Looking for Peruvian food in Pensacola? East Pensacola Heights has a new restaurant coming
East Pensacola Heights is getting its very own Peruvian restaurant coming to 3103 E. Strong, replacing the former Los Cebollines Mexican Restaurant.
The building, which formerly housed Horizen Sushi Restaurant for nearly 20 years before it closed in 2018, was leased to Los Cebollines soon after and remodeling began immediately after Horizen shut down. The restaurant opened in the summer of 2019 and offered favorites like tacos, quesadillas and chalupas, but the restaurant has since closed.
Now, the restaurant will be transitioning into a Peruvian restaurant called Don Cha Peruvian Food. Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.
It’s modeled after a Fort Walton Beach location
The restaurant has an existing location at 100 Perry Ave. in Fort Walton Beach that opened in 2017. The restaurant has largely positive online ratings, with a 4.7 average on Yelp. Owner Pedro Jose Ramirez Flores opened the restaurant as a way of bringing back some of the old dishes of his home country of Peru, per the restaurant's website.
“That longing sparked a great desire to create a dining experience that would transport his fellow Peruvians, as well as any other customer, back in time to the kitchen they grew up in,” the Don Cha website states.
Not only does it bring the authentic Peruvian experience through the food, but the Fort Walton location is decorated with Peruvian themes and photos, a décor trend that will likely carry over to Pensacola.
What’s on the Don Cha menu?
The menu includes a wide variety of authentic dishes, such as a whole section of causas (Peruvian mashed potatoes made with a touch of lime and a hint of Peruvian chili pepper), saltados, (Peruvian stir-fry), different variations of chaufa (Peruvian fried rice), ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime juice) and tarrines (Peruvian pasta).
The restaurant also has a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, salads and specials.
If the menu looks like there is a lot there — it’s because there is. With over 70 menu items on the Fort Walton Beach menu, diners have plenty of options suitable for even the pickiest of eaters.
The items also come at a variety of price points ranging from sandwiches under $10 to whole snapper plates for $29.
Some examples of stand-out menu items include:
Ceviche de Langostinos Especial: Shrimp ceviche with fried green plantains and avocado ($18.50)
Lomo Saltado: Juicy pieces of steak with sauteed onions and tomatoes, served with French fries and white rice ($15.50)
Chanco al Cilindro: Smoked pork with sweet and spicy glaze. Served with white rice, salad and potatoes. ($14.50)
Chaufa de la casa: Shrimp and chicken fried rice mixed with pineapple, bean sprouts and egg, topped with green onions and sesame seeds ($17).
Fettuccine al Pesto o a la Huancaina con Bistec o MIlanesa de pollo: Noodles in pesto or huancaina sauce with your choice of thin-cut steak or breaded and fried chicken filet ($17.50)
Pan con Chicharron: Sandwich made with pork, fried sweet potatoes and seasoned red onion ($8.50)
Will Don Cha serve alcohol?
Yes, Don Cha offers a variety of alcoholic and interesting non-alcoholic drinks, including the maracuya (passion fruit) and chicha morada (purple corn drink.)
Is there a Peruvian food scene in Pensacola?
While there is a vibrant Latin American scene in Pensacola, there are still not many restaurants dedicated strictly to Peruvian cuisine. Some of a few being Mr. Pollo, which offers Peruvian charcoal chicken and Latin-inspired sides. Another being Jumping Lomo Peruvian Cuisine, a food truck located inside the Garden that serves more traditional Peruvian cooking, such as the truck’s namesake, the Jumping Lomo, made with sauteed sirloin steak, Peruvian yellow peppers and spices, onions, tomato. Peru native Ronnie Gonzales had a similar goal as Ramirez Flores in bringing traditional Peruvian cooking to the area.
More updates and information on Don Cha's opening can be found on the Don Cha Peruvian Food Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Don Cha Peruvian Food to open Pensacola location soon
