14 of the Best Places to Eat in Oaxaca: A Foodie’s Guide
Looking for the best places to eat in Oaxaca? Our food guide shares 14 of the top restaurants in Oaxaca, from street eats to fine dining. Deciding where to eat in Oaxaca has never been easier.
During our time in Oaxaca, we had several tour guides tell us “If you don’t gain weight when you visit Oaxaca, then you didn’t visit Oaxaca.” They weren’t lying – but we weren’t mad about it. Whether we were devouring tasajo from a street vendor or enjoying the finest moles at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Oaxaca’s food scene just kept getting better.
But with so many incredible options and limited time in the “gastronic heart” of Mexico, how do you decide where to eat in Oaxaca? No fear – our taste-tested Oaxaca food guide highlights the best places to eat in the city, from street eats to top restaurants, based on our 4 weeks living here.
Looking for somewhere to grab a drink afterwards? We’ve got our favorite bars for you in our post Oaxaca Nightlife Guide: 13 Best Bars in Oaxaca. And don’t forget to check out our premade itinerary and travel guide for Oaxaca here!
Update note: This guide was reviewed in August 2026 to confirm current openings, pricing, and overall relevance.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you visit a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we trust, and all opinions are our own.
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How to Pick a Top Restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico
There are a few basic rules to picking where to eat in Oaxaca to ensure you enjoy your meal:
- DON’T eat at a restaurant where the menu is entirely in English or contains photos of all of the food.
- DON’T choose a place because a waiter outside called you over and tried to persuade you to eat there.
- DON’T take Google Maps reviews as undisputed facts. We know, it’s an easy place to start and we gravitate toward those 4 star and up locations as well. But the truth is, in tourist destinations, these reviews are overwhelmingly contributed by, well, tourists, who may have different expectations for service than are standard in that country. If you see a place that looks good but the reviews aren’t top notch, check to see whether those reviews are food-related or simply someone being a little impatient.
- DO walk at least two to three blocks away from major tourist attractions to avoid higher costs and lower quality.
- DO gravitate to restaurants with a small, specific menu – these are where you’ll be most likely to experience a dish at its finest.
- DO make reservations at least 1-2 weeks in advance at top Oaxaca restaurants like Los Danzantes, Levadura de Olla, and Las Quince Letras.
Pro tip: Don’t feel like you need to pick a fancy or expensive restaurant to eat well in Oaxaca. While Oaxaca has many excellent fine dining restaurants, the street eats are often equally delicious at a fraction of the cost.
Follow these simple guidelines, and you’ll be set up for success!
The Best Places to Eat in Oaxaca, Mexico
Without further ado, let’s get into our list of where to eat in Oaxaca – the 14 top restaurants to check out on your next visit! We’ve split these into three sections to make things easier to digest – pun intended: Breakfast & Brunch, Cheap Eats & Street Food, and Oaxaca’s Top Restaurants for Lunch & Dinner.
Breakfast & Brunch
Oaxaca has a solid brunch scene, and we found a few spots that were as aesthetic as they were delicious. Check out these cafes to start your morning off right.
Cunda Cafe might just be the most Instagrammable cafe we’ve ever brunched in. Nestled inside a small boutique hotel on the east side of town, it gives Sonoran desert vibes in the chicest way possible. But Cunda Cafe’s not just a pretty face – the food was top notch too. We recommend the chilaquiles rojos (my absolute favorite, sinfully delicious Mexican breakfast) or the huevos rancheros, served up with an artfully crafted latte or fresh juice.
Bet you didn’t think we’d be hitting you with a chicken and waffles recommendation in our Oaxaca food guide, did you? While it’s clearly not a traditional Oaxacan dish, Sagrada Filemón’s chicken and waffles are so good they draw a crowd from all over town. More of a waffle-shaped puff pastry, they put their own spin on the dish. And their homemade chili oil? It takes the dish to a whole other level. Pair it with an iced cafe de olla latte to bring a bit of Oaxaca into your meal. Sagrada Filemón is also a great place to work, with two laptop-friendly terraces and free wi-fi. Plus, they’re dog friendly!
While it’s a bit of a hike from Centro, Osuro Brebaje La Noria is the best place to eat in Oaxaca if you’re craving something a little lighter. In addition to their all-day brunch, they have the most delicious sandwiches in town. The bread is freshly made, and the sauces are *chef’s kiss.* In addition, they have beautiful and refreshing salads, not something that’s always easy to find in Mexico’s heavy cuisine. I highly recommend their chicken sandwich, which you can enjoy inside or on their outdoor terrace.
Cheap Eats & Street Food
While street food isn’t as prevalent in Oaxaca as it is in Mexico City, you can still find cheap and delicious food if you know where to look. Here are three of the best places to eat in Oaxaca when you want to save a few pesos.
Pro tip: Besides the places mentioned below, you can find most other street food vendors on Calle 20 de Noviembre, between the markets and the zócalo, as well as in the one-block radius around the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Want a little help navigating the hectic markets of Oaxaca? Consider this highly rated street eats and market tour from Get Your Guide.
No Oaxaca itinerary is complete without grabbing a meal on the Pasillo de Humo. This nickname, translating to “Smoke Alley,” was bestowed on a one-lane stretch of vendors located in the Mercado 20 de Noviembre. Why? Due to the nature of what they cook – meat, meat, and more meat. From tasajo to cecina to chorizo, all of Oaxaca’s best meats are grilled to order, filling the area with the delicious smells – and smoke – that made it famous.
Nearly every stand offers the same meats for around the same price, so just pick one that calls to you. We chose Carnes Asadas Lety and were not disappointed. The chorizo was the best I’ve ever had, and all of the garnishes – like pico de gallo, salsa, and tortillas – were excellent as well. Come hungry and be prepared for a bit of sensory overload, as it’s a popular place for both locals and tourists to enjoy!
Pro tip: On the outer end of the Pasillo de Humo there is usually a vendor selling fresh herbs and veggies. Consider buying some fresh cilantro or green onions to add to your meat feast!
Oaxacan cuisine isn’t just about mole. It also gifted Mexico with the tlayuda, a large, thin tortilla topped with refried black beans, lard, and Oaxacan cheese. Most times, it will also include meat, cabbage, tomato, and avocado, either on top or folded in half like a giant quesadilla. It’s an iconic street food, and super filling.
Las Tlayudas de Mina y Bustamante, conveniently located near the markets, is the best place in Oaxaca to try one. We recommend incorporating one of Oaxaca’s signature meats, like tasajo, to get the full experience. As an added bonus, they also serve atole, an indigenous drink of the region, so you can really go all-in on Oaxacan staples!
Taquería el Ayuujk is another great Oaxacan restaurant on the outskirts of town. It’s not as conveniently located as restaurants in Centro, but it’s worth the walk if you want some quality food for cheap.
This casual neighborhood haunt offers a wide range of classic Mexican meals, from tacos to quesadillas to our personal favorite, their alambres. All of it is delicious, and all of it is super affordable. Their alambres, which are sort of like a hash or chopped up fajitas topped with cheese, can feed two people for just 100 pesos (~$5). We ate here at least once a week during our stay in Oaxaca, so we can definitely say this one is tried and tested for consistent deliciousness.
Oaxaca's Top Restaurants for Lunch & Dinner
Home to 2 Michelin-starred restaurants and a slew of other highly rated venues, Oaxaca has no shortage of exceptional restaurants for a nice meal. Below are 8 of the best places to eat in Oaxaca when you’re ready to treat yourself.
P.S. – Curious to learn how to make some of Oaxaca’s incredible moles yourself? We took and highly recommend this cooking class, where you’ll make your own Oaxacan meal from market to table. Learn more in our Oaxaca itinerary and travel guide.
Hands down, our top restaurant recommendation in Oaxaca is Las Quince Letras. This gorgeous, two-story venue has an interior terrace full of lush greenery, warm lighting, and live jazz music to set the mood. They serve elevated Oaxacan cuisine that’s so good you’ll be planning your next visit before you even pay the bill.
For first-timers to Oaxaca, we highly recommend the plato oaxaqueño and the triología de moles (the classic, not the indigenous). These two plates will essentially give you a sampler of nearly all of Oaxaca’s signature dishes and flavors, both familiar and unfamiliar. Our favorite discovery? Mole estofado de almendras, or almond mole, which was incredible over chicken. Pair your dishes with a guelagetza, a cocktail served with tiny chapulines (grasshoppers) for extra Oaxacan flair (and protein!).
Las Quince Letras is a popular choice, so we recommend making reservations at least 1-2 weeks in advance. And for anyone visiting with a pet like us, they even ask if you’d like to bring a dog when making the reservations – a first in our travels!
I hope you haven’t had your fill of moles yet, because Chichilo is the perfect spot to dig a little deeper. If you’re like us, you probably thought mole was just one thing – mole negro. But, it turns out that mole negro is just the most famous one. The word mole comes from the Aztec word molli, meaning sauce, so it’s really a whole category of sauces, rather than just one.
In Oaxaca, they make seven different moles, and at Chichilo, you can try all of them at once in their seven-mole tasting platter. They range in flavor from smokey and spicy to sweet and complex, so it’s a real adventure for the palate. My favorite was the mole amarillo, but we highly encourage you to visit and discover the best mole for yourself.
Want to make sure you don’t miss out on this epic mole tasting? Book your table at Chichilo in advance here.
The first Michelin-starred restaurant on our list, Los Danzantes is a perennial favorite. No Oaxaca food guide would be complete without it! Named after the famous architectural find at Monte Albán (learn more in our Oaxaca city guide), Los Danzantes aims to elevate humble ingredients into something magical.
They focus on local, sustainable dishes like hoja santa leaves stuffed with local quesillo cheese and ancho peppers served with huitlacoche, a fungus that grows on corn. Don’t worry – there are plenty of excellent meat dishes too, like Mayan octopus and confit pork ribs. They even make their own mezcal, which you can sip on its own or as part of an artfully crafted cocktail.
This one is a definite can’t-miss restaurant, but make sure to make reservations at Los Danzantes at least 1-2 weeks in advance, as they’re always booked!
Levadura de Olla is the second Michelin-starred restaurant in Oaxaca and it differentiates itself by its focus on traditional, indigenous recipes. Its dishes are vegetable-forward, but not exclusively vegetarian, and served in beautiful earthenware that takes you back to another time.
What we particularly enjoyed about Levadura de Olla – besides the impeccable vibe and service – was the section of its menu devoted to ceremonial dishes. Here you can try meals that are traditionally made for weddings or festivals, like “celebration mole,” which was served with chicken so tender it practically fell apart on its own. Pair your meal with a Oaxacan drink like pozontle or pulque for a completely immersive experience.
We recommend making reservations for Levadura de Olla at least 1-2 weeks in advance – you won’t get in without one.
Casa Mook is another top Oaxacan restaurant that pays a beautiful homage to the local cuisine. Plus, it’s a vibe. Stepping into this industrial-chic venue immediately puts you in chill mode. It’s one of the best places to eat in Oaxaca when you’re ready for a moody cocktail and candlelit conversation.
Start your meal here with tetelas, stuffed corn dough triangles like mini-empanadas, and then try two “green” dishes – the pozole verde and the mole de semillas de calabaza (pumpkin seed mole). Both of these were excellent, but the pumpkin seed mole really stood out with its incredible flavor. Pair your dishes with a quality mezcal and prepare to leave with a very happy belly.
Casa Mook accepts reservations, but isn’t as busy as the previous restaurants on this list – a great option for those bad at planning ahead. And feel free to bring Fido along!
Now that we’ve had our fill of mole, let’s dive into something a little different. In addition to all things corn, Mexico is also renowned for its seafood, especially ceviches and aguachiles, ceviche‘s spicy cousin. El Puerto Marisquería is a great place to try both.
It’s an off-the-beaten-path seafood restaurant that serves up incredible seafood, without the price markups you’ll see in Centro. They also have great drink specials, and a lovely, “neighborhood spot” vibe, so it’s an easy place to hang out and relax for a while. Bring a deck of cards and the dog and savor the slow vibes of Mexico. We highly recommend their aguachile negro with shrimp, cucumber, red onions, and avocado.
Looking for a break from Mexican food during your Oaxaca itinerary? We’ve got a real hidden gem for you – Cocina de Horno El Toro y La Luna. This restaurant is practically a speakeasy, with almost no signage outside. The exterior looks like a giant black metal door to a parking garage, but if you push the small call button, a waiter will come out to greet you.
Inside is a lovely garden setting with bistro lighting and a wood-fired oven. Here you can enjoy delicious Naples-style pizza and one of the best salads we’ve had in a while (after several months in Mexico, a good salad is a real treat). It’s a great spot for date night or a quiet meal away from the hustle and bustle of Centro.
Last but not least, Dassani is another standout restaurant in our Oaxaca food guide where you can order something besides tacos and mole. This restaurant features some of the best pasta you can get outside of Italy. Just walking in the door will get you excited, as it smells like the most incredible garlic bread inside. All of their pastas and sauces are homemade, and the service is really warm and inviting. Even better? Their tiramisu is to-die-for, the perfect light ending to a deliciously heavy meal.
Dassani Restaurante is typically easy to get into without a reservation, and furry friends are welcome too.
FAQs: Oaxaca Food Guide and Top Restaurants
What Should I Order at a Oaxacan Restaurant?
It wouldn’t be a Oaxaca food guide without some suggestions of what to order! Here are some of the most classic Oaxacan dishes you should make sure to eat while you’re in town:
- Mole – whether negro, amarillo, coloradito, or one of the other four classic moles of Oaxaca, we recommend you try them all over meat or veg
- Tlayudas – crispy, oversized tortillas topped with refried black beans, lard, cheese, cabbage, meat, and salsa
- Memelas – small but thick masa discs with beans, lard, cheese, and salsa, typically as an appetizer
- Tasajo – thin, salted, grilled beef, typically served with tortillas
- Cecina – thin sheets of pork seasoned with chili, garlic, and other spices, also served with tortillas
Where Are the Best Places to Eat in Oaxaca?
Most of the top places to eat in Oaxaca are in Centro, but there are definitely some hidden gems that can be found outside of the tourist zone. Restaurants outside of Centro are also likely to be noticeably cheaper, so it pays to get off the beaten path a bit!
Centro is also our top recommendation of where to stay in Oaxaca, thanks to its central location and supreme walkability. We’ve included some of our top hotel recommendations below – learn more about these and other recommended hotels in our Oaxaca itinerary and travel guide.
- Viajero Hostel Oaxaca ($) – 9.3 average rating – rooftop bar & pool, daily social events, dorms & private rooms
- Boutique Casa Abuela Maria ($) – ⭐⭐⭐, 8.4 average rating – highly walkable, included continental breakfast on sun terrace
- Hotel Parador de Alcalá ($$) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.1 average rating – rooftop bar & restaurant for poolside drinks
- Hotel Materia ($$) – 9.3 average rating – in-room hammock & sunny courtyard dining
- Boulenc Bed & Breakfast ($$$) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.3 average rating – cozy rooms with private balconies, adults-only, pet-friendly
When Do People Typically Eat Dinner in Oaxaca?
Peak dinner time is around 8 or 9pm, but make sure to check the restaurant’s hours before finalizing your plans for the night! As Mexico’s primary meal is lunch, many top restaurants around the country will close between 6 and 8pm. If this is the case, you’ll need to hit them for lunch or an early dinner.
Should I Tip at Bars and Restaurants in Oaxaca?
A tip of 10% is pretty standard across most of Mexico, though never required. We typically tip 10% unless we had terrible (very rare) or exceptional (much more common) service.
Do Restaurants in Oaxaca Accept Credit Cards?
Most restaurants in Oaxaca accept credit cards, though street food vendors and some smaller establishments may only accept cash. We recommend keeping at least 500 pesos (~$30) on hand at all times. You’ll want these in as small of bills as possible, as vendors often have a hard time making change. Don’t forget our pro tip on withdrawing from ATMs in foreign countries!
Pro tip: When offered an exchange rate by an ATM, you can – and should – always decline the rate displayed. This rate often includes a heavy markup on top of the market exchange rate. Declining the rate will not stop your transaction, but rather allow your personal bank to set the rate instead.
Do I Need to Speak Spanish to Order at Restaurants in Oaxaca?
Honestly, yes, a bit of Spanish will definitely help. Of every country we’ve visited so far across Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America, Mexico is the country where we’ve needed to speak the local language the most. There is some anti-tourist sentiment in the country right now too, especially in Mexico City and especially against Americans, so speaking Spanish will go a long way in warming the locals to you. We recommend practicing these words at a minimum before you head to dinner:
- Hello – hola – OH-lah
- Goodbye – hasta luego – AH-stah loo-AY-go (always see you later, never goodbye in Mexico’s warm culture 😊)
- Please – por favor – pohr fah-VOHR
- Thank you – gracias – GRAH-see-ahs
- A table for two – una mesa para dos – OO-nah MAY-sah pah-rah DOHS
- Excuse me – disculpe – dee-SKOOL-pay
- The bill/check – la cuenta – lah QUAYN-tah
- Takeaway – para llevar – PAH-rah yay-VAHR
- Delicious – muy rico – MOO-ee REE-coh (you’ll use this one a lot, we promise)
Want to learn more? Check out our post 100+ Mexican Spanish Words & Phrases for Travel: Speak Like a Local in Mexico.
Where Can I Learn More About Oaxaca and Why I Should Visit It?
Right here! We spent a month in Oaxaca exploring all the best that it has to offer, and we’ve compiled it all for you in our Oaxaca city guide with premade 3 and 5-day itineraries. We’ve also got a list of our favorite top bars in Oaxaca to make your nights in Oaxaca as fun as your days!
If you’re planning to visit other cities in Mexico during your trip, stay tuned! We’ll have guides to popular destinations like Merida and Mexico City coming out soon. Check out all of our Mexico travel guides here.
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