As the sun goes down in Oaxaca City, that’s when the tlayudas come out. Fiery charcoal grills light up, the smell of smoke and grilled meats fill the air. People gather for a taste of the crispy, meaty, cheesiness that is a tlayuda. Oaxaca is THE place for tlayuda in Mexico, with some of the best tlayudas in Oaxaca found at Tlayudas Don Ramón.
Tlayudas are by far the most recognizable street food from Oaxaca. Ask any local what you just have to eat when visiting, and this will be the first thing uttered from their lips. But, the question is, where are the best places to try the most delicious street food in any country? The answer is always the local spots, those hole in the wall places that only the locals know about. This is where the best food can be found. This is where all street food adventures must begin!
What is a tlayuda?
Tlayudas are the most classic, and probably most popular, late night street food in Oaxaca. They consist of a large, thin corn tortilla that’s toasted until crispy. It’s topped with beans, asiento (unrefined pork lard), meat (usually chorizo, tasajo, chapulines, or sometimes shredded chicken, beef tenderloin, or pork), cabbage, and incredibly stringy quesillo (Oaxaca cheese). There are a few optional ingredients like avocado or salsa, but the above are the musts.
Tlayudas can be enjoyed in two different ways, either open-faced or folded in half. They’re ultimately the same, but the way in which they’re served depends on the place. So, naturally the next question is, where to eat tlayudas in Oaxaca?
Tlayudas Don Ramón
At Tlayudas Don Ramón, they do the best tlayudas in Oaxaca. The ingredients they use are fresh, local and of high quality. They don’t skimp out either! They’ll pack your tlayuda to the brim with all the tasty ingredients you order.
Everything is cooked up fresh at the back of the shop. The meat is grilled to order and added into your thin tortilla with all the other delicious ingredients. It’s folded in half, then grilled over charcoal to give it that extra delicious, smoky flavour. This unique smoky taste is what really sets tlayudas apart from your typical tacos or quesadillas. Not to mention it melts all that tasty quesillo, ultimately fusing all the ingredients together in a perfect medley of greasy, meaty, cheesy deliciousness.
Of course, there’s many famous tlayuda shops in Oaxaca that you can visit, but the best places for us are the local, family-run joints. That’s usually where you’ll experience the best food and best hospitality.
What to order
Their menu is simple and straight to the point, as all of the best places are. Tlayudas Don Ramón only offers a limited number of dishes, with tlayudas as the star choice.
You’ve got three tlayudas options on the menu. The first is Sencilla, which translates to “simple” and is exactly what you’d think; all the base ingredients, with cheese. Second, you’ve got Con Carne, which is “with meat”, and in this case is chorizo and tasajo. Then, your third option is Vegetariana which, as you might have guessed, means “vegetarian”. As meat lovers ourselves, we can never resist a good con carne.
When you get your order, you’ll be able to add some spicy salsas to your tlayuda. They offer two kinds, a spicy picante verde (green salsa) and an even spicier rojo (red salsa).
The vibe
When we say hole in the wall, we really mean hole in the wall. Tlayudas Don Ramón is one of those places where if you’re not careful and keeping an eye out, you’ll walk right past it. The whole place is about the width of the door you walk in. The seating area is a long table along the wall, with stools set along it.
At the back is where the magic happens. That’s where you’ll find Ramón and his wife, busy cooking up a storm. There’s a reason they’re known for having the best tlayudas in Oaxaca.
Quality tlayudas for an affordable price
What sets Tlayudas Don Ramón above the rest is the affordable price for what you get, both in size and quality. Here, you’re guaranteed a massive tlayuda, packed with fresh, local ingredients, and all for an amazing price.
We had ours with chorizo, tasajo and quesillo, and the size of it was worth far more than what we paid.
The best tlayudas in Oaxaca are at Tlayudas Don Ramón
Oaxaca City is full of places serving tlayudas. Sure, the famous spots are worth checking out, but the real magic happens in tiny, family-run shops. Those hidden gems? That’s what travelling’s all about.
The hospitality at Tlayudas Don Ramón can’t be beat; Ramón and his wife are so welcoming and friendly. Supporting their humble shop is exactly what makes travelling worthwhile.
So, next time you’re in Oaxaca City, make sure you pay them a visit for their incredible tlayudas. You may have many spots to choose from, but this is the place you want to visit to try the best tlayudas in Oaxaca. Trust us, you’ll love it!
Name: Tlayudas Don Ramón
Address: Faustino G. Olivera 204 B, Col Figueroa, 68070 Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico
what3words: ///retiring.walks.revives
Price: 50-120 MXN
