that maybe he brought me the wrong plate because this is not Churrasco, he takes the plate to the kitchen to ask the Chef, and from there he comes telling me that the Chef says that is Churrasco. By that time I was sooo Hungry and didn’t want to argue with the waiter nor the Chef, so I took the dish.
3.-None of the dishes where above normal, the taste was plain.
4.-The only good experiences was the waiter who was trying very hard to cover all the mistakes from the restaurant.
For me, I understand that the problems in this restaurant is from the top down, I think it is the entire structure that it is designed to work in that way.
NOT COMING BACK.

Very friendly host. The main dishes are really expensive: the seafood stew comes with just a few shrimp, mussels, etc., and it’s $ 18. The arroz con mariscos (seafood and rice) must be made with some horrible cheap oil, because I could still taste it after half an hour. The waiter brought one of us the wrong order (even though there was almost no one else in the restaurant, in spite of the many, «table reserved» signs), but they didn’t a) offer to keep the other order warm while the wrong one was being replaced (which took quite a while); b) offer anything to make up for the mistake (even an Inca Cola would have been appreciated). I can’t understand why a business would fail to spend a few cents in ingredients to encourage a customer to come back.
The décor is nice, but looking kind of worn-​out and sad.
Overall, an unmemorable experience for one gringo and one Peruvian.

Food was decent. However the service was extremely poor. Probably the worst I ever experienced. The owner should really consider hiring experienced wait staff. What a disappointment.

Good dining experience at El Fogon restaurant. I ordered the Sea Bass Ceviche along with the hot sauce which was quite good. The ambience was beautiful along with some décor from Peru. It was nice to see Inca Cola — a traditional drink.
Service was okay, when we asked for clarification of what the dishes were and recommendations of what to taste, he responded by reading what was on the description and not really answering the question and walking away. Other than that he did take our orders down correctly and gave us the bill.

Interior is nicely decorated and the layout is well planned. Good for intimate dining and for small groups as well. Their service is very good!
As for food, my favourite dish is the lomo saltado but all other dishes I have tried are pretty good. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to try a unique ethnic food restaurant.

I have been there twice so far and loved it both times. The place is smaller than most places on St. Clair West, with a cozy atmosphere and tasteful décor. There’s a nice simple feel to the overall experience, perfect for a nice and relaxing dinner with friends. I tend to go to the restaurant to eat something I can’t easily make at home or easily have access to fresh ingredients (ex. fried calamari — so good when made with an industrial deep frier!)
It was an initiation to Peruvian food for my companions so we went with classics. For both visits, we asked advices and recommendations to our waiter/​waitress and were quite pleased with the result. The food was delicious both times: the seafood paella was good for two, the seabass ceviche quite satisfying. Treat yourself to a Peruvian Pisco Sour, either before or with your meal. It’s zesty and refreshing.
I will definitely go back, for both special or not-​so-​special occasions!

This is by far my favorite Peruvian restaurant! And restaurant in general.
It is a small place situated on St.Clair. The décor is toned down with a few Peruvian decorations.
Now, the most important part, the food!
I always like to get the fresh Papaya juice, which is actually Papaya! Not fake frozen fruit with tons of syrup added. If you are in the mood for some alcohol then you must try the signature Peruvian Pisco Sour. If you would like a soda, Inka Kola is the way to go, and for another Peruvian option Chicha Morada is great to order as a jug for a party of three or more.
For appetizers there are several delicious options from shish kabob, (very tender and flavourful) to ceviche! Or if your in the mood for something similar to ceviche but with a flare, the Leche de Tigre is absolutely to die for!!! I’m pretty sure the sauce is similar, but with added fried calamari, and cancha, (larger fried corn). This is small, but enough to be shared by two people. Keep in mind that the main dishes are a pretty filling size.
For the main course I must recommend the Lomo Saltado. Absolutely Devine! The cilantro really adds to the flavour along with the juiciness that the tomatoes provide to the meat and potatoes. I always find the portion of this plate to be a big one for me so I always look forward to lunch for the next day;)
Another great dish is the whole fried red snapper, cooked to perfection with a small side of salad, rice and delicious plantain.
Also, they now have BRUNCH!!! And a vegetarian menu!!! Absolutely fantastic options when dining with friends. It’s a great compromise with all parties enjoying these great dishes and unique flavours from Peru.
The only reason I did not give a five star is because I feel that if I request Chancha to be made fresh (it’s more delicious when it’s warm) than to have some made in the morning (cold), I should be able to get them made, especially since it’s easy to cook and costs $ 3-​$ 4 for a tiny bowl. I request for this at every visit.
Otherwise, this is still an amazing restaurant where you will not be disappointed. I always dine there for special occasions.

I came to El Fogon with a preconceived (false) notion that this would be an uninspired dining experience. I’m pleased to say that I was wrong! The food, atmosphere and service made dinner at El Fogon very memorable.
They were gracious when we phoned to say we were running late due to the weather. When we finally got there, we were enthusiastically welcomed and seated quickly. The décor was nice (a smattering of folk art, blue walls, large tables, booths and modern lighting).
Our server recommended the appetizer trio to start: fried plantain, yucca frita, and calamari. It was accompanied by two sauces (one was creamy, with hints of sesame), and perfect to split among the 4 of us. They also gave us bread with spicy coriander sauce to dip.
We also shared the sea bass ceviche. It was spicy from the red chillies, with an additional kick from thinly sliced red onion, and served with sweet potato, cilantro and toasted corn. Yum.
Main dishes were equally good. My mom and I ordered seafood stew (mussels, shrimp, calamari, octopus, sea bass). The fish was cooked perfectly, and melted in your mouth. My shrimp was a little underdone, but otherwise the rest of the seafood was spot on. The stew was flavoured with turmeric and tomato, and very filling.
I loved the plantain so much (think soft, sweet, caramelised to perfection — melt in your mouth) that I asked to substitute it for the yucca that came with the stew. They gracefully obliged.
This was home cooked Peruvian food, executed well. My dad loved the beef stew (tender beef simmered with veg and served with yellow rice), and my brother raved over the Tacu-​Tacu (rice and beans cooked and fried, served with thin cut steak).
Unfortunately, they do not have a wine list, just Chilean house wines. I feel that would have elevated the dining experience, but it’s reminisce of old world, no frills dining.
Loved my time at El Fogon, and would recommend it to anyone.

This place was great. On the smaller side, but the décor and atmosphere is nice! Can’t remember the dish that I got, but it was rice, with a chicken stir fry type dish with fries. It was really good! Also have good vegetarian options. Will be returning!

I hadn’t come to El Fogon since about 2008, and wow! They have really trend-​ified the décor up (there are still a few llama related brass plates, though!)! The food has maintained a similar level of tradition to it, which was great! I had been craving some ceviche for awhile, and the sea bass ceviche really hit the spot! As did the plantains! The chicha morada had a nice cinnamon twist to it, and the Alfajores really hit the spot for dessert.
The only thing was a challenge for the evening was that service was a bit slow, and there was a somewhat loud board meeting going on beside us — but besides that, the atmosphere was friendly and they never tried to boot people out. I hope to come back again soon to get my Peruvian food fix!

We ate in a Friday night, they only have about 20 tables and fewer than half were full so we were seated quickly. Our server had good knowledge of the menu, for three people I spent just over $ 100 after tip. The food was good but not amazing, and nobody finished their plates, because the servings were pretty huge. I’d prefer they lower the price and lower the portions.

Just kinda meh… hence 3 stars.
Went as a group of 5 (3 adults, 2 teens) with a reservation on a Friday night. Place wasn’t too busy so noise level was pleasant. We ordered the fried plantain (average-​pricey for what it was), chicken soup (again, average… only saved by the decent chunks of meat and fresh cilantro), a ceviche-​type entrée (our guest didn’t complain so I guess it was fine), the steak and beans (which my son loved), a grilled chicken entrée (again, average), the chicken escabeche (quite tasty but oily) and the steak lomo Saltado (steak strips fried up with onion, tomato and French fries, strangely served with a side of rice… kinda starch-​heavy but not bad flavour). Both steak dishes were thin and tough but not terrible. We also ordered 3 beers, a hot chocolate, an inca cola and a ½ litre house wine (which is deceiving since they only stock ONE wine. Santa Carolina… not the reserva, either). Total bill $ 150 plus tip.
Overall, I’m indifferent which is disappointing given how excited I was. Nothing was awful but nothing blew us away either. Portion sizes were generous (you won’t leave hungry) but pricey given the quality of food. Dont bother with the wine-​not worth it. Service was efficient during our meal but once we were done, our server was quite chatty and pleasant. no complaints about that.
Not sure I’d return but maybe. Meh.

It is rare to find vegetarian or vegan Peruvian food so I was really excited to find that El Fogon had a separate vegetarian menu. Most items on it can be made vegan by request by omitting eggs but the potato salad is made with mayo and the creamy cheese dip (both in the trio appetizer) is obviously not vegan.
The food was really tasty and they had this great hot sauce that I wish I had asked about. Three of us ordered from the vegetarian menu:
— Sierra y selva appetizer trio (potato salad and dip were not vegan)
— Tacu tacu vegetariano (without egg)
— Taco saltado
— Saltado vegetariano
Everything was seasoned well, but my favourite was definitely the yucca fries!
Staff were friendly and helpful. We’ll definitely be back!
Note: Entrance and washroom are barrier-​free but might be a tight fit for a wheelchair user.

My husby and I, went there to have lunch after a long walk. We were starving, so we ordered: anticuchos, salad, Peruvian ceviche and Peruvian paella.
Although we ordered everything at the same time for sharing, was weird that our appetizer, the anticuchos, arrived at the end of our meal. And they were the best part of the meal (ok after the sangria). They come in a good portion of eight slices; they were tender, and juicy. Nevertheless, the place was cheap because they didn’t give us enough salsa, and in my experience, the Peruvian restaurants in Mexico City give you at least three different salsas.
I liked the decoration and the service was quick and polite.
They should be more carefull with the quality of the seafood, because the octopus on the paella was chewy; the ceviche laked condiments, was 90% fish (when supposed to be mixto), and the crunchy fried corn that gives the texture and character was absent as well.

Peruvian food a first for me!
Ordered chicken aguadito which is a really pretty chicken soup. Was a very tasty soup rich with flavours that I couldn’t identify and a nice sweet cob of corn as we’ll! YUM!
Paella and seafood linguine for mains. Food was really good. Would definitely make. a return visit!

Although, I have not tried everything on their menu. I always applaud small places cooking food to order because it is their passion. In this case, it’s Peruvian.
Like many reviewers have stated, the service here is not the fastest. In fact, one person at our table had to cancel their order because it never came.
That being said, it’s still not a reason for me to dismiss going again. Customer service was spot on. Ask them a question and they will do their best to explain each dish. Our party was very large so even if I didn’t order what they had I certainly could see what is items on their menu were going to look like.
I ordered the escabeche de pollo. It was tasty. Served with rice and sweet potato (which I swear looked like ginger to begin with). The sauce was zesty, like a tomato vinegar base that needed just a bit more flavour. I loved it!
Apparently, they make each item to order which may account for the time it takes to get the food. It is worth it.
As for the setting, the blues lend a warm and inviting feel. I cannot imagine what this place looked like before the renovations but I can say, I like what they have done with the place.

I was taken to this delightful little hide-​away by a friend about a year ago, and then finally went back just recently. What a surprise, the whole décor was completely changed, and I understand they were on «Restaurant Makeover». Well they did a fine job, and the food is as authentic as it can get. If you ever feel like a little Latin for dinner, I highly recommend El Fogon. For that quiet ambiance, to great servers, and fabulous food. This is the place to go!
Salut!