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10 of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Houston
Houston is home to the nation’s fourth-largest Hispanic/Latino population and Houston is the third city for Mexican immigrants after Chicago and Los Angeles.
Residents with a heritage linked to Mexico, Central and South America make up some 38% of the area’s residents and have made important contributions to the diverse culinary and cultural tapestry of Bayou City.
From September 15 to October 15, Houston along with the rest of the country celebrates the achievements and contributions of the Hispanic community.
The options for Mexican food are endless with local must-try spots like Chef Hugo Ortega’s restaurants: Hugo’s, Xochi, Caracol, and his recently opened Mexican street food establishment called Urbe.
Houstonians love their Mexican restaurants because the lively destinations serve as worthy backdrops for cheese-filled feasts made up of stewed meats and grilled vegetables, fiery salsas and tequila-fueled libations.
Mexican fare ranks with Italian and Chinese as Americans’ top-three favourite global cuisines. From Taquerias to Tex-Mex joints here are 10 of the best Mexican restaurants in Houston.
1. Xochi
1777 Walker St Suite A, Houston, TX 77010-5023
Phone: +1 713-400-3330
Monday CLOSED
Tue – Thu 11:30am–9pm
Fri – Sat 11:30am–10pm
Sunday 10am– 3pm
Why we Love it: Dishes inspired by Oaxaca headline this chic Downtown destination that also serves cocktails & wine.
Image by cesar huitron from Pixabay
Located in downtown Houston on the first floor of the Marriot Marquis across from Discovery Green.
If you are craving a proper Tex-Mex meal, you won’t be disappointed.
Xochi’s menu features a wide variety of house-made masas, incorporating many types of colours of corn, an endless variety of moles, as well as house-made chocolate and ribbons of cheese (called quesillo) wrapped into balls.
Imported Oaxacan, coffee, grasshoppers, tlayudas (huge tortillas, fire-roasted with toppings), beans cooked with avocado leaves and many other very distinctive and diverse Oaxacan-inspired dishes are also on offer.
Expect a bar program touting an extensive offering of mezcals, tequilas and Mexican craft beers.
A weekday happy hour runs from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., offering discounted drinks and bar bites.
Order: xochihouston.com, seamless.com, trycaviar.com, postmates.com, grubhub.com, ubereats.com, doordash.com
2. Hugo’s
1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-524-7744
hugosrestaurant.net
Monday CLOSED
Tue – Wed 3:00pm–9:00pm
Thursday 11:30am–9:00pm
Friday 11:30am–10:30pm
Saturday 11:00am–10:30pm
Sunday 10:00am–9:00pm
Why we Love it: Modern Mexican fare & shaken margaritas prepared tableside star at this upscale Montrose spot.
Image by Nevena Mikec from Pixabay
The restaurant is housed in a 1925 structure designed and built by Houston architect Joseph Finger, who is also responsible for Houston’s Art Deco-style City Hall.
The Latin-inspired building has been lovingly restored to feature its original beauty and the interiors are designed to include both chic contemporary touches and inviting traditional elements of old Mexico.
It’s convenient to reach Hugo’s in the Montrose area, a culturally diverse neighbourhood for food, art and shopping. Hugo’s menu predominantly features traditional menus from across Mexico.
Desserts are masterful, from the buttery almond-coconut tart to the flan de chocolate made with freshly ground cocoa beans.
Hugo’s has a chilled-out vibe, and walking into the venue feels like entering a pal’s dining room.
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3. Tacos Dona Lena
8788 Hammerly Blvd G, Houston, TX 77080, United States
Phone: (713) 993-6486
Mon – Thu 11am–9pm
Friday 11am–10pm
Saturday 8am–10pm
Sunday 8am–9pm
Why we Love it: Straightforward tacos, enchiladas and gorditas whipped up in a down-to-earth spot with basic seating.
Image by ALFONSO CHARLES from Pixabay
They make amazing Mexican street food. To have the best experience we recommend you eat at the location.
The space is small for the volume of people it gets. They are still very new but their business is booming!
Sometimes the line is out the door long and the phone lines are super busy but they are worth the wait. The staff is so friendly and attentive.
Birria street tacos arrive properly dressed in cilantro, onion, lime, and house-made consome, and gorditas and tortas come with hearty fillings like chorizo, barbacoa, and meatless choices like soy pastor.
It’s one of the most popular spots for Mexican delivery in Houston and is even one of the hottest spots for takeout in the entire city.
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4. Urbe
1101 Uptown Park Blvd Suite 12 Houston, TX 77056
Phone: (713) 726-8273
Mon – Thu 10:30am–9pm
Friday 10:30am–10pm
Saturday 10am–10pm
Sunday 10am–5pm
Why we Love it: The menu features street food from across all states of Mexico, inspired by travels and also the hometowns of H Town team members.
Image by Rick Bella from Pixabay
Famous Houston chef, Hugo Ortega has other concepts around town, but Urbe is his first casual concept.
At Hugo Ortega’s new Uptown Park restaurant, the spotlight is on Mexican street eats.
The fast-casual concept offers counter-service by day and a full-service format during dinner and weekend brunch.
Menu items include chicharrones, elote, camotes, birria, barbacoa, tacos al pastor, conchas, berlinesas, huaraches, tortas, tlayudas, cemitas, churros, quesadillas and carnitas.
The restaurant also offers accompanying beverages including margaritas, micheladas, sangrias, palomas, shots and craft beers.
It is known for its slow-roasted meats like birria and barbacoa that are used to build tortas and tacos.
Urbe houses its own on-site bakery, too, producing fresh bread, tortillas, and pastries.
Order: urbehouston.com, seamless.com, postmates.com, grubhub.com, ubereats.com
5. Caracol
2200 Post Oak Blvd Suite #160, Houston, TX 77056-4700
Phone: +1 713-622-9996
Monday CLOSED
Tue – Thu 11:30am–9pm
Friday 11:30am–10:30pm
Saturday 11am–10:30pm
Sunday 10am–3pm
Why we Love it: Upscale eatery offering Mexican seafood dishes, booze, an oyster bar and artsy space.
Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay
Caracol is the newest addition to Chef Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught’s culinary family and Southern Living named it one of Houston’s Best International Restaurants in 2016.
Dubbed as the establishment where seafood and classic Mexican cuisine meet, I was curious to visit Caracol to see (and taste) for myself.
This upscale establishment serves the best wood-grilled oysters in Houston. The food is incredible, and so are the margaritas.
You will be impressed by their inventive and delicious Mexican take on seafood. Everything, from the food and drinks to the music and decor, is curated to perfection.
Order: caracol.net, seamless.com, trycaviar.com, postmates.com, grubhub.com, ubereats.com, doordash.com
6. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003
Phone: 713-228-1175
Mon – Thu 11am – 10pm
Friday 11am – 11pm
Saturday 10am – 11pm
Sunday 10am – 10pm
Why we Love it: Longtime casual spot with covered outdoor seating serving fajitas, margaritas and other Mexican fares.
Image by Manuela Arias Corrales from Pixabay
The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation is located on Navigation Boulevard and a stone’s throw from the heart of downtown Houston.
Original Ninfa’s was all started with Mama Ninfa Laurenzo’s creative TexMex recipes.
These led to the introduction of fajitas & Mexican cuisine to North America which gained immediate success.
If you’re looking for a Houston Mexican restaurant, Ninfa’s on Navigation is not only a local icon, having serviced politicians, celebrities & even visiting royalty, their Mexican food is unbeatable.
Voted Best Margaritas, you can enjoy Ninfaritas on the outdoor deck, dine on the best Mexican dishes & fajitas around and truly enjoy the great restaurant experience.
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7. Chivos
222 W 11th St Houston, TX 77008
Phone: (832) 767-1417
Mon – Tue CLOSED
Wed – Thu 5pm – 9pm
Friday 5pm – 10pm
Saturday 5pm – 10pm
Sunday 11am – 3pm 5pm- 8pm
Why we Love it: Inventive new Mexican-American cuisine.
Tamale Image by JORGE RODRIGUEZ from Pixabay
Chivos’ executive chef Thomas Bille boasts nearly two decades of fine dining experience, including stops at acclaimed spots like “Final Table” winner Timothy Hollingsworth’s Los Angeles restaurant Otium, Hugo Ortega’s Xochi and his own short-lived suburban restaurant Belly of the Beast.
The cuisine at Chivos stands entirely on its own, it is regarded as neither traditional Mexican nor Tex-Mex, but rather a more modern consideration of Mexican-American.
Executive chef Thomas Bille has fun with items like pozole dumplings in pork broth and build-your-own bone marrow tacos.
Save room for dessert, which is equally intriguing, as Bille presents a chocolate tamale with cajete and marshmallow.
8. Chuy’s
2706 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77098
Phone: (346) 646-5871
Mon – Sat 9am – 6pm
Why we Love it: They have deeply ingrained themselves into the local dining culture.
Image by Marcos Marcão from Pixabay
A casual spot with a large menu, Chuy’s is a place the locals head to frequently. The fajitas and enchiladas are delicious, the ‘ritas are fantastic, and we have been known to eat far too many chips and salsa here, too.
There are 7 Chuy’s restaurants in the city, and each of them offers the best Tex-Mex cuisine. Across the chain, Chuy’s restaurants are known for serving classic Mexican cuisine.
The establishments are light-filled and have a laidback and rustic vibe that enhances your dining experience all the more.
9. Lupe Tortilla’s
2414 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77098, United States
Phone: +1 713-522-4420
Mon – Thu 11am – 9pm
Friday 11am –10pm
Saturday 9am – 10pm
Sunday 9am – 9pm
Why we Love it: Regional Tex-Mex chain known for its homemade tortillas and variety of margaritas.
The restaurants are a darling of the local Tex-Mex scene.
Whenever you’re in the mood for family-friendly and casual dining in Houston, there’s no better place to be than a Lupe Tortilla restaurant.
The cheesy and hot grub at Lupe Tortilla hit the spot, and their gorditas and beans and Mexican tacos are worth a try.
There’s also a wide selection of regional Mexican staples.
The restaurants are in convenient locations, and service is excellent across the chain.
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10. Churrascos
2055 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098, United States
Phone: +1 713-527-8300
churrascos.com
Monday CLOSED
Tue – Fri 11am – 9pm
Saturday Noon – 10pm
Sunday 11am – 8pm
Why we Love it: Tender steaks star at this charming spot known for local-favorite complimentary fried plantains.
Established in 1988, Churrascos is widely-known as one of the best-run Tex-Mex restaurants.
The restaurants’ claim to fame is their tasty food and warm and inviting atmosphere.
Michael Cordúa is the in-house chef at the restaurant chain, and he curates meals that warmly transport guests to an orchestra of flavor.
The tamales, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, and everything else you’ll sample is delightful. When it comes to the food choices at Churrascos, it’s hard to go wrong.
Order: orderstart.com, seamless.com, grubhub.com, doordash.com, trycaviar.com, ubereats.com, postmates.com
Besides being the fourth largest city in America, Houston is incredibly diverse. There are over 10,000 restaurants representing over 70 countries.
Houston isn’t short of places to fit any taste and can offer the ultimate multicultural experience through food.
If you’re visiting Houston for the first time, moving here for school or even currently living in the city, you have to interact with its vibrant food culture.
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