Ricardo Zarate

The Hummingbird - Los Angeles, CA

Born in Lima, Peru, Ricardo Zarate is most responsible for introducing Peruvian cuisine to Los Angeles, and a key ambassador to the U.S. for Peruvian food. Growing up in a family with 13 siblings, he helped in the kitchen—learning techniques from his mom and grandma, who were his most important influences.

At 17 years old, Zarate enrolled in his hometown culinary school and was such a rising star that he was invited to London where he worked for 12 years at One Aldwych and Zuma, and drew inspiration from Asian and European flavors.

He came to Los Angeles in 2009 and opened Mo-Chica. Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold wrote, “Mo Chica was revelatory for its time, a stall in a food court that re-created traditional Peruvian saltados and ceviches…he was honored on must-dine lists and earned the best new chef award.”

He did high-profile chef collabs at Test Kitchen and, in 2011, opened Picca, which was GQ’s “Best New Restaurant” and Conde Nast Traveler’s “Hot Table,” plus he was Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef.” In 2013, he opened Paiche in Marina Del Rey, one of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants,” and expanded to Santa Barbara with Blue Tavern.

In 2014, Zarate developed The Fire of Peru cookbook, and opened the Once pop-up in Santa Monica. He opened Rosaliné in West Hollywood in 2017, which topped numerous “Best of…” lists, and earned spots on “101 Best Restaurants,” Thrillist’s “Best New Restaurants,” and Eater’s “Most Beautiful Restaurants.”

He brought Once to Las Vegas at The Palazzo in 2018 and opened Pikoh in West Los Angeles in 2019. In 2022, he launched Causita and Colibri Pop-Up, and expanded it to West Hollywood, which brought Italo-Peruvian to Southern California and had explosive success. Ricardo Zarate’s contributions to, and impact on, the food scene cannot be overestimated.