La Ramadita de Warmy Huaral Best Chancho al Palo

The Barbecue fanatic in me just had to take an expedition to the City of Huaral about an hour north of lima along the costal highway in search of the infamous Chancho al Palo otherwise known as spit smoked hog.  Getting there I chose to take a short coach bus ride with our entire family and inlaws over a sunny weekend.  Upon arriving at the bus terminal we were surrounded by taxistas, the norm when getting off any tourist bus in Peru.

My Aunt had been there many times and being so close to Lima we already knew where to go for the best to be had, La Ramadita de Warmy.  Upon arriving after a short 5 minute cab ride we exited the convoy to experience exotic aromas of smoking hardwood and sizzling meat off the bone.

Chancho al Palo

Upon entering I had a huge grin on my face as soon as I saw the open wood smoke style set up with spits filled with whole hogs being spun ever so slowly by hand.  We sat and ordered some nicely chilled Pilsen Cerveza while the youngsters headed to the back where they  have  a small walk through zoo with many different animals and lots of different parrots.

Zooilogico

I liken this place to a huge banquet center with seating for several hundred, although not at capacity I couldn’t believe the size of the place.  TV’s had peruvian soccer on while large groups of families celebrated the sunny weather on a warmer winter weekend.  Children were playing and families and friends were enjoying the wonderful smells from the fires to the chancho.

Sides were brought leisurely and the Pork soon followed.  Wow, crispy pork skin slow smoked over an open fire.  It just don’t get any better than that.  The skin was the best part but the meat was excellent and the sides were nice but the Hog is what we were there for.  After many rounds of Cerveza and second orders of Chancho we had our fill.

We had a great time and I have since tried several different chancho’s al palo but this one is my favorite and I plan to return soon.