Tocte Ceviche
$22Day-boat halibut, tiger's milk, sweet potato, charred corn, cilantro oil. Bright, cold, and slightly addictive.
Chef's PickHonest food, hand-shaken cocktails, and a warm corner of Downtown Oakland — built by neighbors, for neighbors.
From Berkeley produce to Half Moon Bay seafood — we cook with what the Bay Area gives us.
House infusions, fresh-pressed citrus, and a rotating list inspired by the Pan-American coast.
Founded by Robert Espiritu — a love letter to the neighborhood that raised him.
Kitchen serving until 10pm on weeknights and 11:30pm on weekends. The bar stays a little later.
Every dish on our menu starts the same way: a phone call to a farmer, a market run before sunrise, and stocks that simmer for hours before service. We're not chasing trends. We're chasing flavor — the kind that reminds you of a meal your grandmother used to make, even if you've never eaten it before.
Chef-Owner Robert Espiritu trained in San Francisco kitchens for over a decade before opening Tocte in 2018. The name means "walnut tree" in Quechua — a quiet nod to the family farm in Peru where his cooking started.
Read Our StoryA taste of what our regulars come back for, week after week.
"We don't want to be the fanciest place in Oakland. We want to be the one you come back to next Tuesday."— Robert Espiritu, Chef & Owner
Stumbled in for happy hour and ended up staying for dinner. The ceviche is the best I've had outside of Lima, and the bartender remembered our names on visit two.
Brought my parents here for their anniversary. Robert came out of the kitchen, sat with us for ten minutes, and comped dessert. That's not a restaurant — that's a neighborhood.
Smoked Mezcalita = a religious experience. The skirt steak is exactly what a steak should be. We drove from San Jose and would do it again tomorrow.
Walk-ins welcome at the bar. For dining room tables, we recommend reserving a few days out — especially Friday and Saturday.