When hunger strikes, especially late at night, residents and revelers in the heart of Miraflores can be seen digging into sandwiches at Miguel’s. Sat across the street from the southwestern corner of Parque Kennedy, Sandwichs Miguel (there are various ways of spelling “sandwiches” in Peru) is a popular institution with a good -- if not impeccable -- reputation.
If you’re after fine dining, give it a miss. If you’re looking for a sophisticated sandwich, you might be disappointed. If, however, it’s late at night and your stomach is demanding a heaped and not particularly healthy fix, this could be the place for you.
Quantity Over Quality at Miguel's?
Hungry eyes are easily transfixed at the sight of quick-handed cooks constructing sandwiches on the hot plate at Miguel’s. Slap on a chicken breast, throw on an egg, sizzle some bacon and pat down a big old burger... all with the aid of a cooking implement that looks suspiciously like a bricklayer’s trowel.
The chef then piles up your previously-ordered ingredients on one half of a sliced bun before asking if you want papas al hilo. These thin potato sticks are common in Peruvian sandwiches, providing an added crunch and additional calories. Give it a go -- you just might like it. Next up are the sauces: mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce and more. If you don’t want your sandwich swamped, pick two at most and ask for just a little (or expect a lot).
And there you have it: a block of a sandwich from Miguel’s. If quantity is what you’re after, you’ll be a happy traveler. For between S/.8 to S/.15 (US$3 to $5.50), you’ll sit down or walk away with a sandwich bursting at the seams.
As for quality, well, you could do better at some of Parque Kennedy’s other sandwich joints, such as Sandwich.com or La Lucha. At Miguel’s, the sandwiches are heaped but far from healthy. They can be on the greasy side and the ingredients meld together in a messy merging of meat, potato sticks and mayonnaise.
If, however, you like your sandwiches overstuffed with ingredients spilling from the sides, Miguel’s might be just what you’re after. The burgers aren’t great, but some options -- like the stacked and really-rather-tasty chicken breast pechugona – are just what you need after a long night out in the Peruvian capital.
