Xochimilco | Finest Méxican Restaurant and Grille, Catering — Restaurant in Citrus Heights

Disappointing Experience, But the Beer Was Nice and Cold

I recently dined at Xochimilco, eager to enjoy some authentic Mexican cuisine, but unfortunately, my experience fell flat. I finally decided on a combination plate of the chile relleno and tamale, as the menu offered very little in the way of creativity or enticing options.

The food was surprisingly bland, lacking the vibrant flavors one would expect from a Mexican restaurant. I was especially disappointed with the salsa, which had a Taquera style—a tomato base—rather than the smoky fire-roasted flavors one tends to identify with Mexico City. It tasted as if someone had lost their molcajete and, in a rush, threw tomatoes and other ingredients into a blender, leaving it without rich and complex flavors that only the depth can be found through fire-roasted ingredients.

While the chips were thin and nicely salted, they were surprisingly heavy, almost as if they were coated in grease, which made them less enjoyable as a starter.

Everything was served "wet," with the red sauce slathered on everything, but it did little to enhance the flavors.

The pork tamale was actually tasty. It didn’t have an overwhelming amount of heavy masa harina. The texture was a little soft and fell apart easily, but that could have been due to being submerged under all the "wet."

On the other hand, the chile relleno was spicy, which I appreciated, but too “eggy” I wasn’t fond of the egg omelette it was wrapped in. It's a matter of personal preference; if I wanted an omelette, I would have ordered breakfast.

The overall atmosphere had a slightly musty smell and felt dated, resembling an old-school cafeteria rather than a vibrant dining space one might expect from a Mexican restaurant. This lack of a lively atmosphere further contributed to the overall disappointment.

On a positive note, the staff were attentive and friendly, making an effort to ensure I was taken care of throughout my meal. Seeing that I didn’t enjoy the meal, our lovely server (I did not catch his name) kindly offered an alternative, which I declined, but I so appreciated the gesture! It also appears they have a full-service bar with plenty of solid tequila choices, which is a nice touch for those looking to enjoy a drink. Plus, there was plenty of parking available, making it convenient to visit.

Overall, while the service was commendable and the beer was nice and cold, the lack of flavor, the uninviting ambiance, and the uninspired menu made for a disappointing visit. I hope they can improve the quality of their food and ambiance, as I would love to see Xochimilco reach its...

OMG by far THE BEST Mexican restaurant I have ever ordered from! First off let me say I did not dine in, I walked in to order for to go. That being said, I didn't expect anything other than a chair along the wall to wait like most places. But they were just great from the first moment, they gave me a menu and seated me at a small table to review the menu, order and wait for my food, they offered me a drink and even brought chips and salsa to my table for me to have while I waited. During my wait they checked on me to ensure there was nothing else I needed. It was all very courteous, considerate and genuine customer appreciation. I got my food after probably about 15 min and headed home. Now usually I do not like enchiladas, I find the sauce overpowering, the tortillas dry and just overall not the best. THIS PLACE HAS MADE ME COMPLETELY RETHINK MY DISLIKE FOR ENCHILADAS! I decided to go out on a limb and ordered a pollo taco and enchilada combo and wow! This enchilada.... It was just so good. The thing that stood out most was the sauce, it wasn't an overseasoned tomato paste distraction to the actual food( my opinion of most mole sauces) , it was SO GOOD! It was light and the perfect combination of sweet/savory/salty from what I can assume is the result of NOT USING tubes of tomato paste as the base, and perfectly complimented the delicious food which I believe included house made tortillas(which are always the best). I could go on and on. I can't wait until the next time I order....

I’m not sure why this restaurant has such great ratings. I went here to show my husband some authentic mexican food. It was far from authentic. The chicken tacos I ordered came in a hard shell, and the shell appeared to be deep fried.. I was expecting small round corn tortillas with grilled chicken/cilantro/onion/salsa. The tortas there are also tasteless, not sure what type of bread they used, just overwhelmingly dry. My husband ordered a steak and cheese quesadilla which consisted of ONE large round flour tortilla sitting on top of the meat and cheese, which was cut pizza style. The horchata was overwhelmingly sweet, but my husband did enjoy it. The customer service was not terrible but it was not great either. The atmosphere needs a bit of a facelift for sure. The tables/chairs need updating, possibly some new light fixtures as well. Overall, bland and non-authentic mexican food based on what I ordered, which was disappointing as a Mexican woman who just moved to the area looking for a new favorite...