Discover the Best Restaurants in Oaxaca

Oaxaca has so many good restaurants that it’s overwhelming to decide where to eat. In fact, one of the main things to do in Oaxaca is to discover great food! Here are what I found to be the best restaurants in Oaxaca, even though, of course, I ran out of time to try them all.

The Best Restaurants In Oaxaca

Breakfast

1. Casa Taviche

While Casa Taviche is open all day, I only tried breakfast there, and it was one of my favorites. The serve traditional Oaxacan food which is also healthy with very affordable prices. They change the menu daily, depending upon which ingredients are available. The presentation is very beautiful and the tortillas are homemade. They also have an incredible selection of mezcals which, of course, you can sip with your breakfast. The green Maria bottle is made with something special. (You’ll have to ask!) Don’t miss the Cafe Ola!

2. El Tendajon La Agaveria

El Tendajon serves stunning breakfast and brunch in Oaxaca. The best phrase to describe this Oaxacan restaurant would be traditional with class and elegance. Both the colors and the flavors stand out, and you eat here with your eyes as much as your stomach. Everything looks and tastes like a work of art. They also serve lunch, if you miss breakfast. Lunch is equally as good, and you can find out more about lunch items under the lunch section of this article.

3. Boulenc

Boulenc is probably the most popular breakfast restaurant in Oaxaca. Things to tempt you on the menu are the honey cardamom latte with the cardamom cinnamon bread and shakshuka! We also had avocado toast and panzanella salad. They have a great bakery where they make their own sourdough bread, and they serve very healthy food. They use seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced.

4. Criollo

Criollo serves all meals, but we enjoyed breakfast there, and it was excellent. Breakfast is in the garden where the setting is beautiful, and you will enjoy watching the rooster, Claudio, wander around. Ask the waiters for food, and they will let you feed him! It’s a good idea to make reservations here.

5. Onno loncheria

While we ate many incredible breakfasts in Oaxaca, my absolute favorite was at Onno loncheria. This is another one of the best restaurants in Oaxaca. All of the breads they bake are organic and sourdough based. Get the cardamom roll and the lavender iced coffee! I also went for lunch and loved their BLT that I paired with a dirty chai. They had the best coffee in Oaxaca as well. Get there early, as they do get busy.

Lunch

1. Restaurante El Milenario

You must visit El Arbol del Tule when in Oaxaca. It is the world’s widest tree, located in the church grounds in the town center of Santa María del Tule. Nearby, you will find Restaurante El Milenario, which is which serves local favorites such as flautas, tlayudas, and chicken mole. It’s only thirty minutes from Oaxaca city, and is a world away. It’s got a great atmosphere and great prices.

2. Cabuche

I loved that Cabuche had a set lunch menu for $7 that you could choose from. I ordered that which included salad and enchiladas suiza. My friend had the posole verde. The food and service were great. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also have a great selection of craft beer. They also have many vegetarian offerings.

3. El Tendajon

I’m so glad we tried both breakfast and lunch at El Tendajon. We would have definitely missed out if we didn’t. The quesadilla sampler is huge and a meal in itself. The shrimp made with a local chile was so delicious, as is the Aztec soup and the cheese balls with mole. They also will sell small sample bottles of their mezcal which makes a perfect gift.

Dinner

1. El Destilado

The tasting menu at El Destilado was one of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had, and El Destilado was definitely one of the best restaurants in Oaxaca. Everything was beyond perfection!! The meal brought whimsical surprises, and the flavors were exquisite. The foie gras dessert brought tears to our eyes. Impeccable service. They also served amazing mezcals and cocktails that paired perfectly with the food. I’ll be remembering this dinner for the rest of my life.

2.Teocintle-Tika’aya

Tika’aya is just south of the Mercado de La Merced and only serves a tasting menu. The presentation is beautiful and colorful. We loved the pulpo the best and the pumpkin tamales with espazote marshmallows were fun. The owners are Miztec, and they cook the cuisine of their roots. The menu is written each morning depending upon which ingredients they get at the market. Payment is by cash only.