Xochi

"Located inside the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Downtown Houston, James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega’s Oaxacan restaurant is a destination all on its own. The menu showcases the rich depth of flavors of the Oaxacan region with Southwestern cuisine sensibilities. It’s hard to go wrong here, but be sure to try tlayudas, a popular Oaxacan street food made from tortillas cooked over wood, and the barbacoa de res de zaachila – skirt steak in a guajillo and casteno pepper broth with masa dumplings. Its brunch is also a hit, with chilaquiles, memelas, enchiladas, and more offered on Saturdays, and a full brunch buffet offered on Sundays with live music held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m." - Brittany Britto Garley

"James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega has cooked up one of Houston’s finest Mexican restaurants in Xochi, an ode to Oaxaca. Diners can begin the experience with wood-roasted oysters or a mole tasting that showcases the four classic styles of moles before digging into cabrito or lobster tacos and costillas de borrego — grilled rack of lamb, adobo potato purée, and wild mushrooms served with cherry mole. Save room for the churros for two, which arrive with a pitcher of Oaxacan hot chocolate foamed tableside." - Marcy de Luna

"Houston’s Mexican food scene would not be complete without James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, who has explored the cuisine repeatedly with his restaurants Hugo’s, Caracol, and Urbe. At Xochi, Ortega focuses in on the Oaxaca region, with menu highlights like the mole flight, memelas served with roasted pork rib and tomatillo-avocado sauce, and plenty of cocktails fueled by agave-based spirits." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Under the direction of pastry chef Reuben Ortega, Xochi delivers an imaginative menu of desserts not soon found elsewhere. The restaurant’s signature cacao resembles art on the plate, with tejate foam and a milk chocolate cloud presented in a chocolate pod, with chocolate criollo soil. Ortega has had his hand in developing dynamic desserts for other H-Town Restaurant Group concepts, including restaurants Hugo’s, Caracol, and Urbe, so venturing out to explore those menus is also highly recommended." - Brittany Britto Garley, Megha McSwain

"Xochi is the second spot on the list by chef Hugo Ortega, but should you find yourself Downtown and in need of a potent margarita, it’s an obvious choice. The restaurant’s namesake margarita, the “Xochi Rita” is crafted with mezcal, but there are plenty of tequila-fueled options as well." - Courtney E. Smith, Megha McSwain