If you like pork and camarones (freshwater prawns), this is definitely your town!
On Moyobamba Street, right on the Plaza de Armas, there are three good eatery options. Las Terrazas (10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily) is a small restaurant-café serving lomo saltado, cecina (smoked pork), salads, fish, and other dishes.
Real Grill (Moyobamba 131, tel. 042/52-2714, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, US$3.50–8) has a decent variety of food, including meats, seafood, salads, and pastas.
The best option is Doña Zully (Moyobamba 253, tel. 042/53-0670, 8 a.m.–midnight daily, US$3–12), named after the owner, Zully Moreno Díaz, with large portions of delicious fish, pork and chicken dishes, salads, soups, and great juices.
Bello Horizonte (San Pablo de la Cruz 248, tel. 042/53-1720, 10 a.m.–11:30 p.m. daily, US$2–7) has daily setup menus (US$2.50) and also seafood and meat dishes.
A good option for meat eaters and from the same owner of Doña Zully is Parillas El Rincón Sureño (Leguía 458, tel. 042/52-2785, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily), which serves Peruvian food and grilled meats.
La Pizzeria (corner of Lamas and San Pablo de la Cruz, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. daily) is a good spot for low-price pizzas. The best place for Italian food is Café d’Mundo (Arias de Morey 157, tel. 042/52-4918, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, US$5–15), with a relaxed ambience, illuminated at night by candles. It has a good and varied option of starters, thin-crust pizzas, and pastas.
La Patarashca (Lamas 261, tel. 042/52-3899, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, US$6–10) is next to the hostel of the same name, with an upstairs tree house–like space, decorated with paintings, that serves up delicious local food. The specialty is patarashca, a delicious seafood stew of fish and local prawns in a broth of cilantro and bijao leaves. There is also paiche served with chonta (palm heart salad).
Another good option for local dishes is La Collpa (Circunvalación 164, tel. 042/52-2644, 10 a.m.–11 p.m., US$2–12), strategically located over a balcony overlooking the Río Shilcayo and a patch of the Cordillera Escalera rainforest. The best dishes are made up of meat, freshwater prawns, and fish.
Great ice cream, delicious milk shakes, and refreshing juices can be found at Heladería Cachete (Ramírez de Hurtado 187), just aside LAN’s office.