Restaurants in Oaxaca, Mexico: Gastronomy & Typical Cuisine

Dona Elpidia

You will not find a sign indicating the entrance, nor the sophistication of a common restaurant. A waiter will not come to your table to offer you the menu because Dona Elpidia is modesty to begin with. She cooks for her family and she serves anyone crossing the doorway. It has been like that for 40 years, during which she has given home cooking a delicious, hospitable meaning, becoming the best kept secret of the city.

El Biche Pobre

This Oaxacan family restaurant has prevailed as a typical gastronomy landmark. Do not miss the sampler botana, Oaxaquena, which is a banquet in itself. Try to arrive early if you go on weekends. Oaxacans are not known for wasting their treasures. There are three branches, one of which you can find on Calzada de la Republica.

El Che

Located in an elegant modern hall with an excellent view of Santo Domingo Church, El Che will cheerfully bring the best cuts in the city and other Argentinean and Italian specialties. Enjoy impeccable service and a casual ambience. To go with your meal, there is an ample wine selection.

El Naranjo

Famous among travelers for its quality and price, it is internationally acclaimed for the creativity in its dishes. El Naranjo specializes in rescuing old Oaxacan family recipes, adding a contemporary touch to them. They are served under an orange tree in the cool patio of an old house, steps south of the Zocalo. The ample menu includes 7 moles, organic salads and excellent seafood.

El Tio Guero

Ideal for lunch, this Oaxaca restaurant will make you feel at home with the personal attention of its owners and flavorful and traditional family dishes. The menu consists of three courses and fresh fruit juice for a modest price. The picturesque patio is decorated with original art from Oaxacan artists and it is for sale. Located in the Carmen Alto area.

Hacienda Santa Martha de Barcena

A trip to the beautiful city of Oaxaca wouldn't be complete without trying the exquisite local cuisine. Enjoy the enticing traditional plates served by extremely welcoming staff, as you dine surrounded by gardens, lakes and rivers. Hacienda Santa Martha de Barcena is a charming restaurant, located only 25 minutes north of downtown Oaxaca, on the road to Mexico City. As you reach the turn, to the town of Nazareno Etla, you will find this picturesque estate that shares the secrets of the Oaxacan gastronomy with all who care to dine here. You must try the extensive buffet that includes delicious specialties, such as the legendary seven kinds of mole (moh-lay) that really made Oaxacan cuisine famous.

La Casa de la Abuela

Skillfully prepared traditional dishes, such as three different kinds of mole, and its privileged location on the second floor corner of the zocalo, turn this restaurant into a classic in dining guides. You will have beautiful views of the Rock of San Felipe and the colorful activity of downtown from your table.

La Toscana

This restaurant, in the picturesque Jalatlaco neighborhood, is located in an old house remodeled in minimalist rustic style. The menu is an exquisite surprise of contemporary Italian fusion with regional accents from Oaxaca. A central patio with a fountain and soft lights create a peacefully romantic ambience, elegantly unforgettable. The wine selection is pretty much the best in town.

Las Tlayudas de Libres

The peculiar schedule of this eatery on Libres Street is not the strangest thing (it opens at 10:00 p.m. and closes at 5:00 a.m.). The most asked for dish is prepared right on cinders and it is eaten with the hands. Tlayudas are basically a popular meal consisting of a big crunchy tortilla, with a spread of refried beans, cabbage and shredded chicken or beef tenderloin. There is an hour early in the morning when the street in front seems like a parking lot.

Los Danzantes

This is a more sophisticated version of the famous Coyoacan restaurant in Mexico City. It occupies the backyard patio of a recently restored 16th century house on Alcala Street. The modern architectonic concept includes adobe walls, pressed steel blocks, a minimalist fountain and a wooden solarium covered by bougainvillea. The lounge ambience is the perfect frame for succulent creations of contemporary Mexican cuisine.

Temple

Temple is a unique contemporary restaurant, offering an enticing variety of cuisine that ranges from tapas, salads and soups to beautifully presented entrees and decadent desserts. They also feature a fantastic selection of domestic and imported wines, to perfectly complement your meal. Open since 2003, Temple has become extremely popular with locals and tourists alike, who come to enjoy the innovative creations of the young chef and the restaurant's vibrant, friendly atmosphere.

By mixing Mexican and international culinary styles, Temple's fusion cuisine has a truly distinctive set of exciting flavors, aromas and textures. You don't, however, have to be an expert in gastronomy to have a great time at this stylish restaurant. Visit Temple and enjoy what is sure to be a very memorable dining experience, in the beautiful city of Oaxaca.

20 de Noviembre Market

Dining in Oaxaca is incomplete if you don't visit the 20 de Noviembre Market. The market is mostly dedicated to food, raw as well as processed. The west alley hosts beef, pork tenderloin and sausages vendors, sold as in a butcher shop. Once chosen, the meat will be thrown on a grill and can be sold with onions, coriander, avocado, lime, chili, tomato and tortillas to accompany your meal. If you wish, there are people who can prepare a delicious guacamole with these ingredients.