Places to eat in Oaxaca de Juárez

This place is a kind upscale restaurant with white tablecloths and full service. The servers speak perfect English and are very friendly. The nicest place I ate while there, however I didnt try too many places that looked fancy.

Favorite Dish: I had the filet mignon with mole colorado and i think black beans? It was excellent. It reminded me of french preparation because of the balanced flavors and simplicity. Not typical heavy Mexican food.

Hotel Camino Real is arguably the nicest hotel in Oaxaca. Unfortunately, I didn't stay here, but I did treat myself to a fantastic breakfast buffet on one lazy morning.

The Hotel Camino Real is set in a former 16th century convent (Santa Catalina) and it is a real treat to walk around. The restaurant is located inside the hotel and also outside around the center courtyard. Even though the city was blazing hot, it felt like the heat couldn't quite penetrate the thick convent walls. We ate in the courtyard and were treated with cool breezes as we sipped on high quality coffees and the best hot chocolate I have ever had.

Favorite Dish: The breakfast buffet is fantastic. It has a huge variety of fruits, pastries and great Mexican breakfast foods: enfrijoladas (black bean and cheese enchiladas), chilaquiles (tortilla chips baked with chicken and salsa, and sprinkled with a little cheese), chiles stuffed with eggs and cheese, and other selections.

I have heard that lunch and dinner is also a treat at this restaurant, but I didn't try it for any meal other than breakfast.

Don't miss a cup of hot chocolate (and I never order hot chocolate at home).

On the other end of the dining spectrum from El Naranjo, Oaxaca has small hidden Fondas and stalls throughout the city, and especially in its Markets.

La Fonda Florecita is one such "find". Although to be fair... I don't know that it is much of a secret since we read about it in Bon Appetit (but we didn't see any foreigners there). However, there is a wall next to the tables where people from all over the world have signed their names and compliments. The most famous name on this wall is probably Bono (of U2 fame).

This is little more than a stall with several large tables (to share) set up in the Mercado de la Merced. It is not fancy, nice or for the tourist who does not want to venture off the "beaten path".

The food here is the real deal... the food that the locals (poor and wealthy) eat on a daily basis. You will find empanadas, quesadillas, enchiladas and other simple dishes.

Favorite Dish: I tried an empanada de quesillo con flores de calabaza (thick sort of tortilla filled with local Oaxaca cheese and squash blossoms) and the empanada de quesillo con huitlacoche (thick sort of tortilla filled with Oaxacan cheese and a sort of fungus that grows on corn and tastes like mushrooms- this is a real delicacy in Mexico).

Oaxaca market, like all Mexican markets has a food area, with little "restaurants" vying for your custom. In Oaxaca they rattle the entire days menu off to you in about 3 seconds hoping to lure you in.
Do let yourself get lured in and try something.
It's cheap and delicious & spreads the wealth ;-)

Favorite Dish: I had the chicken with mole negro ( chili sauce with chocolate) LOVELY

A great place for a cheap and good meal is the stand which is right by the church on the corner of Trujano & M Fiallo ( just across from the magic hostel).
They make these great things called Tlayuda, which are giant torillas ( I think) with black beans, Oaxacan cheese & advocado. There are also some other lovely things to try which I don't know the name of, I just pointed at what other people were having and tried them. Delicious, even if some of it was quite spicy - they got a good free laugh from the look on my face sometimes.

Closes quite early, so it's a lunchtime/afternoon snack place
Unfortunatley I didn't get a photo ............ ;-(

16 de Noviembre mercado: south of the Zocalo. I recommend you go to this market for your breakfast - they have very good hot chocolate, tamales, fruit salads and coffee. Prices are higher than you might expect at a fonda, but the atmosphere (loud and lively) and quality of what you´ll get make it well worthwhile. Not for the shy or timid, but a more authentic meal than what you´ll get sitting around the zocalo and paying double.

Favorite Dish: Tamales oaxaqeños: with mole and chicken, awesome way to start the day

Don't be surprised to find many of the restaurants in the city empty. Oaxaqueños do not frequent restaurants but they do like eating in market stalls foods such as tasajo, thinly sliced beef; cecina, spicy pork; Oaxacan tamales; and tlayudas--12-inch tortillas, slightly dried, on which you put a number of toppings. To see a magnificent array of local foods, walk through the Abastos Market on Saturday; the quantity and variety are remarkable.

Cocina Antiguas Oaxacqenas, Oaxaca City
Simple, homely, welcoming

Favorite Dish: Extensive traditional Oaxacan food - the chicken and various moles (including chocolate, almond, red chilli) are wonderful as are the various soups. But plenty of other things on the menu.