Lima: Market Food Tour with 12 Peruvian Snacks & Pisco Sour

Summary

Street flavors, market bustle and Peru’s snack traditions in Lima

You’ll walk Lima’s busy streets tasting 12 classic Peruvian snacks—from choclo con queso to ceviche and sweet picarones—with a local guide who knows every shortcut through Chinatown and Central Market. Sip chicha morada, try pan con chicharrón at a beloved spot downtown, and if you want, cap it off with an optional Pisco Sour at Lima’s most famous bar. Come hungry—you’ll leave with stories.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the first bite of choclo con queso to remind me of summer corn at home, but it did—except the cheese here was salty and soft, and there was this faint herbal smell drifting from a nearby emoliente cart. Our guide, Diego, grinned when I asked about the purple drink (chicha morada), and he handed me a cup before I could even finish my question. It was sweet but not too much, cold enough to fog up the glass. We started right on Jirón Cusco, dodging office workers and grandmas with shopping bags. You know that feeling when you’re in a city’s real rhythm? That’s how Lima felt almost immediately.

Barrios Altos had the kind of ceviche that makes you rethink what “fresh” means. Diego explained how lime juice “cooks” the fish—he mimed squeezing limes with both hands, which made us laugh because his fingers were already sticky from papa rellena. The air smelled like fried dough and cilantro. Chinatown was next, where we tried siu mai and min pao; I probably butchered the pronunciation (Li laughed), but honestly those little buns were gone before I could ask for seconds. The market itself was loud—vendors shouting prices, someone slicing fruit behind us—and then suddenly we were sipping lucuma juice like it was totally normal.

I think my favorite part was Chinitos Restaurant downtown—pan con chicharrón is messy in the best way, all crispy pork and soft bread. We stood outside for a minute just watching people cross Plaza San Martín, everyone moving at their own speed. The optional Pisco Sour at the end? I went for it (not included in the tour price), mostly because Diego said it’d be “the best one.” He wasn’t wrong. I still think about that tangy foam on top.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Taste 12 Peruvian snacks in Lima

• Taste Choclo con Queso, Chicha Morada, Papa Rellena
• Walk through Barrios Altos and try Ceviche
• Explore Chinatown and sample Siu Mai and Min Pao
• Visit Central Market for Anticucho, Picarones, Jugo de Lucuma
• Eat Pan con Chicharron and drink Emoliente at Chinitos
• Relax at Plaza San Martín
• Optional: Enjoy Pisco Sour at famous bar

Top questions

How many snacks do you taste on this Lima food tour?

You’ll taste 12 different Peruvian snacks during the food tour in Lima.

Is pickup included for this Lima market food tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at Jirón Cusco 400 to start the tour.

Are drinks included on this food tour?

You’ll try several drinks like chicha morada, emoliente, and lucuma juice as part of your tastings.

Can vegetarians join this Lima street food tour?

The tour includes some meat-based snacks such as anticucho and pan con chicharrón; options may be limited for vegetarians.

Is the Pisco Sour included in the price?

No—the Pisco Sour tasting at Lima’s most famous bar is optional and not included in the main price.

How long does this market food tour last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect several hours walking between markets and stops in central Lima.

What languages are available for guides?

The certified guide speaks English and Spanish during your Lima food tour experience.

What’s included

Your day includes all 12 Peruvian snack tastings—from pan con chicharrón to ceviche—plus drinks like emoliente and chicha morada, a certified bilingual guide leading you through markets and Chinatown, entry to Chinitos Restaurant downtown, and plenty of time to explore Plaza San Martín before heading off for an optional Pisco Sour if you want it.