New Japanase-style Peruvian Restaurant Coming to Marina del Rey

A Japanese-inspired Peruvian restaurant will be opening in Marina del Rey this spring servings small plates of sustainable fish.

The new restaurant, named Paichẽ, will be located at 13488 Maxella Ave. next to the Marina Marketplace. This restaurant will be the third addition to two other Peruvian restaurants run by chef Ricardo Zarate and business partner Stephane Bombet in Los Angeles – Picca in the Pico-Robertson area and Mo-Chica downtown.

“Peru has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, and Japanese cuisine has been a large part of my training as a chef,” Zarate said. “This restaurant is izakaya-style, which means it is a meeting place for friends to enjoy great food and drink. Paichẽ’s menu will showcase the best of my country’s cuisine combined with the flavors and techniques I love from Japan, and I’m excited to show people what that means to me.”

The restaurant takes its name from the Amazonian fish Paichẽ, a freshwater fish that grows up to 600 pounds.

Paichẽ will serve mostly seafood, in particular Peruvian ceviche, which is typically chunks of raw fish marinated in lime or orange and served with sliced onions, chili peppers, salt and pepper.

Zarate hopes to raise awareness over the Paichẽ  and other Amazonian species to keep the industry sustainable

“The indigenous Amazonian tribes in Peru began farming the fish once they noticed a decrease in the population,” he said. “Thankfully for us, they have successfully kept it from extinction.” The restaurant is an example of Zarate’s efforts to demonstrate not only how to keep fish sustainable, but responsible ways in which to consume it.

The open kitchen will allow diners to view their food as it is being prepared. The restaurant will feature a 42-seat patio divided from the dining room by floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

Paichẽ will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Zarate has not set an exact opening date. To learn more visit Paichẽ’s Facebook Page.