Unearth The Voyage
Craving a trip to Oaxaca without booking a flight? Xochi in downtown Houston brings that journey to your table with moles, heirloom corn, and mezcal that locals swear rival the real thing. The room feels chic and celebratory, yet every bite is soulful and rooted in tradition. Come hungry, because you will want to explore far beyond one dish.
The Mole Experience
Mole at Xochi feels like a love letter to Oaxaca. The kitchen layers chiles, seeds, nuts, and chocolate into sauces that glow with depth and patience. You taste smoke, sweetness, and a whisper of bitterness that keeps you chasing another bite.
Order mole negro and watch the room fall away. The sauce blankets tender meat, then sparks against plantains and warm tortillas. You will want to slow down and let the spice unwind.
Ask about seasonal moles too. Amarillo, coloradito, and manchamanteles rotate, each telling a different story. Trust the team and pair with mezcal.
Tlayuda Night
A tlayuda is Oaxaca’s ultimate party on a plate. At Xochi, the tortilla arrives thin, crackly, and smoky from the comal. Black beans, quesillo, lettuce, avocado, and salsa pile high, with chorizo or tasajo if you are feeling bold.
Fold it, snap it, share it, or keep it all to yourself. The textures are the hook, but the char is the secret. Every crunch carries mezquite whispers.
Grab a mezcal and lime to chase the richness. Ask for house salsas for heat control. It is the kind of dish that turns a weeknight into a celebration.
Heirloom Corn Magic
Great Oaxacan cooking starts with corn, and Xochi treats masa like a sacred craft. You will taste it in tortillas, tetelas, and little masa pancakes that surprise you with depth. The aroma alone pulls you closer.
When warm tortillas land at the table, do not wait. Tear, butter with mole, and smile. The texture is tender, elastic, alive.
Ask which heirloom varieties are in house today. Blue, white, or yellow corn can change flavor dramatically. It is a masterclass in how simple ingredients sing when respected.
Seafood From The Coast
Xochi’s seafood rides the line between coastal brightness and chile warmth. Grilled prawns arrive with citrus, herbs, and a subtle lick of heat. Octopus comes tender, smoky, and lacquered, begging for one more squeeze of lime.
If you love ceviche, you will find playful interpretations with seasonal fish. The marinades stay sharp and clean, never muddy. Texture snaps, then melts.
Balance bites with a crisp white or a mineral mezcal. Ask servers for pairings that brighten chiles without overpowering. It is sunshine and smoke meeting halfway on the plate.
Brunch With Soul
Sunday at Xochi is pure vibes. The menu leans comforting with chilaquiles, eggs, and pastries that whisper Oaxaca. Sauces hum, tortillas steam, and coffee smells like home.
Order chilaquiles with red salsa for a gentle burn and creamy queso fresco. Add a mezcal spritz if you like a playful kick. The plates feel generous without being heavy.
Bring friends and share across the table. Brunch here turns slow and easy, the way it should. You leave feeling hugged by spice and sunshine.
The Mezcal Moment
Mezcal at Xochi is not an afterthought. The list ranges from bright espadín to deeper cupreata and tobala. You can sip, compare, and learn without pretension.
Ask for sal de gusano and an orange slice to unlock new notes. A good pour wraps smoke around citrus and herbs. Suddenly your mole tastes even bigger.
If you are new, start with a flight and talk through terroir. The staff makes it fun and approachable. You leave with favorites and a newfound respect for agave.
Desserts That Remember
Save room for desserts that feel like stories. Think chocolate tamal with velvety cacao richness, or tres leches brightened with fruit. Each bite nods to tradition while keeping the finish light.
Cajeta drizzles, toasted nuts, and little crunches keep you chasing texture. Nothing cloying, just balanced sweetness. It is the exhale after spice.
Pair with café de olla or a small pour of mezcal. Let the warmth carry the chocolate. You will walk out smiling, already planning the next visit.
Plan Your Visit
Find Xochi at 1777 Walker St in downtown Houston, inside a chic space that feels celebratory. It opens at 11:30 AM most days, with Sunday brunch from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. Expect an upscale vibe and thoughtful service.
Reservations help, especially on weekends. Budget for a $$$ experience with cocktails or mezcal. Parking and ride share both work well downtown.
Call +1 713-400-3330 or browse the website for current menus. Bring curiosity, an appetite, and friends to share. Oaxaca feels closer the moment you sit down.
