Merka Saltao

Merka Saltao Peruvian soul in a bowl. Lomo Saltado like you’ve never had it—customized, bold, unforgettable.

06/30/2026

I did everything to get them to leave... 😅

Chairs up. Lights off. Trash out. Standard closing protocol when you’re exhausted after a long shift at Merka Saltao. But this one couple just wouldn’t look up from their table.

Then I walked over and saw what they were playing: Rummikub.

If you know me, we have play this game with my daughters countless times. So instead of kicking them out... I did the only logical thing. I sat down and try to help solve the numerical puzzle.

We didn’t just finish the game; we built a bridge. This is what building the dream in Culver City really looks like. We aren’t just serving authentic Peruvian food—we’re building a family.

Next time you come in, maybe we’ll play a round. 👇

Follow to see how far this dream goes. Sí se puede! 🇵🇪✨

06/26/2026

Be honest: What did you actually hear? 🫣

(Watch the full KTLA interview on the pinned comment!) 👇

Follow to see how far this dream goes. Sí se puede!

06/15/2026

Running a small restaurant means the highest highs and lowest lows happen at the exact same millisecond.

LAist and NPR radio shared our story and lines went straight out the door. In that same time, I was running a massive gamble—changing our core recipe to make it juicier. But, the pressure cracked us. In the dead-middle of the dinner rush, my main cook dropped his appron and said: “I’m done.”

I had to run to the line, throw my daughters in a corner with their iPads, and just fight to survive. But watching customers literally lift their bowls to drink that extra juice? That’s when I realized that the Merka Saltao dream might actually happen.

A new team starts tomorrow. We are still adjusting, still learning, and still grinding.

Follow to see how far this dream goes. ¡Sí se puede! 🇵🇪

06/06/2026

Too late, you looked. Now you have to come try the best Lomo Saltado in Los Angeles. See you at the counter!

Song “Down to Earth” by:

06/01/2026

The moment our Lomo Saltado left the kitchen, the juice completely disappeared.

We were pouring tons of our signature sauce into every single delivery order, but the reviews coming in were brutal: “I wish it had more juice.” “Where is the sauce?”

It was killing me. We moved 4,000 miles from Peru to Culver City to do this right. There is no Plan B.

Then, a customer dropped a note that changed everything.

It turns out our eco-friendly bamboo bowls were acting like a total sponge. They were literally drinking our signature sauce on the drive to your house.

Fixing it wasn’t easy. It meant a new recipe, completely changing our kitchen workflow, and managing the operational nightmare of separate beef, chicken, and veggie juices during a heavy rush.

But Lomo Saltado HAS to be jugosito. Always.

So we pulled the trigger. We designed custom protein labels so the team makes zero mistakes, and now every single order—whether it’s delivery or in-store—comes with its own extra juguito on the side.

Obsession pays off. Come get a bowl and taste the difference for yourself.

Si se puede. 🇵🇪🔥

05/19/2026

They told us we were destroying Peruvian tradition... Then with called. 🤯 Suddenly we were on the radio with on an segment on the radio.

When we first put our signature, extra-juicy Lomo Saltado inside a burrito, the internet purists went crazy. But we didn’t build Merka Saltao by playing it safe. We listened to our customers, kept firing up the woks, and let the food speak for itself.

Now, Gab Chabran, Cato Hernandez, and the team at LAist just dropped our story. Hearing them call it “the burrito that broke the internet” still feels surreal.

I moved to the U.S. with my two daughters with no plan B, just an obsession to bring the true flavor of Peru to Culver City. This massive milestone belongs to every single one of our team and of you who stood up for us, shared our videos, and filled our seats.

The woks are fired up and the juice is ready. Come see what the storm is all about. 🌯🔥

Where do you stand on the food debate? Is evolving a dish a beautiful way to share it, or should we never touch tradition? 👇 Let me know in the comments!

📍 Culver City, CA

LAist NPR LAFoodie LosAngelesRestaurants BurritoLover StreetFoodLA ImmigrantStories RestaurantOwner WokCooking SiSePuede

05/15/2026

A city as big as L.A. can make you feel invisible sometimes... until a single scent brings you back home. 🏠✨

Last year, I met two incredible artists—Lu and Gabriel—and just like that, they vanished. No names, no IG, just a memory of a shared moment. I honestly thought I’d never see them again.

Fast forward to the Taste of Culver this year: Lu followed her nose to our arrocito con choclo, and just like that, the universe brought us back together. 🇵🇪🇵🇷

It turns out while I was building this restaurant, they were out there conquering the world. Lu was dancing at Coachella, and Gabriel was on tour... they even performed together on the biggest stage in the world at the Super Bowl. 🏟️🔥

We’re all chasing dreams here, and seeing theirs come true makes me even more determined to reach mine. Sí se puede.

The dish that brought us all back together: our Arrocito con Choclo (Rice with Giant Corn). 🌽🍚 Have you had a chance to try it yet? Let me know what you think of the flavor!”

05/10/2026

LAist called it the burrito that broke the internet. 🌯💥

When I started wrapping Lomo Saltado in a tortilla, the purists said I was destroying tradition. But the community said something else.

Today, we hit a milestone I never thought possible: Merka Saltao was featured on LAist 89.3 FM in partnership with NPR. Hearing our story of courage and Peruvian heart discussed on the radio is proof that when you lead with flavor and passion, people listen.

We aren’t afraid to innovate if it means more people get to discover the magic of Peru. Whether it’s in a bowl or a burrito—we’re doing it for our culture our country, and for the evolving culture that is LA.

Si se puede. 🇵🇪

LomoSaltadoBurrito

Address

3850 Main Street Ste. B
Culver City, CA
90232

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Merka Saltao posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category