Best New Restaurant: XOCO
It’s been a banner year for Rick Bayless. The chef took top honors on Top Chef Masters, consulted on a big L.A. restaurant opening and opened XOCO, his fast-casual ode to tortas, caldos, churros and chocolate. Sure, some of the serving times are idiosyncratic, but once you figure them out, it’s easy to get your hands on that torta of salsa negra–drenched pork belly (Wednesdays only, starting at 11am), the ham-and-egg breakfast bread pudding (only until 10am daily) and those hot-from-the-fryer churros dipped in pudding-thick Barcelona-style hot chocolate (available anytime, thank God). 449 N Clark St (312-334-3688).—Heather Shouse