Aji Ceviche Bar: Sunday Plans for Ceviche, Pork Belly and a Whole Fish

Some people meal-prep on Sunday. I'd like to go eat a whole fried fish on Sunday instead, and I've got the receipts for why!

The Sarasota Foodie Couple (@sarasota_foodie_couple) went to Aji Ceviche Bar on South Tamiami Trail and came out sounding like they'd just been to a fireworks show. Pork belly, ceviche, a steak-and-pasta plate and a whole deep-fried fish stuffed with seafood that they called a showstopper. Their advice, in all caps: SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT. They make a great case for this place, and honestly, they had me at the fish.

So I went digging in the restaurant's own online menu to build you a game plan. Prices below are from that menu when I checked on Oct. 23, 2026. Dine-in prices can differ, so treat them as a ballpark.

The game plan

Start with ceviche. Obviously! It's in the name. The Clásico ($21.05) is fish in lime with aji limo, onion, cilantro, sweet potato and big-kernel Peruvian choclo corn. If you can't decide, that's what the Aji Sampler is for: classic, yellow pepper and rocoto ceviches on one plate. Feeding a crowd? El Camionero ($46.85) does four styles at once, and the menu literally says it's for "a hungry group." I respect a menu that knows us.

Then the pork belly. It rides along with the Aeropuerto Oriental ($25.65), Chinese-Peruvian fried rice with sautéed noodles and fried pork belly on top. Two carbs and pork belly? That's not a dish, it's a weekend!

Then the fish. The whole fried Pargo Frito (snapper) is listed at market price, so ask your server what it is that day before you fall in love. You will fall in love anyway.

The steak-and-pasta move. The Fetuccini a la Huancaína ($25.65) puts lomo saltado, stir-fried beef tenderloin, over fettuccine in creamy yellow pepper huancaína sauce. The Tallarín Saltado ($19.55) is the stir-fried noodle version.

Drinks. Pisco sours come in lime, chicha and maracuyá (passion fruit) versions ($13.35). There's also a Pisco Mule, a Chilcano and Peruvian beers like Cusqueña ($6.15).

Dessert, as instructed. The Mousse de Maracuyá ($8.20) is bright, tart passion fruit, the right way to end a meal that was mostly fried.

Go

• Where: Aji Ceviche Bar Sarasota, 4141 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 16, Sarasota
• Hours (per the restaurant): Sunday to Thursday noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m.
• Phone: (941) 556-9124
• Order ahead: pickup through the restaurant's site
• Heads-up: ceviche is raw seafood cured in citrus, and the menu carries the usual raw-food advisory.

My move: go early Sunday afternoon with at least one friend, order a ceviche, the fish and two pisco sours, and pretend the mousse was a surprise. Thanks to the Sarasota Foodie Couple for the tip. Keep the finds coming!

Planning the rest of your week? Brooke has the outdoor plan and Sandy has the meetups.