Coquina Hua Xha — Restaurant in Oaxaca

Oaxaca #1(Oaxacan #1, Mole #1): this was our first meal in Oaxaca recommended by a friend who had visited recently. I was starting to get quite hungry and just wanted a no-frills, quick, Oaxacan meal. More the most part, this hit the mark!

If you only order one thing: mole negro (don't skip the tepache though).

We ordered: mole negro $130, flor de calabaza “empanada” $70, pitaya tepache $65 (October 2024).

The mole negro was quite good, but I found it odd the mole was served room-temp while the chicken and rice were served quite warm. The rice was especially good (I am picky about rice).

The flor de calabaza "empanada" was one of many empanadas in Oaxaca that more represented a quesadilla to us. This was very tasty, but at $70 pesos I personally think is a bit steep. The pitaya tepache was also very tasty (again, I thought a little expensive though).

I would happily come back to try their other moles as well as their tlayudas.

Service was very friendly, helpful but quite slow. We were the only ones in there and our two dishes took quite a while.

The vibe/ambiance is okay but nothing exceptional. Again, I would come back...

In a small unassuming three table, family run restaurant is some of the best mole negro over chicken I've ever had in Oaxaca. It's subtle spicy warm heat that builds as you eat it. It's rich and complex, savory with sweet notes of chocolate, the sesame seeds add a little pops of nuttiness. It was served with a warm tortilla and a side of soft fluffy rice that soaked up the mole.

We had the memela with champiñones and the empanada amarilla for appetizers, both great starters. Then ordered the tlayuda with beef and chapulines. It was warm and crispy, with thin sliced tomato, quesillo,and avocado. The chapulines, for me, were reminiscent of dried scallops with briny umami.

The tepache rimmed with chili/salt was delicious! Lightly fermented and available in 4 flavors - we tried the tuna(cactus pear) and Pineapple.

I highly recommend eating here if you find...

A gem, tucked just off the beaten tourist track but within a couple of blocks of Santo Domingo. With only 3 rustic tables and minimalist decor with an open kitchen, you’ll feel as though you’re sitting right en la casa de una mama Oaxaquena (sadly I didn’t get her name). She was offering two options for menu de dia, which cost 70 pesos. The cuisine is traditional Oaxaxcan, done so very well. Ella served a giant glass of agua de guayaba to start followed by a sopa de flor de calabaza - perfecto. Already full, the main meal arrived - un tamale traditional de chicken breast wrapped in something amazing (avocado leaves perhaps?). This was accompanied by rice, salad & tortilla. A meal this good had to be followed by postre so I opted for pan con chocolate de...