Inka Mama's

Great date idea amazing food worth the price

We ordered Jalea, the fried seafood (shrimps, fish, and squid) with cassava and potato, and cilantro rice with chicken. Both entrees were delicious. The lady owner was very friendly. You got bread with the green sauce before the entrees came.

I really enjoyed the food and the service. It was perfect for lunch date.

A Delightful Peruvian Experience I recently had the pleasure of dining at Inka Mama's, and I can confidently say that it was one of the best culinary experiences I've had! This family-owned Peruvian restaurant truly shines in both its food and service, making every visit feel special. I’ve been to both the foothill location and the one near South Coast Plaza, and each time, I was greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff members are genuinely friendly and attentive, making sure that every need is met without being intrusive. It’s evident that they take pride in their restaurant and care deeply about their customers. Now, let's talk about the food! Each dish is a vibrant celebration of Peruvian flavors. From the moment I took my first bite of their ceviche, I was hooked. The freshness of the fish, combined with the zesty marinade, was absolutely divine. I also highly recommend their lomo saltado—it's cooked to perfection, with tender beef and a wonderful blend of spices that left me craving more. And don’t even get me started on the empanadas; they are simply heavenly! The ambiance is cozy and inviting, perfect for a family meal or a special night out. It’s clear that this restaurant is a labor of love for the family that owns it, and their passion for Peruvian cuisine truly shines through in every aspect. I send many blessings to the wonderful family behind Inka Mama's. Their dedication to quality food and exceptional service is truly commendable. If you’re looking for an authentic and delightful Peruvian dining experience, look no further than Inka Mama's. I can’t wait to return for another delicious meal!

Delicious and great experience! Highly recommended

Food was amazing, clean. Friendly anf family oriented.

Great good. Always liver their complimentary bread and sauce.

The best peruvian food I've tried, excellent service, recommended

Fantastic and healthy food, super nice staff, and conveniently located. Prices okay for the area. Will go here again soon!

Great tasting and totally reasonable price, would definitely go back next time I’m in the area!

The lamb stew was phenomenal. I eat lamb regularly and the lamb (bone in) was one of the best lamb meals I’ve had, short of some very expensive lamb lollipop meals where the entree was around $80+. My only (minor) complaint was the beans didn’t really pair with the lamb. But it was so good, I had to review this. All our other meals were excellent as well.

I ate dinner here yesterday evening and it was great. I started with a calamari appetizer as that's something I rarely order and it was perhaps one of the best I've ever had because of the red onion based topping and a lemon based sauce covering the plate. The calamari was served hot and crunchy and with the onion topping and lemon, the whole thing came together quite well. For dinner, I ordered the fried rice dish with beef. It was also delicious though it could have used a little salt for my palate. While good, I enjoyed the calamari more because of it's uniqueness. Definitely recommend it if you decide to dine here.

This is a very tasty restaurant, great lunch deals and delicious green sauce!!

Love this place. Been coming here for over 20 years and the quality is still the same. Family owned and family vibe. Love the green salsa they give you with the bread. It’s sooooo good. Everything is made with love The inka family is great and if you’re in the foothill area and craving some good Peruvian food, this is the spot.

We arrived at 12:30 PM, and there were still plenty of open tables—which made me briefly wonder if this branch lacked popularity. But as a first-timer trying Peruvian food, I was hopeful for a great experience. The server brought complimentary bread—fluffy and warm—paired with a spicy green sauce. The owner (Mama herself!) explained it’s a house-made sauce blending cilantro, chili, onion, garlic, and cheese (plus other ingredients I couldn’t catch, haha). No water added, just pure flavor—perfect for dipping! The menu had many unfamiliar ingredients, so we trusted Mama’s recommendations and ordered two House Specialties: 1. Arroz con Mariscos (Seafood Fried Rice) – $28.75 A Peruvian-style seafood paella, similar to Spanish paella but with unique spices. The rice was rich and flavorful, topped with a refreshing onion salad (mild, not spicy). Generous portions of mussels, shrimp, squid, and cod, plus green peas and carrots. The seasoning included aji amarillo (yellow chili paste), which added a subtle fruity sweetness—not spicy at all. We even spotted a familiar bay leaf! 2. Cabrito Norteño (Braised Goat) – $28.95 I’m usually allergic to goat, but my partner couldn’t resist ordering it. The dish arrived with a whole goat leg—tender, fall-off-the-bone meat braised with onions, cilantro, garlic, and Peruvian red wine. Served with beans, rice, and more onion salad. My partner devoured it (even gnawing on the bone—no fancy cutlery needed in a family meal!). A hearty dish, but worth it. Kids’ Meal: Beef Rice Bowl – $11 A sizable portion of grilled beef over rice—zero veggies (no surprise, kids worldwide hate greens!). Our little one loved it

Solid Peruvian food. Absolutely delicious. Spice levels are high and on point. I got the lamb stew, it was fantastic. They server Peruvian beer here too.

Delicious! Excellent all around! Party of three on a Saturday around 12:30 pm. The restaurant was not too busy, and no waiting to be seated. The owners actually work like the rest of their staff. Our waitress was actually one of the owners (One of the two sisters.) Service was really good, she was quick, welcomed us with a smile, and she gave us very good recommendations since it was our first time. The atmosphere was perfect. Not too loud, not too quite. Perfect for groups, couples, and families. Beautiful Peruvian decoration. It was a very inviting theme! Our food was served quickly, and it looked delicious. The taste was superb, in my book. I had the Arroz con Mariscos, the rice was very well cooked, and plenty of seafood on my plate. Very nice combination of the paella! Loved it. Definitely worth a try! If you live around the area, it should be a must try. There is plenty of parking, so no need to worry about that. Food tasted Homemade!

02.19.25 perfect night to have some Peruvian food! I'm not familiar with Peruvian food at all and will have to visit more often to try other dishes. I seem to stick to mixed seafood with rice (Mariscos) because it's so good. The rice wasn't as plump as I've had at another inka but it was still so good. The green sauce is pretty good, too. It's a pretty good place to eat and pretty attentive service.

Loved this place. Small business run by this very lovely, hardworking lady whose passion shines in the details in the restaurant. Friendly staff. Neat clean interior. Good paintings on the walls. Accommodating, they changed my request for causa made vegetarian way in a heart beat. The dish was prepared so well, presentation did surprise me. The dish tasted so good. They have a small but good wine collection to pair with their food. They do serve bread, butter and a butter lettuce spicy sauce that is the Peruvian sriracha equivalent that you can get addicted to. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and now looking forward to dining there again.

I recently dined at Inka Mama in Foothill Ranch and had a fantastic experience! I ordered the Lomo Saltado with tenderloin, and it was delicious. The beef was perfectly cooked—tender and flavorful, with just the right seasoning. The sautéed onions, tomatoes, and savory sauce paired well with the rice and fries, creating a great mix of textures and flavors. For dessert, I couldn't resist the flan, which was the perfect finish to my meal. It was creamy, rich, and had a delightful caramel topping. The service was attentive and friendly, making my dining experience even better. I highly recommend Inka Mama for anyone seeking excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!

This place will be on your list of favorites after the first bite! It took us way too long to finally try Inka Mama's. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. Heidi was very patient and helpful. No doubt we will be back again and again!

Food was amazing. Service was warm and friendly. Ambience was more than expected from a shopping center location. Definitely reminded me of my time in Peru!

We had a reservation for 8 at 6pm on a Saturday and were seated promptly. The service was exceptional at this small authentic family Peruvian restaurant. The FOOD, oh my, just amazing!! The founding owner's son took perfect care of us and answered questions and served us as friends. Very highly recommend!

Shan Guo

We arrived at 12:30 PM, and there were still plenty of open tables—which made me briefly wonder if this branch lacked popularity. But as a first-timer trying Peruvian food, I was hopeful for a great experience. The server brought complimentary bread—fluffy and warm—paired with a spicy green sauce. The owner (Mama herself!) explained it’s a house-made sauce blending cilantro, chili, onion, garlic, and cheese (plus other ingredients I couldn’t catch, haha). No water added, just pure flavor—perfect for dipping! The menu had many unfamiliar ingredients, so we trusted Mama’s recommendations and ordered two House Specialties: 1. Arroz con Mariscos (Seafood Fried Rice) – $28.75 A Peruvian-style seafood paella, similar to Spanish paella but with unique spices. The rice was rich and flavorful, topped with a refreshing onion salad (mild, not spicy). Generous portions of mussels, shrimp, squid, and cod, plus green peas and carrots. The seasoning included aji amarillo (yellow chili paste), which added a subtle fruity sweetness—not spicy at all. We even spotted a familiar bay leaf! 2. Cabrito Norteño (Braised Goat) – $28.95 I’m usually allergic to goat, but my partner couldn’t resist ordering it. The dish arrived with a whole goat leg—tender, fall-off-the-bone meat braised with onions, cilantro, garlic, and Peruvian red wine. Served with beans, rice, and more onion salad. My partner devoured it (even gnawing on the bone—no fancy cutlery needed in a family meal!). A hearty dish, but worth it. Kids’ Meal: Beef Rice Bowl – $11 A sizable portion of grilled beef over rice—zero veggies (no surprise, kids worldwide hate greens!). Our little one loved it

Michael Sandler

Love this place. Been coming here for over 20 years and the quality is still the same. Family owned and family vibe. Love the green salsa they give you with the bread. It’s sooooo good. Everything is made with love The inka family is great and if you’re in the foothill area and craving some good Peruvian food, this is the spot.

Lina Leyda

02.19.25 perfect night to have some Peruvian food! I'm not familiar with Peruvian food at all and will have to visit more often to try other dishes. I seem to stick to mixed seafood with rice (Mariscos) because it's so good. The rice wasn't as plump as I've had at another inka but it was still so good. The green sauce is pretty good, too. It's a pretty good place to eat and pretty attentive service.

Andrew

Solid Peruvian food. Absolutely delicious. Spice levels are high and on point. I got the lamb stew, it was fantastic. They server Peruvian beer here too.

J G

Delicious! Excellent all around! Party of three on a Saturday around 12:30 pm. The restaurant was not too busy, and no waiting to be seated. The owners actually work like the rest of their staff. Our waitress was actually one of the owners (One of the two sisters.) Service was really good, she was quick, welcomed us with a smile, and she gave us very good recommendations since it was our first time. The atmosphere was perfect. Not too loud, not too quite. Perfect for groups, couples, and families. Beautiful Peruvian decoration. It was a very inviting theme! Our food was served quickly, and it looked delicious. The taste was superb, in my book. I had the Arroz con Mariscos, the rice was very well cooked, and plenty of seafood on my plate. Very nice combination of the paella! Loved it. Definitely worth a try! If you live around the area, it should be a must try. There is plenty of parking, so no need to worry about that. Food tasted Homemade!

Jan Cassen

We had a reservation for 8 at 6pm on a Saturday and were seated promptly. The service was exceptional at this small authentic family Peruvian restaurant. The FOOD, oh my, just amazing!! The founding owner's son took perfect care of us and answered questions and served us as friends. Very highly recommend!

Deepa Pandia

Loved this place. Small business run by this very lovely, hardworking lady whose passion shines in the details in the restaurant. Friendly staff. Neat clean interior. Good paintings on the walls. Accommodating, they changed my request for causa made vegetarian way in a heart beat. The dish was prepared so well, presentation did surprise me. The dish tasted so good. They have a small but good wine collection to pair with their food. They do serve bread, butter and a butter lettuce spicy sauce that is the Peruvian sriracha equivalent that you can get addicted to. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and now looking forward to dining there again.

Mike Cano

I recently dined at Inka Mama in Foothill Ranch and had a fantastic experience! I ordered the Lomo Saltado with tenderloin, and it was delicious. The beef was perfectly cooked—tender and flavorful, with just the right seasoning. The sautéed onions, tomatoes, and savory sauce paired well with the rice and fries, creating a great mix of textures and flavors. For dessert, I couldn't resist the flan, which was the perfect finish to my meal. It was creamy, rich, and had a delightful caramel topping. The service was attentive and friendly, making my dining experience even better. I highly recommend Inka Mama for anyone seeking excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!

Kelly Rogers

This place will be on your list of favorites after the first bite! It took us way too long to finally try Inka Mama's. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. Heidi was very patient and helpful. No doubt we will be back again and again!

Tim Hardin

Food was amazing. Service was warm and friendly. Ambience was more than expected from a shopping center location. Definitely reminded me of my time in Peru!

Michele Pellizzon

Very good Peruvian cuisine good prices and portion. Our favorite rice with seafood and lucuma ice cream . They also have some Peruvian drinks.

I can't rate the food because we didn't eat here. I'm a delivery driver. I do caterings and picked up food from them. They were amazing. Very sweet people. Very cute. Clean restaurant. We'll probably be going back in the future to try them out

Inka Mama’s is an absolute culinary treasure! 🇵🇪✨ Every dish bursts with authentic Peruvian flavor, beautifully presented and full of passion. From the tender Lomo Saltado to the perfectly seasoned ceviche, every bite takes you on a journey straight to Peru. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting — perfect for a date night or a relaxing dinner with family and friends. The service is outstanding — warm smiles, attentive care, and genuine hospitality that makes you feel right at home. Pair your meal with one of their signature cocktails or a fine glass of wine, and you’ll understand why everyone loves this place. ✨ Inka Mama’s is where tradition, flavor, and love meet in every plate. Truly unforgettable! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Haydee b. Lopez

Inka Mama’s is an absolute culinary treasure! 🇵🇪✨ Every dish bursts with authentic Peruvian flavor, beautifully presented and full of passion. From the tender Lomo Saltado to the perfectly seasoned ceviche, every bite takes you on a journey straight to Peru. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting — perfect for a date night or a relaxing dinner with family and friends. The service is outstanding — warm smiles, attentive care, and genuine hospitality that makes you feel right at home. Pair your meal with one of their signature cocktails or a fine glass of wine, and you’ll understand why everyone loves this place. ✨ Inka Mama’s is where tradition, flavor, and love meet in every plate. Truly unforgettable! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ali W

Inka Mamas is incredible! The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The jaleo was absolutely amazing — perfectly cooked, fresh, and bursting with taste. Every dish strikes the perfect balance of authentic Peruvian flavor and warm, home-style comfort. The lomo saltado is a must-try, and their ceviche is one of the best I’ve ever had. The staff is so friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere makes you feel right at home. Whether dining in or ordering takeout, the quality never disappoints. Every visit is consistently excellent. Definitely one of my favorite spots and a true gem… ahh, don’t tell anyone it’s this good!

This place is one of my favorites ❤️. Love the food and the atmosphere. As close as you get to original peruvian food. Our dinner was on point. $$ for most plates but we'll worth it. Seafood, chicken or steak. Inside or outside sitting. Good beer selection. Family ambient. Enjoy.

Exceptional food and service at this location. I had the breaded pan fried halibut with a spicy lemon sauce with sweet potatoes, shrimp, and a tad of rice. The fish was flaky and well prepared. Dont forget to scarf down some of their legendary green sauce (ground up lettuce and green peppers) and sop it up with the bread rolls. This restaurant gets busy, so arrive early as indoor and outdoor seating is limited.

The food has been consistently good hear since I was a kid. Granted this location was not around when I was small, but I've been eating at this chain for years. They've been able to maintain a family-owned atmosphere despite expanding. P.s. always order the plantains. Always.

this restaurant deserve four stars! they have incredibly good food, a great atmosphere, and good service. they give you good bread with a spicy green sauce that tastes amazing and are quick to taking your order. I love ordering the rice porridge. Super delicious. I will be coming back for more!

The food was good, ain’t gonna lie, but the pricing was off… how you tell me you can switch the meat, and price me the original price of the plate(supposed to be with beef/chicken/pork) and add an additional 8$ because I asked for fish?. The pricing for beef should’ve taken care of that, and maybe an additional 3 or 4$. But 8$??… nope

This was our second time eating at Inka Mama's and the food was equally as tasty both times. We had the Empanada's (beef and chicken) and Shrimp Causa appetizers, and the Maracuya (passionfruit) drink. We're glad we tried them but they aren't worth the price. We had the Cabrito Norteño (Lamb stew) and Chupe de Camarón (Shrimp soup). The lamb had a little gaminess that helped enhance the flavor. The shrimp soup was pleasant and reminded me of my mom's homemade soup. Would recommend both dishes! For dessert, we had the Sweet Francesca. Absolutely delicious, if you like plantain, but was almost too sweet from the condensed milk. Overall, the food is flavorful, the service was great, and we enjoyed it but we're giving it 4 stars due to the price.

We came for lunch. The place was packed which is a good sign. The food was great, I had the lomo saltado and my son had the combinado carne. They were both really good, but tasted similar. The difference is that the lomo saltado has french fries sauteed with it. I added an egg on top of mine, it was a good touch. I will definitely come back.

Hugo Moctezuma

This was our second time eating at Inka Mama's and the food was equally as tasty both times. We had the Empanada's (beef and chicken) and Shrimp Causa appetizers, and the Maracuya (passionfruit) drink. We're glad we tried them but they aren't worth the price. We had the Cabrito Norteño (Lamb stew) and Chupe de Camarón (Shrimp soup). The lamb had a little gaminess that helped enhance the flavor. The shrimp soup was pleasant and reminded me of my mom's homemade soup. Would recommend both dishes! For dessert, we had the Sweet Francesca. Absolutely delicious, if you like plantain, but was almost too sweet from the condensed milk. Overall, the food is flavorful, the service was great, and we enjoyed it but we're giving it 4 stars due to the price.

Curt Duke

We came for lunch. The place was packed which is a good sign. The food was great, I had the lomo saltado and my son had the combinado carne. They were both really good, but tasted similar. The difference is that the lomo saltado has french fries sauteed with it. I added an egg on top of mine, it was a good touch. I will definitely come back.

Peruvian food is one of my favorites. That being said I would pass on this place if I was you. We paid $61 for our meals....not worth it at all I ordered the garlic shrimp plate Pros: good amount of shrimp and it was cooked perfectly Cons: the sauce was ok, it tastes like something I'd have at Norm's. I definitely don't recommend it, as the food did not settle right and I had to use the ladies room shortly after leaving the restaurant. We also ordered the onioned beef plate Pros: the onions were good but not $28 dollars good Cons: The portion was small, two tiny pieces of beef that tasted like. Salisbury steak. I definitely don't recommend this one either The ahi sauce was good, table bread was ok. We were the only two people in the restaurant, the service was just ok. It could have been better but the owner and the server were more interested in their phones.

We went for team lunch so I ordered Tacu tacu. The stir-fried rice was salty, the "ribeye" was tough as rubber and not much flavor, very small piece too. It was a waste for $30 dish. My coworkers also complained about their rice and pasta dishes were salty. They ordered a bread pudding and a flan so I tried them out: the flan was hard as rock and got very light color syrup rather than caramel sauce and flavored; the bread pudding was also hard as brick... Definitely will ever never go back or suggest anyone ...

1/20-- I don't usually like bean dishes, but was surprised to see I didn't mind eating it in my beef combination dish. Other than that, the beef was overcooked. My coworker who had a chicken dish was also saying his chicken was overcooked. This is the third time I've been here and each time came away disappointed with the overcooked meats in general.

Mary Barranco

Peruvian food is one of my favorites. That being said I would pass on this place if I was you. We paid $61 for our meals....not worth it at all I ordered the garlic shrimp plate Pros: good amount of shrimp and it was cooked perfectly Cons: the sauce was ok, it tastes like something I'd have at Norm's. I definitely don't recommend it, as the food did not settle right and I had to use the ladies room shortly after leaving the restaurant. We also ordered the onioned beef plate Pros: the onions were good but not $28 dollars good Cons: The portion was small, two tiny pieces of beef that tasted like. Salisbury steak. I definitely don't recommend this one either The ahi sauce was good, table bread was ok. We were the only two people in the restaurant, the service was just ok. It could have been better but the owner and the server were more interested in their phones.

roostahktchn M

We went for team lunch so I ordered Tacu tacu. The stir-fried rice was salty, the "ribeye" was tough as rubber and not much flavor, very small piece too. It was a waste for $30 dish. My coworkers also complained about their rice and pasta dishes were salty. They ordered a bread pudding and a flan so I tried them out: the flan was hard as rock and got very light color syrup rather than caramel sauce and flavored; the bread pudding was also hard as brick... Definitely will ever never go back or suggest anyone ...

Minh Nguyen

1/20-- I don't usually like bean dishes, but was surprised to see I didn't mind eating it in my beef combination dish. Other than that, the beef was overcooked. My coworker who had a chicken dish was also saying his chicken was overcooked. This is the third time I've been here and each time came away disappointed with the overcooked meats in general.

We loved eating at this place but this may be our last time coming here. Server got our order wrong because she didn’t write it down and didn’t repeat the order. My husband ordered beef combinados but she gave us something else. I told her we ordered combinados partly because my husband wanted the beans. She asked if we wanted her to get us some beans and we said yes. Didn’t realize until after we got the check that we got charged $5 for a small side of beans. Ridiculous! You charged us for something that was supposed to come with the meal that we ordered and you messed up? The calamari frito was good (as always) but the chaufa combinado tasted different this time. It wasn’t as good as before. With what we experienced tonight, we might not be coming back anymore.

Thanks for ruining my eating experience on Valentine's Day, Inka Mama's. Had probably one of the worst pick-up experiences in recent memory. Terrible customer service. I was treated like such an inconvenience. I decided to give this place a try on Valentine's day and surprise my wife. Wish I had chose some other place. I can name about a dozen other places at top of my head that offer better customer service than here. The lady at the front has ugly demeanor. Plus, $60+ and you guys can't give decent container? The lady scold me the moment she gave me my food for holding it the wrong way?! Maybe you guys need to provide stuff that isnt going to warp under someone's hands that cause your food to flop over. Ill be sure to tell everyone I know family, friends, co-workers to avoid this place. I seriously regretted going here and won't be coming here again. If you reading this, do me a favor go find another Peruvian restaurant. Necesitan entender aquí en Inka Mama's como tratar gente bien.

Sarah D

We loved eating at this place but this may be our last time coming here. Server got our order wrong because she didn’t write it down and didn’t repeat the order. My husband ordered beef combinados but she gave us something else. I told her we ordered combinados partly because my husband wanted the beans. She asked if we wanted her to get us some beans and we said yes. Didn’t realize until after we got the check that we got charged $5 for a small side of beans. Ridiculous! You charged us for something that was supposed to come with the meal that we ordered and you messed up? The calamari frito was good (as always) but the chaufa combinado tasted different this time. It wasn’t as good as before. With what we experienced tonight, we might not be coming back anymore.

I have been going to Inka Momma for years! And Love the food. But today I have to say I’m I’m leaving this review to say how poor customer service is after I bought 2 dishes that total $50 plus 2 alcoholic drinks so my total was $65. I looked in my bag and the 2 green sauces they give you. I asked for 2 more since my dishes were pretty large and 3 different meats and lots of rice as well. The owner told me she would have to charge me for 2 more when 2 isn’t enough in the first place for my order. When I eat at the restaurant they give me a large bottle of this green sauce no issue and I can have 3 containers of sauce if I choose. I would like to say this is when small business like this because so cheap and penny pinching it’s sad and makes it difficult to want to go back. I hope the owners read this and really think about how much those green sauces really cost and be better than they were today!

Food is Awful taste like leftovers. Told them saw we barley touched food still charged us

Uriah Molle

I have been going to Inka Momma for years! And Love the food. But today I have to say I’m I’m leaving this review to say how poor customer service is after I bought 2 dishes that total $50 plus 2 alcoholic drinks so my total was $65. I looked in my bag and the 2 green sauces they give you. I asked for 2 more since my dishes were pretty large and 3 different meats and lots of rice as well. The owner told me she would have to charge me for 2 more when 2 isn’t enough in the first place for my order. When I eat at the restaurant they give me a large bottle of this green sauce no issue and I can have 3 containers of sauce if I choose. I would like to say this is when small business like this because so cheap and penny pinching it’s sad and makes it difficult to want to go back. I hope the owners read this and really think about how much those green sauces really cost and be better than they were today!

Your afternoon closure should be clearly updated on Google Maps. It is unacceptable to show that you are open and have customers show up only to find the doors closed. Additionally, the food is not as good as it was before.