Xoco Menu & Prices 2026: Tortas, Caldos, Churros & More

Xoco is Rick Bayless's fast-casual restaurant in Chicago, celebrated for three things: wood-fired tortas (Mexican pressed sandwiches) baked in a wood-burning oven, rich caldos (soups and stews) including red and green pozole, and fresh churros served with thick Mexican hot chocolate. It offers Bayless's signature sourcing and technique at a more accessible price point than his flagship Frontera Grill next door.

Xoco is located at 449 N Clark Street in Chicago's River North neighborhood, steps from the famous Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. It operates as a counter-service restaurant, typically open for breakfast and lunch/dinner service.

Yes — Xoco offers several vegetarian and even vegan options. The Vegetariana torta, black bean caldo, chilaquiles (made vegetarian on request), agua fresca, and Mexican hot chocolate are all vegetarian. The café de olla (black coffee) and agua de jamaica are vegan. Check with the counter on daily specials, as the menu rotates seasonally.

Xoco was created by Rick Bayless, one of America's most celebrated chefs of Mexican cuisine. Bayless has won seven James Beard Awards including Outstanding Chef of the Year, and hosted the long-running PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time. His restaurant group also includes Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, both next door to Xoco on Clark Street.

No — Xoco operates as a counter-service restaurant and does not take reservations. Guests order at the counter and find their own seating. The restaurant can get busy at lunch; arriving early or slightly off-peak hours is recommended to avoid long waits.

The most beloved dishes at Xoco are the Ahogada torta (carnitas 'drowned' in salsa roja), the Chicken Pozole Rojo, the Cubana torta, and the churros with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce. The Aztec hot chocolate — thick, spiced, and frothy — is also considered a must-order by regulars and food writers alike.

Xoco does not maintain a full public menu with prices on its website. Prices vary and can change seasonally. This page provides estimated price ranges based on press coverage, but you should verify current prices at the restaurant or by calling (312) 334-3688 before your visit.

Xoco is best described as fast-casual, not fast-food. It has counter service and a focused menu, but the food is made from scratch with premium ingredients — whole animals, fresh-milled corn, and produce from local and Mexican farms. Expect the speed of a casual restaurant with the quality of a serious kitchen. It is far removed from chain fast-food in concept and execution.

The tortas at Xoco are baked in a wood-burning oven that gives the bread a distinctive charred crust and tender, airy interior impossible to replicate in a conventional oven. The fillings — from slow-braised carnitas to grilled beef to spit-roasted lamb — are cooked with the same care as dishes at fine-dining establishments. The Ahogada in particular, drenched in roasted tomato salsa, has been called one of the best sandwiches in Chicago by multiple publications.