Anticuchos: Guide to the King of Peruvian Street Food in LA

Beef heart anticuchos are Peru's most recognized street food. Cubes of beef heart marinated in ají panca, skewered on bamboo sticks, grilled over charcoal. They sound strange — they're magnificent when done right. This guide covers where to eat them in LA and why some are great and others mediocre.

Why beef heart?

For the texture. Heart is lean muscle, no marbled fat, dense. When cut properly (1.5cm × 5cm strips), marinated appropriately, and grilled fast over charcoal, it eats like filet but with deeper flavor. Anticuchos do NOT taste like offal — they taste like intensely savory meat.

The secret: the ají panca marinade

Ají panca is a dried red Peruvian chili — smoky, mild (not very spicy). Classic marinade:

• Ají panca paste (4 tbsp)
• Red wine vinegar (3 tbsp)
• Ground cumin (1 tsp)
• Peruvian oregano (1 tsp)
• Crushed garlic (4 cloves)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt
• A touch of dark beer (the famous marinade "secret")

Heart must marinate at least 6 hours, ideally overnight. This is NOT optional — without marinade time, the heart turns rubbery.

The grilling technique

• Natural charcoal, not briquettes. Briquettes leave a chemical taste.
• White coals, no flames. Flame = wait.
• 2-3 minutes per side. Longer = tough heart.
• Baste with marinade while grilling.
• Serve immediately — don't hold them warm.

How they're served in Lima

A full anticucho order in Lima comes with:

• 2-3 skewers of grilled heart
• 1 yellow potato (boiled)
• 1 large Andean choclo
• Ají amarillo sauce on the side
• Huacatay sauce (optional)

Where to eat anticuchos in LA

Cart-style (street) anticuchos do NOT exist in LA — food truck regulations don't allow it. Where you can eat them:

Restaurants with anticuchos on the menu

• Mario's Peruvian & Seafood — classic anticuchos, strong marinade, charcoal-grilled when they run specials.
• El Rocoto (Gardena) — as a starter, comes with potato and choclo. Good ají amarillo sauce execution.
• Peru's Taste (Northridge) — Northern Peruvian style (spicier).
• Con Sabor a Perú — as a main, generous portion.

Festivals and events

The best anticuchos of the year in LA are at festivals:

• Fiestas Patrias Festival (July 28-29) — multiple anticuchero stalls with portable grills.
• Anticucho Festival (October/November, date varies) — local competition, LA's best amateur anticucheros.

How to tell a good anticucho from a bad one

What about chicken or beef anticuchos?

They exist and are legit — but they're NOT traditional anticuchos. The classic is heart. If you've never had one, we recommend starting with the original — the flavor surprises.

To find the next Peruvian festival in LA where there will be live anticucheros, see our calendar.