Putting a creative spin on traditional Oaxacan food, Casa Oaxaca is lauded as the city’s best restaurant. Foodies will be in heaven here. It is owned by the hotel Casa Oaxaca—but it is not located at the hotel. Try to request tables on the roof for beautiful views of the Santo Domingo Cathedral.

Says Indagare's Will Nixon: "Crudo serves Oaxacan “omakase” inspired by Japanese cuisine. Book all six seats at the chef’s counter to enjoy your meal while chef-owner Ricardo prepares each dish by hand. (This was one of the best meals I’ve ever had!)"

Come here for a taste of traditional Oaxacan street food—especially heirloom, home-grown corn tortillas. We particularly recommend the tetelas, triangle-shaped corn tortillas stuffed with beans and cheese and grilled. This casual, modest restaurant has outdoor seating.

Come here for fresh, vegetable-forward Oaxacan cooking crafted by chef Thalia Barrios García. Vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, this restaurant also is known for its delicious cocktails. Everything on the menu celebrates the traditional bounty of Oaxaca, from masa to mezcal.

Says Indagare's Jenna Levandowski: "This meal was worth grabbing the the last 4:00 p.m. reservation for an ambitiously early dinner while I was traveling solo in Oaxaca. (Indagare Tip: Make your meal reservations in Oaxaca as soon as you buy your plane ticket.) There is no shortage of amazing food in Oaxaca, but this meal was life-changing. I have celiac, so I absolutely jumped at the opportunity to get the Blue Corn Gnocchi, which was made with a mezcal sauce (a way cooler cousin to vodka sauce)—and the absolute standout was the Shrimp Aguachile. The only regret I had was that I was dining solo, so I couldn’t taste the entire menu."

Within the Mercado Morelos food market, located within an hour's drive south of Oaxaca, in Ocotlán, the stall La Cocina de Frida serves some of the best, most authentic Oaxacan home-style cuisine you can find—prepared by the so-called "Frida," who styles herself after the iconic Mexican painter (the present-day Frida was born in Oaxaca, while the painter hailed from Mexico City).