Xoco

Xoco is chef Rick Bayless's counter-service Mexican cafe at 449 N Clark St in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, a few doors from his fine-dining Topolobampo and casual Frontera Grill. It opened in 2009 and focuses on Mexican street food and the cacao tradition, giving visitors an affordable way to taste the work of one of America's best-known regional Mexican chefs. The cuisine is Mexican street food. Tortas, the griddled Mexican sandwiches filled with slow-cooked meats and layered toppings, are the dishes most associated with the address, and the caldos, or brothy soups, are a second pillar of the menu. The churros served with Mexican hot chocolate are the emblematic sweet order, made with a thick, spiced chocolate drink. Breakfast and lunch items also feature, along with hot chocolate and coffee. The room is a small, bustling, casual space where diners order at the counter and wait for their food to be called; seating is limited and shared, the noise level is high at lunch, and dress is informal. The beverage focus is hot chocolate and Mexican coffee rather than alcohol. The price tier is moderate, well below the neighboring restaurants. There are no reservations, and lines are longest at weekday lunch and on weekends, when finding a seat can be difficult. Visitors often order to take away and eat along the nearby Riverwalk when the room is full. The location is within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile and River North hotels, and is easy to combine with a visit to Topolobampo or Frontera Grill on a different day or meal. It suits travelers who want the Bayless kitchen without a reservation or a tasting-menu price.