Mario's Peruvian Seafood
5786 Melrose Ave.
L.A., CA
Rossmore Avenue
323-466-4181

Sorta like being in Peru -- ceviche, Inca Kola and religious pictures.

Popular food: Ceviche, lomo saltado.

Unique food: Cau-cau (beef tripe stew) for Sun breakfast.

Drinks: Inca Kola, chicha morada, soft drinks, horchata, tamarindo.

Seating: Room for 45-50 of your closest friends -- but can you say cramped?

Ambience: Locals and large families; posters of Catholic saints on the walls.

Extras/Notes: Ceviche is raw fish marinated in citrus juice, red onions and ají. Ceviche is coastal Peru's most popular summer dish, and the leche de tigre marinade is hawked as a hangover cure. True to its name, Mario's Peruvian Seafood excels in ceviche and has darn good saltados and arroz chaufas (fried rice). For a special treat, come on Sunday for a Peruvian breakfast.

Parking: Darn near impossible in cramped mini-mall -- test your luck on side streets.

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Hours: Mon.-Thu., 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun., 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.