Popoca Oakland

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.

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

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.

Alpana Aras-King

We went to Popoca for my birthday and I was excited to try something new--Salvadorian cuisine. It did not disappoint. The ambiance is wonderful and the staff is genuinely friendly. I originally planned to try their fixed-price dinner, but after spending way too much time on Yelp trying to decide, I realized it didn't include what I was craving. I'm glad we ended up ordering à la carte. Here's what we had: * Pupusas (mushroom + beef tongue) * Pollo Campero (fried chicken) * Clam Alguashte -- my absolute favorite * Chancho con Yuca (pork) * Tres Leches cake Plus a cocktail to start, though I can't remember the name. My favorites were the pupusas and the clam dish. I wasn't crazy about the fried chicken, but my son loved it -- definitely a personal preference thing. There was another mushroom dish that looked incredible, so I may try that next time. They surprised me with a birthday drink, which was such a sweet gesture, even if it was a bit sweet for my taste. Highly recommend.

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.

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.

Epiphany 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!!!!

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.

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!)

J 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.

Todd Bruschwein

Really a wonderful meal. The wood-fired oven adds a distinctive, rich flavor to the papusa and pork chop that I ordered. Both were exceptional.

Vanessa 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.

Gia by the Bay

Any pupusa aficionado will appreciate eating authentic pupusas made with FRESH masa and the yumminess of fresh cheese and fillings that elevate this common street food to fine dining. I had heard about Popoca from friends when it started as a pop up restaurant. I am so excited that it opened a brick and mortar place with a full menu, bohemian atmosphere and great service. I tried fried yucca - crispy on the outside with a creamy texture on the inside, clams in alguashte (pumpking seed) sauce, pollo campero (best fried chicken I've had) and must add, the drinks were so creatively unique as they use use Salvadorean ingredients little known outside El Salvador. I can't leave out of my review the quality of their coffee. You can tell it’s made with freshly roasted beans, grinding them just before brewing. Don't take my word for it. You have to go to Popoca and experience this gem in the heart of Oakland.

Allan

Popoco is a rare gem of a place that supercedes the hype. You know it's going to be good, but you don't know HOW good until you have it. It's like no other El Salvadoran food I've ever had. The pupusas are crispy on the outside and have a smokey flavor because of the wood fire, which is also how they prepare the chicken. The curtido and sauces are perfect pairings. The Salpicon Crudo is a melee of flavors in every bite. Very pungent, tender, textured and is a treat of its own. The Yuca and Guacamol are very different from traditional takes on these staples. The addition of dill and Thai basil to these starters was unexpectedly bright and fanciful flavoring. The Chicha and Mima are complex drinks that put your taste buds in a daze. The coffee with Cacao syrup was crazy good, warming and unique. The tres leches cake was luscious, though I felt the huckleberry, creme cheese, and pistachio were a bit much. Still enjoyable. You will leave satisfied in belly and spirit. Also, due to the live indoor wood smoker used to cook, your clothes and hair will smell heavily of campfire. Small--and befitting-- price to pay for such a transporting experience.

Scott Sweeney

What an amazing experience! Vibes and lighting are off the charts, unique lamps in warm colors, tasteful arrangements, wood fire grill for viewing, set the perfect mood, in such a cool part of Old Oakland. We did the Estilo Popoca, $75, a multi course sharing meal. It was so much food with such a variety, highly recommend going this route! Ceviche de Calamar was a stand out for me. Scooping the tender tasteful calamari in with the crunchy but soft in the right spots black tortilla and the bitterness of the radicchio was such a unique and tasty blend This was a small part, but the grilled radish with the Popoca’s version of mole and the juicy baked chicken may have been my favorite version of mole adjacent sauce I’ve ever had. Something about the roasted radish with it did something powerful to my brain and tongue ! The Pupusa flight was so comforting and tasty, my favorite was the mushroom pupusa, umami coming through all the fats of the cheesy pupusa! Fried chicken with slight syrup drippings and a light hot sauce had me salivating and crunching up all the last bits of cartilage, complex pickled veggies to level it all out. So I thought Manzanilla was a great drink (fun they got chamomile floating in there and the sweetness works well with the bite of spice) BUT the Martini Colado was AMAZING, so many different layers and stages to the drink, have never had a journey like that with a Martini adjacent drink before. Highly recommend. The bar looked really vibey and fun too, great bartender. Guacamol was a limey beautifully presented guac beside a glazed pupusa, the glaze over the pupusa was delicate and fatty but light I loved it so much, balanced perfectly with the guac. The apples and celery sour cream salad ??? With shaved ice in there ??? What a unique experience and a flavor combo that I had never thought about before, really recommend experiencing it, love the way it felt like a palate cleanser between dishes but also a lone star in and of itself. Sour cream and crunch and savoriness but a sour sweet to it all yum. I want Popoca to thrive, what a perfect example of the way the Oakland food scene is on the rise.

I ordered guacamol, mussel enchilada, pollo campero (chicken wings), almejas en alguashte (clams), and chancho con yuca (pork chop). guacamole had more citrus taste that I was not really fan of it but almejas en alguashte (clams) was so delicious. I will definitely reorder it next time. mussel enchilada had very heavy truffle sauce and pollo campero was good, not super impressed. However, one of their main dishes, chancho con yuca (pork chop) was grilled perfectly! It was outdoor grilled. Meat was tender and well seasoned! I would definitely come back for the pork chop and the clams! Overall, it was delicious meal!

This is such a cute spot for a date night or group dinner! Chef Anthony has spoiled us with the best pupusas and now I can't eat pupusas anywhere else. I love that the restaurant incorporates seasonal and local produce and meat in their menu. If you go with a group or even date night, it's fun to get a bunch of different things and share. The cocktails are delicious and very creative. Lately, they have had a heavenly tres leches on the menu that has rotated flavors based on seasonal fruit and it is a MUST order if they have it on the menu. Some of my other favorite items on the menu that are consistent are: the fried chicken wings (GET THESE AND THANK ME LATER), the ceviche, ANY of the pupusas, and literally anything in their heavenly alguashte sauce. Enjoy!

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the bay in a while! Never had such creatively crafted El Salvadorian food before. Every dish was unique, exciting, and delicious. The atmosphere was warm and lively but not stuffy. The staff were all very attentive and friendly. Will definitelu be back to try everything else!

Jennifer Yoo

I ordered guacamol, mussel enchilada, pollo campero (chicken wings), almejas en alguashte (clams), and chancho con yuca (pork chop). guacamole had more citrus taste that I was not really fan of it but almejas en alguashte (clams) was so delicious. I will definitely reorder it next time. mussel enchilada had very heavy truffle sauce and pollo campero was good, not super impressed. However, one of their main dishes, chancho con yuca (pork chop) was grilled perfectly! It was outdoor grilled. Meat was tender and well seasoned! I would definitely come back for the pork chop and the clams! Overall, it was delicious meal!

Norris Hung

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the bay in a while! Never had such creatively crafted El Salvadorian food before. Every dish was unique, exciting, and delicious. The atmosphere was warm and lively but not stuffy. The staff were all very attentive and friendly. Will definitelu be back to try everything else!

Snehal Desai

This is such a cute spot for a date night or group dinner! Chef Anthony has spoiled us with the best pupusas and now I can't eat pupusas anywhere else. I love that the restaurant incorporates seasonal and local produce and meat in their menu. If you go with a group or even date night, it's fun to get a bunch of different things and share. The cocktails are delicious and very creative. Lately, they have had a heavenly tres leches on the menu that has rotated flavors based on seasonal fruit and it is a MUST order if they have it on the menu. Some of my other favorite items on the menu that are consistent are: the fried chicken wings (GET THESE AND THANK ME LATER), the ceviche, ANY of the pupusas, and literally anything in their heavenly alguashte sauce. Enjoy!

Bryan Wingen

Popoca is hands down one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Oakland. From the perfectly made pupusas to their creative seasonal dishes, every bite feels like it was crafted with real love, care, and passion. The flavors are bold, comforting, and memorable in a way that keeps me coming back again and again. The vibe here is always on point—warm, inviting, and full of good energy. The staff consistently delivers friendly, attentive service that makes you feel genuinely welcomed. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual meal or bringing friends for a night out, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between relaxed and lively. Popoca is truly a gem in Oakland, and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out on one of the city’s best dining experiences. Highly recommend!

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 :)

Marijke 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 :)

pretty good! restaurant was well designed and cute with a lovely back patio with heaters. the food was good but i’ve definitely had better pupusas. however, the pollo campero was fried beautifully and tasted great.

Melissa Dee

pretty good! restaurant was well designed and cute with a lovely back patio with heaters. the food was good but i’ve definitely had better pupusas. however, the pollo campero was fried beautifully and tasted great.

When my group of 3 arrived before 5 minutes of my reservation, the receptionist impolitely said I cannot get a table until people at the table leaves. Did I reserve a specific table???Anyway, I could sit there after waiting 10 minutes. I ordered 3 most expensive main dishes, chicken, pork chop, and lamb. But chicken was so tough, and the pork was almost rare, not enoughly cooked at all. Maybe the cook wanted to go home soon.

Seung Hyun Yoo

When my group of 3 arrived before 5 minutes of my reservation, the receptionist impolitely said I cannot get a table until people at the table leaves. Did I reserve a specific table???Anyway, I could sit there after waiting 10 minutes. I ordered 3 most expensive main dishes, chicken, pork chop, and lamb. But chicken was so tough, and the pork was almost rare, not enoughly cooked at all. Maybe the cook wanted to go home soon.

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

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