The best rotisserie chicken I’ve ever eaten comes from a family-owned Peruvian restaurant on Belt Line Road in Irving.
It’s hard to miss the bold red and yellow letters that spell out El Tesoro del Inca across the corner of a large shopping plaza. In Spanish, the name means “the treasure of the Inca,” a nod to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire in what is now Peru.
Influencers may have worn out the term “hidden gem,” but El Tesoro del Inca is an honest-to-goodness, not-so-hidden treasure.
Eduardo Torres opened El Tesoro in 2010, and it feels more like a mini Peruvian embassy than a restaurant. Step inside and you'll find an aisle stocked with Peruvian grocery staples like ají amarillo paste, made from Peru's signature yellow chile; choclo, Peru's giant-kernel corn; and Ajinomoto, a popular brand of MSG. A small room tucked in the corner holds artisan goods like plush llamas and handmade clothing, restocked monthly from Peru.
Before El Tesoro, Torres ran a food truck selling Mexican food. But he wanted a place to share his own culture, he said, and the food he grew up eating in Huancavelica, a city in Peru’s central Andes.
“People tell me that they’re transported to Peru when they come here,” Torres said. “It was very important to me that they felt that way.”
The menu features classic Peruvian staples like ceviche, lomo saltado and pollo a la brasa, served in generous portions at affordable prices.
One of the standout dishes was the arroz chaufa ($14.99). It was born from chifa, the food Chinese immigrants brought to Peru. El Tesoro's twist? Basmati rice. Every grain stays light and separate, tossed with chicken, omelet and a big umami kick.
But it's the pollo a la brasa, Peruvian rotisserie chicken, that I can't stop thinking about. It runs from $10.99 for a quarter chicken to $24.99 for a whole bird. It's marinated in cumin, paprika, garlic and ají amarillo paste, then served with crispy fries, a bright salad and two sauces: creamy ají amarillo and fiery rocoto.
Don’t skip the lomo saltado ($16). It’s soy-marinated steak, wok-fired with peppers, onions and fries, served over rice. And of course you can’t leave without ceviche. El Tesoro makes its seviche leche de tigre ($14.99) to order and squeezes the limes right before it hits your table. That bright, citrusy bite cuts right through the richer dishes.
Wash it all down with a chicha morada ($3). The drink dates back centuries in the Andes and is made from purple corn, pineapple and cinnamon. It tastes like a warm-spiced Peruvian sangria without the wine.
The lomo saltado combines soy-marinated steak, peppers, onions and fries, wok-fired and served over rice. (Photo: Gregory Castillo)
After more than 15 years in Irving, Torres is looking ahead. He’s exploring a second location.
“We’re hoping to keep growing,” Torres said. “We’re so grateful to the people of Irving for supporting us through all the years.”
I want to profile as many family-owned restaurants on Belt Line Road in Irving as I can. Know a spot I should try? Tag me @gregmakesvideos and it might be featured next.
This story is part of Eating Belt Line, a series sponsored by Visit Irving. The meal was provided by El Tesoro del Inca but gratuity was left for the staff.
