Labo Fermento — Restaurant in Oaxaca

I took my family to Labo Fermento recently, as my wife is a big fan of fermented food and drink. She was very excited about dining here. However, the experience left a lot to be desired! Please, allow me to elaborate:

To begin with, the main course of mussels that my wife ordered was more akin to a starter. Very disappointing, especially as they were 320 pesos. I would not recommend you to order these unless you are having something else to go alongside them (they were served with two hunks of decidedly average bread). My wife also ordered an accompanying portion of rice (90 pesos!!) that turned out to be very dry and flavorless as though cooked without rice wine vinegar and salt. It was like yesterday’s rice from a dollar taco stand that had been reheated. Abysmal!

I ordered the fried chicken - 260 pesos. The four small pieces I received were coated in a thick, greasy, batter. Inside, the meat was somewhat gristly and the flavor was very one-note. Quite honestly, I have had better fried chicken from KFC!! Like the mussels, the chicken did not come with any sides so I ordered the potato fries. This was an exceedingly small and miserly portion for 150 pesos. All the fries were hollow and crunchy, as though calamitously overcooked. Miserable.

We also ordered the dumplings and wontons, as many other reviewers here had sang their praises. The wontons were nice, I would give them a 7/10 - points lost for being very expensive for a laughably minuscule portion. The dumplings were horrible in flavor and texture and we didn’t finish these. I always thought it impossible to have such a thing as a bad dumpling, but then I visited Labo Fermento and my mind was changed instantly!

Drinkswise, I ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir from the red wine section of the menu that actually turned out to be more akin to a fizzy rosé cider. It wasn’t bad - just more puzzling as to why it was listed as a red wine when it clearly was not.

Finally, towards the end of the meal, a large, shiny ant crawled out from the depths of my daughter’s chicken teriyaki. Pure nightmare fuel! We informed the waiting staff of this and the woman who was attending our table just laughed it off. We were offered a free shot of mezcal as we received the bill, perhaps as recompense.

The restaurant was almost empty when we arrived, and when we left too. On a Friday night, this was very curious to see.

All in all, the whole experience was absolutely dreadful and I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves good food. It was overpriced dross.

Post Script: Three of our party had violently upset stomachs later the same evening. I will never visit Labo...

This is an absolute must if You are in Oaxaca!! It is a lot of Asian fusion flavors with a slight emphasis on Japanese I believe. Funny enough this was just supposed to be a quick pop in to try some Mezcal and grab a light snack before another dinner reservation but it turned into another dinner reservation with them two days later Based on our initial interaction with the bar manager, Johnny and one of his coworkers, Andrea.

When we returned this last Friday, we were greeted by one of the managers that initially seated us a couple days previous. This man Diego really went above and beyond to make this visit such a memorable experience. I can honestly say the Mezcal that he gave us was Among the most delicious and unique profiles I’ve ever had. And I don’t wanna sound like an alcoholic, but I’ve tried a good amount of Mezcal lol

We were lucky enough to get Andrea as our server for dinner that evening, and she was nothing but a tentative informative and really made the experience so welcoming. The first time we came, we tried some of the best pork dumplings I’ve ever had in my life. Based on that, although we wanted to repeat them, we knew we needed to try other things and I am so glad we did. We had a great deal of ceviche while in the city and somehow this was still the best and one of the most unique. The fish was absolutely perfect texture and the flavors were incredible We had a cold vermicelli salad, which was better than I can explain over a Google review. Surprisingly, the fried chicken was probably what I thought would be my favorite and even though it was absolutely delicious I think somehow the other dishes kind of beat them. They are a Kara Age style But was told they may be gone, so don’t be mad at me lol. Even the chocolate cake at the end was Moist and rich wow very satisfying.

Overall, as it says at the beginning, I think you’d be doing yourself an injustice if you didn’t try this place. I got all the way to the end and didn’t even mention how breathtaking the views and style is inside. Can’t...

A Love Letter to Labo Fermento

When we think about fermentation, we think about the chemical breakdown of substances. We think about our wines and beers and the gift of relaxation they reward us. But have we ever taken the time to think about the other side of fermentation? The side that invokes excitement. Luckily for me, Joseph Gilbert and his astounding staff at Labo Fermento showed me what it truly means to be fermented.

As I walked down the busy streets of Oaxaca City to Calle 5 de Mayo 409 I did not know what to expect from this Michelin guide restaurant. What I got was a beautifully crafted poem. A poem that consisted of exceptional service, remarkable food, and an enchanting ambience. Most importantly, I left feeling inspired and a part of something bigger; that something being community. Fusing Oaxacan ingredients with Asian fermentation techniques, Labo Fermento delivers a mouthful of memories your tastebuds will dream about. Dive into the fried wontons served with Gilbert’s delicious tamarind sauce (my fave) and the fried chicken, which I must say melts in your mouth. Talk to his amazing team who serve with smiles and anticipate your culinary desires without you mentioning a word. Dare to order something new because like I, you will be floored by the bartenders craftsmanship.

Thank you to the team at Labo Fermento for delivering a dining experience with a twist in a city filled with powerful history and kind people. There is absolutely no question as to why you earned a top spot on that Michelin guide!

(Price scale listed on review...