Takumi, the chicharronería in Lima Norte that will surprise you with its oriental fusion

The classics, even though we have them engraved in our memory, can also evolve and add new elements to remain valid despite the passage of time. Among Peruvian breakfasts, bread with chicharrón is, without a doubt, a classic in every sense of the word. And although its recipe seems unbeatable, there are ways to give it new flavors that may surprise you. Such is the case of Takumi, a chicharronería in North Limawhich has added a Nikkei touch to its recipe to offer a menu that sets them apart.

This venture was born six years ago in San Martín de Pores, but in December they will celebrate one year since they opened in Los Olivos and began to expand throughout this district. Having Japanese grandparents, its owners had oriental flavors in their taste memory and thus they perfected their menu. Currently, they offer 15 sandwiches. Among them, three stand out that demonstrate very well how effective Nikkei fusion is.

The first of them introduces us to the very Creole bread with pork rinds served with teriyaki sauce. The pork is marinated with this sauce made with mirin, which offers an addictive sweet and sour flavor. Although with the traditional sweet potato bed of this type of bread the sweetness could be too much, the sauce has very well balanced flavors and is even better with an accompaniment of onion.

The second sandwich that caught our attention was the one that bears the name of the venture: the Takumi sandwich.

Takumi means artisan in Japanese and in this bite the texture of the meat stands out, with smokier touches that go very well with a sauce that is also oriental, but much more salty than teriyaki.

Although the chicharrón is the star, the menu also highlights a bite where chicken is the protagonist: chicken katsu, which consists of a chicken fillet covered with panko. It is accompanied with a shredded cabbage salad and stands out for its crunchiness.

A path of challenges

In the time they have been open to the public, Takumi has had to face several tests, such as the time of the pandemic, when, like many gastronomic businesses, they were paralyzed for a long time. “It was like starting from scratch, even worse than starting from scratch,” they remember at Takumi, who see the future with enthusiasm, focusing on improving their products and services for 2024.

Although these oriental fusion flavors already have an audience, the classic bread with pork rinds continues to be the star of the menu. Here the meat is cooked in its own fat until the skin turns golden brown and crispy, while the meat remains juicy and full of flavor.

Takumi’s classic bread with pork rinds, like their other sandwiches, is generous in proportions: it contains 180 grams of pork rinds, accompanied by Creole bramble and a good portion of fried sweet potatoes. And that has already made them a stop to consider in North Lima.