El Misti
Posted by So-Cal Veg Blogger on Aug 2, 2009
El Misti offers a rare combination of traditional Peruvian cuisine and veg-friendly proteins. In fact, they devote an entire section of their menu just to their vegetarian and vegan options. Complete with soy-based substitutes for fish, beef and even lamb, the veg menu goes so far as to labels which items are vegan or can be made vegan.
We arrived around 8pm on a Friday night and the place was essentially deserted. Located in a strip mall off Euclid, El Misti is easy to miss as it is wedged into a small suite between a liquor store and a beauty salon. Once inside, though, it is roomy and festive – if quite warm. We ordered a Yuca appetizer, which was plain, but tasty. Similar to a potato, but with a richer, almost nutty taste. It came with Huancaina, a Peruvian sauce made up for cheese and spices. For the main course, we had veggie tamales, soy beef stir-fry, and the tomato & onion fish fillet. The tamales we fairly bland and should have come with some sort of salsa to spice things up but the other two entrees were quite good. The veggie fish dish was great, and unique in comparison to other veg-fish dishes of the past. To end, we had picarones, a squash-based pastry that lies somewhere between a donut and a pumpkin cookie. Strange, festive and a great capper on the meal.
Overall, El Misti was a great experience. There are, however, a few warnings for the first-time customer. 1. It is not essential, but it certainly helps to have a spanish speaker in your party. 2. The booths are small and somewhat hard… not well suited for the 6 foot and over crowd (grab a table instead). 3. They serve a variety of beers, including Peruvian brews, but seemed to run out of everything quickly (we ending up drinking Coronas). 4. It may be hard to find if you have never gone before, so do your Google-Street-View homework!
Price Range for 2: $30 to $45
3070 W Lincoln Ave, Suite D
Anaheim, CA 92801