Rocoto Pesca Bar: A New Chapter in the Chan Family's Peruvian Culinary Legacy

The Chan family’s journey begins with Jorge and Jessica Chan, who immigrated from Peru in the 1990s with a vision to share their homeland’s bold, diverse cuisine. In 1994, they opened El Rocoto, blending Peru’s coastal, highland, and jungle traditions with Jorge’s Chinese heritage and training from Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles. Their Cerritos and Gardena restaurants became culinary landmarks, celebrated for generous portions, authentic recipes, and award-winning dishes like lomo saltado, ceviche, and arroz con mariscos.

The Next Chapter in Peruvian Cuisine

Growing up in the kitchen, Christian Chan absorbed not just the techniques but also the values of dedication and innovation from his parents. With a multicultural heritage, Peruvian, Chinese, and Japanese, Christian brings a contemporary sensibility to his own venture, Rocoto Pesca Bar. In many ways, his story reflects what it means to be American: honoring one’s roots while blending diverse traditions into something entirely new.

The new Huntington Beach restaurant focuses on fresh seafood, modern takes on classic Peruvian dishes, and innovative fusions that reflect California’s coastal lifestyle. While El Rocoto established the Chan name as a leader in Peruvian cuisine, Rocoto Pesca Bar is Christian’s way of honoring that foundation while creating his own imprint on the culinary map. Christian isn’t just a chef, he’s also a detail-oriented mixologist, known for his precision and creativity behind the bar, with every cocktail crafted to balance flavor as thoughtfully as his dishes.

The Flavor of Peru, Reimagined by the Sea

At Rocoto Pesca Bar, the menu highlights Peru’s ocean-driven bounty, from ceviche infused with bright citrus and spice to creative plates that weave together multicultural influences. This is Peruvian seafood reimagined: bold, colorful, and crafted for a new generation of diners curious about global flavors.

The restaurant not only pays homage to the Chan family’s heritage but also introduces Huntington Beach to the richness of Chifa, the unique blend of Peruvian and Chinese traditions that Jorge pioneered decades earlier.

Dining at Rocoto Pesca Bar: Fresh, Sophisticated, and Absolutely Delicious

We explored several standout dishes that showcased the full range of Rocoto Pesca Bar’s culinary artistry, with the seafood emerging as the true star of the menu.

The Ceviche, offered in varieties like halibut, ahi tuna, and shrimp, stood out as a menu highlight, its fresh seafood brightened by the signature leche de tigre and tiger sauce, creating a lively mix of citrus, spice, and crunch that captured the essence of coastal Peruvian flavors.

The Hamachi Tostada was a vibrant bite, layering sea urchin, yellowtail, avocado purée, and a touch of habanero heat on a crisp shell, delivering creamy, spicy, and citrusy flavors all at once.

The Hamachi Scallop paired delicate yellowtail with tender scallops in a leche de tigre sauce, offering a luxurious mix of textures and flavors both bold and refined.

For comfort with a Peruvian soul, the Chupe de Camarones seafood soup warmed with shrimp, egg, and aji peppers, while the Papa Rellena potato fritters, stuffed with savory beef and served with tangy salsa criolla, proved why this classic dish is beloved.

Each plate was a reminder of how Rocoto Pesca Bar balances tradition with innovation in every bite. Beyond the food, Rocoto Pesca Bar’s mixology program deserves its own spotlight.

The cocktails are infused with the same creativity and cultural layering found in the cuisine. We especially recommend the Mamba Tini for its tropical, aromatic layers, the Plum Collins for a light and subtly exotic twist, and the Mezcalita for its bold balance of smoky, citrus, and spice. Each one is a reflection of the restaurant’s sophisticated approach to flavor.

A Legacy That Lives On in Huntington Beach

More than just restaurateurs, Jorge and Jessica Chan built a legacy of hospitality and cultural pride. Their restaurants became community touchstones, introducing thousands to the depth and variety of Peruvian cuisine. With Christian at the helm of Rocoto Pesca Bar, their story continues, bridging tradition and innovation, heritage and modernity.

Huntington Beach diners now have the chance to experience a vibrant culinary tradition that spans generations and continents.

Why Rocoto Pesca Bar Belongs on Your Must-Try List

Rocoto Pesca Bar is more than a restaurant; it’s the evolution of a family’s passion, resilience, and vision. As Chef Christian Chan carries forward the Chan legacy, he’s inviting Orange County to experience the flavors of Peru in a fresh, coastal way.

If you’re looking for some of the freshest fish in town, unforgettable ceviche, and cocktails that tell their own story, make your way to Rocoto Pesca Bar. It’s a dining experience where heritage meets innovation, and where every detail is absolutely delicious.

Rocoto Pesca Bar is more than a restaurant; it’s the evolution of a family’s passion, resilience, and vision. As Chef Christian Chan carries forward the Chan legacy, he’s inviting Orange County to experience the flavors of Peru in a fresh, coastal way.

Next time you’re in Huntington Beach, step into Rocoto Pesca Bar to taste a story decades in the making, where every dish is a tribute to heritage and innovation.

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