Crudo is a Oaxacan omakase restaurant that you just need to experience for yourself. We were in Oaxaca during its less busy season so were able to snag a reservation pretty easily for the 9pm seating in the private room on a Tuesday. There were only 4 of us, so the dinner was very intimate, and we got lots of face time with Chef Ricardo. He has a story that's just as incredible as his food. The 8 plates we had were all so varied, infusing Japanese style with Oaxacan preparations. Some standouts of our menu (which changes regularly) were the quesillo bubble, river crab, wagyu beef, and tuna medley with bean "soy sauce." We paired our meal with the only sake made in Mexico, which was slightly floral and simply perfect. The omakase + sake cost about $100 USD per person - seriously a steal considering the high quality and unique experience. Pro tip: you can now pay with credit card (despite what the website and confirmation email say), so no need to take out cash beforehand. read more

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I was really excited to eat at CRUDO (yes, I'm obsessed with Somebody Feed Phil and he had totally sold me on this being an incredible and special meal in Oaxaca), but I was a little underwhelmed by the experience. The space is nice (although it has moved since Phil eat there, so don't expect that same space). And the service was good (similar to other omakase experiences I've had, where the servers check in with you about drinks throughout the meal); everyone was friendly. Unfortunately, I wasn't wowed by the food. I was so excited to try "omakase oaxaqueño," which is a concept that sounds like a dream. But none of our courses were very memorable. I had to look back at my photos to remember what we had. There was a baby corn nigiri that was probably my favorite bite, but otherwise even my own photos aren't really jogging my memory (unusual for me). There's also the fact that the omakase is only 8 or 9 courses (I can't remember exactly, and I don't think I took a picture of every single one). (FYI if you haven't had omakase before, it translates to "I'll leave it up to you." You don't order, the chefs select what they serve you based on the freshness of ingredients and their preferences. It's usually several courses/pieces of sushi - from 12-20+ - as well as a dessert or two.) Then there was the payment. If you get anything from this review, remember this - THEY ONLY TAKE CASH. (They say cash or bank transfer, but what on earth is a bank transfer?) Now, in general, you should carry cash with you in Oaxaca (lots of places only take cash). But I guess I was remembering our fancy meals out in Mexico City earlier this year (I know, I know; Oaxaca is different) and didn't anticipate needing cash. They sent me a Whatsapp message 1-2 hours before our reservation reminding us, which was good, because otherwise I definitely wouldn't have thought to run by a bank ATM before the meal. The value isn't horrible. I think the meal was about $80pp (without any drinks). That's close to what you might pay for some omakase experiences in NYC (lots that are less than $125, but you might have fewer pieces/courses). It was more that it was so few courses. I was still pretty hungry when I left, so we had a little late night snack food after. (Eater recommended it for "Dinner 2" on a single evening, which I thought was crazy, but now I see why!) We probably spent $100-120 pp after having a little sake and adding tip. Which is pretty expensive to still be hungry after you leave. Overall, it was a cool experience, but I appreciated the concept more than I appreciated the food or the experience. Still, if it's your thing, give it a try (I wouldn't insist any of my friends going to Oaxaca eat here though)! And have cash ready and don't come too hungry! read more

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We came here for our 6th wedding anniversary and ordered the chef's choice. The food was unbelievably fresh with an amazing mixture of Oaxacan flavors and Japanese-style cuisine. Some amazing cocktail and drink recommendations accompanied each food course. I highly recommend Crudo to any seafood fans in Oaxaca. read more

Incredible experience. Delicious food, very unique and it came with a bit of a lesson on Oaxacan food. Surprisingly filling even though it was all small plates. I've only been once but this could easily be my favorite dining experience in Oaxaca. The staff was kind and knowledgeable and the restaurant felt intimate. read more

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My husband and I booked a reservation here on our honeymoon. The ambiance, with excellent presentation and a small, intimate space, was romantic and classy. I can't say anything bad about the tasting menu. It was creative and excellent, focused on seafood. Everything was very fresh and light. The downsides: beverage service was inattentive. We would've had a second glass of wine during our meal but the staff never checked in with us again. Most important, they require payment in cash, which we did not know up front and was quite inconvenient given that the price is higher than your average meal. This is something patrons should be told about when they book in advance, so we can prepare and avoid out of country ATM fees. Know before you go! read more

Crudo offers a wonderfully intimate experience - six seats at the cozy sushi bar which enables conversation with the chef and the sake sommelier as well as the other guests. The food is creative, fusing Japanese and Oaxacan flavors. Not everything works perfectly (sushi rice is hard to substitute with local rice for balanced nigiri), but the whole experience is really lovely, and worth trying. We had sashimi plate, two handrolls (sea bass and red snapper), 2 nigiri pieces (including a delectable eel) and homemade ice cream made out of local fruit. You won't be stuffed, but you should be satisfied. Some practical details: They have seatings at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 daily. I was able to make a reservation via WhatsApp. Meal ended up being about $50 USD without tip. Sake pairing is available as an add on. Enjoy! read more

Crudo is an adaptation of Oaxacan ingredients into the style of Japanese omakase. We just had an amazing omakase experience guided by Chef Ricardo in the "Private Room," a small six seat countertop restaurant adored with only the essentials and a clean lined Crudo sign and logo. Before I go further, let me share with you that there are 3 experiences available at Crudo. Two are reservation only. First there is a Omakase in the private room, as I said, it is a very small space with 6 counter seats and Chef Ricardo prepares the food in front of you and serves you. All the while hosting a lively conversation with the guests. The other two options are in a much larger, modern and beautifully decorated space "La Casa." The second reservation only option is also omakase, Chef Ricardo designs the menu, and other chefs prepare and deliver the courses to the guests along a long bar in La Casa. The third experience is a walk-in a-la-carte menu served in a separate space in La Casa. As of Feb 2024, credit cards were accepted. Now back to the omakase served by Chef Ricardo in the Private room. We were served 7 courses based on fish/seafood and other locally farmer sourced Oaxacan ingredients. Each course was the freshest of fresh and full of wonderful flavors. Accompanying sauces and other elements were exquisite. The menu will regularly change depending on what is of best quality available in the market. Portioning and pacing of the meal were flawless, and I really had one of the most appreciated meals of my life. read more

CRUDO was hands down the best and most memorable, unique meal I had in Oaxaca. I learned about CRUDO from my husband's colleague; it's a new restaurant that opened within the past year, so you won't find it on many lists-- yet. CRUDO combines omakase with Oaxacan flavors for a one of a kind tasting menu that the chef changes seasonally. Every bit was divine-- familiar, but more interesting because of the Mexican flavor fusion using local and traditional regional ingredients (e.g. squash blossoms; mezcal; and more). Definitely message the restaurant via WhatsApp to reserve one of the restaurant's five seats so you don't miss out; CRUDO is sure to get more popular and win awards in the near future. I can't wait to return on a future trip to Oaxaca! read more

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From the ambiance, to the service, to the freshness of the fish and unique spices....the chef nailed it! Will definitely be returning. read more

One of the top dining experiences of my life. Delicious sushi and sashimi with delicate citrus, fresh local produce and herbs, and Oaxacan tastes such as chipilin (grasshopper), mezcal and "tacos" made of nori. Ricardo the chef and proprietor provides an intimate, timed food journey of approximately 90 minutes to just 5 guests with impeccable service provided by a knowledgeable waiter for beverages and such. The other patrons were Spanish speakers (who spoke excellent English) and though the explanation of tastes and ingredients was mostly in Spanish, Ricardo took pains to explain key points to me in English. Definitely the highlight, at least gastronomically, of my trip to Oaxaca. Also the clever logo of a "fish hopper" a fish with grasshopper legs and rustic font recalls Oaxacan artesanal alebrijes (which are our spiritual protectors). If only the shirt with logo Ricardo wore was for sale. Let this place be your splurge for your trip or special occasion! At a price that would compre to a typical dinner out on the town" with your squeeze back in Los Ángeles, London, or Tokyo(!) Just wow. CASH ONLY. Set menu and price well explained before coming. Reserve via Whats App, phone or text. read more

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The best and only Omakase Oaxaqueño in the city! Small, intimate, and impeccable service. The fish is flown in daily and chef Ricardo Arellano genuinely enjoys the whole process of preparing every dish. It's reservation only, so be sure to book ahead. read more

CRUDO - Chef Ricardo Arellano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Oaxaca de Juárez, OAX

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Amazing 7 course tasting menu in intimate setting of 10 seats. Best dinner I've eaten in my life. A must do if you love raw fish and all things seafood! Truly a magical night. So professional and flavors out of this world. read more

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An extraordinary experience. Inventive sushi style food using local and regional ingredients. Seats 8, prix fixe, very friendly chef explains what he is serving and how to eat it. Quiet atmosphere. read more

Absolutely sensational. Conversations with the chef while he cooks, the food, atmosphere. Everything about this place is a must.

Excellent fusion of Oaxacan ingredients and Japanese techniques. Look up the price on their website; it's a fixed omakase (chef's choice) menu with drink pairings (sake and beer) that changes seasonally. They seat something like 5-6 people at a time. Really great fish sourced from Baja California, inventive dishes. The chef, Ricardo Arellano, provides a lot of great context for the dishes. The place is fancy but not obnoxious or pretentious. Definitely worth a visit. The entrance is a little hard to see, it's a small door in an unassuming building on Benito Juarez. read more

A relatively new restaurant, I had high expectations after the "Feed Phil" profile. If you chose to go, be prepared for ridiculous brain damage to secure a reservation. I got the initial reservation via text easily enough (there is no website or Open Table listing), but then sending the required 50% deposit (he has no PayPal, Venmo, Zell, nothing) took more than 30 messages on WhatsAp before my wire transfer was finally confirmed. The restaurant is a hole-in-the wall befitting its cult status. Once there, the meal was very good, but hardly the life changing experience some reviews suggest. Without going into all the "Oaxacanesse" elements, the Omakase consisted of Red Clam in Tepache broth; Blue Fin sashimi; Sea Bass and Amber Jack hand rolls; Ikura, Yellow Tail, and Unagi nigiri (one piece each); and a Zapote fruit desert. That's it. Two hours. And if the wrong guests are at the six-person bar, it can be a very long 2+ hours. Alex Roma's story is engaging, the Oxacan-integration interesting (though at times forced) and Saki and beer pairings unique (we really enjoyed his Saki partner). You may need to do this to check-the-box, but manage your expectations. read more