This little family-owned restaurant is tucked away in the residential neighborhood of San José La Noria, just south of the Centro Historico. This hidden gem serves up delicious meats of all kinds, but especially in the traditional Oaxacan style. Typical dishes include tasajo, a thin and typical cut of beef and cecina, a thin piece of pork, salted and rubbed with chile. The main attraction at El Molino, however, is steaks done perfectly, served in the typical Oaxacan style. After you're done eating, take a little time to wander around the charming and tranquil neighborhood.
The Mercado 20 de Noviembre is full of all kinds of food stands. Here you can find all different varieties of bread from simple rolls to colorfully decorated sweet breads. The main draw here, however, are the comedores or food stands, which cook and serve up all kinds of Mexican and Oaxacan specialties. Try tortas, tamales, tacos, sopas, ensaladas and any other kind of traditional foods you can think of. Take this opportunity to try chapulines, or fried grasshoppers with chile. Legend says trying them will ensure you return to Oaxaca one day.
La Biznaga, located just a very short walk from the Zocalo and Santo Domingo, is considered one of the best restaurants in the city by both locals and tourists alike. The bar features gourmet, specialty drinks, and are especially known for their mojitos. Rather than individual menus, the food offerings are posted on large chalkboards hanging on the walls. No matter what you order, your meal is sure to be a delightful mixture of traditional Oaxacan cuisine and ingredients, mixed with modern techniques and flavor combinations, a most delightful marriage in Oaxaca's culinary scene. Although most of the time the restaurante is al fresco, the roof is convertable, so you will be able to enjoy La Biznaga's offerings rain or shine.
A unique restaurant offering a selection of exquisite dishes made with native maize (corn) from regions of Oaxaca, Itanoni is the place the head for fantastic tortillas. Made by hand and roasted the traditional way, the tortillas are cooked to a crispy perfection on mud griddles. Choose from an exciting menu that features delicious quesadillas, chilaquiles, tamales, barbacoa, chicharron, tetelas and memelas. Inexpensive prices add the cherry on the cake.
This seafood restaurant is a favorite of locals, serving the freshest dishes. Everything from the ceviche to the margaritas are top notch. The location, right across the street from the beautiful Parque El Llano is calm, being a little out of the way of the busiest part of the Historic Center. The restaurant features a shady garden patio along with great service and quality food. The big breakfasts are a big draw.
Travelers looking for the less-trodden path will love La Teca, which began as a cooking project in a single room of the chef and owner’s home and has expanded to her backyard. Located in an unpretentious residential neighborhood, the restaurant offers simple home-cooked specialties from the Oaxacan peninsula, such as tamales and garnachas, molotes de platano, and black mole. Old timers say that the restaurant used to seat visitors in the garage and welcome them with a cup of mescal. While the garage seating still exists, La Teca has become more of an established restaurant, with lovely outdoor seating and a small but dedicated wait staff.
The Mercado 20 de Noviembre is full of all kinds of food stands. Here you can find all different varieties of bread from simple rolls to colorfully decorated sweet breads. The main draw here, however, are the comedores or food stands, which cook and serve up all kinds of Mexican and Oaxacan specialties. Try tortas, tamales, tacos, sopas, ensaladas and any other kind of traditional foods you can think of. Take this opportunity to try chapulines, or fried grasshoppers with chile. Legend says trying them will ensure you return to Oaxaca one day.
This seafood restaurant is a favorite of locals, serving the freshest dishes. Everything from the ceviche to the margaritas are top notch. The location, right across the street from the beautiful Parque El Llano is calm, being a little out of the way of the busiest part of the Historic Center. The restaurant features a shady garden patio along with great service and quality food. The big breakfasts are a big draw.
Travelers looking for the less-trodden path will love La Teca, which began as a cooking project in a single room of the chef and owner’s home and has expanded to her backyard. Located in an unpretentious residential neighborhood, the restaurant offers simple home-cooked specialties from the Oaxacan peninsula, such as tamales and garnachas, molotes de platano, and black mole. Old timers say that the restaurant used to seat visitors in the garage and welcome them with a cup of mescal. While the garage seating still exists, La Teca has become more of an established restaurant, with lovely outdoor seating and a small but dedicated wait staff.
La Biznaga, located just a very short walk from the Zocalo and Santo Domingo, is considered one of the best restaurants in the city by both locals and tourists alike. The bar features gourmet, specialty drinks, and are especially known for their mojitos. Rather than individual menus, the food offerings are posted on large chalkboards hanging on the walls. No matter what you order, your meal is sure to be a delightful mixture of traditional Oaxacan cuisine and ingredients, mixed with modern techniques and flavor combinations, a most delightful marriage in Oaxaca's culinary scene. Although most of the time the restaurante is al fresco, the roof is convertable, so you will be able to enjoy La Biznaga's offerings rain or shine.
El Milenario is a small restaurant located in Santa Maria del Tule, 12 kilometers from Oaxaca City. This restaurant sits very close to the famed ancient cypress tree, so you can stop in for a bite to eat after you're done visiting the tree. El Milenario is a nice and clean, friendly little place where you can dine on traditional Oaxacan dishes such as Oaxacan tamales, Estofado de Pollo, squash blossom empanadas and traditional Oaxacan ice cream flavors like tuna (prickly pear) and leche quemado (burnt milk). At El Milenario, guests can feast their eyes and their stomachs in the tranquility of this charming little town.
Mariscos La Red has more than just this most central and popular location. This restaurant serves up fresh seafood using traditional method. Feast on shrimp tacos, fish ceviche or octopus cocktail, not to mention the many liquor cocktails they serve as well.