About us

Chef Maria Elena and Ignacio Perez, the wife and husband duo of the six-year-old Oakland-based CHICA, closed the doors of their small beloved neighborhood establishment in 2022 as they geared up for their new full service restaurant XICA, along the Embarcadero at Levi's Plaza. XICA is a Chicana style restaurant serving Mexican flavors with a Bay Area-influence for brunch, lunch and dinner, along with specialty cocktail beverages.

XICA signifies the return to their starting place as CHICA, which started as a takeout window from 2015-2020 on Green street at Levi's Plaza.

From a dream to serve home style food and coffee in a beautiful and comfortable environment, returning to the Levi's plaza to 1265 Battery Street is really coming full circle. They both love and appreciate a good cup of coffee, great food and what it produces: bringing people together. They look to connect & create with Chef Maria E's dishes with the duo saying "We want to create and be part of a world where we're happy to live in". By choosing XICA you are supporting a locally Mexican Family-Owned, Woman & POC-led business. All of their food is prepared in house, by locals using ingredients sourced from local vendors. When you serve XICA's food, you are serving the community.