Review Xoco - Chicago

Cindy Recinos

Excellent service. The **vegetarian** food was good, but there is room for improvement. The **chips** were a bit hard for my liking and the **salsas** were not the best I've had. The **salad with jicama** was a standout dish that I would recommend.

Veronica Romero

Xoco had been on my bucket list for quite some time. We went recently to celebrate my brother's bday. We were a party of six, which includes one child. Everyone enjoyed their food. Service was great and quick. Our party had the milanesa torta, barbacoa torta, carnitas tacos, quesadillas con chorizo, Spicy Chicken Tlayuda, and the Pozole. For me, my standard for a delicious, perfect pozole is the one my mom makes, but the chicken pozole from Xoco came close to it. For appetizers we had the chicharrones with were delicious! They were super crunchy but not too hard. They almost melted in your mouth. And the spicy peanuts. Yum! The Chocolate clásico really hit the spot for me, and the rest of the adults had micheladas. For dessert, I had the grape sorbet, which was refreshing and delicious. I wasn't sure what to expect but definitely liked it. Others had the chocolate/peanut glazed churro & the pistachio churro. Prices were reasonable. Will definitely stop by again if I find myself in the area.

Vincent Mañara

We came here for lunch. We ordered Guac to start and Cubano sandwich and carnitas tacos for entree. The Guacamole was exceptional, with the addition of Chicharron and bacon just put it over the top. The Cubano sandwich was also quite delicious, very flavorful, perfectly toasted bread, and a satisfying amount of meat. The service was good, and we were promptly seated. It's worth noting that the restaurant can get quite busy during lunch hours, so I recommend arriving at noon to secure a table.

Kenric Leung

The spicy chicken churro sandwich alone is worth the visit. The broth for the ahogada torta was full of flavour and heat. Would love to come back!

Kalie M

Can't say enough good things about this restaurant! Flavor is amazing, they're extremely fast, and friendly. I had the churro chicken sandwich and pepito, my taste buds were in heaven. I also had the Agua del dia to drink and it was so good.

Jozef Watson

Excellent restaurant to get Mexican food. Stopped in for lunch and had the chips and salsa and the churro spicy chicken sandwich. Both were excellent and delicious. I highly recommend trying this place as they have a diverse menu. Restaurant was large and service was very quick and friendly. They advised me when they delivered the bill that a 15% gratuity was built in which was fine since they told me before collecting payment.

Shannon McGee

Delicious food, excellent happy hour specials. The margs were strong and well balanced. The shredded beef tacos were delicious and the pork rinds appetizer covered in hot sauce was the BEST.

Sameet Sapra

Awesome local spot. The chips have that nice corny taste, the salsa is decent but nothing crazy impressive. I loved the shrimp tacos, they were a seasonal special. The pork carnitas were not quite as good, it was more like pulled pork.

Alex Rigal

A few blocks away from Magnificent Mile, XOCO provides efficient service and delicious, authentic Oaxacan fare at an affordable price. While the main dishes and dessert were excellent in their own right, the true standout - the restaurant's namesake - was the chocolate. Prepared with beans from Tabasco, Mexico, the team at XOCO roasts and grinds their beans in-house, securing a flavor you can only find at their Chicago location. Chicago may be famous for its deep-dish pizza and Vienna red-hots, but I would be remiss to not add XOCO to the list of Chicago's essential eats.

Lisa Moore

Rick Bayless' version of a small local Mexican restaurant to eat in or take out. Limited seating at small tables or counter seating. Menu includes salads, soups, tortas, tacos, and desserts. We had the shrimp tacos (3) and the brussels and chilies tostado with grilled chicken (enormous, enough for 2). Both were fresh, tasty and worthy of the Rick Bayless name. Also had a horchata which was light and refreshing. Suggest that the counter seating should have a hook underneath for hanging bags or purses as the counter is narrow.

Jennifer J. Smith

I’ve been twice when visiting Chicago from Georgia. There are things that are exceptional about this restaurant. The concept and the atmosphere are fantastic. The or Chata and limeade are phenomenal. Sometimes the best things on the menu come out a little tired to the table. The bacon popcorn that was phenomenal and July wasn’t even average last night. The greatest restaurants in the world have bad nights and that’s OK. The staff was top-notch even if not all of the snacks were. I will still gladly go back any day of the week.

Monte White

I've never disliked a place so much while enjoying the food. It didn't help that my wife's food didn't come until we had to go back and ask for the charge to be removed. The music was too loud. Ordering at the counter is fine, but if you want another drink or desert, you have to get back in line and wait. You get sat at a table with other people which isn't ideal if you have kids in tow, or they do. We were hoping to go to Frontera, but the wait was too long. Really wanted to like the place, found Rick's restaurant to be like his brother's sports talk show, loud and really annoying. Really disappointed.

Sandeepan Bose

I will not be able to judge the authenticity of Mexican cuisine. I have been initiated with Mexican flavors like Adobo, Queso Fresca, the simplicity of salsa along with its soul satisfying flavors. So reviewing Xoco is not my cup of tea. I will talk about my experience. 1. I usually end up carrying food home or leaving stuff on the plate , then experiencing a bloated stomach after that. But surprisingly, i was fit and fine after lapping up a drink, abGobernator Torta, and some pistachio churro. 2. The check didn't kill me 3. I am from India , the sauces taste fresh like we like it in India, not loaded with preservatives and processed like in USA. 4. They have functional staff who do not actually "wait" on you. Will have to go again to experience other dishes.

Armando Gonzo

Rick, you have great place here!! I'm a great churro fan and your place here is in my top three!! Maria, is a spectacular hostess! And your staff really took care of us! Definitely coming back here the next time we are in Chicago.

Sonja Petrović

This place may be famous, but that's not why I love it: despite a few hiccups in the past, the food is always fabulous and the staff- ah, the staff makes it a the neighborhood restaurant that is a joy to return to! Muchas gracias amigos y amigas. :) I'll learn Spanish some day.

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Captures the authentic taste of Mexican Food! I loved it! Great place to eat, friendly staff and fast service!

Vanessa Barrios

Found this place before reading the food reviews and we loved it. michelada was on point! Cubano torta was toasted perfectly, and the short rib tacos were flavorful; tortas fresh! We didn’t make it back for the hot chocolate but i heard it was amazing, so I’ll be back next time.

Tara Challenger

It was wonderful. The entire staff are on point and helpful and took such good care of us. They make sure our food is hot including the items I ordered to go. Gosh, the food is so good. So Good!!

Michelle Bonora

The food was amazing, the staff incredibly helpful and kind. Everyone was very knowledgeable about what is safe to eat for a gluten allergy. Definitely will return.

Stephen Kellar

On the recommendation of a friend our family ate here last Thursday. It was spectacular A Good! The staff was awesome. I might have enjoyed them more than the food!

Margaret Johnson

Everything was delish!! Rick Bayless and his staff are top notch!! Those churros... O.M.G. #heaven

Hayley K Hoppe

Wow, the vegetarian soup was probably the best thing I have eaten in months! Yummo!

Ramon Galvan Jr

The Food was great but when it came down to seating I had three different table numbers and obviously the host manager can’t tell the difference between a window and a wall and table #75 which mine was clearly 77.

Arcelia Silva Bettencourt

The food is amazing. The staff was friendly and very helpful. That green salsa needs to be bottled and sold! Delicious

Itnuit Janovitz-Freireich

Such a great place with efficient service and take out options for when Frontera Grill or Topo are not an option. Their Tlayudas are awesome!

Fernando Maya

Being Mexican and eating at Xoco, is like eating real Mexican home made food. it took me a while to write this review, i mean I ate some time ago. But if i can go back again to Chicago, Xoco is a place to go, no questions ask. Torta de Milanesa, yummy!! Note: no offense, this is not a chimichanga place, OK.