This place is a gem! I stopped in on a cold afternoon and ordered the pozole. I hadn't had pozole in years but it was a family tradition growing up, and this bowl hit me right in the heart. It was absolutely delicious! Perfectly balanced, and packed with flavor. The service was outstanding, and the made-to-order churro was the perfect sweet finish. Do yourself a favor and order the dirty horchata if it's available--it was phenomenal. read more

Xoco - Churro and Dirty Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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According to my husband - who loves Lou Malnati - he gives the new "Beef-za" a "4" out of 10 stars. He says:. "The taste was just not that good at matching the taste of a Chicago Italian beef or combination." It was a big disappointment. :( read more

Ahogada sandwich Pistachio churro Xocorian margarita (happy hour special) $5 Taco (happy hour special) $1.50 read more

The churros alone are worth coming here for. Hands down the best churros I've ever had. Not oily at all, perfectly crispy, and the caramel sauce was chef's kiss. The vibes were super casual and I loved that they were only playing Bad Bunny, instant mood boost! The steak torta tasted good but I was honestly expecting more. Same with the carnitas tacos. They were solid and fresh, but nothing that blew me away. The boozy cup wasn't for me. It tasted like hot chocolate mixed with mezcal and the alcohol flavor was way too strong, not the best combo. Even with a few misses, I still had a great time and would totally come back just for the churros and vibes. read more

Came here during their happy hour (Tuesday - Friday 3-6 pm) and was not disappointed! Service was fantastic, with the entire staff always checking on me. The food was amazing, and reasonably priced with the happy hour deals. Probably one of the best restaurants in Chicago! Highly recommend and I will definitely be back. read more

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Great hole in the wall. The server was nice enough to split our pozole for 2 ppl. It had chicharron and pork shoulders. We also got the chorizo torta that was okay. I wasn't a big fan. The churro is not like a LA churro. It felt like hortcha flavor churro. It was really good. read more

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It's time for Rick to stop pretending he has anything to do with these restaurants and either step up and work at them or close them. I'm tired of this nonsense. I haven't had a good meal at either place for years. Today I had the carnitas tacos and a side of beans. $30 with tax and tip for tacos and beans. You could have a better example almost anywhere else in Chicago. The beans were nasty. You know that old onion taste? Well, inedible. I told them and they didn't take it off the check. The tacos were bland. Not nearly enough cilantro and I don't really like the avocado with my already rich pork. The pork didn't taste like much and I could have used some more fresh onion on them. The salsa is good but not enough for 4 tacos... by the way, 3 would be fine and is standard at any restaurant in the city. This was one of the worst meals I have had in this neighborhood. read more

My mom has been dying to come here and so when I came in to visit from CT we used the occasion as a reason to go and im so happy we did. I had the baja chicken torta which was the perfect blendy of spicy and savory and crunchy and creamy. Wonderfully balanced and the perfect amount of food. My mom had the half eggplant torta and the guac. Both were incredible. The perfect accompaniment to our meal were the churros which were perfect, light, crispy, sweet, substantial. The dipping sauces were to die for. The atmoshphere is small and bright and busy and inviting. The prices are reasonable. The service was quick and friendly and we even had the bonus of a hot waiter. Perfect lunch! read more

Xoco - Baja Chicken Torta, Golden 1/2 Eggplant Torta, guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the ahogada torta as well as the chorizo con papa tacos. First off the presentation was very posh for a torta ahogada...which definitely catches your eye when it comes to your table. It had good flavor and the meat was very tender on the torta. It has a modern interior but also a decor the represents Mexican heritage with their table cloths. Definitely a cool spot to visit in Chicago. read more

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Xoco was a definite highlight of our recent family trip to Chicago. I had been craving good Mexican food for quite some time and noticed this restaurant by the Rick Bayless across the street and decided to take a chance. I am soooo glad we did The atmosphere was family friendly and the staff very nice and patient. The menu was very helpful, with descriptions to help you understand what we were ordering. The wood oven flank steak was delicious with just the right combination of spice and citrus. It comes on a bed of potatoes and with corn tortillas. The beef barbacoa torta was ridiculous. Tender beef paired with caramelized onions and cheese. I could eat that any day of the week. The kids loved the Aztec-themed coloring page/menu. Each ordered a chicken torta from the kids menu. The crispy chicken was amazing. The portions were pretty large and included a mini churro. It honestly would have made a great meal for an adult. As a cherry on top, I had the privilege of briefly meeting Mr. Bayless himself and letting him know how much we enjoyed our meal. Overall, the whole experience really just made our trip and we look forward to visiting XOCO again! read more

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Lively atmosphere with good music and vibe. It was easy to get a table for 6 on Saturday at 730pm. High benches and low table seating. We ordered a variety of tacos from the menu: shrimp, fish and chicken). They all had great flavor and were tasty. The chips and salsa were good as well. We did find that the all the taco varieties were very spicy. Our mouths were a bit on fire. I would like to try their tortas next time. Overall nice evening out with family and right across from the Hyatt where we were staying. read more

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When I got here on a Saturday afternoon, I was stuffed like a turkey with no appetite. I was looking strictly at desserts, and I had to order Churros. The Cajeta, or the Mexican dulce de leche with cinnamon sugar-dusted churros, was good, but the pistachio-glazed churros blew my mind! The pistachio churro was nutty, sweet goodness, paired with the Classic Hot Chocolate, was a chef's kiss. I devoured everything with zero regrets. The service was smooth. The decor was very Mexican, and the next time I visit Chicago, I know I will be back here! read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great Mexican restaurant with delicious chips, salsa, and sandwiches. I got the Baja chicken torta and it was very good. The bread honestly was a bit too crunchy. I kind of wanted it to soak up some of the chicken juices and sauce. Service was amazing! Everyone was so nice and attentive. read more

Xoco - Baja Chicken Torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After I finished a great dinner from Frontera Grill, I almost got whiplash from the views in my peripheral visual field. I saw steaming hot churros in the window at Xoco, the spot next to Frontera (also owned by Rick Bayless). Because I was full, I made the decision to come back the next day. Lucky for me, their Thursday special was for $1 churros on Thursday. I had the hot churros with cajeta. That combo always hits. The churros here were exceptional as they were freshly made. It was crispy on the outside, but still had a nice chew. It had nice large sugar crystals, which provided great flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. I'm so glad I came by. I also went with their Mexico City thick hot chocolate. Their cacao beans are roasted in house and flavored with whole milk, corn dough as a thickening agent, and Mexican spice. If you know champurrado, that's what they were going for. It was slightly sweet, slightly fruity, hot, and acidic. It doesn't taste like any chocolate bar I know. If you want something adventurous, then go with what I ordered; however, they have four variations of hot chocolate on the menu! On a cold Chicago night, you can't do better than hot churros and hot chocolate! What xoco is really known for is Mexican tortas and street food style options from Rick Bayless. I definitely have to say that everything coming out from the kitchen looked good. read more

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(G)o - Go! How could you hate on a churro?! (W)ow - Having ordered a range of dipping sauces ranging from chocolate to salted caramel, I was bound to be wowed by the sugar high..an extravagant choice..but quite needed. (A)mbiance - very casual spot, lots of folks do take out and eat churros by the river (M)enu - once again, you can't lose with the churros here. Would love to try a churro sandwich later. read more

This is a great place to eat if you're in the neighborhood! Their tlayudas are huge and really tasty. I also love getting their churros with cajeta dipping sauce. Their a little fancier than normal churros and the dipping sauce is so good. The service is always fast and pleasant as well. I would definitely recommend eating here! read more

Came for a quick lunch. Have had some tacos for dinner before but really enjoyed trying out the lunch tortas. The service was on par, never saw the bottom of my water glass with plenty of check-ins from our server. read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stayed at a hotel across this place and just kept walking by not thinking to stop by. A friend told us their churros were a must so we decided to stop just for churros. Lol bc we ended up eating there. We ordered the barbacoa torta, milanesa and Oaxacan pork torta. ALL were delicious! I think the Oaxacan pork was my fav, but again all were delicious. Also ordered the traditional churros along with the authentic chocolate (dairy free water based) and champurrado. For my lactose intolerant people I'm happy to report the traditional churros (without the sauces) is dairy free! The churros were so good! Soft on the inside with a nice exterior crisp. The authentic chocolate was so rich you wouldn't think it was water based. I wanted to come back and order a torta to go the day of my flight, but the place was closed. Please check the business hours to make sure it's open the day you plan to go. On my next visit this place is definitely on the list to visit. read more

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Came for dinner while in town for a conference. Cozy spot in a cold night. Enjoyed tortilla and pozole soups with a half torta and margarita. The food hit the spot and came out quickly. Service was friendly and quick. I'd come back here! read more

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I've had this place bookmarked for a while, not sure if it was a recommendation from Top Chef or because it's Rick Bayless, but regardless I'm happy I stopped by! The worst part of the experience was figuring out where to walk in. There's some tables outside and people (including myself initially) kept trying a random door but nope, it's the door off of Illinois. I ended up sitting outside but wish I would have opted for inside but unfortunately didn't see the spacey inside seating area until after my meal. The aromas inside made me want a second lunch, oh my! As for lunch, it was tasty and I think a great value for the caliber of food. I went with the half torta and salad lunch special and it hit the spot. I would come here again whole in Chicago! read more

Xoco - Lunch special Milanesa 1/2 Torta with salad - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our very first stop on our quick trip to Chicago, xoco was close to our hotel & a great choice. Definitely get the hot chocolate. Staff was very nice and prompt, would definitely come back again. read more

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The food is to die for, we ordered 3 tortas, chicken milanesa, Oaxaca & torta ahogada and they were all delicious! I was impressed with the flavor in the milanesa, the toppings described can be tasted with every bite. The hot torta ahogada is in fact hot so you may want to order mild, if you don't like spicy food. The hot was delicious and perfect on the spice. The Oaxacan was very yummy fill of flavor. Kids carnitas tacos was also delicious. Service was also amazing, I definitely recommend this place!!! read more

Xoco - Torta Ahogada Torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried their seaonsal sandwich, roasted potatoes and side jicama salad. Food was not bad. Bill was CHEATing. You should be careful as they calculate the tax based on the price of food PLUS 15% mandatory service fee (the mandatory service fee itself was unreasonable for such a fast-food like restaurant). So for example, if you ordered $10 food, your tax would be (10 + 1.5)*11.75% instead of 10*11.75% = 1.175. read more

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A bit pricey, but overall, really good food for all ages! Our kids really liked the quesadilla (they were definitely super cheesy!); the guacamole was a hit for all; and the portion sizes were fairly reasonable. Only thing I wouldn't recommend is the tostada to go because it loses its crispiness. While not a regular occurrence for us, will definitely be back! read more

Really great casual options. Chicken milanese torta was fantastic. Really nice crunch and paired well with pickles and on a pressed torta. Tlayuda with summer corn was tasty too read more

This is one of the affordable Rick Bayliss restaurants and the food was great. Arrived during Happy Hour and ordered a margarita, michelada, and chips and guac. All were terrific, though one could argue that the chips and guac could have been more generous. We had carnitas enchiladas and pozole. Both hit the spot on a cool late afternoon. They asked about food allergies before turning in the order. They also add a 15% service charge, but the additional tip options were 3, 5, and 7%, so entirely fair. Service was great throughout. read more

Welcome to my favorite food. My go-to order is the Xoco margarita, fully loaded guacamole, and Milanesa torta. Though I have never met a menu item at Xoco that I did not like. I kid you not... I do not travel to Chicago without getting a Milanesa torta. There is another Xoco at ORD. Booking flight now. read more

Xoco - Margarita and Fully Dressed Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Small in size but big and bold in flavor. Cannot rave more about chef Rick Bayless' casual yet elevated Mexican food. More pleased since his now-closed Red O in Los Angeles disappointed food wise, though the ambiance was beautiful. Ever had a Mexican-style pizza? It's called a tlayuda. Order to share! I chose the Asparagus & Ham Tlayuda. Fantastic! From the grilled asparagus, plentiful avocado chunks, roasted serrano crema and black bean spread, on a corn masa tostada. The ham was salty for me though. And it was huge! Like a large pizza. I shared some with my friend and we only ate 1/3. Papas Rancheras (smashed potatoes) - Watch out that first piece was really spicy! Such a culinary delight, from the contrast of the crispy outside and the soft fluffy inside, to the bomb cilantro crema, that I could drink. Baja Chicken Torta - packed with flavor with homemade fresco cheese It was hard deciding what to order. Tacos, salads, hearty soups, margaritas and beers also on the menu. Service was great, knowledgeable and efficient. My friend wanted to come back again during our trip. My tastebuds were all for it but I desired more eating adventures. Highly recommend. If I lived in Chicago, I'd be a regular! PLEASE me know what it would take to open a location in Los Angeles! Gracias! read more

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Great price fow what you get! Our dinner was not too expensive and it was super flavorful. I got the enchiladas and they were packed with meat. The portion sizes for the tacos were great too, you got 4 tacos with your order! The drinks were good, but small portions. The guac was just topped with cilantro and onions so not really quacamole. The service was fast and the servers were friendly! read more

Everything's excellent not cheap but commensurate with the effort and quality. Super authentic

The best meal we had in Chicago. The food was flavorful and fresh. The staff was incredibly friendly and stayed past closing to accommodate us. read more

What a great place! Friendly, fast and delicious! Extremely busy but service was prompt and the food came out fast, fresh and hot. Very reasonable prices for what you get, can't wait to go back to try more! Loved the true Barbacoa torta, so many layers of flavor without anything being overwhelming. Same with the Chicken Tinga tacos, wonderful! read more

Xoco - Chicken tinga tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We ordered Baja chicken and pepito with a cappuccino & dirty horchata and they were amazing. Services were great and there is a 15% service charge included that I wasn't aware. Ambience has inside and outside and we chose inside because it was a little cold out. read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Xoco was so great that we visited twice in 3 days! We started with lunch and had wonderful sandwiches, tasty churros and amazing Aztec chocolate in a cup (think hot cocoa but without the milk and loads of sugar). We then visited again for Saturday brunch and it was even better than lunch. Still had to grab the churros and Aztec chocolate to top of the meal!! read more

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Torta decent bread was a little too on the overly toasted hard side. Red Sauce with it was very good. Pork pozole was the star. Excellent taste overall would be back, service was pretty good as well. rick bayless didn't let us down read more

I've found myself leaning away from mexican food lately, so when a coworker suggested this spot, I was on the fence. But I'm SO glad that I went along. We started out with Chicken & Mole Poblano Tlayuda to be shared with the table. I have to admit, I'm not the biggest mole fan and while delicious, having something sweet mixed in with what my tastebuds expect to be savory is always a challenge for me. For me, the Milanesa 1/2 Torta with a bowl of the famous Chicken Tortilla Soup was the highlight. It was the perfect amount for lunch and incredible flavors mixed all together. We all shared churros for dessert and, while I would like to go back for the churro sundae, overall it was a perfect way to cap off a work week in the windy city! read more

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We came on a Friday evening and were able to sit outside! The service was quick and friendly! We ordered their horchata which was decent. To start we had chips and salsa, and these have to be some of the best tortilla chips I've eaten! I had their veggie tacos and they were delicious, packed full of ingredients. The steak tacos were nice too, but I really enjoyed their summer offering! We needed our meal with the churros which came out warm! They tasted great! We've gone back since and will likely return for more! read more

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We came in for their happy hour, and they had a variety of drink and food options, but just keep in mind that everything was mini sized! We ordered the shrimp tacos off the regular menu and they were delicious. The only thing I wasn't impressed by were the churros, which had a very oily taste, tasted like it had been fried in the same oil as other savory foods. read more

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Solid oaxacan fish tacos (perfect before a night out!), the churro sandwich looked great and I would definitely recommend from my friends response! Cheers! read more

Xoco - Oaxacan Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great location and great quick bites. Great drinks and wonderful service. Easy hang out read more