Sabores Oaxaqueños Restaurant

Parking was horrendous, but it was worth the four-block walk (that could easily have been 10). We just lucked into a spot.

Anyway, the highlights were the cucumber margarita, the queso fundito with chipotle and mushroom and the memelas with chorizo. The other dishes weren't bad--definitely nothing we'd avoid--just not noteworthy.

The music was lively and varied. Not sure if it was the normal house band, but they were really good!

El estacionamiento era horrible, pero valió la pena la caminata de cuatro cuadras (que fácilmente podría haber sido 10). Acabamos de tener suerte en un lugar.

De todos modos, los aspectos más destacados fueron la margarita de pepino, el queso fundito con chipotle y champiñones y los memelas con chorizo. Los otros platos no eran malos, definitivamente nada que evitaríamos, pero no son dignos de mención.

La música era animada y variada. No estoy seguro de si era la banda normal de la casa, ¡pero eran muy buenos!

I am from the Bay area and came here with my family ... And wow , amazed with the chicken mole with homemade tortillas . It was delicious.

Hard to find parking... But so worth it!!

Mexican restaurant located on the edge of Koreatown (I think?) that specializes in traditional Oaxacan specialties. The space is colorful and lively. There was even some live music the night I went (during a weeknight; not sure if it's an every night thing). The people here were very friendly and a couple of the guys kept coming by to check up on me.

The place is super family friendly, but it's great for small groups, couples, and solo diners like myself that visit. I think this was the original spot for Guelaguetza. There's a nook where a full on bar is located. Looks like you can get some spirits including tequila/ mezcals. The vibe here is wonderful. I really did feel like I was in a restaurant in another part of the world.

I ordered the tlayuda mixtas and a horchata to wash it down. The tlayuda has three meats - chorizo, cecina adobada (marinated pork), and grilled beef. All delicious adding different aspects and smokiness to this dish. The asiento and the thin and crispy tortilla added to the texture and flavors. This is a pretty large dish and not that there are fresh ingredients/ produce on top. It tastes great as leftovers, but prob best to eat fresh (for the tomatoes, etc)

The horchata was topped with cantaloupe, chopped nuts, and cactus fruits. Refreshing and tasty and lots of fun eating the little bits/ toppings.

Parking could be horrendous. There's actually a sign warning you not to park in the lot across the way (Jon's). It was a weeknight and I had to circle the neighborhood a few times to find a spot and even then I wasn't 100% sure I wasn't going to be penalized.

Still 5 stars for this place.
This time we got to try the chocolate mole, which was as good as the red.
The "Oaxacan Tour" combo platter was very generous (around $50, feeds 4), and quite tasty, but most of it is fried, so your tongue will tire of the oil after awhile - with a large group, it's well worth it, but I'd probably disaggregate the meal next time. Still, the meats were quite nice, and a good value.
Fried plantains dessert had an interesting red/white berry/yoghurt sauce drizzle.
On a weekend night, they had a karaoke singer; although he was sometimes pitchy, he had some lovely small tenor pipes, and it was really quiet, which was perfect, and surprising for live music (especially compared with the ear blast that you can get at Guelaguetza).

We are having a Oaxacan New Year's Eve dinner tonight (Oaxaca is a state in Mexico). It's next to our condo (walked here!) My Irish husband is learning a lot about Mexico and Central America here in Koreatown I am the only native here. Love it!
First song was a cumbia, right? 3 beats?

Getting familiar with Aztec comida/food here
Tlayuda
Nicuatole
Napoles
Memelas

They have 3 mole sauces which are flavorful but not hot spicey! Sweet and savory mole! Have it on chicken or pork!

And of course chocolate! (Taught my students that the Spanish brought chocolate back to Europe after tasting it with the Aztecs.
Mole y champurrado!
Oh yeah- and the Aztec's famous agave tequila (which barely made it to Ireland last year with a Jose Cuervo deal). (Before Jose Cuervo, they only had Olmeca tequila. Including chocolate tequila!)
Champolines (seasoned sautéed crickets)next time! Though Alex doesn't promise

We will bring mom here for the cafe de oila (cinnamon coffee) and tiramisu!

The entertainment was great! My hubby doesn't know Spanish, but he said he enjoyed being "on vacation in Oaxaca, Mexico while having dinner in this Koreatown restaurant! Felt like we were deep in Mexico! The music was so professional!

Everyone was friendly! Tons of waiters/servers asked us if everything was good/if we needed anything. They were all attentive and not pushy!

Brought my gf for pre birthday dinner in September 2023. This was our second visit here. I was surprised that it was not incredibly busy considering it was a Friday night around 7 pm. The service needs a bit of a touch up because there was no host and there were no employees keeping an eye on whom enters the restaurant. Could've been an off night so I didn't think much of it since our first visit they were very attentive.
Back to the review, the moment you walk in you can just feel and see the cultural richness that Oaxaca is known for. The entrance has a small storefront for Mexican goodies that you can buy for there or to take home. They also have a group of 3 gentlemen singing classical songs. The prices for the food portions are more than reasonable. Our to go plates are the molotes, tlayudas (this is a must), tamales, and coloradito. Definitely recommend.

The best oaxaqueña food in Central LA. Food is authentic, delicious, and accompanied with an incredibly accommodating wait staff. Seating on the patio is nice if live music inside is not preferred.

Buena comida y buen ambiente musical.
Muy buen servicio de meseros y buenas bebidas tradicionales

What a gem! We were in the area and was looking for a happening place on a Friday night. They have live music (one person) but did an excellent job and kept the vibes going.

Food and service was top notch. Their mole and Oaxacan authentic food was made to the perfection. Flavors, taste, consistency, meat, and presentation all checks off the list of having a good Oxacan food in LA.

Don't let the language barrier let you down going to this place. All the people working were helpful and explained which dishes were what. They also brought sample of mole to try before placing an order. They made our meal really joyful and I will be come back to try different dishes.

Must try their Mezcal!

If you're looking for authentic Oaxaqueño cuisine, look no further than this hidden gem of a restaurant! I was blown away by the selection of moles available - before even ordering our entrees, we were offered a generous tasting of three different types of mole, each with its own unique flavor profile.

Once we finally did order, we were delighted to find that the portions were huge - perfect for sharing or taking leftovers home. And the best part? Despite the generous serving sizes, the prices were more than reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food.

Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a true taste of Oaxaca.