Serves fish, vegan options available. One of a few outlets this one is situated 2 blocks from Plaza de Armas. Menu is vegetarian, vegan, and fish (added 2014). Kitchen breaks in the afternoon before dinner service. Open Mon-Sat 9:00am-9:00pm.
Category: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Ovo, Western, Peruvian, Non-veg
Reviews (17)
First Review by PrafulaMalde
Contributions +114
just ok - Edit
It wasn't bad. I ordered the double burger. It came with literally nothing on it. Just bread and two veggie parties. My wife's gluten limitó was better, but her soup was seriously lacking. It is very cheap, but there are other cheap options in town.
Contributions +596
good & cheap - Edit
The food is good and quite cheap. You have to ask which meal is vegan because a lot of the menu is only vegetarian.
Contributions +1910
Decent alternative with local flavor - Edit
The main reason to recommend El Encuentro is as a change of pace from the local vegan restaurants, when the latter are closed or when one wishes to sample veg versions of regional staple dishes, which El Encuentro does well enough to be worth a visit if you're nearby. I had the Duetto, which was hearty and satisfying. Prices are reasonable for the generous portions.
Contributions +23
Good option - Edit
Small and simple restaurant with several options to choose from. The burgers are great and very well served. Price are very account. Worth to try
Contributions +54
Some vegan options - Edit
We visited here after going to Green Point for lunch. The menu is petty extensive. I recall there being a handful of vegan options. We went with a burger and lomo saltado. The burger was very basic but okay. And the lomo saltado was okay. It wasn't my favorite place in Cusco but glad there was a variety of vegan options.
Contributions +42
Not the BEST veg place in Cusco, but still great. - Edit
This place is located right in the touristy part of Cusco, and I think considering that, the prices are quite good. Going for the set lunch menu is the best deal. You get salad, soup, entre, and tea for 8 soles. I don't recommend the lentil burgers, I got one one time and it was a little overcooked. The french freis are really good though! I also had the face meat sandwich once (supposed to be llama I think) and it was quite rich and meaty, I was almost was unable to finish it. Not my favorite veggie place, but again if you get the set lunch menue its a great deal and you will leave full!
Pros: Cheap, Ideally Located, Fresh, hot food.
Cons: Busy During Lunch (Have to Share Tables), Bread on the sandwiches isn't great
Contributions +68
cozy veg place - Edit
Should have checked if the menu of the day as vegan because it was much cheaper than the regular items. my husband got a burger which he said was alright and I got a seitan and veggie stir fry which was quite good and a huge portion. ALL in all it was pretty good.
Contributions +329
Great, Cheap Lunch Special! - Edit
We checked the menu, and this location is all veg. The lunch special is much better value than the menu - at least 4 soles cheaper than other main dishes, and huge. Ours came with a huge, filling soup, a plate of salad, rice, "meatballs", potatoes and coca tea - so much food that we had leftovers for dinner AND breakfast.
Pros: Huge Portions, Cheap Menu Del Dia
Cons: Regular Menu Expensive
Contributions +1168
Dinner was a good value - Edit
I stopped by for dinner last night. Currently it's 7 soles for dinner (May 2015). You get a bowl of soup, the main plate, and a cup of tea. A very good value in this expensive region of Peru. Good location only a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas.
Lunch is 8 soles, probably for a larger meal than that served at dinner time. I didn't have enough time to try them for lunch.
Updated from previous review on Saturday May 16, 2015
Pros: Good food, Price good, Location
Contributions +22
Super! - Edit
Muy rico y casi siempre el menu del dia vegano. Si no con opciones veganas en la carta. Hay otra sucursal con la misma carta un poco mas barato. Ricos jugos tambien.
Contributions +139
great location - Edit
I ate lunch here one day &it was good, it was vegan friendly, had salad,main,juice,&soup for 8 or 9 soles, staff understood what vegan was. Shaman raw food restaurant next door in court yard great for dinner
Pros: easy to find, friendly staff, vegan friendly
Contributions +9
Imprenscindible - Edit
Restaurante vegetariano muy frecuentado por los locales.
Comida nutritiva y sabrosa que varia todos los dÃas.
Precios de menú muy muy muy económicos.
el menu cambia en cada servicio y es es excelente.
Vegetarian restaurant frequented by locals.
Nutritious and tasty food that varies every day.
Menu prices cheap. the menu changed every day and it is excellent.
Pros: price, quality
Contributions +18
El Encuentro - Edit
This restaurant was certainly an encuentro during my two-month stay in Cusco. I escaped nearly every day to have lunch or dinner in this cozy place, where I was always sure to find a fellow traveler or two. Since it's small, many patrons share tables, which added to the allure for me.
Looking back, I'd say some of the food was a little greasy, and the menu wasn't *that* diverse, but when you're in Peru, veggie food is hard to come by, and I'm eternally grateful for El Encuentro.
I mostly ate the sandwiches, which had yummy avocado and great Peruvian cheese (I wasn't vegan then). The nachos were also great, and some of the larger entrees were absolutely delish. All the dishes were very filling, and I usually had to take some leftovers.
The staff was very kind, as well. :)
Definitely check it out.
Pros: Avocados, Safe vegetables, Friendly atmosphere
Cons: Greasy (just a little)
Contributions +32
Slow but great to get vegan food in Cusco - Edit
Took quite a while to get my meal but enjoyed it when it came. I recommend if you don't want to wait, order the menu of the day.
Contributions +545
Good food, serves tuna :( - Edit
Daily 6 sole set menu can usually be made vegan, and is quite good, but we were very disappointed to find that this place serves tuna :(. Staff is helpful and the place gets packed up for lunch. Also, just so you know, the didn't tell us but the veggie burger buns have egg and milk in them.
Pros: cheap set meals, good food, good service.
Cons: Not vegetarian, buns have egg and milk, can be packed
Contributions +42
Best value veggie set menus - Edit
El Encuentro has really cheap and good set menus for lunch. It's 6 soles for salad, soup, an entree, dessert, tea, and bread. The food is hearty, Peruvian-style vegetarian, and also very healthy. There are also plenty of a la carte menu options, and the soya saltado, a version of a meaty Peruvian dish, is particularly good. Service can be a bit scattered and slow, but this is a good place to eat, particularly for lunch
Pros: Inexpensive, Tasty food
Cons: Slow service
Contributions +13
El Encuentro - Edit
This small restaurant gets very busy but has excellent selection of meals. The food is very good and the portions are very generous. They have menu of the day for under 7 sols. Ended up eating five out of our 8 meals here. Service a bit slow but they do make everything fresh.
Pros: Excellent value, Excellent food, Generous portions
Cons: gets very busy, slow service
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