XOCO - 1/10/2012

For my sister Sadieh's birthday lunch we went to one of my favorite sandwich places, XOCO (449 North Clark Street). This cafe is the third popular restaurant by celebrity Chicago chef (and Top Chef Masters winner) Rick Bayless. With XOCO, Bayless wanted to offer Mexican street food in a quick service setting.

Having been here a dozen or so times I order my go to, the Ahogada torta. Consisting of pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce and pickled onions, it packs quite a bit of heat. Pair it with their Limeade and you'll be in heaven.

For a starter (or a dessert) you MUST get the homemade churros. They are insanely good.

I also recommend the Caldos (basically a mexican soup) which are served after 11a.m. The seafood and the pork belly versions are knockouts.

Tortas are $9-$12, Caldos are $12 and Churros are $3.75 for 3.

Churros with chocolate dipping sauce - 7 Adal's (when ordered with the homemade mexican vanilla ice cream for dipping this dish gets 10 Adal's)

Ahogada sandwich - 8.5 Adal's

Churros with chocolate dipping sauce

Ahogada: Golden pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce, pickled onions