Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (28) sandwich (20) tacos (18) delicious (15) chicken (13) churro (11) Mexican (10) spicy (10) ordered (8) sauce (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Hesam A. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place! We enjoyed everything we ordered from the margarita to the churros! Their seasonal special pork sandwich was so good! The sauce was great and enough! Their chicken sandwich was very delicious, too! The prices are very reasonable and their service is very good, too! Our waiter was very nice and kind. We enjoyed our time at XOCO and I highly recommend this place to all of you! Especially if you are visiting Chicago!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Melinda B. 2 months ago on Google • 753 reviews New
    There was one table open so we were able to sit right away. Another table was sat just before so it took our server a bit to get to us and we had limited time. Still made our next engagement on time but we had to rush. My boyfriend got the Spicy Churro Chicken Sandwich and I got the Milanesa which was suggested by the server. Everything was delicious! Especially the Churro Chicken Sandwich. The sweet combined with the savory flavors just worked so well!!! Highly recommend!!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Vishnu p. 1 year ago on Google
    Went here for brunch, ended up getting lunch. Great looking and tasting tortas. Good place when all other places have a wait 😆. The churro was great but had a little more sugar then expected.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Briana 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing dishes for really reasonable prices. I had the BEST sandwich in my life - the Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich. It’s the perfect balance of salty and sweet and I would do anything to be able to taste the sandwich for the first time again. Everything else including the guacamole, tacos, and tortas were all amazing! Nothing was a miss.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Geoffrey S. 2 years ago on Google
    Small spot (about 35 max occupancy) with counter seats and a few tables. You can see the chefs preparing the food in the open kitchen. Small menu with a few sandwiches and tacos - they also have huge corn tortillas with various toppings (the Tlayuda). This was incredible, it’s similar to what some people would call a “Mexican pizza” but better than anywhere else I’ve been. If you have been to his Fronterra restaurant the food is the same quality just in a more casual setting.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Veronica R. 5 months ago on Google • 34 reviews
    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.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jozef W. 7 months ago on Google
    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.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel F. 2 years ago on Google
    If you are looking for delicious Mexican cuisine at a reasonable price with bold flavors, you’ve found the right place. We went on a rainy day so we couldn’t enjoy the outdoor seating but the indoor atmosphere was cozy and clean. The waiter was very attentive and helpful, taking time to provide recommendations when requested and regularly checked in. We started the meal with probably the best-tasting guacamole and chips I’ve had. Fresh dip full of flavor and zesty, crunchy chips. I ordered the daily special of the Carne Asada Torta for my meal and the crunch of the bread with the assortment of toppings and quality meat was a combo I’d definitely order again. We finished the meal with some fresh churros and chocolate sauce that were still hot from being just-made. In short, for great-tasting Mexican flavors with a variety of offerings and a solid price, this is a great option - and one I will want to go back to.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 emily c. 2 years ago on Google
    The margarita options are great - I got the mango habanero and it is delicious. The tacos are also pretty good, not the best ever but decent. I obviously didn’t get a ton, but from what I can tell the prices are really good. The tacos came with 4 tacos. I liked the salsa that came with it a lot.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shashank R. 1 year ago on Google
    I was surprised how good churro sandwich tasted. The spicness of the chicken really complemented to the sweetness of the churro. I definitely enjoyed the sandwich. I wasnt much impressed by cuban though. It was okay
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob S. 1 year ago on Google
    A great lunch spot. The chicken sandwich is a unique deal. Sweet, savory, spicy, and $9 seems good for the area... Does not come with any sides. Love the location for meeting up outside. Guacamole is really good.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 garrett b. 1 year ago on Google
    It came recommended from everyone and it did not disappoint. These Tortas were awesome!! Looking forward to returning and trying something new
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Asad Jahangir (. 3 months ago on Google • 282 reviews New
    Good food and customer service. I guess the ambience can be a little better. Over all a good experience and don't mind going there. It made to my "nice-to-visit" places. Tried their popular Spicy chicken Churro sandwich and loved it. Tacos and Nachos were good too.

  • 5/5 Kat C. 1 year ago on Google
    Can I give this place 6 stars because it was that good? On a recent business trip to Chicago, I stopped by XOCO twice, simply because I couldn't get enough. The service is fast and friendly, the ambiance is cool, and the food is phenomenal. I normally don't order the same thing when going to a restaurant simply because I enjoy trying different things on the menu, but I was so in love with the Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich, I HAD to order it again. Like seriously....it was two consecutive days of Spicy Chicken Churro Sandwich and I would've gone in a third day if I didn't have to get on that plane to go home. The next time I'm in Chicago, this will be the first stop I make!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan T. 1 year ago on Google
    If you’re in the River North neighborhood looking for a quick bite to eat Xoco is the spot for you. We ordered the Ahogada, which came in a rich tomato broth, and the Shrimp a La Diabla, which was spicy, both were delicious! To top it off we ordered a side of churros with chocolate dipping sauce which came out hot, crispy and light. Overall, the tastes of our dishes were incredible and extremely reasonable for the price, definitely worth a visit!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christopher W. 2 years ago on Google
    A Rick Bayless establishment that punches above the price. Busy with done in and take out. The servers move fast and the kitchen is hopping. The guacamole is first rate although with the portion size was a bit larger. Fresh ingredients and attention to detail in chopping and preparing make the food a great change from the regular fare.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Ata E. 1 year ago on Google
    Extremely overrated. I ate a giant taco with some sauce on it. Taco was average and the sauces are not that good. My wife ate a kind of schnitzel, hot sauce with red onion pickles in a churro bun. Even if we are open to new tastes, this was just a sugary, hot, soured, salty weird mix. We ordered churros after and those were so greasy and the chocolate sauce was horrible. Staff was average. Highly not recommended.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Angela P. 2 years ago on Google
    Tacos are good and really affordable! The sandwich is something I've never tried before but it's also good(a little too spicy for me tho).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 ARI K PRODUCTION (Arian K. 2 years ago on Google
    Very delicious Mexican food, cozy place and fun place to sit. Liked the Guacamole taste style, and chicken sandwich. The only reason, I give 4stars is because of the unwelcoming host, but we enjoyed talking to the our server and manager.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshita Arora D. 2 years ago on Google
    The best Mexican place in Chicago. Must try the taco. Chicken tinga is super yum and grilled veggies are must try. We took a takeout so it was super quick. Service is excellent. Packaging is good, out food was warm and fresh. Will come here again soon to try more items.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sameet S. 5 months ago on Google
    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.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Audrey K. 2 months ago on Google • 89 reviews New
    Is it as insanely good as the website would have you believe? Not really, our experience was pretty mid. We had the guacamole, one of the huge tostadas, some tacos, churros, and the hot chocolate. Some things were good, but overall the experience was below par for how much this place is hyped up. Chicago has better to offer.

  • 3/5 Minjeong R (. 2 months ago on Google • 85 reviews New
    ⭐️3.5/5 Sometimes I go here with my husband because it is one of the cheaper places to eat in River north area and food is pretty decent. My favorite is tortilla soup. I hope they take reservations because it is very random.. if you are lucky, you can have a table right away, but usually it is busy. Last Friday I went to around lunch time, I had to wait an hour… eventually I went to another restaurant around there. Service charge 15% is already included in the bill.

  • 5/5 Jacob Vande W. 2 months ago on Google • 77 reviews New
    I wouldn’t come here for the atmosphere, but the food was well worth it. Two of us dined in on Jan 26, 2024. We split an order of chips and salsa, which came out very quickly, and then enjoyed the Pepito sandwich and the Churro Chicken sandwich. Both were really good, the churro chicken sandwich had some “sweet and salty” flavors going on, while the pepito could best be described as a Mexican street food style Italian beef sandwich. We also had the Micheladas which were very good and had a nice spicy flavor, and a generous salting along the rim of the glass with Tajin.

  • 4/5 Cindy R. 3 months ago on Google • 45 reviews New
    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.

  • 5/5 Magaly P. 2 months ago on Google • 23 reviews New
    The food was delicious 😋 Starting with the chips and salsa, and ending with the churros (that I didn't get a chance to take a pic because they were devoured!!) The Ahogada (torta) was the best to me... having the bread "drawing" on the plate, in that sauce/salsa, is amazing !! It's soooo tasty!! 😛 The Tortilla Soup was very good, a real soup, not like in other places that it's more like you're having chips with tons of melted queso !! The Pepito torta was very good, too!!

  • 5/5 Olga A. 1 year ago on Google
    The place has a warm, friendly atmosphere,. Didn't get the names but the two men who attended to us were very attentive; overall friendly staff I would say. Food was excellent😋. The only thing - our table was small ; luckily the two of us shared the food; had we ordered more it would have been cramped. Overall, it's a must to visit✌️❤️

  • 5/5 Shannon M. 4 months ago on Google
    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.

  • 5/5 Vincent M. 4 months ago on Google
    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.

  • 5/5 Raymond C. 6 months ago on Google
    Great Mexican food, surprisingly authentic. The barbacoa tacos were amazing. Pozole is one of the best I've had, great with carnitas. Churros has a lovely crunch and nice dipping chocolate. Cocktails are ok and service was mediocre.

  • 4/5 Lisa M. 5 months ago on Google
    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.

  • 5/5 Kalie M. 8 months ago on Google
    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.

  • 5/5 Alex R. 7 months ago on Google
    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.

  • 5/5 Kenric L. 6 months ago on Google
    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!

  • 4/5 Mohsen A. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the better, Mexican restaurants I have ever been to with diversified and somewhat unique menu options. Food sounds fresh made, but based on three different food items, my impression is that everything they make has too much salt. If you add too much salt to chicken tortilla soup, the actual taste of the broth will be taken hostage by salty taste.

  • 5/5 Elissa B. 2 years ago on Google
    Food was amazing! Servers were incredible. The carnita tortas were mouth watering along with the short rib tacos. Traditional churros and cheesecake are a must!

  • 5/5 Adrian P. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a really nice restaurant with really good and tasty food. Note that it might get pretty busy around noon and afternoon. The staff is nice and attentive. We ordered the almost naked nachos with spicy poblanos and queso fresco, and then a set of beef tacos and another one of vegetarian tacos. Everything tasted really good and it was very flavorful. For drinks, we tried the XOCO margarita and the americola. The portions are bigger than you might get from similar restaurants, so make sure you keep some room for dessert.

  • 5/5 Latonia W. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice! Quaint even.... this was my first visit and the staff served us fast and friendly with smiles... they were attentive, patient and knowledgeable about their products offered.

  • 5/5 Sarena F. 2 years ago on Google
    Smaller than expected and the menu is rather limited, but the tacos were delicious and flavorful! The margarita was on point too. Service was friendly and right there when needed. Would definitely go again!

  • 4/5 Ben M. 2 years ago on Google
    We got takeout from Xoxo. The food was very flavorful and was good quality. The short rib tacos were surprisingly spicy, so they did not work for our kids, but my wife and I enjoyed them. The churro chicken sandwich was an interesting and tasty item and definitely worth a try if you dig the sweet, savory, and slightly spicy combo of flavors. It was a bit pricey for takeout, but not outrageous for the quality of food and the fact that it is downtown Chicago.


Call (312) 723-2131 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking garage
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
    • ✓️ Difficult to find a space
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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