Oaxaca’s food scene is really a tale of two cities, both equally delicious. In the morning, a dizzying array of eateries open their doors and vendors pop up, ready to help Oaxacans get their day started off right. But come sundown, things really get interesting, with a whole new crop of stalls and vendors opening up in their place to keep Oaxaca’s culinary parade going. Ask locals and they will tell you: In this city, the eats only truly come out at night.
Summary Description
Highlights
- Culinary walking tour
- Market visit - Eating grilled meats in the smoke corridor
- Iconic street eats with generations of history
- Bean-based comfort food in a beloved neighborhood spot
- Untouristed local stops
Description
On this afternoon-into-evening tour, we’ll explore this culinary changing of the guard, tasting our way through some of the city’s best nighttime food spots while also gaining an understanding of their important role in maintaining Oaxaca’s civic life. Along the way, we’ll stroll through historic neighborhoods and public spaces, experiencing a side of the city few visitors get to – day or night.
Our journey begins in Oaxaca’s historic center, just as the night shift of food stalls starts to emerge and a whole new set of aromas begins to fill the air. Our first stop, a vendor outside one of Oaxaca’s main markets, has been serving tortas and tostadas to workers heading home since 1930. Joining the after work crowd, we’ll get a taste of their rightfully famous – and filling – creations. From there, we’ll continue to a new family-run restaurant that has already become a neighborhood staple thanks to its devotion to one of the most elemental of Oaxacan ingredients: Beans, served out of large clay pots. Here we’ll taste a sampler of their homey dishes, which respectfully riff on traditional Oaxacan cooking. Continuing our exploration, we’ll next stop by the small shop of a local woman devoted to all things cacao and chocolate, where we’ll enjoy some of her artisanal creations. As we make our way through the neighborhood, we’ll visit another iconic streetside business, this one of a family that’s been selling tortillas stuffed with chicken and mole since 1965. Now run by the family’s fourth generation, their stand has become a strategic stop for hungry workers heading for their evening shifts, hungry locals and, of course, people looking to fuel up before getting the party started.
Included / Excluded
- All food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties
- Culinary Backstreets Guide
- Alcohol sampled
- Transportation to and from the meeting point
Important Information
Know Before You Book
- Food Tasting - Let us know if you have any allergies
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Wear shirts in layers — it can be cooler at night
- Bring an umbrella if you’re traveling in Oaxaca’s rainy season
Cancellation
Cancellation Cutoff: 72 hours
Cancellation Notes: 90% refund if given 1 week notice prior to walk. 50% refund if given 72 hours notice or more. Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Options and Pricing
| Food Tour - Oaxaca Culinary Backstreets | RETAIL PRICE |
|---|---|
| Adult (13 - years) | $115.00 |
| Child (6 - 12 years) | $57.50 |
Points of interest
- Mercado Benito Juárez, Benito Juarez, Juárez, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Mercado de La Merced, Avenida JosĂ© MarĂa Morelos, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Mercado Sánchez Pascuas, Calle de Tinoco y Palacios, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, Santo Domingo, 1a. Cerrada de Macedonio Alcala, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Monte Albán Archaeological Site, Ignacio Bernal, San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
- zocalo de oaxaca, Portal del Palacio, OAX_RE_BENITO JUAREZ, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
- Taller Lapiztola, Avenida Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, Reforma, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Zona ArqueolĂłgica de Atzompa, Cerro de La Campaña, Santa MarĂa Atzompa, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre, 20 de Noviembre, OAX_RE_BENITO JUAREZ, Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Calle Macedonio Alcalá, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Parque EcoturĂstico Huayápam, Carretera Huayapam km.1, 68287 San AndrĂ©s Huayápam, Oax., Mexico
Terms and Conditions
Liability Waiver
By completing the reservation you acknowledge the following:
If you have food allergies, you are ultimately responsible to ensure your own health and safety. If you share information about your allergies, we can provide you with some guidance about the food purveyors on your tour, but we are not responsible for any allergic reactions that you may have. We are not responsible for any damages or losses incurred as result of acts by entities beyond our control, including but not limited to restaurants, shops, market stalls, eateries and food carts. We are not responsible for acts beyond our control, including but not limited to acts of God, act of nature, acts of war, or other unrest caused by state or non-state actors. If you are disruptive, we have the right to ask you to leave the tour without refunding you or providing you with a credit for your tour. You are aware of and responsible for all damages or losses that may arise during the course of the tour resulting from:
Risks associated with food, water or other drinks, including alcoholic beverages; physical accidents during the tour or at any of the locations visited; transportation failures; forces of nature; criminal activity; damage, loss or misplaced property; or accident or illness without means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies or services. You agree that any claims that may arise will first go to arbitration and only if not resolved in that manner shall be heard in court. In both cases, grievances shall be heard in the jurisdiction of Washington, DC. You further agree to be responsible for your own welfare and property and accept any and all risks of delay, unanticipated events, inconvenience, illness, injury, emotional trauma or death. You further acknowledge that participation in Culinary Backstreets tours is based upon execution of this Liability Waiver. By completing the reservation process you release and discharge forever Culinary Backstreets, its employees, owners, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns, from and against any liability arising from participating in this tour. You further agree that this release shall be legally binding upon you personally, all members of your family, all minors traveling with you, your heirs, successors, assigns, and legal representatives, to the maximum extent of the law.
I am aware that while on or traveling to or from my activity with Culinary Backstreets, I might be exposed to COVID-19 from other people, animals or objects. I assume all risk of any such contacts, including sickness, incapacity or death and agree to hold harmless Culinary Backstreets from any such developments. In addition, I recognize that the World Health Organization, U.S. Department of State as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have warnings concerning same and am choosing to travel and assume all risk myself.
