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Located in Old Oakland, Popoca serves up progressive Salvadoran food. Our mission is to find and preserve techniques from the past using California ingredients to bring you a new, and authentic experience in Oakland. Our cocktail bar draws inspiration from Central American ingredients as well as local produce
Hours
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 906 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 457-1724
Website: http://www.popocaoakland.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: popocaoakland.comopentable.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Bandana Garg
Good Salvadorian food. In general the items we ordered were all delicious. The portion sizes is also good. The outside seating is well heated and doesn’t feel cold.
Tres leches is very good. The flan has a punch but good.
… moreTres leches is very good. The flan has a punch but good.
Victor Chang
With the year-end approaching, I didn’t want to miss out on the Chase Sapphaire Reserve Annual Dining Credit of $300, which reimburses $150 every six months. Most eligible restaurants in the Bay Area are located in downtown San Francisco or on the peninsula. I found two restaurants in Oakland, compared them on Google, and finally chose Popoca Oakland. I made a reservation two weeks in advance for an evening slot. The restaurant opens around 5:30 PM and is only open for dinner. Located in downtown Oakland, street parking is relatively convenient, and free parking is available after 6 PM. Therefore, I recommend making a reservation after 6 PM. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere. We ordered Pollo Campero (chicken), Lengua (beef tongue), and two main courses, Chancho (pork) and Lamb. All the dishes were similar to Chinese food and could be shared. We didn’t order drinks. The final bill, including a 20% tip, came to $165. There was also a $75 per person set menu on the menu, presumably for CSR reimbursement, but we didn’t choose it. Overall, the food was very good, even a little surprising. My teammates and I agreed to have our year-end party here next year. The CSR reimbursement arrived two days after the meal. Suddenly, I realized that CSR’s new benefits, like playing a game, require advance planning, but they still bring fun to life.
… moreEpiphany Love
As a Salvadorean trying Popoca for the first time, I was genuinely impressed. The food was delicious and deeply satisfying, with flavors that stayed true to all the traditional Salvadorean tastes I grew up with. Each plate was beautifully presented with thoughtful, eye catching combinations that complemented the dishes perfectly. I loved the variety of textures and colors… blue pupusas?! Yes, PLEASE! The pupusas were perfectly thick, toasty, with cheese melted just right for a flavorful, smooth & cheesy bite. On top of that, the staff was incredibly friendly and the atmosphere warm and welcoming, filled with happy guests. Overall, Popoca offers a wonderful dining experience that celebrates Salvadorean food beautifully. I recommend!!!!
… moreJ G
Had a lovely dinner here. Had never eaten Salvadoran food before and was not disappointed. We did the prefix menu and it was the perfect amount of food and well priced. Would absolutely eat here again.
… moreAlex Huguet
Great spot
These were really good
Guacamol
Broccoli
Loroco papas
Hongos papusa
Pollo en chica
Chicken wings
Great drinks
Mima
Chica
Next time:
_tres leches
… moreThese were really good
Guacamol
Broccoli
Loroco papas
Hongos papusa
Pollo en chica
Chicken wings
Great drinks
Mima
Chica
Next time:
_tres leches
Todd Wagner
Up there with Liholiho as some of the best food I’ve eaten in the past year. Vibrant flavors. We did the tasting menu and really enjoyed the variety. Reservations required.
… moreMarijke Large – she-her
Atmosphere is 10/10. Great date night spot or for a special evening with friends. The pupusas and cocktails were amazing. Excited to go back and try more food.
We did find that service was slow and asked for our bill a few times before going up and finding the server – perhaps it was an off night 🙂
… moreWe did find that service was slow and asked for our bill a few times before going up and finding the server – perhaps it was an off night 🙂
Ann Marie Bridgewater
incredibly thoughtout dishes with insane flavor and balanced textures. i love all the seasonal dishes and use of local ingredients. (there are delicious vegetarian options as well!)
… moreVanessa Dyce-Smith
Popoca is a quiet, unsung hero — a quintessential spot nestled in Old Oakland that brings such a unique, bright dining experience. We came for their special seafood menu and were absolutely blown away. The tuna ceviche was easily one of the best I’ve had since Portugal — so fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced. The fried chicken was simply yet exquisitely executed, crisp on the outside and tender inside. Then the shrimp plate, paired with pickled vegetables, refried beans, and rice, really took us over the edge.
Every dish was beautifully plated and tasted even better than it looked. The drinks were outstanding, and the dessert — their creative take on Tres Leches — was truly exceptional. The cake, with pistachio cream and cherries thoughtfully layered on top, each element brightening the dish in its own way.
The space itself is beautiful, the service warm, and we can’t wait to come back. Popoca is the kind of place that quietly delivers an unforgettable experience, and Oakland is lucky to have it.
… moreEvery dish was beautifully plated and tasted even better than it looked. The drinks were outstanding, and the dessert — their creative take on Tres Leches — was truly exceptional. The cake, with pistachio cream and cherries thoughtfully layered on top, each element brightening the dish in its own way.
The space itself is beautiful, the service warm, and we can’t wait to come back. Popoca is the kind of place that quietly delivers an unforgettable experience, and Oakland is lucky to have it.
Sarthak Kumar
Visited Popoca for dinner through an OpenTable reservation, and spent around $150 all in.
Food:
The preparation felt authentic and the quality was good. That said, the flavors were a bit mild for my personal taste. Not bad, just not particularly memorable.
Service:
This was the main issue during the visit. Service was extremely slow and inattentive. It took around 20 minutes to get water after being seated. I asked for salt multiple times and was told “yes” each time, but it never arrived. The waiter appeared to be handling too many tables, which I can empathize with, but it significantly impacted the dining experience. Specially given that it’s marketed as an upscale restaurant.
Other:
The minimum tip option presented was 20% which is generally acceptable for more upscale restaurants but given the experience, I’d have chosen a lower option if that were presented to me (I wasn’t comfortable overwriting their default options).
Overall:
The kitchen seemed capable, but front-of-house execution needs improvement. I wouldn’t return based on this experience, though others may have better luck on a less busy night.
Rating: 3/5
… moreFood:
The preparation felt authentic and the quality was good. That said, the flavors were a bit mild for my personal taste. Not bad, just not particularly memorable.
Service:
This was the main issue during the visit. Service was extremely slow and inattentive. It took around 20 minutes to get water after being seated. I asked for salt multiple times and was told “yes” each time, but it never arrived. The waiter appeared to be handling too many tables, which I can empathize with, but it significantly impacted the dining experience. Specially given that it’s marketed as an upscale restaurant.
Other:
The minimum tip option presented was 20% which is generally acceptable for more upscale restaurants but given the experience, I’d have chosen a lower option if that were presented to me (I wasn’t comfortable overwriting their default options).
Overall:
The kitchen seemed capable, but front-of-house execution needs improvement. I wouldn’t return based on this experience, though others may have better luck on a less busy night.
Rating: 3/5