Phenomenal Pupusas, but Some Entrée Pricing Missteps

Popoca just received a well-deserved Michelin Guide recommendation earlier this week, so the moment I saw a reservation open up, I grabbed it immediately. It makes for a fantastic night out in downtown Oakland (with easy parking nearby to boot) and has a beautiful dining room layout with a great vibe and welcoming service.

The food across the board is packed with flavor, starting with a brilliant seasonal strawberry salad that wasn’t on their online menu. It was loaded with sweet strawberries and a dense, firm ingredient with “dragon” in the name, topped with mint, pepitas, and a refreshing green herb granita. My only critique here is that I wish I had been given a spoon to scoop up the incredible leftover cream dressing, or received a fresh plate when our pupusas arrived so the salad flavors didn’t mingle.

The hand-slapped pupusas are easily some of the absolute best I have ever had. Each one delivered a totally distinct flavor profile, and the cheese tastes incredible. The pupusa de lengua (beef tongue) was my favorite—remarkably rich and tender. The bacalao y ajo verde (salt cod and green garlic) was a unique wildcard, while the pipian y loroco offered a beautifully elevated take on standard traditional flavors. I would happily order all three again.

Where the meal faltered slightly was the value positioning of the mains. The pollo en chicha was certainly fantastic—the leg and thigh were perfectly cooked, juicy, and coated in a deeply savory, complex fermented pineapple sauce—but at $36, it feels significantly overpriced for the portion size, especially when another similar restaurant across town offers a spectacular, entire whole chicken for $35.

Similarly, while the traditional sides were very tasty—the rice cooked in carrot juice had a fantastic subtle sweetness, and the refried black beans were plentiful—the $17 price tag for a plate of rice and beans is tough to justify.

We were far too full for dessert, and while Popoca is an excellent addition to the neighborhood with world-class masa work, you’ll want to choose your larger plates carefully to get the best value out of the menu.

We went to Popoca for my birthday. As a photographer and visual branding expert, I’m very visual and was excited to try something new—Salvadorian cuisine. It did not disappoint. I definitely eat with my eyes first, and the food looked beautiful. The ambiance was wonderful, and the staff was super 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.