Bodegon No 69 - Pasadena

I think eating at Bodegon No. 69 was my first time eating Peruvian food. And because I was starving when I went with a friend I wanted to make sure what I ordered would be good enough to satisfy my hunger. So I went with a safe and familiar choice and ordered the Arroz Chaupa de Pollo, which is fried rice with chicken. It was delicious. By no means did it taste like Chinese fried rice but it did have a similar look and texture even with a scrambled egg throughout. The Arroz Chaupa de Pollo really stood out because of the Peruvian seasonings. Overall the chicken was tender and crispy. The rice was fluffy and each bite was wrapped in Peruvian flavors and seasonings, which are earthy with a bit of sweetness. The portion size was enough for two people, so I ate half and took the rest home for later. I paired my Chupa with the Inka soda. The color of the soda is bright yellow and has the taste of an American vanilla crème soda. But rather than being made of sugar like American sodas, the Inka soda is made from an herb similar to chamomile, per the server. Each time I have gone the wait staff have been very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. I like the outdoor seating which looks like it is a holdover from the early Covid days. I'm not sure what the ambiance is like when eating inside as I have enjoyed eating outside.Bodegon No. 69 is a good place for small or large groups, mainly due to the portion sizes.

J and I needed a quick dinner before seeing Inherit the Wind at the Pasadena Playhouse (no this isn't close, but parking in one of the many lots is easy and it's just a quick 5 min drive back). It was definitely busy on a Saturday night and lots of folks had reservations, but it was only a little after 6 so we were able to snag an outdoor table for two. The table was pretty basic, it was right in front of the window so we watched another table eating and tried to decide if their food looked any good haha. But the service was cordial and everything was served promptly. We had the empanadas to start, you get 2 beef and two chicken which is nice so you get to try different varieties. My husband really enjoyed them they need to give you a bit more of the J ordered the steak with pesto noodles (bistec con tallarin verde). The steak was cooked nicely, medium rare as he asked, but it was very plain needed some salt. I had a ceviche, the tiradito a la crema which was also a bit plain surprisingly with the bright color.Overall the food was only ok but the service was great.

Food was excellent. Not as spicy as I had expected.

The meats in the Lomo saltado and pollo saltado were very tender. The best I've ever had. The arroz con mariscos had scallops, mussels, squid, and shrimp, and was very flavorful.Parking: Handicap parking is limited. The closest is around the corner, at a corner.

Made a reservation for 4 at Bodegon, and it did not disappoint! Keep in mind this review is from a native Peruvian- my standards are high folks! The staff was super nice and attentive. Loved the atmosphere (they have an open kitchen and it's so cool to see the magic happen). The passion fruit pisco sour was delicious. They also carry Peruvian beer (Cuzqueña) and juice (Chicha).They had a few vegetarian dishes for my husband, and the rest of the party indulged in ceviche, choclo with cheese, tiradito, lomo, and the best damn anticuchos I've had in LA! We were very satisfied and happy customers. I had to get dessert- the arroz con leche was warm and delicious (it reminded me of my grandmother's). Finally, they had some Peruvian products on sale, so I went home with a turrón de doña Pepa! Woohoo! Overall, can't wait to be back!