After beginning her career at the alternative newspaper LA Weekly, Ochoa became a writer and editor for the Los Angeles Times.

She then was hired as executive editor at Gourmet before moving back to Los Angeles to lead LA Weekly.

She later returned to the Times as its arts and entertainment editor, becoming general manager of the newspaper's Food section in 2022.

[4] She then left to become an editor and writer at the Los Angeles Times, working in the Calendar and Food sections.

[13] Ochoa is the recipient of two James Beard Foundation Awards: Best Newspaper Series in 1997 for her work at the Los Angeles Times, and Best Magazine or Newspaper Series in 2001 for her work at Gourmet alongside David Karp and Warren Schultz.