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    Xochi

    4.3 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    XOCHI ATMOSPHERE

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    Upscale

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    pastel de guayaba
    Julia D.

    Walked in around 8:30 p.m. while staying at the Marriott Marquis (located in the lobby. They also have their own valet if you're simply dining in and not walking down) for work, so this seemed like a no-brainer. There was a good amount of seating if I'd wanted a table, but the place was also pretty full for a Monday -- love that for them! I opted for the bar so I could eat and watch baseball. Priorities. I tried the HRW menu: Entremés -- Memelita (4.5/5). Toasted masa pancake, roasted pork rib, refritos, crema, queso fresco and salsa de albañil. So good! Plato fuerte -- Enchiladas of the Day (4/5). Shredded chicken enchiladas with green tomatillo sauce, topped with sliced onions and queso fresco, served with rice with peas and refritos. The tomatillo sauce has a tiny kick to it. I love a subtle kick. It's mixed with serrano and they call it salsa paloma. I also like my food spicy, so this level of heat may not be enough for everyone -- but I thought it was just right. The rice was nothing special and tasted a little old, but the enchiladas were STUFFED. Always appreciate when a restaurant doesn't skimp on the filling. The chicken reminded me a little of tinga, which I'm absolutely not mad about. Will I make it to the third course?! Postre -- Pastel de Guayaba (4/5). Guava cheesecake with guava compote, hibiscus sorbet, hibiscus cream, strawberry gel and a vanilla cookie tuile. The sorbet was a bit tart and I wanted more from the guava cheesecake -- subtle flavor. I did like how crumbly and thick the crust was! And somehow.... yes, I made it to dessert.

    Kristi H.

    Xochi -- Houston Restaurant Week All right, we hit up another Houston Restaurant Week, and this time we decided to check out Xochi, a Oaxacan Mexican restaurant located in downtown Houston. Xochi is known for award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, so of course, we had to see what all the hype was about! We decided to drive downtown instead of taking an Uber, and the valet was only $11, which they conveniently added to our bill. Once we walked in, I immediately loved the atmosphere. The restaurant is beautiful, with Mexican/Aztec-inspired artwork and décor throughout. Everything felt very upscale, professional, and clean. Our waiter, Isaac, was fantastic. Since we weren't familiar with a lot of the terminology on the menu, he took the time to explain the dishes and ingredients to us, which was really helpful. Of course, since it was Houston Restaurant Week, we started with drinks! Drinks aren't included in the HRW menu, and I ordered a margarita. Clearly, I did NOT read the ingredients carefully because it was made with mezcal -- and I do NOT like mezcal. I let them know that it was completely my mistake, and they happily took it back and made me a regular margarita. I was honestly impressed because I know restaurants can sometimes be funny about sending drinks back, especially when it's the customer's ordering mistake. The margarita was really good and nice and strong, just how I like it! First Course Since we were with our girl group, everyone ordered something different so we could try a little bit of everything. We had the taquitos, the mamalita, and the empanadas. Everything was really good! The mamalita was basically a small masa pancake topped with pork rib. I will say, it is VERY small, so don't expect a huge portion. But it was really flavorful and definitely worth trying. Second Course For the second course, we tried the barbacoa, which was a grilled steak served with a sauce that you pour over it. Personally, I really liked the steak with the sauce. Some of the others in our group weren't fans of the sauce, so I guess that's one of those to each their own situations! We also had the braised beef cheeks, which were incredibly tender and flavorful, and the wood-grilled octopus, which was another solid choice. Third Course Now, I'm a pretty plain girl when it comes to dessert, so I went with the mango sorbet. It was sweet, refreshing, and exactly what I expected. But then there was the dessert Xochi is known for -- the Cacao. It's basically a beautiful white chocolate cocoa pod, and when you open it up, it's chocolate EVERYTHING -- chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate goodness -- with passion fruit inside to add a little brightness. Final Thoughts Overall, I'm really glad we chose Xochi for Houston Restaurant Week. It's actually been on my list for a couple of years, but I'm not sure I would have made the trip there on a regular night without HRW giving me the push. I'm happy to finally say I came, I saw, and I ate! Is it a resturant i would repeat, likely not... but i also don't retry resturants often anyways!

    Felicia G.

    Xochi has a beautiful, modern interior with a warm and inviting atmosphere. Conveniently located next to the Marriott Marquis Hotel, you can enter either from Walker Street or through the hotel lobby. If you enter through the hotel, you'll need to walk to the front hostess stand to be seated or receive service. I sat at the bar, where the service was prompt and the bartenders were friendly and attentive. I ordered the Xochi-rita along with one of the daily specials, and everything was excellent. The menu offers an extensive selection, and their happy hour menu has plenty of great options. Whether you're planning a date night, meeting friends for drinks, or having a business meeting, Xochi is an excellent choice.

    Taquitos
    Andrew P.

    This place happened recommended to me by several people, and after initial dinner plans had an obnoxiously long wait, I decided to bring the crew here because they had availability for a party of six immediately. Around my way, we have some Oaxacan options, but it's usually a section of larger Mexican menus. At this place, Oaxacan is the main focus. It's a little on the pricier side, and the way the place is laid out feel somewhat upscale. We received cocktail and food menus and the staff were happy to answer any questions we had. In the past, friends have told me to try the octopus and the scallops ceviche. I didn't see the ladder, but I ordered octopus and saw some delicious looking goat tacos on the menu. I even got a mezcal flight ($30, whew). When all the food came out, the gentleman taking care of us took time to explain every single dish in full. In my head I was like is this a Michelin restaurant or what?? It was quite a journey. And every bite was fantastic. This is not somewhere I would come regularly because of the price point, but it was delicious and I would not hesitate to bring a date or come for any special occasion. I'm really glad I tried them out and you should too. It was only a block away from the convention center.

    Tlayuda de Pollo
    Joyce J.

    Hubby and i came here for HRW and Xochi is a must-try. Service was a little slower but they were still so friendly despite it being so busy. I appreciate them for being us a complimentary dessert to celebrate a milestone we had! The best things were the tlayuda and the desserts! Tlayuda was a generous portion that i shared and the mole on it was tasty. The only thing is my jaw does hurt from chewing it after a while but that texture could just be new for me. If you come here for drinks and dessert, you could also get what you need!

    Sangria
    Manning L.

    Great food and service. Taco cabritos are the best! Server was attentive and the food was very savory . The only down dish was the fish which was overcooked. The rest were great.

    Inside
    Arshad H.

    Xochi is located at the Marriott Maquis in downtown Houston and specializes in upscale Mexican Oaxacan cuisine. They have several moles that they incorporate in their cuisine and can accommodate vegetarians. Tacos dorados ($16) - These crispy tacos consisted of chicken picadillo, crema, and queso fresco all served with mole coloradito. The mole had a smoky flavor with a bit spiciness. It had really great flavor. Coliflor ($9) - This side dish was made of roasted cauliflower steak all served on a cauliflower puree. The puree was so rich and creamy, it felt almost like mayonnaise. Pulpo ($24) - The octopus was grilled perfectly and was firm and had excellent flavor from the red tomatillo salsa and confit tomato. Purple potatoes rounded out this dish. It's served with chorizo, but I don't eat pork so they prepared it without it. Atun tatemado ($38) - This consisted of seared pepper crusted yellowfin tuna, wild mushrooms, huitlacoche, potatoes, and mole amarillo. The tuna was extremely fresh and the seared crust had excellent flavor and paired nicely with the tangy and tart mole. Cacao ($20) - What an amazing dessert! This white chocolate cocoa pod, contained on the inside chocolate texture - tejate foam, passion fruit chocolate cloud, chocolate criollo soil, chocolate sponge cake, some cherry sauce, and pieces of chocolates. The presentation was impressive and the taste was extraordinary, with so many unique types of chocolate and fruit combinations. Valet is $11 and the server will add the charge to your bill if you provide him with the valet ticket. Overall the food is outstanding here and the service is friendly and informative. The creative cacao pod has to be one of the best desserts I have ever tried. Xochi is a must visit for anyone coming to Houston!

    Cacao

    My second time here and really loved it! The chocolate cacao cake was the best. Not because it has the best chocolate (7 kinds of chocolate in it so perhaps the most kinds in one cake), but that it makes you feel the chef took the dessert seriously, which makes you feel taken care of when it comes to food. Same feelings towards other courses. The service was also great. Our waitress was proud of the meal and wanted to make sure we feed ourselves well!

    Sea bass (off menu)
    Dawn B.

    I went with a group and we ordered a bunch of food and shared. First off, our wait staff was fantastic. Issac was our main waiter and he made sure to take care of us. We had both the mole flight and mole tasting. Both of them were really good, one allows you to try the different moles and the other is a five course meal with a variety of smaller entrees. My favorite was the duck, which had a really meaty flavor to it without being too gamey. The chocolate cake that comes with it had a nice kick to it with the cinnamon. We also got sea bass (off menu), roasted oysters, and the coconut dessert. I thought the sea bass was a little spongy and disappointing as I'm normally a huge fan of its delicate meat. The roasted oysters were also just okay. I loved the coconut desert, especially the part of the coconut that looks like the flesh but I think might just be some sort of sorbet because it started melting. Drinks were great as well. I had a roasted berry drink that was so refreshing with a hint of sweetness. We tried so many different foods that it was hard to keep track like I normally would. My suggestion is to let the staff guide you as they are phenomenal. And yes, parking is expensive. I think valet is worth doing, just make sure to add it to your bill and know that valet closes when the restaurant closes so if you're planning on staying after, you have to move your car.

    Cauliflower and potatoes mole
    Abigail R.

    Wait, presentation, ambiance and service were very good. Food is definitely different if you like southern Oaxaca style food. Or adventurous to try insects. The mole is different that Monterrey style mole. I loved the Sangria and Cauliflower. Valet is $12.

    Xochi Burger
    Soseh P.

    We were in town for the Sweden v Netherlands game for the weekend and came to this spot to grab lunch and watch the game. They do have a few TVs by the bar so you can watch the games. Their mango tajin Palemo was amazing. As for the food, we tried the tuna ceviche, which it may have been just the way that batch was made, but we felt like the lemon flavor was lacking, so we got a few limes and squeezed it on, and it was good. I got the Enchilada of the day, which was chicken with verde sauce - this had a nice flavor and kick to it. I wasn't a fan of the rice; I felt like it wasn't cooked well. But the enchilada was amazing. My husband tried the burger, and the burger was flavorful; however, the potato wedges that came with it were a little bit undercooked. I appreciate that they have a high chair, booster, and kids' menu. It was a really cute decor, and the server was phenomenal. If you are in the area, give them a try; you won't be disappointed.

    Pulpo Dinner
    Mark G.

    I want to make this short and sweet. This is an expensive dinner experience, but also well worth the money. Service was very kind and professional. Ambiance was fine, not really intimate but still very classy. The drinks are absolutely top notch. Not one drink that we ordered from their cocktail menu missed the mark. All the food we ordered was absolutely exceptional. My wife's Pulpo dish was gorgeous and the octopus was cooked perfectly. I can't think of a better tuna dish I've had in my life than the Atun Tatemado. The Tlayuda de Res was a stunner and something I will definitely order next time. The Taquitos were cooked nicely and the chicken inside was not dry or under seasoned. Loved their Queso Fresco. Super creamy and refreshing. The only bite of food that was kind of a miss for me was their Sea Bass Ceviche. Tasted a bit fishy for my preference. All in all, absolutely delicious! We definitely recommend Xochi!

    Scallops
    Priya S.

    Xochi has been on my list from my houston days and finally got to try in May.. It was fun vibe restaurant, loud with good music.. food quality could have been little better than what reviews said.. Service was great! We tried a few unique items that we don't usually order like octopus!

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    Ask the Community - Xochi

    How much is brunch?

    It is $45 for adults

    What is the price for the brunch in Sunday?

    It is $45 for adults

    Do they have bottomless mimosas for the brunch buffet or something similar?

    They have bottomless coffee included with the brunch price but not mimosas- those are separate.

    What is the dress code for dinner at Xochi?

    I went here yesterday. Casual dress code is fine, but something nice.

    Is brunch or dinner better?

    Never tried their brunch but the dinner was amazing!

    Is this a kid-friendly restaurant? Especially curious about dinner. Age wise, 8 year old and 6 year old that are well-behaved, sit still, and enjoy all sorts of cuisine. Thanks!

    Well behaved kids with adventurous palates should be fine there. It can be pretty noisy so it doesn't have the fine dining intimate setting that people usually avoid bringing kids to. Side note - make sure to get the huitlacoche tamal!

    Where can someone who has trouble walking park?

    The restaurant has valet in addition to parking along the street or a lot across the street

    Is this place dog friendly?

    The restaurant is located inside Marriott Marquis Houston, and pets are not allowed inside the hotel whatsoever.

    Do they allow to split checks for large groups?

    Yes they do. We had a party of 9 and we all paid our own tabs.

    View All 13 Questions

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    Fast seating even when full. Enough time to walk to the bar order margaritas then be seatedread more

    FAJITAS 7. As a native Houstonian, I was 10 when Ninfa's opened (1973). Growing up, we ate there…read moreseveral times each month. We'd rotate with Los Tios or Chinese every Friday or Saturday. As there is not a location near me any longer, we traveled to the original location. It was bustling with an attentive waitstaff and lots of people watching. Complementary valet (of course we tip) is a great benefit as parking is slim. Our waitress was Kady. She's been there for 50 years! Talk about an original. She was attentive to our needs but all business. We started with guacamole and queso. Guac was a huge portion with all the add ins. Queso was delish and served with fried flour tortillas (my fav). The gratis green dip, red sauce, and thick, crisp chips were on par. The fajitas. Just so so. Honestly, it reminded me of Taco Cabana. Very disappointing. Very little flavor and tough. The rice was yucky, the refried beans were the worst! Reminded us of the frito lay bean dip in a can. Even the Borracho beans were bad. HEB's in the can are far better. We received 2 corn and 2 flour tortillas. Fajitas served with pico, guac, sour-sour cream (I didn't even like that). Iced tea was fair. All in all, Fajitas very disappointing. If we had not been on the best fajita quest, I most likely would have ordered the chicken caldo soup. That never disappoints.

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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

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    4.2(296 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Midtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose
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    Food was great, drinks were so good, vibes were so chill and service was great, definitely…read morereturning for brunch!!

    Not my first time at Maderas. That's why I came back because it was excellent and my friends heard…read moreme rave about it and they suggested we come here. Arrived on Sunday evening around 7:30. Was sat immediately. Not my first time here so I knew the menu, my friends did not. So they needed time to see what drinks they wanted because they like cocktails and the menu is not small and they had to choose which ones they wanted because the options are good. When they decided, the cocktails straggled out. Two came out but the other two did not, They just sat at the bar as my friends sat with there with their drinks in front of them waiting on ours so we can toast to a wonderful day with a new member of the group. You would have thought the other staff would step in or at least the bartender would see that the waiter was in the weeds and needed help. That's when I knew we should have not come. The food was all lukw warm. The appetizer of queso was like warm with chunks of cheese floating around and some of the chips were fresh and others stale. A mixed bag you can say. My Flautas where luke warm, so was the side of beans and rice. My friends said their tacos were okay. My friend who got the Caesar Salad, there was no dressing on the salad not was there a side of dressing that came with it. We had to ask for it. I did not have the energy to try to keep wrangling the waiter. If you want to shut the kitchen down early because the day was long I get it. Let the customer know, I get it. I used to wait tables to but I would never give people luke warm food or luke service. The staff seems not to have one anothers back. I did not eat my food, I took my food home to reheat it so I could eat it at the proper temperature. My friend took his salad home because he had more Caesar dressing at home. Left a bad taste in my mouth and very disappointed. The service and food from the last time compared to this visit was night and day. Total miss. $200.00 thrown away. I paid because I could not let my friends waiste there money on someplace I raved about. Maderas is really a small cute spot. It's rare I have bad service when I go out to eat because I am not a difficult customer and I know I am not the only one they are serving. I will wait for good food and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and my friends until it arrives. I would not put pressure on the staff or the kitchen. Also I will not arrive just before closing and make a resteraunt and it's staff stay open late because I am hungry. I rather come when the staff and the restaurant wants to recieve customers.

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    Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose - Brunch tacos

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    Visited for Houston restaurant week…read more It was our first time trying this place out. After being seated, it took 20 minutes for the server to come to our table and take our drink order. It took another 20 minutes to get the restaurant week menu we had asked for. The food and drinks were good and the ambience was nice, however, the service really tainted the whole experience.

    The world is full of Mexican restaurants…read more Most are some version of Tex-Mex in a family-friendly, relatively similar environment. Nothing wrong with that. Mexican Sugar breaks that mold completely. This is the most legit, wonderful, bougie, over-the-top Mexican restaurant I have ever been to, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible. This was my second trip to Mexican Sugar. The first was in Grapevine. After this visit to the Montrose location, I have officially decided that when I am in Texas, I will seek these places out. They are that good. First, dress up. I doubt there is an actual dress code, but this is not the place where I am showing up looking like I just finished mowing the yard. Come here to be seen. Come here to show out a little. The place is beautiful and has that kind of vibe. Second, the drinks. Hell yes. Fancy, creative, excellent, and impressive enough for even the person who has seen every ridiculous cocktail presentation imaginable. And then there is the food. My God, the food. The salsa and queso are legit AF. The street corn is heaven in a bowl. Get several orders. I am serious. One is not enough. The carne asada was amazing. Honestly, I could keep going, but at some point this review is just going to become me yelling about how much I love Mexican Sugar. I LOVE MEXICAN SUGAR. OK, YOU GET THE IDEA. WHY AM I YELLING? BACK TO THE REVIEW.... Service was excellent too. The place is huge and was absolutely packed, but our server stayed attentive and the food came out surprisingly quickly. Make a reservation. Park in the nearby garage. Dress nice. Order the drinks. Get the street corn. Then get more street corn. Who is ready for another trip to Houston? I'll book the reservation at Mexican Sugar.

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    5.2 mi•West University
    •$$$

    Maximo looks like someone invited the desert inside and poured it a drink. The room is colorful,…read morewarm, and genuinely inviting--pots of cactus, cowboy paintings, and Mexican art. At brunch, the papas bravas come as small cubes of fried potato with an airy crunch that gives way to a soft, pillowy center - the kind of deeply satisfying bite that makes conversation briefly irrelevant. Crisp prosciutto adds salt, aioli brings richness, and smoky chile sauce keeps it lively. They're served with cactus-handled toothpicks, which are almost offensively adorable. The chilaquiles divorciados are another hit. The chips are dressed with salsa rather than drowned beneath it, so each one arrives ready for the perfect bite. It's a small distinction, but an important one. Then there are the enfrijoladas: rolled quesadillas in fluffy tortillas, covered in creamy black bean sauce and plated with more care than bean and cheese might seem to warrant. The dish is fundamentally simple, but that's the point. Soft tortilla, savory beans, melted cheese, bright salsa. Familiar ingredients transformed into something deeply comforting--the culinary equivalent of curling up beneath a warm blanket on a cold morning, even if Houston rarely provides one. Dinner shifts into another gear. The crudos are sensational, especially the tuna tiradito - a rolling wave of flavor and texture. The tacos are excellent across the board, but the crispy maitake mushrooms are unmatched. The short ribs arrive juicy and tender on a mole negro that doesn't sit politely in the background. It lands dark, complex, and full of flavor. And then there's the masa cornbread, a masterpiece of unapologetic indulgence. Humble cornbread meets savory-sweet mole, smoky, earthy butter, and caviar. It sounds like too much. It isn't. Every element earns its place. The cocktails deserve their own warning. They're the kind that convince you to keep ordering the same drink all night. By the end, you may have forgotten what was in it. What you'll remember is that it was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and exactly what you needed. Maximo makes ambitious food feel generous rather than fussy. Come hungry.

    I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday, and I'm so happy I finally got to try this…read moreestablishment! I would definitely recommend making a reservation, as it can get pretty busy, especially during Saturday lunch. There is also plenty of parking available across the street. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful and felt so authentic to Mexican culture. Our server, Kylah, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and so kind throughout our entire dining experience. Now onto the food; everything was absolutely delicious. The Avocado Mollete and Chilaquiles Divorciados were both packed with so much flavor. Every bite was amazing. I had heard that the pancakes were the star of the show, and they definitely lived up to the hype. I have never had pancakes this crispy before, and they were so good! Our server also brought out a birthday surprise, the Chocolate Cremoso, and it was delicious! It was such a sweet touch to the celebration. Honestly, everything my party ordered was so flavorful and delicious. We had such a great experience, and I genuinely cannot wait to come back!

    Photos
    Maximo
    Maximo - Tres Leches

    Tres Leches

    Maximo - Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

    Dona Leti's - Mini fajita steak street tacos

    Dona Leti's

    4.0(680 reviews)
    4.6 mi•The Heights
    •$$

    Dona Leti's was everything we thought it would be!…read more Upon arriving there was a 30 min wait but thats ok because we were given chips and salsa to hold us over. Once we were seated the waiter we had was super helpful. If we had questions, he had answers and pictures to go with them. The food was phenomenal and huge. We ordered the skillet burrito, surf and turf eggrols, and birria sampler. So much food and so flavorful. Honestly you have to try the alfredo on the eggrolls. That was different but so good. The asada was flavorful on the burrito and eggrolls. The birria was great and then consume hit the spot dipping wise. The burrito was jam.packed with meat and rice. Very good! Its exactly what I want in my burrito. We ordered margaritas for drinks and those were pretty good. The strawberry margarita has to be mixed once brought to the table, but thats ok. Needless to say we had to take leftovers home for sure. Great food and a great time!

    Dona Leti's is truly one of Houston's absolute gems, and it will ALWAYS be my go-to! From the owner…read moreto every single member of the staff, the hospitality is unmatched. You are not simply served here--you are welcomed, appreciated, and treated like family. Three weeks ago, I was actually headed here wanting to celebrate, but life changed in an instant with the passing of my dad. Today, I finally made it back, and what a beautiful full-circle moment it was. One of the greatest gifts was being able to see Julio, the owner, celebrating his own special day. That made the experience even more meaningful. The food is consistently AMAZING, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service goes above and beyond every single time. You can feel the love, pride, and genuine care that has been poured into this establishment. I love EVERYTHING about Dona Leti's--the food, the people, the energy, the hospitality, and the way they make every visit feel special. Five stars simply aren't enough. If you're looking for incredible food and an experience that feels like home, Dona Leti's is the place. Forever a customer and forever recommending this Houston favorite!

    Photos
    Dona Leti's - Bar

    Bar

    Dona Leti's - Street Taco

    Street Taco

    Dona Leti's - Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

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    Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

    Xochi - mexican - Updated September 2026

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