Xixa Reviews

The Tomatillo Micheladas are t die for. And the braised huge piece of meet that we rabdomly get when we do the Chef's menu- is insanly deicious. We love the place, it can get a lil croweded, but all great places do. Dont even think about showing up without reservations.

This restaurant has potential. The food is very innovative and refined. However it remains average for a 100$ per person experience. There were many speed bumps along the course of our evening there. We arrived as a party of six, 4 who do not speak English - so we needed a little extra time to sort through their very complicated drink ordering process (some type of ipad app would be welcome!). The wait staff was politely impatient with our need to translate to much of the group. Our server Cal sold us on their tasting menu which he billed as perfect for six people, however about 20% of the plates were very difficult to properly divide between 6 people. Notably we opted for the upgrade of soft shell crab tacos (+$ per person) which arrived as 2 crabs cut in half (4 parts not 6)? one waiter assured us that this was correct, while our serve cal came back and said that there was a problem ?? The final problem that really left a sour taste in our mouths was when it came time to pay the bill our server swiped the card, we agreed and signed - then he came back realizing he forgot to add a bottle of wine and has us recalculate our division, cut up the signed bill and resign the other one. Yes this was partially our fault for missing the extra bottle on the addition but was a very embarrassing experience. The food and service was excellent, but the speed bumps were not accounted for.

We ordered the chef tasting menu! A range of different flavours and exiting mexican/fusion dishes! Very helpfull staff and the atmosphere was really cozy! One of the few restaurants I would love to visit again!

We loved the food and loved the chef. Everything was excellent. When i told him it was a bit spicy for me, he served us the food with the spice on the side. Excellent evening. Excellent food . Lovely and warm service. Would highly recomend!

Really enjoyed my birthday here, they even gave me an extra dessert with a candle in the ice cream it was very sweet. The wine list is to die for and the margaritas are very innovative and they have a range of tequila that they use. We had the tasting menu it was amazing. I would recommend this place if you are a food snob like me as it is pretty awesome.

Visited with friends late-ish on a Saturday night - the restaurant wasn't that busy but still had a great buzz. The wine list is extensive and amusingly "sectioned" - I liked the Courtnery Love! We ordered 9 plates between three of us which was enough - the favourite was the burrata closely followed by the pork belly and cheeks. The meat tacos with a combo of steak tartare and bone marrow was interesting though not something I would eat again. The service was as you expect in the US, pretty great and our waitress offered good suggestions. Definitely worth a visit.

we found out about this place through word-of-mouth and committed to finding our way over there on a very brief holiday. both of us have challenges with our diet ranging from gluten-free to vegetarian. most chefs would consider that a situation that put them with one hand tied behind their back and the other tied to the back of their head but this was one of the most memorable meals in my lifetime. our tasting menu was a surprise a minute each surprise better than the last. if you live in the five boroughs I’m committing you to going. otherwise just put it on your bucket list and make sure you don’t die before you get to go.

Nice atmosphere, cool music and a busy restaurant. I chose the chef tasting experience. I had 15 courses of very special, detailed, good looking food. What a great experience. I cannot wait to repeat and I really think you won't regret it!

The ambiance is just right. Nice modern decor. The food is pretty darn good. Something different to Mexican food. Plates are a bit pricey and more of tapa size. Staff is friendly. The drinks are really tasty, the mezcal is a great choice. The queso fundido is delicious and a must try.

It is very difficult to describe this unique Mexican style restaurant- it’s not your typical taco/ burrito stand! Check out the menu. We had the Fall guacamole (a perfect starter) and then the Cornish hen and roasted goat neck. Everything was perfectly prepared and very tasty. Their cocktail and wine list is very extensive. Portions are generous and prices are on the high side. Fun atmosphere.

Enjoyed this place so much. Inventive cooking, great service, lovely drinks. As a Londoner we don't get much access to good Mexican inspired food so this was a treat. I couldn't fault my meal here on any front at all. Make sure to have the tuna tostada if you can. and whoever knew tequila could be so enjoyable!?

We were in Williamsburg for a long weekend and stumbled upon this place and after reading reviews decided to make a reservation for 2 at the bar. Their focus is on shared small plates and craft cocktails. We ordered and shared the edamame, meatballs and guacamole. All were pretty tasty but not mind-blowing. We decided to skip ordering a main dish as none of the options really appealed to us. The craft mezcal cocktails are very good. This is the type of place where you sit for a while and enjoy the food and drinks rather than rush through. Definitely recommend reservations as it got crowded quick on a Saturday.

Had dinner here recently with friends and it was fantastic! The food was great! Everything was very tasty, and tapas style. We all especially loved the lamb as it was wonderfully spiced, crispy on the outside and fall-off-the-bone tender inside! Highly recommended! The drinks were great, and we all enjoyed quite a few of'em! Not the cheapest, but worth the price! We were a group of 4 people for dinner, and stuffed ourselves, we each had multiple drinks, and our bill was about $300. Small place, great atmosphere, would go back again any time!

The food was excellent and very good service. It’s what you would expect from a Michelins restaurant. Really nothing bad to say.

When you have over 20 people in a group and when the end of the meal finally comes, everyone leaves satisfied, thats when you know you chose the right place! Wow, is the 1st thing out of my mouth. Everyone's mouth said wow and yum. We officially did not know what was coming out of the kitchen since we went with the tasting menu. Maybe theu should rename it to the menu full of taste? We had Alex and Casey as our servers, Alex was doing the brunt of the service and Casey was his silent partner. They were also taking care of other tables as well. They must have put 100,000 steps during the time we spent. You imagine as you are carrying 6 drinks on a tray and while you are serving them, others un your group are tugging on your clothes because they need drinks or because their delicious drinks are done, they are looking for more. Both Alex and Casey performed like pros in this manner. We started with with some chios, unlike any chip yoh are used to, with an avocado type dip. The chio felt like a cross between potato and vegetable and the avocado had a seasoning better than regular guac. Next came the bone marrow and the homemade soft fluffy tortillas with additional flavors to add on the side. When the butter shrimp came out, they had me by the horns. The shrimp comes with these flavorful button mushrooms that melts in your mouth. The flavors that come out from the butter shrimp is amazing. When you think you are impressed, something new comes out and impresses you even more. That was the fish tacos simply put. They are named Snapper tempura fish tacos with kimchee cabbage and habanero jam. I really recommend to look at the menu because there are so many fantastic choices. Then the roasted leek quesadilla came out. By this time your stomach is starting to stay STOP, but your olfactory system says MORE. The octopus with chirizo came after that and omg were so delicious. Unlike octopus anywhere else. The whole time you are eating, they are also serving their signature drinks which are numerous for this place. You can choose sangria, some delish beers and wines, but i recommend the deconstructed drinks consisting of an "old fashioned" flavored cube made of bitters, spices and citrus and add one of the huge selection of unheard of smooth mezcals and tequilas they offer. They also have softer versions of other drinks as well. You will have a lot of choices. Finally, vanilla flan and the fresh made churros with chocolate and passionfruit dips to finish it off and send you home happy.

WOW! Had dinner there with friends on a Friday night. The service was wonderful and our waiter Cal was amazing. He really paid attention to the pace of the food and when he saw we were struggling -cancelled two of our dishes. We had ordered 8 dishes for 3 people but felt full after 6. Of course that did not stop us from having dessert! The food was delicious and the portions were generous. Guacamole "Nam Prik Num", Duck Lettuce Wraps, Burrata Cheese appetize, fried brussels sprouts were all big hits. And for dessert, we all enjoyed the passion fruit churros-the cilantro ice cream was interesting-glad we tried it. If you're looking for a light dish to close the meal go with the flan-not too heavy or sweet. We also really enjoyed the music-bringing it way back-mid-late 90's-the night we were there. A return visit is in order!

We are huge fans of their sister restaurant Traif so decided to give Xixa a try. Loved the food -- there were four of us so we were able to sample the majority of the menu and everything was delicious, interesting and fun. The drinks are great too, such a cool idea to make a margarita with high end tequila poured over flavored ice cubes! We will be back for sure.

Oh my goodness. We wanted to find good Mexican food and buy did we! The food was incredibly - and had a really interesting East Asian influence to it. It was the best meal we had by far in the whole of New York! Cocktails were interesting (hello jalapeno mint and tequila!) And a nice atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Hot damn that was an awesome meal. After searching through the various options that might accommodate a party of 7 at a time other than 5 pm or 10 pm, we were thrilled that Xixa was able to give us a table. Could they possibly match the great experience we had a Traif? I'm delighted to say they did. In spades. We did the Chef's Table, a ridiculous bargain that would be a pity not to experience for the mere price of $50 per person. You just aren't going to get anything better, more varied, more interesting or more satisfying anywhere else for anything close to that price. The food was stellar. From the transcendent foie gras al pastor to the incredible rib tacos with all the trimmings and the carnitas, so savory; we were in heaven. The biggest surprise was the carrot dish - served a la mexican corn style, it was a revelation. Were there a few forgettable dishes and missteps? Of course. The fact that the bar only serves tequila or mezcal variations is a mistake. Some folks have an aversion to either or both and I don't think it would hurt to offer a little rum in the mix. The glasses for water are far too small and that they don't leave bottles on the table makes it hard to stay hydrated with all that food coming on. The service was a bit rushed - we were JUST starting a plate when the next would come. At one point, we had 3 courses at the same time on the table. We weren't terribly slow and it was overwhelming. Several of the dishes should have been served with more tortillas, more chips, or were honestly just not that great. Hummus? I don't want hummus in a Mexican restaurant. I also don't want that particular flan dish. It was a lackluster end to the meal. All that said, we would return again and again, and even with the paragraph of missteps above, it still is in the top 3 Brooklyn spots we won't hesitate to recommend or revisit. That Xixa is one hot number.

My Nephew,Jared, and his lovely gf Cat, took me to this great eatery in Williamsburg Bklyn. It claims to be modern Mexican and was spot on. We had the chef's choices and were not disappointed by any dish. We had mole,short ribs,octopus,etc prepared in ways that had no resemblance to any Mexican dish Ive ever had. This is nouveau cuisine at its finest. And as an extra treat they have a sister place called TRAIF. Well worth the trip over the bridge.

We had a wonderful dinner here. Lots of small plates of fabulous flavors and combinations. We had the chef tasting menu. The service and staff here are attentive and very friendly. This food is nothing like most Mexican restaurants. Go try this place for a terrific meal!

We visited Xixa by chance and ended up going back twice more during our stay in Brooklyn. The staff were very friendly, the selection of drinks was great, and the food was absolutely delicious. The guacamole with grapefruit is a must, as are the bone marrow tacos and the lamb shank. Loved it!

We were promised a special meal by our host ....and we left completely impressed. The four of us selected the 'tasting menu' to experience the full range that Xixa promises - a fusion of Asian and Latin American foods. And Xixa delivered! The tasting menu ultimately included twelve separate dishes to be shared - typically small or, well, just a taste. Cumulatively, they proved to be totally satisfying for each of us. Just the next day (for this review, sorry) the many dishes are a veritable blur of plates and amazing tastes. The twelve plates included: a 'deconstructed chips and dip' - a morsel of a tomato and masa; spicy and caramelized carrots; a lettuce wrap/taco with smoked duck and salsas; smoked venison with sweet spices; chicken liver pate in a sopapilla; grilled Brussels Sprouts leaves; bone marrow; spicy flan; and more. Every dish was creative, very flavorful in new ways, beautiful, and presented to share. The price was a 'steal' for value delivered and received.

This place had one of the most interesting menus I had ever seen! They have an extensive wine list but the flavor lies in their tequila and mezcal varieties. There was a particular mezcal I really enjoyed and our waitress suggested I add in a "flavor cube", which is advertised as their cocktails melting into one another. It's a frozen liquor cube that slowly melts into your current drink, making each sip taste slightly different as the alcohol mixes together. This was one of the best drinks I have ever had, hands down. For dinner we had a baked cheese dish with delicious bread/sauces, a chips/dip that tasted like a ceviche but my boyfriend ordered it and I forgot to ask exactly what it was, and roasted 1/2 duck carnitas to finish it all off. The duck was cooked to perfection and it's a dish I won't be forgetting anytime soon. For dessert we tried their churros with guava and mexican chocolate dip, and jalapeno sorbet. Everything was amazing and the next time I'm in Brooklyn, I'm going to have a really hard time choosing between dinner here, or at their sister restaurant, Traif, a few doors down!

Our dinner at Xixa was delicious and the small plates that made up our chef's selection just kept on coming..... The tone is spicy Mexican with tequila or mescal cocktails to match. Our dishes included pork belly & cheek, marinated duck, tacos with pulled pork, giant prawns, sea urchin, carrots, foie gras, melted cheese with tortilla chips...... We opted to do without desert. The staff were delightful. The bill with cocktails surprisingly reasonable. The only downside was that the restaurant was very noisy. Will definitely return.

I was so outrageously pleased with the food at Xixa (pronounced Shiksa). The decor, interior, and lack of A/C in the bathroom is a little off-putting, but the food makes up for all of it! A 10-course tasting menu for $55 is UNHEARD OF in NYC. I couldn't believe that the food would actually be very good, but I was wrong. Bone Marrow tacos, some of the best Barbacoa in town, and a latin-inspired fois gras are just a few of the things included that will blow you away. Add the custom cocktail pairings (total cost still under $100), and you'll have one of the best (and well priced) meals you can experience in New York.

Just tried, Xixa, a relatively new eatery in Williamsburg Brooklyn. They are a sister restaurant of Traif, a great hipster standard in the neighborhood. Looks like Marcus and Heuser have a new hit on their hand. Their cocktail menu was original, based on Mexican standards, but with a Brooklyn twist. Many were served over a big cube of ice and refreshed in the same glass. Not what I’d usually expect but it worked nicely. Dunno about the wine list as the dishes probably go better with cocktails then wines. Food was interesting, imaginative, and of a very high quality. Remarkable and unusual flavors with a broad reach. Dishes were primarily small plates so everyone got a chance to sample many wonderful tastes. Service was attentive and helpful. The waiter guided our selections so that we got the right quantity and representative selection of the menu’s offering. The place was packed and energetic which gave it a lively and exuberant atmosphere. If you are looking for a quiet elegant experience, this isn’t the place. If you are looking for a fun night, original food, and creative drinks then Xixa should be a candidate. Great time, and we’ll be going back on a regular basis.

I went to Xixa for a friend's birthday dinner and we ordered a lot of food and shared it among six people, so I had the pleasure of trying many items on the menu. Each one was fantastic and everyone at the table thought so. The dishes are inventive and flavorful as well as filling. We also tried their "cube" drinks, which are basically pre-made cocktails, frozen into cubes. The concept is genius and they were really tasty. You can mix and match cubes. It's in a slightly random location, but I would definitely go back. The interior is really nicely done too.

We came here for a celebration and had a wonderful time! The selection of small plate choices were so good. Their drinks were a hit too. This place is worth a visit.

The food here was without exception outstanding, well crafted and presented with efficient and friendly but nicely polished service. Atmosphere decidedly casual, prices reasonable for grazing ( tapas) style menu. We went with a bunch of younger family members, else would never have thought of coming here, very glad we did

Dined here on an extremely snowy night in January. Were met with a very warm welcome and atmosphere. Great tapas/small plate style menu and wine list. Food was absolutely delicious and service was perhaps the best we've had in any restaurant. Highly recommend giving this place a try!

The staff have a lot of information to share about how they do things at this restaurant, so pay attention (or better yet, look them up on the web ahead of time.) You can get standard drinks or they will make a custom drink just for you based on your preferences. They also make cocktails in ice cube form that melt slowly if you want to try that. Our drinks were excellent. The restaurant is a long narrow room, with small dining tables across from the bar and a square room just past the bar with more tables. I think either would be just fine. We were across from the bar, and it was pleasant. The food was just incredible!! We decided to make our own tasting menu, and had a series of small plates. Just when you thought the food couldn't get any better, they brought out something else that was even better! Portions were perfect--so you could try lots of thing without feeling like a bloated whale when you left. Prices were reasonable for the degree of skill and artistry that went into each dish. We especially appreciated the unique take on each dish that combined tastes that you never would have expected together, that married well. The squash blossoms stuffed with squash were crisp and light. The corn flan was tender and to die for. We loved the guacamole because it did not have sour cream in it and it came with a variety of bread dippers. We enjoyed the carrots with feta, and the pumpkin with pomegranate and grapefruit. The lettuce wraps with turkey and banana were great. I can't say enough about how wonderful all the food was. Each dish was presented beautifully, as you can see in my picture of two of our small plates. The service was welcoming, efficient, but not intrusive. We HAVE to go back!!

Bustling little place with a unique take on Mexican flavors and drinks. Excellent staff to help you choose from the mainly small plates and different (in an odd way) drink selections.

Kind of a bit short of superlatives for this place - it was that good. Service was absolutely stand out (Andrew - thank you) and food and cocktails off the dial. Hard to pick a favourite dish - either the carrots or octopus and chorizo starter. For the first time in my trip I chose to leave more than the 20% tip - I’m a Yorkshireman so not something I do lightly. It was that good. Worth the trip and our favourite meal of all the restaurants I curated from Michelin and other sites. Go!

very interesting place, authentic mexican food. had the taster menu, got a lot of different thing to try, very good. all servred family style. could improve drinks a bit!

To summarize, If You Found This Restaurant, Read No More - Just GO! I love innovative food which works --- I get frustrated by chefs who in their zeal to create something unusual neglect to notice that the food doesn't taste good. Xixa is amazing in this respect. They take the classic Mexican ingredients, chile, lime, corn, tomatoes, etc, step back, remix and voila, FREAKING amazing takes on classics, or not. Roasted carrot with all the elote (corn on the cob) fixins Mexican style was out of this world. Black risotto with shrimp, SOOOOO tasty. I could go on and on. 4 of us shared 9 dishes and I would order all of them again. You can't really go wrong. We were there early and the service was delightful, food came well paced and hot. I can not wait to go back. See you there.

Such a cute and trendy place! Been there twice and can’t get enough. What I really love about this place is the non-alcoholic drinks. I had a banana drink with a bit of habanero or jalapeno and it was awesome. Tasted delicious and complex then it burned a little in the back of your throat. I had 3 of them. The food is great! The cuttlefish with squid ink was amazing. The fried brussel sprouts was out of this world! IT was mixed with sunflower seeds and cranberries and who knows what else. It was fun to eat and kept me entertained. But the sexiest dish I’ve had so far was the foie gras. Now I’ve had foie gras before and I hate it. I hate the smell and the texture and the taste and especially the smell. It literally smells like seared blood. Since all the food I’ve had here has been great I decided to order the foie gras and what a treat it was. I dare say it was orgasmic. The foie gras was super tender and buttery and the slice of pineapple on the bottom added texture and acid and sweetness and the bread and lord I just had to close my eyes and savor it. If I was not so stuffed at the end of the night I would have ordered 2. I can’t wait till my next visit.

Perched under the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn, this small restaurant has wonderful, inventive Tequila based cocktails, imaginative and delicious Mexican food with a contemporary flair and professional and friendly service. The four of us chose the Chef’s Tasting Menu which we highly recommend-8 courses including 2 desserts. Given the high quality of the food and service, XiXa is a restaurant well worth a visit for a memorable and enjoyable dining experience.

My boyfriend and I had a late night dinner at this restaurant. We wanted a different scene and decided to head on over to Brooklyn's wonderful Xixa. Very Friendly staff. Food definitely kept on coming. The food was tasty and of good quality. Very small portions but that didn't matter since it was quite a few different dishes being served. Pork Belly and Cheese, Huge sea urchins etc etc.... The deserts were amazing. Wasn't quite sure what one of the deserts was but definitely it kept me guessing. We had an amazing time overall.

Fabulous, inventive take on Mexican. Must have the tasting menu and leave it to the kitchen. You can't go wrong!

Excellent staff, bartender makes killer drinks, tequila and wine selection was huge. I asked waiter for their smoothest tequila and he brought me Carmessi. My new favorite tequila, it's so tasty and smooth. It's perfect for sipping. Food will take you to another dimension. Duck was to die for, foie gras perfectly cooked, and everything else we had there was amazing.

We had an amazing experience at Xixa. We have made reservations and opted for the communal table for the 3 of us. We were seated immediately but with a space next to the nearest communal diners. The menu was just amazing and all of us opted for the chefs tasting menu. We ordered some very nice and for NY reasonably priced cocktails. Then the amazing tasting journey began. We started with a guacamole with grapefruit and spice# served with various chips, and it was very good. Then we had a bountiful ceviche with a light green curry lime sauce, which we took care of. We had a bone marrow taco, which was just what it sounds like and it was fantastic . That was followed by a quest fun did a with lamb and chorizo, octopus with garlic and pasta and salsa verde, and a wonderful and very large short rib with green Chile mole and 4 petite toppings to go with the freshly made tortillas. The waiter added a super delicious veggie course that we really liked. They followed that with 2 dessert courses, green tea churros with chocolate And passion fruit sauces closing out with a mango pie with vanilla cardamom ice cream, and a rosemary vanilla flan with peptides. This is by far the best value for a great chefs tasting menu any where, let alone in Brooklyn. The food was beautiful, complex, well executed, and delicious. Some very unique combinations that challenged your taste buds and rewarded them. Probably one of my favorite meals in 5he last 2 years. Our server was excellent and the staff was very attentive and helpful. Did I say how good a value it was? $56/person tasting for amazing food.

We went for New Years dinner and it was so much fun! The pre-fix dinner was tasty and creative. The restaurant is in a cute space and the owner is very nice. The drinks were strong and good. Looking forward to returning!

We arrived a little early on a place before our reservation. We were seated on a bar and had a fantastic cocktail ( we were a little bit worried about the loud noise) and the cocktail menu and wine list both are very creative and took us a little time !! We had chef's tasting menu and it turned out to be such good choice ( some items were difficult to share but it was ok ) The style is Mexican Fusion with a touch of French / American and everything is amazing ! The service is very attentive !! The chef came out to explain us about the dishes ! The wine choice was very good and of great value. And we finished with some very good churros and clafoutis !!! Highly recommend and frankly I was surprised that this restaurant did not have a better position on trip advisor !! Congratulations we have a wonderful time !!

Went here night after Thanksgiving with some friends. Menu offered a variety of items (many veggie friendly) which was awesome. Very tasty food and cool vibe. Our Waiter was a bit impatient with clearing plates though.

I've now eaten at Xixa 3 times and it proves once again to deliver creative, amazing food with classy and "on it" service. The first two visits we selected items off the menu ourselves, but this time we were a larger group and chose the tasting menu. Great choice, tons of food, left stuffed and happy.