• CLOSED: Bircher-Benner

  • (19)
    4

    Closed

  • White Vegetarian
Lacto
Ovo
Pizza
International
Take-out

This vegetarian restaurant opened in 1972, at current location since 2017. Vegetarian meals, fruit desserts, pizza nights, and more. Also a health food shop. Previously at Av. Larco, Miraflores, new address reported June 2017. Reported closed, Mar 2020.


Venue map for Bircher-Benner
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19 Reviews

First Review by Pernilleskokken

ChristophA

Points +42

Vegetarian
25 Jan 2020

Closed

This place doesn't exist anymore

soulnow

Points +17

Vegetarian
03 Sep 2017

GOOD OPTION

The day we stop in Lima, we visited the Bircher Benner and was correct for the meals as vegetarians. In front of the most important park in Miraflores and very open people to assist in our selection. The set menu for the day is a good option.

Pros: Simple but good., Perfect location in miraflores.

safell

Points +188

Vegan
06 Jan 2017

Good for vegetarians

They have a large menu but only around 4 vegan options: the ceviches are all vegan and also the lomo saltado and seco de cabritovel. I tried the Seco and the disctinctive sauce of it was perfect but the mock meat ruined it for me, I guess that's just my opinion cause I'm not a fan of soy protein or any mock meat at all. However, it is overpriced to my peruvian eyes and I would rather walk a few blocks more and go to a vegan restaurant near there that I think it's called seitan urban bistro.

Pros: large menu, some vegan opts

Cons: price

Annemarije

Points +43

Vegetarian
07 Dec 2016

Filling, reasonably priced, 3-course lunch menu

I had the vegetable soup, some sort of fake meat casserole with rice, and a cake in liqueur. I was very full by the time I left! The food was filling and tasted good, and the lunch menu was reasonably priced at S./ 18,90. Yes, there are cheaper places to eat in Lima, but Miraflores is the most expensive area and by Dutch standards this is still very cheap for a three-course lunch with a drink. I'm not a huge fan of fake meats but the casserole was done well. The staff were helpful, if not very attentive, and they have free wi-fi, which is nice when you're on your own and trying to work out how to get to an appointment in an unfamiliar part of the city. I'll probably go back to this restaurant while I'm in Lima. One final thing is that there was a strange smell, but that could have been coming in through the open window from the roadworks outside.

Updated from previous review on 2016-12-07

Pros: Everything vegetarian, seemed mostly vegan, Lots of food for not much money, Pretty good food

Cons: Staff could be friendlier, Unpleasant smell on the day I went

bmp64

Points +35

Vegetarian
08 Apr 2016

Option for dinner

Nice but a little extensível option. Food is good but no especial.

Cieloazul

Points +161

Vegetarian
28 Feb 2016

bleh.

very disappointed. everything had either false meat (from gluten and soy - which I choose to stay away from) or cheese or eggs. I had to ask to get something without these items. it's a shame, because they have such a large menu. the portion of my potatoes and rice were small and unsatisfying. my hungry boyfriend ordered a sandwich and a plate of veggies. they brought him something made of slices of soggy loaf bread and the biggest pile of cheese I ever seen. it looked like a sandwhich i would experiment with making when i was 7. They never brought him his vegetables, and tried to charge us for it, and when we told them - they didn't seem to care. the employees were on their phones most of the time. we were the only people in the restaurant, so I expected a little more attention or kind service. the lady at the desk is really nice though.

Dave_Thespooncarver

Points +141

Vegan
28 Feb 2016

Fancy place thats about it

All the plates have either egg, cheese, bread, meat sub, or all the above. They also rely heavily on mushrooms. Not a healthy place. Maybe it was revolutionary in the 70s when theu started, but it wasnt that great at all. Didnt have two ingredients in a playe I ordered and they forgot to bring me the appetizer i ordered. Lame. The menu needs a serious renovation.

Yariv

Points +76

Vegan
16 Jun 2015

Fancy location, OK food

A more upscale looking place with property menus in English. The food was decent but not notable, and cost four times as much as anything else in the neighborhood.

Pros: Upscale

Cons: Relatively expensive

blsrsuz

Points +213

Vegan
18 Oct 2014

MIraflores Vegan options

My husband and I are in our 60s' and vegan. We went to a few places before we climbed the stairs to Bircher Benner. Need to google who he is…

The waiter was very helpful in helping us select the vegan options and even made our "yellow" potato soup without the noodles that most certainly had egg in them. It seems Mr. Bircher- Benner loved yogurt and I am sure it is delicious..one of the only things I miss in turning vegan.
The "yellow" potato soup was sort of bland but we enjoyed it's warmth along with the BB house salad with shredded carrots, beets, avocado, spinach and lettuce. Salad was large enough for 2 and hit the spot. I found that a good squeeze of lime over the top suited the salad well. I do try to stay away from oil.
My husband had the tofu with mushrooms in a delicate sauce along with roasted potatoes and some vegetables. The room we found cozy and had an excellent view of the Church overlooking Kennedy Park.
We are here for 5 days and will probably eat there again…although we did find it a bit pricey. Everything was very fresh.
Try it..see what you think.

Pros: open all day and into the evening, has vegan options, fresh vegetables

sglcklch

Points +2815

Vegan
01 Jul 2014

OK for dinner

I hadn't planned to come to this place at all, but was left with no choice when I found the ones I wanted to eat at closed despite their hours suggested otherwise. This restaurant is right in Miraflores just a few blocks from our hotel, so we decided to hit it up and were so glad it was open.

For starter, we had the ceviche "mixto" with tofu, mushrooms, and seitan. It was pretty good and came in a huge serving size. For main courses we got the lomo saltado and some seitan steaks in a green sauce. Again, both portions were massive, but taste was just passable—they were a tad too salty and didn't really taste like much else. The seitan was also too spongy and lacked texture. On a better note, the service wasn't as bad as some reviewers wrote; it was actually quite pleasant.

I wouldn't suggest this place for lunch because there are a few other veg*n restaurants in the area that serve better food at a better value. For dinner, though, choices become very limited. This place would be an okay bet.

Pros: location, huge portions

Cons: so-so food

DynaMo

Points +97

Vegan
02 Mar 2014

nice food, nice neighborhood

Great location, walking distance from Miraflores. I had one meal here in January 2014. Good ambience for a date. The "Seco de Cabritovel" was tasty and hearty veggie cutlets smothered in a flavorful cilantro sauce. I'd definitely go back.

Pros: good location, interesting menu, nice ambience

Cons: all desserts have dairy or honey

veglife00

Points +60

Vegetarian
03 Jun 2013

A nice spot

This restaurant is located in Miraflores, across from Kennedy Park where many days there are events, art for sale, etc. It would be easy to miss because the sign is relatively small and you must enter an open doorway to walk up steps and enter the restaurant. Peruvians tend not to eat lunch until 1:30, so if you arrive around noon, they may not be ready for you (as was the case with me, so I waited about 5-10 minutes to be greeted and for my order to be taken). The restaurant itself is quaint and the food quite good. I had a vegan version of ceviche, which was a great chance for me to experience a classic Peruvian dish (with the characteristic lime and cilantro over tofu and soy meat, along with veggies--including the delicious Peruvian corn). The menu is huge, with many vegan options.

Pros: Good food, Nice atmosphere, Large menu of vegetarian/vegan options

Cons: Slow service

veggiecaitlin

Points +27

Vegetarian
01 Oct 2012

just OK

Staff were grumpy and rude, food was okay but nothing special. Lots of choices though, I had rice with veggies and a gluten steak on top (cost approx 18 soles). My boyfriend had the hamburger with chips- note that it was just a pattie without bun and fillings. Good location ( the map from this happy cow is slightly off- it is further up the hill). Worth a try, shame about the staff though.

Pros: healthy food, nice decor/ location

Cons: very grumpy staff

Stevie

Points +11765

Vegan
20 Jan 2012

Bircher-Benner, Lima

Miraflores seems to be the main sort of place for tourists, backpackers etc to stay in Lima. There seems to be a choice of all vego restaurants. I asked at reception where I am staying for a nearby all vego restaurant and they directed me to Bircher-Benner on the basis of it being open at all that time. I don't as yet what time other places close but the streets seem to be very busy until pretty late.

Bircher-Benner bills itself a lacto-ove vego restaurant. I was concerned when I hoovered on in there that they may not be able to accommodate my vegan grade vegetarianism. My concerns were unjstified. The guy who served me was very courteous and directed me immediately to the dishes on the restaurant that are vegan friendly. I had some potato and noodle soup to start with followed by a dism made of seitan. I was well full at the end, the main course would've been plenty by itself. The apple juice they served me was freshly made. It was all very nice.

Its on the main drag and easy to find but up a flight of stairs of that is an issue for you. Cost for the lot I had was I think around 37 soles, about 9 quid in sterling.

Pros: Vegan vego friendly, Nice food

Cons: Up a flight of stairs

enRoute

Points +1401

Vegan
25 Jul 2011

worthwhile place with issues

Interesting place... many pro's and con's as others have mentioned.

The central location is great, quirky location up the stairs of an old colonial house, a few nice seating areas but the smaller room felt a bit claustrophobic. Waiter was very friendly, but even after I explained the vegan thing to him he brought out some yogurt sauce and said "but maybe just a little..." Food was OK but not super. I think it's nice that they make their own soya and gluten, and the seitan tasted... fresh, but made with a recipe from 1970 or something. Lomo saltado was tasty and filling. Nice smoothies.

Also met the grumpy worker mentioned above, not much interaction but she didn't respond when I said goodbye.

Subtracting a star due to the fact that they sell shark cartilage. Not necessary.

Another one for the unexceptional food, but the location, history, and ambiance pushes it up a bit. Worth a try.

Pros: central, historic, hearty

Cons: so-so food, selling some sketchy things, not exceptional

strawberry476

Points +38

Vegetarian
25 Aug 2010

great food

I loved the lomo saltodo here! The seitan was cooked very well. I went back a second time during my visit and tried the cordon bleu which was also tasty.. lot of options and everything we got was good. The pizza's were good also.

Pros: tasty food, lots of options, reasonably priced

veganaperu

Points +42

Vegan
06 Jan 2010

nice place to eat in miraflores

Although they are more expensive than most other veggie spots in town, I recommend Bircher-Benner because you get more non-starchy vegetables, and the flavors+seasonings stand out much more than at most other places. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, with three different dining rooms. There are also health food products for sale there, including their house brand. There are at least two dishes on the menu that are vegan, but not too much I was interested in the store part that was vegan. I'm sure there are other dishes that could be made vegan upon request. Don't forget to ask for the hot sauce if you like things spicy. They were so nice to stay open later for us one night. Overall, a very nice place to eat!

Pros: flavor+portions, atmosphere, fresh vegetables

Cons: price, not open late enough for dinner (8:30), not enough vegan options

maynard7

Points +4600

Mostly Veg
11 Mar 2008

Expensive for Lima, good food

I went in October 2007 and March 2008 and the food was good. It is at least 50% more expensive than other veggie restaurants in the area, so I'm surprised it is so busy. In my opinion, the food is only slightly better than the other places, although it has the nicest environment. The fixed lunch menu is 11.9 Soles (about US$4) The other places in town tend to be between US$2 and US$3. An example of what you get for lunch: A choice of either soup, salad, or Ocopa (Peruvian potato appetizer), then the main course of rice, lentils and "meatballs". Everything was fresh and delicious. There was only one waiter in the whole place, so service can be slow here. The food is similar at nearby restaurant El Vegetariano (probably because the woman who runs it used to work for Bircher Benner). If you're here for several days, go to all of them listed on Happy Cow and find your own favorite. This restaurant is busiest between 1pm and 230pm, but there is usually a table available here because it's more expensive than the others. The fixed lunch menu is only available from noon to 2pm, at other times only the regular menu is available, which is not as good a value, in my opinion. The fixed menu comes with fresh unflavored yogurt, to which you can add cane syrup from little pitchers that are on most tables. You also get a glass of emoliente, which is a mild herb drink.

Pros: Consistently good food, Brown rice at times

Cons: Service can be slow, Expensive for Lima, No dessert

Pernilleskokken

Points +44

Mostly Veg
11 Jul 2007

Disappointing

You enter by climbing a stairway, just opposite Parque Kennedy. I would'nt have guessed it was a restaurant from outside. Lots of tables, but few people today. No menu is advertised, you have to ask what it is today and it costs 11.90 soles, pricey compared to other places. 2 choices for starters, 1 for mains, served with emoliente and a glass of yogurt. The food was alright, but it's exactly the same as in El Vegetariano, except that there, you also get a dessert and it costs 8.5 soles. I was disappointed and frankly won't be back. HEalth products in shops are way cheaper than in supermarkets, esp. for the brand Bircher-Benner.

Cons: Expensive, No dessert, Unwelcoming entrance




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