Andina

One of the best meals I’ve had in Portland so far. I don’t dine out at expensive joints that often but this place will be worth your money. We got there a little before happy hour and the waiter was able to get our drink orders in on time. The top floor was completely booked but we got reservations on their bottom floor which is dark but the food was still great so it didn’t matter. We ordered the octopus (full order), 4 carne empanadas, and corn tamales. The octopus was so delicious, not over cooked or chewy! Empanadas were warm and comforting and the tamales were sweet and fragrant. For my entrée I got the fish with pork broth and man it was soooo good. The broth was similar to a ramen broth and the fish was so flavorful and slightly smokey. Didn’t know a white fish could taste so good! Lamb shank was fall off the bone tender too. Give this place a try!

Went here with a group of coworkers when we were in town, at the suggestion of a local friend. We were not disappointed!
The wait staff was very helpful in explaining some of the more unique dishes, and did a great job enticing us with amazing specials. We had a couple of the special appetizers, then each had an amazing main course. We even finished the night with an amazing take on a modern cobbler. From beginning to end, spectacular.
I would highly recommend this place to any local or visitor, and fully anticipate going back again.

We made a reservation for this restaurant for our 1^st dinner in Portland. Its located on the Pearl District so you can come earlier to find parking and shop and grab drinks before dinner — which is what we did. The restaurant is pretty big but it does get crowded. There were people waiting for a table when we got there for our reservation. We were seated right away.
Cebiche Mixto Chorrillano — shrimp, mussels, scallops, octopus and fish in leche de tigre. Not sure why its ceBiche and not ceViche, but thats not the point here. The seafood was fresh and the flavors were amazing. Leche de tigre was outstanding. Definitely increases your appetite.
Anticuchos de Corazon — marinated beef heart kebobs, served with a spicy salsa de rocoto. Beef hearts were meaty and tender but the portion is pretty small.
Anticuchos de Pulpo — grilled octopus kebobs with chimichurri and a caper majado de papa. This was excellent. The octopus was really tender and flavorful but still chewy so you get a nice bite.
Palta Rellena de Cangrejo — avocado stuffed with crab, topped with a poached prawn. This one was nothing special… Stuffed avocado… Meh. Not bad but nothing special.
Empanada de Carne –flaky pastry filled with slow-​cooked beef, raisins and Botija olives served with salsa criolla. The pastry was sooo good and the filling was really flavorful.
Arroz con Mariscos — Peruvian style paella: sofrito de ajíes-​infused rice served with fresh seafood (mussels, octopus, shrimp, fried white fish, and a seared diver scallop) accompanied by salsa criolla. I little disappointing that there was no bottom crust which is the best part of the paella, but the flavors were excellent and the seafood was perfectly cooked.
It was a pretty good dinner with good food. Service was excellent. The food comes out really fast — probably so they can turnaround tables faster but they do no rush you out.

Nice place. We ordered the mixto ceviche, stuffed avocado with crab, grilled octopus, and lomo saltado. Everything here was really good. Will definitely be back!

Went here for my 33^rd birthday dinner with three friends. We were promptly sat at a table and menus brought to us. The waiter was very kind and didnt blink when I asked about a gluten free menu. We got about 5 different tapas to share between the four of us, and they were super tasty. The waiter was sweet and bought my crème brûlée dessert as a birthday present and my friends sang happy birthday to me. This made for a delightful evening. I highly recommend this place.

Came here Sunday for brunch. Pretty spacious main dining area… if you’re thinking about kids they have some booths that are quite child friendly.
All the stuff we ordered was pretty good except for the empanadas, both beef and spinach, which were great.
The only dish that I didn’t care for was the special of the day, a ceviche… some sort of Hawaiian cod. Should’ve gone with the 5 elementos :(
The tres con pan wasn’t that great either except for the mani (peanut)
The tamales were very good. Will go again. The food pairs very well with their Malbec

What a disappointment. — sorry!
We walk in and the hostess was unbelievably rude. I asked to be seated in the main dinning room and very rudely she responded by saying «we told you that you will not be sitting in the main dining room». I didn’t make the reservation, the hotel did and I didn’t know plus no need to be rude. We were seated in the «dungeon» no windows and our area had no painting — not good!
Our server wasn’t nice either. We got our drinks after food was delivered. When I asked why the response was «bar is really busy». And truthfully the food was ver mediocre. Will not be coming back!

Despite how popular Andina is, we arrived at the right time (happy hour) and were seated on the more «casual side» immediately. After drinking mostly beer all day — this restaurant is located in Portland after all — I was happy to enjoy a mojito. (Although I’m not sure I’d call at $ 9 drink a happy hour price.) We ordered the happy hour empanadas (a beef one and a vegetarian one). Really enjoyed these. They were crispy and flakey and the filling for the veggie one had wonderful cheese.
From the tapas menu we ordered:
Ceviche mixto (shrimp, mussels, fish, octopus and scallops) — nice and refreshing
Anticuchos de pulpo — grilled octopus. This was of favorite dish of the night. It was grilled to perfection and had a nice light marinade. Wish it had been a bigger dish!
Causa mixta Nikkei — spicy tuna and crab atop potato purée. I love causas and this was right up my alley. I’m not sure my boyfriend enjoyed it, but hey, we don’t have to agree on everything!
Service was nice, and I appreciated the fact that the owner comes around talks to every table. Sweet lady and a personal touch!

This place was so much more than expected. Please order the empanadas de carne and piquillos rellenos.
Delicious

Oooo lalalaaaa! Walking in to some samba music, how fun and unique! The restaurant side was full at 6p, so we were seated in the lounge, but it was more fun and spry in the lounge! I love how this place had people who were dressed in business clothes and then those who looked like they just came from a hike too, so we were right in the middle with our casual hipster attire.
It’s definitely tapas style with the left side of the menu being little places with a few bites and the right side being full entrees. Each tapas plate was either about $ 15 or$ 27 depending on the size. We got yucca frites (why? Not my choice lol), grilled pulpo (octopus!!), ceviche tres elementos and the avocado relleno. I loved the revelation of the boy when he said «oh is this like a chile relleno?» Realizing after I said relleno was «stuffed» hahaaa!
I also had this «sexy woman» drink which is not what it’s called, but the server said the real name and I couldn’t pronounce it and he equated it to sexy woman. Ha! It was awesome! A little sweet with the passion fruit but then it was spicy with the habanero!!! It was soooo yummy!
The yucca fries were ok — dry, but generally not my thing. The sauce was alright, but didn’t blow my mind for an appetizer. BUT THE OCTOPUS. Yes! Yes! Yes! It was so perfectly grilled and the way it was seasoned was so good. It just melts in your mouth after the first bite. God, I wanted to get another plate, but the boy didn’t agree and hey, I have to be somewhat considerate of him ha.
The ceviche was delicious! I love Peruvian ceviche bc they always have the sweet potato and corn and usually the corn nuts (this one didn’t have the nuts), which makes for a party in your mouth. The fish was really fresh and it just mingled well with the other ingredients. Not sour at all (and shouldn’t be!).
The avocado was less than appealing and less than riveting. It was crab stuffed and was paired with a few greens on the side. I could have definitely done without this and the yucca fries. But overall, this place was fantastic! I’m marking it as a place to revisit when I’m back in Portland! (Yes, soon!!)

My mom and one of our Lyft drivers recommended this restaurant. I tried to make a reservation on the day of but the only spot I could get was 10pm. We were told they hold some tables open for drop ins at a first come first serve basis. We came here at about 8 o’clock and it was absolutely packed! We even thought they might be breaking the fire code because you couldn’t even walk down a hallway without your boobs and ass gracing some strangers body.
We ordered the ceviche which super unique and absolutely to die for. Pitcher of Sangria which was one of the best Sangrias I’ve ever had. Next beef empanadas with a house made fresh salsa. Next we had a crab stuffed avocado which could have had more crab but was still delicious, served with half a quail egg. For the main course we split the Paella which was also fantastic. Nice romantic atmosphere. We sat downstairs in the corner which was nice because it wasn’t too loud and it was secluded. This place is a hit! Top notch!

Cutest restaurant ever. Our friend had put this at the top of his list of restaurants to take us to, and I’m super glad he did! He made sure we got a seat downstairs, and when you walk down there, you know exactly why. The ambiance is completely different and you feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else. Kind of like the venetian in vegas :). The décor has been carefully thought out to make sure you feel like you are dining on the streets of Peru. Love it!!! There’s also live music every night, +10 000 points.
Everything was delicious — Here’s what we ordered:
CEBICHES DE PESCADO «5 ELEMENTOS» * our iconic preparation of fresh fish in leche de tigre $ 19 — YUM, the flavors are soooooo fresh, and I love how the acidity isn’t overpowering. Must get.
CAUSAS (a traditional timbale of lime-​scented potato purée, layered with assorted fillings, served chilled with avocado) — we picked the SOLTERITO (Yukon Gold potato with a salad of green beans, fresh corn, cotija cheese and tomatoes. Even though this dish was cold (I usually prefer piping hot dishes), I couldn’t stop eating it. The potatoes are so well flavored and combined with all the toppings, it’s just a different bite every time.
ANTICUCHOS DE PULPO grilled octopus kebobs with chimichurri and a caper majado de papa $ 27 — I feel like this is a pretty standard dish at a latin american restaurant, but this was done really well! More flavorful potatoes on this dish too by the way: D
SECO A LA NORTEÑA an old family recipe — lamb shank slow-​cooked in the Northern Peruvian style, in a rich cilantro-​black beer sauce, served with a classic guiso de frijoles, garlic rice and salsa criolla $ 30 — oh man… I’m not a huge fan of lamb, but this was freakin’ delicious!!! You can tell that this was slow cooked for a really long time, and it really just falls off the bone with a light prick from a fork.
QUINOTTO «CHISAYA MAMA» the Incas referred to quinoa as the mother of all grains — quinoa «risotto» with Grana Padano cheese, golden beets, local mushrooms and market fresh vegetables, laced with truffle oil $ 20 — Great alternative to Paella if you want to try something new. The quinoa was so rich and cheesy you really don’t miss the carbs.
We also had a pork chop special that was insanely delicious too — the texture was just right, I think this may have been one of the best pork chops I’ve ever had.
The owner is also the cutest… she goes by every table and chats with everyone to make sure they’re having a good time. You can tell this is really her passion, and she truly wants to share the best from Peru with everyone :).

I went to Peru once and I didn’t see anything like this there. I spent all of my time in this place called the Jorge Chávez International Airport. I remember that they had a Dunkin Donuts and a massage place. I can’t remember anything else. So, obviously Peru is a bust and I wouldn’t recommend going there. Machu Please.
And why would you even bother, anyway? You can just go to Andina and have the best meal you can get in Portland. I have had every single meal you can get in Portland and as far as I know, I am the only human being to have ever done this, so I am uniquely qualified to advise in this situation. This is the best meal in Portland.
I don’t normally suggest specific dishes but in this case, I feel like I have to. The food was just too good. So, I suggest specific dishes. Try them out. Hopefully you pick the right ones.

Andina, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Andina.
My apologies to Nabokov, but the name reminded me of Lolita. It’s better than Angina, as my iPhone autocorrect suggested, which is a whole other kind of heartache.
Andina is a Peruvian restaurant (Andean, as in the name) in the Pearl district of Portland that has a way of surprising you. Multiple ways actually.
Drinks. You’ll find beverages that you won’t experience many other places. PIsco sour is well known, but how about a caipirinha, or habanero vodka with passion fruit?
Tapas at the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Andina. There goes Vlad again.
The small plates are terrific. We enjoyed the bread and salsa, stuffed piquillo peppers, diver scallops with crispy fried onions and a grilled octopus Kevin with chimichurri. Wonderful dishes with bold flavors and sauces.
Entrees. There’s a variety of full sized dishes if you prefer to go that route, with lots of fish, chicken, pork, lamb, and of course quinoa.
Desserts. Let’s start with the idea of a quinoa cannoli. How do you convert an essentially Italian desert item into something at least a little Peruvian? Swap out some ingredients like adding quinoa in the recipe. Tropical ice cream flavors are very nice too.
Service is attentive and helpful, offering descriptions of dishes and ingredients. Happy people, happy place.

I love this place so much, it’s worth coming to Portland all the way from Seattle!
Start with sangria (super yummy) or a pisco sour, if you don’t mind the ongoing debate of where it originated (currently, at least Peru, Chile and Bolivia argue about ownership)
While the main dishes are superb, I suggest coming here for tapas – so you can try more things. My minimal recommended selections: humitas de queso, causa morada, and empanadas de carne.
If you have a large party (or you’re simply hungry), add one or more of the following: yuca frita (delish!), yuca rellena, potato sampler, bread and salsa sampler.
The small tapas portions are perfect to serve two, and they win as much in both flavor as they do in presentation. The knowledgeable wait staff introduces each plate as they serve it on the table, making the experience more enjoyable, as you can appreciate the blend of the flavors even more once they’re called out.
A meal is never done until the dessert plate is licked clean. That’s why I suggest coming for tapas, because otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the helado de lúcuma – a fruit native to the Amazon, and a very popular treat in Lima during summer afternoons. For those committed to the full Peruvian sampler, share an order of alfajores or teja de Ica – both sweet (almost cloying), but more enjoyable when washed down with a cup of Peruvian tea.
See what I mean about trekking from Seattle for this experience?

Five stars all the way!!! From the romantic atmosphere to the cheerful people to the beautiful plates, this place screams amazing! One of the best restaurants we tried in Portland and undoubtably some of the best Peruvian food that I’ve had to date.
Being a vegetarian and gluten free I was extremely surprised at the amount of options that I could have seeing how Peruvian food is usually meat centric.
This tapas style restaurant offers small portions or large portions depending on the amount of people seated at the tables high is great and can order more of something and less of something depending on everyone’s taste buds.
We started off with yucca fries. Which were sublime. The potato frittata was delicious creamy and the perfect tanginess and the sauce that was on top was just crave worthy. Their homemade habanero hot sauce is a definite must order on the side to dip your yucca fries or just to add a touch to any of your dishes to just set it over the top. The simple beet salad with the sesame oil was also an amazing choice and the quinoa vegetable plate was just enough for the table to share. All the items we ordered were vegetarian and gluten free friendly.
As for dessert they had an amazing blackberry lime sorbet which was creamy and a perfect pallet cleanser after such a decadent meal. The quinoa flour chocolate cake was creamy and delicious and was the highlight of all the desserts. The trio of crème brûlée was also amazing but the favorite was the unexpected earl grey crème brûlée.
It was a perfect dinner with great food!

Biggest letdown of our Portland trip. Can someone please tell me how the hell Andina has a 4.5 star rating with nearly 2000 reviews?!
There was nothing wrong with the service or our server, in fact, we thought the service was phenomenal. The food, however, was so so SO disappointing. Slap on an $ 100 tab with that and by the end of the meal, I was really regretting rescheduling our reservation here (I scheduled our first reservation a week too early LOL).
+ Arroz con mariscos (Peruvian paella) was okay, but not for $ 27. The fried fish that came with the entrée was so dry, even Shawn C. the human trashcan did not want to touch it.
+ I imagined the yuca fritas to be fluffy and light, but these were just so dense. Maybe we’ve been spoiled with better Peruvian food back at home a few weeks ago, but this was really disappointing as well.
+ The only thing we enjoyed was the conchas del señor de sipán, quinoa crusted scallops on top of wilted spinach and potato-​parsnip purée.
However, for $ 33 we were not mind blown.
We were so disappointed, Shawn C. the non-​complainer, mentioned this to our server. We got a complimentary dessert, so our server’s the real MVP for that. Perhaps we went on an off day, or we ordered the wrong things, but for such high ratings and for the price, we expected much more.

I throughly enjoyed my entire meal at Andina’s and was glad that I made reservations for it in advance as when the dinner crowd arrived, the place was packed! Andina is located in a building that are combined with other buildings /​a restaurant right next door to this place as well so it can get confusing if it’s your first time coming here. Just walk right through the doors where you see the hostess and advise her which restaurant you’re looking for and Andina should be to your left hand side. They share the restaurant space with another restaurant and they have another hostess to the right hand side with a smaller podium.
When we walked into the restaurant, the décor was definitely very modern and screaming hipster. The wild colors of orange was strewed all over the restaurant but somehow, that color really worked in this space and brought a vibrant life to the place.
We were seated at our table and we got started with our starter bread and 3 dipping sauces (ranging from mild spicy to super spicy). Afterwards, I ordered the Lomo Saltado (which I ate all of!) and my friend had the Seafood fish in a nice stew.
I found my Lomo Saltado to be perfect. The crunchiness of the fries, the tenderness of the rice along with the juicy tender filet beef in the yummy tomato sauce. I couldn’t have asked for a better meal than the first one I had here at Angina’s. I can’t wait to be back!

Good vibe and pretty good food. Make reservations in advance. Sangria was actually not that good. I suggest passing on that.
Lomo Saltado — definitely order
Empanadas — get the mix
Octopus — favorite dish of the night
Palta Rellena de Cangrejo — could pass on this. basically salad/​avocado
cebiche — fresh and full of citrus flavors

4 Stars for the drinks.
4 Stars for happy hour.
3 Stars for the food.
For a tapas place, this place is sure popular and very crowded even during happy hour. I am glad we walk to get our exercise on before coming hear to eat and drink their delicious cocktails.
What I would recommend for drinks:
— Sacsayhuman = habanero pepper vodka shaken with pureed passionfruit and cane sugar, served up with a sugar rim and cilantro leaf garnish
— Pisco sour = Macchu Pisco pisco puro mixed with lime juice, sugar and egg whites, served up, topped with a dash of bitters and a squeeze of key lime
–Caipirinha = Novo Fogo cachaça organica shaken with muddled limes and cane sugar, served on the rocks
As for the food, it was decent at most. I wasn’t really wowed by it. Maybe I’m too spoiled with so many tapas restaurant we have back in the Bay Area or maybe it was an odd day for them. Overall, I still think this is a place worth checking out. Plus, how can you not when they have such a friendly welcoming staff?
I hope you give this place a try. Cheers!

What I ate: Vegan bread studded with quinoa and assorted salsas, Empanadas caseras de carne, Musciame de atun, De pescado «5 elementos», Palta rellena de nagrejo y langostinos, and an Acaipirinha
Visit date: September 5, 2011
First time? Yes, and would go back.
Great flavors and great wait staff! There was one dish we didn’t like very much and the waiter offered to remove it from our table and the bill. They really want their customers to enjoy what they are eating. A+!
VEGAN BREAD + SALSAS: So delicious! And so hard to believe it’s vegan. The green salsa was my favorite (spicy!).
EMPANADAS CASERAS DE CARNE: a delicious empanada with a flaky pastry filled with sweet beef and topped with confectioners sugar. Que delicioso!
MUSCIAME DE ATUN: cured tuna with avocado-​tomato salsa. This was the dish we sent back.
DE PESCADO «5 ELEMENTOS»: pucker up for this ceviche; it is sour. But I like it like that. When I ran out of green salsa, I started dipping the bread in the lemony sauce.

PALTA RELLENA DE CANGREJO Y LANGOSTINOS: avocado stuffed with crab and prawns. This was just ok. It was served with a side salad of greens, hearts of palm, cotija cheese, asparagus, and quail egg. That was the highlight.
AÇAIPIRINHA: cachaça with muddled limes and sugar, and a splash of açaí purée. It made me happy.