Photo by Vinicius Benedit on Unsplash
A friend of mine once described Bernal as the best combination of “small-town-feel” and “big city” advantages. Among those advantages are our culinary options, such as one of my favorite restaurants in the world: Moki’s.
When I first moved into the neighborhood in 2000, Moki’s was only two years old and well-established as a culinary gem. Then, when my family and I left the City and lived abroad for ten years, just returning last year, I never forgot Moki’s and often craved their various creations, such as the Spicy Tuna Roll and the Salmon Ceviche with cilantro. However, I never found anything comparable to the former at other restaurants I visited. The latter, the ceviche, seems to be a unique creation and not widely available. Also, the ingredients in the ceviche and the tuna roll are so exquisitely merged that savoring them is a special experience.
One of the reasons I appreciate Mokis so much is their choice of foods. Unfortunately, neither my partner nor our pre-teen daughter enjoys sushi. Therefore, it is difficult for all three of us to visit restaurants that serve sushi exclusively. Fortunately, Moki’s menu contains something for everyone. On a recent visit to this restaurant, I gorged myself on the sushi above rolls and some nigiri. My partner had a delicious flank steak, and our daughter enjoyed the gyozas, vegetable tempura, and onigiri, which the chef prepared especially for her.
Even though I always gravitate towards dishes with raw fish, such as nigiri, rolls, and sashimi, there is nothing on the menu that I have not tried and enjoyed at Moki’s. And I could go on and on listing the various menu options, but the best advice is to go soon if it is your first time or return even sooner if you have not done so.
Moki’s décor is something that I also enjoy a great deal. The abundance of rich, dark wood makes the restaurant warm and inviting. There is no harsh lighting, no loud colors, and the booths by the front windows feel very private while at the same time allowing you to see a friend or two from the neighborhood walk in and say “hi.”
Rounding up my review of this restaurant is the staff. They truly want to make your dining experience pleasurable. The last time we were there, they accommodated my daughter’s unique requests, which were not always on the menu; they came by at the right time for us to order another drink or a new appetizer, and the food arrived at the appropriate time for all of us to enjoy the meal together. So often these days, in many other restaurants, the individual meals arrive at different times, which means either waiting or starting to eat in front of others still waiting for their food.
Moki’s (www.mokisf.com) is located at 615 Cortland Avenue and is open Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9:00 PM and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 to 10 PM. Call them at 415-970-9336 to reserve a table, especially if you want one of only two booths at the front of the restaurant.
Greening Projects
Author Bio
Jorge Romero-Lozano, PE, LEED AP, PMP, is Greening Projects’ Executive Director and Founder. As a licensed civil engineer with a passion for planning, designing, and building green spaces, he provides both the technical expertise, as well as the passion for envisioning potential green paces as well as supporting neighborhoods, individuals, and other professionals who wish to improve their environments and engage their communities.
Cortland Eats – Moki’s Sushi and Pacific Grill