One of the absolute hands down best meals I have had in years. Exceptional and incomparable to any place we've dined at in the Carolina's. I was planning to order the sopes because I loved that at a neighborhood restaurant we had in Manhattan years ago. I asked the barkeep who was our server which he would recommend the huaraches. He immediately said the huaraches with the carne asada. It was the best carne asada and the best huaraches that I have ever had. The carne asada had a stunning and evolving flavor. It was complex and elegant in perfect harmony without any part being too loud. What I liked is that every bite there was a first flavor mid and then a finishing. Truly delicious and unique. I absolutely love when the team can advise on the menu or items to try which this barkeep did in spades. They had an anejo on the menu that I had never heard of. He brought it out during the meal as a quick search the maker said it should be able to breathe and swirl and left out for a bit to truly enjoy it. I was able to do so and had a wonderful transition of notes the longer it sat out and I sipped on it. Enjoyed watching how the whole team at the restaurant worked. You could really see the care and effort the team put into the restaurant. Spouse enjoyed their enchiladas. Potato side was alright. Spouse ordered, I'm a little neutral to it because of the peppers (bell not spicy). The frijoles refritos are not to be missed. Lovely flavor and was a great palate cleanser for me whilst drinking the anejo. Guacamole is stellar as to be expected in a place like this. Perfect balance of chunky piece of avocado, onion and tomato in it. Spouse is not a fan of plantains so sadly I could not get him to try the platanos maduros. Fun flavor profile with the sweetness of the plantains. This is a not to miss spot now in the Asheville restaurant scene for me. (We had a reservation for 7:30pm but got into town sooner than anticipated. So we popped in early and were able to be seated at a cocktail table for dinner.) read more

I've been thinking about a visit to Xico for months. Finally made it, and disappointed to say that it kind of met my (not very high) expectations. Went solo during AVL Sounds Fest weekend (early August), and right at the 4:30pm open. They seated me at the bar - which I had requested - but at the one seat right next to the bussing bin. When I left an hour or so later, I was still the only person at the bar. It's a big bar. Never a great start when an establishment treats a solo diner like ... crap. Onward to the food. I ordered a spicy margarita, tuna tostada and guacamole. The guacamole itself was absolutely delicious. Nice chunks of tomato and nicely spiced. The chips however were mediocre. I asked if they were made in house, and was told yes. But it's a little hard to believe. They tasted like out of the bag options, or a slight step above. Tuna tostada was up next, and I was very disappointed. Given the upscale nature and pricing of the restaurant I was expecting deliciousness. What I received was quite stringy tuna, not very tasty and hard to eat. Again, the chip (tostada in this case), almost tasted stale. I would not recommend this dish. Maybe I've been spoiled by Contramar in CDMX, Oxomoco in Brooklyn and Ensenada in Miami / Brooklyn ... but really it was just disappointing. The spicy marg was tasty, and service was "fine." But given I was maybe one of 20 diners in the restaurant in total, I just would have expected more. read more

We had several seating options this evening and chose a high top in the bar. Is was our good fortune that we did as our server Gabriela was professional and friendly, while also preparing drinks at the bar. Food was as good as many friends said though the menu is fish-centric so very limited options for meat-eaters. Drinks were also good but we found the menu and selection pricey for Asheville. read more

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A spot with fancier Mexican options than your typical cantina. Great roomy space. Menu looked very promising with fun ingredients. Overall, food was fine. Nothing mind blowing. Service was a bit clumsy. We had to wait a bit before our server came over. When she came around the first time, she was confused if we had ordered already. We ordered the huaraches but sopes came out instead. Also noticed that some of the other waiters were clumsy handling the plates. But! Everyone was friendly. read more

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The food scene in Asheville never disappoints. Today we tried this very upscale Mexican restaurant. Most dishes are 20-35 dollars. The inside is fairly dark, & the noise from the crowd inside is very loud. So the place had energy. We began with a Chips & Guacamole appetizer. The guacamole & accompanying salsas were about as tasty as it gets. My carne asada was amazingly delicious. There were many levels of flavor from the meat, the cheeses, the spices, & so on. It was too dark for me to be able to discern all the elements on my plate though, but it sure tasted great. read more

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Review strictly for the taco window. Really unimpressed with these tacos and disappointed that it wasn't disclosed that there's cheese on the pastor al trompo. You tuck off to the side of the building to wait for window orders with a number. Service kept getting tables and orders mixed up even though there were just a couple of us outside. I decided to eat the tacos at the table upon receiving the to go box and the tortillas did not hold up nicely. Really insignificant amount of taco filling and unpleasant overall. read more

The restaurant isn't open for lunch, but on the side of the building there is a colorful door with a doorbell that alerts them that someone wants to order. The lunch menu is limited, but what we had (hongos con huitlacoche and carne asada tacos, and guacamole) was excellent. There is a small patio with a few tables where you can sit while you wait. After a very short wait, a young lady brought our order packaged to go, but we ate there. I'm looking forward to going back for dinner soon! read more

Xico - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Xico adds another rung to the ladder of South Slope's culinary ascendancy. The transformation of the space, previously occupied by Foam and Fabric, is stunning. - I could taste the fire in my esquite, which was presented in a cast iron vessel straight from the flame. The cucumber-mint mocktail offered a refreshing contrast. - If you're looking for meatless entrees, though, good luck. There's a quesadilla (quesadillas are sides/appetizers in my book), or you can get the chicken tinga enchiladas, and sub mushrooms, but there's a $4 up-charge. Excuse me? When these are the only meatless "entree" options, it implies a chef who might not quite get it. Sure, this may be how most folks eat in Veracruz. But this is Asheville. There are many vegetarian diners here, and we'd appreciate being treated as more than an afterthought. Great chefs are creative enough to skillfully accommodate varying dietary choices. - The hostess was either having a bad night or needs remedial training. But coming back to the positive, the table service couldn't have been any better. Simply delightful. - And the sweet corn soufflé was outstanding -- it's my Dessert of the Year so far. read more

I showed up here to blow a $50 gift card that I got for Christmas. Service and ambiance worked well. I got the Xiqueno: a seared Hudson Valley Moulard duck breast and carnitas style leg, roasted garnet yams, sour cherry salsita, crushed roasted peanuts, and a red mole sauce from Xico Veracruz, with a side of Frijoles Refritos: classic refried pinto beans with pico de gallo, but without queso fresco. The pinto beans did not taste unlike any other I've had, but the real story is the main course. Both duck cuts were cooked beautifully, the cherry salsita had a tart flavor, and the mole sauce was to DIE for. Overall, this is Mexican fine dining at some of its best. Gracias! read more

Xico - Xiqueno - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Excellent food and and service. The Caesar salad was the best I had anywhere worldwide!!! Yes the Mexican food, Guacamole was delicious was was the steak but the Caesar Salad was a killer! read more

Almost everything is very spicy. My options were very limited. The guacamole is excellent.

Free parking is available in front of the restaurant and Passport pay parking just across the street. First impression upon entering the restaurant...jeez it's loud and noisy. Oh well, it's the 2pm brunch and it should be emptying out soon. Customers who were leaving recommended the steak/egg dish and the fish for two entree. Our server was Savannah; Will created the table side fresh Ceasar dressing and constructed the salad. Along with creating the dressing Will was personable and informative about the history and ingredients. The final product was delicious and memorable. Don't let the extra $ stop you from trying this at least once. My partner enjoyed the special lamb ribs. They were nicely seasoned and plentiful enough to bring some home. I had the beef tartare which was a lovely combination of tender beef pieces and mixture of greens and herbs. Brunch is a nice opportunity to try what Xico has to offer. read more

Xico - Here comes the Caesar salad show. An elevated and entertaining way to enjoy freshly made dressing. - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Highly recommend Xico for an exceptional and fresh dinner in Asheville. The meal was delicious and the drinks were perfect. The server was attentive and made our experience even more special! I would recommend the a/c be turned down a bit as it was a little warm inside. We will definitely be back. read more

Absolutely phenomenal meal! So fresh, so authentic and creative, the service was great! I had the duck breast and honestly may be the best I've ever had! The combination of flavors in this dish was perfect! Hubby had the quesadillas- they were fantastic; oozing with cheese and flavor! The guacamole was so fresh and delicious! Can't wait to go back! read more

Xico - Xhiochen - Duck Breast with mole and yams. Sooooo delish - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Service was great, as was the food. Very flavorful. A waiter at another restaurant recommended Xico, so happy we came. It's restaurant week and the offerings were nice. We each chose different dishes and each was equally delicious. We will be back read more

I don't often go to upscale "fine dining" establishments, but seeing their Asheville Restaurant Week menu special, I convinced some friends to join me in giving this place a try. Part of the motivation was to really see what elevated Mexican food (specifically Veracruzan wood-fired cuisine in this case) was like and whether it was much different from regular Mexican food. I can now say that here at least, without a doubt, it definitely is a major cut above. Of course the prices here are a cut above, too, but for a special occasion, I would recommend giving this place a go. The atmosphere reminded me more of an upscale restaurant in NYC, LA or San Francisco. A very different vibe than most places in Asheville, even the other fine dining ones. My only nit was that the noise level was a bit loud, as is the case in many of these sorts of places. It made conversation across the table challenging at times. Of course the restaurant was absolutely packed with customers, so that was at least partly the reason. The service was stellar here, exactly as you would expect in a top-notch restaurant: friendly, not arrogant, but very attentive. Now to the food and drink. They had a special blood orange margarita (I had it on the rocks). It was amazing, but if you have even one of these, I'd recommend not driving for awhile. I was buzzed from one, even drinking it with food. Apart from the great flavor, there was some sort of chile-based salt on the rim that was very unique (and spicy). The rosemary sour special was also excellent. Our server told us that the blood orange margarita would soon be finding its way onto the regular cocktail menu (which to be honest, was less interesting than these two special cocktails). Chips and guacamole was a little on the pricey side, but the guac, chips and salsas were all very good and not at all what you'd get anywhere else at a regular Mexican restaurant. Both of the appetizers we had (steak tartare tostadita and Japanese Hamachi agua chile negro) were also very good, but I'd go so far as to say the Hamachi was outstanding. I'm not a fan of raw fish, sushi grade or not. But in this case, the vinegar and seasonings they put on it naturally "cooked" it and the consistency of the fish and its flavor were wonderful. Roasted pineapple, pickled mushrooms and some other accompaniments also added to the favor. For entrees, the star was the mole verde salmon. The skin of the salmon was nicely blackened from the wood fire, but somehow the inside was the perfect halfway point between cooked and undercooked. It was so tender and succulent. Very different from most salmon I've had (and I eat a lot of salmon). The mole verde was a nice sauce complement. It was served with fingerling potatoes (good) and chayote (which was a bit dense and chewy, but still tasty). The tinga de pollo enchiladas were good but a bit spicy for my friend who isn't as into hot spices. The "huaraches" ribeye steak was a hit with my other friend. For desserts we had their house churros with chocolate sauce (good, but nothing special), tres leches (wonderful) and a corn-crusted cheese cake that was strange but good. The outside was almost like creme brûlée. Overall, this restaurant is more of a dining experience than a regular restaurant and well worth the price for special occasions at least. We'll be back to try other menu items and to have another blood orange margarita once it makes it onto the regular cocktail menu. read more

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Bad service (both from host and server) & bad food (lacked flavor). Really disappointing all around.

Relatively new restaurant, it's been open for the last 3ish weeks. No reservations available on a Friday night (understandable) but it's first come, first served at the bar. We are down to wait. Waited about 40 minutes. Couple comes in after us without a reservation and gets seated at a table. Front hostess says "oh, I thought you wanted bar. Table makes it easier" (to them). Clearly doesn't understand the triage process of seating. If you want to go in without a reservation, just say FIRST AVAILABLE. Guacamole was decent. Salsa trios were ok- the lady who served it definitely didn't know which ones were hot, med or mild. Be warned. Food took a long time to come out despite the restaurant emptying out. (8:30-9:00 pm at this point). Husband got the Al Pastor drink and it was, in my opinion, undrinkable. Way too much lime and bitter AF. He wasn't going to send it back, so he choked it down. Get something else. I think the menu needs to be revamped. Nice concept but the descriptions are complicated and you can't tell what the portions are going to be based on placement. Is the vegetarian section just sides/compliments to the meals? Overall OK for 100$ spent. Best thing of the night was the guacamole read more

Absolutely loved Xico. The scallops topped with caviar, the steak and the calabaza were the clear standouts... perfectly seared, incredibly tender, and bursting with flavor. Everything we had was thoughtful and beautifully executed, with phenomenal service. A must-visit spot in Asheville. read more

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Hostess completely lied to us. We had a reservation at 7:30 and came in early to see if there was availability. Hostess said yes and that they were going to just clear off a table. After about 15 minutes of waiting we asked if everything was alright and she said that we would have to wait 30 minutes until our reservation time and there were no tables. The manager was right there and said there must have been "confusion". We left right after. If they had told us from the very beginning that we would have to wait then that would have been okay, but lying to our face? Very disrespectful. read more

Food was very salty and some plates so spicy we could not finish them. We were presented with the bill without being asked if we cared for dessert. Overpriced and lacks flavor and authenicity. We do not mind spending $ for a good dinner but left disappointed. read more

Amazing! Way beyond what we expected. The mole duck was extraordinary and the Caesar salad was made table side for the 5 of us and we all agreed it was the best we ever had. Everyone loved their entrees. Great bar and cocktails too. read more

Outstanding! Drinks food and service 5Rita's and tortillas our favs. Brunch is a must

10/10 all around. Chef Scott is one of the best Mexican cuisine chefs in America and it shows!! Our waiter Will was excellent and the food was outstanding. Vibes are top notch. If you're in Asheville you have to check out Xico!! read more

Xico - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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I highly recommend that you go to Xico for a fabulous meal and experience. Chef Scott and his team prepare the most unique and delicious Mexican dishes. My husband and I were there for brunch today. We loved the Atun and the Huevos Rancheros. We'll go back for dinner soon to try some other delicious looking options. The decor and ambiance is beautiful, and the counter at the bar is so inviting. Our server, Al, was very attentive yet relaxed with a friendly demeanor. Go check out Xico. Chef Scott's talent is superior! read more

One of the best meals we've had in a very long time, we will be back every time we're in Asheville

The vibe is great. Great atmosphere, great lighting, and the music sets the perfect mood without being too loud. It's one of those places where you end up staying longer just because it feels so good to be there. If you're looking for delicious food, a cool ambiance, good service and a place that just gets everything right, Xico is it. read more

Went as solo diner on Wed at 5pm-hostess offered bar seating. Place was mostly empty. I pointed this out. Her response: "it's empty for now..." I left. Wondering if their approach, ie. super upscale, unfriendly model type at host stand/exclusivity will land well with locals. Am in demographic that dines out often and was genuinely interested in how the food is. Would have liked to try it out. Not even that picky of a diner but haven't had the velvet rope experience since NYC days. Avoid. read more

The service was amazing! The food was mediocre, the menu was full of delicious sounding dishes, and some were good. Nothing was spectacular. I hope to see it grow because the menu was brilliant, execution was not. The plantains were great, cocktails were delicious. Salmon verde was served with undercooked potatoes. Our server was the most kind person! read more

Food and service were top notch!!! Margaritas were perfectly balanced. The food was unique, high quality, so flavorful, large portions. Highly recommend and excited to go back and try more! read more

Had a lovely dinner with friends at Xico. We truly enjoyed the food, the lovely atmosphere and decor of the space and our waitress was amazing. Will be back. read more

Well, I am very disappointed... After finally having the opportunity to eat at Xico, it turns out not be be worth returning. For about $220 (includes tip) we two experienced a good appetizer (guacamole) and drinks, but the food and service was not good. Our waitress had a rude attitude at first and then seemed to realize the issue (we were right by an inside camera) and then proceeded to be oversolicitous while the manager asked us too often how we were, but at the wrong times given that we had not even received out main course. My medium rare steak was raw and the one side we ordered (corn) was underwhelming. I am not one of those people who is afraid of rare steak; this steak was only briefly cooked on the very outside. My companion liked the duck, but ate very little of the pork. I also do not think that the corn tortillas are homemade (not great) and when we asked for a couple of extra tortillas given that there were only two flour ones, we were charged for these. At think at these prices, two people should be able to have more than one tortilla each. read more

OMG, run dont walk. This place is seriously fabulous. A complete experience. Sorry no photos as I was busy tucking in and enjoying the scene. Only did one side of the menu before quitting, but will be back for the serious side. Plus next time I will be at the bar, which is a very cute spot. Thank you for this place. read more

Fantastic meal! So excited to eat here again soon. The carnitas sopes and duck mole were especially delicious. The portion sizes were great and the kitchen paced the courses well. This will definitely go on our date-night restaurant rotation! read more

Absolutely phenomenal! Ceaser salad made for you at the table. Oh my! Snapper with two different sauces was incredible. Skirt steak extremely tender and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to go back a try the mole. read more