LAReview
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Pocha
Included In
Pocha isn't your typical Mexican cantina, nor does it want to be. Sure, this Chicana-owned Highland Park spot serves hearty staples you'd find at many traditional places, like caldo de res and chile verde, but that's only one side to it. The all-day operation actively pushes back against old-time clichés by deconstructing traditional recipes, adding fresh spins, and embracing its unabashed love for fluorescent pink. Pocha is a unique type of Mexican American restaurant and feels unapologetically refreshing for it.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
The word "pocha" is Mexican slang for Chicanas who grew up in the U.S. and might only speak broken Spanish, a term that some might interpret as a slight dig. But at Pocha the restaurant, the duality of being from neither here nor there is a creative battering ram used to break down preconceptions. The interior is lined with homages to Frida Kahlo, portraits of Chicana women, and neon signs that say things like, "jefa-owned" and "resiliencia." You can experience a Sunday mariachi brunch on its outdoor patio, but also the occasional drag show with your morning chilaquiles. And we like how the casual, white-walled space doubles as a makeshift community center for all kinds of events, whether it's an art show, supper club, or just a casual weeknight dinner that calls for eating tacos in sweatpants.
You can roughly split the menu at Pocha into three categories: vegan-friendly, traditional Mexican, and something we like to call "things you'd find at Sweetgreen." The third category is a health-conscious mix of quinoa bowls, kale with mustard vinaigrette, and a tasty corn and black bean salad whose creamy poblano dressing we'd happily drop money on at Whole Foods. But overall, these tend to be the least exciting dishes when compared to the rest of the menu, which is filled with hits. We're big fans of the creamy vegan poblano corn dip, excellent chicken tinga, and beautiful shrimp ceviche flavored with sesame oil and served with chewy tostones. And if you're coming to Pocha for one dish and one dish only, we insist you try their ingenious invention known as la burrita (a.k.a. a burrito made from a light, fluffy crepe).
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
In a city with so many Mexican restaurants that you sometimes lose track of which ones you've eaten at, it's not every day that a place grabs your attention as Pocha does. Yes, it has loud branding, and a few dishes border on snoozy, but it also serves Mexican-American food we haven't seen elsewhere (which arguably speaks louder than its generous use of pink). So if you're on the hunt for a fun lunch spot with plant-based options or just somewhere that delivers a needed jolt after you visited the same taco truck six times in the past week, head to Pocha.
Food Rundown
Michelada
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
El Güero Taco
Chicken Tinga Taco
photo credit: Pocha
Elote A La Pocha
Poblano Corn Dip
Quinoa Corn Black Bean Salad
Ceviche A La Pocha
photo credit: Jessie Clapp