With a labyrinth of cultures represented in every nook and cranny of town, Houston is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in America. To celebrate this world-class melting pot, we’ll be exploring a new region of the globe through a Houston lens each week, from annual festivals and museums to restaurants and cultural experiences. Join the journey with our Around the World in Houston series.
With yearly festivals, a cultural center, and restaurants rocking dishes like pollo a la brasa, anticuchos, papa a la huancaina, and lomo a lo pobre, Peruvian culture is alive and well in Houston.
Annual Festivals & Cultural Events
- Peruvian Festival – Usually held in May, the Peruvian Festival celebrates Peruvian culture and heritage through Creole and Andean music, folk dance, arts and crafts, and traditional food.
- Houston Latin Fest – Celebrate Latin heritage through music and dance, art, food, and drink at this multi-cultural festival. The 2017 was held in October in Downtown.
- Houston Latino Film Festival – Enjoy cinema without borders at this non-profit film festival, which screens films from all over Latin America, as well as Spain, Portugal, and the U.S.
Museums & Cultural Organizations
- Asociacion Peruana de Houston – The Peruvian Association of Houston aims to unite all Peruvian groups in Houston while sharing Peruvian culture to the community. The nonprofit is a good source for local events, concerts, networking and more.
- Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston – This nonprofit serves the Hispanic community through educational activities in collaboration with local universities, the Texas Commission of the Arts, Houston Arts Alliance, and other private organizations, from art exhibits and language classes to music, dance, and a yearly gala.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – The Latin American art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston collects, exhibits, and educates the public about the diverse artistic production of Latin Americans and Latinos, showcasing modern and contemporary art from South America, as well as Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
- Talento Bilingüe de Houston – Located in the East End, this bilingual, non-profit cultural center strives to enhance Houston’s Latino arts experience through collaboration, education, and preservation.
Peruvian Food & Drink
- Aji Peruvian Restaurant – This westside spot showcases Peruvian flavors via dishes like Lomo a lo Pobre, a Peruvian-style beef tenderloin, served with fries, sweet plantains, steamed rice and fried egg; Peruvian Seafood Rice, loaded with Peruvian aji sauce an steamed mussels, clams, squid, shrimp and calamari; and Causa Limeña, a smashed potato dish layered with creamy chicken or shrimp salad.
- Andes Café – This colorful East End kitchen spans the lands of South America, meaning you can find authentic and delicious Peruvian specialties like aguadito de pollo, tamal de puerco, pollo a la brasa, ceviche, and lomo saltado.
- Ceviche and Go Katy – These yellow food trucks offer Peruvian-style ceviche street tacos hit with lime, cilantro, aji sauce, red onion, corn, and sweet potato.
- Che Inka – Set in the quaint neighborhood of Rice Military, Che Inka brings special spices and ingredients from Peru and Argentina to impart authentic flavor into dishes like papa a la huancaina, anticuchos, lomo saltado, chaufa de carne lucuma mousse and more.
- La Guitarra Con Sazon Peruvian Cuisine – Experience the diverse flavors of Peruvian cuisine, kissed with touches of Creole, African, native pre-Columbian and Spanish. Dine on lomo and pollo saltado, pasta with creamy huancaina sauce, Peruvian beef heart skewers, and scratch-made ice cream in flavors like lucuma, guanabana, and maracuya (passion fruit).
- La Peruanita – This northwest spot showcases the flavors and fragrances of Peru, with dishes including anticuchos de corazon, majado de yuca, and papa a la huancaina.
- Latin Bites – This family-owned and operated restaurant takes inspiration from the rich culinary landscape of South America and Perú. Bring friends to share small plates and traditional entrees, from anticuchos skewers marinated in Andean peppers to Peruvian ceviche with corn “cancha”; and be sure to check out happy hour for great deals on sips and bites.
- The Lemon Tree – The Lemon Tree has been bringing traditional Peruvian dishes to the westside since 2014, with favorite plates including ceviche, lomo saltado, tiradito and many more.
- Peru Café Express – At this West University haunt, classic regional eats include huancaina-style yuca, Peruvian-style shrimp chowder, saltado de carne, and aji de gallina, to name a few.
- Peru Gourmet Restaurant – In southwest Houston, Peru Gourmet is a fan-favorite spot for pollo a la brasa, arroz chaufa, and saltado, offering family-style combos, lunch plates, and kids meals.
- Pollo Bravo – Peru meets Mexico at this local chain, with dishes ranging from Peruvian-style ceviche and spaghetti to its signature rotisserie chicken.
- Pollos El Rancho Restaurant – This restaurant is famous for its pollo a la brasa, served with fries and fresh salad; though you’ll find other traditional dishes from the Peruvian cuisine as well.
- Sur Latin Peruvian Cuisine – Just west of George Bush Park, this strip center spot rocks ceviches, causa limeña, lomo saltado and more.
- Sweets by Belen – Opened in 2016 by Peruvian-born Belen Bailey, this small Hillcroft bakery takes you to Peru and through South America with a treasure trove of desserts. Get lucuma and cherimoya ice cream, milhojas filled with dulce de leche cream, rice pudding, flan and more.
Language Classes, Education Centers, Groups & Meet-Ups
- Habla Houston – Learn to speak Spanish through weekly classes, interactive meetups and more.
- Spanish over Coffee – Brush up on your Spanish language skills with all-level classes that help you learn through conversation. Program experiences include dinner parties, game nights, scavenger hunts, and grocery shopping.
- Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice – Known as HACER for short, this Rice University student group sponsors social and cultural events.
- Peruvian Expat Community – Connect with other Peruvians living in Houston on InterNations.
Other Notables
- BBVA Compass Stadium – Soccer fans can get their fix at this EaDo soccer stadium, home to both the Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash.
