The food here is pretty good. My only complaint is that the seating here is awkward. Also I understand I went to eat alone but I don't appreciate having to sit facing a wall on a bar when there was plenty of empty seats. read more

First, Xoco gets 4 stars for having Bohemia. The nice Xoco employee that let me start drinking said Bohemia while I waited in line deserves 5 stars. Folks, this place is goo-od. Me and the sis went here Friday afternoon and waited about 40 minutes in line but, oh, were we rewarded. I had the Cubano sandwich and she had somethign with pulled pork and they were delicous. We had churros for dessert and it was the perfect end to the meal - we were both very pleased. I'll definitely be back. read more

I have to write the review - there seems to be some serious confusion on these reviews about the vegetarian sandwiches. Just because there's no meat on the mushroom sandwich (and soup) doesn't mean it's vegetarian! It's not. The beans at Xoco are cooked in pork. That said, the person at the counter was super accomodating, adding extra avocado instead of the beans for the sandwich. It is simply not possible to get the soup made without the beans. Therefore, the soup is not vegetarian. The sandwich was amazing. Simply wonderful. But I have to take a star off for not having a dedicated vegetarian sandwich, and for misleading all the eaters and reviewers on yelp who are calling the mushroom options at xoco vegetarian. read more

I have been to XOCO twice now -- my last two trips to Chicago -- in 2013 and just last week, and I can guarantee that I will be coming back here again the next time I visit. I have now tried both the pork belly vermicelli and the short rib red chile soups, and while both were outrageously flavorful and satisfying, I will say that the pork belly vermicelli is my favorite of the two. No matter what entree you order, however, the only way you could go wrong at this establishment is by failing to order the homemade churros with chocolate dipping sauce. This is downright stupidly good. I recommend this place with two thumbs up. Rick Bayless, you are a genius. read more

I tried I really tried to get into Xoco tonight! it's on the "Rick Bayless" block at Clark and Illinois. www.rickbayless.com I was in line when a dentally impaired (sorry I am just disappointed) curly haired female told me they were turning people away because it would take x amt of time to serve x # of customers. she said they weren't sure yet but they close between 9 and 10 pm. wow I think I peed my pants and cried I was longing for that good clean bayless street food. no I didn't pee or cry I went somewhere else but I'll be back in tha morning! read more

Xoco - Door to Xoco 9/11/2009 (hnet) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in to get some churros y chocolate after dinner at Topolo and this was well worth skipping the goat's milk and other odd offerings next door! The churros were freshly made and something like $1 a piece - YUM! Well worth the 10 minute wait. They were wrapped in a handly paper sack with cinnamon and chocolate shavings as well! Chocolate that the husband got was the watered-down offering, which was not my thing (I would have opted for the one with almond milk - yummy). read more

HOLY CRAP. That's good. We got the Top Chef Torta which is braised beef tongue with chorizo, potatoes, and avocado. The beef tongue was very flavorful and tender that you would not miss eating a "regular" cut of meat. However, I do think that the amount of potatoes could be lessened because it already is starchy enough with the bread itself. We also got the Ahogada, a pork sandwich that comes in a tomato-based soup, where you eat it similarly if you were to eat a French Dip. This a dine-in only sandwich that was totally worth eating in the scorching heat. I do want to applaud Xoco's efficiency in getting people in line, taking their orders, and ensuring enough tables to sit and eat. read more

Pibil: wood-roasted suckling pig with achiote, black beans, pickled onion, habanero salsa $12.00 (Almost $14 w/ tax) In other words - Torta from heaven. Eat it with the habenero salsa and it's the torta from hell. I've been here twice. The first torta i'd had was unmemorable (Chicken tinga) and the bf's torta got soggy in the soup (ahogada) but I love the Pibil. Crusty crunchy bread toasted to perfection. + Wood-roasted suckling pig was pretty much mexican pulled pork. Dreamy, succulent, moist and flavorful. + Mashed black beans offers a creamy texture + Pickled onion adds colors and a tart little kick + Habenero salsa that will put your lips on FIRE!!! I didn't believe it when warned on 3 separate occasions this was Hot stuff. Now I know better. The 30 minutes wait was worth it. The sandwich was the most expensive I've ever eaten. Once in a while treat, yes! read more

It's hard for me to understand how I lived in the Midwest for 7+ years considering the weather. We recently went to Chicago for a wedding and of course it was already pretty chilly there. We decided to make a quick trek to Xoco for some hot chocolate before hitting up the Willis Tower observatory. This is my first visit to a Rick Bayless restaurant (Frontera Grill is still on the list). Good casual dining concept. The place is cozy (OK, it's small) so our group of 8 had a hard time finding a table. Some of us ended up standing by the one table we found until more spaces cleared Went with the classic chocolate and it hit the spot. We decided to also get some churros and this is clearly the reason to come here. They're 3 for $4 (I guess inflation is that bad...apparently they were 3 for $1.50 2 years ago!) and worthy of all the praise. They were crispy and not greasy, and they came with a nice dipping chocolate sauce. I also got to sample a bit of the chilaquiles my friend ordered, and they were quite nice, although they don't compare to what we can get here in Houston All in all I liked Xoco, even if it's a bit on the overpriced side of things read more

I loved this place because of the menu and the food. Waiting in a long line is not always fun but when the food is really good, what do you expect? It was a bit cramped, but I can deal. I liked the casual atmosphere, but I didn't like having to stare and be stared at by the numerous people crowding through the line out the door. I had the Aztec Mexican Hot Chocolate (chili hot chocolate) and it was rich, not as overwhelming as one may imagine, and delicious. Could have enjoyed a bit more chili, as it seems like they made it very very mild for everyone to be able to handle. But I assume if you are going in for Chili in your hot cocoa, you know you're taking at least a slight risk... Chips and Guac, yum. People say its not enough guac (because its sooo hard to stop!) but unless you plan on making a meal out of it, it was absolutely fine. We split it between the two of us and we were glad to be saving room for the tortas. Had the Pepito torta from the woodburning oven, and this was absolutely the highlight of my meal (not to mention the majority of it). Jesus christ, the shortribs were perfect. Not to mention the cheese.. oh my god the cheese. Just perfect. Would skip out on trying something new to have this again. Also tried the Cubana from the griddle - this was good, it didn't blow me out of the water. But it was standing next to some stiff competition so... Had the churros, how can you go wrong? I'm not a huge fan of sweets, I had half and gave the rest to my friend who finished off the order of 3. But I did see a cute little family that had come for the Mexican Hot Chocolate and Churros as a sweet treat to snack on outside, and it was heart warming. As for the bill.. I have absolutely nothing to complain about since lunch was on my friend, and I would definitely come back regardless of lunch costing over $40. Everyweek? Probably not, but its definitely worth a trip. If anything, I'm now excited to try Frontera. I loved Xoco! read more

Yes, there will be a wait, but it's really not that bad. And after you finish your meal, you'll be glad you waited. Here's a quick rundown of the three tortas (XOCO's signature offering) I've tried: Cubana - This is one of the tortas made on the griddle and easily one of the best XOCO has to offer. Flavor-packed pork loin and bacon are blanketed by velvety melted cheese in this heavenly sandwich. It also packs a surprising punch of heat from the chipotle mustard. Pepito - Another delicious offering from the torta menu. The meat was so tender, and the flavors meshed well together. The onions and the jalapenos round out the sandwich nicely. Choriqueso - This was my least favorite of the bunch. It lacked the balance of flavor the other two tortas had. The chorizo simply dominated the torta. All in all, XOCO is a great place for delicious food without all the fuss of a formal restaurant. Chef Bayless hit this one out of the park! read more

Of course we had a long wait, but it was to be expected given the chef associated with this lunch hot spot. Moreover, I have no problem waiting for a meal, if it is delicious, and XOCO certainly delivered. My girlfriend and I each ordered a torta and shared half so we could try more of the menu on our first visit. I ordered the Cochinita Pibil, which was a beautiful medley of pork, pickled onion, and habenero salsa (served on the side). My torta was absolutely delicious and definitely brought the heat. Midway through my half, I immediately began to regret splitting it with my gf who ordered the Pepito. While the Pepito was good, it did not have the same depth of flavor that the Cochinita had. Furthermore, as one who LOVES spice, the Pepito was lacking in heat. My only gripe with XOCO was the bread. I'm not sure if it is the traditional bread used for tortas, but it cut open the roof of my mouth pretty bad. I've eaten at other torta restaurants that also use a real crusty bread, but XOCO's was definitely the toughest. Would definitely return again, if i am in the area! read more

This isn't another over-hyped tourist review. Go here to get your dessert to go. The desserts are absolutely fantastic. Healthy, fresh, and a good value for their (small) prices. The lines to eat-in are too long. The seating system is ridiculous here. But, if you're on your lunch break or have guests in town, wandering around River North, stop in and get a quick sweet to go at a bona fide Rick Bayless restaurant. read more

I found the set up for this place to be odd - you walk in and get in line, when a seat is ready someone will come up and give you a seat number, you place your order, give your seat number and pay, maybe get your drink (depending on what you order) or it might get brought out to you, then you walk back down the line, give your number to the hostess who brings you to your seat, and wait for your food to be brought out. But wait - there is another line waiting at another til to order take-out. I guess it works OK if you're used to it, but as a first-timer, I was plenty confused. I had a ham & cheese empanada and a churro, and Wilzie had the chilequiles. It was good. Not mind-blowingly spectacular, but alright. read more

Would've loved to try some of the other offerings at this place, but my trip to Chicago was too short! After standing on line for more than 45 minutes, I finally placed my order for the ahodaga torta and churro with mexican vanilla soft serve on the side. It's so good to see something other than tacos at a restaurant which highlights Mexican flavors and cooking, and the sandwiches are truly unique. The ahodaga torta, which I figured would be the best to try since it is the only option they do not allow for take-out, was a medley of pork, black beans (which I couldn't find, maybe they were pureed? Couldn't taste them anyhow), and pickled onions sandwiched between a crusty bread that the angels must've made from God's tears, dough, and yeast. It is a contradiction - a delicious tragedy - that this sandwich sits in a shallow bowl of spicy tomato broth. I prefer my bread crusty (not soggy), but without the spicy kick, it just isn't "special." The churros were good... and TINY! No complaints though, I could use a few less calories during "dessert time," but I have to hand out some kind of imaginary award to the vanilla soft serve, which was hands down, the best I'd ever had. Perfect and strong vanilla flavor! read more

Well. I am sort of kind of totally obsessed with Mexican food, and I have a total crush on Rick Bayless' cooking. I mean, the man was on Top Chef All Stars! I wouldn't call myself a foodie, as I can happily eat White Castles and sushi in the same weekend, but I still love to eat good stuff. And since XOCO is way more affordable than Frontera Grill or Topolobampo, I figured this would be a good way to experience Mr. Bayless. We went a day or two after New Year's. Luckily it wasn't very crowded. It was on a Monday, and XOCO isn't usually open on Mondays, so maybe we just tricked the crowd. Also it was around 3:30, kind of a weird time to be eating. We got there and the scary line everyone hears about wasn't that bad. BUT! OH SNAP GUESS WHAT I SAW. Rick Bayless was THERE. I could have just left without eating and fangirled myself back home, but we had come all that way, so my friend calmed me down and we got down to the business of deciding what to get. We ordered the carnitas sandwich and soup with carnitas, which they graciously allowed us to split. Gave us two separate bowls and everything! The sandwich was in a sort of spicy red sauce that I would happily eat as soup. That made the thick bread a little more manageable. The flavors were delicious and I almost wished I could have eaten the whole damn thing myself! The soup was great too. Light and fresh with tender pork and little bits of avocado. The squeeze of lime really pulled it all together. As we were finishing we were asked if we wanted any hot chocolate. Of course we had ordered churros, so it didn't take much convincing to add hot chocolate onto the meal. I got the Aztec style with the hot spices mixed in. Very interesting and a perfect compliment to the crunchy sweet churros. If the only churros you've had are the ones you get normally around Chicago, please do yourself a favor and get some at XOCO, they are worlds different. Talk about melt in your mouth! I definitely want to go back. The menu isn't huge, but I want to try everything. I might not even share. It's that good. And maybe I'll get up the nerve to say hello to Rick Bayless! read more

So I wondered if the owner even knew what Xoco meant, where the term came from and how it has influenced millenniums of languages from Mayan to Aztec to Tlahuica, Catalan, and English. Now admittedly, having lived and worked in Mexico for a couple of years, I am quick to disregard the typical "authentic Mexican food" slogan that is all too often splashed across the tackily-lit restaurant signs of Mexican restaurants. Of course, being in the loop, and on this celebratory Saturday, the sign was nil, as would be expected, and the slogan MIA. With all the ranting and raving of Chicago's best Mexican cuisine chef , who is not Mexican BTW, still left me questioning--can he really be that good??? As we waited in line for 45 minutes to place our order and be seated I smart-assedly (sp.) decided to test my theory and pick one of the most authentic Mexican food items I could find, cochinita pibil. As you may have noticed, I already began the process of self-deprecation because what I got this perfect, celebratory, luck-filled, joyous Saturday afternoon was nothing other than true, exquisite, Mexican-style roasted pork with achiote, laden with perfectly pickled red onions--just as you would find in Central Mexico. The preparation was so perfect I did away with the bread and enjoyed the savory roasted flavor of my cochinita pibil. I don't think we could have followed up the dyeing of the Chicago River with a more perfect lunch than the one we had at Xoco. I have every intention of returning to Xoco to try the Jalisco-region famed Torta Ahogada, which I've had only once but made a lasting impression on me. I can't wait to work my way down the menu..... Provecho! read more

Rick Bayless blew my mind. This is the spot to try! Everything from the tortas to the cafe con leche was awesome. I wish that I had one in my hands right now. I was with three girlfriends and we had the following: Chips & Guac - the guac was SO good, pricey, but delish Chicken Tinga - the flavors were out of this world. I could have eaten five of these. Each bite was heavenly, honestly ridic. Choriqueso - nice amount of spice, loved the salsa Pepito - not my favorite. a little boring for me. my friend loved it because she loved philly cheesesteaks and this reminder her of that. Cafe con Leche with Dulce de Leche added - holy mother of good things, nailed it Churros - perfectly fluffy, not overly sugared and the perfect ending to a fabulous meal outside Next time I'm in Chicago, you'll be able to find me here everyday. read more

I can't believe that I haven't reviewed Xoco yet. Rick Bayless is one of my favorite chef personalities, so getting to one of his restaurants has been on my list for awhile. At last, my wife and I were in the city - and it was a very non-busy Saturday! We got right to the front of the line, ordered up guac, chips and salsas, coconut horchata, barbacoa cabra, and a lovely chicken dumpling style soup. Everything here - EVERYTHING was amazing - starting with the chips (so much flavor for a simple tortilla chip - worth going back JUST for the chips and salsa) and then right on to the soup and sandwich. The goat barbacoa was incredible. The guac was full of flavor - and I'm not a guac person. I almost finished the soup for my wife, because it just had tremendous depth of flavor. XOCO is one of those places that I describe as "special sauce" - the flavors are so well crafted, so balanced, so deep - they become hard to describe. I could just repeat menu descriptions and list ingredients - or I can tell you this: the churros (and the chocolate sauce that accompanies them, in particular) will change your view on desserts. The flavors will change your idea of "good" and the authenticity will change your viewpoint of what "mexican food" is. read more

Their churros are to die for. Eat them right away (while they're still warm). Love love the gooey chocolate... perfect for a cold windy day in Chicago. It can get pretty messy though, so probably not the best idea to take them on the road. Speaking from experience, walking and eating these churros at the same time can be pretty difficult. Your alternative is to find a table, but it's almost impossible at Xoco. This is also the reason that I have yet to try any of their real food. So the 4 stars is really for their churros only. How off can they be if they've already perfected churros? read more

A friend and I went to Xoco tonight and had a really great evening. Sure, the line was out the door and yes, it was about an hour wait in line but it was a lot of fun and totally worth it. First, the decor is awesome. very simple and modern but yeah, there isn't a ton of seating. Fortunately, there is a very nice hostess who will meet you at the register, give you your order number and then take you back to your seats. I was honestly shocked when she did this because I had nightmares of eating on the floor or huddled against the wall. It is communal seating for a small group so be ready to make friends with strangers but the vibe was fun and everyone was talking about what they ordered. If you have to wait outside, it will be about an hour before you get up to the register but people were crowded around enough watching Rick Bayless walk by and once you get inside the action is much more interesting. You can see the food going in the woodburning stove and the crowd/action is more than enough entertainment. Food: one word: awesome. I've been to Frontera and liked it a lot but this is the PERFECT lunch or casual dinner place. A friend and I split several dishes, including the homemade hot chocolate (recommend the Azteca), churros (TO DIE FOR), pork belly/avocado soup (not spicy, very tasty), Jamon Torta from the griddle (definitely get the fried egg for on top) and the Choriqueso Torta from the oven (good and with a nice kick but somehow not as satisfying.) My friend and I left SUPER full and happy. I definitely want to go back and try the desserts and get the carry out. Prices were fair and definitely cheaper than Topo and Frontera. I would absolutely, 100 percent go back. Lots of fun (minus the wait) read more

Rick Bayles: I get it! There are HUNDREDS of other Mexican places to go in Chicago for the staple burrito or taco that are good, but how XOCO stands above the crowd is by bring you to the authentic taste you would only get going to visit your Abuelita (grandmother) in Mexico and having her make a sandwich for you. The fact is, Xoco's unpretentious food can't be found in any other restaurant in Chicago. Depending on your palate, it may not make you feel like fireworks just went off in your mouth, but it the love put into it is undeniable. The prices are not really high (average $12) but the portions could be a little bigger for the cost. The real reason that XOCO doesn't get 5 stars is the lack of parking and long lines . Then again, maybe I should have only given it one star just so I didn't have to wait behind YOU in line! More for me!!! read more

The sandwiches here are seriously good. LIKE SERIOUSLY! THEY ARE AMAZING. Rick Bayless has done it again in some fronts. The Ahogada (Is that how you spell it?) with the tomato broth is to die for. I do however have some cravats.... the entire line process is fairly mundane but for the demand this place is receiving I suppose it has to happen. I do not mind having to serve myself water, the con gas and sin gas is a nice touch, but having to annoy and stop a chef preparing food to get ice is ridiculous. If a process is going to be self-automated make it 100%. The portion of guacamole was downright stingy and when I asked for more with still half of my chips left...I was rudely told no by the host/server that had been at the door. Keep in mind you it was 10 o'clock at night and there is no way they were going to reuse what was left for the day tomorrow. Simply unacceptable. I'm also confused why there are no margaritas here, must be something to do with the liquor license but isn't' this encompassed by Frontera? I'll be back for lunch soon, hopefully there will not be a line. read more

I went in for a to-go lunch order and got the Shortrib Torta - a daily special: Guajillo braised shortribs, grilled cactus salad, avocado, black beans. At $12.50 with no sides it's far from cheap- but it was very good. The place is a zoo - tons of people in a small area waiting for to go orders and the line gets out-the-door long very quickly. It was about a 20 minute wait to get my food after I had ordered. read more

Went here for churros after eating dinner at a different spot. they were so good! definitely will be coming here another day to try other items on the menu! read more

This is a great lunch spot that my fiancé and I were happy to find. Just a quick walk from our hotel, Palomar, we made a point to go on a weekday before the real lunch crowd set in. Easy enough to order and sit down, we chose tortas (Baja chicken and choriqueso) and chips and salsa. We didn't realize how much food it would all be, but truly it was all delicious! Salty chips and fresh salsas accompanied by really well put together ingredients on the sandwiches made for a memorable meal. I preferred the Baja chicken to the choriqueso, but my fiancé loved both. I feel like there was a licorice taste to the choriqueso that I couldn't quite get past. I wish I was in the area more frequently so I could discover other menu items! I feel like the vegetarian options would really be amazing and I hope to get back to try. Thumbs up! read more

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

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The concept behind Xoco (which translates to "little sister") is "contemporary expressions of Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks." Basically, you come inside and tell the hostess how many people you have in your party. If they have a table available for you, they allow you to order at the counter and the food comes out steaming hot about 10 minutes later. If they don't have a table available right away, you hang out until one is ready. The staff is really knowledgeable and basically suggested everything that my boyfriend and I ended up ordering including: Chicharrones (fried pork rinds), carnitas soup (meal-in-a-bowl), pepitas torta (shortrib) and churros. Everything was beyond delicious. It was one of the best lunches I have ever had and I can't wait to come back over and over. For more about my experience at Xoco - check out my blog post: http://youngfoodies.com/weekend-in-reviewpart-1-xoco/ read more

Look, I felt like everything tasted like lime. Torta Aguada, Guacamole (didn't mind the lime), and Torta de milanesa. I honestly didnt like it, maybe a different choice in food will get me to come back. read more

Order at the counter. The coffee with milk and chocolate was good (not overly sweet wiht a nice deep chocolate flavor), but it was so chalky at the bottom I almost choked. They also have some nice impulse buys at the register of peanuts and popcorn. read more

Stopped by today to try their Churros and so glad we did it! We ended up eating 2 tortas milanesas, Mexican chocolate and of course churros. Everything is a dream! As a Mexican myself I'm so glad to be able to enjoy true Mexican food I. The heart of a great city like Chicago. It melts my heart! I can't wait to go back and try more of their food! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Although the space is small and there is always a line, the food more than makes up for it. Amazing tortas, spectacularly complex and delicious soups, churros that melt in your mouth, and spectacular homemade hot chocolate with real cacao beans. I've had the mushroom torta on both my visits but I need to branch out to try the other amazing options on the menu--you honestly can't go wrong! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, but be prepared to stand a while and then enjoy one of the best meals of your life. I enjoy the people watching and menu reading in line, so time flies by for me. There is a tiny bit of outdoor seating in the warmer weather months. read more

Apparently I started writing this review over two years ago, so I'll finally finish it. This place has its fall-backs (namely, long wait times during the lunch rush in River North, somewhat expensive sandwiches for their size, bread being almost too hard/crusty), but it does some things extremely well. If there's one thing you come here for, it's the churro. Get it plain and make sure to order it from the take-out line (it's usually under 3 minutes long compared to the 30 minute wait for the order-in line). If you're pressed to get a sandwich, order the Ahogado. Just do it. Thank me later. read more

First off, let me issue a warning. The brown-ish red salsa is hot enough to make the baby jesus cry. It nearly did, me. Green salsa, red salsa, excellent. Brown-ish = pain. I nicked in for a quick lunch grab today - the lovely lady at the counter recommended the cubano and I complied. She was right, it was fantastic and I'll be back, braving the line, to try the rest of the interesting looking menu. read more

I had the special sandwich of the day, some kind of pork tenderloin. It was excellent, though a little pricey at $11. They run the place really well, whethere you're eating there or "to go", the staff keeps everything moving quickly. read more

Xoco does fantastic tortas! My favorites: -Carne Asada: flank steak, green garlic chimichurri, mushrooms, crema; seasonal. -Ahogada: pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce, pickled onions; available daily. -Pork Belly: dark salsa negra glaze, bacon, arugula, queso anejo; available Wednesdays. The flavor combinations are thoughtful, and you can tell the sandwiches are put together with care. The tortas don't rely on copious amounts of oil, butter, or cheese to taste good. The bread is remarkable, crisp outside but yielding within. The ratio of bread to filling is good; almost all bites but maybe the last will have some of the tasty filling. The salsa that's served alongside is also great; the sandwiches are strong enough to stand alone, but a little salsa never hurt anything. I'm pretty sure no one can argue that Rick Bayless knows what he's doing when it comes to sandwiches. Take advantage of the complimentary sparkling water with lime. Prices range from $9.00-$12.75 per sandwich, but I feel that the flavor and quality justify the price. The sandwiches are filling but not monstrous. When I don't mind spending a little more, I really love coming to Xoco for lunch. Although I've heard the waits can be long during peak meal hours, I usually arrive between 2pm and 3pm and am able to order and sit right away. I've read the pressed sandwiches and soups are excellent so I'll have to branch out from the tortas at some point. I highly recommend Xoco's tortas! read more

Xoco - Wednesday's torta special: pork belly, dark salsa negra, bacon, avocado, fresco anejo, arugula. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in here with a group of 10 as a yelp find and we all loved it. Even with the Sat event rush for a late lunch we found ourselves getting our orders quickly and it was all delicious. Cool spot with a great menu! read more

The XOCO hype is worth it in fits and starts. The fact that Rick Bayless actually came in while I was there was pretty fun. 1. Chips and guac are amazing. 2. My pepito sandwich was a greasy, glorified Philly Cheese Steak. I only ate half of it. 3. The hot chocolate is fantastic!!! I would skip the line to order it and take it out. I'm glad I went, but I think it might have been a one-time thing. read more

Employees are all very sweet and attentive! But, the food quality is not what I was expecting. It did not taste very authentic. The milanesa torta was still bomb. read more

We came here on Saturday for an early dinner, arriving around 530pm. There was a short wait, maybe around 20 minutes. But well worth it. My husband and I ordered food like it was our last meal on earth. We ordered three tortas - pepito, the suckling pig, and the saturday special which was goat barbacoa. We ordered two churros, the maple,bacon, pecan streusel ice cream, and an almond hot chocolate for dessert. I had the highest hopes for the suckling pig torta but it fell short out of the three. The goat was actually the most memorable and remarkable. The pepito, although tasty, was safe, and able to be replicated with any good braised short-rib recipe. FYI - a torta is a sandwich with tasty bread...it's crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. It's not so crispy that it hurts the roof of your mouth but it's crispy enough to give your sandwich a good crunch and added texture. I'd say the one thing missing from each sandwich is some raw onion. The salsas accompanying each torta complimented the sandwich perfectly. The churros were good. Not too sweet, crispy, and have some other spices rather than just sugar crystals. The most outstanding dessert was the maple bacon pecan streusel ice cream!! So tasty - salty, sweet, yummy. It's as good as it sounds trust me!! Don't miss out on this. The hot chocolate, as explained by other yelpers, is not as sweet as american hot chocolate. I went in knowing this but was still surprised by how bitter it was. It was thick and rich but not in the way that you would expect. I might try a different version of hot chocolate next time I'm there. We will definitely be back. The caldos that were ordered by those around us did not look as tasty as the tortas but I suppose I should try at least one to confirm my suspicions. Thanks to Rick Bayless. Nice job. Keep up the creativity! read more

I'm the only guy I know who tacks a couple of extra hours onto an in-and-out interviewing trip just so I can stop at some place I've been wanting to eat. I originally hoped to try one of Rick Bayless' higher-end places, so I settled for XOCO as it was the only spot open after my interview ended. Now I say I settled, but I don't mean to give any sort of negative connotation--XOCO was an excellent choice and served me an excellent meal. To be honest, I was surprised to find the place packed shortly before 4. But standing in line just gave me more time to peruse the menu and decide exactly what I wanted. Given that my flight schedule made me to miss lunch, I was particularly hungry. And that's why I ended up having a three-course meal for "linner." The line itself threw me a bit, as it was two-sided. The left (and empty) side was reserved for take-out while the right side was filled with people waiting to eat there, as XOCO won't let you order until a table frees up. By the time it was my turn to order, I knew exactly what I wanted. And in the ten minutes I stood waiting, I enjoyed watching the kitchen staff finish prep and get ready for what was to be a busy Friday night. Once I'd placed my order, I was led to a narrow counter in the middle of the cramped dining room. Almost immediately, parts of my meal started to show up. First came the chips and guac, which had amazing flavor and a silky texture. Despite the fact that I had two more courses to come, I managed to polish off the entire basket myself. Next up was the Choriqueso torta, a hot sandwich that squeezed spicy housemade chorizo, roasted poblano peppers, jack cheese and a tangy salsa in between two pieces of spongy bread. Damn, it was good. But I stopped short of finishing because I was starting to feel the bloat and still had dessert coming. Lastly, and quite a while after my sandwich arrived, my cafe con leche and churro showed up. While the greasy churro was my least favorite part of the meal, the coffee was as good (if not better) than what I've ordered in Miami and Puerto Rico. It was a terrific cup of Joe, which can probably be attributed to the Intelligentsia beans. I really enjoyed my meal here and by the time I left I didn't even regret that I couldn't make it into Frontera or Topolo. I got a lot of great-tasting food for right around $20, plus still had time to get to O'Hare and make my flight. As an added bonus, I even saw Rick Bayless while I was there and that was kind of neat, too. It was nice to see some fancy-pants chef actually in one of his restaurants tasting the food before dinner service. In any case, I'd definitely go back the next chance I have. In fact, after I left Chicago, I was kind of hoping I'd get the job just so I could eat here on a regular basis. read more