Memelas are thick masa rounds toasted on the comal and topped with asiento, frijol, salsa and quesillo, the canonical Oaxacan home-kitchen breakfast.
Memelas are the canonical Oaxacan breakfast: a thick masa round pinched at the edges to hold the toppings, toasted on the comal and dressed with asiento, refried beans, salsa and crumbled queso fresco or quesillo. The Memelas Dona Vale counter at Mercado de Abastos is the most famous early-morning stand; Itanoni serves a heritage-corn version that locals consider the city's reference for criollo-maize masa.
5 editor picks for Memelas in Oaxaca, ranked by editorial score. All Oaxaca signature dishes · Memelas across every city.
Memelas Dona Vale (Mercado de Abastos) ★ 4.6
centro-historico · Mercaderes 3, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Memelas Dona Vale at Mercado de Abastos is the famous comal counter with thick masa memelas topped with morita-chile sauce, asiento (pork lard) and quesillo.
Itanoni ★ 4.5
reforma · Av Belisario Dominguez 513, Colonia Reforma, 68050 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Itanoni in Reforma charges 25-70 pesos for criollo-corn memelas and tetelas off the wood-fired comal, the best price-quality for traditional Oaxacan masa.
Almu ★ 4.4
valle-de-tilcajete · Carretera San Martin Tilcajete, Progreso S/N, 71506 San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca
Almu in San Martin Tilcajete (the alebrijes village south of Oaxaca) is the open-air, open-fire countryside kitchen in the 2025 Michelin Guide.
Comala ★ 4.1
centro-historico · Calle Jose Maria Pino Suarez 300, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Comala on Pino Suarez is a Centro restaurant-bar with a leafy courtyard, serving Oaxacan plates from morning to 1am, with a mezcal and craft cocktail program.
Comedor Yolis (Mercado Sanchez Pascuas) ★ 3.9
centro-historico · Calle Porfirio Diaz 719, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Comedor Yolis at Mercado Sanchez Pascuas is one of the slate of breakfast counters (Yolis, Lupita, Nelly, Chonchita) inside the local market on Porfirio Diaz.