Mocotó Vila Medeiros
Brazilian restaurant · Vila Medeiros ·
Northeastern Brazilian cuisine, mocotó, dadinhos de tapioca, caipirinhas
Northeastern Brazilian cuisine, mocotó, dadinhos de tapioca, caipirinhas
"José Almeida came to São Paulo from the sertão, a region in northeastern Brazil, and opened Mocotó in 1973. Today his son, chef Rodrigo Oliveira, runs the restaurant, revising traditional sertaneja recipes with modern, inventive touches. His creativity is evident in everything from the iconic mocotó (cow’s foot broth) that gives the restaurant its name, to favada (fava beans cooked with sausage, bacon, and jerked beef). To make the wait more manageable (there’s always a line), order the famous dadinhos de tapioca (cheese curds with tapioca) and one of the 350 cachaças served at the bar. Pro tip: Mocotó is located in Vila Medeiros, a working-class district far from downtown São Paulo, but it’s close to the airport, so consider visiting on your way in or out of the city." - Rafael Tonon
"Rank: #33 "Traditional Brazilian food served in the vibrant atmosphere of a no-reservations village bar."
"Located in São Paulo’s working-class suburb of Vila Medeiros, Mocotó is a celebrated restaurant that has drawn international acclaim and is the source of the creativity and unexpected flavors Rodrigo Oliveira seeks to bring to Los Angeles; its reputation underpins the mission of his new LA project and informs the homestyle-yet-creative approach described in the review." - Matthew Kang
"Like its founder Zé Almeida, who came here from inland Pernambuco in the 1960s, you’ll need to embark on something of a pilgrimage to get to this famous and secluded eatery specialising in cuisine from the north-east. Originally famous for its mocotó dish, the kitchen, now run by Zé’s son Rodrigo Oliveira, conjures up many other delicacies from the north-eastern hinterland, including unforgettable torresminhos (pork rinds), prepared according to a secret recipe, that are crunchy, succulent and some of the best we’ve ever tasted!" - Michelin Inspector
"A São Paulo restaurant centered on northeastern Brazilian cuisine that has earned national acclaim and become a must-visit for international chefs, celebrated for soulful regional dishes that showcase Brazil’s culinary diversity." - Rafael Tonon