I'm Peruvian and live in West LA, so I used to go to Mario's for Peruvian food. Balcones isn't much better (or worse) than Mario's, but i find it more convenient. It's bigger, open more hours, and the service is much better. There's usually plenty of parking on Vine, or you can park in Arclight and get validation for the 1st hour. The seafood dishes are fresh and authentic, and their cebiche (raw fish with lime and onions) is close to what you would find in a cebicheria in Lima. Unlike other Peruvian restaurants that concentrate only on seafood dishes, Balcones also offers some good beef and chicken dishes. Their lomo saltado (sauted beef with onions, tomatoes and potatoes) is good, but maybe not as good as Mario's. You can also try Peruvian beers (cristal, pilsen, cuzquena), and a decent selection of Chilean and Argentinean wines. Prices are reasonable, you shouldn't be spending more than $20 per person including a drink and sharing starters and desserts.
Pros: Parking, Friendly Service, Quick seating
Cons: Ambience, Decor
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