Have not been here before and heard about it for years. Located next to Discovery Green and Hess. We walked here from the office but parking could be slightly problematic. The interior is very modern and aesthetic. It's well lit and well done. The food seemed like an upscale rendition on Oaxacan Street food. Unfortunately the flavor profiles seem a little off to me and for the premium pricing, our group definitely expected better. The competition in Houston is high and the dishes we got served here (chicharron tacos, tacquito, etc) slightly missed the mark. Solid 3.5/5 but there are definitely much better authentic spots in town. read more

I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. Food is generally very good. But there wasn't anything wow, and other detractors bring down my review. First let me start with the fact that I love Oaxaca and Oaxaca's food. This restaurant does a lovely job of showcasing some of the signature dishes and moles. But that's not enough to be worthy of a five star rating. While food presentation was lovely, I'm shocked that they can get away with the prices for these dishes, especially for a few small petri-sized dishes of mole. That should be complementary! Totally nuts. My husband didn't care for the stone seafood soup. But we all enjoyed crispy rolled tacos and lechon entree. My friends also liked the robalo ceviche. Dessert was good but not amazing. We got the hot chocolate with churros and the pears with black sesame cake & ice cream. Cake crumble was dry! The service was pretty lousy. I would suspect they'd bring some of their best servers from Hugo's or Caracol. But too many negative reviews on this front leave me wondering. Our server was unfriendly and unhelpful. To start, I ordered a pineapple juice. I saw it as an ingredient on the cocktails, but the server immediately says they don't have it and doesn't really offer an alternative. Turns out they did have it. At another point I asked for a small side of green salsa. Again, he didn't really try to accommodate or please this easy request until prodded. We had to ask for more tortillas for the expensive mole sampler. And when we asked questions about the menu, he wasn't very helpful or clear. read more

The restaurant, ambience, food is amazing! Loved the grilled oysters, grilled octopus - totally scrumptious! Highly recommend and definitely worth the trip! read more

The food, service, and restaurant were outstanding. Great authentic Oaxacan food presented in an elegant form. Great balance of flavors and textures. Loved the multiple types of mole! Cesar was outstanding and very attentive and professional. Great spot to eat in Houston! read more

I should not have done the buffet. I was convinced to do the buffet by those I was dining with. The food is good or okay. I will not say fantastic because everything I ate was look warm or cold (because I ate from the buffet). Service is excellent, drinks are yummy. I will come back but I will order from a menu so my food will be hot. I don't need bang for my buck. I just want my food served hot. read more

I came here with a group of friends for their Sunday brunch and was extremely pleased! The food was delicious and the ambiance was great. This restaurant is located inside the Marriot Marquis right across the street from Discovery Green. Nearby street parking is scarce so unfortunately you must valet which is $6 but you can add it to your bill after your meal. The restaurant is fairly big and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area is pretty spacious (relatively speaking) for a downtown restaurant. You can make reservations online (for tables of 6 or less) or call as well. The hostess was friendly and we were promptly seated since we had a reservation. The buffet is set up on a long table in the middle of the room and both sides are available for serving. There was live music in front of the buffet table and they definitely made the ambiance entertaining. The food was delicious!!! The spread at Xochi was definitely not as expansive as the Sunday buffet at Hugo's but the quality of the food was just as comparable. I was actually able to try almost everything here, as opposed to Hugo's where the amount of food is overwhelming. Also, the buffet lines at Xochi were not long at all (I may be biased as I went to brunch fairly early, at 11:30am). There was no crowding around the table, all the items were fresh, and I rarely saw an empty dish. New platters of food were constantly being replenished. My favorites from the buffet that I highly recommend: - Ceviche: soooo good I went back 3 times for this! - Lamb Rack in Mole sauce: I'm usually not a big fan of lamb but this was so tender and literally melted in my mouth, yummm - Brisket in Mole sauce: this was juicy and cooked perfectly, the fatty parts were the best (it was my cheat day, don't judge me!) The brussel spouts, shishito peppers, and cauliflower were also enjoyable. The chicken was moist and flavorful and the pork was ok- a little too fatty for me. Sadly I was not a fan of their elote (and I loove elote)- their elote wasn't very flavorful, it definitely needed more spice to it. The guacamole was fresh and I suggest mixing it with their spicy salsa for a good kick. Dessert is located near the bar area and I tried a bite of almost everything and was more than satisfied. My favorite was the coconut flan! Service was ok, our plates were quickly taken off the table as we were done with each plate but we had to constantly ask for silverware every time we went back for more food. Regardless of this, the food was savory and I definitely walked out of there feeling gluttonous and satiated. I can't wait to come back for dinner! Side tip: If you are in a rush to leave, valet took almost 15 minutes to return our car (it was peak time on a busy Sunday afternoon with people coming in, checking out, going for brunch, etc). read more

This is not my first review of Xochi but I feel inclined to write another since my first review was years ago. The restaurant has maintained a fun, welcoming, and attentive atmosphere with consistently amazing food! The location is great also since it's inside one of my fav Houston hotels (Texas pool!), next to Discovery Green Park and downtown not far from my high rise. Thank you Xochi for always making us feel so welcome. read more

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Best buffet ever! Highly recommend! Met the chef, not only is he talented, but he is a very sweet man. Had the Sunday brunch buffet, best that I have ever had. The meat was so tender All the food, so many flavors, perfectly cooked! Wow ! read more

Review #313 I have been here twice now. What to know from a local. There is valet parking at the Marriot Marque hotel. Make sure you validate your card for a discounted rate. Or if you are lucky enough to find street parking then take it. Parking is free downtown after 6pm and on Sundays. Don't dress like a slum. Jeans are fine, but spice it up a bit. Bar and table seating and yes they take reservations. The owner has two other mouthwatering restaurants in town, so this was going to be a hit right off the bat. The restaurant is Mexico inspired and every dish is like a artist's masterpiece. Beautiful, colorful, and not to mention the placement of beautiful flower petals on almost every dish. I asked and YES all the petals are edible. The first time I came was just for drinks. I had their sangria and it was lovely. The second time is was for drinks and a quick appetizer. I ordered the robalo which is a beautiful presentation of sea bass, aguachile verde, cilantro, parsley, lime, orange, avocado, corn, red onion, cucumber and a plantain tostada. See my pictures to get the gist. It was both delightful to the eye as to the tastebuds. It reminded me of ceviche without as much lime. As I sat at the bar I enquired about a soup I was watching them make where they add hot stones to keep the broth warm. So neat! We watched every meal brought out to customers and seriously -- every dish was a work of art. Xochi does NOT disappoint! Happy hour M-F 3:00-6:30. read more

Xochi - Robalo - sea bass, aguachile verde, cilantro, parsley, lime, orange, avocado, serrano, corn, red onion, cucumber, plantain tostada. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Very nice ambiance with background music. The food was very good and the guava mimosa as well. Excellent service read more

Xochi - Brunch Dessert - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Utterly awful experience. I love Oaxacan food, I have been lucky to have had some of the best moles in the world, and was really looking forward to trying a number of dishes and a few cocktails. Maybe my mistake was to come in alone after a long day. I got seated and the service was promising - I ordered an interesting sounding drink and was pointed to several options on the food menu that I might like. Great! Got the drink - a "masa menos" and wasn't a fan. All the great subtle flavors were destroyed by lemon. Could have just been a (whatever) sour with corn slice skewer plunged into it. Awful. No problem, it happens. But I never even got the chance to swap it out or even order food because I was completely ignored for the next 45 minutes. Couldn't get anyone's attention so in desperation had to leave cash for a drink that I didn't drink and just walk away. Now wandering downtown to find somewhere that will actually serve me. Veten a la mierda, Xochi. read more

I'd heard some mixed reviews so it took me a little while to try it, but I'm so glad I did. First, we fortunately made it for happy hour. What a fantastic experience! Cocktails, martinis, margaritas, wine, sangria! All $6-7! And a page of delectable bites also in the same price range! Oysters were delicious (I'm not even much of an oyster person), guacamole was perfection with the best baked chips I've ever had, and a special order of a tasty veggie tostada that had very interesting and flavorful high-end veggies! Service was excellent even at the bar. Everyone would help you and check on you. You didn't have to ever look for your server because they all work as a team. Very friendly and helpful throughout our experience. The place is beautiful and modern. The hotel is a mini-Vegas in Houston and Xochi is one of several destination restaurants on the property. Being part of the Hugo's and Caracol family, you know you're not going to end up with Tex-Mex. All the food and drinks are unique, delicious and beautifully presented with plenty of seafood and veggie options. I can't wait to go back for dinner - I bet it's a great date place! read more

Xochi - Best hh oysters ever! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Hugo Ortega's restaurant in the The Marriott featuring Oaxacan food is amazing. The decor is quaint with painted masks and statues. Service was attentive and helpful with recommendations from the menu. They have interesting cocktail choices, but be sure to specify if you have specific preferences. I enjoyed the roasted fruit mojito, but one of the people in the group found one of the special margaritas too smoky. The food is a little on the pricey side but is unique and perfectly prepared. The tuna crudo was a small portion but beautifully presented with just a touch of salt, small peppers, jicama, and mangosteen. The octopus appetizer was also delicious and tender, although the masa pancake it was served on was a bit dry and overly charred for my taste. Our group enjoyed all of our entrees. The barbacoa came with a delicious spiced sauce. The pato crujiente was tender with a crisp skin. My cochito istmeno was a huge portion, with incredibly tender meat falling off the bone and a delicious sauce, as well as greens. Most of the entrees came with small warm corn tortillas. We ordered the cacao dessert at our server's recommendation, and it was beautiful--a painted white chocolate shell modeled on a cacao pod was filled with a collection of chocolate desserts, from cinnamon and chile spiced chocolate gelatos to pieces of cake and crispy wafers. A great way to finish a spectacular meal! read more

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Excellent Sunday brunch. Must have the hot chocolate for dessert. Also a couple of mole options on the buffet

Everything was perfect! Your staff is so accommodating! We were a party of 5...then 6...then 8! Our server was fantastic! So friendly and helpful! Your restaurant is top notch!!! Thanks! read more

Xochi - Appetizer Platter! YUM! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The service, the food, and the cocktails are all wonderful. Very attentive staff, and the food and drinks will leave you wanting more. The happy hour menu is diverse, and gives you a good sampling of their fares. The beef cheeks, roasted oysters, and the desserts were some of my favourites! read more

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Every dish was delicious and beautiful. The servers were warm and attentive! All around gorgeous dining experience.

Delicious!!!! The Service was amazing! This was definitely a great spot for date night. The food was creatively plated.

Xochi is my second time at a Hugo Ortega restaurant for dinner. The restaurant is located inside the gorgeous, Marriott Marquis Hotel. You can valet for $6 and add the valet costs to your dinner bill. The restaurant offers cuisine from Oaxaca in SW Mexico, which is famous for chocolate and mole. You also get a chance at trying ants and other insects! Ants feature prominently in one of their moles, and also shows up as a dessert item (chocolate coated). Overall its a solid 4 stars for me. I think the wow factor was bigger for me at Caracol, though Xochi certainly deserves future visits given their big menu. Service was great. The dishes I tried included: * Mole Sampler - They have seven and for $15 you pick four or leave it up to the waiter. They come with a few rounds of tortillas, though feel free to dip them on your other dishes. Everyone's favorite was the Chichilo - very peppery and intense, but not overwhelmingly spicy. My next favorite was the Mole Negro, the classic spicy, chocolatey version. The we have the Chicatana, a unique-tasting mole made from ground up ants. The few bits of ant carcasses taste like crunchy seeds. The last mole was the mildest and a bit too subtle - Amarillo I think. (4 stars) *Goat Tacos - These come two per order and were exceptional. Slightly gamey, thick slab of braised goat meat that's juicy and better than pork belly! It had a nice little green salsa that was inspired and supposedly favored by Mexican construction workers. (5 stars) *Pescado - Fish of they day were two medium pieces of red snapper with a lobster squash broth, cauliflower-sunchoke puree, and sweet potato hash. Definitely one of their lighter dishes, so it will ensure you'll have room fir some amazing desserts. (4 stars) *Cacao - This dessert arrived like a big, pink football but was actually a white-chocolate cocoon containing 4-5 other preparations of chocolate inside. It was on the sweeter side and is definitely death by chocolate. I think Caracol's 5 preparations of Coconut was better, but I will give props for the Cacao in terms of creativity. Be sure to share with 2-3 people (3 stars) * Peras Y Barro Negro - Now this dessert is a winner. Never mind the seared poached pears, the incredibly airy black sesame chiffon cake and black sesame ice cream together were awesome. The passionfruit meringue adds a subtle shot of tartness to balance things out (5 stars) read more

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Amazing! Everything we ate was interesting and delicious. I had the beef cheeks enchiladas and my wife had the crispy duck. Both incredible. If you're looking for a great dining experience that's not too fancy, Xochi is perfect. Already looking forward to our next visit. read more

Small portions would be my only critique I would suggest doing the Sunday brunch instead to get your moneys worth. This comment pertains if you are man going in hungry. read more

Stopped in with a group of 4 for lunch. Menu is a little intimidating - most options are a bit upscale and complex-looking. Most options have a spicy component, so beware and check the menu to make sure they have an option you'll like. The good part - everything we did order was very, very good. I was particularly fond of the tlyuda res - a traditional Oaxacan dish with a crispy, flat tortilla covered with tasty beef, greens, mole and tomatoes. I will need to try and find this in other places now too! Other dishes we tried included duck tacos, shrimp tostadas and chicken enchiladas - everyone seemed happy with their choices. We also happened to show up in restaurant week, so two of our meals came with desserts - we went for the outstanding chocolate tres leches cake and an order of churros. Both truly excellent. read more

Haven't been back to Xochi in years but came recently to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'm definitely more impressed this time than I was the first! Service is much better and our server provided fantastic recommendations. We tried the wood roasted oysters and yellow fin tuna crudo for appetizers - the oysters were a classic Hugo Ortega hit (just like the ones from Caracol), but I wasn't that big of a fan of the crudo. It was surprisingly fruity with the strawberries - others in our group liked it so I think it's just personal preference. I tried the crispy duck for my main, and honestly I'll go back to Xochi every time just to get this again. The duck skin was CRISPY, and the meat was so fatty, juicy, and flavorful. The chicharron was fried to perfection, and the salsa was bright and a nice contrast to the rich meat. It really blew me away! read more

The best restaurant for Latin cuisine in Houston!!!!!! You will not be disappointed at all. It is worth every penny. read more

This wasn't just dinner for us, it was a true experience. Our waiter was amazing at explaining the menu to us. All of the food we had was amazing but the cacao for dessert takes the cake... literally!! I wish I had taken a picture of the inside of the cocoa pod but it was a truly magical dish. All the chocolate... so so good! read more

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Xochi has become a staple in the Houston food scene. It is one of those restaurants that you need to try at least once. But if you are as impressed with their cuisine as most of these raving reviewers were, you will be eager to return. I decided to order the Chamorro de Borrego for my entree. The server pours the mole de olla table-side. It was a little out of my wheelhouse but I really enjoyed the tender, fall of the bone lamb shank. The Bistec con Mole de Chicatana was also delicious. I can now say I've had ant-based mole sauce! To end our wonderful dining experience we shared the Helado de Elote, the perfect refreshment to a hearty meal. Hugo Ortega is the genius who keeps on giving. Xochi is truly authentic and sets itself apart in a sea of conventional menus. read more

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Amazing! Love this place I will be back again soon. Fine dining great area everyone is sweet and accommodating.

Wow, where to begin for this place. Came here for the special Day of Dead weekend menu and drink pairing on Halloween. I was the only Xochi newbie at my table but it totally lived up to my high expectations. Remember to make a reservation for this one, we made one about a week in advance with no issue. This is right in the Marriot in front of Discovery green. Valet and street parking available. Swanky place without being being too formal. The decor for Day of the Dead was beautiful. This is traditional Mexican food, not tex mex! For our starters we opted for Corn Poblano Clam soup and Chicken Empanadas. Both were delicious and had awesome presentation. For mains we went with scallops and the steak. Again, the presentation of the dishes were incredible. Something you would see on Chef's Table. The steak was a generous portion and came with some traditional pan dulce. The scallops were good but going back, I'd pick the steak. Dessert was the most interesting course. The hot chocolate for the pan dulce was poured table side. Definitely not your typical hot chocolate. The most surprising was the flan and guyaba sorbet. I usually hate flan but this one didn't jiggle. It was light, yummy and paired so well with the sorbet. There were little jelly bits as well packed with SO much flavor. Service was great. Drink pairings were interesting. Would definitely recommend this place. Pro tip, HRW menu is still going on as well! read more

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Today was my second visit to Xochi's Sunday brunch buffet - and both times, I've experienced 5-star quality in both service and food. At $34 for adults and $12 for kids, the price is comparable to other Hugo Ortega brunch buffets (Caracol is $37 and Hugo's is $33). You're probably not gonna go every week, and brunch counts as two meals (3 if you have a small stomach), so $34 is a steal...right?! My must-pick choices on the buffet line include the passionfruit ceviche, mini pork memelas, fresh oysters with pineapple salsa, bacon-wrapped quail, and lamb chops with pasilla mole. Standard buffet rules apply: get whatever has a high turnover (which is basically everything) and whatever just came out of the kitchen. Don't forget the dessert line, which is just as long as the savory one - I favor the chocolate-almond tart, and Mom said she really liked the coconut flan. The tres leches is really rich and milky (and will practically make your whole dessert plate soggy if you're not a quick eater.) Drinks aren't included in the buffet price, except for the Mexican hot chocolate. The outdoor seating is dog-friendly and I hope our 2 Shibas are starting to love the place too, haha. The waitstaff are really nice about our dogs and like playing with them (I just hope they wash their hands afterwards!) read more

Xochi - a few buffet offerings (tortilla soup with chicharron, tostada with guac, mini memelas, fresh oysters w/ pineapple salsa, endive with tuna) - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

First visit. Ordered drinks, Mango Paloma, Pink Escalade and a Michelada. Ordered appetizers - Molates de Xoxo, Taquitos de duroto. Also had Memela y Huevos, Enmoladas and Barbacoa de Reis. Ordered desserts- Horchata Mousse cake and two orders of Churros. Waiter was pleasant and attentive, everything was good but less than perfect but ended on sad note. Churros we're not fully cooked, Horchata Mousse really had no flavor and cinnamon coffee was bitter. Sitting outside, we were fighting a fly issue. A few tweaks and it would of been perfect. Total meal $222.46. read more

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My husband has been here before without me and couldn't stop talking about how much he enjoyed his dish and his dessert. I was finally able to get a reservation for his Birthday and I must say, I enjoyed the food as well. The staff was very welcoming upon greeting us on arrival. Our waiter was very nice, attentive, and very knowledgeable on the menu, he explained each dish that we questioned without making us feel rushed or being to pushy. The food was colorful, fresh, hot and delicious! The restaurants overall vibe and atmosphere was warm, friendly and chic! read more

Xochi - Corn Ice cream dessert - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The Barbacoa and Duck were cooked to perfection. Francisco was an amazing server, and helped us choose the perfect options for our dinner. The lobster taco was incredible, and the flavors blended perfectly. Highly recommend. read more

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Distinctive dishes and excellent service. Xochi offers a metro dinning experience with it's Latin dishes and specialty drinks. My first time here my daughter and I both went with the burger. Hey, we were getting ready to to go Minute Maid Park so this was the closest dish to compliment baseball. And it was delicious too! Wash that down with a Green bottle of Mexican Coke and you're full Yet there is dessert to ponder. read more

Xochi - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I think it's a little overrated. Ambiance is excellent. Service is good. Food is pretty good. Pricy compared to the price

I came here for a business dinner. The restaurant is located in a sparsely populated area of downtown Houston. The interior was upscale and the clientele seemed largely business folk. The appetizers were good but I wasn't fond of the scallop dish I got as my main- I was expecting the mole sauce that accompanied it to be more flavorful. My dish just tasted like scallops from any restaurant you would visit. By far the stand out was the dessert, chocolate ice cream and pudding served in a beautiful cocoa shell made from edible white chocolate. This is one of the more extravagant desserts I've had in the United States and a must try at this establishment. Wish we had something like this in New York! read more

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Excellent food! Variety of different menu very tasty sooo good. The mole is delicious. All is delicious very good.

Fantastic place! Pedro, tending bar, mixed the best margarita I've ever had! The "Catchetes De Res"... incredible. Best part of my trip to Houston. Great downtown spot! read more

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Excellent upscale Mexican food! I stopped at Xochi for lunch today. I had a great time! I started with their mole sampler with four different remarkable mole, 4 saucers with a delicious quesadilla for dipping. Then I had an amazing fish course with seared halibut perched atop roasted squash with diced carrot accompanied by a red mole. Excellent service. This was an amazing place in the middle of downtown Houston. read more

Xochi - Seared halibut - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The vibe is cool, overpriced Mexican food that you can find at a market in Mexico with better flavor to be honest. I was quite disappointed because Hugo's is actually great. For a "Oaxacan" restaurant the flavor is really lacking in all your moles and I kinda assumed is because it's catered for American people's palates. Please stop calling what your serving Huitlacoches when you're actually serving sautéed cremini mushrooms. Huitlacoche is actually banned from the US and it's a delicacy in Mexico. Also what you're serving is Sopes not Tlayudas.... Tlayudas are supposed to ve large crispy and thin... not overhyped Sopes.... The flautas are great, I mean is kinda hard to fuck that up tbh... Would recommend if you're trying to impress Yt peopo pallets... if you actually have taste buds you can probably have way better Oaxacan food at a food truck. read more

Amazing food and service! Especially their chargrilled oysters are a must, some of the best I've ever had!