Great service, food came out in a timely manner. The ambience was nice, a bit dark since we sat outside. The food was OK. I think the plating of some of the dishes needs some work. read more

Casa Oaxaca - Chocolate desert dish - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

We've eaten at Casa Oaxaca about half a dozen times since 2021. For July 2024, my partner and I went there twice, once by ourselves for drinks and a snack and then once for lunch with our three teens. The ambiance is the same as usual - the upstairs terrace is really nice if you can be seated there (which we were for both times of this more recent visit). I'm not sure what has changed over the years, but in the past, the wait staff were really friendly and helpful. For both experiences this time though, they seemed really rushed and put out. When using the molcajete to make the salsa at the table, two different servers were both really sloppy and rushed with it, almost slamming the tejolote into the bowl with frustration. On these two different occasions with two different servers they both seemed really put out to have to make the salsa. In the past, we experienced a really different vibe as the servers used the salsa making as an educational opportunity and took pride in making the salsa. Not the case anymore. For our drinks and snacks, we just ordered a house salad and quesadilla de champiñones and both were pretty great. When we came with our family for lunch, we had the chile relleno with ceviche and the beet salad for starters. We almost never do this, but we had to send the beet salad back because the beets were frozen and even trying to saw through them with a knife wouldn't work. The server seemed surprised we didn't want to eat frozen beets and took the plate back and never asked us if we wanted to replace the dish or what we could do. My kids reported the tacos de cerdo were good. Overall, the quality of the food seems to have gone down over the years but the bigger issue for us was the wait staff, who seemed incredibly put out to have to be working and bothered by us for asking for water or more drinks. read more

Started with a Special Cocktail, It was pretty small in size and seemed weak of flavor and alcohol. Had the Sashimi appetizer, it obviously was plated ahead and refrigerated, the slices of fish and scallops were stuck to the plate when served. Had the Rabbit entree, which was pretty tasty. The serving portions on both the appetizer and main dish were minuscule. Overall, my experience was just okay. Would I recommend, probably not. read more

Service and rooftop terrace. Those are the highlights. Can't say that food stood out. I had to send the Tlayadula with baked fish because the flavors were off. read more

Was visiting the center of Oaxaca for a wedding last month and went to have dinner at Casa Oaxaca...It was rated as one of the top restaurants in the Centro and it sure meet all of our expectations... The location is right next to the beautiful Cathedral and has a beautiful view from the rooftop sitting... This restaurant is always busy and does require reservations especially if you want to sit on the rooftop..We got lucky and they were able to sit us without reservations and we didn't have to wait long... The food here is very authentic to Oaxaca and considered exotic to most... They first start you off with a complementary table side salsa... They make it next.to you and ask you how spicy you would like it, the salsa is made with crickets and is delicious... When we went the menu had rabbit, lamb, crickets octopus and so many different options ... I'm a huge fan of grilled octopus so I ordered that for myain course, and it was amazing...We also ordered the rabbit it was so tender and very good as well... The drinks were pretty good to, they are all mostly made with mezcal and had good flavor... The staff was great and very attentive, I would definitely recommend trying Casa Oaxaca if you are very visiting the Centro... read more

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Seriously the BEST meal I had in Oaxaca in my 7 day visit there. I was torn between Casa Oaxaca and Criollo and ended up doing both and IMHO Casa Oaxaca blew away any competition. From the mezcal-tini to the tableside grasshopper salsa to the mole negro de pavo (turkey) - everything was delicious, creative and cooked to perfection. The service was also impeccable and beyond friendly. I was dining alone as my travel partners had not arrived yet and am always a little nervous about doing fine dining alone, but the waiter made me feel incredibly comfortable and was so friendly. As others have mentioned, try to sit on the upstairs patio as you can't beat the views and ambiance. It really is a not to be missed experience in Oaxaca! read more

We visited Casa Oaxaca for dinner. The partially outdoor ambience was very refreshing. As it started to rain. They moved us to a table inside the restaurant. It was still quite comfortable. The food here is amazing. All of the dishes we ordered were very flavorful. The desserts are visually stunning and the tastes are impeccable. Their Casa Oaxaca Mezcal is very smooth. We purchased 2 bottles. You must visit this restaurant when you are in oaxaca. read more

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This was a nice surprise for an impromptu light lunch. Really had no plans of stopping by being the reviews were mixed but we were close by and needed somewhere to cool off from the heat. We had the Flores de calabaza, Aguachile de camarón & pulpo and the Camarones con mantequilla. The mushroom side that came with the Camarones was too sweet but all else was unique and delicious. I was nervous a test might be a restaurant that was a bit overhyped, but it was great. read more

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Really zero stars but I had to put something down. Trust the reviews that detail poor, completely indifferent service. It felt like we were in a diner and not a highly-regarded restaurant. The servers paid no heed to anyone, nor did they greet us at the beginning or offer any explanation of the menu or any dishes. If the food was good, I suppose we could overlook the gaping black hole in the service, but nope. Only the crab tostada was worth ordering. We are trying to pay our bill so we can salvage our night but servers are ignoring us, so I suppose I have time to write this at the table. read more

I had high expectations for Casa Oaxaca based on a plethora of positive yelp reviews and even an Eater article praising the restaurant's creative spin on Oaxaca's traditional food. While the ambiance was quite beautiful (think open-air dining meets a lush, mid century modern seating area) the food and service failed to meet expectations. Our server was initially pleasant but pressured us to order our drinks (Mango Aqua Fresca, Casa Oaxaca Mezcalini, Xoconostle Mezcalini) , appetizers (Insect Tostada, Squash Blossoms) , and main courses (short rib, octopus) immediately. We had to ask our server several times for water. Despite the lackluster service, our dining experience felt rushed despite many open tables. Overall, I can't recommend this restaurant in good conscience as one of the "Essential Restaurants in Oaxaca" with there being so many other great options. read more

Outstanding service!! Visited this wonderful restaurant twice at the end of November during our stay in Oaxaca, the food was delightful and the service was superb to say the least. Christian went above and beyond to make our experience a memorable one! He made a salsa in a molcajete at our table describing each fresh ingredient adding the perfect amount of heat to go with the big crispy tostada with beans and cheese they bring to your table. He also gave me some chapulines, they were citrusy and delicious with the salsa and crispy tostadas. My friend and I had the frijolones bean soup which he recommended and WOW, the smoky earthy flavors were insanely good, what a pleasant surprise! I also had the perfectly seasoned and roasted cauliflower in a peanut mole sauce that absolutely blew my mind! My friend had the short rib in mole sauce dish, she devoured it and said it was the best meal she had on our trip! We enjoyed a very late dinner on the beautiful rooftop with a view, the ambiance and soft music playing in the background was perfection. After paying, we chatted with Christian about some of our lovely adventures in Oaxaca and how we loved the city and the people, we told him that it was our last night which happened to be my birthday, he stepped away and surprised us with a sample of mezcal and a heavenly beautiful little cake with a sparkly candle as he and the staff sang to me!! I was overwhelmed with gratitude. What an absolute perfect ending to my trip, he truly made it a magical one! I will definitely be back one day! Thank you for the generosity and unexpected moments of kindness, Christian! Unforgettable experience! Bravo Chef Ruiz! read more

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This lunch experience was a great one. We ate lunch here around 2:30pm and got seated immediately on the roof. The service was decent, nothing to write home about but overall it was fine. We got the ant larvae tostada, octopus, and short ribs. All were so delicious. Would definitely recommend this place for views and food. The ambiance is very nice. The views of the chapel are the cherry on top. read more

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This is an exceptional restaurant not to be missed if you are in Oaxaca. It occupies an old courtyard house next to the impressive Santo Domingo church, and the truly impressive Etnobotanic Garden (house of a breathtaking collection of cactai and succulents. Casa Oaxaca is beautifully design as a succession of spaces with different characters, my favorite being the roof-top, surrounded by a selection of plants on green Oaxaca ceramic pots, and with views on Santo Domingo. FOOD: Astonishing. It's memory keeps being mouthwatering. This is one of the best place to taste the richness of Oaxaca cuisines. Don't miss the aguachile de camarones, or the octopus, or the lamb... The service is impecable. Fast, kind and friendly in the Mexican distinguished way. Make reservations ahead of time. The place is always booked up. read more

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Do me a favor and don't order the tasting menu. I've never been one to complain about service, but this was BAD. I'm not sure why they offer the tasting menu honestly, it was poorly planned and terribly executed. The tasting menu was 8 courses and took 2 hours and 45 mins to serve. There was way too much food, I left feeling like I went to an AYCE. The pacing was also very off, we had to wait maybe 20 mins in between each course. There were two dishes that had the same sauces and concept, but with different proteins. The food was good, but the pacing and the portion size killed the experience for us. After the 6th course, we just wished the whole thing would just end already. read more

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Four of us ate here on a Friday afternoon and we were treated like gold. The service was borderline overwhelming it was so good. The ambiance is very welcoming and the food and drinks are stunningly good. We started with two different mezcal cocktails and the rabbit soup (sopa de conejo). The soup was more of a caldo (broth) and not really what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. Zero chunks of rabbit, as I was hoping, yet still delicious. The tortilla and avocado gave this dish some nice added texture. We split the vegetarian potato dish and the lechon (pulled pork), which was presented beautiful. Unlike in most Mexican restaurants where pulled pork is served in a pile, this place packed it into a rectangle and seared it so that it came out shaped like a small loaf of bread with a great crunch for texture. The mole on the side paired perfectly with the pork and the bananas added to the rice was a great touch. I can also vouch for the turkey with mole (pavo de mole). The turkey was surprisingly moist and not the least bit dry. For dessert, we split the carrot cake with cardamom ice cream (yum) and the fried banana with mascarpone and coffee ice cream (also yum). I strongly recommend this place and would go as far as to say it's a must-do in downtown Oaxaca. read more

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My boyfriend and I visited Oaxaca in summer 2023 and managed to get a table at Casa Oaxaca before our vacations ended. This place did not disappoint. The table side salsa with chapulines and the squash blossoms were my absolute favorite. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients. The servers were very attentive and knowledgeable of the ingredients. The desserts were the perfect way to end our night (we tried the mamey mouse and the mole negro ice cream). Definitely recommend this place, especially on a clear day if you can get a rooftop table. read more

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What a fun experience! It's a casual semi fine dining place. Half the people are in their beach clothes we were in our shorts and t shirt clothing and didn't feel out of place. The best item is defintiely the sashimi and the braised beef or octopus. The lengua was ok, the porkchops were ok, the rib eye was really good though. They make salsa and the chips are just whole super thing tortillas. They ask how spicy you want the salsa, asked for the max spice and mild. Let's say the max spice hurt and the mild was a nice chipotle smoked taste. This place is nice because they don't run out of space there is another restaurant that was booked until 2 weeks out, they do drop ins but it's always a 1.5+ hour wait. Casa Oaxaca is what the locals recommend but there is another we want to try next time! read more

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Salsa made at your table, to your taste. The service and effort put into the entire experience made it a beautiful meal. read more

Casa Oaxaca - Salsa made fresh at our table. - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

Amazing food! Would definitely recommend. Their mole is truly incredible!! Beautiful venue, pleasant staff, but they mostly speak Spanish, so ordering might be a bit difficult. read more

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What an amazing experience! I've been here more than once. The first time, they were not ready for us so they sat us in the waiting area and brought us shots of mescal! The food was DELICIOUS! The staff was excellent! The rooftop setting was superb! GO HERE! You won't regret it. read more

Nice surroundings and amazing terrace salsa is way too salty , he put in over a tablespoon of salt. It ribeye was excellent, and I enjoyed my Seabass. Unfortunately there was a dog barking though entire meal read more

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Nice terrace at night with a great views of Santo Domingo church that's across the street. Great service, good selection of Mezcal and great food. Can't go wrong with a romantic dinner here. Just bring a light because it is very dim haha. Like all other fine dining in Oaxaca, this place is reasonably priced and delicious. read more

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I was underwhelmed with this place! I came for days looking for a reservation and for days i was told no but to return and check.. so i did. One night i returned and they said jo AGAIN but then i huffed and puffed ans told the lady it was the 4th time i returned (in fact i think she remembered me) and just after telling me she had no space she magically found space. This was bitter sweet for me because on the one hand i was happy to experience this place but on the other i was completely co fused as to why i was denied entrance so many times until i spoke up. I freaked out when i saw the menu options including ants, worms and chapulinas... i almost walked out... and i have to say it ruined my experience... but i stayed because we were tired. The salsa was made in front of us and with the exception of the chapulinas staring at me in the bowl, the salsa was phenomenal. It was made with toasted tomatoes amongst other things and was fantastic. Beat salsa i ever had. The tortillas that came with the salsa were strange. One of them had pork.... And i am vegetarian! I ordered a bean soup... but it tasted so bad. It tasted more like the water the beans soaked in then actual soup. I could not eat it. My mom ordered fish in mole sauce. The mile sauce was extremely spicy and not amazing. I ordered the squash flowers and they had a strange sweet taste. I liked that it was a different vegetarian option than most everywhere but it wasnt enough for me to love the dish. The service however, was too notch. Really great! I would never step foot here again simply because insects on the menu make me wonder what is crawling where. The one good thing is they have bag holders for women! read more

- Tostada de insectos: My parents loved it. I think it tasted good but it just wasn't my thing, I love chapulines but don't love the flavor of the gusanos de maguey. This is a very strongly flavored dish, almost stinky. But if you're into that sort of thing definitely get this. 9/10. - Flores de calabaza: A cute sweet dish. It was very good. 10/10. - Aguachile de mandarina: I'm from Baja so I was very excited for this one. It was good but nothing spectacular. It came with charales, and even though they looked pretty cool, they kinda ruined the dish. They were kinda big so when you ate them with the scallops and aguachile the charal flavor would take over completely. They should make a charal powder or something like that, I think it could go great with the aguachile flavors but in a smaller quantity. It wasn't spicy at all, but I'm used to spicy aguachiles. Solid dish though 8/10. - Caldo mixe: This was such a nice tasty soup. It reminded me of birria but with chicken and guajolote. Super flavorful and I loved the bean tamal that came with it. The spice level was perfect, just enough to tickle your lips. 10/10. - Lechón with mole alcaparrado: I've never had anything like this before. The mole has a very interesting flavor. The lechón was perfectly confited and it went great with the mole and prune purée (I wish it came with more of that purée!). 10/10. The servers were very attentive but they kept taking our waters away! We had to ask for more water so many times hahah. read more

Casa Oaxaca - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

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Enjoyed our experience! We were seated on the upper rooftop over looking the Santo Domingo. Service was easy and the food was beautiful. A bit more of a "splurge" in comparison to other places, but well worth it. Don't miss this place! read more

Casa Oaxaca - Sea bass - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

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Casa Oaxaca is an overpriced tourist trap. This was by far the worst place we've eaten in Oaxaca City. The only nice thing I can say is it has a great view from the second floor. Both the price and flavor were the worst we've had in a week of dining in Oaxaca. They also had the audacity to charge us 90 pesos for a large bottle of water without asking what size we would like. As a table of two (who also ordered other drinks), we would have been fine with the equally overpriced 45 peso bottle. The waiters kept clearing things away before I could eat them: my unfinished beer, my side of limes, the salsas for my tacos I was still eating. Worst of all, after asking about our allergies, they served us something with the allergen in it. They made no offer to compensate (we didn't ask). I would only recommend this place if you are the type of person who doesn't really care if the food tastes good and you are also too uncomfortable to even attempt speaking Spanish (the staff all speak English very well). I wish we left when we noticed there wasn't a single local eating there. Huge mistake. read more

Casa Oaxaca was our second choice for a restaurant the evening we went there. Luckily, the first restaurant required reservations of parentheses which we did not have) and we didn't want to wait long enough for a table to clear. We went around the corner and found Casa Oaxaca. We arrived at 8:40 on a Sunday evening. We were told they closed at nine, but they would fit us in if we were to be quick. We only wanted soup and maybe an appetizer so this worked out perfectly. We ordered the fried squash, blossom appetizer... Absolutely exquisite. Blend of flavors and textures was an absolute delight. The plantain purée was a surprise, with its complex flavors and almost honey like texture. We both also ordered the squash blossoms soup. Again, very well prepared, the broth was flavorful and just thick enough, and it contained multitude of vegetables. The service was prompt, professional, and polite. The restaurant is in a very old building, it is very nicely appointed. We did not try the bar, but it also looked like a nice place to spend some time, sipping and relaxing after a day of hiking around. read more

We had a lunch reservation for 8 and were seated at the rooftop for lunch. Honestly an amazing spot since it's covered and shaded but also able to enjoy the fresh air. table side salsa - only time I've seen salsa being made fresh. it seems so simple yet so tasty. aguachile de camaron - shrimp, octopus, cucumber, avocado, red onion, fennel and chili powder. absolutely delicious and couldn't get enough of it. chile de agua rellen - Chile de agua with dorado ceviche and sweet and sour passion fruit. this was a unique dish especially with the sourness of the passion fruit paired with the ceviche. would definitely order again! Guacamole with crispy oreado shrimp, pomegranate, quelites and chicharrón. simple and easy to eat. ensalad de milpa - salad, guides, chepiche, piojito, pumpkin, corn, pumpkin flower, radish and seeds. refreshing salad with lots of toppings. flores de calabaza - King Kampachi 160 grams with lemon with pumpkin flowers, young lettuces and capers, served on tomato jam with rosemary and honey. unique appetizer bites. pavo con mole negro - turkey with black mole cooked in a clay pot, bean tamale, holy leaf and male banana pechuga de pato con - duck breast with coloradito mole, male banana, Santanero bean, cheese and cream tostadas de insectos - the ants taste creamy read more

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I've been to Oaxaca twice, Casa Oaxaca is a must. Make sure you make your reservation with enough time in advance. Food is amazing, ambiance and service are great too. read more

Casa Oaxaca - Octopus - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

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On our first evening in Oaxaca we had one of our best meals in Oaxaca. We were lucky enough to snag a table on the upstairs patio and enjoy the perfect weather. Everything was well presented, creative and perfectly executed. Casa Oaxaca has some of the best moles that I have ever had. I highly recommend trying at least one. Their dark mole is complex with so many layers of flavor that I (figuratively) licked the plate clean. For desert try the tostada de chocolate! read more

This place is so beautiful, located in central downtown of Oaxaca. I met up with couple friends before we all depart, I ordered their fish and cocktails. It was both great. Service was great, our server was nice. You don't need a reservation but I highly recommend this place if you are in town. read more

Although this wasn't one of my favorite meals in Oaxaca, it was still a really nice dinner experience. RESERVATIONS: I would recommend getting them just so you can sit upstairs and experience their optimal atmosphere (view / decor). Sitting downstairs isn't the same experience. It's a bit bland. They could spruce up the decor down there a bit to make it comparable. Maybe I got a little spoiled by all the amazing restaurant spaces in the area! MENU: Some great options for everyone. Meat, seafood, veggie. COCKTAILS: I tried a few items (don't recall the names) but they were all delicious. FOOD: I had the ribeye which was pretty good. Also tried some of my friend's nicuatole con huitlacoche (a corn smut jelly). It sounds weird but it was really good and very interesting. They also make the salsa fresh in front of you which I thought was pretty neat. You can customize it a bit (spice level / addition of grasshoppers). SERVICE: A bit slow. Overall, a solid option for dinner. Just try to sit upstairs. read more

An absolute must while in Oaxaca City. Place fills quickly so reservations recommended. Outstanding service, exquisitely prepared and delectable food. Rooftop dining has fantastic ambiance! read more

Casa Oaxaca - Absolutely a must-visit while in Oaxaca. Was my favorite restaurant of the dozen I tried. - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

Food was great but we were a bit confused on who our server was. They could have been a bit more attentive to drinks. Probably super busy, but we were ready to leave and get the check when my second drink arrived. Still great though! Sit rooftop and book a reservation! read more

Our party of 4 basically did a tapas sharing. We started with a mezcal sour which was excellent, and followed that up with chicatana punch which was awful. The corn liquor was cloyingly overpowering. Hard to finish. The food was good; the salsa made at the table was fun to watch and eat. We had a great seat on the rooftop. Desserts were not much of a hit, but we were so full from our sampling we really didn't need dessert. However, how often are we going to be in Oaxaca... we kept ordering. Casa Oaxaca is a premium restaurant and charges a premium. As noted the food was good with great amenities (rooftop, performance art in salsa making, etc). With great prices comes the responsibility for great food. read more

Staff was not hospitable all--horrible service. I would not recommend it, other restaurants have better service and food.

Five star meal. Every course a surprise but in a good way. A drink with a forest of herbs, roast pork in a caper mole, table side made salsa all on a roof overlooking the cathedral. Jazz music wafting up from the zocalo. Awesome! read more

Casa Oaxaca - Roasted pork in caper mole - Oaxacan Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

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Beautiful place, great ambience, uniquely, delicious food!! Definitely worth a visit when you are in this city!

The food was very good. I would give it four stars. The dishes were very creative. The ambiance very pleasant. Unfortunately the service was terrible. We waited almost 50 minutes before being brought salsa and tortillas even though we ordered drinks and a first dish soon after sitting down. We seemed to be ignored by the waiter and when our main course was served the main that came was not what we ordered, steak was delivered, not the rack of lamb (it eventually arrived). Our waiter appeared to be busy setting up other tables, we were never asked how we felt about the food and while I normally like at least sampling a postre, I didn't out of sheer dislike of the energy required to get any attention. As a final note, the waiter, when he did appear, spoke very rapidly despite knowing we were not completely fluent in Spanish. We couldn't understand a word he said. read more

This is one of my favorite places in the city. ALWAYS amazing food and views from the terraza! I love to take friends and family for dinner or lunch. It seems that every time we go, there's a parade- built in entertainment! LOVE! Make a reservation for sure! The staff are very friendly and accommodating, and I love their uniforms- beautiful traditional dresses on the women, and the details on the men's shirts are very nice too! read more

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