Xoco—pronounced “SHO-ko”—is the Aztec word for “little sister.” But there’s nothing little about Xoco’s bold Mexican marketplace flavors. Open early and closing late, this quick-service café from Rick and Deann Bayless proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico’s most beloved street food and snacks: flaky empanadas, hot-from-the-fryer churros, frothy Mexican hot chocolate, crusty tortas and meal-in-a-bowl caldos.
Best New Restaurant Time Out Chicago, 2010
Good Food 100 2017, 2018, 2019
LEED Gold Certification U.S. Green Building Council
Chef Rick Bayless’ take on Mexican street food, plus tap beers.
LuiséCisneros Art
Xoco by Ryck Bayless feels like a place you find in Mexico City!! From the entrance, you are welcomed by the wonderful people working there!! Everyone is friendly and attentive, creating an authentic atmosphere!! We went during the happy hour, and everything looked incredible! We ordered chorizo con papas tacos, and they were superb!! The queso fundido was good, but the churros were to die for!! I totally recommend Xoco, especially to take advantage of their happy hour menu, which is well-priced!! I hope to come back another time to try the rest of the menu!!
… moreRidge Martin
I walked in for churros and chocolate dip, I was talked into the class hot chocolate. Man it was good.
On Thursdays, the churros are $1 each. I was very happy I got 2. 1 is fine, but 2 fills the “it was so good I want more” void. The hot chocolate is delicious and very rich. It taste like a chocolate bar was melted into the cup. It is thick and creamy.
The staff was very friendly and happy to serve me with even my small order request. I would highly recommend this place, even if it’s just for a quick churro and chocolate.
… moreGris Ponce
My sister and I are regulars and cannot emphasize enough how much we love this place! The food is exquisite and the staff is stellar! Incredibly grateful to our phenomenal server, Jose Luis, we appreciate your amiability each time we dine in. We always look forward to the seasonal cheesecake 🙂
… moreRay
Landed late in Chicago and by the time I got to the hotel it was cold and windy. Didn’t want to go far so I went to XOCO across the street. I picked the sandwich and the soup for the chilly night. Turned out to be a very nice combination. Soup was packed with flavor, and sandwich was tasty. Very warm staff as well.
… moreAnsel Wong
A great spot in a great location! If you are looking for cheaper eats in the Chicago river north area I would totally recommend this spot. The shrimp tacos are to die for and the chicharron tacos are one of a kind! End it off with a churro and it’s a 10/10 experience. Totally worth it for the price with great service nothing else to say.
… moreMatt Denny
All dressed guacamole was great. Hot chocolate was tasty as well. The tortas are the hit. The broth is a great addition. One of my new favs. Can’t wait to try them all. There’s a 15% service charge that they should probably tell you when seated.
… moreGabriel Tornero
I’ve been to Xoco many times, and it’s a place that truly never disappoints. On my most recent visit, I ordered the chef’s special, which was a half torta and a half soup. I chose the Cuban-style torta with ham and bacon. The flavors were incredible; the smoky notes from the ham and bacon paired perfectly, and the morita chile really brought everything together. The soup also had a fantastic flavor profile. The chicken tortilla soup might have needed a touch more salt, but on a crisp Chicago fall day, it was absolutely great
Ohh can’t forgot about the freshly made churros. A definite must try
… moreKevin Downer
We were looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant near the loop. We checked out several possibilities and were very happy that we opted for Xoco. The wait staff were friendly, the atmosphere colorful and neither pretentious nor touristy, the margaritas were delicious, and the food great!
We began with chips and salsa, which included both a Smokey red and a citrusy green salsa. We then ordered tacos, which come four to a plate. We ordered chicken tacos as well as the fish tacos. The chicken were flavorful. The fish tacos were the best I have ever had! A grilled white fish with a spicy sriracha sauce and spices. Although they have several desserts including many variations with churros, we were feeling full and decided to pass.
Xoco has outdoor seating and is located on the corner of a block with several other restaurants.
My suggestion, walk on by the touristy, noisy places and give Xoco a try.
… moreBeau Chard
Fast service, PACKED for a Thursday at lunch which was great to see. Service was great. Had the chipotle lime tacos and they were so good. Get the $1 churro – its amazing.
… moreVictor H
My wife and I were on our way to a different restaurant when we came across this place and we decided to give it a try. We are sure glad we did! William made some great suggestions and everything was awesome. I went with the chefs special.. half milanesa torta with the pozole and OMG It was full of flavor. My wife ordered the torta ahogada and she loved it. For drinks we had the hot chocolate and cafe con leches.For dessert we had the churros with caramel and that was also delicious. Before we left we also had a Victoria and a michelada. Great place for a quick lunch/ dinner. Will definitely be back!
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