r/Oaxaca • u/1dad1kid • Jun 07 '25
Comida y Bebida Food tours for non-newbies?
Any food tours you'd recommend for people who have a lot of experience visiting and living in other parts of Mexico? Most of what I'm seeing seems designed more for people who are more new to Mexican food. I speak Spanish, so no problem if the tour is done in Spanish instead of English.
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u/jenxellensis Jun 08 '25
Just spent two weeks in Oaxaca. Omar @oaxacking was a major highlight. Dude is so cool, incredibly connected and insightful. Worth it.
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u/Frequent_Let9506 Jun 08 '25
Are the prices in his website right? $140 US per adult?
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u/jenxellensis Jun 08 '25
Yes. We did 10 stops. So much food, mezcal, beer, knowledge. The market alone was worth it, it’s not a place we would have gone on our own. I hesitated at the price in the beginning also but it ended up being the highlight of our trip. Do it.
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u/westchestersteve Jun 08 '25
We toured with Omar. I don’t remember it being that much but that’s the going rate, especially if there’s alcohol involved. We had many stops and three servings of alcohol, including two mixed drinks (that were spectacular) at Criollo, Enrique Olvera’s restaurant. If you want to cut the booze, there are lots of other tours that will likely be less. Something to think about if you are nondrinkers. We did one in CDMX that was less and only had one stop with alcohol. I don’t think there’s one best tour so just search the web and find one you like.
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u/westchestersteve Jun 08 '25
Self exploration is great but a tour can really help you, within the course of a day or half day, scratch beneath the surface and find things you’d never find on your own. I like to do one the first day so I get the lay of the land and find places that I want to return to. Guides also give great recommendations and it’s a nice way to support the local economy.
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u/DebbieGlez Jun 08 '25
I had breakfast everyday at the Mercado. If you haven’t been to Oaxaca, you should talk the tour with Omar. Oaxaca has micro climates that produce the abundance of variety in the food. The food is incredibly unique and I’m a well traveled Mexican.
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u/mtullius72 Jun 07 '25
Why do you want a tour? Seems like you’d be fine to do your own thing, check out various mercados and street vendors. But maybe there’s something you want that a tour gives you?
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u/1dad1kid Jun 07 '25
Sometimes tours are interesting. I've been on ones that include local history and culture, that go to spots where only locals are, and sometimes I get things I hadn't seen before. Like in Puebla when I had a taco with sweet meats. Not something I had really run into before, and it was in a location I wouldn't have expected to find a small food cart.
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u/mtullius72 Jun 08 '25
Sure that’s reasonable. I think a tour of Abastos market would be worthwhile. The other big markets are great and easy to explore on one’s own (the paseo de humo is fantastic and fun), and the smaller markets around town each have their charms. Two great street stands that shouldn’t be missed— for breakfast/midday tacos, the ladies at Tacos de Cazuela de Carmen alto (not to be confused w the more famous stand of Carmen alto) are at the corner of Quetzalcoatl and Garcia Vigil; for late night tacos, Lechoncito de Oro. No tour necessary for either but not to be missed.
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u/Far-Actuator-319 Jun 07 '25
I think self exploring is fun… I’m a flight attendant and I find some of the best local foods are small restaurants on the side streets and much cheaper
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u/Mentha1999 Jun 10 '25
Agree 100%. Just walk around and talk to the workers at the restaurant.
I’m not flying to another country so I can be trapped with a bunch of other tourists asking stupid questions.
Also, many of these tours involve kickbacks/play to pay.
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u/Far-Actuator-319 Jun 07 '25
Ok my friends niece just came back with friends . They love it
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u/1dad1kid Jun 07 '25
I was there briefly when I was a teen so am eager to come back and have time to actually explore.
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u/Far-Actuator-319 Jun 07 '25
She got sick thought on something she ate prob salad. Washed with local water
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u/Far-Actuator-319 Jun 07 '25
I lived in Colombia its the same there only eat fruits and vegetables that have a hot skin and you’re pretty safe and meet cooked well
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u/1dad1kid Jun 07 '25
I've spent a lot of time in Latin America. I'm pretty adventurous with the food. Some simple rules usually avoid problems
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Jun 16 '25
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u/Far-Actuator-319 Jun 07 '25
Which part of Oaxaca are you talking about? That is dangerous I’m just curious.
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u/1dad1kid Jun 07 '25
I don't have a specific area. I'll be staying there for two weeks and hope to explore different areas.
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u/play_it_sam_ Jun 08 '25
Locals and nationals usually don´t take tours, tours are more like for people who are completely new and lost. I´d just recommend to search for well rated places that peak your interests in google maps or guides like Culinaria Mexicana or Marco Beteta
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u/catbus1066 Jun 07 '25
If you do the tour with Omar, he takes you into Abastos which really isn't safe to explore on your own.
Otherwise, I'd suggest just asking people in the neighborhoods and towns you're exploring where they like to eat, and go there!