Opened in 2017 by James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and restaurateur Tracy Vaught, Xochi celebrates the culinary richness of Oaxaca, Mexico. Located in downtown Houston's Marriott Marquis, the restaurant quickly garnered national acclaim for its authentic yet innovative approach to Oaxacan cuisine. Chef Ortega, who immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, draws on his heritage to create dishes that showcase indigenous ingredients and traditional techniques, particularly Oaxaca's famous moles. Xochi (pronounced 'so-chee') means 'to bloom' in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, reflecting the restaurant's mission to help Oaxacan cuisine flourish in Houston.