XOCO — Restaurant in Chicago

I have been going to Xoco since it opened, primarily for lunch. My family ordered takeout regularly during the Pandemic. Today I took my wife and two young children for an early dinner, hoping to sit outside and enjoy the summer weather. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication and rather than handle it with common courtesy or professionalism, they decided to accuse us of intentionally conning them out of $7, as if we go around with our kids and spend $100+, leave a standard tip, but try to swindle $7.

The misunderstanding involved an item on the Happy Hour menu. After being seated, when we started to order drinks, the waiter asked if we wanted the drink version on the main menu or the happy hour menu. We said we were unaware of Happy Hour, and he promptly gave us a menu. We placed our order, beginning with items from the happy hour menu he gave us, a few from the main menu, and one from the kid's menu. With most items he confirmed which menu we were ordering from as there was some overlap of items between the menus. The food arrived promptly and we enjoyed our meal. However, when the waiter brought the bill we noticed the appetizer we had ordered, guacamole and chips, was double the price listed on the happy hour menu ($14 rather than $7). When we pointed this out he said he assumed we were ordering it from the main menu. This was a surprise to us, because we had been ordering other items from the happy hour menu when we ordered the appetizer and he had not asked us if we wanted it from the main menu. That version can can be "dressed up" with other items but we had requested the plain guacamole and chips, which is the only option on listed on the Happy Hour menu. He said he would see what he could do.

At this point, we were just a little confused but chalked it up to a misunderstanding and everyone was being polite and reasonable - seemingly trying to find a solution. What followed, however, was extremely disappointing. A woman whom I had not seen before but whom I can only assume was the manager approached our table. She came and stood right beside me but did not introduce herself or state her position, and instead immediately demanded to know if there was a problem with the check. I was taken aback by her approach, but explained our understanding of what had happened. Without hesitation she insisted we should have known we had ordered from the main menu due to the portion size we received. Her tone and manner came across as accusatory and annoyed, which was frustrating because our exchange with the waiter and everyone else had been congenial. When I pointed out that we had been ordering from the happy hour menu at the time she interrupted and demanded to know if we had specifically said we wanted the version from the happy hour menu. At this point, I felt we were being interrogated in front of our children and treated as if we were trying to swindle the restaurant. When I pointed out to her again that we had been ordering items from the happy hour menu when we ordered the appetizer, which the waiter had pointed out to us, and that we had no knowledge of their standard portion sizes, she again implied we should have known or made it clear and said "as a courtesy, I will credit the difference this one time." This comment only added insult to injury, given the implication that we were potential repeat offenders. For us, the distaste left from our exchange with her was not worth the $7 price difference, and had I known how rudely we would be treated I would have just paid the entire bill and left with a happy family. Needless to say, if $7 is more valuable to a restaurant than treating its customers with courtesy, that says a lot about a business. We will not be...

Xoco: A Warm Hug for Your Soul, One Pozole at a Time

The other day, I got a vaccine, and let me tell you—it kicked my butt. About 24 hours later, I felt like absolute garbage. My body was aching, my energy was drained, but hey, I was alive and protected, and protection comes at a cost, right? Still, in the midst of my misery, one beacon of hope pierced through my fog of fatigue: the thought of pozole from Xoco.

Now, if you’ve ever had Xoco’s pozole, you already know—it’s not just soup. It’s healing in a bowl. The spiciness warms you from the inside out, the shredded cabbage and lime add a perfect zest, and every bite feels like a hug from someone who really gets you. It’s the kind of comfort that reminds you of your mom’s homemade soup, but with a boldness that’s pure Xoco magic.

But let’s be honest here—who stops at just soup when they’re at Xoco? Certainly not me. Once you look at the menu, it’s game over. I had to get the fully dressed guacamole (because plain guac just doesn’t cut it when you’re going big), the loaded holy guacamole salad (because why not double down on the avocado love?), the Baja chicken sandwich (crispy, juicy perfection), and of course, a pistachio churro—because every meal needs a sweet, crispy, nutty finale.

And yes, as I indulged in this glorious feast, I sent a picture to my sister (who lives out of town), fully knowing it would make her jealous. Is that wrong? Maybe. But does it bring me joy? Absolutely.

And that’s not all—if you’ve never tried Xoco’s Mexican pizza, you’re missing out on a flavor explosion. It’s a giant tortilla piled high with vibrant, zesty toppings that’ll make your taste buds dance the salsa.

Xoco is more than a restaurant; it’s a place that fills your soul as much as your stomach. From the spicy, soothing pozole to the churros that could convert anyone into a dessert lover, everything about this place is pure joy. And when you’re down for the count—whether it’s from a vaccine or just life—Xoco reminds you that comfort, spice, and a little indulgence can make it all better.

So, to my sister: if you’re reading this, yes, I ate it all, and no, I’m not sorry. Xoco made me feel alive again, and for that, I say, thank you, Xoco, and thank you,...

First time dining at any of Rick bayless’s restaurants. I was pretty excited to try the food and hot chocolate here! We ordered the fully loaded guacamole, short rib tacos, cubana torta sandwich, three churros with chocolate sauce and a classic hot chocolate! Food was all really good, the standout was the cubana sandwich made in a wood fire oven a Smokey slightly roasted flavor and aroma was kissed on This sandwich by the fire gods! The bread was crispy on the outside and fluffy and tender on the inside (crispy but thin, not to cut the roof of my mouth crispy) really a well constructed and delicious sandwich. Some of the lower points the hot chocolate was good, but didn’t blow my mind.... I guess I was expecting a little more than I should have on a richness and creaminess level of the drink. Also I totally approve of living wages for the staff of any hospitality establishments or restaurants! However the 15% service charge with option to tip more is a great idea in theory. But unfortunately for my wife and I it seemed as the friendly and caring nature of out server went straight out the window... she came at the beginning of the meal took our order and was never to be seen again until the check, didn’t ask if our food came out correctly (we asked for cheese on the side for everything and the guacamole came with cheese), didn’t have a chance to ask for more napkins, even though they bring a carafe of water for the table, my wife and I finished it and were wanting more. All in all I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone and everyone in search of tasty delicious food, the less that excellent service comments are to maybe lower you expectations if you plan to dine here but more so hopefully the chef, owner, or manager to hear and hopefully correct and train the server...