A sanguchería born in the centre
According to the history published by the restaurant, Don Félix opened a sanguchería in the centre of Lima in 1960; customers soon called it “El Chinito”. In the 1980s, the counter became a place frequented by politicians, intellectuals and artists, over sánguches, a drip-brewed café pasado and a dark beer. The restaurant says it keeps the original recipes in its branch in the centre, which it nicknames “the cathedral of chicharrón”, and now has about fifteen branches in Lima.
The fillings, one by one
The classic sánguches all cost the same; only the filling changes:
- Chicharrón: slices of golden pork belly, the founder’s recipe according to the menu; this is Lima’s pan con chicharrón, served with a salsa criolla (red onion, lime, chilli).
- Butifarra: “del país” ham (Peruvian-style cooked ham), lettuce, mostaneza and salsa criolla, served cold.
- Pavo: slices of roast turkey, with an “oriental” touch.
- Lomito ahumado: smoked pork loin, to try with mustard.
- Chasiu: Chinese-style roast pork belly, ginger mayonnaise and pickled turnip, a reminder of the long Chinese presence in Lima.
- Jamón del norte: ham from the north, slow-cooked and glazed.
The sides: fried sweet potato, pork or chicken tamal, extra salsa criolla.
Sandwich on its own, combo, drink
| Order | What it includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sánguche on its own | One classic sandwich | S/ 25.90 |
| “Taypá” combo | A chicharrón sánguche and an individual chicha morada | S/ 31.90 |
| Drink separately | An individual chicha morada | S/ 8 |
The combo works out slightly cheaper than the sandwich and the drink bought separately. The bigger combos, by weight of chicharrón, are for sharing between several people.
Which branch to choose
The website lists about fifteen branches, each with its own opening hours and types of service. For a traveller:
| Branch | Address | Published service | Published dining-room hours (7 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The historic branch | Corner of Jirón Chancay and Jirón Zepita, centre | Eat in, delivery and collection | Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 19:00; Sundays and public holidays from 8:00 to 14:00 |
| Plaza Mayor | Corner of Huallaga and Carabaya, centre | Eat in and takeaway, no delivery | Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 21:00; Sundays and public holidays from 7:00 to 19:00 |
| Miraflores | Calle Grimaldo del Solar 113 | Eat in, delivery and collection | Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:30; Sundays and public holidays from 7:00 to 15:00 |
| Barranco | Calle Grau 301 | Delivery and collection only | No dining room announced |
The historic branch is the one the restaurant links to its history: choose it if you are visiting the centre. In Barranco, the chain only announces delivery and collection: to eat in, aim for Miraflores instead. Ordering times for takeaway or delivery do not follow a common rule: depending on the branch, they end before or after the dining room closes. Check the last slot for the type of service you want, and give the driver the branch’s address, not just the name of the chain.
Going further
See breakfast and the pan con chicharrón recipe.
A typical meal, based on the menu
On your own, at breakfast
A chicharrón sánguche, a tamal to share or to keep for later, and a café pasado.
| Dish | Quantity × price recorded | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sánguche de chicharrón El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches) | 1 × S/ 25.90 (per sandwich) | S/ 25.90 |
| Tamal (pork or chicken) El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches) | 1 × S/ 12 (per tamal) | S/ 12 |
| Café pasado (drip coffee) El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches) | 1 × S/ 8.50 (per cup) | S/ 8.50 |
| Total for the meal | S/ 46.40 | |
Prices from the published menu recorded on 3 October 2026; anything not in the calculation (unlisted drink, service, tip) comes on top, unless stated otherwise.
For two: the “Qué tal dúo” combo
250 grams of chicharrón to put into two rolls, a tamal and two individual chichas, plus a portion of fried sweet potato.
| Dish | Quantity × price recorded | Total |
|---|---|---|
| “Qué tal dúo” combo: 250 g of chicharrón, a tamal, two bread rolls, two chichas El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches) | 1 × S/ 65 (per combo for two) | S/ 65 |
| Fried sweet potato (camotito frito) El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches) | 1 × S/ 8.50 (per portion) | S/ 8.50 |
| Total for the meal | S/ 73.50 | |
Prices from the published menu recorded on 3 October 2026; anything not in the calculation (unlisted drink, service, tip) comes on top, unless stated otherwise.
Our suggestion
A Lima breakfast or snack: a chicharrón sánguche with its salsa criolla, and a café pasado, in the branch in the centre if you are visiting the historic centre.
What to ask before you go
- Whether the branch you choose offers the full menu: some products are only served in certain branches.
- The exact contents of the sandwich: several are served with a ginger mayonnaise or a “mostaneza” (mustard and mayonnaise), to mention if you are allergic to egg.
- The last ordering slot for the type of service you want (eat in, takeaway, delivery): it changes from one branch to another and does not follow a common rule.
Have the opening hours, a dish or a price changed? Let us know and we will correct this page.
Sources and dates
4 sources
Prices, opening hours and rules change: every piece of information cited links to its source, with the date it was consulted.
Figures and rules cited
- S/ 25.90 per sandwich: Sánguche de chicharrón (El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches), Lima) (All customers)
Price recorded: El Chinito, October 2026 menu (PDF) (new tab) · consulted on 3 October 2026 - S/ 31.90 per combo: “Taypá” combo: a sánguche de chicharrón and a chicha morada (El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches), Lima) (All customers)
Price recorded: El Chinito, October 2026 menu (PDF) (new tab) · consulted on 3 October 2026 - S/ 8.50 per cup: Café pasado (drip coffee) (El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches), Lima) (All customers)
Price recorded: El Chinito, October 2026 menu (PDF) (new tab) · consulted on 3 October 2026 - S/ 8 per drink: Chicha morada, individual size (El Chinito (sanguchería, several branches), Lima) (All customers)
Price recorded: El Chinito, October 2026 menu (PDF) (new tab) · consulted on 3 October 2026
Sources consulted
- El Chinito, official website (history) (new tab) : not tested by SwissLima. (consulted on 3 October 2026)
- El Chinito, branches, opening hours and types of service (new tab) (consulted on 7 October 2026)
- El Chinito, October 2026 menu (PDF) (new tab) (consulted on 3 October 2026)
- PROMPERÚ, Lima’s cuisine (new tab) (consulted on 2 October 2026)
How we choose and date our information: our method. Has something changed? Let us know.