Oaxaca Gastronomy and Restaurant Guides

Casa Oaxaca is located in the hotel with the same name, in the heart of the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca. In this restaurant the subtleness underlines the evocative power of the aromas and flavors that emerge from Chef Alejandro Ruiz’s kitchen. Mediterranean herbs mingle amongst the flavors of Oaxaca. Basil and rosemary share their hues with hoja santa, pitiona and shorobobo. Meanwhile, the pomegranate, fish and seafood, venison and lamb alternate with the local chapulines, huitlacoche and quesillo. This is a gastronomic experience for all five senses.

Located one block from the Zocalo, in a beautiful mansion that recalls the times of Porfirio Diaz, Catedral is an excellent option to get to know Oaxaca through its aromas and flavors. Since its foundation in 1976, Catedral has set the pace in quality, with a balance between innovation and authenticity to offer you the best of Oaxacan and International cuisine. The quality of the ingredients they use and the friendliness of the staff define this restaurant. Highly qualified chefs, and bakers daily combine with harmony and creativity the best ingredients from all over the state.

Zandunga is a traditional space in the capital of the State of Oaxaca, where you will be taken to travel through one of the greatest pleasures known to man: food. Its decoration and cuisine allows the visitor to know of the Oaxaca regions, the Istmo, which is in the coast of the State. This restaurant offers craving dishes like garnachas, tamales cambray, banana molotes, and main dishes as stew, mole, baked cochito, and a wide variety of mescals. Its modern decoration and excellent service make this place one of the new favorites in the city.

Located a few meters from the Santo Domingo cultural center in the heart of the historical center of Oaxaca it is placed in a XVI century colonial building remodeled to offer the services the restaurant requires. It is an obligatory destination in Oaxaca to discover the Mexican gastronomical treasures within an exceptional space in which tradition and contemporary Mexico find each other. This restaurant uses traditional ingredients but with new combinations and forms. They keep their menu updated through research and experimentation always looking for keeping the balance with the tradition.

The cuisine of Origen is fresh, varied and delicious. It has as a cupboard the enormous amount of ingredients, ordered by region and season that exist in the markets, farms, and seas of Oaxaca. Rodolfo, the Chef, grew up with the flavors of the Central Valleys but there are other regions that inspire him too. Mixteca, Costa, Istmo, Cañada, Papaloapan, Sierra Sur and Sierra Norte are a universe to explore and bring to the table. Their cuisine is also sustainable and ethical as they know that the human value behind each dish is essential.

Pitiona is the name of one of the emblematic herbs of Oaxacan cuisine that the cooks know very well and with which they prepare mole of iguana or seafood broth on the coast. Pitiona is also the name of one of the most important restaurants in the state capital, whose guide, Chef José Manuel Baños, seeks to convey through his dishes the love and devotion he feels for his land. The most used ingredients in Pitiona honor and celebrate Oaxacan land and coastal cultures, making 95% Oaxaqueños and 5% of the rest of the country, thus recognizing the variety of flavors, traditions and products that Mexico offers.

Located in the heart of the city of Oaxaca, it stands as a benchmark of Oaxacan cuisine, full of tradition and flavor. Las Quince Letras opened in 1992, founded by Fidel Méndez Sosa and his wife Celia Florián. The specialty is the typical Oaxacan cuisine, a result of the combination of pre-Hispanic and colonial cuisine. The food is enriched by the diversity of products, regions and cultures that make up the state. They are a company with passion for the Oaxacan traditions, serving ingredients of the highest quality and respecting local products and producers, with the best seasoning and recipes that transcend generations.