Oaxaca ATL

"Chamblee’s international spectrum shines ever-brighter with Oaxaca. Helmed by the owners of El Valle in Midtown, and the newest addition of Casa Balam in Decatur, Oaxaca brings the southwestern Mexican state’s ingredients and techniques (think smoke, moles, and fresh masas from ground corn for all tortillas and adjacent breads) to Metro Atlanta’s forefront. Standouts include the tetela de pato (duck confit and Oaxaca cheese), seasonal vegetable tlayuda (a group-friendly flatbread in the vein of a Mexican-style pizza), the flor de calabaza (squash blossom, Oaxaca cheese, sauteed mushroom, and roasted onion quesadilla), and the whole wood-fired branzino with black garlic. The restaurant also carries one of the largest selections of Mexican wines. Snag a reservation here." - Eater Staff

"This restaurant from the owners of El Valle in Midtown brings the flavors, ingredients, and dishes of Oaxaca to life in Chamblee. And it’s doing serious justice to the foods from this southwestern Mexican state through its use of core ingredients like chiles, corn, cheese, and beans and cooking techniques incorporating smoke, moles, and fresh masas made from ground corn for the tortillas, tamals, tlayudas, and gorditas. Start with a mezcal cocktail and a trio of salsas, the tetela de pato (duck confit and Oaxaca cheese), or the fresh and zesty hamachi tostada topped with black garlic aioli and salsa macha. Then, order a steak or seasonal vegetable tlayuda (think Mexican-style pizza on a crispy tortilla to share.) The flor de calabaza (squash blossom quesadilla) stuffed with Oaxaca cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and roasted onions is not to be missed. Fish lovers should order the whole wood-fired branzino spiced with black garlic. Finish with dessert, such as the corn husk mousse with meringue, paired with a glass of wine from producers around Mexico." - Eater Staff

"Oaxaca is a popular restaurant in Atlanta, known for dishes like beef cheek birria, branzino, and half chicken, and has introduced many to Mexican wine." - Beth McKibben

"Oaxaca sits beneath an apartment complex in Chamblee, and the move here is to come on a day when the temperature is bearable because their big, covered patio is a vibe. Greenery on all sides keeps noise from the nearby busy street at bay while string lights and wooden tables with wicker chairs put us in summer mode no matter the season. The food, inspired by Oaxacan cuisine, is hit (the birria de res was tender and had a comforting pot roast flavor) or miss (the tamal de hongos was a goopy mess). But a spicy cocktail like the curvas peligrosas, the salsa trio, and a balmy afternoon on the patio is an acceptable way to pass the time." - Juli Horsford