La Limena

I really don’t understand all the positive buzz. I found the place to be spectacularly average… just another strip mall restaurant on Rockville Pike. Service was slow, and the room was incredibly noisy. I was in a lunch party of 6 people, and we could barely hear each other talk.

Really amazing place. It was packed and deservingly so. The server we had was really good too, great service! Her name was Aliciya (spelling?), very helpful with her recommendations. This place has very good food! We had the chicken croquettes, pork tamale and empanada to start with, all very good. As for dinner, o m g. Ate everything, unexpectedly. My husband got the lamb shank which was one of the best I’ve tasted, and I had the Lomo Saltado, steak with French fries, onions, and tomatoes and rice. Finished the plate. The rice is SO good! And for desert we had the lucuma ice cream which I guess I’d describe to be like a flan or caramel taste, but it wasn’t really, it’s hard to explain. It’s an unfamiliar taste, because I’ve never had lucuma, but it was something you wanted to keep eating. Everything was delicious!

Love this place. Service is wonderful. I love how clean it is. the details in every decorations is beautiful. The food is wonderful and each time I wanna try something new. Just love it:)

This place was fabulous. Although its $$, most entrees are closer to $ 20 and not the 10 dollar range as you would expect at a place inside a strip mall. But the food was delicious & good service! No complaints from me. We went on a tuesday night and the place was packed with a 20 min wait. I had the lomo saltado, finger licking good, sauteed beef with french fries and veggies. My hubby had the fried flounder and my LO had the chicken fried rice. We also had fried plantains, empanadas and their specialty ice cream & the caramel wafers. The waitress also threw in an extra caramel wafer for free. They give you 2 sauces (yellow — mild & Green — spicy) along with some banana chips and dried corn. Definitely have to go back here !!

Though this place is perpetually busy, there’s a good reason. The authentic food. The Peruvian and Cuban dishes are always on point. Some of my favorites include the Lomo Saltado, Trucha al ajillo, Ceviche… The mora and maraquilla juices also bring me back to my trips to Ecuador. They usually bring these little cookies with caramel between them with the check. These are delicious! The manager is always there greeting you and making sure you are satisfied with your food. This place is always packed with diners speaking Spanish. Hints at the authentic flavor kf this place!

La Comida deliciosa, la atención muy buena y los platos con una presentación increíble !!!

I went there with some folks — about 15 of us. We learned a few things before we decided to go there. They do not take reservations and Sunday’s is one of their busiest days. So, if you want to bring a group on a Sunday evening, here is what you will need to do: get there a little over a hour earlier than you plan to be there and you have to be very, very patient, because I am telling you, it is definitely worth the wait. Also note that they can only split the bill 4 ways.
This place is located near the corner of 1^st Street/​Wootton Parkway and Rt. 355 (there is a CVS close by) and there is an open lot for parking (shared with other places within the plaza). The restaurant itself is small — looks like it seats a little over 60 folks (just a guess). As you enter the restaurant, you have to wait in the aisle, right up to where the cashier is. A host will ask how many is in your party and once seats become available for the number in your party, is when you are seated.
I got an appetizer that was recommended by someone at our table — Papa Rellena. It is described as Mashed potatoes dough stuffed with diced beef, olives, raisins, cooked eggs, and then deep fried golden. On the inside it does look like mashed potatoes and it tasted really good that I wanted another — soft and very filling.
For my meal, I decided to play it safe, since it was my first time at this restaurant and got ¼ Chicken (Dark Meat) with 2 sides (white rice and fried plantains). I have had Peruvian chicken before and it was great then, so I knew what I was getting and this tasted just as good. The rice was made perfectly, the plantains were sweet and thick and the chicken was cooked well — I just wished there was more chicken.
I also had dessert and played that safe too and got the carry-​out portion which was just a taste vs the dine-​in portion. I tried the Alfajores (cookies stuffed with caramel) — the cookie was great, but I am not a big fan of caramel, and the Pastelitos de Guayaba (a puff pastry layered with guava pastry sauce) — it was more pastry than the guava. I did get to taste some Lucuma Mousse from a friend — it was so light and deliciously flavored, that I went back to the restaurant a few days after so that I could get my own. On that visit too, I had the Lucuma Ice Cream. It is from an exotic Peruvian fruit, dark orange in color, tastes really, really good and your tongue does not change to the color of the ice cream (good to know). I need more than 2 scoops of that.
The restaurant itself gives a home feel to it and makes you want to come back for more. If they did reservations, I would be there a lot more, but for now, I will do carry-​out here and there. I look forward to trying more stuff like their Tostones Rellenos (fried green plantains stuffed with shredded steak) and Leche Asada (crème brulee, Peruvian version).

Come for the Peruvian chicken, which is better than most, but don’t forget to try the tiraditos, which is like a plate of sashimi with a slight tart, slightly spicy sauce, and consider the lamb shank, which was delicious and the envy of our large table. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but the pastries are also worthwhile.
Yes, perhaps even better than Picca. Did I mention that the chicken tamale was very tasty with the moist texture that I prefer, or that the potage de frijoles is an excellent side dish? I will!

La Limena is a hole in the wall tucked into a strip mall on Rockville Pike. It offers a combo of Peruvian and Cuban cuisine that is hearty and filling. The food is always delicious and the servings are pretty huge. The yellow sauce is so addictively good. It’s the Nutella of condiments. Try the seafood paella, the aeropuerto or the aji de gallina. The only downside to this place is they don’t do refills on soda. They bring out cans. :(

Ate here on a weeknight. Had the chicken, and also tried an empanada. We also ordered the corn cake special, which our server said is going to be added to the menu due to popularity! I really enjoyed all of the food– it felt very authentic. Prices are a tiny bit higher than what you may expect, but you get a ton of food– and you are really getting great service. They seem to specialize in hospitality. They have specialty drinks that are excellent as well– I can’t remember the name but the purple corn drink is actually really good. I have a feeling we will be regulars for many years to come :)
One strange note– they must have just refinished the floors or something. I was wearing rubber rain boots and was literally slipping and sliding across the floor. No biggie though, did not alter my opinion of this fine establishment!

Service OK; ambience mediocre; food decent; drinks so-​so.
This is an all right «Peruvian» restaurant that local reviewers, in my opinion, have been too generous with. It’s OK, but for 3 weak cocktails and two dinners plus tip at $ 83 it’s excessive. The pisco sour was just juice. The duck was OK but not nearly as good as in a Chinese or Thai place. La Limena is better than the majority of latino eateries in the area, but that’s saying very little. And note that the place was full but we didn’t see or hear one single latino. Maybe because they’re all cooking great food at non-​latino places.

I’ve been meaning to try out La Limena for a while now, a small Peruvian/​Cuban restaurant, tucked away in the Jumbo Jumbo tea plaza off of Rockville Pike. The menu is pretty extensive, offering appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, beef/​poultry/​seafood entrees, Peruvian chicken, side orders, as well as cocktails/​beer/​wine/​house specialties. A good friend and I decided to check this place out for an early dinner — the place was still packed! We were served right away a cute little steel bowl with handles of roasted corn kernels and thinly-​sliced banana chips (it reminded me of the days where I gorged on these while in Peru!) :D For appetizers, we started off with: an Empanada (just came as 1 piece (thought it should at least come as 2 pieces?), stuffed with ground top sirloin, olives, raisins, and cooked eggs; it came piping hot and had a thin crispy exterior; I was surprised that the filling was more ground beef rather than potatoes/​veggies; I wished there were more olives/​raisins, though!); a Papa Rellena (mashed potatoes ‘dough’ stuffed with ground beef, olives, raisins, cooked eggs, and then deep-​fried; this came with a small dish of sarsa criolla (a South American version of salsa with sliced red onions and cilantro); this was a slightly on the bland side, and not as ‘mashed potato-​like’ as I thought it would be); Antichuchos (marinated thin slices of beef hearts, grilled on a skewer, accompanied by a thick-​cut crispy potato and sarsa criolla; this was my least favorite of the night, as I was just not a fan of the hearts — they seemed to be extremely tough and overcooked); and, a Chicharron de Chancho (boneless pork meat cooked and fried in its own juices; served with fried yucca and sarsa criolla; I thought these would be pork belly, but they were literally boneless pork; very meaty and seasoned, which I appreciated, and the yucca was okay). What I loved is that they gave a little tiny tray of the green and the yellow aji sauces; don’t be shy in asking for multiple refills (they only fill the tray up, but can’t bring out another tray; however, I asked them to squeeze a big amount on my plate AHAHAHAHA) — the sauce was so creamy and flavorful (crack sauce!!!), and for sauce lovers (like myself), it was a great complement for the appetizers: D For the entrée, we shared the ½ Chicken Pollo a la Brasa — charcoal roasted, this chicken was really juicy and cooked perfectly; the skin was crispy and flavorful and just right! You get to choose 2 sides, and we opted for the white rice and the french fries — both came freshly-​fried and made. Our server, Javier, was such a sweetheart, and he made sure our waters were refilled and cleared any empty plates away. The manager also came around to make sure that everything was satisfying. At the end, we received two mini Alfajores de Maicena, light cookies filled with dulce de leche: D Definitely a little gem in Rockville, check them out!
+Pollo a la Brasa: D
+aji sauce!!!
+Empanada
+mini Alfajores de Maicena cookies
+ask for Javier: D
+tail end (west) of Jumbo Jumbo
+plenty of parking

I ordered lunch to go since i was tired of my go-​to options. I ordered the Lomo Saltado and an empanada.
The empanada was alright wont get it again.
The lomo saltado i just got bored eating it, then again its that type of dish that all the elements are kind of a stand alone. You have your beef, rice, fries, onions and tomatoes. Its a dish that i have come to a conclusion really doesnt do much for me, its okay, but i didnt particularly care for this one. I will go there again and take up on their lunch special, regular menu prices are expensive. I will also order a sandwich a subsequent time. If update improves will update, if not. then i have experienced better.

Granted I came here on Father’s Day for a birthday party, this was evidently one of the busiest restaurants ever! While we were waiting and dining, we could see that La Limena had a steady flow of regular diners and a customer base who came just for carry-​out. And that’s always a plus in my Unilocal book. Located on Rockville Pike in the corner near Phở 95, Jumbo Jumbo, and Ihop, people who love Peruvian food, should probably come try this.
The one disappointment I experienced was their lack of reservations. When I had called earlier in the day, the lady on the phone had said they would set aside a table for 10 at 7pm, however when we arrived, there was no table waiting for us. Had we known that, we would never have chosen this place as a birthday venue for such a large crowd. After waiting 40 more minutes, we were finally seated. Afterwards, everything ran smoothly.
Now in terms of the food, everything but the ceviche and seafood paella felt like home-​cooked comfort food. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, which had marinated strips of stir-​fried beef, with onions, peppers, and french fries on the bottom of the dish. Not bad. I wasn’t crazy about soggy fries soaked in sauce, but you may! On the other hand, I did enjoy the flavor of the rice, which had garlic and oil combined.
My friend had ordered the ceviche and I thought that was delicious! All the seafood was fresh, the marination was on point, nothing tasted soggy nor raw, and it was cold! Just the way I like it. It was a combination of shrimp, squid, scallop, and fish, all cured in lemon juice, making it taste extremely refreshing. Despite the pricey dish, I’d still order it again.
And last but not least, my other friend ordered fried rice. All I can say for this dish is, «Who orders fried rice?!!» :p

Seamless warm service in a clean contemporary atmosphere punctuated by nearly perfectly cooked proteins and fresh sides.
Pollo Alla Brasa is fall of the bone tender and is as equally flavorful. Skin is crispy, lacking the heavy handed cumin onslaught of many restaurantes peruanos. Now La Limeña is actually Cuban, but Pollo Alla Brasa is like a box of chocolates in the MD Burbs.
The rice is of perfect, impeccable, 10 out of 10, flawless consistency. I want to run back into the kitchen to investigate cooking methods.
Green sauce is spicy without being overbearing and yellow sauce is a classic version of the widespread favorite.
The small green salad I ordered as my other side (¼ chicken + 2 sides) is common, but has a pointedly vinegary bright yellow dressing that inflates the ordinary looking iceberg, carrot, tomato slices, and cucumber to new levels.
The impulse coffee at the end of my meal is well worth it. The mild bean reminds me of lighter version of a Balduccis favorite.
All in all an easily given 5 stars.

3.5 Stars.
La Limena is a homestyle Peruvian restaurant that offers authentic peruvian cuisine. There is a small dining room that seats probably 60 and don’t take reservations. We arrived on Sunday night for a friend’s birthday and waiting approximately 20 minutes for a party of 10. Given how small the restuarant was, I’m glad we didn’t wait longer since there was a long list of people waiting.
As for the food, it was decent, but given the reviews I was expecting something spectacular. I know I’m probably hyping this place up, but I love Super Chicken in Tysons Corner, VA. I was expecting something just as good, if not better since this was a formal sitdown. Unfortnately, not every dish was a winner.
I would say my favorite dish was the Seafood Paella ($ 20). It was flavorful, a perfect blend of spices, and plentiful of seafood and rice. I wish the rice was a little bit more crispy like a traditional paella, but I would still recommend it.
A dish I wish coudl be improved would be the pollo a la brasa or rotisserie chicken. The chicken was crispy and juicy but I wish it had more flavor. I know they have the yellow and green sauce on the side, but I wish they had more flavor on the chicken itself. Honestly, it could use some more salt/​pepper because it was a little bland.
The Lomo Saltado and Pollo Saltado were decent as well, but nothing spectaular from other Peruvian restuarants.
Service was fantastic and very friendly. Our waitress was very patient and friendly.
Overall, I would try this place again for the Seafood Paella and maybe some other dishes I haven’t had before.

Although there was slim Pickens for me to choose from, I’m giving 4 stars due to the great service of accommodations & ambience.
Walked in & there was a line of people waiting to be seated. It’s a small dining area with tables situated pretty close but the turnover process had a good flow. Had a 10 minute wait before being seated in the corner at a 2-​top. People’s tables were colorful with the dishes and beverages… seems like this place offers a few specialities of alcohol drinks as many people were drinking them.
This is the perfect place for the carnivores who craves authentic & by design recipes of Cuban inspired chicken & beef. I settled for the fried whole fish, no sides & besides dealing with the bones, it was OK. If I had some bread & mustard, I could have made an old school fish sandwich LOL!
I appreciate the unasked effort of my server who spoke to the Chef about my order & coming back with the «other» options… only ended up being 2, but hey, I made it work.
The manager made his rounds by stopping at tables to see what people were ordering and how they liked their food. Prices seemed very reasonable for the portions.
I did have a glass of their red «dry» wine as the server put it & was a good taste & pour.
I’ll only be back for the wine & Yucca pieces to be a good dinner companion for my friends.

If you are claustrophobic, do not eat at La Limena. It is small, justly popular, and about as crowded as a dining room can be. But I have decided to take that as «ambiance» and not a drawback, and once past that, La Limena is near perfect.
The service is friendly and helpful, the menu varied and interesting, and all of the food our party ordered was well-​prepared and very tasty. I won’t go into details of the menu, but will just mention one standout item — the whole fried flounder.
I think anything you order will please, even the drinks.

Came back here after 5 years. Went with some of my friends’ recommendations and got half a chicken (dark meat of course), some kind of ropa vieja on plantain appetizer, and the shrimp soup. Soup was bomb, chicken was good as long as you use the green sauce they provide, and the appetizer meat was good. I thought that the plantain was too thick and therefore, I just ate the meat by itself, lol. As sides for my chicken, I went with fries and fried rice. The fried rice is worth the extra dollar.
The restaurant is pretty crowded during dinner, you might have to wait a little bit. Our service was excellent.

My friends and I had a wonderful time here at La Limena. Excellent Peruvian food and the staff were awesome! Located in a corner in a shopping center with IHOP, Phở 95, and the popular Jumbo Jumbo, La Limena is a hidden gem. It is a little pricey, but worth it for the quality and service.
For drinks, they have the Passion Fruit juice and the Chicha Morada, which is fruit juice with a hint of cinnamon. I liked it. It was refreshing.
We started off with the Ceviche de Pescado, which was just fish. It was good, but also a little too acidic and spicy for me. It comes with corn and sweet potato.
The Arroz Con Mariscos (Seafood Paella) was delicious! It had a good amount of calamari, shrimp, mussels, and fish. It would have been perfect with a little bit more salt and the addition of scallops. The Lomo Saltado was great too. The steak was cooked perfectly and was great paired with the rice and fries. Although, I much prefer the Lomo Saltado at La Brasca Latin Cuisine over at Parklawn. I had a bite of the Bistek a la Limena, which was basically steak and eggs. The steak was a little too cooked for my taste, but my friend really liked it.
I wouldn’t come here for the rotisserie chicken. There are better options elsewhere. The chicken here is too salty.
Dessert: They gave us a plate of mini Alfajores on the house, which were a delicious chocolate nutty goodness. The Vanilla Flan and Lucuma Ice Cream were really good too! I didn’t care too much for the mousse. The Lucuma mousse had an aftertaste that reminded me of some Chinese herbal medicine while the Passion Fruit tasted like crayons.
The restaurant isn’t big and they do not take reservations so the wait can take a while if you come during busy lunch/​dinner hours. I’d definitely come back to try their other items.

Si quieres comer una buena comida Peruana y recibir una excelente atención este es el mejor lugar el Ceviche es delicioso, Lomo Saltado, Chupe de Camarones, Cau Cau sus alfajores helado de Lucuma todo… Es delicioso se los recomiendo!!!

Really??? How have I not tried this place before??? It’s a mystery…
I loved the food that I order but upon trying some things other people ordered… I think you just have to be careful what you order.
I had the rotisserie chicken. Dark meat. ¼. Meat falling off the bone. Tug a little and BAM. Comes right off. And so moist. So tender. Skin flavored so nicely!!! Mmmmm… juicy!!! Paired it with yucca. Crisp on the outside. Soft and tender inside. Love the texture. Also had a side salad. Great tangy dressing. They also provide great sauces on the side. A green spicy one and milder white one. Great for dipping. Smearing. Yum!
Had to try the desserts. The donuts made from squash and and sweet potato. Very much fried. But awesome caramel sauce. It reminds me a slightly burnt caramel sauce used for flan… also had the cookie with caramel filling. A must! And the guava pastry. So good. Flakey dough. Just the right sweetness filling. Its like a guava pop over
All in all. I will return! Love it!

Hi, i’m dominican but i love this place.
I went there on Sunday afternoom, everything was so good. I always ask for Causa de pollo, I love it, I always get the best service, waiters deserve five star like the food.
If you haven’t tried yet the Peruvian flavor, go to La Limena, you’ll find it there.