Chifa in Lima~Chinese food on every corner~Comida China en Lima

I finally had some Chifa last night in Jesus Maria district of Lima.  I have been wondering what the heck was this phenomenon after seeing a hole in the wall with the word CHIFA outside, sometimes with some Chinese letters, at least one per block. I mean these things are EVERYWHERE!  I found out that Chifa is the name for the food and also the restaurants: it is a Chinese-Peruvian fusion.  The people here love this food, apparently.  The only other type of restaurant I have seen that rivals the quantity of locales is roasted and BBQ'd chicken called pollo a la brasa or pollo a la leña.  Between these pollerias and Chifa joints, it seems they make up 80% of all restaurants. Of course that number is totally an exaggerated guess.

The food ranges from Chaufa which is fried rice, to sauteed shrimps and veggies, won ton soup and even potato and egg omelets, which are actually Tortillas (as in tortilla Espanola, not tortilla Mexicana). And it is cheap. any plate on the menu ranged from 3 soles (about a buck) to 8.5 soles (about 3.50 us$).

And the plates come with a side, I picked chicken soup with angel hair pasta. 

The Chinese population is not huge, but its influence upon Peruvian culture is distinct.  Compared to the amount of Chinese people that I have seen, there are way more Chifa spots than Chinese people. Or maybe its true what people say, "you don't see all the Chinese people because they are working in the Chifas!" LOL Could be true. Either way, these guys cook like ninjas! Its usually a one man kitchen.  A lady takes your order at the counter right next to the cook, who is usually right at the entrance to the joint.  It seems the cooking show is half the experience.