LA Foodbitch: MO-CHICA – mindblowingly good!

Mo-Chica is a fantastic Peruvian restaurant owned by chef Ricardo Zacate, a Lima native who sept most of his adult life cooking in high-end Japanese restaurants all over the world. The simply styled restaurant is part of the Mercado La Paloma complex south of downtown, and they have the best ceviche: cubes of sushi-quality fish in a thick acidic emulsion sharp with chile, soft and tart and spicy all at once, served with slivered red onion, giant-kerneled corn and a soft chunk of sweet potato. This is the best high-quality Peruvian seafood since Nobu. But there is much more to Peruvian food than just ceviche. The Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, African and Inca influences show in earthy, sensual and unusual dishes like ‘Aji de Gallina’ a chicken stew in a spicy, nutty cheese sauce. There’s no way around: you have to check it out for yourself. I promise, you will not regret it.