Oaxaca food tour
OAXACA FOOD TOUR โ Welcome to the culinary capital of Mexico. Lunchtime in Oaxaca is when the cityโs flavours truly come alive. Markets hum, comales glow with heat, and beloved vendors serve the dishes that define Mexico's culinary capital. The tour begins with frothy chocolate de agua and a warm memela de chicharrรณn prensado, followed by earthy entomatadas and the ancient maize-and-cacao drink tejate. What follows is a procession of Oaxacan flavours. Expect rich tamal de mole, stretchy quesillo, and tender taco de cabeza straight off the steamer.
As you wind deeper through the mercados, expect lunchtime icons like a crisp empanada de mole amarillo, a punchy tostada de chileajo, and a savoury torta de cecina layered with local spice. Adventurous palates can crunch on chapulines, while the finale brings a duo of classic sweets, silky nicuatole and a playful gaznate filled with meringue. With more than 15+ tastings, there's plenty of surprises on this culinary food feast.
This is Oaxaca at its most utterly delicious.
Why this tour is awesome
Most travellers never get beyond Oaxacaโs restaurant scene, but this tour dives straight into the cityโs true culinary heart. Youโll taste the iconic dishes locals actually eat at midday from memelas and mole tamales to empanadas, tostadas, and ancient maize-and-cacao drinks that define the region. With more than 15+ tastings, itโs a deep, delicious look at why Oaxaca is considered one of the worldsโs great culinary capitals.
Youโll visit 8+ stops from markets, vendors, and neighbourhood eateries beloved by locals and largely unknown to visitors. Get ready for Oaxaca's best lunchtime food feast.
Full on your preferred date? How about our evening Oaxaca food tour?
Your guide
Born and raised in Oaxaca, Dora has spent her life exploring the markets, moles, and mezcalerรญas that define the regionโs extraordinary food culture. Sheโs guided travellers for years, sharing the traditions, stories, and flavours that make Oaxaca one of Mexicoโs great culinary capitals.
Your guide
Once an English teacher, Rogelio combines his academic background with a strong passion for sharing culture. He focuses on meaningful cultural exchange. helping his guests to truly understand the history, people and food of Oaxaca.
Try 15+ tastings on our daily Oaxaca food tour
Hand-churned cholateatole chocolate drink
Frothy chocolate de agua in one of Oaxaca's best food markets
Entomatada, tortilla with Oaxacan tomato sauce
Corn masa memela with pressed pork cracklings and huitlacoche
Meet Oaxaca's food heroes
Piedrazo, picked bread, a Oaxaca speciality
The market vendors who have dedicated their lives to cooking
Complex Oaxacan mole in a steamed corn tamale
Visit around 10 street and local vendors in central Oaxaca
Tejate, a Oaxacan maize and cacao drink
Tasting tejate on our daily Oaxaca Eats tour
Quesillo, Oaxaca string cheese maker in the market
This isn't about fine dining, it's about exploring Oaxaca's iconic street food scene
Taco de cabeza with a wedge of Mexican lime
Visit a local city bodega for a taste of mezcal
A taste of mezcal, Mexico's famed fire water
Visit one of the local bakeries in Oaxaca
Oaxacan bread rolls with cheese and epazote
Try 15+ tastings on our moveable Oaxacan food feast
Oaxaca is known as the food capital of Mexico
Pass some of Oaxaca's most beautiful buildings like the Templo De San Agustรญn
Dried beef torta and tostada with chileajo
Toasted chapulines, a Oaxacan speciality
Finish on a sweet note with barquillo, gaznate and menguanito
Includes
- Price US $59 per person
- Language Language
- Small group Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
- Tastings 15+ tasting menu
- Drinks Bottled water and local soft drinks included
- Duration 11am - 3pm
- Guide Led by one of our superb Oaxaca food hosts
- Cancellation Cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund
- Family friendly Families welcome on all our tours. Children 50% discount.
- Transport Walking tour
- Instant confirmation Book now to secure your space (before we sell out!)
- Pick up / drop off Our guests come from all over the city, so to save time we have a meeting point. Your guide can help you find transport back at the end of the tour
Dietary information
- General advice Many local eateries specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Unsuitable as meat is used in 8-9 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, dairy and eggs are used in 12-13 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pescatarian Unsuitable as meat is used in 7-8 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pork Possible, though pork / pork lard is used in 2-3 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Halal Unsuitable, as there are no vendors on the tour route that hold halal certification
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Possible, though gluten is present in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total). Unsuitable for those with celiac
- Lactose intolerance Possible, though milk and butter are used in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Possible, though almonds are used in 1 tasting, and peanuts are used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Suitable for no seafood diets or shellfish allergies
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join our Oaxaca food tour, use the calendar above to select your preferred date, and secure your tour with your card. For special requests, private bookings, or dietary requirements, pleaseย contact us. Safety of our customers is our first priority, so if you have any food allergies, pleaseย contact usย before booking.
What to expect
This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. Itโs a walking tour, but the pace is gentle, and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the bestย Oaxacaย food tour in the city, you won't regret it.
Meeting point
The tour departs from outside the Mercado De La Merced close toย Centro district.ย It's easy to reach either by walking or taxi and there will be more details on your booking voucher.
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps