Food

Suspicious of the name, I was hesitant to try HOLA! for the first time. I assumed such a name would serve basic Mexican food. Turned out, I was wrong. HOLA!’s Mexican-Peruvian cuisine transported me back to a visit to Peru after studying abroad.

I ordered the Lomo Saltado ($25.95), Peru’s version of beef stir fry. Served on a white rectangular dish, the meal was a sight for hungry eyes. A small mound of rice and several golden fried potatoes sat next to a heaping of wok-fried beef tenderloin and red onions, lots of onions.

I devoured the cooked-to-perfection tenderloin, pairing it with bites of rice and sopping up as much of the aji (chile) panca sauce as I could. Panca is a chile grown in Peru that’s described as a “dark red, mild pepper with a smoky, fruity taste.”

The portion was enough for two, and I savored every bite until I was full, taking the leftovers home with me.

Service

The restaurant was busy at 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, with only bar seating available.

I had to wait several minutes for someone to take my order, but once they did, my dinner came out surprisingly fast. The man who brought it out was singing, and asked if I wanted more water in Spanish and then again in English, contributing to the authentic ambiance.

Atmosphere

The east side location is in the middle of the Forum Shopping Center, making parking a breeze. HOLA! has five other locations including restaurants in Redmond and Sunriver.

More info

East Side Location: 2670 US-20, #710, Bend

Contact: 541-389-4652

For information about other locations, visit holabend.com

Hours: Everyday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Cuisine: Mexican-Peruvian

Price Range: $9.95-$26.95