Disappointing. Inkas was recommended for dinner by someone who lives in the area and the reviews were good. While the staff were friendly and the atmosphere outside was nice, the chicken picante was unappetizing. The broth/sauce was fine but something was wrong with the texture of the chicken. The only way I can describe it is if you took frozen, processed chicken pieces and then boiled them, About halfway through my meal, I used the washroom and that was the tipping point. The urinal was out of order, the floor was sticky, there were filthy old magazines in a basket next to the toilet, the door frame was black from grime. It was gross, and I passed on the rest of my meal.
Adir
Best service and best peru she take care of us thank you so much for the best experience. I’ve been in a lot of restaurant, but I never got that good experience. I highly recommend that restaurant, especially Valentina !!!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
D L
Great hidden gem in Irvine. It is in a business park next to the Blizzard campus.
Food is great, large portions, and feels very authentic.
Service is consistent as well for the many times I have gone there, regardless of whether you are sitting inside or outside.
Highly recommended if you are in the area! Get the lomo saltado!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sawsan Gad
Atmosphere is excellent. Servers are very nice. Food is “homemade”. That’s probably why some people don’t like it in the reviews. It’s exactly the way your mother would cook it. Not fancy, but satisfying. Portions are good for the price. I’ll come again. 💚
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Christopher Ayonn
If you like good tasty Peruvian food, this is the place to go to! You will not be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yoel Lorenzo
Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Allen
Highly recommend this place. We have family that is Peruvian and know what good Peruvian food tastes like. I must say Inkas exceeded my expectations. The Huanciana, by far the best I have ever tasted (even from family dishes, haha), arroz chaufa was so good, lomo saltado was really good, and the plantains were delicious and perfect. Lastly, the alfajores we some of the best we have had as well. Service was great as well. Don't forget your Inca colas. You must come here for great Peruvian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ethel Soriano
I recently dined at Inkass, a Peruvian restaurant located in Irvine, and while the experience was generally positive, there are a few details worth noting for fellow food lovers.
We tried a range of dishes: Lomo Saltado, Peruvian Paella, Chicken Empanadas, Chicha Morada, and Maracuyá juice. The Lomo Saltado was flavorful and well-cooked—tender beef, fresh vegetables, and nicely balanced seasoning. The service was quick and friendly, and the setting is casual and family-friendly, making it a good option for relaxed outings.
The drinks, while refreshing, lacked the brightness and acidity that usually elevate traditional Peruvian beverages. Similarly, the onion topping on the rice could have benefited from a touch more lime juice to bring out its full flavor.
The Peruvian Paella, unfortunately, missed the mark—it didn’t reflect the depth or seasoning typical of the dish. The empanadas were on the saltier side, and the texture suggested they might not have been freshly made. The bread served at the beginning was also quite bland.
On the positive side, the green sauce served with the food was quite tasty and added a nice kick to most dishes. Still, I would have appreciated the option of a rocoto-based sauce to offer a more traditional Peruvian heat.
In summary, Inkass shows promise with fresh ingredients, speedy service, and a warm atmosphere. I’d recommend it if you’re exploring Peruvian flavors in the area—but with the note that some dishes and flavor profiles could be improved for a more authentic experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Matthew Joy
Awesome spot. Give it a shot! You will not be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adelle Yeaton
Very efficient and nice stuff. Great food. Somewhat different from other Peruvian places and that made it better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Peruvian Paella, Tallarin Verde Chicken Pasta
Beautiful Atmosphere, Lovely Staff, but Disappointing Food
The place itself is beautiful, and the ambiance is truly inviting. The staff—especially the girl who served us and seemed to be managing the front solo—was kind, attentive, and pleasant throughout our visit.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the setting. The calamari was among the worst I’ve ever had—warm in some spots, completely cold in others, and had a noticeably unpleasant smell. It completely killed my appetite and really affected my overall dining experience.
The main course was just okay for the price. Was it terrible? No. But did it excite my taste buds? Also no.
The one part I genuinely enjoyed was the drink—I absolutely loved their mocktails! Refreshing and well-balanced.
In short, nice venue and sweet service, but the kitchen has some catching up to do.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Andrea Ledoux
Great customer service, delicious food, great place to eat with family and friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lomo Saltado with Cilantro Rice, Egg Fried Rice
Kristin S
A perfect little spot for a business traveler looking for a delicious meal and a friendly place to sit for a bit and relax.
Vegetarian options: Offer quinoa and rice
Parking: Lovely outside patio
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yi Qin
Amazing food. Friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bailey McCann
Unique cuisine you dont find at other places with good food at an okay price. Good bit of vegetarian options!
Disappointing. Inkas was recommended for dinner by someone who lives in the area and the reviews were good. While the staff were friendly and the atmosphere outside was nice, the chicken picante was unappetizing. The broth/sauce was fine but something was wrong with the texture of the chicken. The only way I can describe it is if you took frozen, processed chicken pieces and then boiled them, About halfway through my meal, I used the washroom and that was the tipping point. The urinal was out of order, the floor was sticky, there were filthy old magazines in a basket next to the toilet, the door frame was black from grime. It was gross, and I passed on the rest of my meal.
Best service and best peru she take care of us thank you so much for the best experience. I’ve been in a lot of restaurant, but I never got that good experience. I highly recommend that restaurant, especially Valentina !!!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great hidden gem in Irvine. It is in a business park next to the Blizzard campus.
Food is great, large portions, and feels very authentic.
Service is consistent as well for the many times I have gone there, regardless of whether you are sitting inside or outside.
Highly recommended if you are in the area! Get the lomo saltado!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere is excellent.
Servers are very nice.
Food is “homemade”. That’s probably why some people don’t like it in the reviews. It’s exactly the way your mother would cook it. Not fancy, but satisfying. Portions are good for the price.
I’ll come again. 💚
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
If you like good tasty Peruvian food, this is the place to go to! You will not be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Highly recommend this place. We have family that is Peruvian and know what good Peruvian food tastes like. I must say Inkas exceeded my expectations. The Huanciana, by far the best I have ever tasted (even from family dishes, haha), arroz chaufa was so good, lomo saltado was really good, and the plantains were delicious and perfect. Lastly, the alfajores we some of the best we have had as well. Service was great as well. Don't forget your Inca colas. You must come here for great Peruvian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently dined at Inkass, a Peruvian restaurant located in Irvine, and while the experience was generally positive, there are a few details worth noting for fellow food lovers.
We tried a range of dishes: Lomo Saltado, Peruvian Paella, Chicken Empanadas, Chicha Morada, and Maracuyá juice. The Lomo Saltado was flavorful and well-cooked—tender beef, fresh vegetables, and nicely balanced seasoning. The service was quick and friendly, and the setting is casual and family-friendly, making it a good option for relaxed outings.
The drinks, while refreshing, lacked the brightness and acidity that usually elevate traditional Peruvian beverages. Similarly, the onion topping on the rice could have benefited from a touch more lime juice to bring out its full flavor.
The Peruvian Paella, unfortunately, missed the mark—it didn’t reflect the depth or seasoning typical of the dish. The empanadas were on the saltier side, and the texture suggested they might not have been freshly made. The bread served at the beginning was also quite bland.
On the positive side, the green sauce served with the food was quite tasty and added a nice kick to most dishes. Still, I would have appreciated the option of a rocoto-based sauce to offer a more traditional Peruvian heat.
In summary, Inkass shows promise with fresh ingredients, speedy service, and a warm atmosphere. I’d recommend it if you’re exploring Peruvian flavors in the area—but with the note that some dishes and flavor profiles could be improved for a more authentic experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Awesome spot. Give it a shot! You will not be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very efficient and nice stuff. Great food. Somewhat different from other Peruvian places and that made it better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Peruvian Paella, Tallarin Verde Chicken Pasta
Restaurantji Recommends
Beautiful Atmosphere, Lovely Staff, but Disappointing Food
The place itself is beautiful, and the ambiance is truly inviting. The staff—especially the girl who served us and seemed to be managing the front solo—was kind, attentive, and pleasant throughout our visit.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the setting. The calamari was among the worst I’ve ever had—warm in some spots, completely cold in others, and had a noticeably unpleasant smell. It completely killed my appetite and really affected my overall dining experience.
The main course was just okay for the price. Was it terrible? No. But did it excite my taste buds? Also no.
The one part I genuinely enjoyed was the drink—I absolutely loved their mocktails! Refreshing and well-balanced.
In short, nice venue and sweet service, but the kitchen has some catching up to do.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Great customer service, delicious food, great place to eat with family and friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lomo Saltado with Cilantro Rice, Egg Fried Rice
A perfect little spot for a business traveler looking for a delicious meal and a friendly place to sit for a bit and relax.
Vegetarian options: Offer quinoa and rice
Parking: Lovely outside patio
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food. Friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unique cuisine you dont find at other places with good food at an okay price. Good bit of vegetarian options!
Staff is friendly and decor is very cute.
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