50 Best Tex-Mex Restaurants in Houston

“Great Mexican food and marguerites!“

“Best Tex mex I’ve ever had“

“Outstanding food and prices“

“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“

“We stumbled into this restaurant on a Saturday looking for breakfast and fell in love. Everything was excellent, atmosphere, food, staff and service. We liked it so much that we went back the next day for lunch. It truly is a gem of a restaurant!“

“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!!“

“I’ve been coming to this location for a long time, and this is hands-down the best service we’ve received. Saul was very attentive, recommended some delicious options, and kept our drinks filled. The food was delicious, the service was phenomenal, & the atmosphere was very peaceful. I will definitely be back!“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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!“

“She was such a good server I want her everytime we come here she always come by our table to see if we need anything and she make suggestions we love her“

“We went to the new location for the first time last night. I’m happy to report they have the same delicious food and friendly staff. There were 6 of us at the table. All food came out fairly quickly from ordering time and we were all served at the same time. It is saying a lot because the restaurant was packed at the time on a Sunday evening. The food was served piping hot. My teens are very particular about their tortillas and fajitas …they were very happy with the food quality and taste. The price is fair comparing to today’s food prices. I had the enchiladas en molé, mom had fish tacos, and dad had tortilla soup. So good! We will be back soon!“

“Our waiter was very friendly and the food was amazing“

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“Great food and even better service wish we had one in Kansas City“

“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.“

“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.“

“Love our Spring Branch icon !!❤️❤️“

“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.“

“Highly recommend in this kitchen they offer amazing delicious food plus the customer service in Tomball Texas was outstanding. Definitely would recommend this to everyone.“

“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.“

“I was a bit sad due to the service(he didn’t do it on purpose!) but it made me feel really ignored and not seen.
The manager, was absolutely wonderful in how she handled the situation. I felt like a human, get heard, felt seen and truly felt I had someone who cares to listen to me.
The food is pretty good which is why I come.
Today was the first time in a long time I felt like a business actually cared for their customer as a person first than income. I’ve had a pretty rough year and this brunch was how I treat myself.

She made sure I was happy after my issue were mentioned to her. I thank you all for caring for me. As a black woman, it can feel as if nobody sees us or cares for us. Today, she showed me she cares. They care. It’s not intentional and they’re truly sorry for anything negative that we as customer feel may happen.

So yes, I’d recommend. The removed start is simply because I didn’t get bread first without asking but that’s not a major deal breaker for this place. They care. That’s enough“

“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.“

“Fresh avocado on tacos and perfect maduros.“

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

“First went to The Original El Gallo on Jones Rd around 1984. It was a frequent place to get Tex Mex for my good friend Mike Logan & his family. Have loved going there ever since. The best thing is it tastes as good today as it did the first time. Only complaint is we don’t live close enough to go as often.“

“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.“

“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!!“

“This is my favorite restaurant! The food is consistently delicious! The salsa is my favorite, and it's made fresh everyday. The staff is phenomenal! They are friendly and very attentive, making us feel like we are home! I LOVE this place and cannot recommend it enough! 5 stars!“

“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!“

“I’m from south Texas where the food is delicious when it comes to authentic Mexican food.

Tacos shouldn’t be that difficult to make, yet some places… I’m just confused. How do you mess up the flavor in a taco.

This place tastes just like home and I’m so happy I finally found a food truck with that authentic Mexican flavor 😋💯“

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

“Was there friday night July 17 everything was perfect haven't had that experience in a while any of the other restaurant in houston I highly recommended it there And service with the waiter, was out of this world he was on top of his game Thank you very much , Manny !“

“Super nice environment, good drinks , good food! Thank you!“

“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!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“The chicken fajitas dinner for 2 ! Chicken fajitas, spanish rice and charro beans with flour tortillas was seasoned so good. The food was so Great !! we will be definitely be back🫶🏼 #firstvisit #lunchtime #texmexfood #hiddengems“

“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!“