Los Incas Peruvian Restaurant now open in O’Fallon, Missouri
The new restaurant brings authentic flavors of Peru to West County.
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
Lomo Saltado at Los Incas Peruvian Restaurant
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
St. Charles County has a new dining option serving up South American cuisine. Los Incas Peruvian Restaurant (4279 Keaton Crossing, O’Fallon, Missouri) showcases the authentic cuisine and culture of Peru. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
Chef Julia Hilario and Rossi Alva, two chefs with 20 years of experience running restaurants in Peru, focus on a cross section of beloved Peruvian dishes.
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
Ceviche
At the top of the list: ceviche, served in a traditional style with two types of corn—toasted cancha and boiled choclo—along with sweet potatoes, thinly sliced raw onion, and crispy plantain chips. Choose from mild, medium, or spicy. (And though Peruvian food isn’t all about heat, the chefs can definitely set your tongue on fire with aji peppers by request.)
Another classic dish, one that co-owner Luis Moreno says he could eat every single day, is lomo saltado. Like many Peruvian dishes, it’s a blend of Asian and Latin flavors and techniques. Thin strips of steak are stir-fried with onions, tomatoes, and peppers; it's served with both white rice and French fries to soak up the richly flavored sauce.
Chicken appears throughout the menu, in such entrées as pollo al horno (chicken braised in mild red chili sauce), arroz con pollo (chicken and rice in cilantro sauce) and aji de gallina (shredded chicken in a sauce of aji amarillo pepper, cheese and ground walnuts).
Courtesy of Los Incas
Causa Limeña
One of the most visually impressive dishes is causa limeña, in which layers of mashed potatoes are filled with shredded chicken, chopped vegetables, and a mayonnaise-based sauce. The chilled dish is a perfect starter course to introduce Americans to the vast diversity of potatoes in Peru, spanning more than 4,000 varieties, according to the International Potato Center. Los Incas offers just the tip of the iceberg, serving potatoes as starters in several ways, including boiled potatoes with an aji amarillo sauce or mashed potatoes that are stuffed with beef and then refried.
Peru also has dozens of corn varieties. One of the most striking is a purple corn that’s used to make a ubiquitous drink called chicha morada. For now, until Los Incas’ liquor license is approved, the fruity dark-purple drink and Inka Kola are the two beverage options.
The kids’ menu at internationally inspired eateries often veers toward Americanized favorites, but it’s worth noting that while salchipapa is described as hot dog slices and French fries, the spices and dipping sauce are authentic to Peru, where it’s a popular snack for all ages.
And for dessert, Los Incas has warm or chilled arroz con leche (rice pudding), plus locally made ice cream from Curichi’s Cream in two flavors: chocolate (made with Peruvian cacao), or lucuma (made from a fruit similar to an avocado with yellow flesh that tastes like caramel).
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
The Atmosphere
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
Moreno worked with a Peruvian design company to create an interior that accurately reflects his home country without being kitschy, from the logo to the black-and-white photo murals to the perky llama that represents the restaurant’s social media icon. The brightly painted walls are a nod to the country’s red and white flag.
During the day, the soundtrack is Peruvian folk music. Moreno and his business partner, Dr. Rafael De La Cruz, often bring their bands to Los Incas on weekends, when tables are pushed back to make space for dancing. The bands plans to play July 28, when Los Incas is planning a festive grand opening celebration, pending approval of its liquor license.
1 of 4
Courtesy of Los Incas
2 of 4
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
3 of 4
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
4 of 4
Photo by Amy De La Hunt
The Team
Chefs Julia Hilario and Rossi Alva
Moreno has a background in the restaurant business and operates several coffee shops in his hometown of Lima. He got to know De La Cruz through a shared love of Peruvian music. Moreno plays bass and De La Cruz plays drums in both Mosaico, a rock-cumbia-salsa band, and The Pisco Band, which specializes in traditional Peruvian songs.
The Peruvian restaurateurs and chefs are also proud of the buzz that their country receives as a gastronomic paradise. But what they love is the authentic cuisine and culture in the small hidden gems, which they strive to showcase at their new restaurant. Moreno notes that Peru recently made headlines for having the world’s top restaurant (Central, located in the capital city of Lima). The South American country, nestled between the Pacific and the Andes, also has three other restaurants among the world’s top 50. Peruvians’ passion for high-quality food transcends background, Moreno says, which is why so many tourists who never set foot into the award-winning restaurants still come home raving about the simple, everyday dishes.
“We wanted to show the authentic Peruvian experience of a small restaurant,” Moreno says, “and we wanted to show people here more about our culture.”
Los Incas Peruvian Restaurant
4279 Keaton Crossing, St. Charles, Missouri 63368
Mon - Thu: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri - Sat: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sun: 12 - 8 p.m.
Moderate
