The Top Three: Ceviche

For a spicy supper

CEVICHE

17 Frith Street, W1 (020 7292 2040; cevicheuk.com)

Already a Soho favourite, Ceviche is always busy. Grab a seat at the bar and order a don ceviche (£7), raw sea bass with amarillo chilli tiger’s milk (which has nothing to do with tigers, but is supposedly an aphrodisiac). Also worth trying are the beef-heart skewer (£6), and ‘drunk scallops’, a tiradito (raw shellfish) made with Pisco (£11).

For a hot date

TIERRA PERU

164 Essex Road, N1 (020 7354 5586; tierraperu.co.uk)

This dining room is sleek and smart with vintage Peruvian prints. It started out as a market stall in Camden before becoming a permanent restaurant late last year. Try the cebiche de pescado (£7.95), or the mixto version with calamari and shellfish (£8.95). Grab a bowl of tasty chicharron de calamares, served with fried cassava (£6).

For fiery friends

COYA

118 Piccadilly, W1 (020 7042 7118)

The newest Peruvian to open in the capital, Coya is a big basement space done up in exposed brick, leather and velvet, with a charcoal grill for anticuchos (grilled meat and fish skewers). Prettily presented ceviches (raw fish marinated in lime, onion and often chilli) start at £8 and include sea bass with sweet potato and corn, and sea bream with amarillo chilli.