This was one of the best meals and a truly wonderful evening. My husband and I were going to a show not far from there and we looked for a nearby restaurant to eat at beforehand. I was a little bit intrigued about the moqueca and when we arrived, our waiter Dave explained everything to us and we decided to split the mahi-mahi Moqueca and it was delicious. We also had the shrimp appetizer and green collared with extra garlic Yum Yum Yum Even though we were stuffed, we could not turn away the chance to try the passion fruit mousse and the guava cheesecake All I can say, is the restaurant is great. The food spectacular and if you're lucky enough to have Dave as your server, you'll be as happy as we were. read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Enjoying dessert - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

Love this spot! Really good food with an upscale vibe that doesn't feel stuffy. We go out of our way to come see them once a year and it's always worth it. Friendly staff make this an excellent date night. read more

I have been to this place many times throughout the years and will continue to do so for as long as I can. Food is spectacular, regardless of what you order, you cannot go wrong. From appetizers to desert, you can feel the love put in every detail. Now the service is what makes this place really stand out, attentive, warm, fun, friendly, they really make you feel at home in a little piece of Brazil hidden in California. If you haven't tried yet, you are missing out! read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Moquecas - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

Love having Brasillian food on this side of town. Seriously slept on food here! Any of the fish dishes are incredible but they also have traditional Feijoada, picanha, coxinhas & the best Caipirinhas (get passion fruit!) The service is warm like Brazilian people & a there's always a fantastic playlist to enjoy while you sip your drink. This place is definitely in our rotation read more

We randomly picked Moqueca for dinner one Tuesday night and we were not disappointed. From the moment we walked in and smelled all the inviting aromas of food, to the moment we left, everything was great. Server We opted for the traditional rum cocktails per server's recommendation and were happy with the choices. For food, we stated with the Coxinhas (potato puffs), shared a salad, then enjoyed the sea bass and shrimp Moqueca for two. Moqueca is a tomato and coconut based stew of marinated seafood - and it was so good! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Moqueca and highly recommend to others to come and try, whether you're familiar with what Moqueca is or if it's your first time like ours. read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Sea bass and shrimp Moqueca - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

I will confess, I have never heard of the word, Maqueca. Have you? Even more, what does it mean. And actually, there is a Brazilian restaurant in Thousand Oaks, with that name. Maqueca refers to a type of Brazilian cooking. Here, in a handcrafted clay pot, a choice of seafood marinated with garlic and lime juice, is cooked in a fresh made sauce of tomatoes, cilantro, onions, urucum essence, coconut milk and olive oil. It is served with a side of seasoned white rice. My exposure to this dish was in terms of choosing the Mahi Mahi. How was it? Really superb. Exceptionally prepared. Wonderful presentation. Fish was succulent, and immersed in this well balanced, flavorful sauce in colors of orange, red and yellow. With all the ingredients, married well, fresh. Before that, I asked for the side of Feijao (black beans) first. Yes, before the entree. The owner was surprised too. He kept pushing for booze, cocktails, high end appetizers and entrees. There was only one server when I was there, and she was swamped, hurried, mechanical and ambivalent. My Maqueca arrived over half an hour after it was ordered. Not a problem for me. I like it slow, not hurried, so I can enjoy the restaurant itself (that is also, why I ordered the Feijao). Here, there is Brazilian music, softly done, not blasting the ear drums. Well selected. Yes, all these different aspects, enhanced the ambiance and the dining experience. If you didn't look outside, you were probably in Brazil. read more

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What a unique Brazilian dining experience. I had never experienced the shared Moqueca style but I'm a big fan. The caphirna cocktails were delicious. Service was prompt and efficient. Atmosphere was fine. Not too special and very busy but that's what you hope for a small local restaurant.... Success! read more

Amazing food all the way around -- the pastel and coxinha are perfect, the banana frita is the perfect compliment to any dish, the picanha is amazing (especially with Chimichurri and farofa), and the pudim is to die for. One of our favorite restaurants and perfect for a special occasion (or a treat). The service is very attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is great as well. Have been multiple times and everything on the menu is excellent! Can't wait to go back read more

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We really enjoyed our experience at Moqieca. They specialize in a very specific regional cooking style, very flavorful and A nice nice variation from American Brazilian eateries. Everything was great from the food to service. And as far as ambiance, it's a lot nicer inside than one would expect from the strip mall location . Don't let that fool you. It's larger than it looks and quite comfortable and lovely on the inside. We were greeted by a very friendly waiter who turned out to be the daughter of the owners. She had such passion for the food and did a great job at explaining the different dishes, directing us to one she thought we would like based on our taste profiles, and I have to say probably the best empanadas I have ever had. Pastry was so flaky. We tried the traditional Bean and pork stew (forgive me if I can't recall the name), and it was so flavorful. The culotte steak was good, and the yucca was like none I have ever had, a very light fried version that was delicate, and delicious. We also tried the cashew flour juice, and I had a cocktail of lime cashew flour juice that was also quite good. I definitely suggest reservations as the place was packed around 5:30. The nice thing is even when busy, the noise level was a low moderate and not overwhelming. It's a fun place and a nice change from typical American Brazilian food restaurants. read more

Food was amazing, drinks were stellar and the service was amazing. Anna was our server and Bartender. She is Amazing! Have been back several times now and have not been disappointed yet. This will be a regular stop for us. read more

Brazilian food is rather rare in Southern California. The Wood Spoon was an institution in Downtown Los Àngeles, but with the Chef-owner's heavy work related injury, the restaurant closed. So Moqueca is one of the few representing a cuisine whose country covers most of South America. 1) Coxinha (koh shin ya) is mashed potato in shape of a large tear drop filled with herb braised breast meat chicken covered in fine bread crumbs and fried. Basically, it's a coquette. Malagueta Chile Aïoli (ah ee oh lee) mayonnaise with a purée of pickled red chiles that is creamy, acidic with a red chile pepper smokiness. Nice way to start off a meal. 2) Moqueca (moh keh kah) is an African influenced fish and/or shellfish stew made from a base of tomatoes, onions, garlic, lime, coriander, palm oil and coconut milk. Moqueca seems to be in a neck & neck race with Feijoada to be the national dish of Brasil. Fibrous Bay shrimp, soft overcooked Bay scallops, squid, bits of mushy white fish in a reduced stew. Pile of chopped Cilantro adds that soapy, fresh green herbal aromatic. Sauce is a bit bland. Perhaps more lime, coconut milk, garlic could have upped the flavour profile. Little sauce boat of not too spicy Malagueta Chile in vinegar-oil can be added to add more piquancy & acidity. 3) Mousse de Maracujá (mah rah coo jah): A creamy, rich yet refreshing light pudding of passion fruit captured the musky, tropical scent of passion fruit to a tee. Great way to end the meal on a high note. 1-3) Caipirinha (kah ee pee reen yah): Cachaça (cah shah sah) is distilled from sugar much like Rum and mixed with lime juice for the main flavoring. Food here with the rather underwhelming Moqueca is 3+, but what made Moqueca restaurant 4 stars is the friendly and understanding service. Due to heavy Ventura Frwy traffic, we were running late so I informed José and his partner that time was of the essence since we were going to the nearby Performing Arts Center. They did a great job in getting us out as soon as possible. Muito Obrigado! read more

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This is a must try. Always amazing and the service is quick and friendly. We've had all their Moquecas and enjoy their seafood ones and paella. My daughter loves their steak and you can't skip their scallops Their Caipirinha is terrific. I have the original and wife has the guava one. A can't miss place read more

The service is terrible and some of the food was old. We arrived at six with our 6 year old. We were given waters and then waited for about 20 minutes for someone to even acknowledge us, like drinks etc. I expressed concern over my kids's meal, so they brought it out after about 40 minutes of arrival. The chicken tenders / nuggets were terrible and the rice hard. We were very frustrated to see other tables food coming out before ours. It feels like the waiters are the bar tender/ the hostess/ the everything .. Our food was ok.. our rice was also as hard as a board, as if it had been microwaved a couple of times. I mentioned it to the busboy/ cook I don't know.. He said sorry and that was all The Maqueca was good, but overall lacking in customer service and food quality. We will not go back . read more

The Moqueca dish was amazing -- very flavorful. The value for money was great. It took a while for the dish to come out, but it was well worth the wait. read more

Outstanding food! Been waiting to come here for years and finally made it. I wish I came sooner. Great service and great vibes overall.

Amazing service; we called ahead for a reservation and they were able to accommodate 12 people on a Tuesday night. The ambience was great as well. I've never had Brazilian cuisine aside from steakhouses such as Fogo De Chao, and so I was very excited to try this place. All of us got the moqueca dish (can't go wrong with ordering the dish that the restaurant is named after)! They came out rlly hot and with fresh seafood. The soup was great poured over rice or by itself and the portion size was huge. I had to take the rest for leftover lunch tomorrow. We also got pao de queso (off menu item), plantains, and skewers as appetizers. All absolutely amazing and cooked to perfection. Recommend trying. read more

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We have been going to their sister restaurant in Ventura for years and so happy to be able to enjoy their fabulous food a little closer to home. The staff are welcoming and the description of food is great. the hardest part is deciding what to have as we love all their food. We brought friends who had pre-conceived ideas about Brazilian food but when they saw the menu their faces lit up. It is a great spot for large or small parties and we can't wait to have an excuse to go back soon. read more

Big thanks to our server David who helped us through the menu and provided excellent service. We stopped in before a show at the TO Performing Arts Center. Food was excellent. We had never been so David suggested a few appetizers and we tried them all. We shared a custom moqueca (sea bass and lobster) and it was delicious. Very fresh fish and large portions. And as we were warned, the hot sauce is HOT!! read more

Very disappointed on serving time. We waited an hour at the table. We came in 5:45pm on a Tuesday. Restaurant is like half occupied. After water was served, it took about 20 minutes for our server to take our order. We ordered entrees only. And then the rest was all waiting until we left without food at 6:45pm. 40 minutes, none of the server ask if we need anything during the waiting. There are 5 tables people came after us. Their appetizers were served in like 20 minutes, sadly, we saw them finishing their appetizers, and the server started to take away the plates, our entree still not coming. So, I asked the server when the food will be served. He answered : "The cook is cooking multiple dishes at the same time already."And that's the time, we decided to leave. The manager/or server chased us out and told the food was ready on the table. At that point, we are not going back. read more

Absolutely loved this place!! Arrived right at opening and to my surprise they have a great happy hour menu! Laura was amazing and spent time explaining the menu to us. I would come back just for her service alone. I'm not a huge fan of fish so I was excited to find out they had a vegan version of the Moqueca and it was delicious!! So comforting and flavorful. Overall I thought this place was fantastic. Just wish I lived closer to come more often!! read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

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Right on Thousand Oaks Blvd in a strip mall, you will find Moqueca,..one of the best restaurants in Thousand Oaks. It has been a few years since we have visited, but the food remains top notch. I started with a classic Caiprinha cocktail. It is no joke and has a lot of alcohol. I recommend the namesake dish...the Moqueca. I ordered the Mahi Mahi -- mixed shellfish version. So yummy. My partner had the Hearts of Palm salad---light, refreshing and delicious. We had the Coxinhas appetizer which were tasty and different. Service was great. The waitstaff help each other and are helpful. read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Moqueca and more... - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

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What a great place. It has limited seating do make a reservation if you plan to go on a Friday or Saturday night with Borine than just two people. The food is amazing and the price is reasonable. Next time, my husband and I are going to go for a happy hour and sit at the bar, which is small, but very cute read more

We have been to Brazil a number of times because our daughter In law is Brazilian and love the food. Moqueca is original and excellent. This visit was even nicer because the service was so good. Presentation represents perfectly what Brazil is. read more

Very limited menu. Was not as flavorful as was expecting but that can be since first time had Brazilian food. Appetizers were very good. Service could have been a little more attentive. read more

It's great Brazilian restaurant in town that has some special weekend dishes that are not available during the week. I had the shrimp and sea bass moqueca for one and it was a very hearty portion of yumminess. Comes with rice and honestly one can load up with rice, is so good. I had a side of collard greens and plantains. Left full and happy. I tried their steak and chicken plates, awesome food. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Large dining area and easy to hold conversation with your own party. Facilities are clean and plenty of free parking. read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant in Thousand Oaks is located in a small shopping center, where Nothing Bundt cake is located. The restaurant is quaint and a very open comfortable environment. We were there with friends enjoying the evening. We began with beef and cheese empanadas, two of each came on the plate. These empanadas had the flakiest light crust I have ever eaten on empanadas. The filling were amazing along with the sauce that accompanied the plate. I am sure the empanadas carried more calories than I would like to be aware, but it was delicious, light, flaky and a definite recommend. Our waiter was attentive and ensured our orders. Explained any questions and recommended when we inquired. There were several that attended to our tables, so it was a great team effort. When they served our dinners, he also suggested for us to use the chili oil to add an additional layer of flavor to our dishes. They had served our table crostini bread with an eggplant spread and a spicy chili oil. The bread was addictive along with the eggplant spread with droppings of the chili oil. Three of us ordered the White Seabass Moqueca, which is a tomato sauce with onions and garlic along with a squeeze of lime with the seabass. It is served with a side of white rice. It was absolutely delicious and unique. I would definitely come back just to order the White Seabass Moqueca again. My husband ordered the steak, which he said was amazing. He also had some of the Moqueca and thought it was amazing. For dessert we ordered the Passion Fruit Mousse and the Bombom which was chocolate bars layered in flan and chantilly cream to share. Both desserts were delicious and topped off our dinner excellently. Moqueca Brazilian is a definite recommend. The service, atmosphere and food was perfect. And we all enjoyed our evening. read more

This restaurant ticked all the boxes! It was warm and inviting. The service was impeccable. The food was delicious. We shared a Moqueca with mahi and shrimp and it was amazing! Even the rice was delicious, so delicious we asked for more and they unhesitatingly brought us more. I'm not used to being treated like welcome guests, even when we under-ordered out of financial concerns. I can't wait to return with more time and more money! Everything that passed our table looked tempting, We truly appreciate the culture of hospitality that we enjoyed at Moqueca. The perfect before theatre dinner. read more

We ordered: Scallops on the shell 5 stars They were so fresh and delicous, perfectly seasoned, and I love the spring greens underneath it drizzled in olive oil. I literally wanted to lick the plate. Steak skewers 5 stars These were amazing. The steak was drizzled with chimichurri sauce with a crumbly nutty, maybe breadcrumbs or grounded down cashews they roasted on top, and the spring greens was on the bottom which I also ate all of it. Highly recommend, definitely order. Sea bass Moquecca 5 stars This was my favorite! This dish was dairy, free and gluten-free and made with the tastiest tomatoes and fish that was cooked perfectly with cilantro as garnish, so balanced, highly recommend 10 out of 10 read more

It had been a few years since I had dined here. Our group enjoyed sharing our dishes. The fried yucca was delicious. We ordered the shrimp moqueca, feijoada, and the sun dried tomato grilled chicken. All were very tasty and good-sized portions. I think the heartiest dish was the feijoada and was probably my favorite of the 3. Service was prompt and friendly. The restaurant was not super busy for a mid week evening, so it was nice to be able to chat with each other, as it was not too noisy. read more

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Wow! This place is a local secret that serves some absolutely delicious morsels. We all know the traditional Brazilian steakhouse way -- with servers carving meat tableside straight from the skewer -- but this restaurant is taking a completely different route. My aunt and I planned to taste a mix of flavors, by sharing several small dishes family- style, yes -- we preferred to miss out on one dish. I highly recommend going out of your comfort zone and trusting your server. However, when we ordered the sea bass speciality dish with coconut milk, I am not a fan of coconut milk but it tasted very mild and was fabulous! I am definitely jonesing to get back there next time my family visits Ventura County. read more

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Planning for dinner on the weekend? Definitely make a reservation! We had a reservation at 1830..but since we were both starving, we got there an hour earlier. Got seated and about 15 mins, the restaurant was packed & people waiting. Since it was our first time, we ordered the recommendation. Everything was good and flavorful. But it all changed when I put the chili oil on.. maybe I put too much. It wasn't spicy but i feel like it masked all the other flavors.. Got a cashew fruit cocktail, tasted like limonade. Refreshing. Recommended Capa Santa Gratinada: it's a chance of luck - we didn't get lucky, a couple small scallops.. but the flavor was perfect. Coxinhas: chicken filled (almost mistaken as crab meat), tastes great its own- the malagueta sauce is a bit odd for me (color reminds me of cesar dressing). Lobster Moqueca (individual): tender perfectly cooked lobster- stew had a lot of tomatoes.. so much so much tomatoes.. try this with rice without the chili oil - Pudim de Caramelo: this flan is extremely dense but so smooth and delicious (get dessert first) Pave De Bombom: dessert in a cup, texture reminds me of tiramisu-layers of chocolate candy and milk flan and chantilly cream (would lick it but kind of hard) read more

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This is easily my favorite spot for Brazilian food. They specialize in seafood cuisine, and the Moqueca is a must when you come here. I always start with a caipirinha - cachaca muddled with fresh limes and sugar. I've never had it better any place else, and I love that the owners frequently bring in new cachacas to try. Highly recommend. I had the Mariscada Moqueca, which is a mix of seafood including lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and sea bass swimming in the most amazing soup. I love coming here on a cold day, and it's plenty for leftovers the next day! Service is great. Huge shoutout to Laura and Jose who always make you feel like you're dining with family! Ambiance is good for date night or even a family dinner. I look forward to my next meal here!! read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Mariscada Moqueca - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

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Truly a gem in the suburbs, Moqueca stands out as a rare find for unique regional foods in this area. All the moqueca dishes are delicious, but my go-to is the mixed seafood with fish--it's simply divine. This is not your usual Brazilian meat dishes that Americans are familiar with, making it a refreshing and exciting culinary experience. The appetizers are equally impressive, with standout options like the meat skewers, empanadas, and scallops on shells. Also, you absolutely must try the caipirinha. It's delicious and very strong, perfectly setting the tone for a delightful meal. There's always a fun crowd at Moqueca, some of whom I assume are of Brazilian origin, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. I've even been there when they were showing a Brazil football game, which made for an even more engaging experience. And let's not forget Rodrigo, who is wonderful. I believe I first met him when he opened in Oxnard, and it's always a pleasure to see him. read more

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Delicious food, great owners, and excellent wait staff! Beautiful space, too! This restaurant was where my wife and I had our first date! And we'll celebrate our 15th anniversary later this year. This is always our first choice for special date nights. read more

Excellent experience at Moqueca. Shared the beef empanadas and the shrimp and lobster Moqueca. So good! Perfect for a rainy night. So much flavor. Excellent service and vibe as well. Will be back! read more

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Shrimp and lobster moqueca - Seafood Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

My first time trying Brazilian food so I was very curious to see how I would like it. I started off with a diet Guarana soda. I can't explain what this food taste like but let's just say that I am now obsessed with that soda. For the main course, I got the vegan moqueca, it came with plantains and mixed vegetables including broccoli and carrot. For the table we also got the collard greens and the black beans. The moqueca was very amazing. The flavors were complex yet simple which I appreciate and I love anything coconut milk based. read more

Great food, view and atmosphere. Brazilian drink, Caipirinha delicious!! I wished they would open earlier than 4 OM on weekdays. Good Staff!! read more

Can a fabulous dinner at Moqueca Brazilian Resturant for valentines. Reservation was required for this day. The staff was attentive and kind also very hopeful with explaining the menu their signature cocktails. It made the whole experience wonderful. The restaurant has plenty of tables very spacious. The decor was nice really made you feel that you were in a fancy restaurant the food and the cocktails were amazing. I enjoyed the moqueca seafood. The steak that I had was well cooked to perfection and all the cocktails were good. I would recommend this resturant for those who want to change it up. Brazilian food is delicious. read more

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Tasty Brazilian dishes and great caipirinha. Environment is amazing and great location. Very recommended.

Recently had the worst experience there, but still giving 2 stars because the food is delicious. Always have bad, slow, inattentive service during the day even when there's as little as 4 customers. This visit was during the day and my husband and I ordered the Mahi Mahi Moqueca and were given cod. The waitress disappeared for 15 minutes to fall into a black hole in the kitchen and sometimes serve 2 other tables of 4 and 2...the other group of 2 was right behind us...She would not make eye contact with us and even when she finally showed up at the table behind us, she kept her back to us and the words "Excuse me" magically never reached her ears. When we finally her attention, she acted dumbfounded that we were not served Mahi Mahi and had to go check with the kitchen. She said she was surprised that they served us cod and had run out of Mahi Mahi. Our only choice was eat the cod or return it bc we don't eat other items on the menu. It was good, but not as great as the Mahi Mahi. There were no apologies, discounts or comps offered. Just blatant disregard for honesty and an "Oh well" attitude. The owners should really check on their waitress and kitchen staff during the day. We never had this experience at night with a full restaurant. read more