Hi foodies! Ryan Laspina here! Moy, Ashley, and I were graciously invited out to Mama Chela Peruvian Cuisine on Thursday, March 21st to try some of their most popular dishes. Read along as I highlight my experience and find out why we think this is one of the biggest hidden gems in the Eastern Panhandle!
Location
Mama Chela is located at 533 Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg, WV. Conveniently located off what we colloquially call Route 11, this spot is easy to get to whether you live in the Eastern Panhandle or across the border in VA, PA, or MD.
Cuisine Type
As the name would imply, Mama Chela Peruvian Cuisine specializes in authentic Peruvian dishes. We love finding more niche spots in our area, and this was the first time I ever had the privilege of trying authentic Peruvian food. If you are interested in food bursting with flavor, I highly suggest you check this place out!
Ambience and Decor
Foodies want to eat delicious food, but they also want to feel comfortable and relaxed when they dine in. Mama Chela passed the vibe check for sure. The first thing I noticed was that it was extremely clean, which is extremely important to me. I felt comfortable sitting down and eating in this restaurant. In terms of decor, traditional Peruvian paintings lined the walls, including Native American thunderbirds. Traditional music was playing throughout the restaurant as well, as our youngest foodie, Javi, was feeling the beat!
Service
The service was top notch. Joel Munico was extremely friendly and attentive, and helped us pick out their most popular dishes to try. Not only did he check on us multiple times to see how the food was, but we struck up real, authentic conversations with him. You can truly tell this is a locally-owned restaurant and Joel cares deeply about satisfying the customers.
Menu and Specialities
Let’s get down to the food! The menu was chock full of traditional Peruvian dishes, including Mostrito, Lomo Saltado, Arroz Chauta Mixto, Tallarin Verde, and Pollo de Gallina. For those that don’t speak Spanish, here is an explanation of those dishes!
Food Quality and Taste
Have you ever tried something for the first time later on in life and wondered where it has been all your life? That’s how I felt after trying Peruvian food from Mama Chela. The three dishes that we all collectively tried were the Mostrito (Peruvian spiced chicken with a side of french fries and fried rice), Lomo Saltado (sauteed beef and veggies with a side of french fries and white rice), and Arroz Chauta Mixto (Peruvian fried rice with chicken and beef).
Mostrito
My biggest issue with chicken (especially white meat) is that many dishes are dry and unseasoned. The Mostrito couldn’t have been juicer or more seasoned. Every single bite was extremely juicy and flavorful. The chicken roasted in its own juices and came out perfectly moist and spiced. Joel brought out sides of their sauces for us to try, and the chicken dipped in the spicy green sauce (no formal name according to Joel) was divine. The perfect blend of flavor and spice that took the chicken to another level.
Lomo Saltado
I had actually heard of this dish so I knew it was going to be incredible. I was not disappointed at all. The beef was tender and had such a strong grilled flavor. The onions and tomatoes were soft and sweet, and the white rice (along with that spicy sauce) was fantastic. But honestly, the star of the show was the french fries, which is shocking to me because I am not a huge fan of potatoes. The fries were so crispy but still soft on the inside. Perfectly salted. Can say with confidence that they are the best fries I have ever eaten in my life!
Arroz Chauta Mixto
Peruvian fried rice is my new favorite fried rice. The chicken and beef were just as good as the protein from the main dishes. The rice was perfectly cooked. Just a spectacular dish.
Tallarin Verde and Pollo de Gallina
Full disclosure, Joel brought these dishes out for us to see and smell, but we did not actually taste these. There was far too much food already to consume any more (more on that in a bit), but true foodies know that you do not just eat with your mouth. The smell of both dishes was incredible, and they looked picture perfect. Will be going back to try both soon.
Portion Size and Pricing
Alright foodies, I usually do not find a dish that is just too big for me. I have a pretty healthy appetite, but I met my match with Mama Chela and their portion sizes. We were all floored with the amount of food on our plates. I could not finish the Lomo Saltado, and Ashley and Moy had plenty of fried rice to take home. The entree prices range from about $15 to $22, which is insane value. You are getting your money’s worth for sure.
Overall Experience and Recommendation
Mama Chela definitely set the bar extremely high. On a 10 point scale, I would rate Mama Chela an extremely impressive 9.2. The food was eye-opening and the portion sizes were elite. This place definitely has the Foodies stamp of approval! I implore you to visit for your next meal out! Visit them on Facebook