Cooking Classes in Oaxaca: 8 That Repay an Early Alarm

1.Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 333 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75Our pick

Start at Casa Crespo with a market walk, then return to cook a changing Oaxacan menu with Oscar, Emily, or another instructor. You may grind masa, make mole, prepare tortillas, and mix drinks. The small-group format encourages hands-on work, though larger groups can mean more prep than cooking.

“Very informative and interactive! Food was excellent and filling. Very warm and hospitable people and the tour guide was very friendly”

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2.Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma’s Recipes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 260 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $90Top rated

Meet Chef Adhey Andrade and her husband Enrique at Jardín Conzatti, then ride to their home for a hands-on Oaxacan cooking class. You’ll make salsas, chileajo, chile rellenos, fresh fruit, and hot chocolate while learning family recipes in English or Spanish. Transport and ingredients are included.

“Chef Adhey and her husband Enrique invited us into their beautiful home and provided the highlight of our week in Oaxaca. You learn amazing cooking techniques from a professional who has cooked all over the world. The music, drinks, camaraderie were amazing. Don’t miss the chance to eat this well and have this much fun!”

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3.The Real Traditional Oaxaca culinary Cooking experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $100

Spend about five hours cooking at Quinta Brava in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan. With Miguel Angel, Jose, and their team, you’ll visit a local market, gather garden ingredients, make tortillas from nixtamalized corn, taste several moles, and prepare a full Oaxacan meal in a wood-fired ranch kitchen.

“The class was amazing! We don’t typically do group things like this ever, but something about it changed our mind. And we are so happy it did. The entire group was just delightful. Chef was so fun and informative. We happily recommend to anyone who wants to learn about Oaxacan cuisine, the act of cooking it, history of ingredients; or if you just want to have a great time, lots of laughs, and maybe a few beers while you’re at it. It was an experience we very much treasure!”

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4.Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 235 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $70

Walk from central Oaxaca through the Merced neighborhood, shop for fresh produce and quesillo, then cook a vegetarian Oaxacan meal with Victor, Armando, or another Etnofood instructor. You may prepare mole, tortillas, salsas, rice, vegetables, salad, and dessert before eating together.

“First, Quetzal took us to a small Mercado which was not crowded. This allowed her to show us different types of fruit and vegetables without being in anyone’s way. We tasted quesilla and bought 2 types for our meal. We walked back to Etnofood with our purchases and went to the kitchen space. She gave clear instructions to each of us on what to prepare. For our class, we made a soup and memelas, so we cut vegetables and pressed masa. The food was delicious, and it was a great way to learn about Oaxacan flavors.”

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5.Oaxacan Mole Workshop with a Traditional Cook

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 158 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $64Best value

Meet near Oaxaca’s Zócalo and walk with your guide to a local market, where you’ll choose produce, chiles, cacao, and other ingredients. Back at the FILOTEO foodlab, cooks such as Victor Ramirez or Quetzalli lead you through mole, tortillas, quesadillas, and salsas. Expect English or Spanish instruction, a shared meal, and a small-group format.

“Thankyou so much for this experience, it was my first time cooking anything but the guides made the experience really easy. The food turned out really good and they explained everything in detail. Thanks again”

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6.Vegetarian Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 139 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $70

Meet your English or Spanish-speaking chef, visit a local market for seasonal produce, then prepare a salad, vegetarian main dish, dessert, and often mole or salsa. Etnofood keeps groups to four, supplies ingredients and equipment, and ends with a shared meal, fresh seasonal water, coffee or tea, and wild mezcal.

“Great activity and very friendly staff would recommend this activity!”

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7.Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class with Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 80 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $133

Spend 5.5 hours exploring an Oaxaca market, choosing ingredients with an English or Spanish-speaking cook, and preparing regional dishes in a local home. Depending on the host, you may cook with Sandra and Samuel, Gerardo, Alicia, or Silvia, make tortillas and traditional drinks, and see family textile work.

“We had a wonderful day of shopping, preparing and eating! It was an amazing experience with a talented and knowledgeable chef. He was gracious, patient and provided us with an amazing opportunity to learn about Oaxacan cuisine and cooking techniques. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting an in-depth culinary experience.”

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8.Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 5 hours · from $87

Meet Baldo at Santo Domingo Temple for a five-hour cooking class in a mountain village outside Oaxaca. With Sonia’s family team, you’ll grind mole on a metate, cook over firewood, make tortillas and tlayudas, taste mezcal, and enjoy an unlimited Oaxacan feast. English and Spanish classes are available.

“This was such a fantastic day out! The whole experience was so thought out and created such a fun and authentic day. The food was delish too ☺️”

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