Great service and beautiful decor. Sat at the bar during Saturday happy hour. Delicious drinks and oysters.

Visiting Houston for a workshop and decided to try Xochi for dinner and this is hands down the best mexican food I've ever had! The margaritas, the mole, all of it cant be beat! Patio seating is cozy, and service is excellent!! read more

This was probably my favorite restaurant ever. When I arrived staff greeted and treated me wit excellent service. The food was amazing! Highly recommend the mole and tamales!!! read more

Awful experience, will never go back. First i asked for medium cooked meat and bring me medium well, another did not have the veggies so waiter brings some in stating for us to try it while we get the correct portion which we never got and also my sons plate was incorrect, so much for family time when you all have to eat seperate because they got everything wrong. Manager just brought my plate in but not once did he apologize for the inconvinience the only good thing about this place was how informative our waiter Francisco was. He explainned the history of the food and answered our questions other than that do not believe all the good reviews. If it wasnt for our nice waiter i would've walked out of this place when we received our food read more

Food was well presented with tastes to match! When I walked in I was worried about the place being too loud and overly crowded but we managed to get a table that was tucked in in the back. The server had great knowledge about the menu and cuisine, and even mastered the balance between being attentive and giving us privacy. Remember to save room for dessert and don't miss out on the chocolate caliente! read more

We had passed by this for several days and decided to try it. Ordered the half chicken in mole. Must have a different type of chicken in Houston. We received part of a chicken breast, a drumstick and a chicken foot. The chicken was dry and chewy. read more

Excellent. The flavors, the colors, everything. I made the unfortunate mistake of going to eat at mkt down the street which has 4/5 stars as well with the same number of reviews. They are polar opposites. If you are in the area looking for a restaurant to eat at, just don't go anywhere else. Because I have gone to 4 other places in the area and it's not even close to what is served at Xochi. read more

Good food, average service, about 15% overpriced for Houston, ultra high noise level at 7 pm on Sunday evening, ambience more like a bar than a resteraunt. What's all the hype about? read more

Delicious, interesting food, a bit loud, took 20 minutes to get my car from the valet, and that was on a Wednesday evening. Pro tip: take Uber! read more

Chef Hugo Ortega really did it with this one. Definitely one of my top favorites out of all his restaurants. First of all the restaurant is open, the ambiance is modern and very inviting. The service was friendly and helpful. We tried their Saturday brunch menu, food was packed with flavor. We had the tlayuda (street food from Oaxaca - Mexican twist on an extremely thin pizza with delicious toppings). The tlayuda was great in taste and value. We also had the barbacoa, it was delicious but I was a little disappointed - calling it barbacoa was a big stretch, it's more of a rolled up flank steak, delicious but not barbacoa. The aguas frescas was a fermented pineapple drink, it was pretty good, very unique in taste. LOVED the helado de maíz, the ice cream is shaped as baby corns, it was delicious and exciting to the eye. I must say there was a lot of detail in the plating of each dish. We had a great experience here and I'd love to come back to try more! read more

The food is amazing!! The deep dish pizza is a must try and perfect for a late night snack ! Also the ribeye was amazing and perfectly cooked ! read more

Great place with a great vibe. Experienced and quality staff! Great service and overall great experience. Had the Barbacoa... great!

Excellent new restaurant, went for the brunch buffet and was not disappointed. the buffet had a plethora of everything you could want from elotes, lamb, churros, duck enchaladas the list goes on and on. I managed to put down multiple plates and still wanted more although my stomach gave out and unfortuneatley I couldn't fit in another bite. If you are staying in the hotel it is connected to the big Texas lazy river pool a must of things to check out. read more

Rlly rlly rlly goood food. Excellent service. The atun and oysters are phenomenal. Dessert selection is also amazing.

I came here for girls brunch on a Sunday. Very neat place. It is authentic Mexican food. I also tried their mimosas were tasty. The service was good as well. read more

We went to Xochi during Houston Restaurant Weeks, excited to try a new place that we've heard a lot about. We were a party of 8, had made a reservation, and our table was ready when we arrived. Some of us ordered from the HRW menu, others decided to order from the regular menu. All of the food was beautifully presented. The Memela appetizer was a standout. The quail, suckling pig, and gulf snapper from the HRW menu were very good. Hongos mole and corn soup were worth trying, but probably wouldn't order them again. The corn ice cream was strange. One person in the group liked it, the others were happy to let him eat the rest of it. Service was, unfortunately, very slow. We were there on a Monday night and there were empty tables in the restaurant and seemed to be enough service staff, but we had to ask several times for additional items such as another glass of wine or more tortillas. We also had to track down our waiter to ask for the check at the end of the evening. The restaurant is noisy. If your group is more than a couple and you want to be able to hold a conversation, this may not be the best choice. Overall, worth a try but we probably won't feel the need to visit again. read more

Amazing experience. Food was out of this world...authentic gourmet Mexican. Definitely will be back

I loved my dining experience here! There were many delicious vegetarian options, including some of the outstanding mole options and the huitlasquites. We enjoyed the ambiance, including presentation of the our food. Dessert was a special delight, especially the authentic hot chocolate. Service was outstanding! read more

We had heard so much about the restaurant and it went on our summer must try list. We went and made the mistake of doing it at brunch. The food was very good. It was a buffet which I am not a fan of. This buffet didn't change my mind. Just a lot of people eating way too much. The individual items were good and so I made my meal of just a couple items. The music was a nightmare. Too loud and we were seated way too close. We absolutely could not have a conversation and that will keep us from returning. Maybe we will try it again for a quiet mid week dinner. read more

Let me start with the excellent wait staff- they are extremely familiar with the food and drink menu. The food was honestly just ok. Portions are very small. read more

Limited menu. Slow service. Ordered an appetizer and two beers and was charged 3.00 to hear awful karaoke. Advertised 80's rock band karaoke and it was anything but.... read more

Nice decor but at this price point I would expect better acoustics management (read:it's too noisy). I went here for an interview dinner and it was hard to hear at times. They had music playing in the background which really didn't help the situation. I don't know about you but I'm so fed up with the trend of restaurants being so loud these days. I'm forever in search for a place with a calming, quiet atmosphere but its pretty much a unicorn these days. I got the bacon wrapped quail and the chocolate dessert with the gold flakes. The quail was warm and rapidly cooling down when it was serve to me, and the veggies were already room temp. The chocolate dessert was super pretty, and I liked the dipping dots ice cream but the rest was too rich and sweet for me. Also, the chairs were not very comfy to seat in. If it were up to me, I would not put up with rush hour downtown traffic and pricy parking to eat here. I'd just walk to Hugo's, since it's owned by the same owner anyway. read more

Attended Sunday brunch buffet. Food was excellent but service was subpar especially for the $$$ tag. Don't understand how certain basics weren't covered, such as keeping the buffet area and self service utensils clean. Servers seemed to have the short term memory of goldfish. Had to resort to taking utensils and napkins from neighboring tables since their promise to return with new ones never materialized. Kind of disappointing because this place has lots of potential i'd go to Hugo's on Westheimer instead... great food, slightly less expensive, friendly staff, great atmosphere! read more

The atmosphere is excellent and perfect for a date! Our waiter actually explained the different dishes and was very engaging. The duck and the pork were the best we've had, the mole was delicious and it was hands down the best hot chocolate for dessert that I've ever had! Couldn't ask for more! read more

A nice, casual happy hour visit with great oysters however the other food was soo sup par. Tostada, Guac, Tuna, Camarones A La Parilla were super bland. After discussing with the waitstaff, the response was, "Must be a case of the Mondays" Implying that the kitchen is much better later in the week. Doubt I'd give them another shot as there's so much better food around. read more

We've been here several times and have always enjoyed our experience! I really like the mole sampler because the flavors are all unique and delicious. I think the octopus is our favorite in the city. read more

This is a very authentic southern Mexico restaurant with some unusual dishes. Most American restaurants are from the north of Mexico and this is the opposite end. The wait staff is great and the place is beautiful. A dinner that you will remember for a long time! read more

We have been here for dinner before and we really enjoyed it, so we decided to go back for a brunch buffet on a Sunday. We forgot to make a reservation, so we just called as we were leaving from our place and we were still able to get a spot. On Sundays from 11am to 2:30pm, they only have the brunch buffet option, so you can't order from the regular menu! Brunch was $34 per person. The atmosphere was absolutely lovely and they also had live musicians! They had a menu for drinks and we ordered blood orange passion fruit mimosa for $5 and it was fruity and sparkly! For brunch buffet, they had a variety of options of soups, salad, fish, beef, pork, and chicken. Everything was very interesting to try because it wasn't the typical "Mexican" food that you see in other restaurants. We loved the unique flavors from the Oxaca region of Mexico. The quality and creativity of the food was on point. I really enjoyed the shrimp soup, passion fruit ceviche, and tender pork. Their dessert section had at least 10 or more of different types of sweet options. I liked their raspberry macaron, raspberry pistachio cookie, and churros! Yummm! Their hot chocolate with all of their delicious desserts was an extra plus. read more

Terrible service. Snooty waiters at a Mexican restaurant? Now I've seen everything. He acted as though we're wasting his time just being present. The food is not bad but certainly nothing memorable and nothing to come back for. The dishes which should be good (I've had the real stuff in Mexico many times) are somehow tortured versions of what should be street food or home made food and it loses something in the process. In short, meh. read more

I ate at the downtown restaurant. I started w the baked oysters. No joke, they were so bad my son had to hold his nose. We ordered some apps and they were very bad. Taqueria Arandas kicks their ass. So does Taco Cabana. Don't waste your money. Our waiter was very good. He can't control the food that is served. read more

Ooooh I love this place! I just wish it was easier to park, that is to be expected in downtown. Drinks are pricy but worth it! This is the place to see and be seen in Downtown. Great service and atmosphere. read more

Fantastic. This is not a typical type of restaurant my social group and I try but I am glad we did. Everything our group ate was great but the rabbit appetizer and the pork shank stood out among the rest. Be warned, the queso del rancho is not the "queso" Americans are typically used to. The chocolate cloud for dessert is enough for 4+ people. read more

Summary: Welcome addition to the Houston restaurant scene marred by excessive noise levels Food: Regional Mexican restaurants seem to be a recent trend in Houston and Hugo Ortega's Xochi is a new addition emphasizing Oaxaca inspired food. For starters we had Taquitos Dorados which are fried tacos with chicken, mole and cheese and Tamales de Tamala with Mexican squash. Both were very good. For main courses we had Pato Crujiente (crispy duck), Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila (skirt steak with masa dumplings and vegetables), and Lechon (slow roasted pig). The consensus of the table was the Lechon was the best followed by the duck. One of Xochi's offerings is a variety of cooked insects in various dishes which is characteristic of Oaxaca. For desert we had a chocolate dish which supposedly had candied ants in it but I couldn't really taste them. We also had Helado de Maiz (corn ice cream) which was better than it sounds. Alcohol: They have a wide choice of cocktails and beers. The wine list is extensive with pricing relatively normal at about two times retail. We ended up with Negro Modelo beer which is always a favorite. Service: Service was average for a restaurant of this caliber. We were seated immediately upon arrival per our reservation. The waiter was prompt initially but we had to call him several times to come take our order, to bring us the bill and to respond to questions. They were probably a bit understaffed when the restaurant was full. Environs: Modern décor. We found the noise level to be excessive when the restaurant was full. It was difficult to carry on a conversation across the table without shouting. The restaurant has wooden floors, big plain plate glass windows, and an industrial ceiling. There are no fabrics, such as drapes, tablecloths or rugs to absorb the sound and it shows. In addition the tables are relatively close together. Perhaps this is a restaurant to choose at peak times if you really don't want to talk to your dining partners. Unfortunately this problem is also characteristic of one of Hugo's other restaurants - Caracol - otherwise a great choice. I'd suggest they investigate installing a sound absorbent ceiling to damp down the noise to a more tolerable level. Prices for dishes are relatively normal for Houston upper end restaurants. We spent $60 a person including alcohol, tax and tip. read more

Xochi is a very unique restaurant in Houston. It brings Mexico City to Houston and I appreciate that. From mole to crickets and ants. You can find it here. The palomas are yummy. Always a good experience when I eat here. read more

The best restaurant in Houston. Most reviewers that gave it bad ratings seem to have believed this is a Tex Mex spot It is not. This is pure, flavorful, in your face Mexican. The cocktails - excellent The appetizers - Memela and Tetela, mindblowing The entrees - Barbacoa and Mole Sampler are the best in town The desserts - Otherworldy. There is a reason Hugo Ortega won Best Chef Southwest at the James Beard Awards this year. It is his magnus opus, his masterpiece, and I cant wait to go back for the 5th time. Stunning read more

This is one of the best brunches I've ever had. Mexican food with unique twists and excellent ingredients. A little pricey but well worth it. For an amazing food experience, you have to go to Xochi (and make sure that it is your cheat day). Tip: try the best cheek. It is an unbelievably great dish. read more

Went here for lunch with a colleague. Service was fine, food was another story. I ordered the brisket enchiladas that are $18. When the plate came out, I first noticed the incredibly small portion size. The rice and black refried beans were about a spoonful. They put the rice in a pyramid shape to distract from how small of a portion size they give you. They give you two medium (?) sized brisket enchiladas with mole sauce. This might be OK if they had a fair amount of brisket in them and if they were warm and flavorful. The only thing on the plate that was moderately warm were the refried black beans. The enchiladas felt like they had been sitting out because literally no part of them was warm. Additionally, the flavor/taste didn't make up for the lack of warmth. Everything tasted bland as if it were all pre-packaged and thrown together. Perhaps I ordered a non-specialty menu item and there are other dishes they prepare that are better. However, I'm not sure they actually prepare anything based on the way my food tasted. Also, if you read through the REAL (negative) reviews on this place, it seems my experience is not unique. I don't leave many reviews in general (good or bad) but it takes a special kind of bad to make me want to leave a negative review. Simply put, I felt ripped off after leaving this place. Based on first impression, I won't be back and you couldn't pay me to give this place another try. Don't be fooled by the "hype" and positive reviews. If you're looking for good food in downtown Houston, this ain't it, chief. read more

This was amazing. The atmosphere, food, drinks and service. We started with the craft cocktails and then the entire table switched the jalapeño margaritas with mezcal or tequila...both were great. If you order the burger, ask for a side of green sauce...just the right enhancement. Such a great add to downtown Houston! read more

An upscale restaurant located in the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston. The food is based on Oaxacan dishes from Mexico. The server suggested a version of Mexican pizza which was an extra large tortilla with black bean paste, cheese, chorizo, and garnished with vegetables. It was a big dish and could have sated two people. Tasty and flavorful. The restaurant also specializes in Tequila based cocktails. I had a version of Old Fashioned with Tequila as the base. It had a good nose and came with a big ice cube. Enjoyed sipping the drink. Seating is upscale with views of the street. The service was friendly and attentive. Prices were reasonable. read more

I can't tell if I'm giving into the hype behind this place, or if they just followed through as expected. The moly is indeed Divine. With a broad range of flavors this is the real deal and certainly worth returning for. I did the Malaysia flight and have no regrets about 4 wildly diverse and equally delicious flavors for dinner. The dessert menu is incredible. We shared all of the options on the chocolate menu and although some are more beautiful than tasty, and others and more tasty than beautiful, each of them was magnificently prepared and worth the cost of dessert. The biggest suggestion I have for diners is to make sure to get the sampler platter as an appetizer. Some of my favorite things during the dinner where the blue corn empanadas and the fried plantain. Good Malay is hard to come by and this is a high-quality experience to accompany it. I would equal to return, but know that I can find equally delicious options at a lower cost elsewhere. I know ahead of time if you're going in for a high-quality dining experience and plan accordingly both from a wardrobe and budget perspective. read more