Born in a run-down barrio in central Lima in 1960, this chain of sandwich shops has exploded in recent years to become a Peruvian institution. It's a business that focuses all its energies on a single goal: making first-rate chicharrón (fried pork) and turkey sandwiches slathered with zarza criolla. The result is a shining example of Peruvians' genius for turning humble ingredients into culinary art.

Serving up sandwiches in the center for over 50 years, this delightful little eatery has stood the test of time for its mouthwatering roast and fried pork offerings smothered in a variety of Chinese-inspired seasonings. A few other branches have opened up around the city, although most locals agree that the original is the best.

A must-try for first-time visitors is the long-standing sangucheria (Peruvian sandwich) spot, El Chinito (not too far from the Plaza de Armas), which has been serving fried and roasted pork sandwiches (known as chicharrón and chanchito asado) since 1960. Meanwhile, Asian influences shine through at chifas (Chinese-Peruvian restaurants), such as Salón de la Felicidad and Chifa Wa Lok, in the historic city center and Madam Tusan in Miraflores.

Sandwiches are an essential item on a list of Peruvian dishes, and you’ll want to make sure that you grab one like a local. El Chinito is well-known for it’s delicious chicharron, which nestles fried pork in a toasted baguette. It can’t be missed when it comes to the food in Lima, and they have several locations where you can stop by.

Okay, so I’m not the monogamous kinda gal… I kinda sorta cheated on La Lucha with El Chinito. There’s something about the bread, meat, and sauce that make this sandwich the absolute tops. BUT – word to the wise: El Chinito has various locations, the best is the main central sucursal… I had a bad experience at the Barranco branch.

Félix Yong’s restaurant, El Chinito, is an obsession of mine, and it is the perfect place to try con chicharrón. Founded in 1960, the establishment has an ornate tiled floor and walls, a counter with different kinds of meat and piles of French bread. (The bread is not from France; it is just called French, but no one knows why.)

El Chinito is a popular sandwich shop in Lima that has several locations across the city. Here you’ll find cheap eats including pan con chicharrón, which consists of pork, slices of sweet potato, and Salsa Criolla, which is a Peruvian red onion salsa. We loved this sandwich so much that we had it multiple times!

This Chinese-Peruvian sandwich shop has been around since the 1960s, though only recently has it gained something of a cult following, expanding to new neighborhoods around town, including Barranco, Miraflores, and San Isidro. The simple shop slings out several traditional Peruvian…

This thick boy Chicharron hit a home run with the perfect pork, delicious flavors, and heft size. The sandwich came piping hot, with steam still dissipating when I took my first bite. Despite needing to unhinge my jaw, the chicharron sandwich was everything I hoped for and more.

For travelers who want to explore cheap eats in Lima without compromising on flavor, these sandwich joints are top picks. El Chinito has been serving butifarras and other traditional sandwiches since 1960. It’s a favorite among locals for a quick, delicious lunch.

Just across the street, there's a local chain, El Chinito, which is another good place for Pan con Chiccharón. It's where we go when I am able to convince Mariela to have breakfast for lunch or dinner. They serve Chiccharón and other classic sandwiches all day.

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