French fries: where to try the richest in Lima? We recommend 10 must-see places

It sizzles / in the oil / boiling / the joy / of the world / the potatoes / chips / enter / into the pan / like snowfall / feathers / swan / morning / and come out / semi-gilded by the crackling / amber of the olives.

Pablo Neruda, Ode to French Fries

Imagine being a potato chip in a country like Peru, with its 3,500 native varieties -the largest quantity that exists in the world- and countless recipes to wear them accordingly. Delicious sauces that go beyond ketchup and mayonnaise: chili peppers, rocotos, tartares and a myriad of flavors that elevate the experience to another level. Whether alone, accompanied or mixed together: there will always be room for French fries on our table.

August 20 is known as World Fried Potato Day and this holiday serves as an excuse – although we do not need it – to review some of the alternatives on the market that pay tribute to it, whether in portion, combination of ingredients or novelty. . Here’s a list – not a ranking; We all like them equally – with 10 options designed to satisfy cravings and appetites.

1. Mad Burger

The dark kitchen hamburgers with the touch of Jaime Pesaque – soon to open the doors of his first store in Miraflores – has garnered praise since it began operations in April 2020, in the midst of a pandemic. Beyond its sandwiches (hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken), it is convenient to pay attention to its French fries proposal, which is just as tempting. We stayed with the bacon cheese fries or potatoes with melted cheddar cheese and bacon -like the ones you see in the photo- from Mad’s menu. They can also be ordered classic, or just with melted cheese. Requests: @mad_burger_lima

2. Cousins

There is no such thing as grilled chicken without good fries, and Primos’s are a special case. First, because they remind us of the whole tradition of those eighties chicks with wavy potatoes – crispy on the outside and soft, almost creamy on the inside – and second, because when tasting them we feel a mixture of comfort, nostalgia and a lot of flavor that makes them irresistible. We recommend exploring the menu to try them in other versions: from salchipapas to milanesas.

Requests: @primoschickenbar

3. Popes Queens

The concept of Papas Queen’s has grown exponentially. It all started – and continues – with a cone that seems to have no bottom, full of native fried potatoes that can be eaten alone (with the sauces made at home) and an assorted variety of accessories: hot dog, wings, pork rinds, fried egg and more cravings. The format allows you to eat them on the go. A one-of-a-kind snack.

Where: @papasqueensoficial

4. Café A Bistro

Café A Bistró continues to be one of the most tempting tables in Lima, with an assorted brunch menu and American-inspired signature dishes. Their fries are a very special proposition: they come with sauce papash, ricotta cheese and aromatic herbs. To mix everything and eat it with your hands.

Where: @cafeabistrosanisidro

5. Papas Grill

A proposal that is based on French fries and combines them with a colorful variety of gastronomic mixes. There are Colombian, Mexican, ranchero potatoes and other creations that include everything from mushrooms or fried egg, to white sauce and guacamole. For every taste.

Where: @papas_grill_

6. The Fight

The sanguches of La Lucha do not need many accompaniments, but it never hurts to share them with a good portion of huayro potatoes, golden and crunchy, which come with the skin to give them a rustic touch. They come in two sizes – classic and junior – so as not to fill up.

Where: laluchasangucheria

7. Carnal

A touch of sophistication never hurts even in the simplest bites. At Carnal -steakhouse miraflorino- this detail comes in the form of truffles, cheese and fine herbs, which are sprinkled with style on top of the french fries that usually accompany cuts of meat. Obviously, they can be ordered alone to be tasted -for example- with a good glass of champagne, an ideal pairing for this order.

Where: @carnalprimesteakhouse

8. Django

Thin, crisp and slightly long: this is an addictive measure, because these potatoes finish with speed and greed. Django’s proposal contemplates all kinds of cravings inspired by the American school, and all of them have as an ideal complement this version of Peruvian potatoes, which come home with the perfect frying point and a soft filling. The sauces are made in an artisanal way.

Where: @djangoburgers

9. Franklin

Another table that proposes a menu based on many dishes and flavors of American cuisine, this time with its own touch and proposals that undoubtedly fall into the category of comfort food, or comfortable food: hamburgers, pizzas, pastas, salads, rice dishes and more cravings are the introduction to Sanisidrino Franklin. The common thread of much of the menu is the Peruvian fries -with skin, to have an extra touch of crunch- that come as a side or as a portion to nibble on. Yes, they also have them truffled here.

Where: @franklinrestaurante

10. Tip Top

It is impossible to talk about French fries without mentioning Tip Top, the first fast food restaurant -based on American soda fountains- with direct attention to the car that was in Peru. Pioneers in dishes, sandwiches, salchipapas and other cravings, their fries are a classic that cannot be missed. Generous portions and the usual flavors.

Where: @tiptop_oficial