Traditional Oaxaca Cooking Class with Local Chef

Make mole, tortillas and tamales the way Oaxacans do.

A hands-on cooking class in Oaxaca where you learn to prepare three traditional regional dishes—mole, handmade tortillas and chocolate tamales—from a local chef and cookbook author. The class runs 3.5 hours, is 100% practical, and includes all the food and drinks you make. Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan menus are available on request.

The Experience

The molcajete sits in front of you, and that's where the sauce starts. You'll work through the steps of traditional Oaxacan cooking with a local chef who writes cookbooks about the region's food, learning not just the techniques but the history and origins of each dish. The class is entirely hands-on—no demonstration-only watching. You start with water chocolate and traditional bread, move into making a sauce using the molcajete, then build toward the main dishes: a thick omelet called twins filled with black bean paste and fresh cheese, stewed mole thickened with seeds and served with rice, and handmade corn tortillas pressed on a traditional comal. By the end you'll have made chocolate tamales with Oaxacan chocolate dough.

Everything you cook, you eat. Seasonal water and drinks are included throughout the 3.5 hours, so you're tasting as you go and finishing with a full meal you've prepared yourself. The chef can adjust for vegetarian, gluten-free or vegan preferences if you request them when booking.

What’s included

• All ingredients and equipment.
• water chocolate and traditional bread.
• molcajete sauce.
• twins omelet with black beans and fresh cheese.
• stewed mole with rice.
• handmade corn tortillas.
• Oaxacan chocolate tamales.
• seasonal water and drinks throughout the class.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Taller Quiote Oaxacan Cooking Classes

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to leave Oaxaca knowing how to make the dishes you've eaten there—the hands-on format and the chef's expertise in regional cooking mean you're learning techniques and stories, not just following a recipe.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

124 verified traveler reviews

5 ★124

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly do I make during the cooking class?

You prepare six dishes across the 3.5 hours: water chocolate with traditional bread, a molcajete sauce, twins (a thick omelet with black beans and cheese), stewed mole with rice, handmade corn tortillas, and Oaxacan chocolate tamales. Everything is made from scratch.

Do I get to eat the food I cook?

Yes. You taste and eat all the dishes you prepare during the class, and drinks are included throughout.

Can the class accommodate dietary restrictions?

Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan menus are available on request—let the chef know when you book.

What language is the class taught in?

The class is offered in English or Spanish, depending on your preference.

How long does the cooking class last?

The class runs 3.5 hours and is 100% hands-on instruction, with no sitting-and-watching portions.

Is the cooking class accessible for people with mobility needs?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the venue is set up to accommodate people using mobility aids.