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Best of San Diego
Ceviche, lomo saltado, and pollo a la brasa, ranked
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The Winner
The most refined Peruvian cooking in the county, in a tiny Encinitas dining room.
Q'ero in Encinitas is the best Peruvian restaurant in San Diego for a sit-down dinner. For ceviche specifically, order the mixto at Q'ero or Inka Mama's in Mira Mesa.
| # | Place | Neighborhood | What to get | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q'ero Restaurant | Encinitas | Ceviche mixto and lomo saltado | $18–34 | 89 |
The most refined Peruvian cooking in the county, in a tiny Encinitas dining room.
Q'ero cooks Peruvian food with Andean ingredients and real technique: bright, balanced leche de tigre, properly seared lomo saltado, and quinoa dishes that are not an afterthought.
Local tip: Reserve — the room seats fewer than 40 and fills nightly.
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Experience
How good the core food, drink, or experience actually is.
Consistency
Repeatability across visits, staff, and seasons.
Value
Price relative to what you get.
Atmosphere
Setting, crowd, and comfort.
Uniqueness
Something you can't get anywhere else in San Diego.
We ordered ceviche and lomo saltado at every restaurant as the control dishes, then judged the aji sauces, rice, and pisco program separately.
Q'ero in Encinitas, for its ceviche, lomo saltado, and Andean ingredient sourcing. White Rice is the best value pick for Peruvian-style rotisserie plates.
Q'ero in Encinitas is the most reliable sit-down option, and several Clairemont and Chula Vista counters run dedicated pollo a la brasa rotisseries.
Generally mild. The heat lives in the aji sauces served on the side, so you control it.
Every list is scored with the same methodology. See all rankings → See every 2026 winner →
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .
