Llama San

Delicious apanese peruvian fusion food in greenwich village!Loved every single bite but the highlight was for sure the beef carpaccio, it's a just get!! Service was good and I loved the ambiance. It's a great place for a date or to catch up with a friend

For how often I have been here and how consistently great the food is over the last 4 years, this place deserves 5 stars. The menu changes often but always inventive and tasty. My guests have always been impressed as well!Highlights from the current menu that I have tried:- Crispy Maitake Mushrooms- Veal Breast Toast- Iberico Pork Tonkatsu - this is a classic and always on the menu and is a must-try. I don't like Udon so i often get mine with rice, which is delicious. I should say that the udon is a huge hit with my friends and husband.- Rock shrimpBut truly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's a cute place that's a bit hard to find because the door is unmarked, but worth going!I have also been here for brunch and it's also delicious. It's a bit dark for brunch, but the food is A++.

(Overall: A+) - Llama San is a restaurant that I feel does a great job highlighting the beauty of seafood through the harmonious marriage of Peruvian and Japanese flavors in a way that is complementary and depth building. This parallels to the kitchen's command of cooking, able to consistently deliver a course set of perfectly cooked proteins that are mostly beautifully plated as well. I love the intimate vibe of this West Village establishment, with top notch staff carefully explaining each course and thoughtfully checking in to ensure the quality of their food. Highly recommend Llama San and their pre-fixe option.(Octopus: A+) - A dish that is a masterclass on how to cook octopus, it is delicately tender and paired well with both the plantain and rice that it blended beautifully in. The aioli added a creamy citrus that helped complement the already impressive flavor building on the octopus.(Lobster: A+) - This unassuming bite masterfully balances the delicate sweetness of the lobster and the flavorful intensity of the curry. The lobster was tender and worked well as an elevated version of shrimp toast or a potato croquette.(Lucid Dreams: A) - I love the quirky infusing of the japanese shiso and green tea into what would be an otherwise kicker cocktail, while still keeping the alcoholic backbone of it. The drink is also naturally elegant on the rocks.--(Clams: S) - This fun dish serves clams in the style of raw oysters, adding their own Peruvian Japanese twist with the herb oil and creamy foam as flavor boosters that is truly preferable to just the pure vinegar and tobasco combo. The crispy nori was a smart play for textural development too.(Tuna Tataki: B) - The flavors coming from this dish is impressive -- I love the tuna, chili, and orange combo, especially with that beautifully seared tuna on the outside and a mostly-raw interior. (Veal: A) - I love this elevated take on beef and potatoes. The veal was incredibly tender and tasted like it had been slow cooked to let the spices infuse through the meat. The chives added a rustic color, and the parsnip puree paired beautifully with that lightened gravy.--(Rock Shrimp: B) - The rice tastes like it was beautifully cooked in a broth for some nice flavor development, and the herbs and spices used paired well to give the rice backbone. I liked how they kept the integrity of the uni, that way diners can actually taste it. My only complaint is the rock shrimp were small, so they really did not shine throughout the dish. (Tres Leches Cake: D) - The cake does embody the tres leches concept, but the simplicity option was not a choice I would make as a final bite. I feel like there was a missed opportunity for the chefs to showcase their mastery the same way the savory dishes did.(Peanut Butter Parfait: B) - I was impressed by the levity of this dish as nut based dishes are usually quite heavy. The parfait was very skillfully executed given the choice of ingredients, but I felt that the dessert could be improved by taking a showstopping rather than an unassuming stance to its presentation.Food: +1Presentation: +1Price: EAtmosphere: +1Service: +2Menu: +2Overall: +7 A+Insta/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

LS specializes in Japanese-Peruvian fusion so their best dishes feature the rich natural flavors from Japanese seafood enhanced further by Peruvian spices. I got the four course menu to try a bit of everything:Lucid Dreams (cocktail):Not a part of the fixed menu, got this drink separately. Love a subtle yet not too sweet cocktail. Comes with a piece of seaweed which was interesting.Octopus (appetizer):The entire skewer also comes with some rice and steak. The skewer is seared for a rich smoky flavor which compliments the light cream sauce drizzled on top. Loved the chewy textures of the octopus and the subtle hints of lemon juice peaking through the intense seafood flavor rush. Lobster (appetizer): Soo creamy. The lobster tail spread on top was juicy tender and soaked in curry. I appreciated the scallion garnish on top for a light aftertaste. The fried potato on the bottom was crispy in contrast to the texture of the lobster tail which was fun to chew on. Super unique dish and very fun bite. Tuna Tataki (small plate): This is the poster child for Japanese-Peruvian fusion. I expected the sauce to be some sort of cheese spread but it's actually spicy and not creamy at all. The onions and orange slices have a citrusy flavor in comparison to the sweet and tender tuna cut. Although most tuna sashimi ingredients work towards enhancing the tuna's natural umami, this felt more like a collaboration where no single ingredient shined more than others. This was definitely very memorable and I doubt many other restaurants could replicate the flavor dichotomy in this dish. Clams (small plate):So fun to slurp. I haven't had such creamy clams before and especially not ones topped with yuzu kosho sauce. The texture here is everything as the chewiness of the clams blend the sauces in the mouth revealing new flavor mixes with each chew. Despite all the seasonings, the clam flavor wasn't overpowered at all and was still definitely the main focus of the dish. Rock Shrimp (big plate):This was my favorite dish of the night by far. The rice fried coated with a creamy uni spicy sauce. There's a layer of fried vegetables on top to mix up the textures of the dish with a fun crunch. Finally, the rock shrimp itself was incredibly juicy and tender. Each bite is super satisfying as you either get to enjoy juicy fresh shrimp, the crispiness of a perfect fried rice, or both. Veal (big plate):The veal was quite lean and topped with ginger and some scallions. The sauce on the side reminds me of gravy but with for a fruit aftertaste. We only got this as it was a limited time offer for the day but definitely was not as great as the other seafood options.Peanut butter parfait (dessert):Not a dessert person but this was quite pleasant. The nuts, coconut, and sesame mix on top provide an initial satisfying crunch before revealing the creamy ice cream below. There's a thin layer of caramel in between to separate the 2 flavors and textures. Definitely an unforgettable night although it is definitely on the pricey end. That said, it's worth the price tag if you are looking to explore something new

YUM what a unique and fabulous meal - the menu is Japanese peruvian fusion which was so interesting but well done. We started with the crispy mushrooms which were quite yum and the scallops which were phenomenal. We also got the tuna which was fresh and in a flavorful, vinaigrette type situation. We got the mushrooms (the second mushrooms on the menu) as an appetizer which were good but i wasn't blown away. Then we got the chicken, swordfish, and braised beef as entrees to share. Oh. My. Word. The entrees were STUNNINGLY DELICIOUS. I was with a group of semi picky eaters so i missed out on some of the items i was dying to try. I think i'll have to come back. the service was attentive but I thought the timing of the dishes was a little rushed. I think my favorite dish was probably the swordfish or beef - they both had such fantastic sauces / smoky flavors The cocktails were also wonderful. I got the passfruit pisco sour which was lovely and my friend got the mint cocktail which was shockingly delicious. For dessert we got the tres leches and black sesame parfait - both were wonderful but the tees leches really blew me away.

So delish! I've been to the sister restaurant Llama Inn before, and I think my experience in Llama San blew the former out of the water. And it isn't that the former was bad, Llama san was just so good.We started with the scallops and the lobster on potato. The ceviche and sweetbreads came next. Then we finished with the Rock Shrimp Uni Chalaca Rice and the Iberico Tonkatsu. The only gripe I had was that the Iberico Tonkatsu came with this pesto udon, and I didn't feel like the dishes really complimented each other. Otherwise, both parts were delicious individually. The rock shrimp uni chalaca rice was my favorite thing. Rich in flavors but still well balanced.Great vibe. The decor was mostly modern, with a sprinkle of retro posters. It also wasn't too noisy, so it was easy to talk.I would also give plus points because it was open on a Monday night, which is relatively rare

I've been meaning to check out their Japanese and Peruvian flavors and was super looking forward to this reservation! While there were minor aspects that fell short of my expectation, I enjoy the flavors very much and overall had a wonderful time here! Apps: My partner and I opted for a 3-course prix fixe (4-course available as well with an additional dessert option) and started off with the scallops and maitake. As big fans of mushrooms, we loved the crispy maitake pieces - the mushrooms were tender and juicy while the outer batter was just enough to get a good crunch without being too heavy. The tofu dip served as a nice cold and creamy contrast to the mushroom. The scallops were also good and tender, but felt like the parmesan stole the spotlight. Small dishes: The razor clams ceviche were delicious and definitely a highlight for me!! They were very fresh and tender. The yuzu kosho added a nice citrus tangy that balanced out the creamy sauce. The seaweed was light and crunchy, and thus served as a perfect vehicle for the clams and sauce! The wagyu carpaccio was another memorable dish! Never would I thought the meat, fish, and cheese flavors could blend like this?! If you like umami, this is for sure the dish for you! The wagyu slices were hidden under a layer of cheese foam amongst fried capers and eel pieces. My only wish was that the waygu was sliced more thinly so it would be more chewy. Entrees: the pork tonkatsu was very tasty! The meat was very tender with a crunchy outer layer. The sauce was much sweeter and less tangy, which I preferred. The udon verde packed a lot of pesto-like flavors in a homogenous sauce. Only wish that the udon wasn't overcooked because it was a little too chewy. Lastly, the rock shrimp and uni rice resembled more of a jambalaya than fried rice. Felt like the sauce in the rice overshadowed the shrimp and fresh uni. I nevertheless enjoyed the shredded shiso and seaweed on top. Drinks: La Mala Muerte offers a slightly bitter, yet very refreshing chamomile aftertaste. Their pina colada is like a clarified pina colada milk punch but I loved how the pineapple taste was much more forward than the traditional drink. The Lucid Dream was a little too strong for me with the green tea shochu. Staff were super nice and helpful in explaining the menu/recommending dishes. The cutlery/utensil switch was also done politely at a good timing. The ambience is fantastic for an intimate date night or a celebratory meal. The minimalist interior design and the dim lighting make its cozy and trendy. It wasn't quite a slam-dunk 5 star for me but still delicious and worth recommending!

Very tasty & unique food - can safely say I've never been to a Peruvian Japanese fusion restaurant before! Our server was very nice. The Iberia Pork Katsu is full of flavor and the meat is very tender. The curry is a cool green color, although it tastes exactly like the typical brown Japanese curry. The Ribeye & yucca fries were also delicious & cooked perfectly. I couldn't get enough of the aji amarillo sauce. Only thing I'd say is be prepared to shell out more than normal because this place is quite pricey for their portions, but still glad we tried it out.

Came here for dinner last night and loved it. Great service, great menu, great drinks, and a nice atmosphere. I liked to pork entre the best and also loved the tuna starter. Would come back soon

Great decor/vibes and service, okay food. Went here for dinner with a couple of friends. We ordered the scallops, tuna tataki, rock shrimp, crispy maitake mushrooms, and caesar salad. The rock shrimp and tuna were the best things we ordered. Loved how citrusy the tuna dish was and the rice with the rock shrimp was delicious. The maitake mushrooms were the worst of what we ordered. We could barely taste the mushroom as it was mostly the crispy breading. It was bland and relied heavily on the creamy sauce that came with it. The caesar salad was just okay. I liked the presentation of it but didn't care for the actual taste or experience of it. Overall, I would come back for the rock shrimp, friendly service, and vibey atmosphere, but beyond that, not sure if I would return.