Houston's Best Mexican Food 2008

Family-friendly and Tex-Mex skilled, this outpost satisfies the craving for home-style fare in a cheerfully painted casa.

Reviews:

• “bad food, bad service”
• “Best Beef Fajitas in town”
• “Best Mexican food”
• “Bad Services”
• “Best beef fajitas anywhere!”

Tips: Every location of this playful Tex-Mex spot contains the famous Lupe sandbox for children to enjoy.

Lupe Tortilla

Revisit Tila Hidalgo Leach’s oldie-but-goodie for authentic Mexican specialties in artsy surroundings.

Reviews:

• “We LOVE this place!”
• “Great Food, Service and Tequila!”
• “Owner needs a attitude adjustment”
• “hola y adios”
• “Wonderful!”

Tips: ’Ritas are smashing—rocks or martini-style. Also, count on affordable wines by the glass.

Tila’s Mexican Restaurante & Bar or email Tila’s Mexican Restaurante & Bar

Bountiful Tex-Mex favorites are the specialty at this upbeat happy-hour favorite.

Reviews:

• “Awesome Tex-Mex food…my favorite in Houston”
• “Trashy, low class, horrible atmosphere‎ "
• “I enjoyed it”
• “Waaayyy Overpriced!!”
• “Great Patio”

Tips: Try the weekend breakfasts, which are fit for a king.

El Tiempo Cantina

Contemporary Mexican cuisine in an upscale setting.

Reviews:

• “bad bad food”
• “the service is bood but not the food.”
• “Nice place but”
• “Best Mexican food we’ve ever had and excellent service!”
• “Happy Hour Thursdays girls???”

Tips: Happy hour (3pm to 7pm weeknights) specials include four different nacho plates at half price. Margaritas are $2.50, domestic beers are $2 and imports are $3.

Cascadas Restaurante y Cantina or email Cascadas Restaurante y Cantina

An old adobe hacienda where good food is served in authentic surroundings 24 hours a day.

Reviews:

• “THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED”
• “Awesome lunch specials "
• “HORRIBLE!!”
• “Awful”
• “Best Mexican food in town”

Tips: Each Tuesday the restaurant closes at 10pm, and reopens Wednesday at 9am.

Spanish Flowers or email Spanish Flowers

Family-run Heights-area hot spot for formidable frozen margaritas and classic Tex-Mex dishes.

Reviews:

• “long time customer”
• “bad food, excellent margaritas”
• “REALLY???”
• “Blindingly average, but you sure wouldn’t know it by the crammed parking lot….”
• “We have been going to Tony’s for over 12 years and think it is great!”

Tips: The line of waiting diners occasionally stretches out the door on weekends, so go early if you can’t wait. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Tony’s Mexican Restaurant or email Tony’s Mexican Restaurant

Family-owned restaurant chain for dependable Tex-Mex standards and a kid-friendly atmosphere.

Reviews:

• “FAMILY FRIENDLY”
• “yes i can enjoy the alcoholic beverages”
• “great for parties!!!!!”
• “best tequilas in texas”
• “DELICIOUS”

Tips: Enjoy happy hour discounts on margaritas, appetizers and bar bites from Wednesday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm. Mondays and Tuesdays, margaritas are $1.99 all day.

Los Cucos Mexican Cafe

It’s the little restaurant that grew and grew; it opened more than 30 years ago and now sprawls every which way.

Reviews:

• “Where the Mexican Consulate’s staff celebrates birthdays”
• “Not what it used to be”
• “The best chicken tortilla soup I’ve ever had”
• “Avoid at all Costs”
• “Best mexican breakfast, good service”

La Mexicana Restaurant or email La Mexicana Restaurant

Thai touches accent traditional Mexican dishes at this popular River Oaks restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Do not plan a special celebration here”
• “A big YES to Tealas!”
• “Best margaritas in Houston”
• “Almost as good as expected”
• “Now that is Mexican Food!”

Tips: Hit up happy hour from 3pm to 6pm, Monday-Friday for a $1 discount on specialty margaritas.

Teala’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar or email Teala’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar

Tantalizing Mexican food and top-shelf tequilas are a potent combination at this Bellaire favorite.

Reviews:

• “Not so great”
• “Don’t waste your time”
• “Okay food, Okay drink, bad service and overpriced”
• “Got to give it 5 stars.”
• “Best Mexican!!”

Tips: Make your next party a fajita feast. Pico’s fajita buffet feeds 30 or more and includes tables, service pieces and paper plates. Call for info.

Pico’s Mex-Mex Restaurant or email Pico’s Mex-Mex Restaurant

The Tex-Mex taqueria that launched the chain still manages to look authentic.

Reviews:

• “Overrated beloved Houston landmark”
• “As good as its ever been and now they have weekend brunch!”
• “New Owners wont be back after fifteen years almost every friday”
• “Still the best Ninfa’s resturant”
• “Worst Dining Experience”

Tips: The lime-laden Ninfaritas. But watch out, because they pack a punch.

Ninfa’s on Navigation

A frantic frat-party atmosphere adds flavor to the heaping platters of savory Tex-Mex.

Reviews:

• “Never again”
• “Chuy’s Restaurant Fahitas”
• “Never a bad choice!!!”
• “Get the Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken”
• “Chuck E Cheese or Disneyland?”

Tips: Don’t miss the annual green-chili festival in early September. For three weeks, Chuy’s creates special menu items featuring the fire-roasted peppers.

Chuy’s Restaurant

Exciting regional Mexican cuisine in a stunningly earthy, Latin-inspired setting.

Reviews:

• “Great Sunday Brunch”
• “Great service!”
• “Well, I like it”
• “Bad Service”
• “Health Inspection Failed”

Tips: Hugo’s popular Sunday brunch is served from 11am until 3pm.

Hugo’s

Margaritas pack in after-work partiers, while the Tex-Mex menu provides some local flavor.

Reviews:

• “Velveeta and Grease”
• “love those margaritas”
• “CAFE ABODE IS UNSANITARY!! IT HAS RODENTS!!!!”
• “What Are People Saying? It’s very Good and Amazing! I give it 12345678910 review.”
• “Never again”

Tips: Even with the large lot, parking is at a premium during happy hour, so look for a spot on the street if possible.

Cafe Adobe

Family-owned Mexican restaurant in the Westchase area for upscale decor and potent margaritas.

Reviews:

• “Good food….total lack of atmosphere for prices.”
• “Santos is the taste of Tejas”
• “Just great!”
• “DO NOT EAT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!”
• “Very Disappointed”

Tips: Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays. Save on select menu items and their popular (and potent) margaritas.

Santos The Taste of Mexico or email Santos The Taste of Mexico

Reviews:

• “One of the Best Margaritas in Houston”
• “Best Food and Drinks in town.Service stinks”
• “execcellent drinks”
• “Great Mexican food”
• “Great Place for fun and food!”

Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant

Bustling Heights-adjacent Mexican restaurant for a lively scene and cheap, potent margaritas.

Reviews:

• “Wow, possibly a new favorite!”
• “Great Mexican Restaurant”
• “weak drinks”
• “You should really try this place”
• “Best Fajita caterer”

Tips: Enjoy happy hour prices on margaritas from 11am to 7pm Monday through Wednesday.

Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

Family-operated stripmall Mexican restaurant with an in-house crafts store.

Reviews:

• “Good Bye My Amigos! "
• “Closed, but was our Family FAVORITE!!”
• “Terrible Customer Service, Rude Employees, Hot Restaurant”
• “bad food and bad service”
• “DEFINITELY WORTH THE DRIVE!”

My Amigos Restaurant y Cantina

Upscale Laurenzo family Mexican restaurant in Midtown for grilled meats and top shelf margaritas.

Reviews:

• “Was once good. Not so any more. Shame…”
• “Bloody disgracefull place to mexican food”
• “Tex Mex Food Amazing, a little pricey”
• “Cuzy upscale El Tiempo”
• “Solid Tex Mex”

1308 Cantina

Uber-stylish white tablecloth Tex-Mex ideal for trendsetters and River Oaks socialites celebrating the restaurant’s retro comeback.

Reviews:

• “Great restaurant, friendly staff, food was DELICIOUS!! Must try the fish tacos!! A+++ "
• “Better off with drive through at Taco Bell”
• “Extremely disappointed!”
• “Just O.K…..”
• “Great restaurant!”

Tips: The restaurant doesn’t have a traditional sign over the entranceway, so keep an eye out for a tall, red marquee on Westheimer.

Armandos