I got the Classic hot chocolate, which only comes with dairy milk. I've tried a lot of famous hot chocolates, and this was definitely up there with the best. It was similar to drinking a meltedendangered species chocolate bar. I also got the Saturday special, the Barbacoa torta. Very savory and delicious! Service was great. The tipping threw me off when I checked out because the options were 3%, 5%, and maybe 10%. I asked about that, and they told me that 15% is already built in! So, don't get confused. Plentiful seating to boot I initially rated this place 5 stars, but I edited the rating. I used the restroom, and the staff started banging on the door. I yelled that someone was in there three times, and they wouldn't stop. After I came out, I found a crowd of staff. One of them explained that they were just worried about me. If that were true, they would've left after I said I was in there. Extremely rude and odd. read more

Xoco - Classic hot chocolate - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Another way overpriced restaurant in Chicago. Food is very average. This was the worst service we had the whole week we were there. Server came to our table once for drinks and once for food. Stopped at other tables next to us multiple times and completely ignored us. Then charged an automatic 15% service fee. Definitely wouldn't recommend this place and I have no idea how it has such good reviews. read more

Xoco - Chipotle Shrimp Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was great, restaurant very well organized and clean. The food is absolutely delicious. read more

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Parking lot always hard to find, but tortas ahogadas makes up for it. Every time I go to Chicago I got to have a piece of my homeland Guadalajara. read more

15% HIDDEN SERVICE CHARGE! usually establishments have these things posted everywhere when they have a service charge. But this place doesn't tell you until the bill arrives which is pretty ridiculous for food that isn't on par with other places that have these types of fees. read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Made the trek to come here for lunch with a coworker. Went halfsies on 2 tortas- Pepito and Cubana. Believe it or not this is the first time I've ever had a torta , and I really enjoyed both. Bread was super crispy and full flavor profile. Portions were large and the price was good. Also enjoyed the little side patio we got to sit out at. read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Xoco was a great experience! A friend of mine is visiting for work so we wanted to get great Mexican food around River North. Firstly, they have indoor and outdoor seating and for an October night, it was 75 out so we sat outside. Second, the service was great! Not just our server but the whole staff would check on us here and there, it was a great team atmosphere with them. Now about the food: It was a little pricey but about average price for River North. The chicharrones were really good! Had a good kick to them, still very fresh and crunchy, we cleaned off the plate! The tacos were really good too! We split a barbacoa dish and a chicken tinga dish. For the record, the tacos all come with avocado, I'm just not a fan of it. But my friend loved her tacos! She thought she wouldn't eat most of her food but she loved them enough to eat them all. The balance of the flavors in the tacos were great! Plus the red salsa? So good! I finished that up too! Lastly, we had the churros. They were really good! Tasted fresh, not too much sugar, and the chocolate was creamy and tasty but not too sweet. I can't wait to go back! read more

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One of my favorite bites in Chicago we came for the churro chicken sandwhich! The roasted Sala on the side, was such an amazing touch. Crispy, salty, and sweet. Such a unique bite and memorable. Would come back and visit again. read more

Xoco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A no-fuss, authentic-adjacent Mexican restaurant with great vibes. Staff is super nice. A 15% tip is automatically included in all bills, which I appreciate. Try the horchata with an espresso or whiskey shot. I would skip the chips and salsa but the tlayuda is a must try (ask for extra base sauce for a more flavorful and chewy bite). read more

Xoco - Butternut & Apple Tlayuda and chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing! Always wonderful flavor combinations in creative food! The Golden Eggplant torta was fantastic, a surprise! We also enjoyed the Chorizo and Fideos Seco Tlayuda as it was unique. Dessert stole the show! The Coconut Cheesecake is now our favorite dessert, topped with mango and orange pieces, it's out of this world! Friendly service and a pleasant atmosphere. read more

Stopped in for a quick weekday lunch - small but lively joint in River North! Great welcoming service and so many things on the menu looked yummy, ended up getting the churro fried chicken sandwich which was small but mighty, I was worried that it would be too heavy but the chicken had a nice spice and the Napa cabbage slaw in between added much needed freshness. The crispy churro bun was great too! I will second the reviews that mention it's messy to eat- ended up going at it with fork and knife. Also got some churros to go since it was $1 churro Thursday! Great spot and will be back to try more. Price: 5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 5/5 read more

Xoco - Churro Fried Chicken Sandwich - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Xoco was the choice for our group lunch, the younger, casual, sister restaurant to Frontera, Rick Bayless' flagship restaurant. Bayless specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine with modern interpretations and has won a number of accolades including several James Beard Awards and a Michelin star for his restaurant, Topolobampo. At Xoco, you'll find an interesting take on Mexican street food favorites like tortas, caldos, hot chocolate, and desserts. We were able to conveniently put in an order online and schedule a pick-up time. It's nearby Merchandise Mart where our office was located, so we took a little walk to pick up our takeout and enjoyed it back at our office. There was a bit of a mixup with our order and were shorted a broth, but we figured it out. I went for their Ahogada, their most popular item. This torta comes with golden pork carnitas, pickled onions, black bean spread, and a tomato-arbol chile broth for dipping. The bread was a bit hard or my liking, but dipping it in the broth softened it up a bit and was otherwise delicious. For dessert, I also got a polvoron and an Aztec Hot Chocolate. The polvoron was quite different from the Filipino polvoron that I'm used to that's made with pressed milk powder, but this version was quite tasty and more like a shortbread cookie. The Aztec Hot Chocolate was also unlike any I've had before as it was tinted a bit red in color and seasoned with chile and some other spices. I am not sure if I'd order it again in the future, but I am glad I tried it! All in all, good place for a quick lunch that has unique offerings. If dining in, they have a number of tables available and also beer on tap! read more

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Amazing food! Service was great. Ambiance was busy when we got there, but busy means good food

The food as good. The service was great. They were very attentive and the food came fast. I would go again. The churros were good.

I give this place 4 stars due to the entrees we tried. The short rib tacos were really good. We only got food to go so can't speak to service or ambiance. If you want yummy Mexican food in a pinch it did the trick! read more

Xoco has some of the best tacos we have ever have. The tomatillo salsa was one the best bites i have had. I got the fish tacos and my wife has the chicken tacos, both were great. The horchata was good as well. The churo and sauce tasted great. read more

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We walked into this place on a happening Saturday evening to grab a quick bite before heading to the bars on Hubbard Street. This is a casual place that looks similar to other chilled out mexican restaurants in the area. We ordered a plate of tacos and potatoes. The food tasted mediocre at best, but considering the fact that it was relatively inexpensive, we got what we paid for. The tacos lacked flavor and so we asked for some extra habanero salsa on the side. BEWARE: the habanero salsa is insanely spicy. The order of potatoes took a while to come through and so the waiter was kind enough to take that item entirely off the menu. So I have no complaints about the service. I wouldn't come here specially to eat; but it's conveniently located by a lot of bars so it's a nice place to quickly grab a bit before heading out for the night. read more

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An affordable spot in River North for creative Mexican fare, from tortas to tacos! They don't do reservations, so be prepared to wait during popular times-- my group of 3 came at a busy time on Saturday night, and we had a ~30 minute wait before getting seated. Once we were seated, the service was good, attentive, and the food came out fast. The seating is pretty laid back with a combination of high-top bar-like seating and normal tables. We got chips & guac to share. The chips were really fresh and crisp, and the guac was great too-- creamy, well-seasoned, and well-flavored. The other sauces provided were also fresh-- a little mild in flavor but still had a nice sweet-spicy kick to it. I also ordered the Golden Eggplant Torta, which was extremely delicious. Both the bread and eggplant were so crispy / crunchy and the inside contents-- cheese, arugula, sauce, squash-- were bursting with rich flavors. Combined, the torta had the perfect mix of textures: creamy veggies and crunchy bread / eggplant, making the experience of eating the sandwich really enjoyable. It was also affordable-- just $10 for this incredible dish! The vegetarian / vegan options are a bit limited overall, but the ones available are truly excellent. Can't wait to come back again to try some other items on the menu! read more

Xoco - Golden Eggplant Torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The milanesa torta is ALWAYS perfect. It could be the best item on the menu. You must try the fresh chips and salsa, very flavorful and not too spicy. Even take out is perfect every time. Unpopular opinion, the chicken tortillas soup is not my favorite. read more

Excellent brunch items. I had the guac breakfast sandwich that was as dense as a burger, smoky bacon, egg, cheese, guac. The Dirty Horchata, however, is worth the stop alone! The horchata flavor you love, but with espresso. Service was fast and friendly, even for a Saturday brunch rush. read more

Xoco - Brunch options (Nov 2024) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely amazing food and service. I had unbelievable Barbacoa tacos here, so fresh and very very good tortillas.

I've been here a few times. Usually it's packed during the summer but this was a fall visit and only a few tables were occupied. It was a block or two fr.our hotel which was a bonus. I wanted to try something different and got the churri chicken sandy. It didn't disappoint! The combo of hot and sweet was the bomb! My daughter opted for the steak tacos which came as a trio. Again, perfectly seasoned and tender. It didn't come with rice nor beans but we were full. Lastly we had homemade churros with a chocolate dipping sauce. We went back to our hotel with leftovers and needed a nap before venturing to Grant Park. . read more

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TL; DR: Small Place, Great Food, Yummy churros This place is on the smaller scale and you should be happy if you get seated at a place where you can have a table instead of a bar top. The food is delicious especially the sandwiches. The churro is a great small dessert. I would go back. read more

I ordered the Milanesa Torta, a side salad and chips and salsa. I placed my order online and had them deliver it. It took about 30 minutes, and my order was dropped off at my hotel. I was pleasantly surprised that the torta was not soggy at all, despite being fully dressed just as if I had ordered it in the restaurant. There was a nice crunchy exterior on the bread to balance out the ingredients on the inside. The sandwich was definitely well balanced, and had a lot of good favors in each bite The side salad was fresh, and the jicama provided a nice crunch. It was a perfect complement to the much heavier torta. The chips were fresh and had a good amount of salt. The order of chips was actually quite large as well. The green salsa that it came with was good. I really enjoyed my meal and would order food from Xoco again. read more

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Great place for a casual meal! They don't take reservations but there was a hostess at the front who sat us, your entire party has to be there to be seated even if you are just 2 people. There was a table available immediately and our orders were taken at the table. I had the al pastor (pork belly) taco which were delicious! I swapped a taco with a friend to try his beef barbacoa taco, which was equally as delicious. The tacos come in orders of four which I thought would be too much, but my plate was very much empty at the end of the meal. Would definitely come back the next time I'm in Chicago! read more

Xoco - Pork Belly al pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great to find a casual awesome food fun great margaritas little place in the heart of crazy downtown Chicago

Just yes. Food is absolutely amazing and authentic to the region. I ordered the drunken pork sandwich which is submerged in a tomato broth. It was divine. I also ordered a loaded guacamole which was outstandingly outstanding and worth. Every penny of the $15 I paid the homemade salsa is also to die for, and Rick Bayless absolutely has a winner here at reasonable pricing. Highly recommend it! read more

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They have this torta only on fridays that is off the chain with a special green homemade sauce. It super expensive for one sandwhich in my opinion. But I'd splurge on it only for a treat on a Friday. read more

We did not have a good experience at Xoco. This was our first and definitely last time going there. We got the happy hour margaritas and they were the size of a shot. The "queso" was like melted shredded cheese and impossible to dip with, it came with blue corn tortillas that had zero flavor. read more

You know it's going to be good when it's standing room only on a Thursday night! Loved everything about it except for the minimal seating. If I was local, their tacos would be a takeout staple at least once a week for me! read more

A hyped up place that's actually worth it all. If you haven't been to a Rick Bayless restaurant, go here. Xoco is an actually good Mexican-American restaurant. Certainly it's pricy for a few items. They do have a happy hour with some bargain prices. At happy hour, get the Margarita. It's $6 for a small but good one. This is made with Combier D'Orange, fresh lime, and Libelula tequila. It actually has a saltiness not just from the salt rim. This is close to the authentic Margarita taste. As for the food, again it's expensive. Fear not, as it's also possible to save a lot at happy hour. They have a few shareables. Get the Guacamole. It's $5 for a pretty good portion. This has roasted garlic tomatillo guacamole, and it also comes with some tomatillo salsa. Believe the hype. It's not so bad especially if you go for happy hour bargain prices. This is an affordable way to eat food designed by a world class chef and not blow your entire wallet. read more

Xoco - Margarita And Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for one reason only--- to try the Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich. I've never seen this option at any Mexican restaurant, so I was very intrigued. I was definitely not disappointed, as the sweetness of the churro paired so so well with the chicken. It's a very messy sandwich, but totally worth it. This was also my first time trying a Torta. The Ahogada was good, but I feel like it was just bread, carnitas, and broth which was nothing special. 5 Stars is for the Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich only! read more

Xoco - Ahogada Torta, Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was only in once since the pandemic, maybe a year ago . It was a bustling Saturday and the food was terrific as I remembered Tonight I thought , perfect warm night for fab Xoco food. The restaurant was not full as I would have expected. I ordered cóctel de camarón, pozole with smoked chicken , and churros . Just a bummer. Nothing tasted fresh, the pozole which was a showstopper , tasted like a watered down version , with unfresh gristly chicken. The shrimp also not crispy fresh, and then I thought I'd try churros - y tu? Nothing good to say except the server was lovely . Oyy. I won't ever go back - this was a top 5 place - it now would never ever make my list again ... what a shame . read more

Great flavors! Seated right away during happy hour. We had the horchata to drink- was excellent. Chicharróns and Guacamole for apps and I have the Shrimp tacos. The crispy sweet potato shaving on the taco were perfection read more

Hands down the best chicken milanesa torta I've had. Everything was incredibly fresh, and the guacamole was delicious. I've been missing good Mexican food since moving from LA, and this absolutely hit the spot. The staff was kind and attentive--I had to leave a review. I'll definitely be back. read more

AMAZING flavor profiles in each dish. We ordered Papas Rancheras, Traditional Tylayuda, and Taco Placero. The Papas Rancheras were a favorite at the table! The Traditional Tylayuda was huge but super tasty so you'll definitely want to share with 3 or 4 people. The Taco Placero was so delicious, but packed a lot of spice so I wouldn't recommend if you're not into food with heat. Our server was very friendly and suggested a few sweet drinks at the bar. With indoor and outdoor setting options, this is a great spot to check out the nightlife. read more

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We went here because the wait @ Gordon Ramsay was ridiculous! We got a table 20 mins after we arrived not bad . Our server took our order, drinks and food at the same time. First came the Aztec hot chocolate and then the food . We ordered carnitas tortas, 2 kinds of chicken sandwiches and a shrimp torta which was spicy and delicious so we ordered another shrimp torta along with chicken pozole soup which was easily the worst dish I have had at a Rick Bayless restaurant. The drinks came much much later , our server messedup and brought 2 regular margaritas with mezcal . We ended up Ordering the spicy mango margarita along with mezcal top off. The best part was the desserts .. tres leches was the best ever!! Kids enjoyed the churros, personally the chocolate sauce was too bitter for me. I won't be back any time soon. read more

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I was on vacation in Chicago one of the main reasons I picked Chicago is because I'm a huge fan of Rick bayless. I've always watched him on tv and wanted to verify he mastered Mexican food. I came from California I have Mexican week every week. I liked that this is a more casual restaurant. I came for dinner and was seated right away. The place is small but there's a ton of seating. We ordered salsa and chips. My son had pastor tacos, husband had pozole, I had a torta ahgada. I was surprised to see my dish on the menu since it's not a typical dish on a menu. This is something you have in Mexico or at a Mexican household. The food came right away service here is top notch. The waitress are extremely attentive. So I got my torta it's a simple dish in Mexico but the presentation was elevated. Everything I have seen on shows is true. This dish is very simple yet complex because some people like the torta very wet other don't like it that wet in sauce just a little bit. It was served in a bowl so you can decide how you like it seriously a genius. I'm from where this dish was invented I live in California and have literally never had a dish so spot on. I literally felt like I was in Mexico I was in shock. This is my 10th master chef I have tried Rick bayless has mastered Mexican food. My son said these were the best tacos he's ever had. I'm just excited to plan another trip and try his other restaurants. This restaurant is a must stop if you're in Chicago. read more

Xoco - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent casual restaurant by Chef Rick Bayless. Tortas is the specialty. I tried the Golden Eggplant torta and had the almost naked Guacamole with roasted chilis and tomatoes - both SO delicious! Salsas are excellent as well. I got it to go so I could work in my hotel room. Best dinner I have had in Chicago! read more

One word: CHURROS!! I came on a Thursday and they were running a special for $1 churros, so they were super reasonably priced as well as super delicious. If you come to Xoco, you CANNOT pass over the churros. Would also highly recommend paying extra for the cajeta sauce- I am a chocolate lover but still prefer the cajeta to the chocolate. Tacos here are also super tasty. I tried the chicken tinga tacos and was really impressed by the quality of the tortillas + the freshness of the avocado (you can see how perfectly green and fresh they are in the pic!) + the fact that a plate comes with 4 tacos. I'd also recommend stopping by for happy hour- while I didn't come for happy hour this time around, they have a lot of tasty snack + drink deals read more

Xoco - Chicken Tinga Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois