50 Best Tex-Mex Restaurants near Bellaire

“They can vary a menu item to your preference. Rita's are consistently good. Seating is ample.“

“Great Mexican food and marguerites!“

“Best Tex mex I’ve ever had“

“Took my family here this evening and I couldn’t be happier. The food was absolutely wonderful and the service was superb. Our waitress Jazleah was amazing and made some great recommendations on some dishes. She stayed on top of refills and stayed on top of making sure we had everything we needed. She was exceptional. Highly recommend!!“

“Best Tex Mex around ! Nice indoor dining or if you prefer, an awesome bar area where you can eat and drink. Originally started in a compact strip-center space, now in their own authentic looking (and large) structure. Best salsa ever !“

“Nate was great!! Will be back!!“

“The food is so delicious & so fresh ! My waiter was one of the best , Jose Luis ! He was very attentive & took my order & had ny drink of choice served to me in less than 3 minutes . He made sure my meal was the way I wanted it & thanked me for coming in . Very pleasant“

“CUTEST place with great atmosphere, deeeelicious food AND aaahmazing service! Our entire party enjoyed every thing we ordered - the queso (most important), the pork skins, the chicken & waffles were toooo die for, the bacon wrapped shrimp, rice & beans and the burgers! Thank you so much!!“

“Had a catering event for our 240+ dealership employees and everyone loved the food. This was our second time working with Escalante’s; set up was quick and easy, banquet servers were kind, respectful, professional, and friendly. Definitely look forward to the next time!“

“EVERY-TIME we come to Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, we leave smiling, full and wanting to come back. The food was fresh, delicious and portioned NOT to engorge me! Sometimes, ya even bump into the woman herself!!! Sylvia is absolutely delightful, charming and intelligent. If you’ve not been, definitely start with enchiladas!! I like “The Alice” but it’s not always on the menu….. ask anyway….. nudge nudge!!“

“First time and our server Saul was very friendly and knowledgeable of all the menu. The food was delicious . We came here from Laredo to celebrate my son birthday. I highly recommend this restaurant which by the way they have several locations . Saul you are the best waiter😋“

“I love this place! The food is incredible and the staff is so attentive and friendly. I always get the fajita combo with chicken and beef. Their salsa + meat are honestly phenomenal. I love that they added the new sautéed spinach as a side- super delish. Matt, the GM, is so kind, attentive, and just has the best customer service! The staff looks like they’re having a great time, which makes the environment a lot more inviting. Definitely recommend!“

“In Houston, Texas and looking for some great TEX MEX? Find a El Tiempo Cantina to start your journey to food enjoyment.

The prices are actually good for the amount of food you receive. The staff is incredibly helpful and offers great details about the menu, food and cocktails available.

I tried the brisket burrito which had a Sweet taste but still savory.

I also had a orange flan for the first time. Sweet and Delicious!

Great for families, groups or eating solo. You won't wait long for a table as staff works quickly. Might be abit busy on the weekends and during lunch time during the week.

The Manager, Angela, greeted us with a smile and double checked our order and even offered a to go cup for our drinks. Definitely coming back here again. Thanks for the great service and wonderful food and drinks.

Tell them Alan of Get Up Radio sent ya!“

“Have had breakfast before and went in today not only was lunch delicious but the service was excellent.“

“What a great way to start my day. I was there when they opened today and the food hit the spot. Best tacos in Houston. And the smiles and welcome from the friendly staff only made it better. 5-stars for sure“

“Love our Spring Branch icon !!❤️❤️“

“The staff at the Westheimer location has great customer service and they have a unified work relationship. I love the way they greet other with hugs and hand shakes. They are also very personable with their customers.“

“Awesome!!! The food was delicious and the portions are so big… Marie our waitress served us very friendly, we had a small misunderstanding with a starter but they solved us in a very nice way with the dessert. We are Mexicans and without a doubt we were not disappointed.“

“Nice Mexican food. If you are looking for Mexican food, El Tiempo is your top choices. We usually have fajitas on Wednesday. There is plenty of food that we have left over to enjoy the next day. Their freshly made tortillas and salsa is amazing 🤩. We dine in and catered out for our clients.“

“Mr. Isaias Galvan is our favorite waiter. He is super friendly & is very accommodating with dietary preferences. He always makes us laugh. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is bright & welcoming.“

“I became quite accustomed to El Tiempo on Washington’s Ave. and, while I do like the Washington Ave. location better, this one was still very true to El Tiempo form! The fajitas were excellent, the service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere was very El Tiempo-coded. The shrimp were actually EXCELLENT, as well (much better than expected!) My only complaint is that the chicken was a big tougher than is ideal, but it was still moist“

“Enjoyed chicken quesadilla and beef fajita. Service was fast and attentive. First time dining at Gringos and would definitely come back again.“

“I hope this message finds you well. My wife and I visited your Lamar Street location on December 26th, and I wanted to take a moment to share how truly extraordinary our experience was, thanks to your incredible staff. We had arrived at your restaurant after a frustrating experience earlier in the day. We had been scammed out of tickets for the 3:00 showing of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and while my wife was trying to resolve the issue with Ticketmaster, I thought we could at least enjoy a drink and try to make the best of it. My wife had been really excited for the performance, so needless to say, she was disappointed. What followed, however, turned what could have been a discouraging evening into something unforgettable. Our server, Carlos, came over and informed us that his manager had overheard our situation and wanted to offer us a free appetizer. We were so touched by this generous gesture. As the night continued, my wife was still on the phone trying to resolve the issue, and at that point, Kayla, another member of your team, came over and offered us a free dinner. Again, we were so grateful, and the kindness shown by your staff really started to lift our spirits. But the incredible service didn’t stop there. Later on, Kayla asked if we had any plans for the evening, and when we mentioned that we were heading home due to the day’s frustrations, she smiled and said, “Okay, so you have no plans. Good to know.” We had no idea what was coming next. Jon, your General Manager, then came over to our table with some astonishing news. He had purchased two tickets for us to attend the 7:30 showing of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! We were completely taken aback—shocked, in fact. We thought we might be on a hidden camera show. But that’s not all. Jon didn’t stop there. When he learned that the digital tickets hadn’t come through, he walked with us to the Toyota Center Box Office, personally bought us two tickets, and handed them to us with a smile. “Enjoy the show,” he said. We were floored by his generosity and thoughtfulness. This act of kindness truly went above and beyond anything we could have imagined. We’ve been loyal customers of your Lamar Street, NRG, Sugar Land, Little Pappasito’s, and Webster locations for quite some time, and we’ve always considered your restaurants among the best in Houston. But after this experience, we feel even more connected to the Pappasito's family. The care and heart shown by your staff, particularly Carlos, Kayla, and Jon, made all the difference in our night. We can’t thank you enough for turning what had started as a disappointing evening into a truly memorable one. Please pass along our deepest gratitude to everyone involved. Thank you again for your exceptional hospitality and for going above and beyond to make us feel valued. We will continue to be loyal patrons of your restaurants, and we’ll be sure to share this incredible story with friends and family.“

“The food was very good. We drive about 45 minutes to find here. The shelf margarita was great! I had the shrimp,steak, and chicken fajita with salad- very enjoyable. Since I don't eat pork, I was extremely happy that the waitress was familiar with the menu items and could tell me food products with bacon/lard.“

“Great atmosphere, friendly people and food is delicious and served with large amounts. Waitress always coming by if we needed anything. Parking can be a problem sometimes but they have valet.“

“First time trying La Viva Tex-Mex, Angel was our server and was very kind and welcoming. He checked up on our table multiple times. The food and appetizer came out fairly quick and tasted amazing. Complementary chips and salsa are also given out. The chicken burrito has to be the best burrito I've ever had. Overall recommend the three plates we had, can't wait to come back and try out other menu items.“

“Great service at the bar. Even though I didn’t drink. Cheese enchilada plate with rice and beans. Two tacos harina Al carbon and a flan cake for $40ish. Really good tasting food, inexpensive. Loved it!“

“Great atmosphere! The team is amazing and the Tacos are hot and so fresh.“

“Excellent food! I had the chicken poblano plate with grilled vegetables and it was delish! The service was excellent and the server even gave us a complimentary cup of the most amazing soup. Please eat here so it’s still here when I return to Houston!“

“Am new in Houston this has been the best restaurant my fiancé and me been in point blank,customer service , Atmosphere,food mmm 😋 top of the line will recommend it 💯period!!“

“Ask about the secret menu 🤫 Food is amazing so are the drinks and employees ❤️“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Tex-Mex Institution You Can’t Copy Molina’s Cantina Westheimer has been serving authentic Tex-Mex for over 80 years, and it’s easy to see why. The house margarita is legendary — truly one of the best in Texas. Many have tried to copy the original salsa and the iconic Jose’s Dip, but nothing comes close. The dedication shows: some staff have been here 40–50+ years! Last night I had the Bubba de Tejas Hambergueso con Queso, and it was absolutely over the top — possibly the best burger I’ve ever had. A true Texas classic.“

“Fresh avocado on tacos and perfect maduros.“

“My family and I were apart of a party of about 20 people and the staff and food were incredible! Everyone was so nice, and accommodating. Our party was constantly playing musical chairs but the staff took it in stride. Everyone really enjoyed the food too and drinks too. I would highly recommend this place!“

“NAVY FLEET WEEK HOUSTON! My Sailors thank you for the hospitality!!!

If flavor had a chain of command, this place would be running the whole operation.

I went in thinking I’d grab a solid meal… I walked out questioning every other fajita I’ve ever trusted in my life.

Let’s start with the steak & shrimp fajitas—these things didn’t just sizzle, they made an entrance like they had something to prove. The steak was tender enough to make you pause mid-bite and reconsider your life choices, and the shrimp were seasoned like they had been training for this moment their entire career. Every bite hit like a perfectly executed game plan—no weak links, no missed assignments.

Now the chips and salsa? Listen… I don’t know what they’re putting in that salsa, but it’s dangerously addictive. I told myself “just a few chips” and next thing I know I’m emotionally invested in the bottom of the basket. Fresh, bold, just enough kick to keep you honest without sending you into a five-alarm situation.

The atmosphere? Loud in the best way. Energy everywhere. You’re not just eating—you’re part of something. Service was on point too—quick, friendly, and never let the table fall apart. Water refilled before I even realized I needed it. That’s elite-level awareness.

Final verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and then some)

If you’re in Houston and you’re not pulling up to El Tiempo at least once… you’re wrong. Respectfully.

I’ll be back. Probably sooner than my diet would prefer.“

“Our experience at Ninfas is always stellar. We love their fajitas, chips and dip and margaritas. Our server last time we were there, Ernesto Islas, was awesome and anticipated our every need. Thanks Ninfa’s for being our go-to Mexican food spot!“

“You have to try the tamales at Johnnys! I am a die hard tamale lover and the tamales were delicious. My recommendation would be the tamales (obviously), fish tacos, tres leches, churros, and chips & salsa! Our waiter was incredible! He was very welcoming, attentive, and polite. Service is extremely important and depending on your waiter and restaurant, it can be hit or miss. However, that was not the case during our visit. Hospitality was prioritized which was evident after meeting both manager and owner. Great experience!“

“This El Tiempo Cantina was okay. The wait staff was very attentive, and actually maybe too attentive. We were trying to have uninterrupted conversation over lunch and they came by literally 12 times to ask if things were okay when we just wanted to talk. Otherwise, the food was okay, and that's the real reason for 4 stars instead of 5, because the atmosphere is excellent and again, they were very friendly.“

“The manager, Mr. Bowman, is a hero! He helped us greatly in dealing with a patient in a nearby Nursing facility like a champ. So grateful for his loving concern and just plain on human kindness which is rare sometimes. We will never forget it. Thank you againg!“

“Great options for food! Try the sampler plate if you have a big enough group. Quail, chicken, beef, shrimp were all a hit. It was very loud in the outside part, mostly from one table but sound carried so much that we had a hard time hearing each other over them.“

“I love there green chicken enchiladas always fresh and the margaritas and so good to top a great dinner“

“Great experience here on a quick trip to Houston: my server Christopher was kind and helpful, giving recommendations that made the meal and taking time to talk about the Texans when I started the conversation. Fajitas were tops, chips and salsa really good too. Zero complaints, will definitely be back.“

“I have been going here before the fire. I still see the regular customers same as myself still going. Very good food and service!“

“Me and my husband go here for our anniversary and our birthdays best mexican restaurant and food in spring branch ?“

“Great! Just like old times.“

“My coworker and I grabbed a quick lunch and drink, and our service was amazing. Our bartender was very attentive and focused. The food came out quickly and was fresh. I haven't had that good service at a Torchys in a while, so I'm glad we stopped by.“

“pre-birthday celebration I have been coming to Houston Molina's for 25 years. Love it so much! ❤️“

“Well all depends on wht you are ordering prices vary. Above all super good never a fail. Their salsa is sooo good and spicy they are quick I can order over the phone by the time I get there food is ready suoer good btw and really really great food service.“

“We enjoyed it very much! Service and food was phenomenal!“

“Great staff and the chiles rellenos were so good!!“