It's no surprise that Houston is hope to plenty of excellent Mexican food — but it's the wide variety of both flavors and price tags that really makes this culinary scene unique. Situated at the crossroads of Texan, Mexican and Cajun cuisines, Houston restauranteurs have always had to cater to a range of tastes.But where do you find Houston's best Mexican restaurants?
Foods from across Mexico can be found all over Clutch City, including the grilled meats of Chihuahua, the complex moles of Puebla, and the fish stews of Veracruz. From upscale, tablecloth establishments like Hugo's to the taco trucks dotting the city, Houston captures Mexican food traditions with a breadth that's hard to beat.
It'd be controversial to say, definitively, what the best Mexican restaurants in town are. Instead, here are some great options that run the gamut from cheap-and-authentic to upscale-and-Americanized. Whether you're new to Houston or just stuck in a boring Tex-Mex rut, let this map of Houston’s essential spots for Mexican fare be your guide.
Is your favorite Tex-Mex or Mexican spot missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.
What started as a project at the University of Houston soon morphed into an Upper Kirby favorite. Expect lots of lovable kitsch — a dated VW Beetle is parked in a window — and small plates that depart from heavy Tex-Mex fare. Get an asada or pastor torta: Although the bread is good and the meat is great, it's the sour carrot and jalapeño slaw that really makes these sandwiches sing.
Staying true to its name, Fajita Pete's serves up some of the best fajitas in town. For one thing, this takeout-friendly restaurant manages to cook their skirt steak — normally quite a tough cut of beef — to an odds-defying level of tenderness. (Asked how they did it, an employee explained, “just a lot of love, I think.”) It's the complex, lime-forward marinade that really makes the beef, though. Get it sliced (as fajitas) or whole (as the “poblano steak”).
Fine Mexican dining as imagined by award-winning shift Hugo Ortega. This inventive restaurant is known for its playful renditions of Mexican classics. (Think: squash soup, duck carnitas, and mole made with candied apples and tamarind.) The agave-roasted barabacoa has earned accolades, but for a truly unique dining experience, try the chapulinas: crispy fried grasshoppers, served with guacamole and tortillas.
After the mariachi bands finish making their rounds, some of them, by the looks of it, head to Las Cabamas. This laid-back hole-in-the-wall specializes in the light, almost-Mediterranean dishes of Veracruz, where fish plays a central role. Try any of the fish stews on their menu, but be advised: the whole fish comes head and all. Cash only under $10.
If you like building your own tacos, Pancho's Meat Market is the place for you. While there are a lot of great Mexican grocers in Houston, this local chain stands out for its prepared foods. There's a wide variety of Mexican staples too choose from, so get some fresh tortillas and whatever meaty filling suits your tastes. Whatever you do, though, don't miss out on the excellent charro beans.
Pico's has gone upscale, but it's still dishing out super-authentic fare from south of the border. Unlike your neighborhood Tex-Mex joint, Pico's tempers its tacos and enchiladas with extremely sophisticated entrees that can be hard to find elsewhere. Case in point is the chili en nogada: a roasted poblano pepper, stuffed with pork, fruit and nuts and then covered in pomegranates and walnut cream.
Half-grocery store, half-bakery, Super La Mexicana is a great place for a quick bite. But despite what the name suggests, this tiny storefront leans towards Central American food, with things like pupusas (basically, a stuffed cornmeal pancake) and a firey cabbage slaw featuring heavily on the menu. The real stand-out is the tamales: Wrapped in a banana leaf rather than a corn husk and made with finer corn meal, they are smoother than your average tamal.
With the authenticity of a taco truck but the quality of a restaurant, Tacos La Bala offers the best of both worlds. The meats here, including the falling-apart barbacoa, have been cooked masterfully.
It's hard to go wrong with this menu — unless you're a vegetarian, that is — but you can do right with the chicharrón tacos. Unlike most chicharrón, which is crispy, Tacos La Bala slow-simmers theirs to mouth-melting perfection.
There are a lot of taco trucks in central Houston, but Tacos Tierra Caliente is arguably the best. Parked just across the street from Alabama Ice House, this drunk-food haven offers a simple menu of tortas, quesadillas and classic Mexican street tacos. It's the tacos — especially the pastor ones — that really make this place worth it. Cash only.
This one's a little mysterious. Parked at Southeast Houston gas station, Taqueria Puro Jalisco lacks a website, a Yelp page, a phone number — and, for that matter, a true street address. And yet this food truck remains crowded with locals, at least during meal times. While the meat options are solid, go for the harder-to-find rajas tacos, which are stuffed with a gooey mess of poblanos and cheese. Unpredictable hours; cash only.
Bring a date and indulge in one of the parrilladas, or platters, at any of this popular Mexican cafe's three locations. $35 will score you the Teotihuacan parrillada, piled high with grilled quail, beef & chicken fajitas, short ribs. A cheese-stuffed poblano pepper gilds the lily.
It's impossible to have a discussion about Houston Tex-Mex (and Mexican fare in general) without bringing up the Original Ninfa's on Navigation. Recently, the restaurant scored a big upgrade with new wood-fired grills and craft cocktails from Julep's Alba Huerta.
Thanks to Houston's endlessly diverse population, this quick-service spot serves up excellent Tex-Mex fare made with Halal meats. The fajitas are a consistently excellent choice, and you shouldn't sleep on M&M Grill's great breakfast burritos.
What started as a project at the University of Houston soon morphed into an Upper Kirby favorite. Expect lots of lovable kitsch — a dated VW Beetle is parked in a window — and small plates that depart from heavy Tex-Mex fare. Get an asada or pastor torta: Although the bread is good and the meat is great, it's the sour carrot and jalapeño slaw that really makes these sandwiches sing.
Staying true to its name, Fajita Pete's serves up some of the best fajitas in town. For one thing, this takeout-friendly restaurant manages to cook their skirt steak — normally quite a tough cut of beef — to an odds-defying level of tenderness. (Asked how they did it, an employee explained, “just a lot of love, I think.”) It's the complex, lime-forward marinade that really makes the beef, though. Get it sliced (as fajitas) or whole (as the “poblano steak”).
Fine Mexican dining as imagined by award-winning shift Hugo Ortega. This inventive restaurant is known for its playful renditions of Mexican classics. (Think: squash soup, duck carnitas, and mole made with candied apples and tamarind.) The agave-roasted barabacoa has earned accolades, but for a truly unique dining experience, try the chapulinas: crispy fried grasshoppers, served with guacamole and tortillas.
After the mariachi bands finish making their rounds, some of them, by the looks of it, head to Las Cabamas. This laid-back hole-in-the-wall specializes in the light, almost-Mediterranean dishes of Veracruz, where fish plays a central role. Try any of the fish stews on their menu, but be advised: the whole fish comes head and all. Cash only under $10.
If you like building your own tacos, Pancho's Meat Market is the place for you. While there are a lot of great Mexican grocers in Houston, this local chain stands out for its prepared foods. There's a wide variety of Mexican staples too choose from, so get some fresh tortillas and whatever meaty filling suits your tastes. Whatever you do, though, don't miss out on the excellent charro beans.
Pico's has gone upscale, but it's still dishing out super-authentic fare from south of the border. Unlike your neighborhood Tex-Mex joint, Pico's tempers its tacos and enchiladas with extremely sophisticated entrees that can be hard to find elsewhere. Case in point is the chili en nogada: a roasted poblano pepper, stuffed with pork, fruit and nuts and then covered in pomegranates and walnut cream.
Half-grocery store, half-bakery, Super La Mexicana is a great place for a quick bite. But despite what the name suggests, this tiny storefront leans towards Central American food, with things like pupusas (basically, a stuffed cornmeal pancake) and a firey cabbage slaw featuring heavily on the menu. The real stand-out is the tamales: Wrapped in a banana leaf rather than a corn husk and made with finer corn meal, they are smoother than your average tamal.
With the authenticity of a taco truck but the quality of a restaurant, Tacos La Bala offers the best of both worlds. The meats here, including the falling-apart barbacoa, have been cooked masterfully.
It's hard to go wrong with this menu — unless you're a vegetarian, that is — but you can do right with the chicharrón tacos. Unlike most chicharrón, which is crispy, Tacos La Bala slow-simmers theirs to mouth-melting perfection.
There are a lot of taco trucks in central Houston, but Tacos Tierra Caliente is arguably the best. Parked just across the street from Alabama Ice House, this drunk-food haven offers a simple menu of tortas, quesadillas and classic Mexican street tacos. It's the tacos — especially the pastor ones — that really make this place worth it. Cash only.
This one's a little mysterious. Parked at Southeast Houston gas station, Taqueria Puro Jalisco lacks a website, a Yelp page, a phone number — and, for that matter, a true street address. And yet this food truck remains crowded with locals, at least during meal times. While the meat options are solid, go for the harder-to-find rajas tacos, which are stuffed with a gooey mess of poblanos and cheese. Unpredictable hours; cash only.
Bring a date and indulge in one of the parrilladas, or platters, at any of this popular Mexican cafe's three locations. $35 will score you the Teotihuacan parrillada, piled high with grilled quail, beef & chicken fajitas, short ribs. A cheese-stuffed poblano pepper gilds the lily.
It's impossible to have a discussion about Houston Tex-Mex (and Mexican fare in general) without bringing up the Original Ninfa's on Navigation. Recently, the restaurant scored a big upgrade with new wood-fired grills and craft cocktails from Julep's Alba Huerta.
Thanks to Houston's endlessly diverse population, this quick-service spot serves up excellent Tex-Mex fare made with Halal meats. The fajitas are a consistently excellent choice, and you shouldn't sleep on M&M Grill's great breakfast burritos.
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