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Xoco

Mexican Restaurant$$$$

Near North Side, Chicago

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Xoco

8.4^/10

1,146

ratings

Ranked #1 for tortas in Chicago
The churros at Xoco is a can't miss
"We love you, Rick Bayless."(21 Tips)
"Pepito w/pickled jalepeños on the side was delicious!!!"(14 Tips)
"Love the tortas, churros, margaritas... pretty much everything here."(89 Tips)
"Outstanding sandwiches (tortas), soup, churros and hot chocolate!"(80 Tips)

342 Tips and reviews

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tortas
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rick bayless
Mexican food
hot chocolate
pepito
lively
sandwiches
casual
breakfast food
trendy
spicy food
pork
short ribs
margaritas
ice cream
barbacoa
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good for a quick meal
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ThrillistMay 5, 2014
XOCO churros are always fried to order, so they're still really warm by the time they reach your hands. The intense rich flavor of cinnamon and fried dough make them one of the city's best snacks. Read more
BuzzFeedMay 30, 2018
This Rick Bayless creation is a popular, casual spot for Mexican street food cooking. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll find sandwiches (called tortas), soups, and lots of churros. Read more
Upvoted Mar 21
PureWowJune 6, 2016
Tortas filled with chorizo and cheese or braised short rib with pickled jalapeños warmed in a wood-burning oven. Oh, you should probably save room for churros and chocolate. We love you, Rick Bayless. Read more
Upvoted Mar 16
Brian ParkJune 16, 2017
Rick Bayless' restaurant offers better to-go food than every fast food chain combined. Action Bronson-approved; The Sopa de Carnitas is reminiscent of Phó, and the Cochinita Pibil is to die for
Madeline GullettDecember 20, 2014
The cherry margarita is so yummy!! Also loved the chips and salsa. There were vegetarian options too. Not many vegan options but I got the woodland mushroom without cheese and it was still great!
Avneesh KohliAugust 2, 2018
Not your typical Mexican restaurant, in the best way possible. Be prepared to try tortas (Mexican sandwiches). I looooved the Baja Chicken.
VinnieApril 13, 2018
The Ahogada is an excellent choice, esp for your first visit. It’s full of flavors and extremely tasty! The pepito is also delicious! Great service & friendly staff makes this a great place to eat at!
Lucero De La TierraAugust 30, 2014
The cocinita pibil torta is my fave with succulent, spicy pork. Easy with the habanero sauce though. The Saturday roast goat special torta is so yum - yum - yummy, too.
Chicago TribuneDecember 22, 2014
This Mexican themed street food restaurant has a lovely rustic feel to it. Make sure to try the choriqueso, woodland mushroom torta, and Mexican hot chocolate if you pop by. Read more
EaterApril 15, 2016
Rick Bayless' casual street-food inspired restaurant in River North has an array of breakfast tortas, hot chocolates, and much more in the mornings. Read more
Michael SheehanNovember 3, 2021
Been here 10+ times
On gorgeous days and during normal times you got to get here early. Opens at 11:00 and the line will start right away. The tortas and the best. Solid seasonal specials as well.
Chicago TribuneAugust 1, 2014
Open-face breakfast torta: A slice of bolillo from Labriola is wood-fired until its crust develops black ends. This is slathered in roasted tomato and a bit of black bean, then topped with poached egg Read more
JillianSeptember 26, 2011
Rick Bayless never disappoints! Can't go wrong with Cochinita Pibil, Chicken Tinga, or Cubana torta. The caldos totally hit the spot too. Don't forget to order a churro or a hot chocolate - delicious!
Mark SmithJune 28, 2014
The best torta is the Milanesa. It is hands down a scrumptious succulent sandwich passed down from a foodie paradise for your taste buds enjoyment!
Aris GalatisOctober 2, 2017
OMG those Churros! It's like I died and went to heaven. Regardless if you are there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you MUST order the churros with chocolate sauce
Consta KJuly 14, 2017
Little gem. High end food in chipotle environment. Rojo something special is way to go. Chicken soup special is also totally worth it
Joanna FlammNovember 30, 2015
So good, and counter service is the best! Margarita, chips and guacamole, choriqueso torta, churro with a chocolate shot, perfect dinner.
Dana JensenMarch 15, 2015
The hazelnut churros (and the churros in general) are delicious. Same for the hot chocolate. Honestly everything I've ever had here has been good, so just order whatever strikes your fancy.
CarolAugust 31, 2015
EVERYTHING is amazing. Love the Pepito & the Abogahda Torta. Do yourself a favor and get the glazed churro. Pistachio & Hazelnut are phenomenal
JTJanuary 27, 2018
The food here was perfect! You can’t go wrong with anything. Got the Milanesa and it was the perfect balance with salt, acid, fried chicken, and a little heat. Sooo good
Lucero De La TierraAugust 30, 2014
If you are looking for something gluten free try the carnitas caldo (meal-in-a-bowl). My daughters shared a bowl. Plenty of tender pork, peppery greens, lime and corn masa dumplings.
Andreas KleinerMarch 10, 2015
Best lunch in Chicago. Try the Ahogada, it's amazing. The side salad is works great if you want something fresh to the hot sauce.
Mike WinstonOctober 21, 2016
Celebrity chef Rick Bayless really knows his way around authentic Mexican ingredients. The tortas are incredible – especially the goat-based Barbacoa one, if they're offering it. WinstonWanders.com
April GISeptember 18, 2020
The chorizo tlayuda!!! It’s amazing. We were in Oaxaca not too long ago, and while those were great, somehow this was better! Never thought I’d say that. Get the tlayuda!
AngelaSeptember 28, 2014
The best torta sandwiches here. Flavor explosions galore. Do not skip getting a churro, the chocolate sauce is to die for & they come out fresh and warm. Margarita was just ok here.
John ShrimpMarch 17, 2018
The signature Mexican tortas are loaded with meats like Baja chicken, ahogada (pork carnitas), and pepito, while meal-in-a-bowl caldos and crispy churros are also noteworthy.
Obadiah PoundageJune 13, 2012
Get the Aztec bean-to-cup chocolate, with fresh-ground chocolate, water, chile, and allspice in a perfect drink. Pair it with the best huevos rancheros you've had outside Mexico.
Ben HandyMarch 11, 2015
Seasonal specials are always innovative and super fresh. This place is relaxed and fun. Friendly, professional staff help make the experience memorable. Very affordable.
Phil WatsonMay 4, 2019
Good food (particularly tortas and chicharrones), quick, relatively inexpensive, and a very solid happy hour make this a go-to spot in river North.
Time Out ChicagoMay 28, 2012
Breakfast at Rick Bayless’s most casual spot yet is quiet perfection: a cup of masterfully concocted hot chocolate, a flaky egg empanada, one hell of a sugar-and-cocoa-coated churro.-BC Read more
Time Out ChicagoJune 4, 2012
Breakfast at Rick Bayless’s most casual spot yet is quiet perfection: a cup of masterfully concocted hot chocolate, a flaky egg empanada, one hell of a sugar-and-cocoa-coated churro.
Mike NolteNovember 25, 2022
Been here 5+ times
A must visit for lunch whenever I’m visiting Chicago. Can’t go wrong with the special torts of the day or one of their soups
Martial BénardAugust 16, 2019
Busy, noisy place. Efficient service. I had a red pozole soup : it was well served, tasty and spicy. Unfortunately the chicken in the soup was cut in dices and not soft and shredded as it should.
Serious EatsOctober 8, 2013
Nowhere else can you get a torta as expertly constructed or a cup of hot chocolate made from cocoa beans roasted in house.
flavvio13 🇧🇷🍴🇧🇷March 1, 2013
The Pepito torta had braised tallgrass shortribs, caramelized onion, artisan Jack cheese, black beans and pickled jalapenos (soomeenshee )
Leilei TongApril 21, 2017
The sandwiches are great! Had the ahogada which was great! Medium spicy, just the right level :)
EaterJanuary 12, 2011
Rick Bayless introduced Mexican street food to the masses, who line up daily for huevos rancheros for breakfast and return for pork belly tortas and seafood caldos at lunch. [Eater 38 Member] Read more
The Quest For ZestJune 14, 2012
One of our most favorite breakfast places when we're in Chicago. Churos are an absolute must. Skip the Intelligentsia coffee and get a Mexican hot chocolate for the full experience. Read more
Gregory WangSeptember 4, 2014
Been here 5+ times
The Mexican breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options are all very good. My favorites are the churros and the bean-to-cup hot chocolate.
Time Out ChicagoMarch 28, 2012
Lines extend out the door for tortas filled with fatty, crispy pork carnitas. Caldos like braised-short-rib soup and chicken stew with toothsome posole are the ideal prelude to a churro. Read more
Nate LawlerJuly 19, 2015
Can never go wrong with Xoco. Don't miss the churro with chocolate dipping sauce. The guacamole is the best in the world!
Caitlin SalzbergSeptember 16, 2015
Really great food! Fast and delicious. The Albondigas and peach empanadas were amazing.
Mohammed Hassan-AliDecember 13, 2014
I like the atmosphere and the sauces are great. Weird service structure but the host was great!
Kenneth TiongJuly 20, 2012
Been here 10+ times
Churros 4.75/5. Aztec chocolate 5/5. Authentic chocolate 4.75/5. Tortas generally 4.25/5. Chicharonnes 5/5. Xoco will be immortalized for Churros and chocolate, not Tortas
Damon SununtnasukMarch 12, 2017
The sulking pig torta and soup were incredible. Great fresh chips and salsa
Brian ChorbaDecember 10, 2016
Fantastic sandwiches. Baja chicken was awesome. Ahogada is a pork sandwich with pickled onions in a red soup. Very good.
Anamaria HernandezSeptember 25, 2014
Been here 5+ times
Margarita was mehh but the Pepito Torta was yum! So buy the food and hit up a bar after for the drinks.
Roland TolliverSeptember 5, 2015
Favorite place for Mexican food in the city, along with Frontera Grill and Topolobombo. Bayless.
EmilySeptember 6, 2012
Expect to wait at least 20 minutes for seats on any given day. Love getting churros to dip in a cup of champurrado (Mexico City thick hot chocolate) and the goat barbacoa torta.
QC Industries ConveyorsSeptember 19, 2014
A more casual dinner that's great after a long day walking a trade show. Their tortas and soups are all wonderful!

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