Xoco: "River North-Casual Mexican from Rick Bayless" Top 5 Page for this destination Chicago Restaurant Tip by Dabs

Rick Bayless is the equivalent of a rock star in the culinary world, one of those few chefs that have received celebrity status. He has four restaurants in Chicago, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo are next door to Xoco, the 4th is Frontera Fresco, located on the 7th floor of the Macy's on State. Xoco is his foray into Mexican street food, although I'm fairly certain most Mexicans aren't eating food like this. Or paying these kind of prices. The prices are a bit on the high side for a casual lunch place but they are obviously drawing in a lot of people

No reservations so expect a line regardless of the day or time, I got there after 2pm on a Friday afternoon and there was a line of about 20 people, it goes fairly quickly. Once you've placed your order they will take you to a table or seat at one of the many counters, there are some outdoor seats as well. The staff all seemed to be quite pleasant and efficient. You can get takeout but not between 10:30am and 3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Favorite Dish: The menu is fairly simple, tortas from either the wood burning oven or the griddle which are sandwiches on a dense crusty bread, caldos which are meal in a bowl soups (served after 3pm) and the thing that got everyone buzzing about this place, churros and thick Mexican hot chocolate (served all day). The menu may be simple but the ingredients are not-exotic salsas, goat cheese, chipotle mustard. They use local ingredients, they have an entire page devoted to their belief in sustainability on their website, and everything seemed to be high quality.

I ordered the Cubano torta with smoked Maple Creek pork loin and bacon, black beans, avocado, artisan Jack cheese, chipotle mustard ($11), it was quite tasty although some of the ingredients got lost under the taste of the avocado and cheese.

I had to order the churros and chocolate as that as what I came for, you can get one for $1.25 or 3 for $3, the chocolate was $1.25 extra. The chocolate, which you dunk the churros into, was rich and almost a little fruity tasting. Given the option I'd probably still go with the churros from the Churro Factory but these were good and very fresh.

Address: 449 N. Clark
Comparison: less expensive than average
Directions: Corner of Clark and Illinois, River North
Phone: 312-334-3688
Price: US$11-20
Rating: 4
Theme: Mexican
Website: http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco.html