Discover authentic Peruvian cuisine at this unassuming Hollywood restaurant near the ArcLight Cinema.

by Jenn Rubin

In Short
Peruvian restaurants are few and far between, but traditional raw fish ceviches and chicken arroz de pollo dishes can be found in Hollywood right around the corner from ArcLight. Inside the modest dining room decorated with brown, tile floors and pueblo-colored walls, diners can start with appetizers like fresh-boiled muscles with house-made salsa or parihuela, the Peruvian take on a bouillabaisse. Entrees include a variety of seafood and meet options, such as grilled steak with fried eggs and bananas or a Peruvian paella, called arroz con mariscos. Alfajores, Peruvian-style cookies filled with milk caramel, and a leche asada custard are among the dessert choices to finish off the meal.

04/14/08

Best Ceviche in LA

by glennripps

This restaurant is a true gem. Every time I go to Los Balcones I find something new. Last night it was the Chicken and Shrimp over French Fries - the chicken was seasoned dark meat, which is my personal favorite, I'm not sure if you can request white meat or not, but it was just great. My friend ordered the fish and calamari in a red sauce that was so fantastic that I'm going back again today to get it. The mixto ceviche was awesome as usual, seasoned with spices that I have never found anywhere else in all of my dining experiences - and I've lived in New York, Boston, Miami and now LA - but when I asked for the mussel ceviche to share with my friends I was informed that they had another version of the same dish and the gracious owner, Jorge, encouraged us to try it - it did not disappoint. The mussels were chopped along with shrimp and spices and put back in the shell and served beautifully.

If you haven't yet tried Los Balcones you're missing out on a truly great dining experience. The service is genuinely friendly and the pacing is patient, as if you were spending an afternoon in Lima.

• Pros: Everything about Los Balcones is a highlight.
• Cons: The only drawback is that they don't have much of a dessert list.

01/11/08

Have to recommend this place

by peter86754

Los Balcones b lows Marios away. I've heard the rave reviews of Marios from friends but was never a fan. Just had Los Balcones and either the manager or owner displayed his care for the food served by explaining to us in detail about what some of the food was.

The food was amazing. Seviche sp? was amazing and so was everything else we ordered. this is my first review on citysearch and Los Balcones inspired it.

02/06/07

Good Food, Personal Service, Good Value

by robertohno

This is a wonderful neighborhod restaraunt. It is also a perfect spot for a casual dinner or date before heading over to the Arclight across the street. Plenty of street parking or one hour validated at the Arclight lot.

I am not Peruvian, I am not sure if it is authentic, but it is good!

Try the pasta dish with the spinach/pesto green sauce. Nice, simple tasty.

Save room to split on the powdered sugar cookies with a homemade caramel - heaven!

• Pros: Good Food, Personal Service w/a Smile
• Cons: Tiny (but clean) bathrooms.

01/15/07

Good alternative to Mario's Peruvian

by emaruyama7

I'm Peruvian and live in West LA, so I used to go to Mario's for Peruvian food. Balcones isn't much better (or worse) than Mario's, but i find it more convenient. It's bigger, open more hours, and the service is much better. There's usually plenty of parking on Vine, or you can park in Arclight and get validation for the 1st hour. The seafood dishes are fresh and authentic, and their cebiche (raw fish with lime and onions) is close to what you would find in a cebicheria in Lima. Unlike other Peruvian restaurants that concentrate only on seafood dishes, Balcones also offers some good beef and chicken dishes. Their lomo saltado (sauted beef with onions, tomatoes and potatoes) is good, but maybe not as good as Mario's. You can also try Peruvian beers (cristal, pilsen, cuzquena), and a decent selection of Chilean and Argentinean wines. Prices are reasonable, you shouldn't be spending more than $20 per person including a drink and sharing starters and desserts.

• Pros: Parking, Friendly Service, Quick seating
• Cons: Ambience, Decor

12/22/06

Amazing !!

by monalaca

Great Food and Service ~ Our server was very fast.

Try the geat ceviche andino and the chilean wine. Bast andean food anywhere.

10/26/06

Best Peruvian outside of Peru

by kmetzinger

The best kept secret in the heart of Hollywood. Located where Toi on Vine used to reside, Los Balcones has been a favorite of mine since they opened 2 years ago. The appetizers, the entrees and the Peruvian beers are all more than excellent. From beef to chicken to seafood, they excell in all categories. Usually not crowed any night of the week or weekend. Parking is a little tricky, you'll have to park at the Arclight Cinema parking structure and they only validate an hour. Great for two people or big parties, check it out.

• Pros: Good food, great price, not crowded
• Cons: Service can be slow