After meeting with the wedding planner at Urth Caffe, we went to Mo-Chica for dinner.  Warning: MANY delicious pictures coming up and if you’re hungry afterwards, don’t say that I didn’t warn you!

The restaurant is located downtown in what looks like a tiny storefront.

Actually, the restaurant has two rooms, with this cool bar separating the two.

Anyways, before we ordered, we had some drinks.  This Mexican coke was apparently “Hecho en California pro gringos.”  Ha!

This Pisco sour had the logo of the restaurant on top.  It’s actually turned almost upside down in the picture, so you’ll have to use your imagination.  🙂

Now to the food!
The menu is pretty extensive as with Picca, because it is the same chef, Ricardo Zarate.

Quinoa, tomato, cucumber, choclo, rocoto vinaigrette

I loved the quinoa salad at Picca, and although this one was good, it didn’t quite live up to the amazing one there.  Still, worth a try!

Braised artichoke, huacatay butter, rocoto aioli

It tastes as good as it looks and that’s saying a lot!

Seared seabass, rocoto, garlic chip, aji amarillo leche de tigre, sesame oil

I love that little garlic chip on top.  It was perfect with the nice, light fish.

Now, let’s take a quick peek around the restaurant!  I love the wood tables.

There’s a cute clothesline with different specials (including Estofada de Alpaca), an exposed pot rack, and a loooong row of spice jars.  Pretty!

Now, more food!

Beef filet, tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, banyuls vinegar, Kennebec fries

This was a fun dish to share with delicious, tender chunks of beer, delicious vegetables, and the salt-flecked fries.  They were so thick that I thought they were yuca fries!

Grilled portobello, canario bean tacu tacu, sauteed plantain, fried organic egg

I loved this vegetarian dish!  Beautiful, hearty, and one of my favorites.

Shredded chicken breast stew, quail egg, pee-wee potato confit, walnuts, parmesan

I admit this dish may not be the prettiest plate of food, but it is delicious!  It’s more of an Indian curry than an American chicken stew, but I pretty much scraped the bowl to finish it.  🙂

Braised beef short rib, potato ajiaco, jalapeno salsa criolla, Huancaina

We actually ordered this dish after all of the other ones, because we had a few hungry mouths after the initial dishes we ordered.  My oh my, this was wonderful.  Definitely a “must try” if you visit.

Purple corn, pineapple, granny smith apples, dried fruits & kiwicha creme brûlée

This looks like a regular creme brûlée, but it was chock full of beautiful fruit and corn!  Also, the name of dish is Sun and Shadow, so it just sounds pretty too.  🙂

Spiced sweet potato & kabocha Peruvian beignets, chancaca reduction

If there is a beignet or a donut on the menu, we are ordering it.  I was really, really happy with these!  It’s a good thing I don’t live too close, or else I would end up popping in for a beignet on a whim, much too often.

Once again, I adored practically everything we ordered.  We’ll just have to add Paiche to the list in order to complete the Zarate trifecta!

Mo-Chica
3655 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 747-2141
mo-chica.com