"Houston's temple to Oaxaca — book Xochi for Hugo Ortega's deep-toned moles, hand-pressed masa and house-ground Oaxacan chocolate."
Xochi opened in downtown Houston inside the Marriott Marquis in 2017, the creation of chef Hugo Ortega — named the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Southwest that same year, the first Mexican-born chef to take the award. The restaurant is a love letter to the indigenous cooking of Oaxaca.
Where Ortega's Hugo's looks across Mexico, Xochi drills into one region: its moles, masa and mezcal are the heart of the menu.
The kitchen is built on moles — from classic mole negro to mole de chicatana, the smoky ant mole — over dishes like tamal de pollo con mole negro and camarones en mole verde. Masa is pressed in house and the kitchen even grinds its own Oaxacan chocolate; a two-course weekday lunch runs about $24, with dinner mains roughly $20 to $40.
The room is bright and textural, hung with Oaxacan craft and anchored by a chocolate and masa program you can watch. It scales easily from a quiet two-top to a client table, with downtown convenience and a polished service team.
For a table to impress clients or an anniversary with real depth of flavor, Xochi delivers regional Mexican cooking at a level few cities can match. Compare it with Caracol or Hugo's, Ortega's other Houston rooms.
Not for diners wanting Tex-Mex standards or a quick cheap bite — Xochi is a regional Oaxacan tasting of moles and masa, priced and paced for a proper meal.
Hugo Ortega, who was named the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Southwest in 2017 — the first Mexican-born chef to win — and also runs Hugo's and Caracol in Houston.
Oaxacan cooking, especially its moles (from mole negro to ant-based mole de chicatana), hand-pressed masa, and house-ground Oaxacan chocolate.
Dinner mains run roughly $20 to $40, and a two-course weekday lunch is around $24. Tasting through several moles pushes the bill higher.
Inside the Marriott Marquis at 1777 Walker Street in downtown Houston, near Discovery Green and Daikin Park.
Downtown and event nights book up; reserve ahead for dinner and weekends.
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Where Xochi ranks among Houston's best tables, by the occasion they fit.
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