Refresh Your Palate With a Non-Mexican Meal
Don’t get me wrong, Oaxacan cuisine is exceptional. But when you weren’t raised on a daily diet of tacos, mole, and tlayudas, your tastebuds eventually do crave something more familiar, something that doesn’t involve quesillo, tortillas, and asiento. This list of non-Mexican restaurants in Oaxaca is meant to be a handy guide for where to eat when the pangs for pizza with fluffy flour dough crust, deli-style BLT’s, char-grilled hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, buffalo-dressed wings, perfectly seared steaks, and appetite-quenching salads become too loud to ignore.
Thursday to Saturday 2pm - 10pm; Sunday Brunch 11am - 5pm
Adamá has been turning heads almost as soon as it appeared on Oaxaca’s restaurant scene in January 2021. Adamá’s menu of middle eastern and mediterranean classics like shawarma, hummus, falafel, and baklava may be comfort food to the already acquainted, but for many a Oaxaca local Adamá is their first introduction to this variety of savory international cuisine. The kitchen’s core ingredients, like garbanzo beans, fresh herbs, and many of the spices needed, are readily available at the local markets, while their lamb is delivered fresh from a farmer in the nearby community of Benito Juarez.
Callejón de Aldama 101, Xochimilco - View on Map
Tuesday to Sunday 8:30am to 10pm
For generous portions of authentic German cuisine in a rooftop terrace setting that overlooks the iconic Santo Domingo Church, Berlina belongs at the top of your list of non-Mexican cuisine in Oaxaca. Their menu of smoked sausages, currywurst, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, dumplings, goulash, freshly baked German bread, and apple strudel is comfort food for Germans and non-Germans alike. Everything on Berlina’s menu is strictly German and prepared by a proper German-born chef, save for their long and beloved list of artisanal beers from across Mexico and Europe.
Macedonio Alcalá 403, Centro - View on Map
Open Daily 8:30am - 10:30pm
Boulenc is a European-style bakery and restaurant in Centro. Their fresh-baked sourdough bread and drool-worthy pastries are definitely a lure, but it’s Boulenc’s menu of French, Italian, and international favorites like deli-style reuben sandwiches on rye, wood-oven pizzas with floury sourdough crusts, and perfectly cheesy croque-monsieurs that truly explain the line of eager diners spilling onto Calle Porfirio Diaz at all hours of the day. Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three.
Calle Porfirio Díaz 207, Centro - View on Map
Monday to Thursday 8:30am - 11pm; Friday & Saturday 8:30am - 11:30pm; Sunday 8:30am - 8pm
Slightly more off-off-the-beaten-tourist-path is Che Gaucho, a can’t miss if perfectly grilled steaks, Argentinian empanadas, pastas, salads, and lasagna are what your tastebuds are after. This family-run restaurant, started by Juan Carlos and Agustina Suarez nearly four decades ago, pays homage to the owners’ Argentine roots. Many of the dishes on Che Gaucho’s menu are family heirloom recipes straight from the family kitchen in Buenos Aires. Today, their son Lucho manages their grand and gorgeous restaurant in Reforma. Pop in for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert and come to know firsthand why local’s call this one of their favorite alternative menus in Oaxaca.
Calle las Rosas 700, Reforma - View on Map
Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday 2pm - 10:30pm; Friday & Saturday 2pm - 11pm (Closed Mondays)
What better combination than a rooftop with an ambiance and a full menu of delicious Italian fare, including a delectable dinner-capping tiramisu. I recommend saving this spot for just after sunset to truly take in the dinner-after-dark vibes. My personal go-to on their menu is the ciao italia pizza topped with jamón serrano, balsamic vinaigrette, and arugula, but I’ve heard their lasagna and pasta dishes are also drool-inducing.
Andrés Quintana Roo 219, Centro - View on Map
Tuesday to Sunday 12pm - 9pm (Closed Mondays)
The story behind El Morocco, Oaxaca’s very own “Little Morocco,” begins in Montreal, Canada of all places. The restaurant’s founder, Alejandra Aquino, had spent several years waiting tables at an authentic Moroccan restaurant in Montreal to help pay her way through school when the idea struck to bring Moroccan cuisine back to her hometown. Eager to support Alejandra’s idea, the owners of the restaurant took her under their wing and trained her on how to prepare a full menu of Moroccan classics. They even traveled with her to Morocco to help her as she picked out all of the authentic Moroccan decor that now makes dining at El Morocco such a transporting experience.
C. José López Alavez 1518-1 Planta alta, Xochimilco - View on Map
Monday to Sunday 1pm - 9pm
Ilegales opened in 2017 when owner Miguel Martinez and his chef and co-founder Mario Cruz decided to try their hand at a gastropub in Oaxaca. Their inspiration? The many dishes Chef Mario learned to make in the kitchens of the United States. The name itself is a nod to Miguel and Mario’s shared experience of being in the United States illegally – Miguel in Philadelphia, Mario in New York. In other words, the Ilegales menu is a satisfying collection of some of the best “stolen” American bar food staples ever to grace Oaxaca’s streets.
Oaxaca – Tuxtepec 5, San Agustín Yatareni - View on Map
Tuesday to Saturday 2:30pm - 10pm; Sunday 2pm - 9pm
Mexita is where Oaxaqueños go for authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas and pastas. Everything on their menu, from the Fior di Latte mozzarella to the San Marzano tomato sauce, limoncello, balsamic vinegar, and pasta is made from scratch by Mexita’s owner and chef Enrico de Rosa, a native of Naples, Italy. Though slightly beyond the limits of the city center, Mexita’s sophisticated space, authentic flavors, and impeccable service are well worth the 20-minute walk or 5-minute cab out to Reforma for that late lunch or dinner.
Federico Ortiz Armegol 105, Reforma - View on Map
Friday to Sunday 1:30pm - 7pm
Steamed pork buns, matcha frappes, and ramen is what you’ll find at this hole-in-the-wall Jalatlaco gem. Open just three days a week, they sure know how to build the anticipation for their salivating and loyal patrons. With just a few tables and an unusual-for-Oaxaca menu, its a cozy and coveted spot to dine. While there, don’t miss the random assortment of Japanese-themed goods they sell at their shop. You’ll have to remind yourself you’re still in Oaxaca.
Antequera 121B, Jalatlaco - View on Map
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm; Sunday 9am - 4pm (Closed Saturdays)
Tucked away on the eastern edges of Centro, Onnno Loncheria is a laid back and off-the-beaten-track breakfast and lunch option if mouthwatering sandwiches, standalone salads, and American breakfast classics like french toast, scrambled eggs on brioche, and yogurt parfaits get your stomach grumbling. Originally just a grab-and-go sandwich shop around the corner from its current location, Onnno has transformed into the go-to spot for connection, conversation, and a little taste of the states in Oaxaca.
Mártires de Tacubaya 308, Centro - View on Map
Wednesday to Monday 2pm - 11pm
For Japanese cuisine and hospitality in a gorgeous outdoor courtyard setting, head to Ramen-Ya, also known as Kintaro. Their menu of rice and ramen dishes, served by the half or full portion, is reasonably priced, far cheaper than you’d expect for such a classy setting and quality meal. Their half-portions barely break $5 USD, meaning there’s room in the budget for their matcha, lychee, or tempura ice cream with chocolate and berry sauce for dessert or a bottle of authentic Japanese sake to pair with your savory meal. Ramen-Ya is open for lunch and dinner, but the moody candlelit vibes after sunset truly elevate the entire dining experience.
Calle de Ignacio Allende 316, Centro - View on Map
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