Casa Zoraya

"Lit with string lights and sheltered from the wind, the backyard patio at this Piedmont neighborhood Peruvian restaurant is a sweet, intimate oasis for Pisco sours and anticuchos. On colder nights, skip the ceviche in favor of comfort foods like lomo saltado and aji de gallina, both of which Casa Zoraya absolutely nails. For those seeking seafood without committing to a chilly ceviche, the arroz con mariscos here, brightened with salsa criolla, is a strong move." - Thom Hilton

"Like Oregon, Peru is a land of tall mountains, rain-drenched forests, and a spectacular coastline, and it’s a gift to Portlanders that Casa Zoraya’s owners offer Portland its creative, affordable Peruvian cuisine that fuses land and sea, Old World and New, tradition and invention. Highlights of the menu are the fresh ceviche bowls with spicy, tangy leche de tigre (“Tiger’s milk” made from fish stock, lime, and chiles) and sweet potatoes, as well as arroz con mariscos — seafood rice with rotating seasonal catch. Those dining in can enjoy frothy pisco sours and other specialty cocktails." - Dianne de Guzman

"Since Zoraya Zambrano and her children, Gary and Gloria Marmanillo, opened Casa Zoraya back in 2018, this Peruvian spot has been Piedmont’s under-the-radar gem: Ceviches land at the table like a work of art, fried calamari adding crunch to a bed of fresh seasonal seafood tossed with a summery leche de tigre. Arroz Chaufa, a Peruvian fried rice dish, gets an upgrade with a passionfruit rocoto sauce, which adds dose of acidity, sweetness, and peppery zip. And the pisco sours feel like they’re shipped straight from Lima, best sipped on Casa Zoraya’s back patio on nice days." - Eater Staff

"Since Zoraya Zambrano and her children, Gary and Gloria Marmanillo, opened Casa Zoraya back in 2018, this Peruvian spot has been Piedmont’s under-the-radar gem: Ceviches land at the table like a work of art, fried calamari adding crunch to a bed of fresh seasonal seafood tossed with a summery leche de tigre. Arroz Chaufa, a Peruvian fried rice dish, gets an upgrade with a passionfruit rocoto sauce, which adds dose of acidity, sweetness, and peppery zip. And the pisco sours feel like they’re shipped straight from Lima, best sipped on Casa Zoraya’s back patio on nice days." - Eater Staff

"I was in town for a long weekend to see Amyl and the Sniffers and Sleater-Kinney at Pioneer Courthouse Square and got in some great meals on my visit. One of the standout meals was a big bowl of ceviche from Casa Zoraya, which was so tempting my friend and I got two orders so we didn’t have to share. We also split an appetizer of beef heart skewers; beef heart can sometimes be a bit tough, but Zoraya’s was extremely tender and flavorful. The ceviche was unlike any I have had before: a pile of creamy, citrusy fish complemented by crisp rings of fried calamari, tender sweet potato, Peruvian hominy (choclo), and crunchy whole-fried corn kernels (cancha) that added a nice textural counterpoint to the delicate fish." - Eater Staff