Did you know that Peru is home to over 6,000 Chifa restaurants, making Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian fusion), one of the country’s most beloved culinary traditions?
Born from the migration of Chinese workers in the 19th century, Chifa represents more than just food—it’s a cultural bridge.
In this article, we’ll explore the history, iconic dishes, and modern twists of Chifa, while uncovering why it continues to thrive in Peru and beyond.
Hungry yet? Let’s dig in!What is Chifa
Chifa is the name given to the delicious fusion of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine, born from the blending of Cantonese cooking traditions with local Peruvian ingredients.
The word “Chifa” itself comes from the Cantonese phrase “chi fan”, which means “to eat rice.”
Over time, it became the popular term Peruvians use to describe both the style of cooking and the restaurants where it is served.
More than just food, Chifa represents cultural exchange and adaptation.
The History of Chifa Cuisine
You probably know that China and Peru are not neighbors.
With China located in Asia and Peru in South America, the two countries are almost on opposite sides of the planet.
So how exactly did their cultures meet to form the fantastic Chifa?
Well, the meeting of these two cultures began sometime in the late 1850s and early 1860s. At the time, Peru had just gained independence in 1821.
The marriage was due to the immigration of Chinese workers to Peru to work in the plantations, tapping rubber trees, and building railway lines.
On arrival, the influx of Chinese immigrants made their food part of the local cuisine and integrated what was available locally.
How Far Did the Chinese Influence Go?
The Chinese people had a significant impact on the nation’s customs and culture. It has also added to the country’s richness and diversity.
Today there are well over one million people of Chinese descent living in Peru.
Due to the interaction, a unique blend of Peruvian and Chinese emerged. A fantastic culinary result of cultural marriage is the creation of Chifa.
Chifa combines food traditions of the Peruvian Creole culture, traditional Cantonese cooking methods, and Peruvian ingredients.
When you travel to Lima, the nation’s capital, you’ll be surprised by the numerous Chinese style restaurants.
With over 6,000 Chifa restaurants in the capital city of Lima alone you’ll virtually find a Chifa restaurant on every corner.
9 Classic Chifa Dishes
There are several Chifa dishes that you are likely to find in different restaurants across Peru.
In fact, some of their best dishes are included in our list of 46 Best Peruvian Foods You Have To Try.
Some of the popular Chifa dishes that are a “must-try” include:
1. Arroz Chaufa
Arroz Chaufa is one of the most typical Peruvian-Chinese dishes.
The term Chaufa is derived from the Cantonese word, which roughly translates to fried rice.
The main dish is made with ingredients such as fried rice, Chinese onions, ginger, garlic, chicken, and eggs.
It is typically cooked in a wok with a sweet and sour sauce.
Depending on what you like, you can also prepare the dish with other meats such as steak and pork. The meal is quite filling and satisfying.
2. Tallarin Saltado
Tallarin Saltado can be found in virtually all Chifa menus. Tallarin consists of stir-fried noodles prepared with eggs.
It is commonly served along with chicken, hence the name Tallarin Saltado con Pollo is sometimes used.
Like the Arroz Chaufa, the Chifa dish is made in a wok with Chinese onions, vegetables, ginger, and soy sauce.
Depending on which Peruvian restaurant you walk in to or your neighborhood, you’ll find several variations to the dish and vegetables added.
You can also use different types of meat to make it. Compared to Arroz Chaufa, it’s more flavorful.
3. Lomo Saltado
Lomo Saltado comes as a highly recommended dish by locals.
It consists of strips of beef stir-fried with onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and aji amarillo.
It is flavored with a little garlic, soy sauce, and cilantro.
Although the dish is served the Chinese way, with white rice on the side, it also is usually served with french fries.
You simply cannot go wrong with this Peruvian dish.
After taking a bite of Lomo Saltado, it’s easy to see why it has transcended Chinese origins and become a Peruvian staple.
4. Pollo al Durazno
This is definitely a Chifa dish you have to try.
While it’s a very simple to make the flavor combination of chicken and peaches work surprisingly very well.
It’s usually served with Arroz Chaufa on the side.
5. Sopa Wantan
Sopa Wantan or Sopa Wonton is typically an accompaniment, which is also known as wonton soup.
It is a typical soup served with Chifa. You will find it being served at lunch or dinner.
The soup is prepared with ingredients such as noodles, cilantro, wonton filled with meat, chicken, and Chinese onions.
Its simple appearance can be deceiving as it is flavorful.
A bowl of Sopa de wonton at the start of a meal can help you work up an appetite before digging into the main course.
6. Chijaukay (Pollo Chi Jau Kay)
This Peruvian chicken dish was originally made with hen (kay) but soon changed to chicken.
Pollo Chi Jau Kay or Chijaukay is made with a special sauce of Chinese spices used to marinate the chicken
The chifa dish is typically served with chifa rice and salty noodles.
7. Chaufa De Marisco
For those who want to try an exciting variation of the Arroz Chaufa, Chaufa de Marisco comes at the top of the list.
It is prepared with seafood and is highly integrated into the Peruvian food culture.
A typical Chaufa de Marisco is cooked with rice, aji amarillo (yellow chili pepper), shrimps, and calamari.
It gets its yellow color from the aji amarillo and the seafood. If you are a big seafood fan, then Chaufa de Marisco is definitely a Peruvian seafood dish you should try.
8. Sopa Estilo Chifa
Sopa estilo chifa refers to a chicken soup prepared using different ingredients.
A bowl of classic chicken soup is a clear chicken broth served with pieces of chicken and some Peruvian vegetables.
Other additions include noodles, pasta, dumplings. They could also include rice and barley.
They have gained popularity as a folk remedy against common colds, and influenza.
9. Kam Lu Wantan
Perhaps the most popular Chifa dish is Kam Lu Wonton.
The chifa recipe calls for fried wontons topped with a medley of chicken, vegetables and pineapple with a sweet ginger and tamarind sauce.
Inca Kola & Chifa Cuisine
While many will differ on what is the best chifa dish, there is one thing they all can agree on.
When eating chifa cuisine there is only one beverage to drink, Inca Kola.
Inca Kola is not only the national soft drink of Peru but also one of Peru’s most popular drinks.
Many people compare the taste of Inca Kola to bubble gum.
Some Popular Vegetables in Chifa Cuisine
- Chinese eggplant – They are similar to cucumber and are common in the preparation of chifa. The vegetable may be replaced with the common eggplant.
- Chinese cabbage – The cabbage is also common in the preparation of broths and other stews. Traditional cabbage can also be used when preparing chifa.
- Peppers – One of the common Peruvian peppers is limo and is used either dry or fresh. Other types of peppers, including the packed or imported, can also be used.
- Chinese bean – Sprouts of the germinated bean or soybean is one of the ingredients.
- Chinese onion – Typically, the stem and chopped leaves are used. It is a popular co-rapporteur in traditional dishes of the Chinese diaspora.
- Choy sum- It is one of the most popular ingredients used to Sauter most dishes to enhance flavor.
- Kion (ginger) – It is one of the most popular roots used to flavor broths and stews.
Where to Eat Chifa in Peru
You can find Chifa restaurants in any part of the country.
When strolling around Lima, you are likely to notice more Chifa restaurants than traditional Peruvian Criolla eat out spots.
You can take your taste buds on an adventure by walking to many Peruvian restaurants to get a feel of the various variations in the Chifa dishes.
However, if you have less time on your hands and still want peruvian-chinese cuisine, you can go to Chifa Union in Barranco.
There you’ll find a more traditional Chifa. Other Peruvian Chinese restaurants that are highly recommended include Maestro Tzu located in Larcomar and Madam Tusan in Miraflores.
You could also go to Barrio Chino, Lima’s Chinatown, to get a more immersive cultural experience.
With a guide, you will get a fantastic tour of where this mouthwatering Chifa cuisine began.
You will also have the opportunity to eat at a Cantonese restaurant.
Final Thoughts on Chifa Cuisine
Chifa and Chinese cultural influence is strong in Peru.
The fusion of Peruvian cooking and Chinese ingredients has become a part of the very fabric of today’s Peruvian society.
The Peruvian Chifa is the surprising and yet excellent product of the coming together of Peruvian and Chinese food cultures.
Unlike in other countries, where there is an emphasis on distinguishing between local and foreign-influenced cuisine, most locals have adopted the new blend of food as “ethnic.”
Peruvian Chifa dishes offer unique taste combinations from different cultures that are likely to excite any food adventurer.
But the Chinese weren’t the only Asian country with a heavy influence on Peruvian cuisine.
Check out more Peruvian recipes like the Nikkei dish, Tiradito and learn how Japanese immigrants played a roll in shaping Peruvian cuisine.
Ready for dessert? Check out 22 Peruvian Desserts You’ll Die For!
Sources
- Authentic Food Quest: Peruvian Gastronomy Magazine Feature
- Culture Trip: A Historical Guide To The Peruvian Cuisine, Chifa
- Semantic Scholar: Fusion in Multicultural Societies: Chifa food as a Means of Spreading Chinese Culture in the Hispanic World
- Isabelle Lausent-Herrera: The Chinatown in Peru and the Changing Peruvian Chinese Communities
- Aracari: Culinary Travel in Peru
- Rainforest Cruises: Peruvian Chifa Cuisine in Lima’s Chinatown
- Culture Trip: Chifa: Everything You Need to Know About Peru’s Popular Chinese Fusion
- Good Food: Lomo Saltado (Beef stir-fry) Recipe
- University of California Press: Can ideas about food inspire real social change?: The case of Peruvian gastronomy
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.