yestravel

We will be in Oaxaca next month for a week. I haven't been there in a long time and can't wait to see the changes. Any suggestions for restaurants? Looking for any recommendations from local fare to contemporary restaurants. Thanks

ekscrunchy

I have been lagging to posting a report and I am sorry about this..will try to get one up soon.

But for the moment, please consider:

LA TECA (book in advance here; cooking from the Isthmus of Tehantepec region of the state of Oaxaca; located in private home of the owner. Little English spoken.) We sat in the garden for lunch; you will probably need to take a taxi. Please take a look at the menu and order a la carte, rather than the much more pricey set menu sampler. Let me know again exactly when you will be there so I can try to write full report.


ORIGEN (We had two dinners here; some of the best fish of the trip (Robalo/snook). Small, upscale, near Zocalo.
http://www.origenoaxaca.com/home.html





Also liked El Catedral and Casa Oaxaca. At the former, book table in courtyard. Partner raved about the pasta with goat meat.

Casa Oaxaca restaurant might be considered a tad overpriced, but it was not very high by US standards. Not a "must," though. We loved the associated small hotel, however, Casa Oaxaca.


We had great food at Sunday market in Tlacolula; very clean premises. Look for stands offering "barbacoa," which can be lamb or goat meat. Try to get to this market, and to the Abastos market in Oaxaca city.

Speaking some Spanish is a real plus here.

Again, please tell me dates of your trip..this may push me to get to work!!

yestravel

Thanks! Always love your food recs. We will be there mid February. Would love to have your TR.

Stewbear

Abuela's Concina (Grandmother's Kitchen) for excellent authentic Oaxaca dishes.
It is upstairs over looking the main plaza/Zocalo on I believe the North West corner.

baldone

Biznaga on Garcia Vigil is usually pretty good.
Maria Bonita is another.
Ditto El Catedral.
I think Stew is referring to La Casa de La Abuela.
But you can almost eat anywhere in Oaxaca and not be disappointed. That said, the restaurants immediately around the zocalo, while busy, are probably just average. Better for drinks and people watching.

aprillilacs

I'm on my way back to Oaxaca for a week in mid-January, so I appreciate these recommendations and hope to hear more. On my last trip I enjoyed La Teca, Danzantes, and a few other places whose names I've forgotten. I will write them down this time and report back on any that I find particularly good. (In general I find Oaxaca cuisine quite good.)

I've heard that Biznaga (an old favorite, especially for the margaritas) has really declined in quality and service, which is too bad since it's a nice space.

yestravel

thanks, stewbear & baldone.
aprillilacs, hope you'll report back with any finds you have. Enjoy your trip!

baldone

Hi April, it has been some 10 months since we've been to Oaxaca. I'm curious to see if Biznaga has gone down hill. In the past, the service has been quirky, but the food always good. We'll be back in March, so we'll check it out, thanks.

glover

I'm following along with your research yes travel and also urging eks to get on that trip report. We'll be in Oaxaca 3 weeks starting February.1. I too will be disappointed if Biznaga has really gone downhill!

yestravel

how goes it, glover? I'm sure you heard, you've escaped the deep freeze.

ok, eks, please try to get your TR going, please.

aprillilacs

The Biznaga assessment came from friends who spend 3 months a year in Oaxaca. They were last there Jan-March 2014 and are headed back next week. I was surprised at how negative they were since we had eaten there together many times.

My own trip is off--I contracted pneumonia and had to cancel everything. Sniff. So I will be looking for your reports to travel vicariously!

yestravel

Aprillacs, so sorry you are sick. Hopefully you will have a quick recovery. I can so relate, I should be in Columbia now, but had to cancel due to a broken shoulder and the necessary rehab.

ekscrunchy

I heard the same thing about Biznaga and did not eat there.

There is a restaurant serving food from the Isthmus (same cuisine as served at La Teca, which is very good but not the same as cooking from the highlands), near Biznaga. The name is Zandunga. The very congenial front desk person at our hotel, Casa Oaxaca, is from that area and he recommended Zandunga to us. But we had no time to go there.

I am in Islamorada right now, but will get some notes together when I get back.

Feel better, April!

yestravel

We ate at Biznaga and rated it one of the least favorite meals of our two week trip in Mexico. It was packed and the first full restaurant in Oacaca we have eaten in filled with Americans. Looking to eat at Casa Oaxaca and they are asking me if I want the Casa Oaxaca in the hotel with. Few tables and small menu or the one two blocks away, Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante? Advice, please - Thanks

baldone

Bummer about the Biz. But ni modo, it's not like there's a shortage of good restaurants in Oaxaca.

baldone

Bummer about the Biz. But ni modo, it's not like there's a shortage of good restaurants in Oaxaca.

ekscrunchy

You want the Casa Oaxaca restaurant, not located in the hotel. We stayed at the Casa Oaxaca B&B near Biznaga; nice place to relax with a drink and breakfasts were truly great but we did not eat other meals there.

yestravel

Thanks, we ate at the El Restaurante our last evening in Oaxaca. It was good. We're back in the cold now…ugh.
Again, I appreciate all the great tips we got for our trip. We had some very good meals.