Inka Grill - Lake Forest

Inka Grill
23600 Rockfield Blvd Ste 2K
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 587-9008
Type: Peruvian cuisine / dining
Map



Finally. Some Peruvian food! I tried making a post here a while back asking about any spots anybody could recommend, but I got nothing. Thanks a-holes. Just kidding. But not really. No, just kidding. I was down in Irvine with my girlfriend, and we were both fiending for some Peruvian. The trusty internet led to a somewhat far spot down the 405 and 5 freeways in Lake Forest. The place was Inka Grill. I think it's a chain with a few stores open here and there. It was a Sunday afternoon when we got there, and the whole plaza where Inka Grill was located was dead. I mean there's a Panera Bread place off the side, but I don't even think there were that many cars parked in front of it. Inka Grill was no exception. We were the only paying souls in the joint. Not a good sign.



Oh well, I still wanted me some encebollados fish ($11.95-- and I know that's not how you say it) and some fried plantains. Gotta love that salty and sweet combination. So that's what I ordered. Before that arrived we got some free bread. Always a good thing. I love the free breads at the Peruvian spots. They give you butter and their secret weapon-- the green chile sauce. I looked it up just right now and I believe it's called "aji" (pronounced like ahi tuna). It's pretty much good with anything: meats, veggies, bread, maybe soups, seafood, chocolate, ice cream......... so. If I'm smart, I'll eat a bunch of it til I get a little tired of it, then move on to my main dish, and I'll surely have leftovers. Money in the bank!

a meal in and of itself


So my fish dish came. It's served with a grip of caramelized onions, some veggies, rice, and fried fish. Simple. Nothing fancy. If made correctly, good seasoning. I think it's cooked in some kind of sauce or something cuz it ain't dry. This particular dish was great. Some places season the hell out of everything on the plate and it's a little too salty-- even for me. Inka Grill's was just right. Thinking about it makes me speechless. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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My girlfriend ordered the jalea ($16.95). I think it was the half plate or something. It was still a huge portion though. All the seafood in it was deep fried. We both thought it was good. I can't remember who's dish was better, but it was probably mine. Sorry. I can't help that I got good ordering skills.

this is what they consider a half plate. thanks guys.


For me, probably 95% of the bites I took had the green sauce. The bottle was full when we started eating, and it was just squeezed dry by the end. Luckily for us, there were leftovers. We asked if we could get some green sauce to go and the lady said they have to charge us $5 for a bottle. Damn. Here's five bucks. I needed it to finish my meal properly.

It ain't a Peruvian meal for me unless I got my fried plantains


Lake Forest is pretty damn far from West Covina. I can't say I'll be back for sure. If I'm in the area, it's very possible. I gotta find out other Peruvian spots near me. I know there's one in Brea so I'll check that out one of these days. Hopefully more people patronize Inka Grill cuz it wasn't looking so good. Tell them the guy behind whereweeating.blogspot.com sent you. They might hook you up a little somethin somethin. Nah, they won't.