I first knew about Mochica was years ago when I lived in San Francisco. Back then, it was located in SOMA, but after closing, it reopened in Potrero Hill--a quieter neighborhood I rarely visit. I'm glad I finally made it here. Mochica is one of several restaurants owned by Chef Altamira, whose other spots, like Paradita in Walnut Creek and Emeryville, and La Costanera on the coast, I've enjoyed. He also has a new one in his namesake Altamira' restaurant and bar. This was my first visit to the "new" Mochica, which has actually been around at this location for about 10 years now. The interior feels modern, updated, and culturally relevant. I appreciated their convenient hours: on weekends (Friday to Sunday), they're open continuously from noon through dinner, offering both brunch and the regular dinner menu. On weekdays, they serve lunch and dinner. The neighborhood is peaceful and quiet, with relative easy street parking, and the view of the downtown skyline is spectacular. The food was excellent, with generous portions. For appetizers, we tried the "ceviche pescado" and the "plátano maduro frito" in reduced tamarind sauce, which was delightful. The "bolitas de yuca" were decent but a touch too salty and mushy for my taste. For mains, the "1/2 Pollo La Brasa"was beautifully marinated, with tender meat and a refreshing side salad. The "arroz con marisco" was packed with flavor. The standout for me was the Peruvian classic, "lomo saltado"--it looked right, was prepared perfectly, and tasted authentic. The drinks were equally impressive. The "pisco sour trio"--featuring the classic lime, chicha morada, and passion fruit versions--was aesthetically appealing and well-balanced, with a pleasing mix of tartness, sweetness, and a hint of bitterness. Service was exceptional--friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, and professional. The dining area had a great layout, with well-spaced tables creating a cozy yet lively ambiance. Mochica is a true neighborhood gem, serving honest, authentic, and upscale Peruvian cuisine. While it doesn't generate the same buzz as La Mar, it's exactly the kind of place that keeps diners coming back for more.

I recently visited Mochica for a dinner date, and it was such an enjoyable experience that what was supposed to be a quick one-hour meal turned into nearly five hours of incredible food and impeccable service. Martin (pronounced Mar-teen), our server, truly made the evening special. His recommendations were spot-on--the sangria was refreshing, the flight of ceviche was delicious, and the empanadas were my absolute favorite. Pricy, but worth it. We were so full we didn't even get to order entrees. Martin's hospitality went above and beyond. He complimented me and I mentioned it was my date's birthday week, and he surprised us with a complimentary dessert. He even took a video of me using the blowtorch to smoke the whiskey, which was such a fun and unique experience. We were never rushed, felt completely taken care of, and left happy and full. I didn't even think to take pictures except for one of the ceviche and the video Martin took. Mochica is a true gem, and I can't wait to come back. Ask for Martin--he's the best!

Mochica is an excellent restaurant in Potero Hill. We were at UCSF in nearby Mission Bay when we came for dinner. Even without reservations, our party of 6 was seated immediately on a Monday night for dinner. The restaurant is good sized with lots of lacquered wood and fun artwork and plants. They have a full bar and a generous menu. The service is attentive and friendly. The food is simply outstanding - we had an excellent tuna ceviche, some of the best mac and cheese on the planet (with aji amarillo), fabulous chaufa pork belly, and delicious Camarones Crocantes. The Argentinian malbec was reasonably priced and delicious. It was a fantastic meal, and I cannot wait to come again for these dishes.

My boss gave me another food rec, which was Mochica. I hadn't been here since they moved from Soma, so I figured it was time to try them again. Plus, it was Restaurant Week (RW), so it was the perfect time to try their menu. The three-course menu was $55 and the portions were large! I started off with ceviche. It was delightfully citrusy and with nice contrasting textures between the fish, sweet potato, and yucca chip. I wish there were more chips because I love a good crunch. My friend and I both started with that, and we probably could've shared it. But tbh, it was so delicious that I'm glad we each got our own. We added the Mac and cheese as an extra to our RW dinner. It was rich and cheesy with the right amount of truffle oil. I'm not sure where the aji amarillo sofrito was, but it was still good. I wish it had breadcrumbs on top, but I love texture so that's just me. I would totally order this again. Next up was the arroz con mariscos, which was savory and comforting. It had a lot of seafood, from mussels to squid to fish. They did not skimp out. They unfortunately ran out of flan, so I got panna cotta. It was tart from the passion fruit, but was calmed by the coconut. Though I would've loved to try the flan, ending the meal with a light dessert after a heavy entree balanced the dining experience. The restaurant is divided into two spaces and we sat at the left space (if you're facing the restaurant). Not sure about the right space, but the left space can get really loud. The ceilings are tall and conversations get amplified. But that's part of the vibe - food with bold flavors to experience with friends. Also, the Pinot noir I ordered was delicious! Def check out their wine list. Service was good. I had some questions about the RW menu and the waitress was super helpful. One thing I'd comment is to make sure you address your allergies. I put mine and my friend's allergies on the OpenTable reservation, but unfortunately the dessert she ordered had an ingredient she couldn't eat which wasn't listed as one on the menu. Some restaurants do go over what's listed on OpenTable, but just be sure to state any allergies in the beginning. Parking is difficult so take other means of transport or allot some time to find a spot. I would totally come back here for the ceviche alone.

Came here with a friend to try out the happy hour menu! The ambiance was great, and I enjoyed the location and the interior decor! The lights, wall decor, and even the windows added to the aura of the space! The service was also good and the waiters were attentive, checking up on us periodically. My friend and I got two non-alcoholic drinks, and both were fantastic. We also ordered two apps from the happy hour menu, and both had amazing taste! Food summary: Calamari chicharrones 9/10 Fried very well, with great flavor! I enjoyed the toppings, which helped to pull the overall dish together. Would definitely order this again! Cebiche 10/10 Definitely choose to get yuca chips with this- they add a very nice touch, providing a nice crunch and a little sweetness! The fish used was very fresh, and the flavor was just the right mix of sour and salty! The addition of the varied veggies was also good, creating an amalgamation of flavors. Drinks 10/10 The chicha morada may be my new favorite drink! It was fragrant and sweet, and I definitely will be ordering it again! It is the purple-colored drink in my photo.

Absolutely delicious! The ribs were so good, and so were the bolitas de yuca. I wasn't a big fan of the ceviche nor the seafood rice. I felt it was lacking some salt, hence the flavor wasn't entirely there. The restaurant is pretty, and the staff very friendly. We had a great time and would definitely come back!

I went there on a Saturday and it wasn't too crowded. It is a great place for big groups. The servers were kind and gave their full attention to us. Cocktails were great! And food was overall delicious. For starters we got the ceviche and empanadas, both were chefs kiss! For mains, I got the salmon and the sauce on it was heavenly. Food quality is good here and I would recommend this place!

Stopped by for SF restaurant week, and had their menu. There was easy street parking, and the restaurant was large, well lighted and maybe a tad too loud. I did appreciate the food mural, yummy. Their starter ceviche was generous and delicious. The lomo saltado was also delicious, but it was smaller than the ceviche. Less meat, lots of rice and fries. I asked for some hot sauce, and they brought a little cup of rocoto. I like a little heat with my lomo. To wrap things up, I had the flan which had the heavy rich texture of Peru which we call crema volteada. They said it had quinoa in it, but not so you noticed and they dished it up like a crème brûlée and topped the hard sugar with maracuya sauce, like a lilikoi curd. Plus points for not only having Cuzqueña regular, but also dark and Pilsen, all national Peruvian beers. My friend had a pisco sour that was really strong. Usually a pisco sour tastes like lemonaid and they are dangerously smooth, but I felt that this one was pretty strong. My friend liked it so that's what matters.

Might be my new favorite spot in Potrero Hill! Came here on a Friday evening with a reservation for 6 and a dog. Even though some of our party wasn't there yet, the staff were super kind and let us sit down early at our outdoor table. They gave a water bowl for our dog as well, which was great. We came at just the tail end of happy hour, so we were able to enjoy some of the cheaper dishes and cocktails. We got the Ceviche Pescado to share, and I got the Chilcano cocktail, Arroz con mariscos, and ice cream with chicha morada and berries. Ceviche Pescado: 5/5, so fresh! The fish was delightfully tender. Loved the Yuca chips that we got with them as well, a perfect blend of the salty and sweet! Chilcano: 4/5, great drink that masks the alcohol! The ginger beer and lime keep it very light. Arroz con mariscos: 5/5, absolutely amazing and my favorite dish of the night! So much seafood, and the rice is soft enough without being overdone. Bonus for being such a visually stunning dish! Half of us ordered it and our plates were clean after. Ice cream with chicha morada and berries: 3/5, a good sized portion and overall flavors were yummy. I just couldn't taste the chicha morada very much in it due to the berries being fairly dominant. The waitstaff were super attentive even though we were outside! They were good about refills and checking in to see how we were doing, plus they were more than happy to turn on the outdoor heater for us upon request. Super great food, dog friendly environment, and convenient location -- will absolutely be back!