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I don't want to hear "Oh, it's not authentic"... get over yourself. I hate to say it, but I guess I like Americanized Mexican food, and if that is what this is, well, I don't care.
Xochi's has good food, big portions, strong margaritas and EXCELLENT chips and salsa. Plus, the prices are right. What else do you need?
I have been going here for 10+ yrs, and it is not only holding strong but it is consistent. You know what you order is going to taste the same, each visit, and that says a lot.
They start you out with fresh, HOT chips and homemade salsa and bring you water. Sometimes service lacks a little, but they are always busy, and as long as the server is friendly and isn't blatantly ignoring me, them I'm fine. We usually get a pitcher of margaritas-- they have 1/2 L and 1L, and a few different flavors. I like them because they aren't overly sweet or watered down like some.. you can taste the tequila, and that's how I want it. We also get the fajitas and one chimichanga. Always too much food, but hey, at least you have left-overs. The fajitas are definitely enough to split, and they will bring you extra tortillas and condiments if you so please.
Overall, one of my favorite places. I like the somewhat run down and dark dining rooms and the consistency of the food. I have never had a bad experience, and it's well worth the wait on a busy night. Go upstairs to the bar area and grab a drink until your table is ready.
Maybe it's the fond memories I have there, or the fact that I have never had a bad meal or drink. Either way, give it a shot.
First off, I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, so for me to give a Mexican restaurant 4 stars is a big deal. Here is why I throughly enjoyed this place:
- The chips and salsa. The salsa was amazing! And the chips were very warm, fresh, and yummy
- The lunch specials were unreal. I got 2 chicken quesadillas, rice, and beans for $4.50! And it was very tasty!
- The service was excellent.
Sorry Xochi, you just don't do it for me.
The service is spotty, the atmosphere is no where near what you can get at other restaurants like Mexican Village and your food is honestly mediocre. I've had some weirdo waiters here and I've had some honestly exceptional ones, but the place itself is just not my style. Its too dark, brown or black interior and not full of the fun and flavor a Mexican Restaurant should have.
It tries for simple elegance, but just comes off as needing updates. The chips are pretty good, but not at all something rare to find. I would recommend getting "chunky beef"... if that sounds appealing (could use some rewording in the menu) as opposed to ground beef. It was a pleasant texture and more filling. My biggest complaint was honestly the clientele of the restaurant. A lot of arrogant suburbanites with some pretty shallow chatter. And believe me, the tables are too close together to simply tune it out.
I honestly will never understand why people like Xochimilco's. It's grease, not that good of quality, it's basic American style Mexican food, but it's always packed so I guess they are doing something right.
I will say I love their chips and salsa, and margaritas, but that's where it stops. I have had roomates and friends who insist on going there and that is all I will usually get. They are open late so that's a plus, but I fail to see what the big deal is.
I know that since I was born and raised in the suburbs, I am supposed to only go to Xochi's in MexicanTown. Thank goodness my husband showed me there are much better options (Mexican Village, Los Galanes, little joints on Vernor)
The prices are decent, the service is okay, the food isn't inedible, the chips are good. I think the thing that is best is their late hours.
This is the best Mexican food in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. Not the most popular place to go on Cinco de Mayo because it doesn't have a dancefloor, but if you're looking for great Mexican, this is the place to go. I get something different every time and I've never been disappointed.
I know a lot of folks here are playa h8rs but I've been coming to Xochi's for many years and I'm not ashamed to admit that I like it. Mostly because:
1. They serve the BEST chips in Mexicantown. Housemade, hot and fresh, burn your tongue, spicy salsa goodness.
2. Awesome quesadillas with the guac and peppers served on the inside (thank you).
3. Fast, friendly service.
Dat's it.
No offense Xochi, but every time I hear someone from the suburbs, who usually makes it to our gem of a city once or twice a year tops say that your food is the "best Mexican food" they've ever had, I die a little inside.
It breaks my heart that you're attempting to pass these runny beans, day old tortillas and generally bland flavors off as "authentic" Mexican food. Mexican cooking needs love to come through. It's a time consuming, passionate form of cooking. I've detected neither in your dishes. EVERYTHING tastes the same.
Your only saving grace is your pork stew and your chips. It's clear that you make the chips in house and you do it right. The pork stew has a nice balance of sweetness and spice and the meat is quite tender.
Every other meal I've had here has been wham bam, thank you for eating in our Mexican mess hall. Come on Xoci, you can do better. You might be fooling all these folks from the burbs who are too scared to wander into a Taqueria where they may encounter (GASP!) an actual staff member of Mexican decent, but you're not fooling me.
If you're looking for real Mexican food, please don't go to Xoci's. If you're one of those people saying this is the "best Mexican food" you've ever had and have never been next door to Taqueria Lupita's, made the jaunt to Los Altos or to any of the amazing Taco Carts, please stop tricking your friends into thinking this is authentic. I, and many other Yelpers can assure you this is not the case.
However, if you feel like hammering back several margaritas and fooling yourself into thinking you're having an authentic Mexican Town experience, please, go ahead and eat here.
Finally made it to Xochimilco after hearing people talk about it for years, and you know what happens when you listen to people talk about a restaurant too long...
There is nothing bad about Xochi's. The food is fine, the atmosphere is a mixture of grimy and charming (which I like), and it's pretty easy to find. The big plusses are the parking (which is excellent), and the chips (which are freshly fried and taste AMAZING). If you're looking for chips and margaritas, you could definitely bump up this rating by a star.
If you're judging the food overall, that's where my issue lied. I've always been told to get tacos here, and maybe my problem was that I went with a sampler plate instead, but I found my food to be pretty average. There was a pork stew that was part of my sampler that I would get again in a heartbeat, it was a tasty blend of sweet and spicy that I did not expect. The ground beef was also a step above most Mexican restaurant ground beef, but because I got the platter I just had a small serving of it.
Otherwise I wasn't really knocked out, but I still liked it. I guess hearing people rave about this joint for so long affected my expectations, but I need more experience in Mexicantown anyway so I will certainly go back and give it another shot with a taco-oriented meal.
The one note that people should know is that the inside of the restaurant is a little dark and not terribly clean looking, but it's because the building is very old and there's not a lot of natural light leaking in because there's very few windows. I find this to be pretty authentic to most Mexican restaurants, but I know it creeps some people out and makes them think it's dirtier than it is.
Believe or not, I love Mexican cuisine and had never been to Mexican Town! So I finally made there and dined at Xochimilco, which my bf insisted was one of his favs in Mexican Town. I liked the vibe of the place and we enjoyed some bar time while waiting for our table. The wait wasn't bad at all and our table was perfect for people watching. The menu was full of temptations and we finally decided to split a botana and some burritos. We also put it an order for guacamole, a shared love of ours. The waitress told us they are out of guac. What!?!?! That was a huge bummer. How can a Mexican restaurant run out of guac!!!
Overall I enjoyed myself and would go back again. I really liked the chips and salsa and I felt like the food was good, but not perfect. Hopefully next time I can try the guac!
Xochi's (So-she's) is more than an institution in Detroit; it's a great place to score tacos after a night at the bar, thanks to it's staying open so late. I live off Bagley, in the heart of Mexicantown, so I've tried just about all of the restaurants. Xochimilco is about middle of the pack. If it weren't for its late hours, I might not venture there often.
On the plus side: The chips are always delightfully greasy and hot, right out of the fryer. The margaritas are strong, though pricey, and come by the big load. Did I mention it's open late?
The food is usually average to above-average. The chiles rellenos is the best I've found, but the other menu items either run with the rest of the pack or are actually worse.
Negative points: The atmosphere is dark, dingy and cellar-like. The salsa is rather bland and doesn't taste half as fresh as that of Lupita's and others. And again, there is a good likelihood that the food isn't going to rock your socks off.
But you could do far worse in choosing your Mexicantown destination than Xochi's. Than again, you also could do better.
personally, i like these crispy taco's sober. there's just something about the deep fried, crispy corn tortilla's that starts my heart aflutter (with chicken). i haven't tried anything else on the menu, b/c once i've found something that i'm happy with, i tend not to stray too much.
fast, friendly service, and crispy, hot tortilla chips at the table (with mild and medium salsa's) make this place worth coming back to. not everyday, but at least every month.
Dark, dirty, and the service varies.
I've eaten here many times (I'm a glutton for punishment) and each time I've been disappointed. The food is alright, but if you're looking for an enjoyable evening out with a good flow to the meal- not the place to go. Our appetizer has come after our meal more than a few times, and our drinks are served with the meal.
I recommend Mexican Village instead (also not great, but better)
Not a fan at all of Xochis. Would rather go to the taqueria a few doors down (not sure of the name - it's the one next to the Mexican clothing and crafts store).
The food is ok. I'll give them that. But I've NEVER seen a Mexican eating there (just working there) and that's not right, considering its in a neighborhood that's almost 99% Mexican. If the locals don't eat it, why should I?
Xochi's is great. It's an outdated building and the decor has been there since at least the 80s, but who cares what it looks like if you can get great food at an amazing price?
The staff are always really busy and the place is always packed. They usually estimate the wait at 30 minutes, but it rarely, if ever, takes that long, even if the lobby is packed. They also take carry-out orders which take virtually no time at all.
The chips and salsa are delish and the lunch specials are hard to beat. For about $4 you can get a huge plate of food that most guys are easily filled by. Dinner prices are not too much more and there is ALWAYS too much food.
I love this place :)
Is this super-authentic, memorable Mexican food? Well, I'm a gringo, so maybe I'm not the perfect one to judge, but I doubt it. However, Xochimilco does have lunch specials that are hard, if not impossible, to beat. I spent $3.50 and got two enchiladas (one chicken, one cheese), rice and beans, and bottomless fresh chips with salsa.
The food was, as some reviewers have remarked, lacking in some soul and complexity, but it was filling and certainly didn't taste bad. Look at it this way: would you rather eat this, or Chipotle/Qdoba? I thought so. This place is even cheaper.
And the people who run this place are absolutely charming. I went with an awkwardly large group, and we went through about 16 different table configurations trying to fit us all in. But they were still lovely, and quite prompt on refilling chips and water.
My favorite Mexican restaurant hands down. Every trip back to Detroit I try to make to Xochi's. The taco's are unlike any taco's I ever had anywhere else in the Midwest. The chips and salsa they serve while you wait are the best, be careful not to fill up.
This place was a staple in my family while I growing up. Between my 2 sisters and myself we have had many a birthday dinners at Xochimilico's. I don't remember what kind of cake they serve but it is hella good.
Reasonably priced and good portions.
Best Mexican in Detroit hands down. Some of the best I've found in the Midwest period. I haven't been in since the summer but my parents stated the last couple trips we sub-par at best. The 4 stars is based on my history as well as MY last trip.
My favorite Mexican Restaurant of all time.
Ive been here so many times, Ive tried (at one time or another) everything on the menu and I have literally had a meal at every table at this place.
Great Margaritas, cheap food, large portions, great salsa and chips.
Its THEE Mexican Restaurant I judge all others by.
Which means you probably hear me say "Its no Xochimilcos though".
Favorite Dish : Ground Beef Enchiladas (on flour tortillas) with double beans no rice.
They're a little slow right now with the I-75 construction project going on, theres been no waits and fast service.
The restaurant was pretty good. I haven't been to any other Mexicantown places, so my 3-star rating is based on restaurants in other cities (SF, Chicago, and Denver).
The restaurant is two stories and they have smoking and non-smoking sections. When we arrived on a Sat. night around 8 PM, it was packed! I put our name down and she told us it would be 1/2 an hour. We got margaritas at the bar upstairs and by the time we were done paying our table was ready. I don't think it was 1/2 an hour, so stick close by if they tell you it's a wait. They have a loudspeaker to call out names, so we didn't have to hover at the hostess stand.
The margaritas were large, but just ok. They had a slight fizz to them, which I have never tasted in a margarita before.
As soon as we sat down, the waitress came over and told us our chips would arrive soon. They did. They were ok, a bit greasy. There were two types of salsa.
Our food arrived very fast. I was happy that they had at least one vegetarian, not deep fried option - the quesadillas which came with rice and refried beans. The other person I was with had combo plate #1, which she said was very good.
Overall, I wouldn't run back here, but if I wanted Mexican and was in the area, I would consider it.
I have been going to Xochimilco for over 20 years and I can honestly say it is my favorite mexican restaurant. This is a hot spot for people going to or coming from Wings/Tigers/Lions games so there can be a wait at times. There is a bar upstairs that you can wait at for your seats. I usually get the cheese chimichangas but have had the chicken and beef and they are just as good. Their chips, salsa, and guacamole are great. Service is fast even when it's packed. I now live in Chicago and still can't find a mexican restaurant that comes close to Xochimilco's so I always come when I am in town. I went this past weekend with my family and the manager always recognizes us after all these years.
Slipping...
Xochimilco's has been my favorite Mexican Town restaurant over the years, but my last two vists have not been good. Their Chile Releno, which used to be my standard for the dish, was awful and the service was worse. I'm giving them 3-stars for history, not recent performance.
No point in being picky - Xochi's does Mexican excellently.
I liked Xochi's the best out of the Mexi-town restaurants because of a few incidents I had at some of the other places. The other restaurants I've been to are more "authentic" in that the staff spoke limited English. This made my experiences a year or so ago when I was vegetarian a nightmare; trying to add/delete anything from a dish was nearly impossible. Luckily a few times I was with a friend who spoke Spanish. However, I also felt like I was transported into the movie "Everything is Illuminated"... it seemed like a cultural shock that someone would voluntarily stop eating meat.
But anyway, Xochi's doesn't have this language problem.
And given that I've had food at the other Mexi-town places, I still like Xochi's food the best. The portions are HUGE and delicious every single time. What else can I say? If you want to manipulate the ingredients of your order, go here!
I'm not quite sure how this place got the reputation of the Mexican place to go to when going to Mexican Town. It's way overrated like some other people mentioned. The fact that it's so dark werids me out a little too. What are they trying to hide? Go to Mi Pueblo, Los Galanes or Mexican Village instead.
This is where I usually go if I'm in Detroit and craving Mexican. I'm usually full from the chips and salsa alone, which is the reason I go there. The food is really mediocre and the decor is a little sad. This will do for your mexican fix but don't expect anything special.
My husband and I took my mother here most recently. The servings were generous, and the food was authentic Mexican fare for the area. I'm a sucker for good chips and salsa, so I was thrilled with the hot fresh chips we received shortly after arriving.
I always forget between visits about the sparse lighting. Usually it takes a minute to get used to sitting in such a dim room with an otherwise party atmosphere, but this time it helped my baby nod back off to sleep after her car ride - yay!
My second favorite mexican restaurant in Detroit, but a close second. The restaurant itself is dated and not much to look at, but the food and margaritas are amazing. Pretty standard Mexican fare, but the food is great almost every time. There has been one or two times when I thought it could be better, but it's usually really good. The chimichangas are huge and fatteningly delicious. This is still the number one choice for me for 1am dining.
I always make sure to stop by xochimilco every time i'm back in detroit. it's the best mexican food i've ever had, and i live in los angeles. combination plate is the way to go. and it's dirt cheap!
I'm biased. I've been going here since I was 6 months old. This is a working class mainstay. The crowd is diverse, black white canadian US old young. The food is amazing and what you expect for northern mexican fare turned out in a Detroit setting. I've lived in Arizona and I would CRAVE Xochimilcos big time. So good. Go!
Best place to eat Mexican in the D. Pretty cheap and big servings. Salsa could be a little better, but good nonetheless. Worth a visit if your heart desires some Mexican.
This place is soooo over-rated! The people who love this place must not spend a lot of time in Meican Town. Try the little crappy looking place next door for the best tacos practically for free (so cheap!)
The signs say Mexicantown, though some call it "Mexican Village". Whichever way you say it, this area of Detroit is home to Xochimilco's Restaurant.
I have never been to Mexico so I cannot speak to the authenticity of their Mexican menu, but what I can tell you is that the food is delicious.
I would accept take out from Xochimilco if I absolutely had to, but eating there is part of the fun. The place is dimly lit and has nothing too exciting lining its walls, but it is still a great place to eat.
You get a bottomless basket of fresh tortilla chips with salsa (both mild and hot) to snack on before, during and after your meal. A tip I got from Nick, who is the kind soul who shared this little Shangri-La with me, is to never leave Xochimilco with any less than two large chips and two large mild salsas in my hands. Pricing is on the appetizer side of the menu to see how much that will run you out the door. The chips have a decent shelf life and the salsa is so fresh when you get it. You have a snack for a few days, assuming you don't eat it all on the ride home. And if you're thirsty, I believe all beers, domestic and imported, are $3 and you see plenty of margaritas on the tables to round out your Mexican meal.
You would be hard pressed to find a sit down restaurant that takes less time between order placement and delivery of food. It does not take long to eat at Xochimilco, so keep this in mind if you pull up and see a line for a table. Prices are also very reasonable.
I do not get down to Xochimilco nearly as often as I would like. It is hard for me to justify the trip down to Detroit on my own, but any time I find a willing companion I head south. It's pretty easy to get there from north of Detroit as you just take I-75 south to exit 47-B which is the exit for the bridge. Do not get on the bridge, mind you. After a series of left turns you end up facing Mexicantown. The address is 3409 Bagley St. (You can also take 96 east and get off at the exit for the bridge.) Parking is limited directly next to the restaurant, but there is an extended lot just beyond.
If you could pick one restaurant that excites me most when I get to go there, this is it.
I feel sorry for those who think that this is great Mexican food. It is decent and very cheap, but not much better that your average Chili's restaurant. Definitely gringo food. Do yourself a favor and go to Evie's across the street and a block down. Now that is the real deal and still dirt cheap.
MMM! The Margaritas and food are cheap, and really tasty. The enchiladas are the best. Big portions, good service. Love it.
Dark and crowded inside but the food was decent; not sure I would drive from the burbs to eat there again, but as you can tell from the other reviews everyone seems to love love love it.
Great place. Cheap, abundant portions. Service is very fast and friendly. Open real late on the weekends. Drinks are a little on the expensive side, and sometimes watered down. Who cares - the food is consistently delicious. We like to eat there, then go to some dive bar in Detroit for drinks and conversation. Cheese chimichanga's (with additional baked cheese on top) are my favorite. They load up on sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes on top. Most dinners come with rice and beans, and home-made chips and salsa. Bring your appetite.
There are so many other places in the area (even just a block down) that are SO MUCH better. Xochi's isn't bad, just not as good as Mexican Town. If you're looking for American Mexican food that is.
This place is always packed: lunch, dinner, or late night. They offer huge portions with the cheese, beans, or meat piled on. It's not the best Mexican in Mexican town but it does satisfy. The salsa is watery, tomato puree and the hot one is not so hot. The chips are hot but not salty enough. The super nachos is chips with a pound of ground beef. The staff is friendly. An OK option when in Detroit.
when i was growing up i thought that mexican food was the super nacho from xochimilco. yuck. i hate it. i don't know why my family and all of metro detroit loves it.
they get one star for service, always fast and friendly, but no stars for food.
thanks to xochimilco's i thought that i hated mexican food. but fortunately i had some reeducation along the way.
i never thought there'd be a mexican town in detroit when i went a few years back. considering i live in southern california, where there's some pretty damn good mexican food, i was impressed with this place. i had the carne asada plate (even though it's been years, i still remember). it was very good, and it was really nicely portioned. i went there with a bunch of my cousins, and there was a big party. the waiters were very attentive to our needs, even though we had a very big party. i had a great time, and since that visit, my family has been going there often since then. loved it.
Detroit, MI
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mexicantown
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mexicantown
Category: Mexican
Detroit, MI
Category: Mexican
Detroit, MI
Category: Mexican
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