Join the Line of Locals at Oaxaca’s Most Popular Street Food Stalls
The street food options in Oaxaca are some of the best you’ll find in Mexico. There’s far more than tacos and quesadillas to indulge in and the experience has all the makings of an Anthony Bourdain-style street food encounter. Use the following list to piece together your own Oaxaca street food tour or slowly make your way through the list over time. Either way, you’ll find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with locals at each of these street food stands, likely seated on a plastic stool and chowing down or throwing back some of the best and cheapest tlayudas, memelas, tejate, tacos, tortas, and nieves Oaxaca City has to offer.
Las Tlayudas de Mina y Bustamante
Monday to Saturday 5pm - 6am; Sunday 5pm - 12am
From the moment I arrived in Oaxaca, this is where locals have directed me for the best tlayudas in town. It’s located slightly off-the-beaten-tourist-trail, just beyond the Zocalo. You’ll smell it before you see it, the charcoal oven’s hot coals fired up for the a long night of tlayuda-making. Come hungry because what appears to be a serving size for two is all yours if you can stomach it.
Bustamante 322, Centro - View on Map
Elotes y Esquites Angelita
Daily starting at around 7pm
The locally beloved elotes and esquites of Angelita are located just near the colectivo and bus stations that take you to and from the destinations south of Oaxaca City. You’ll have to time your return back into the city just right, because Angelita doesn’t set up until around 7pm each evening. Though her elotes are top notch, it’s her esquites that I highly recommend. Enjoy a portion topped off with all of the traditional fixings (mayonnaise, chili, and lime). Angelita’s extra special sabor is like nowhere else in Oaxaca.
At the corner of Bustamante and Ramon Pardo - View on Map
Memelas San Augustin
Monday to Saturday 8:30am - 4pm (Closed Sundays)
I discovered this memelas stand right around the corner from a hostel I was staying at. Their memelas de salpicon seemed to pull in a crowd on the daily and eventually I just couldn’t resist joining them. I was pleasantly surprised by the punch of flavor in every bite and the service was excellent. These ladies clearly have a passion for what they do.
Fiallo 309, Centro - View on Map
Open Daily 12pm - 7pm
Nieves El Moy was a surprise discovery. Their colorful stand and slew of happy customers savoring bites of this sweet and slushie treat made it an easy decision to order a few scoops. I went with the local favorite combo - leche quemada (burnt milk) with tuna (cactus fruit). It was delicious, but as I departed, I was offered a sample of their maracuya flavor infused with mezcal. I will definitely be going for that one next time!
Fray Francisco de Aparicio 100, Centro - View on Map
Monday to Friday 8am - 3:30pm (Closed Sundays)
Tacos del Carmen is a beloved taco stand in Centro. They’ve been dishing up tacos, quesadillas, and memelas of tinga y queso (chicken and cheese), chorizo con papa (sausage and potato), flor de calabaza (squash blossom), champiñones (mushroom), and other varieties since 1977. I recommend washing down every bite with a glass of their delicious agua de jamaica (hibiscus water) and don’t be afraid to chat it up with the friendly señoritas behind the comal. Tacos del Carmen is as known for its tacos as the friendly faces who prepare them.
Jesús Carranza 110, Centro - View on Map
Saturday & Monday to Thursday 9am - 6pm; Friday 9am - 7:30pm (Closed Sundays)
Nestled on the corner of Jardin Conzatti, Tortas La Hormiga usually has quite the line extending from their food truck-style torta stand. Locals line up for their combinados by morning and their quesillo fundidos and las consentidas by lunch and dinner. If you’re lucky, there may still be a bench or a bit of curb remaining for you to join the rest of their happy customers scattered throughout the picturesque park.
Reforma 800, Centro - View on Map
Tour Options
If you’d rather have a local to guide you in your Oaxaca street food sampling, consider these vetted tour options:
Authentic Oaxaca Food Tour with Me Encanta Oaxaca
On this 4.5-hour small group tour with Me Encanta Oaxaca, sample over 20 different local dishes at various markets and street food stalls across Oaxaca City. Along the way, you’ll get to hear the history behind every local bite.
Price: $89USD per person
Check Availability
Night Street Food Tour with Enjoy Oaxaca
Oaxaca’s street food scene truly comes alive at night if you know where to look for it. On this after-dark street food tour, you’ll taste everything from tlayudas to garnachas and tacos at several expertly selected street food stalls. This experience with Enjoy Oaxaca begins at 7pm and lasts until 10pm.
Price: $56USD per person
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Walking Foodie Tour with Carlos Vidal
On this tour with Oaxaca local Carlos Vidal, visit a mix of 20 different restaurants and street food stalls, enjoying some of the most traditional dishes from Oaxaca alongside a passionate foodie who is well-connected to the Oaxaca gastronomy scene.
Price: $124USD per person
Check Availability
Travel Resources
Accommodations: When I’m not booking directly with the accommodation (which is sometimes cheaper), I often use Booking.com, Trivago, and Hostelworld.com. Agoda is also a great tool when searching for longer stay options at discounted rates that include hotels and private homes.
Tours: While I personally prefer do-it-yourself travel most of the time, sometimes it’s just better with a guide. In those cases, I typically use Viator, GetYourGuide, EatWith, and Airbnb Experiences. For self-guided audio tours, I recommend WeGoTrip.
Flights: My favorite flight aggregator tool is WayAway and my favorite tool for finding out about the best flight deals is FareDrop, while Hopper’s great for keeping track of when to book at the best price.
Shuttle Services: My go-to is Bookaway. They operate in more than 90 countries and work with only the top, traveler-reviewed suppliers in each country.
Rental Cars: While I more often take public transport when I travel, there have been destinations that are better explored by renting a car (like Costa Rica and Europe/UK for example). In these instances, I recommend starting your car rental search on Discover Cars. They compare car rental deals across more than 500 suppliers, including Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, and more.
Travel Insurance: If you’re a full-time nomad like me, I recommend SafetyWing. Look into their Nomad Travel Medical Insurance and Nomad Health Insurance (a full-fledged health insurance that covers your emergency and non-emergency medical needs worldwide, including in your country of residence). If you’re not a full-time traveler, I’d recommend Squaremouth. It aggregates your insurance options across more than 22 providers and offers what I’ve found to be the best rates.
Travel ATM & Credit Cards: If you travel often and like perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credit, I recommend the Capital One Venture X credit card that includes Priority Pass, a $300 annual travel credit, and covers your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee. For a fee-free ATM card that reimburses you at the end of every month for any incurred ATM fees, I recommend opening a Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account.
VPN: I recommend Surfshark. It’s one of the best and most budget-friendly VPN services out there.
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