If I told you that Peru was known for Chinese food, you might think I’m lying. Well, I’m not. Chifa is very much alive and well and you should try it when you visit the country.
What is Chifa?
Chifa is a fusion of traditional Peruvian cuisine and Chinese cuisine. It was brought to Peru by the mass amount of Chinese immigrants who came to the country during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They worked some really crappy jobs back then, literally. One of the popular jobs near Lima was for them to pick up bird droppings along the coast. Yeah, that was profitable back then. History is really crazy sometimes, right?
As time went on, more and more Chinese came and they also began to introduce their food and culture to the country. A fusion of two great cultures was created and today we have Chifa because of it!
Where can I find Chifa?
You may find Chifa on just about every block in Lima, seriously. The place is loaded with Chifa restaurants and it is one of the most popular startup businesses in Lima, aside from Pollerias of course. As for the major chains, I recommend China Wok. Their food is pretty good and you will rarely find broken pieces of bones in their chicken dishes. Chew with caution when eating Chifa, seriously!
Conclusion
While Peru has many other types of dishes for you to try, I highly recommend Chifa since it’s something that is unique to the country itself. You may find restaurants trying to mimic the Chifa from their homeland, but it just isn’t the same. Try some Chifa in Peru!
