El Pollo Inka, Hermosa Beach

After the Inca Empire fell, waves of Spanish conquistadors, African slaves, Chinese workers, and Italian immigrants settled in Peru. Naturally, the country’s newfound cultural diversity manifested in one particularly noticeable way: the cuisine. Today, potatoes, chili peppers, and corn––as prepared by the Incas––share plate estate with beef, citrus fruits, soy sauce, and pasta to create the rich and unique cuisine found at El Pollo Inka.

Native Peruvians Rosa and Salomon Jaime opened the first El Pollo Inka in 1987, beginning their own culinary empire that today consists of six locations across California and one in Miami. The restaurant’s Peruvian-style chicken rotates on a rotisserie spit for hours to achieve the juiciness and tenderness that makes it the crown jewel of the menu. However, El Pollo Inka’s beef, seafood, and vegetarian dishes also vie for palate popularity with the help of cilantro, onions, tomatoes, and an all-star public relations team. The restaurant also matches bites with sips from a wine list that includes varietals from Chile.