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    Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant

    4.6 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    MOQUECA BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant

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    Sea bass and shrimp Moqueca
    Kim P.

    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.

    Tapenade
    Peter M.

    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.

    Pastel
    Ryan M.

    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

    Mousse de Maracujá (mah rah coo jah): A creamy, rich yet refreshing light pudding of passion fruit.
    Gary I.

    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!

    Vicky J.

    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.

    Naomi W.

    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!!

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    7 months ago

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

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    6 months ago

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

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    Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant

    Is this all you can eat style churrascaria?

    No Its better

    Can you order moqueca without cilantro?

    Yes you can. Moquecas are made from scratch so you can order it without cilantro

    Is the moqueca garlicky? Can you order with no garlic?

    Not garlicky

    Is there an event space or private room at this restaurant?

    No they unfortunately do not

    Do you have a corkage fee?

    Corkage fee is $15 per bottle!

    Is there a show? Every night? What time?

    Hi There Tona, Moqueca in Oxnard is having Samba Dancers Shows every Saturday until the end of Summer!!! Also live music every fri/sat: Moqueca Oxnard is located at: 3550… Read more

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    Ubatuba Açaí - Thousand Oaks

    Ubatuba Açaí - Thousand Oaks

    4.3
    (316 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I loveeee ubatuba. Their açaí base is always so thick and their fruit is so fresh. Everytime I'm in…read morethe area, I always drop in!

    I've been to Ubatuba many times and have visited several of your locations without issue…read more Unfortunately, I recently had a disappointing experience that I feel should be addressed. When I arrived, I was greeted and waited to place my order. An employee suggested that I use one of the kiosks instead. I noticed several customers waiting to order, so I decided to place my order directly through the Ubatuba website on my phone while inside the restaurant. After ordering, I waited quite a while. During that time, I noticed customers who had arrived after me receiving their orders first. Eventually, I heard my name called, went to pick up the order, and returned to my car. Once I got to my car, I realized the bowl I had received was not my order. I immediately returned to the restaurant to let the staff know. The employee took the bowl, threw it away, and said, "Yeah, I know you took her order. Next time listen for your name." I found that comment both unfair and unprofessional. This was clearly an honest mistake. I genuinely believed I had heard my name called. If I had intentionally taken someone else's order, I certainly would not have returned to correct the mistake. The employee then told me that I had placed my order through DoorDash and that my order was separated from the others. This was confusing because I did not place my order through DoorDash; I ordered directly through the Ubatuba website. If the company uses a third-party system behind the scenes, that is not something customers are made aware of during the ordering process. Mistakes happen, and I understand that. What was disappointing was not the mix-up itself, but the way the situation was handled. A simple explanation or a courteous response would have gone a long way. Instead, I was made to feel as though I had done something wrong when I was trying to correct an honest mistake. I have always enjoyed Ubatuba and have had positive experiences in the past, which is why this interaction stood out. I hope situations like this are handled so future customers are treated with more professionalism and respect.

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    Ubatuba Açaí - Thousand Oaks
    Ubatuba Açaí - Thousand Oaks
    Ubatuba Açaí - Thousand Oaks

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    Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine

    Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine

    4.1
    (974 reviews)
    21.5 mi
    $$

    My first time trying this Brazilian place. I was very impressed! The food is Not what you think of…read moreBrazilian BBQ with flowing meat but itemized by app, salad, entre and most impressively their signature dish - moqueca. The menu is full of selection. We decided to have two appetizers with a large moqueca with seafood. All dishes were excellent !! Service was good too! Price was reasonable I strongly recommend one to try this place.

    Moqueca has one thing going for it immediately: location. Sitting quietly in the harbor in Channel…read moreIslands Harbor, the setting is relaxed and pleasantly unpretentious. It's the kind of place you stumble into after a day on the water, which actually feels appropriate for a seafood-forward Brazilian restaurant. The problem is the food never quite matches the promise of the name. I lived in Brazil for a while, so I tend to chase those flavors when I see a Brazilian restaurant. This place tries, and the food is perfectly tasty, but authenticity is where things start to drift. The menu hits some expected notes. You'll see things like moqueca, picanha, bolinho de bacalhau, camarão ao alho, and caldo verde. On paper that all sounds promising. But the execution feels softened and Americanized, and the overall menu reads like a curated sample of Brazilian dishes rather than something that feels rooted in an actual Brazilian kitchen. Moqueca itself, the dish the restaurant is named for, should be a vibrant stew layered with dendê oil, coconut milk, cilantro, lime, and peppers, the kind of thing that hits you with aroma before the spoon even reaches your mouth. Here it's fine, but it lacks the depth and brightness that make the real version so memorable. Feijoada shows up as a special some days, which is good to see, but honestly it's the kind of dish that lives or dies by its ingredients and slow cooking. With good cuts and some patience I can make a better one at home. The biggest red flag on the entire menu, though, is what's missing. There is no Pão de queijo. For a Brazilian restaurant, that's almost an affront. Pão de queijo is practically the national snack; warm, chewy little cheese breads made with tapioca flour that show up everywhere from bakeries to gas stations in Brazil. Leaving it off the menu feels like opening an Italian restaurant and deciding bread isn't necessary. Portions are also very American. Plates are enormous. That might sound like a positive, but it often just means a lot of food gets wasted unless you pack it up. For those of us staying on nearby boats in the harbor, hauling leftovers around isn't exactly ideal. None of this means the restaurant is bad. The food is good enough, the seafood is solid, and the harbor setting is pleasant. But if you're coming here hoping to revisit the flavors of Brazil, it falls short. It feels more like a Brazilian-inspired restaurant designed for American expectations than a place that truly captures the cuisine. It's enjoyable. Just don't expect the Brazil you remember.

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    Brazilian Decor
    Brazilian Decor
    Salada De Palmito Small
    Salada De Palmito Small
    Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine

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    Mastro's Steakhouse

    Mastro's Steakhouse

    3.8
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$$

    Went to Mastro's Steakhouse recently and Brittney was incredible. Super friendly, attentive, and…read morereally great about making recommendations without ever being pushy. We tried the maple glazed steak bacon appetizer and the jumbo prawn & filet -- both were amazing. The filet was cooked perfectly and the prawns were so good. Overall, it was just a really great experience. Brittney genuinely cares about her guests having a good time, and you can tell. Will definitely be back.

    I had previously been to the Thousand Oaks location of Mastro's Steakhouse for a work function and…read morereally enjoyed it, so for Mother's Day I suggested my daughters and I go there for dinner. We had a 7:45 reservation and waited about 15 minutes, which honestly wasn't a huge issue considering it was Mother's Day and we booked last minute. We sat in the bar area, which was semi-dark and a little loud, but still had a nice atmosphere overall. Our waitress, Britney, was very friendly and welcoming. We ordered drinks, bread came out quickly, and we placed our dinner order. When the food arrived, the plates were extremely hot as usual, so we waited a moment before touching them while our sides were still being served. As Britney was serving the asparagus, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese, one of my daughters noticed a hair on her plate. Britney immediately stopped and asked what was wrong. My daughter explained, and Britney asked if she wanted a clean plate or an entirely new meal made. My daughter seemed uncomfortable and just asked for a clean plate. Britney took the plate back to show the kitchen and returned with the steak, but without the asparagus that had originally been on the plate. I didn't say anything at the time, but what disappointed me was that she later served the remaining asparagus pieces that had been left over from the original serving dish. We still tried to enjoy the rest of our evening, and overall the service was pleasant, but I was honestly surprised nothing was replaced or comped considering the situation. I wasn't looking for anything free, but I did expect a little more attention to detail and hospitality, especially at a restaurant with Mastro's reputation.

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    Mastro's Steakhouse
    Mastro's Steakhouse
    Mastro's Steakhouse

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    La Vaca Brazilian Grill

    La Vaca Brazilian Grill

    3.3
    (217 reviews)
    14.2 mi
    $$

    Brazilian churrascaria is my absolute favorite! I wish more spots existed. It's paid per weight…read more There's a cold food bar which has salads and veggies and a hot bar with rice, stews, cheese bread, plantains to name a few. But the real star of the show are the meats. I love the top sirloin and the sirloin cap, but I don't think you could go wrong with anything. The service is friendly and it's conveniently located at the food court of Westfield Topanga mall across for potato corner. I wish there was a location closer to me because I would be there daily if given the opportunity!

    When it comes to food court options La Vaca Brazilian Grill is one of our favorites. The…read morecontinuous slow grilling of the meats keeps it fresh, juicy and flavorful. We don't mind the small cold/hot bar since we like only a couple items, and they always have them available. Our favorite is the Picanha. I will usually take the first slices since these are often at medium to well done so the husband can have the medium rare to rare center. For our sides, a heaping portion of plantains for me and black beans for him. It was all very good -- consistent with past experiences. The workers are usually ok -- not really friendly, but not rude either. The issue with this visit came when I later noticed on the receipt that although our plates weighed almost exactly the same and both had a hot side, one was charged at the highest price of $24.95/lb (BBQ only). At that point we had already finished our lunch. Not being able to trust a business to charge correctly is unfortunate. I will now need to remember to always check the receipt before leaving the register at La Vaca.

    Photos
    La Vaca Brazilian Grill
    Picanha and Plantains
    Picanha and Plantains
    Picanha (Top Sirloin Cap)

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    Picanha (Top Sirloin Cap)

    Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant - seafood - Updated June 2026

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