Hidden Kitchen : The Market Challenge In Guadalajara With Noemi

The BEST THING YOU CAN DO IN GUADALAJARA! Do not miss this! Naomi was so kind and everything was so well done and organized. We decided to make carne en su jugo and it was delicious. It was a simple dish but she also taught us to make homemade blue corn tortillas from scratch!!! The market was so fun because everyone knew her and we got to see a lot. Best meal I had in Guadalajara.

Beginning with a brief walking tour of a quiet but historic area of the city, she then worked with us on menu selection--one of us a vegetarian then we set off together where she helped us select the right ingredients by engaging with local vendors at the market. Back at her residence we spent several hours prepping and cooking that shared our delicious group meal. She was pleasant and engaging, warm and generous. It was a lovely afternoon spent with a proud representative of her lovely city. It was the most authentic connection to Guadalajara thus far of our entire trip.

Noemi was the perfect guide to discover the flavors, traditions, and secrets of Mexican cuisine in Guadalajara. Starting at the market was magical — the colors, aromas, sounds, and energy made it the perfect introduction to the cooking experience. With Noemi, every stall became a lesson in Mexican culture, showing details I would never have noticed on my own. The cooking class was the highlight! Learning to prepare a traditional dish from scratch and discovering the little secrets that make all the difference was absolutely priceless. More than a cooking class, it was a warm, authentic cultural experience. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves food and wants to discover Mexico through its cuisine. I left with a full stomach, lots of new knowledge, and a definite desire to come back! 🇲🇽❤️

Noemi was the perfect guide to discover the secrets, flavors, and fascinating stories behind Mexican cuisine in Guadalajara. The experience starts at the market, and that alone is absolutely magical. The colors, aromas, sounds, and energy are contagious — the perfect introduction to what comes next. But visiting the market with Noemi is much more than simply walking through the stalls. It is an immersive lesson in the roots and traditions of Mexican cooking. Every stop, every ingredient, and every conversation with the vendors becomes a little journey into Mexican culture. Noemi shows you details you would never notice on your own, and suddenly you begin to understand the ingredients and traditions in a completely different way. I felt welcomed as if I were visiting someone from my own family who was about to teach me a treasured family recipe. Her warmth and passion make the entire experience feel incredibly personal. And then comes the best part: cooking! Being able to prepare a traditional Mexican dish from scratch, while learning all those little secrets and techniques that make such a difference in the final result, was absolutely priceless. This is not just a cooking class or a market tour — it is a genuine cultural experience that you can taste, smell, and take home with you. I highly recommend this experience with Noemi to anyone who loves food, cooking, and discovering a culture through its cuisine. I left Guadalajara with a full stomach, a lot of new knowledge… and a strong craving to come back for more! 🇲🇽❤️🌮

Our experience with Noemi was magical. She is charming and intelligent and emulates the beauty of Mexico down to the last detail. Our tour was efficient AND informative (a difficult combination), shopping at the market was an absolute highlight. You can tell she is loved by her community and the kindness passed on to us. When we added a special request menus item (aguachile), she had someone who specializes come and arrive right away. The cooking lesson was as fun as it was informative and by the end of day I felt more like I had new family in Mexico than just a tour. The food turned out amazing, Welcome new friend Noemi! We’ll be back!,

This is not a cooking class but an immersive local cuisine experience. After choosing the menu with her help, Noemi will take you to the local market where you'll meet some local farmers of which you're buying their produce. It's as farm to table as it gets! After the market, Noemi will take you to her home and teach you how to make delicious typical dishes right in her own kitchen. Noemi makes you feel right at home as she shows you how to use and navigate mexican tools, teach you how to choose the right ingredients and create a truly scrumptious meal from scratch. We felt we were visiting a friend in Guadalajara and now we can say we did! Noemi is amazing!!

This is not a cooking class but an immersive local cuisine experience. After choosing the menu with her help, Noemi will take you to the local market where you’ll meet some local farmers of which you’re buying their produce. It’s as farm to table as it gets! After the market, Noemi will take you to her home and teach you how to make delicious typical dishes right in her own kitchen. Noemi makes you feel right at home as she shows you how to use and navigate mexican tools, teach you how to choose the right ingredients and create a truly scrumptious meal from scratch. We felt we were visiting a friend in Guadalajara and now we can say we did!

My wife and I are visiting from Korea, and taking Noemi’s cooking class was one of the highlights of our time in Guadalajara. From the moment we met, Noemi gave us a warm welcome and introduced us to the history and culture of Guadalajara, which made the experience feel much more meaningful than just a cooking class. The market tour was fantastic—she patiently explained local ingredients, traditions, and daily life in Mexico. We also enjoyed a delicious brunch at a local restaurant, which helped us experience the true local atmosphere. At Noemi’s home, the cooking experience was incredible. She explained every step with passion and care, making it easy to understand even for beginners. We learned how authentic Mexican dishes are prepared from scratch and gained a much deeper appreciation for the effort and love that go into Mexican cuisine. Noemi is knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about sharing her culture. We felt welcomed like family throughout the entire experience. If you are visiting Guadalajara and want an authentic local experience, we highly recommend this class. Thank you, Noemi, for such a memorable day!

I wanted to take a local cooking class and Noemi exceeded my expectations- she shared history, took me to the market, we cooked her grandmothers recipe and hung out for hours. It was like being with a friend in her kitchen all day. Now I'm going to make homemade corn tortillas for my family at home. Noemi is funny, knowledgeable and shares herself in such a refreshing and natural way. Highly recommend! (Oh, and the food is delicious too. I tried several new fruits at the market)

We had a great full day with Noemi in her cooking class. As we walked to the market she told us a brief history of the neighborhood and landmarks we passed. We had a choice of what to cook and we chose chili rellenos and chicken enchiladas. She took her time at the market which gave us an opportunity to ask questions of items we were curious about. It was very hands on and that evening she emailed us the recipes of everything we made. We are traveling extensively through Mexico and we try to do a cooking class in every city we visit and this was our favorite so far! Highly recommend this cooking class.

Noemi was amazing! You get to pick what dishes you want to make and she puts so much effort in to preplanning timing, division of labor and learning, and assembly. It was super interactive and of course delicious. She shared the recipes with us after as well. I particularly loved the market part - getting to see and learn about all the different varietals of chiles and fruits we don't have as easy access to. I would 100% recommend to anyone who loves food and learning! We also had to ask her to end a little early because of a football match and she easily adjusted without making it feel rushed at all. Thank you so much for an amazing time!

Noemi is a true gem in the heart of Guadalajara! Show up hungry and ready to have some fun while learning some local history and get hands on experience cooking some of her family recipes! (Which are delicious!) I would easily recommend this to anyone looking for a unique local experience.

I had a wonderful experience learning how to make birría, tortillas, salsa y más with Noemi! I would highly recommend this experience to anyone.

Noemi is a delight! Our tortilla making class was informative and fun. We had the added bonus of making our own specialty salsas. My family of 4 would definitely take another cooking class with her again.

We had an amazing time with Neomi. We expected to just learn about food but left learning more about the history and culture of Guadalajara than we ever could have imagined. Be warned to come with an empty stomach because you eat incredibly the whole day!!!

What an amazing coach and chef, and what a great experience. Noeme coached us with grace and caring, and taught us so much! It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it. We enjoyed the amazing local market, and then came back and cooked what we’d acquired … and what amazing food quality. The day was amazing, educational, and a great learning experience.

This cooking class with Noemi was the highlight of my trip to Guadalajara! We started with a walk through the plaza, where Noemi shared the history of the area and mixed in her own personal stories—it felt like exploring with a friend. From there, we went to the local market, tasting food, learning about ingredients, and even stopping for a bite to eat. Back in the kitchen, we made vegetarian tamales (Noemi was so thoughtful in respecting my dietary needs). They turned out absolutely delicious, and she even packed up the leftovers so I could enjoy them during the rest of my stay. What really stood out was how personal and authentic the whole experience felt. It wasn’t just about cooking—it was about connecting with the culture, the flavors, and the stories behind them. If you’re visiting Guadalajara, don’t miss this experience with Noemi!

If you’re ever in Guadalajara and want to immerse yourself in authentic Mexican culture, taking a cooking class with Noemi is an absolute must. From the moment we met her, Noemi welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm. Her deep knowledge of local cuisine and ingredients was incredible — she guided us through a bustling market, helping us select the freshest ingredients while explaining their cultural significance and culinary uses. Back in her kitchen, Noemi patiently walked us through every step of the cooking process — from preparing traditional drinks to crafting a delicious multi-course meal and even a mouthwatering dessert. Her teaching style was clear, engaging, and hands-on, making it easy to follow along and truly connect with the food we were making. What made this class so special was not just the amazing food, but the experience of learning from someone so passionate and proud of her heritage. This wasn’t just a cooking class — it was a cultural journey and a once-in-a-lifetime experience we’ll never forget. Thank you, Noemi, for sharing your kitchen, your stories, and your heart with us! Read more about - Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara - https://www.viator.com/tours/Guadalajara/Mexican-Cooking-Classes-and-Market-Visit-in-Guadalajara/d5299-301501P3?mcid=56757

If you’re ever in Guadalajara and want to immerse yourself in authentic Mexican culture, taking a cooking class with Noemi is an absolute must. From the moment we met her, Noemi welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm. Her deep knowledge of local cuisine and ingredients was incredible — she guided us through a bustling market, helping us select the freshest ingredients while explaining their cultural significance and culinary uses. Back in her kitchen, Noemi patiently walked us through every step of the cooking process — from preparing traditional drinks to crafting a delicious multi-course meal and even a mouthwatering dessert. Her teaching style was clear, engaging, and hands-on, making it easy to follow along and truly connect with the food we were making. What made this class so special was not just the amazing food, but the experience of learning from someone so passionate and proud of her heritage. This wasn’t just a cooking class — it was a cultural journey and a once-in-a-lifetime experience we’ll never forget. Thank you, Noemi, for sharing your kitchen, your stories, and your heart with us!

We met Noemi right outside the meeting point then walked down to the market to pick up our ingredients all while having a historical tour of the city. We hand selected all of our ingredients for the food we were going to make and she showed us how to pick the perfect fruits and vegetables. We then returned to her home and we made delicious tequila drinks and started our mole con pollo meal. We decided to stick with the traditional methods using the molcajete which was work but it was absolutely worth it. It’s very obvious that Noemi loves the city and has a real passion for cooking and that shows through her cooking and knowledge of the ingredients used. I definitely would recommend anyone wanting to learn about real Mexican cooking to book a class and spend the extra time to walk down to the market and explore the city and at least try to make the meal in the traditional ways; it really adds to experience and you find a whole new appreciation for the dishes. Noemi, thank you for the great experience and can’t wait to come back to Guadalajara.

What an amazing experience!! The trip to the market was a walk through history! It was so interesting to hear about Bishop Alcalde an and all the good works he did. Breakfast at the market was a treat! But shopping with you and meeting all your friends and vendors…. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. We haven’t even gotten to the cooking class yet! The birria was so delicious and we made it even after 2 tequila drinks! You are an amazing teacher Noemi!You are so warm and welcoming to us we can’t thank you enough! We can’t wait until your cookbooks come out in English!

We loved our experience with Naomi! She made meeting up easy and then taught us so much about Guadalajara as we walked to the market. Once at the market she taught us how to pick out the very best fruits and vegetables. (I learned a lot!). We also enjoyed some fantastic snacks from vendors in the market. Once back at her house she put us to work juicing fruits in her delightful courtyard and learning how to select the best tequilas. She was able to customize the menu to meet my wife’s dietary needs. We enjoyed every step of the meal making process and came home genuinely knowing how to recreate the meal for our friends.

Naomi was wonderful! We felt like we got an incredible immersive experience and a window into daily life in Guadalajara. We started the day with a walk to the market for ingredients for our meal. Naomi provided very interesting history along the way. We had a great breakfast at the market with the locals. Cooking in Naomi’s home studio was excellent too. A must do if you want really want to see how people live in Guadalajara. Also, the cantaritas (if you don’t know now you will ;) we made there were better than any we found after that!

Noemi is an AMAZING tour guide! She shares her love and knowledge of her country in her stories and her cooking! On arrival, she is wearing the traditional Mexican dress. Visiting the market was a great experience with Noemi as she knows everyone there and has a great relationship with all the people in attendance! The cantaritas were fresh and delightful and the tortas ahogada was made from her grandmothers recipe. I would recommend anyone to do this at the start of the trip as she has so many tips on visiting Guadalajara!

What a wonderful experience. Naomi was absolutely amazing. The whole thing from start to finish was the most authentic experience you could have. Naomi will tell you about the history as well as show you how to pick out veggies. She really welcomes you into her kitchen. This is a great experience and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to truly learn something about Guadalajara and cooking

A very pleasant, authentic GDL experience with a charming easy going flexible and warm hostess/chef/instructor Noemi. If you have the time to do this day class and tour whilst in GDL, I highly recommend. The market experience is superb, and the cantaritos muy delicioso. We made salsa and tamales, learned a LOT

Neomi was very knowledgeable about GDL's history, the items at markets, and introduced us to locals and vendors we met along the market tour. Cooking using traditional cooking tools and ingredients made for an authentic and tasty experience. Highly recommend.

Amazing Experience Don't hesitate you will be more than satisfied with this completely immersive experience. It was like taking a cooking class from your favorite Aunt. I don't know where to start, there was not a moment that we did not enjoy and value. We were a group of three. The history walk on the way to the market sitting for lunch in the market with a new favorite sandwich so simple yet full of flavor... Yummy and filling ( needed food so we could power through the class Thank You!!!) . Our Class was Dec 23rd and we witnessed the Christmas production of The market workers shucking corn and making tamales by the dozens. I was able to help by cutting corn off the cob. We were instructed on how to pick the best fruits and produce a plus was it was all locally grown and organic. We roasted peppers, made salsa and 4 types of tamales My daughters loved the sweet corn cake and the Christmas sweet tamales with cinnamon and raisins. My favorite was the chili and pork savory tamales. We defiantly left feeling like we owed Ms Noemi so-much more than what we paid for this experience. Thank you Noemi Our lives have been enriched forever. We will be back for other experiences.

Naomi was amazing! She provided a great experience. She is talented, kind and very knowledgeable ... lots of great history of the area and of the dishes we prepared. Great experience at the market, and of course cooking in her authentic GDL kitchen. Can't say enough about Naomi! When I told her that it was my son's birthday ... she helped him prepare and amazing Tres Leches cake! I absolutely recommend Naomi for a wonderful food/culture experience!

Noemí was a fantastic amazing splendid host. My partner and I agreed that this was the best day of the trip. We got to walk to the market, hearing the history as we went, picked out fresh fruits and vegetables from the market, had an amazing lunch and then went back to hers to cook one of the best meals of the trip while enjoying a few amazing drinks. Can't recommend enough.

She gave me all her knowledges for such a short time but still it was a lovely lesson. and it was the best cooking class I had in Mexico

As we strolled through Noemi's neighbourhood in the direction of the market we had the privilege of meeting her many friends, one of whom was a 100 year old women and her three little dogs appropriately dressed in matching outfits. Imagine the stories she could share if we had the time. Once we arrived at the market and enjoyed a simple but flavourful breakfast of cheese and beans on the freshest bread Noemi shared more stories of the people working in her local market. Who could forget tasting the freshest fruit straight from the family farm, the owner proudly sharing stories of this years crop or the family showcasing the best homemade cheese. Once again we were introduced to an 85 year old women who has worked everyday for as long as she can remember making the best traditional sopes dough. Not only did Noemi give us tips on how to select various fruits, spices, cheeses and meat, but she gave us insight into the lives of an incredible group of people and friends working together. When we arrived back at her place we were greeted by her two adorable dogs, and once she had them changed into the proper matching attire, we stared the class with the recipe for a Tequila Cantarito. What better way to start a cooking class then sipping on a tequila drink while chopping vegetables! (not sure if we met the chopping expectation) Throughout the lesson Noemi shared stories of growing up watching her grandmother working in the kitchen, many of the utensils past down to her and still in use in Noemis kitchen. The recipes Noemi chooses are always tailored to the people she teaches, but are always traditional and come free of charge with a wonderful history lesson. What makes this cooking class so special is Noemi. She is proud to share her family recipes, her culture, and stories about the people in her neighbourhood. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Noemi was GREAT!! The love of her city showed us the beauty in its history and fit the people who call Guadalajara home!! The market trip was fun, learned a lot about picking out chiles. The cooking lesson was so much fun and the end result was delicious!!!

We started our activity at the local mercado, collecting food for the recipes, which was a priceless experience. Naomi is a kind, patient ( we are novice cooks) and knowlegable host. We are thrilled to have met the queen of masa and now have the skill to make handmade tortillas! A fabulous experience in the heart of Guadalajara.

Making authentic corn tamales from corn purchased in the farmers market. Excellent recipe and fun time

It was a great event, we learned a lot about GDL and its history, going to the market and feeling th warmth of the culture and prepared then a marvolous meal!!! Enjoyed a lot!

It was a amazing time I would recommend it to anyone . She was really patient and sweet though out the entire process

Had a great time. Noemi took us to the market to buy ingredients and have breakfast. We then spent most of the day cooking several dishes. Noemi was a great host and shared lots of information about her family recipes and Guadalajara.

My family thoroughly enjoyed this tour. It was great fun to have breakfast at the market and then pick out our food before we cooked it. Neomi was such a great hostess, ensuring all our needs were met. It was obvious she loves her city and was so happy to share it with us. What a wonderful way to spend the day. We highly recommend this tour if you are in Guadalajara.

Do not miss this class! This was an incredible experience from start to finish! Naomi is a wonderful chef, tour guide and extremely knowledgeable regarding the cuisine and culture of Guadalajara. She greeted us with a warm welcome and shared so much history as we walked to a traditional marketplace to fetch the ingredients for our meal. Before we shopped she treated us to a lovely traditional breakfast (at one of the eateries inside the market) with panela cheese on toasted fresh bread and all the fresh squeezed juice we could drink. There were additional menu options of course, but we let Naomi recommend and breakfast was delicious and filling. We could have spent all day at the market alone! You definitely want to bring pesos if you want to purchase extra items to take home. The cooking area is an outdoor kitchen on a quaint and lovely patio at a historic hostel. We were given a choice to request certain dishes for the class, however we left it up to Naomi to decide and we were glad we did! Carne En Su Jugo was our main dish and it was incredible. All of the produce was so fresh and in season. She shared many tips and was extremely patient as she guided us to help prepare ingredients. We also made several different tequila cocktails and drank as many as we wanted! She is well versed in knowledge of tequila and its history. We also made rice pudding, traditional salsa and fresh tortillas with corn masa we got from the market. We learned her hand rolling technique and it was fascinating and easy! We were also showed how to use the tortilla press... (even easier), She was not only generous of her time but also gave me the remaining masa to take home and we all got aprons and a cute towel. I feel like we received great value as Naomi was not only was well versed as a chef but as a historical guide and even included a self-guided walking tour that you could do anytime on your own that was included with the class. Thumbs up all around from us!!!

What a great day! Calling it a cooking class really undersells the experience. Noemi loves her city and loves to share its history, culture and food from the moment you begin your walk to the market. You get to meet some great characters in the market as you buy ingredients and will learn some tasty recipes to bring home and show off your Mexican cooking skills.

Our day with Noemi began with a tour in her neighborhood on our way to the market. We had breakfast at one of the cafes (including fantastic coffee), before shopping for our class. It was informative and fun, to be with Noemi as she made her way through the bustling market selecting items for her recipes. Back at the kitchen, she instructed us in the art of preparing several Mexican dishes, including mole, her family recipe, while explaining the history of this vibrant cuisine. A wonderful day.

This activity is a great experiemce to visit and learn about Guadalajara people and mexican culture in a more autentical way. It's a good activity to do at any time of the year, I will enjoy to do it a second time with a other menu (lots of choices).

Noemi has a great knowledge of Guadalajara, produce and shared some really delicious recepies with us.

Highly recommend this class!! What a treat to spend the day with Noémi; she taught us how to pick fruit and veg at the market, and then showed us how to cook a delicious Mexican meal. Not only did she share a ton of interesting information with us but she was also a fun person to be around :). On the way to the market she shared a lot of history about the area a well. Muchas gracias Noémi for your hospitality and for sharing your knowledge! ¡Nos vemos!

Noemi was super personable, knowledgable and a lot of fun. We enjoyed the historical info and the market tour. She knew all the vendors and we for sure got the best vegies and meats. She guided us through making our drinks and lunch, laced with stories and laughs! We'd recommend Noemi and this cooking class to anyone.

We had a fantastic time and highly recommend this experience. Noemi was very welcoming and full of knowledge about the local area and Guadalajara. From the market to the kitchen, and finally the feast we loved it all. Thanks for a fantastic day.

We had a great day walking a few blocks, having a breakfast together in the market, learning how to pick the best produce, and making some tequila drinks (optional) and then making some great vegetarian/vegan sopes! It was a wonderful day.

I had a phenomenal time at the cooking class. We made carne en su jugo. I plan on doing another cooking class next time I visit!