Tullpa, a South American fusion restaurant, opens in Des Moines

Tullpa Restaurant opened its doors last month in a strip mall adjacent to Des Moines' Merle Hay Mall.

• It's Novo Andean cuisine — a fusion of foods from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

State of play: Owner Gloria Henriquez started the restaurant with her boyfriend Lino Ordonez, who is from Peru.

• Small business classes at the Evelyn K. Davis Center in DSM helped them prepare for the restaurant's launch, she told Axios Wednesday.

On the menu: Empanadas, yuca fries, grilled steaks and fried rice dishes.

• The menu also features Pisco sours and Chilcano de Tullpa, traditional Peruvian drinks, and Mazamorra Morada, a dessert made with purple corn and fruit.

💬 Thought bubble: Peruvian is making waves in DSM's restaurant scene with Panka opening a second restaurant this month focused on rotisserie chicken.

⏰ Hours: 11am-9pm Monday-Thursday; 11am-10pm Friday and Saturday and 10am-9pm Sunday.

• Dancing and karaoke from 9pm-midnight on Saturdays.
• 3708 Merle Hay Rd. in DSM