Food · Cusco · Peru
What to eat in Cusco
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Cusco, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: tomscoffin, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Cuy al horno, Alpaca and Chiri uchu. Sit at a counter in San Pedro Market for a cheap set lunch of soup and a main, then finish with a fruit juice blended to order. Eat lightly and avoid alcohol on your first day to help with the altitude.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Cuy al horno
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Around 10% is usual in restaurants when no service charge is included.
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Cuy al horno
Roasted guinea pig, an Andean delicacy for thousands of years, served whole with potatoes and stuffed peppers. It is a festival dish for many families.
Where: Traditional restaurants (picanterías) in Cusco and towns such as Lucre and Tipón known for it.
Dish
2.Alpaca
Lean alpaca meat served as steak, carpaccio or stews; it tastes similar to beef but milder.
Where: Restaurants across the historic centre.
Dish
3.Chiri uchu
A cold Corpus Christi platter of roast guinea pig, chicken, sausages, seaweed, fish roe, toasted corn and cheese, with symbolism dating back centuries.
Where: Around Plaza San Francisco and the Plaza de Armas during Corpus Christi celebrations.
Dish
4.Rocoto relleno
Spicy red rocoto peppers stuffed with seasoned minced meat and topped with cheese, baked and served with potato gratin.
Where: Picanterías and criollo restaurants.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Quinoa soup (Sopa de quinua)
A warming soup of quinoa with potatoes and vegetables, often served as the starter of a set lunch.
Where: Set-lunch menus and market counters at San Pedro.
Street food · Vegetarian
6.Choclo con queso
Large-kernel Andean corn on the cob served with a slab of fresh cheese, sold by street vendors and on the roads into the Sacred Valley.
Where: Street vendors and roadside stalls, especially between Cusco and Pisac.
Dish
7.Chicharrón
Chunks of pork fried in their own fat until crispy, served with mote (hominy corn), potatoes and mint.
Where: Chicharronerías on Calle Pampa del Castillo near Qorikancha.
Bakery · Vegetarian
8.Pan chuta
A large, flat round bread from the town of Oropesa near Cusco, slightly sweet and flavoured with anise.
Where: Bakeries in Cusco and on the road through Oropesa.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Coca tea (Mate de coca)
An infusion of coca leaves, traditionally drunk in the Andes to help with altitude. Hotels offer it free on arrival.
Where: Hotel lobbies, cafés and restaurants everywhere.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Chicha de jora
A fermented corn beer, mildly alcoholic, brewed in villages and sold in houses that hang a red flag or flowers on a pole outside.
Where: Chicherías in the Sacred Valley villages, signalled by a red flag outside.
Food experiences
San Pedro Market lunch
Sit at a counter in San Pedro Market for a cheap set lunch of soup and a main, then finish with a fruit juice blended to order.
Novoandina dining
Restaurants in the historic centre and Sacred Valley reinterpret Andean ingredients — native potatoes, quinoa, alpaca and trout — in modern style.
Picantería meal
Traditional picanterías serve hearty Andean dishes and chicha in a lively, local atmosphere, usually at lunchtime.
Quick bites and street food
- Choclo con queso — Street vendors and roadside stalls, especially between Cusco and Pisac.
- Pan chuta — Bakeries in Cusco and on the road through Oropesa.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Quinoa soup, Choclo con queso, Pan chuta, Coca tea and Chicha de jora. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Eat lightly and avoid alcohol on your first day to help with the altitude.
- Set lunch menus (menú del día) are cheap and filling, from about midday.
- Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water.
- Tourist restaurants around the Plaza de Armas cost more; walk a few blocks for better value.
- Cuy is often served whole; ask for it cut into pieces if you prefer.
Tipping
Around 10% is usual in restaurants when no service charge is included. Tip trekking guides, cooks and porters on multi-day treks, and guides on day tours.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Allillanchu | Hello / How are you? (Quechua) |
| Sulpayki | Thank you (Quechua) |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Cusco famous for?
Cuy al horno, Alpaca, Chiri uchu and Rocoto relleno. Roasted guinea pig, an Andean delicacy for thousands of years, served whole with potatoes and stuffed peppers.
+Is Cusco good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Quinoa soup, Choclo con queso and Pan chuta.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Cusco?
Around 10% is usual in restaurants when no service charge is included. Tip trekking guides, cooks and porters on multi-day treks, and guides on day tours.