Oaxaca: Cooking Class & Market Tour with Chef Oscar

Oaxaca flavors come alive in the kitchen with chef Oscar guiding every step

You’ll meet chef Oscar in Oaxaca and start by shopping local markets for fresh ingredients together before heading into his kitchen to cook as a group: no set menu here, so you help decide what’s on the table. Expect hands-on lessons in tortillas, salsas, mole negro, plus lots of laughter and small surprises along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Oaxacan cooking class experience

• Arrive at Casa Crespo kitchen
• Meet chef Oscar Carrizosa
• Choose dishes to cook
• Learn to cook tortillas and salsas
• Prepare appetizer, soup, mole, dessert, and drink
• Participate actively: dice, peel, fry, season, grind
• Enjoy vegetarian or special diet options

The experience

“Try this one,” Oscar grinned, handing me a little green fruit at the market in Oaxaca. I had no clue what it was, he called it miltomate, but I popped it in my mouth anyway. Tart, almost citrusy, and somehow familiar? The stalls around us were loud with voices and clinking bottles of mezcal. Oscar knew everyone. He’d stop every few steps to chat or joke in Spanish (I caught maybe half), pointing out chilies and herbs I’d never seen back home. We picked up everything for our cooking class right there, which honestly made the kitchen feel like an extension of the city itself.

Back at Casa Crespo, sunlight slanted through the windows onto big wooden tables scattered with bowls of seeds and dried peppers. There wasn’t any set menu. We all voted on dishes together (I pushed for mole negro because, well, how could you not?). Oscar showed us how to toast spices until they popped and let us grind them by hand. My fingers smelled smoky for hours after. He laughed when I tried to pronounce “hoja santa”, I definitely butchered it, but he just smiled and kept stirring. No one stood around watching. Everyone chopped or stirred or tasted something. Even the shyest person got pulled in eventually.

I didn’t expect how much singing would happen while we cooked (Oscar’s rule: if you want). Someone hummed along while flipping tortillas on the comal. The salsas were different than any I’d tried before: bright, layered, not just spicy for the sake of it. When we finally sat down together to eat what we’d made, I felt weirdly proud (and really full). There was this moment when the late afternoon breeze came through the kitchen door and everything went quiet for a second except for people chewing and nodding at each other: that still sticks with me now.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting chef Oscar at Casa Crespo in Oaxaca, a guided walk through a local market to select fresh ingredients together, all necessary ingredients provided for cooking multiple courses (including tortillas, salsas, mole negro), complimentary drinks throughout the experience, plus vegetarian or gluten-free options if needed, and you won’t have to do any dishes at all.

Before you book

Lasts 4h 30m, runs Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00, from US$ 75 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and in groups of up to 15.

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Casa Crespo Cooking Class

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

Is there a set menu for this Oaxaca cooking class?

No, there’s no fixed menu. The group helps choose dishes with chef Oscar based on what’s fresh at the market.

Are vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, vegetarian menus are possible and gluten-free options can be arranged during the class.

How long does the market tour last?

The market visit is part of the overall experience but exact timing may vary depending on group size and pace.

Who teaches the class?

The class is led by chef Oscar Carrizosa from Oaxaca’s Mixteca region.

Is English spoken during the class?

Yes, classes can be given in English or Spanish depending on your preference.

Do I need to wash dishes during this cooking class?

No one has to wash dishes. Just focus on cooking and enjoying your meal.

What is included in this Oaxaca cooking experience?

The day includes all ingredients from the market tour, complimentary drinks, flexible menus for dietary needs, and hands-on instruction from chef Oscar.