When’s the last time you ate Peruvian food?
Exactly.
I really love digging out tiny ethnic restaurants, tucked away in the most unlikely of places. And Mochikas Peruvian Cafe takes the cake.
It’s the kind of place you’d walk right past, even with the exact address. That’s because it’s inside the “Platinum Touch Auto Spa” at 5th and Pine.
Trust me though. It’s worth the hunt.
When I was doing a food column for CBC Radio, I reported on their opening.
And thankfully, they’re still around.
The last time I was at Mochikas, I was a strict vegan. I’m still a vegan, but cheat now and again especially when it comes to trying new foods. That night I went overboard!
The ceviche was delightfully spicy with chunks of fresh red snapper, octopus and corn marinated in lime and red onions. Then the kicker. Beef heart. Hard core. It was sliced thin, skewered on a stick, quite chewy but really tasty. You’d have no idea it was all heart. Pedro told me the history – the dish came from African slaves in Peru who were only given the cow innards to eat. In the 1950s, his father would never eat that kind of meat. But now, beef heart is really popular.
My all time favourite were the pork belly sliders. This is a typical Peruvian breakfast item on the weekend after a night of drinking. The succulent pork was a bit crispy Chinese style with a chunk of yam inside. Hungover or not, they were delish!
I highly recommend the Peruvian food at Mochikas. There aren’t many options here in Vancouver and this place is the most authentic. If I wasn’t a vegan, I’d be mowing it down Peruvian styles all the time. Their food packs a ton of punchy flavour.
Call ahead though because during the week, they serve a limited menu. The weekends offer a full menu and live music. If you manage to find the place, your palette will be well rewarded! A culinary adventure indeed!
ps. The owners, Pedro and Jullienne are friends with the manager of the Auto Spa, which is how they ended up getting the cafe space.