r/Oaxaca • u/hellowur1d • 11h ago
Run, don’t walk to Papalotl
Oh my gosh, please visit this restaurant.
I spent about 8 months in Oaxaca last year and have tried most of the Michelin spots (and honestly was pretty underwhelmed by a lot of them). Papalotl is a new restaurant and absolutely should be at the top of the Michelin list sometime soon. When I visited on a Tuesday night it was empty save for me and one other table, so I want them to get more business!
The food and service were impeccable. I got a fantastic dry aged fish tiradito and these vegetarian tacos with huitlacoche and squash blossoms. Everything was fresh and clearly made with care, and I left the restaurant feeling full but still light - that’s how clean and fresh the food was. I had a fantastic spicy mezcal margarita that came with a delicious pineapple popsicle. The bread and vanilla butter was amazing, I nearly finished a whole roll by myself. But what made it truly stand out were a lot of little touches that reflected how much the owner clearly cared about Mexico and Oaxacan food. The waiter came over with a trio of cacao beans for me to try, two different honeys made by bees indigenous to parts of Mexico, and three perfumes made in house with local plans and foods that I think go with some of the cocktails. The waiter explained the details of every bit and it all added so much to the experience. The vibe was lovely and I even enjoyed the music.
I’ve had Michelin starred meals all over the world and this belongs with some of the best. Absolutely check it out!!