Could you please suggest the Top 10 Street Food Destinations in Peru?

PeruTraveller

Can someone please recommend the top 10 street food destinations in Peru where I can try authentic local flavors and traditional snacks? I'm especially interested in areas across cities like Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, and others where street food is popular among both locals and tourists.

ItalyTraveller

Here are the Top 10 Street Food Destinations in Peru, where you can enjoy delicious, authentic, and budget-friendly Peruvian snacks and meals loved by locals and visitors alike:

Miraflores – Lima
- Miraflores isn’t just known for upscale dining—it also has vibrant parks and corners like Parque Kennedy, where you can try anticuchos (grilled beef heart), picarones (sweet potato donuts), and churros from food carts and mobile vendors.
Surquillo Market No. 1 – Lima
- A foodie paradise just minutes from Miraflores. Here you can eat ceviche, tamales, juanes, and chicha morada directly from the market stalls, surrounded by locals doing their daily shopping.
San Pedro Market – Cusco
- A historic and cultural street food hub where you’ll find everything from choclo con queso (giant corn with cheese) to roasted cuy (guinea pig), emoliente herbal drinks, and freshly blended juices.
San Jerónimo District – Cusco
- Known for its authentic Andean food stalls, including lechón (roast pork) and chiriuchu during festivals. It’s less touristy and ideal for deep cultural immersion through food.
Mercado Central – Arequipa
- A busy and bustling food market where locals flock for rocoto relleno (stuffed spicy pepper), adobo soup, empanadas, and fresh cheeses. Cheap, flavorful, and very Arequipeñan.
Alto de la Alianza – Tacna
- A border town where Peruvian street food meets Chilean influence. Try anticuchos, camarones fritos (fried river shrimp), and tamalitos verdes, all at night market stalls.
Plaza San Martín – Lima (Centro Histórico)
- After sunset, this historic square comes alive with vendors selling hamburguesas caseras, salchipapas (fries with sausage), mazamorra morada, and more. It’s a local street food hotspot.
Huacachina Oasis – Ica
- While known for its dunes and adventure sports, Huacachina also offers local snacks like tequeños, pollo a la brasa sandwiches, and lucuma ice cream from small stands around the lagoon.
Ayacucho Street Food Markets
- During Holy Week and festivals, Ayacucho becomes a street food wonderland. You’ll find chaplas (Andean flatbread), puca picante, and queso helado (frozen cheese dessert).
Puno – Near Lake Titicaca
- Around the markets and squares, you’ll find vendors selling fried trout, quinoa soup, tunta (freeze-dried potato), and hearty meals that reflect high-altitude Andean tastes.