Beyond Manhattan Blog
Chimu Peruvian Cuisine and Steakhouse
482 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Lomo Saltado
Sometimes good discoveries hide in plain site. Very often the spot we walk by every day without paying it a second thought turns out to be the undiscovered gem we never thought about. Chimu is, most decidedly, not that type of joint, unless your usual stroll takes you underneath the BQE.
But that’s what makes Williamsburg what it is – if you’re expecting everything in the obvious places, you’re going to miss a great deal.
Chimu is situated on an unassuming corner just before Union Street is violently owerflown by the BQE as it meanders toward Greenpoint, and across the street from the ugliest park in all of New York. The entirety of Union Street is kind of like this – cross Metropolitan to the other side and you’ve got DuMonde, Carmine’s Pizza, Barcade, and a number of other exceptional joints, all situated across from an appalling diner and a construction site.
Walk in, and it’s a cozy fit – ceilings a little lower than average – but it nonetheless projects class, as photos of celebrities including Bobby Flay adorn the walls. (Well, their photos, to be precise.)
Tallarin Verde with Skirt Steak
The food is worth writing home about. Williamsburg has a number of exceptional South American steakhouses, and Chimu features Peruvian cuisine. What sets Chimu apart from some of the others is the attention to detail. Yes, the meat is great – well marinated and prepared to perfection – but it’s the accompaniments that stand out. We’ve eaten at Chimu a number of times, and I can say that chicken, steak, and seafood items are equally strong. The ceviche and lomo saltado (a dish I feel harkens to Sichuan style Chinese stirfry, and Wikipedia backs me up) are exceptional, but my personal favorite is the Tallarin Verde with Skirt Steak – literally pesto pasta with a steak on top of it.
You had me at steak.
Anyway, Chimu will treat you to substantial portions, so it’s best for a late lunch or dinner, and the prices, while reasonable, aren’t bargain-basement, so expect to pay a little. Still well worth it, in our opinion.
How to Get there
Chimu is located on the southeast corner of the blunted edge created by Union Street, Meeker Ave, and Skillman Ave. It’s most convenient to the Lorimer Street L train stop, but is also a ten minute walk from the Bedford Ave L train stop.
