“Insanely good.” —Phil Vettel, Chicago Tribune

Xoco—pronounced “SHO-ko”—is the Aztec word for “little sister.” But there’s nothing little about Xoco’s bold Mexican marketplace flavors. Open early and closing late, this quick-service café from Rick and Deann Bayless proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico’s most beloved street food and snacks: flaky empanadas, hot-from-the-fryer churros, frothy Mexican hot chocolate, crusty tortas and meal-in-a-bowl caldos.

Best New Restaurant
Time Out Chicago, 2010

3-star Green Certification
Green Restaurant Association

LEED Gold Certification
U.S. Green Building Council