Wakatay Restaurant - Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine

I recently discovered a Peruvian Nikkei restaurant in the Pacific Square shopping area in Gardena, California. It's actually been there since February, but it's tucked in the corner near the Mikawaya, so I never noticed it until I happened to walk in front of it one day. Because of the Discover Nikkei website, when I saw "Peruvian Nikkei" on the window, it caught my eye.

I ended up going there by myself a week later while my husband was away on business. I had the Lomo Saltado - my favorite Peruvian dish! What's not to love about beef, tomatoes, onions, rice & french fries? Their food is of better quality than El Pollo Inca where I first learned about Peruvian food, and I met the owner who's actually a Nikkei from Peru. I told him about Discover Nikkei and he got really excited. I talked to him for a while about it and of the Nikkei community in Peru and the Peruvian Nikkei in Southern California.

I told my husband and co-workers about the restaurant, and they wanted to try it, so I ended up back there later that week with my husband and two others. We all really enjoyed the food. Unfortunately, the owner wasn't there that time.

Last night, my husband and I returned. More delicious food! This time the owner and his wife were there. He recognized me and brought us some appetizers which were REALLY yummy, plus some special Peruvian fruit ice cream - Lucuma. It was really an interesting flavor. I took some photos which I'll post to Nikkei Album soon.

Anyway, if you're in Gardena, give it a try. The food is really good and the prices very reasonable. They were recently very favorably reviewed in the Daily Breeze: "Fusion Power: Wakatay Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine has its roots in Asia" by Merrill Shindler.