The best Mexican street food north of the border

Popular plate: For a warming pick-me-up, try Xoco’s hot chocolate, ground and prepared freshly onsite and poured at your table, with crispy churros.

XOCO - part of superstar chef Rick Bayless' Mexican food empire that has taken over three buildings on the corner of Clark and Illinois - is a casual cafe that’s ideal for a light lunch, breakfast or snack. It’s small (cramped, even) and popular enough with the downtown crowd that you can expect a long-ish wait at meal times (thankfully, takeout is also available).

Try the wood-fired toasted tortas, or sandwiches, including the tasty torta ahogada – a beef sandwich swimming in a spicy sauce, like a Mexican version of Chicago’s famous submarine sandwich; or the thick and spicy caldos soups, filled with chunks of beef, seafood or veggies, and beans.