In a recent search for new restaurants, I found a Peruvian restaurant named Ayahuasca. Since my wife enjoys Peruvian food, I suggested we dine there for dinner.
Ayahuasca is located in a strip mall on Western Ave. near 148th street in Gardena. Fortunately, there is plenty of free parking available. They reside in a small storefront with approximately 5 tables. Two things immediately stood out: their walls are painted dark brown and they show soccer games on the large screen TV.
Causa with shrimp
We decided to share a causa starter. Many Peruvian chefs have fun with this dish because it is Peruvian “tall food.” It is made with mashed yellow potatoes and stuffed as the chef pleases, Ayahuasca offers a choice of chicken or shrimp. Our causa was beautifully presented with a shrimp salad inside and it was topped with a hard boiled egg.
Lomo Saltado Ayahuasca Style
Lomo saltado is one of the most popular items ordered in Peruvian restaurants. At Ayahuasca, they have the regular type and one called lomo saltado Ayahuasca style. Their version adds bacon and peppers to the recipe. Similar to many restaurants in Lima, the fries aren’t cooked in the brown sauce. Thus, they retain their crispy nature and make the dish much more appealing.
Seco de Cabrito
I’ve never seen seco de cabrito on a menu before and because I enjoy lamb, I selected that. As the dish arrived, I was delighted to see that the meat had already fallen off the lamb shank. The meat was extremely tender and was served in a seasoned broth topped with chopped cilantro. Frijoles and white rice were the included sides. Everything was tasty and I’d definitely order this dish again.
Peruvian Ceviche Mixto
On another visit, I tried their ceviche. Peruvian ceviche differs from the Mexican version in that naranja agria (bitter orange juice) is added to the lime juice mixture giving it an orange hue. The seafood mixture included fresh scallops, shrimp and calamari, sliced red onions and chopped cilantro. The combination of flavors was wonderful.
Steak Sandwich with fresh fruit in lieu of fries
For lunch, I recently experienced their steak sandwich. I was extremely happy with the offering. Grilled sirloin steak that was perfectly cooked and had almost no fat. It was topped with tomatoes, onions, chopped cilantro and mayonnaise. Served on grilled Peruvian french bread, the sandwich had a nice earthy flavor.
In addition to traditional Peruvian dishes, Ayahuasca also offers American fare. Their American food line-up for lunch includes burgers, sandwiches, and salads. On the weekends, they open at 8 a.m. and serve omelets, crepes, and waffles with Nutella and fruit.
Ayahuasca is the type of restaurant that interests me about ethnic food in LA. The owners want to prepare Peruvian food their way (and they call it fusion). Pollo a la brasa is not on the menu and instead, they have a dish called Peruvian fried chicken. I appreciate that they care about using quality ingredients about how the food is presented.
Ayahuasca, 14800 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249