Tamales oaxaquenos are the banana-leaf-wrapped tamales filled with mole negro, mole amarillo or rajas, fatter and flatter than central-Mexican corn-husk tamales.
Tamales oaxaquenos are wrapped in banana leaves rather than corn husks, making them fatter and flatter than central-Mexican tamales. The fillings (mole negro with chicken, mole amarillo with pork, rajas with quesillo) are pre-Hispanic in form. The morning counters at Mercado Sanchez Pascuas run them from 06:00; many families make 200 at a time for Day of Dead and Christmas tamaladas.
5 editor picks for Tamales oaxaquenos in Oaxaca, ranked by editorial score. All Oaxaca signature dishes · Tamales oaxaquenos across every city.
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.
Mercado Sanchez Pascuas ★ 4.4
centro-historico · Calle Porfirio Diaz 719, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Mercado Sanchez Pascuas on Porfirio Diaz is the small local market in the northwest of Centro, with tejate and tamal counters from 06:00 daily, locals only.
Las Quince Letras ★ 4.4
centro-historico · Mariano Abasolo 300, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Las Quince Letras on Abasolo near Santo Domingo is Celia Florian's women-owned mole room since 1992, where the mole negro runs more than thirty ingredients.
La Olla ★ 4.3
centro-historico · Reforma 402, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
La Olla on Reforma is Pilar Cabrera's twenty-year converted-house room two blocks from Santo Domingo, kitchen behind the Casa de los Sabores school.
Restaurante Catedral ★ 4.2
centro-historico · Calle de Manuel Garcia Vigil 105, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca
Restaurante Catedral one block from the cathedral runs a generous courtyard with live music and a seven-moles platter (negro, chichilo, amarillo).