Craving Tex-Mex? You won’t be disappointed in Houston. For more than 100 years, the cuisine has held a special place in the city’s culinary scene, making it one of the first items visitors seek out when they are in town. Want to know where to find the best puffy tacos, nachos, fajitas and margaritas?
1. Irma's Original
2. Armandos
3. Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
4. El Tiempo Cantina
5. Molina’s Cantina
6. Ninfa's on Navigation
7. Tacos a Go Go
Read on to learn more about our top picks.
Irma's Original serves up award-winning Tex-Mex and Mexican specialties in Downtown Houston. The authentic home-cooked meals offered at Irma's include a variety of enchiladas as well as tacos and quesadillas. The walls at Irma's tell a story as well, so check out all the picture frames — you'll feel right at home in this cozy atmosphere. Chef Irma Galvan can be spotted on the 2022 season of Top Chef filmed in Houston.
Armando Palacios’ Upper Kirby namesake is as famous for its upscale Mexican fare as it is for its see-and-be-seen clientele. The iconic restaurant has been a style staple among well-heeled Houstonians and celebrities for decades. White linen-topped tables set the stage for Armandos’ famously-potent margaritas, verde-sauce-topped enchiladas and the eatery’s signature appetizer—chorizo queso flameado paired with piping-hot tortillas.
One of Houstonian's most beloved Tex-Mex eateries brings Mexican food to new heights at three locations across the city. Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe (pronounced Tayo-tea-wah-con) is a fast, casual, and flavorful spot with large patios, portions and margaritas. While the place is best known for its fajitas and shrimp enchiladas, it's the carnitas that will keep you coming back.
El Tiempo Cantina’s dusky lighting, chummy servers and enjoyable salsa tunes make patrons feel like they just landed in a classy, crowded border-town cantina. El Tiempo attracts a brisk, discriminating happy-hour crowd for good reason: Stout, limey margaritas paired with chips and the legendary tomatillo sauce inherited from Mama Ninfa. If you can’t make dinner, stop in for weekend breakfasts, which are fit for a king.
Molina’s Cantina, which is thought to be the oldest continually operating Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston, has tempted fans with their tacos al carbon since 1941. For a little variety, go for the Mexico City Dinner, which includes a beef taco, cheese enchilada, tostada, tamale and rice and beans. It’s been a staple on the menu since the restaurant opened.
The Tex-Mex taqueria that launched the local chain still manages to look authentic. Ask anyone who's ever been to this original Ninfa's on Navigation if it's better than the franchises around the city and you'll get a resounding "yes." Want fajitas? Come to the birthplace of them. Mama Ninfa is credited with inventing the beef and flour tortilla combo and fans can’t get enough.
Catch the MetroRail to Tacos a Go Go in Midtown for some casual, wallet-friendly fare. From breakfast tacos to late-night grub, the funky restaurant does tortilla-wrapped food right. Regulars appreciate the variety of tacos on the menu with lamb barbacoa and al pastor taking top nods. Be sure to stop by the salsa bar to try all of their house-made sauces.
Recipe Alert! If you're not in the mood to go out for dinner, we've got you covered. Check out Sylvia Casares' recipes straight from Syliva’s Enchiladas Kitchen.
