Oaxacan Cooking Class With Local Chef

We had just a wonderful experience! Everything tasted delicious and our teacher was the best!!!

The best cooking class we have been to! So much delicious food and amazing direction and education from Chef Oswaldo. Our group was so much so fun and we were stuffed at the end.

Oswaldo is a welcoming and knowledgeable chef. He shared the relationship between the food and culture. I recommend the class for foodie folks who want to understand the food and the culture from which it comes.

Oswaldo was an entertaining and excellent teacher. We had a great half day learning to cook a traditional Mexican meal. I would highly recommend it.

A Culinary Experience Worth Savoring — Chef Oswaldo’s Oaxaca Cooking Class From the moment we gathered in front of the church, this culinary adventure promised to be something special. After a leisurely 8–10-minute walk, we arrived at a splendid open-air kitchen, a cheerful culinary theater that perfectly captured the warmth and spirit of Oaxaca. We were greeted by Chef Oswaldo, a young, energetic chef whose infectious enthusiasm and genuinely welcoming demeanor immediately put everyone at ease. Like any exceptional teacher, he began by thoughtfully explaining the day’s menu, what we could expect, and how each of us would participate in bringing these traditional Oaxacan dishes to life. The menu was a celebration of regional flavors: mole, freshly prepared salsa, handmade tortillas, memelas, chocolate tamales, and a rich chocolate drink made with local chocolate. Chef Oswaldo’s teaching style deserves particular praise. His instructions were clear, engaging, and remarkably approachable. As someone who makes no claims to possessing culinary skills, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself cutting, dicing, chopping, whipping, and roasting under his patient guidance. For a self-proclaimed non-cook, this was no small accomplishment! And then came the mole. I must confess, I consider myself something of a mole snob. Having traveled to Oaxaca with particularly high expectations for this iconic dish, I was not easily going to be impressed. Yet the mole we prepared was extraordinary. Its intoxicating aroma, beautifully layered flavors, and remarkable depth were everything I had hoped for and more. The balance of ingredients created something truly memorable. And perhaps the most satisfying ingredient of all? Knowing that I had helped create it alongside my fellow classmates. What distinguishes this experience is not simply the quality of the food, but Chef Oswaldo’s ability to transform a cooking lesson into a joyful celebration of Oaxacan culinary heritage. His passion is evident, his hospitality effortless, and his talent for teaching undeniable. It is easy to understand why Chef Oswaldo’s classes are so popular and reservations so sought after. This is far more than a cooking class; it is an opportunity to experience Oaxaca through its flavors, traditions, and the generosity of a talented young chef. For anyone visiting Oaxaca, whether an accomplished home cook or someone like me who rarely ventures into the kitchen, this is an experience I wholeheartedly recommend. My verdict: A delicious, engaging, and thoroughly memorable taste of Oaxaca.

Chef Oswaldo has such a warm delivery.... our group of 12 all were encouraged to participate at every step (if we wanted to.) Lots of laughs and "oooo"s and "ahhhh"s at our results.

Oswaldo provided such incredible insights and guidance when making a delicious meal. Took care of my family with kind hospitality.

The chef was super nice and explained everything very well! The food tasted amazing. It was a great experience!

Excellent and fun experience. Oswaldo was kind, knowledgeable, patient and a meticulous instructor. We made delicious food and the preparation was lively and collaborative. He shared the background and cultural meaning of the cooking process and showed us the traditional ways to grind the mole paste which was hard and fun. Would absolutely recommend !

Chef Oswald was fabulous! He guided us with cooking a delicious tomato based Mole that his grandmother created years ago. We also made homemade tortillas, fresh salsa and chocolate tamales. Everything was absolutely delicious and he gave us written recipes. His cooking site is wonderful, very comfortable; full of plants, traditional cooking methods and equipment, with a big table where we all relaxed and enjoyed our creations at the end. I highly recommend taking this class.

Oswaldo is a great cook and teacher. He guided us through a variety of traditional Oaxaca dishes which were delicious. We would recommend this as an experience to anyone visiting Oaxaca city.

Chef Oswaldo had a sweet set up. The walk was short from the meet up place. He is knowledgeable about his culture and food. He was so patient with everyone. My 4 and 5 year old was able to join, and they did when they felt like it. It felt like cooking with family. He made everyone feel right at home. What we created, we cooked, and we ate. What a cool and unforgettable experience. My family said this was the best part about their trip to Oaxaca and I agree 100%

The chef was knowledgeable and easy to understand. The food we prepared was very tasty.

We had an amazing time. We stated some amazing dishes. It was our first time making and tasting dessert tamales.

This cooking class was fun, and the food was delicious. Oswaldo was a great chef, teacher, and host. He shared his grandmother's mole recipe, which was my favorite. The other photo shows the chocolate tamales we made. I definitely recommend his cooking class for small groups.

Made a 3 course Oaxacan meal with Oswaldo. They all came out amazing and Oswaldo was an amazing teacher. We were in a small group of 6 in total which means we all got enough help and attention from the chef. We ended the afternoon by all having dinner together and enjoying the amazing dishes.

Chef was completely prepared and had everything prepped and ready for us to start cooking. All of the food was delicious! We learned about traditional cooking methods and how to make all the dishes from scratch. We got to enjoy our meal afterward. We had a wonderful experience and left feeling full and satisfied!

My daughter and I took the cooking class with Oswaldo. We had such a great experience learning about how to make salsa, mole, tortillas, chicken, rice, melas and chocolate tamales. Oswaldo was patient and very knowledgeable. He made it an incredible experience that has been a highlight of our trip! Highly recommend!

This class was the highlight of my trip. It was informative, fun and met some kind people from around the world. I would recommend this to everyone.

We had such an amazing experience at this cooking class! We learned so much and had a wonderful time throughout the entire experience. chef Oswaldo is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and made the class both informative and fun. You can truly tell how much he loves what he does. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking for a fun, hands-on, and memorable experience!

Great experience! Chef Oswaldo is a very nice local chef who speaks good English. The course was 3 hours long, we got to make different local and authentic dishes that we could eat at the end. The setting was clean and welcoming. We got offered local hot chocolate and drinks to keep us hydrated. Well worth the money and we highly recommend it!

My 7 yo daughter and myself had an amazing time meeting chef Oswaldo and making food with him. Even us as Mexicans learned so much from him. It’s next morning and my kid has not stopped talking about how much she enjoyed the experience. You’ll learn so much and will also enjoy a delicious whole Oaxacan menu in this class.

Chef Oswaldo was amazing! He is very knowledgeable and patient in explaining the importance of all of the ingredients for each recipe. It was clear how much he cares about the culture connected to the food. Great experience!

Incredible experience. The chef Oswaldo was brilliant. He walked us through making some salsa, some tamales, some mole, and some memelas. It was a great mix of everything. He even offered us beverages while we cooked. The food we cooked was some of the nicest we had on Oaxaca. I would recommend this to anyone. 10/10

Cooking with Oswaldo was so much fun! He explained things really well, shared his cultural and culinary expertise, and encouraged us to take lead and be very hands on. It was a really spacious outdoor cooking setting with a beautiful long table to enjoy dinner together afterwards. His expertise and educational background are impressive and he even published a cookbook on breads of Oaxaca! The multi course dinner menu was well planned and we all got to try a variety of traditional, delicious foods. Highly recommend this wonderful experience!

Chef Oswaldo led a very informative and approachable class including a variety of Oaxacan dishes and relaxed atmosphere. All of the food was as delicious as the company was welcoming.

Incredible experience! The food was diverse and Chef Oswaldo did an amazing job keeping you busy and explaining everything as we went along. The class size was perfect and the setting and space was very cute and functional.

Amazing experience. Oswaldo is a very experienced chef and an enthousiastic teacher, who is also very knowledgeable. You’ll get to cook your own three course dinner that showcases very different—though all delicious—dishes, which you can all make at home. In my opinion: a must do when in Oaxaca!

Worth every peso! Ozwaldo was an excellent guide and educated us on the wonders of Oaxacan food. Come hungry, ready to cook and learn

Very enjoyable experience, not too long, very informative, not too difficult but definitely felt like we were cooking our own food and the food was amazing!

Excellent experience! It was our first cooking class, and we can highly recommend it. Oswaldo creates a very relaxed and stress-free atmosphere while teaching us a lot about Oaxacan cuisine and how to prepare it, also letting us try different tools used in the area. And the food was absolutely excellent!

Oswaldo was an excellent teacher and the class was well organized. There was enough for everyone to do and the group size was ideal for meeting new people and having fun with new friends. Ideal for anyone who wants to learn. I'm more experienced as a cook, but learned a lot, but the people in our group who were less experienced didn't ever seem lost or unable to complete the tasks. Oswaldo was very clear and parient

Excellent experience, it was our first cooking class experience and we can highly recommend it! It is a relaxed and stress-free atmosphere while one prepares tasty local food.

Class was engaging and really fun. We learned a lot about local Oaxacan cuisine, had terrific food, the chef was incredibly nice and the class was intimate enough to allow great conversation. The cooking itself was fun and fit for people that don’t master the cooking arts. Highly recommended!!

I’ve done a few cooking classes in different places I’ve traveled to and this was definitely one of the best! The class is really fun and hands-on, Chef Oswaldo is a lovely and knowledgeable host and the setting is so beautiful. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to try some traditional Oaxacan cuisine!

This experience totally exceeded my expectations and was the highlight of my trip to Oaxaca. Chef Oswaldo is so talented and explained each step really clearly. All the ingredients were so fresh and high quality and each dish was delicious!!! The price is very reasonable for the quality of food, equipment and skills offered here. The time flew by and we felt so comfortable in the beautiful setting of the outdoor kitchen. I couldn’t recommend this more, it’s a must do in Oaxaca!

This is a must do experience in Oaxaca. Come hungry because there’s a ton of food. We got to try a mix of traditional Oaxacan and modern cooking methods to make tortillas, mole and chocolate tamales all of which was delicious. We also got to try Oaxacan hot chocolate and bread and Oswaldo provided plenty of refreshments including cervazas and juice. The kitchen space is a beautiful outdoor area (with a covered area if it rains). Oswaldo was also very friendly and has great banter.

Incredible experience cooking with Oswaldo and honestly some of the most tasty food we’ve eaten while here. An absolute must to do better understand the deep culture of food of Oaxaca!

We learned a lot about Oaxacan cuisine, ingredients, and traditional cooking techniques. The food was delicious, the chef was friendly, knowledgeable, and great at guiding us through every step, and the venue was spacious, and welcoming. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Oaxaca!

There are cooking classes, and then there are experiences that stay with you forever. Our afternoon with Chef Oswaldo was exactly that. From the moment he greeted my husband and me near the beautiful Templo de Santo Domingo, we immediately felt welcomed. As we walked together through the charming streets of Oaxaca to his beautiful outdoor cooking studio, the conversation flowed naturally, and it quickly became clear that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary cooking class. To our surprise, it was just the two of us. What could have simply been a class became an incredibly personal, intimate experience. It felt less like being students and more like spending the afternoon with a friend who was excited to share his family’s traditions and the culture he loves. His studio is absolutely beautiful—peaceful, open-air, surrounded by plants, traditional décor, and the perfect atmosphere for learning. It reflects the same warmth and authenticity that Chef Oswaldo brings to his guests. What impressed me most was his passion. Chef Oswaldo didn’t simply teach us recipes—he shared stories, history, and family traditions. We learned that Oaxaca is home to far more than the famous seven moles many people know; there are actually twelve traditional varieties. The mole he chose to teach us was especially meaningful because it is his personal favorite, a treasured recipe passed down from his grandmother. Knowing that made every ingredient and every step feel even more special. Everything was prepared completely from scratch. We ground ingredients by hand on a traditional volcanic stone metate, learned how each ingredient contributes to the balance of flavors, made handmade tortillas, prepared chocolate tamales, and enjoyed several incredible Oaxacan dishes together. One of my favorite parts of the experience was being able to ask Chef Oswaldo about my own attempts at making black mole back home. I’ve spent years experimenting with recipes and shared with him how I struggle to maintain its beautiful black color as I continue developing the flavors. Without hesitation, he immediately understood exactly what I meant. His explanation of the chiles, roasting techniques, and balance of ingredients helped me understand what I’d been missing. He even offered to share additional recipes and techniques from his cookbook through WhatsApp. That generosity and willingness to continue teaching after the class speaks volumes about the kind of chef—and person—he is. What also stood out to me was Chef Oswaldo himself. He is an incredibly talented young chef whose passion shines through in everything he does. It is obvious that he has found his calling. He isn’t simply preparing food—he is preserving generations of Oaxacan culinary traditions and sharing them with people from around the world. His patience, humility, professionalism, and genuine kindness made every question feel welcome. He never rushed us, never made us feel uncomfortable, and encouraged us every step of the way—even when our tortillas weren’t quite as round as his or when I struggled a bit more than my husband with spreading the tamale dough! We laughed, learned, and enjoyed every minute together. Knowing that Chef Oswaldo is already creating experiences of this caliber at such a young age makes me excited for what lies ahead in his career. If this is the level of dedication, craftsmanship, and heart he brings today, I can only imagine how many more people he will inspire in the years to come. Oaxaca is incredibly fortunate to have someone so passionate serving as an ambassador for its rich culinary heritage. As someone who works in hospitality myself, I pay close attention to the little details that make guests feel genuinely cared for. Exceptional hospitality cannot be faked—it comes from the heart. Chef Oswaldo possesses that rare gift. He made my husband and me feel welcomed from beginning to end, and that warmth transformed an already wonderful cooking class into one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. We didn’t just leave with full stomachs and recipes to recreate at home. We left with a deeper appreciation for Oaxacan culture, traditions, and the people who keep those traditions alive. If you’re visiting Oaxaca and are looking for an authentic cooking experience, don’t hesitate—book with Chef Oswaldo. You won’t simply learn to cook; you’ll gain an appreciation for the history, passion, and love that define Oaxacan cuisine. Thank you, Chef Oswaldo, for opening your kitchen, sharing your family’s traditions, and welcoming us with such genuine hospitality. It was truly an honor to learn from you, and it will remain one of the most meaningful memories of our time in Oaxaca.

Chef Oswaldo introduced us to Oaxacan cuisine in the most beautiful way ever. The knowledge of the food dishes was on point. Will definitely recommend it to friends and family

Chef Oswaldo was awesome, he was super patient and helped us understand how to make each meal. It was delicious and learnt so much about Oaxaca cuisine. Definitely recommend to anyone coming to Oaxaca

Chef Oswaldo is an award winning Oaxacan chef who was wonderful to learn from. The food was exquisite, the space is absolutely gorgeous and the class itself was fantastic. The chocolate tamales were to die for! I would rebook this class in a heartbeat. Thank you Oswaldo - you have a new fan, and if Los Panes de Oaxaca ever has an English version, I will be the first to buy it!

Most amazing experience, the chef knows so much. Food is delicious- don’t eat before!

Oswaldo was more than fabulous. He was super considerate and knowledgeable the whole time, and we ended with a beautiful meal of memelas, chicken mole, roasted salsa, and sweet tamales to finish. We would do it again in a heartbeat!

Oswaldo was an amazing host and chef! The class was fun, hands-on, and full of authentic techniques. Oswaldo provided great expertise and education on the history of cuisine in this region. Great food, great company, and an all-around fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

Such a lovely experience! Oswaldo was so knowledgeable and welcoming and created such a lovely atmosphere at the class. The food was so incredibly delicious and we had such a wonderful time. It was so nice that he had drinks for us and we had a great time preparing all the dishes. Would highly recommend, thank you for having us !!

The experience was hands on and educational. We all prepared the meal together and ate together as a group. Oswaldo was so knowledgeable and obviously passionate about his craft and culture. As group classes do, everyone started out a bit shy but we ended up laughing and having a great time eating and chatting. It was a lot of food but we could take extra home with us. I would definitely recommend this class.

Incredible experience. Wholesome, organised, educative and enriching! Oswaldo is a warm, knowledgeable and passionate man who creates an authentic and fun opportunity to learn how to cook your own authentic Mexican food, need I say any more? 🤤