Limon serves up spicy, enticing, authentic Peruvian cuisine

If you’ve never experienced Peruvian cuisine, you are in for a treat at Limon Rotisserie. Aji amarillo, a spicy yellow sauce based on yellow chili peppers that’s a staple in Peru, is served here in abundance and will have you hooked.

THE EXPERIENCE

Limon Rotisserie is clean, modern and well lit. It provides a comfortable setting to relax and catch up with friends.

The family-friendly atmosphere allowed my friend to bring her 10-year-old daughter during happy hour. She enjoyed aqua fresca, a fresh fruit-infused water, while we enjoyed our cocktails.

The service was excellent. A full bar offers seating, along with tables in a spacious area.

THE FOOD

Dishes on the happy-hour menu are $9.95 each, and all of it tasted fresh.

The empanadas (served in a trio of cheese, chicken and veggie) were delicious; perfectly crunchy on the outside and moist and tasty on the inside. They’re served with that special aji amarillo sauce.

Polli-papas, crispy chicken pieces served over french fries, were topped with — you guessed it — aji amarillo, this time flavored with huacatay, a Peruvian black mint, along with mustard aioli and Parmesan cheese. This was one of our favorites. Though fried, it’s not greasy and is not overwhelming.

We also enjoyed the Peruvian-style spareribs, topped with a house rocoto barbecue sauce. Rocoto is a Peruvian pepper that can be very hot, but the ribs were not too spicy. They were served with fries and a light and refreshing aji amarillo coleslaw. The ribs were tender on the inside, but firm and tasty on the outside.

The poke was average, but we enjoyed scooping it up with Limon’s thick, yummy taro chips.

Other items on the happy-hour menu included a calamari and shrimp cocktail, Jalea (fried seafood topped with lime-marinated red onion, tomato and cilantro) and sauteed mushrooms.

We ordered a couple things off the regular menu, too, including truffle macaroni and cheese ($10.95) for the 10-year-old, but our young dining companion enjoyed the other dishes just as much. This was definitely comfort food.

To get in some greens, we ordered the Ensalada Mixta ($10.95), a simple salad served with a light and delectable sesame dressing.

THE DRINK

Limon’s specialty cocktails are $8 during happy hour.

I chose the La Bomba del Amor, made with vodka, Combier (triple sec), fresh lemon juice, prickly pear and passion fruit. It was delicious and could be dangerous because it was so easy to drink.

My friend chose the house sangria, made with a slightly unusual mix. Along with red wine, it was flavored with Drambuie — a liquor made of Scotch whisky, honey and herbs — and fresh seasonal fruit. She described it as quite flavorful.

The Limon punch is another good choice. It’s made with an intriguing liquor — La Caravedo Torontel, made in Peru from aromatic pisco grapes at the Americas’ oldest distillery, established in 1684. The liquor won Best in Show at the San Francisco Spirits Competition in 2016 and 2017 in the unaged white spirits category. This punch is embellished with fresh lemon juice, pineapple, ginger syrup and rhubarb bitters.

Draft beer options, $5, include Maui Brewing Co.’s Bikini Blonde and some less-common options, including Negra Modelo, Grapefruit Sculpin and other seasonal beers.

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic choice, try the aqua fresca. The water was flavored with strawberries and blueberries but the flavors change daily.

THE VERDICT

Overall, happy hour at Limon was a mouthwatering experience. This local gem in Kapolei offers fresh food and refreshing drinks in a relaxing and comfortable setting — with a choice of Peruvian flavors not commonly available elsewhere. I’d definitely consider this spot as a regular hangout.