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El Gordo Peruvian Eatery – Montclair is a small, quick-service spot specializing in authentic Peruvian takeout. With limited counter seating, it’s mainly for to-go orders, but you can grab a quick bite if space allows. This family-owned business started nearly 30 years ago and has grown into a beloved local chain with multiple locations across North Jersey. Order ahead for pickup or get your favorite Peruvian dishes delivered through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Toast online ordering. Perfect for when you’re craving bold flavors on the go!
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Jersey City, NJ Passaic, NJ Union Township, NJ Montclair, NJ.
Reviews
Grace Nicole Cortegana Camargo
I want to preface this review by saying that I am Peruvian and grew up in Peru so my standards of Peruvian food are very different than other people who may not have tried or may not be Peruvian.
We came here on a Friday night and this place was very quiet, but they did get a lot of takeout orders so maybe that is their main business which is great for them ! They have enough seating despite being a fairly small place.
The service here is definitely much better than your usual Peruvian restaurants in New Jersey so that is the main reason why I am not giving them a one star.
We got their passion fruit juice, which was very good and so was the cancha they put for the table.
I ordered their tallarines verdes and my boyfriend ordered their jalea. Again, both of these dishes are what I grew up with and have tried not just in Peru, but also at other Peruvian places in New Jersey and, unfortunately, what I tried at this restaurant was not Peruvian food.
The tallarines verdes tasted just like pesto sauce, which is not what it’s supposed to taste like, tallarines verdes has a very specific taste because it has not just basil but also spinach, queso fresco, evaporated milk, etc. all which gives it said Peruvian flavor – what I ate here was not tallarines verdes, it was pasta with pesto. The steak was OK, I got it medium rare and that’s what they served me, but I do have to say it was a bit salty.
Now onto the jalea – this was basically just fried seafood, which is very disappointing. Jalea can look like fried seafood, however, it tastes very different, because we use different seasonings and sometimes even a different flour. On top of the food tasting just like Italian fried calamari rather than a traditional jalea, it did not come with salsa tartara, which further cemented us, knowing that this was not a true Peruvian place.
I think it is good that they are trying to put Peruvian food out to other cultures, especially in the area of Montclair, but this is not a good attempt at it.
It really breaks my heart to have to write a bad review for a restaurant that serves my country’s food, but that is unfortunately what I have found here.
There are good Peruvian places in surrounding areas and even a good Peruvian restaurant in Montclair as well that gives a better alternative to what this place serves.
… moreWe came here on a Friday night and this place was very quiet, but they did get a lot of takeout orders so maybe that is their main business which is great for them ! They have enough seating despite being a fairly small place.
The service here is definitely much better than your usual Peruvian restaurants in New Jersey so that is the main reason why I am not giving them a one star.
We got their passion fruit juice, which was very good and so was the cancha they put for the table.
I ordered their tallarines verdes and my boyfriend ordered their jalea. Again, both of these dishes are what I grew up with and have tried not just in Peru, but also at other Peruvian places in New Jersey and, unfortunately, what I tried at this restaurant was not Peruvian food.
The tallarines verdes tasted just like pesto sauce, which is not what it’s supposed to taste like, tallarines verdes has a very specific taste because it has not just basil but also spinach, queso fresco, evaporated milk, etc. all which gives it said Peruvian flavor – what I ate here was not tallarines verdes, it was pasta with pesto. The steak was OK, I got it medium rare and that’s what they served me, but I do have to say it was a bit salty.
Now onto the jalea – this was basically just fried seafood, which is very disappointing. Jalea can look like fried seafood, however, it tastes very different, because we use different seasonings and sometimes even a different flour. On top of the food tasting just like Italian fried calamari rather than a traditional jalea, it did not come with salsa tartara, which further cemented us, knowing that this was not a true Peruvian place.
I think it is good that they are trying to put Peruvian food out to other cultures, especially in the area of Montclair, but this is not a good attempt at it.
It really breaks my heart to have to write a bad review for a restaurant that serves my country’s food, but that is unfortunately what I have found here.
There are good Peruvian places in surrounding areas and even a good Peruvian restaurant in Montclair as well that gives a better alternative to what this place serves.
Cynthia W
A Hidden Gem with Heartfelt Service and Food!!!
Amazing service, delicious food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere! We truly felt loved and cared for—every dish tasted like it was made with love. This family-owned business has been around for 30 years, and it’s clear they take great pride in their customer service.
Funny enough, we discovered this place after having a disappointing experience at Lena y Carbón. But we’re so grateful that God led us here—this spot is a true gem.
We’ll definitely be back. Thank you again for the incredible food and hospitality!
… moreAmazing service, delicious food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere! We truly felt loved and cared for—every dish tasted like it was made with love. This family-owned business has been around for 30 years, and it’s clear they take great pride in their customer service.
Funny enough, we discovered this place after having a disappointing experience at Lena y Carbón. But we’re so grateful that God led us here—this spot is a true gem.
We’ll definitely be back. Thank you again for the incredible food and hospitality!
Tanya Garzon
Yum, Yum, Yum!
My social media feed kept showing me El Gordo in Montclair, so I finally gave it a try today—and I’m so glad I did! Not only was the hot sauce amazing, but the touch of serving it with Cancha was such a great start. We ordered our favorite yuca with Huancaína sauce, and it did not disappoint. So thankful my feed led me here, and so happy we gave it a try. El Gordo has officially made it onto my “usuals” list!
… moreMy social media feed kept showing me El Gordo in Montclair, so I finally gave it a try today—and I’m so glad I did! Not only was the hot sauce amazing, but the touch of serving it with Cancha was such a great start. We ordered our favorite yuca with Huancaína sauce, and it did not disappoint. So thankful my feed led me here, and so happy we gave it a try. El Gordo has officially made it onto my “usuals” list!
Something Wonderful
I recently visited El Gordo in Montclair and had a great experience overall.
The atmosphere felt cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal. I tried the ½ Pollo con papa o arroz y ensalada — the rotisserie chicken was flavorful and juicy, and the sides paired really well with the dish.
I also had the Choros a la Chalaca, which was fresh, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. Don’t forget the green sauce for the Chicken and to wash it down with an Inca kola.
Parking was easy — there’s adequate space in the back of the restaurant, and plenty of street parking as well, which made the visit very convenient.
The food, service, and casual vibe all made for a really enjoyable meal. I’d definitely recommend this spot if you’re in Montclair and craving authentic Peruvian flavors!
… moreThe atmosphere felt cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal. I tried the ½ Pollo con papa o arroz y ensalada — the rotisserie chicken was flavorful and juicy, and the sides paired really well with the dish.
I also had the Choros a la Chalaca, which was fresh, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. Don’t forget the green sauce for the Chicken and to wash it down with an Inca kola.
Parking was easy — there’s adequate space in the back of the restaurant, and plenty of street parking as well, which made the visit very convenient.
The food, service, and casual vibe all made for a really enjoyable meal. I’d definitely recommend this spot if you’re in Montclair and craving authentic Peruvian flavors!
Elena Yee
It’s been so long since I’ve had Peruvian food so very happy that this place opened up in Montclair. As familiar as I am with Montclair, it was in an area I’ve never been to. In any case, the food was delicious and the service was attentive. It’s a a small place with 4 small tables and a barstools on one side. It seemed like a mostly takeout place but it was rather nice to stay there and enjoy our meal. The ceviche was wonderful with so much seafood along with corn and sweet potatoes. The moderate spiciness ended up a bit a tad spicier than I prefer so I’ll make sure to order it as mild next time. My partner had the breaded chicken that reminded me of Milanese chicken. It was tender and tasty. Plenty of rice and fried plantain. I had the steak and wow, so flavorful. No need for any condiments. I had the yellow rice which was delicious and the fried plantain, which was crispy on the outside. We had their freshly made juice (I can’t recall what it was) and also quite good. We plan to visit again!
… moreveronana70
We just happened upon this spot driving thru Montclair… and it was delicious! We ordered the fried rice with beef, chicken, and shrimp… and the fried fish. Everything was yummy… but the winner is their sauce!! Sooo dang good. I bought two bottles to take back to Philly!
… moreBianca Seminario
My father is Peruvian so as you can imagine, finding authentic food for him has been a huge challenge!! He finds something wrong with literally every place we go but the food here was five stars all across the board! Thank you SO much to the staff, the food was DELICIOUS and everyone was so kind on a very busy holiday. He especially enjoyed the lomo, my personal favorite was the chaufa! We will definitely be back for more, the ambiance was very nice in the restaurant and takeout portions were generous.
… moreKellie
Really yummy! Had my favorite dish Lomo Saltado and my fiancé had the chicharrón de pescado. It was the perfect amount of food, not too much or too little. I went during the week which made it easy to get a table but not sure how easy it is on the weekends. I hope to visit again soon
… moreKimberly Giang
Delicious! My husband and I were so excited to see this new little eatery pop up near us and it was delicious! It’s primarily a to-go/ pickup/delivery type place but there’s a counter top with stools incase you decide to eat there. We chose to eat there and the food was delicious. The price point was a great value for the amount of food. I ordered the cancha, 1/4 chicken with fries and he had the 1/2 chicken with rice. The chicken was sooo tender. The green sauce and garlic sauce added even more flavor. Staff was friendly and the space was super clean. Will definitely be back to try more!
… moreAdrian Crespo
Not sure about all the negative reviews. I am glad I ignored them and gave this place a try. I had the tallarin verde with steak, takeout. This was delicious! I dont claim to know authentic peruvian food but this brought back memories. I used to buy homemade food from a peruvian doña when I was younger which I know was authentic and this was one of my fav dishes. This place did not disappoint, I will be back to try other dishes. The only thing I wish that the portion was bigger but that could be just me being a Gordo
P.S.
the salsa verde (green sauce) was the perfect mixture of spice(heat) and flavor.
… moreP.S.
the salsa verde (green sauce) was the perfect mixture of spice(heat) and flavor.