Houston’s Top 22 Mexican Restaurants

Are you looking for the greatest and most delectable Mexican restaurants in Houston? Then you’ve arrived to the correct location!

Houston is a booming Texan town with a lot to offer in terms of food and activities, and there is something for everyone.

The more layers of food on Houston’s tables you peel back, the more you see the constant waves of immigration and how they have formed Texas cuisine. As a result, it’s no wonder that Houston’s Mexican cuisine and restaurants are quite popular.

Whether you’re planning a vacation to Houston or a foodie, stay reading for a list of the finest Mexican restaurants in Houston, TX.

Houston’s Best Mexican Restaurants

This list of the greatest locations to taste Mexican cuisine was prepared based on the quality of the food and ingredients used, the restaurant’s service, and the environment and setting.

You can’t go wrong with any of these eateries, and I promise they’ll make your time in Houston even more delightful!

Xochi

777 Walker St., 713-400-33301

Xochi is a soulful, modern, and polished Oaxacan restaurant with house-made moles and masas in every dish. The rich aromas and pungent spices of the Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila and the Queso de Rancho delighted me. Insects, on the other hand, are a more bold and adventurous alternative!

The cuisine is eclectic, and each dinner sparks lively discussion and takes you to Mexico rather than, say, downtown Houston. The restaurant’s environment and service are also great.

When it comes to cocktails, mezcal or tequila are your best options. Dessert must-haves are the Oaxacan ice creams! If you’re ever in Houston, don’t miss out on this lively event.

• Special Diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Latin.

Cantina Little Pappasitos

713-520-50662536 Richmond Street

If you prefer things loud and exciting, this bright, brick-walled cantina with painted garage doors that open onto a covered patio is for you and your group.

Fajitas are elevated by an inventive marinade that tenderizes a tough piece of skirt steak. The Beef Fajita Quesadillas and Sweet Chile Quail have a flavor that will keep you yearning them for days! When you’re there, try one of the bar’s drinks; the Pappasitos Reserve Margarita is particularly refreshing.

• Special diets: Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern, Latin.

Southwest Irmas

11475 Texas Ave., 713-247-96511475 Texas Ave.

Irmas Southwest Grill is a casual but classy restaurant serving some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. Irmas Southwest is your downtown go-to for a hearty lunch, a quick bite before a baseball game, or a full supper.

If you appreciate wonderful chips and guacamole, shrimp tacos, and grilled pork, this restaurant is ideal for you. The delectable Shrimp, Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas, as well as the Southwest Salad, are excellent choices. The refreshing Margaritas, Mexican beer, and wine will enhance your cuisine and are thus required.

• Special diets: Vegetarian Options. 
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern.

The Velvet Taco

832-834-590819 Washington Ave

Velvet Taco is an enthralling trip where taco brilliance collides with global inspiration. Velvet Taco meets its goal of offering tourists to Houston with high-quality, cheap gourmet tacos. This restaurant has grown in popularity over the years, and it’s easy to understand why: the tacos speak for themselves.

Visitors may sample fresh, gourmet tacos made with local ingredients and flavors including Spicy Tikka Chicken, Korean Fried Rice, and Grilled Flank Steak, which I really liked.

The large assortment of tacos, paired with the warm, crunchy environment and the pleasant service, makes eating at Velvet Taco a great experience.

• Special Diets: Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free Options. 
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern, Contemporary.

Hermano Edgars

1700 Smith Street 713-495-7854

Edgars Hermano expertly mixes Houston’s native Tex-Mex cuisine with unique traditional Southern food, resulting in some of the city’s most inventive and authentic downtown dining.

Quesadillas, Adobo Crusted Pig Wings, and Bourbon Glazed Chicken Wings are just a few of the many delectable dishes cooked with fresh ingredients on the menu. White or red wines compliment every dish, while delightful cocktails serve as a lovely finale to every dinner.

• Special diets: Vegetarian Friendly.
• Cuisines: Mexican, American.

Lopez Mexican Cuisine

S. Wilcrest Dr., 281-495-243611606 S. Wilcrest Dr.

This fantastic eatery is a hidden gem along the Southwest Freeway between West Houston and Sugar Land. A large dining area, wonderfully constructed Spanish decor, and a floor plan that is both practical and functional. Staff members are competent, experienced, polite, and courteous.

Lopez Mexican Restaurant’s classic ambience and clean environment, as well as its delectable cuisine, make it a favorite of many Houston families.

The dishes have unique tastes, and the high quality of the ingredients elevates each dish to a new level. All of the soups are delicious (Rubens Tortilla soup was my particular favorite), especially on a chilly winter day.

• Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern.

Tortilla de Lupe

713-522-4420-2414 Southwest Freeway

This Mexican gem, which opened in 1983, delivers sizzling and delectable fajitas, hand-made tortillas, and top-of-the-line margaritas in a beautifully pleasant environment that will make you feel right at home! This eatery offers it everything, from short brunches on the move to meals and sweets, and you won’t be disappointed.

To round up my dinner, I enjoyed the Original Chicken Lupe and the Fuerrtacino. There is something on the menu for everyone, with one of the most diverse menus I have ever seen.

• Special Diets: Vegetarian Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern, Latin.

The Habanera and the Guero

832-547-12409902 Gulf Fwy.

If you like fresh fruits, delicious Margaritas, and a pleasant and relaxed environment, this is the spot for you!

Habanera & The Guero’s warm and pleasant environment is exactly what helps people feel at ease and enjoy themselves. This establishment’s success would be difficult to achieve without the kind and pleasant employees. In this restaurant, excellent service is undoubtedly a high concern.

Cheese Enchiladas are also available. Everything was great in general. The Fresh Mango Margarita was fantastic, as were the pork belly tacos. I really suggest the Chicken.

• Special Diets: Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern.

Mexican Restaurant Ambriza Social

10115 Louetta Rd., Suite 400, 281-205-1240

This Mexican restaurant on Louetta Rd., just a few miles east of Highway 249 the Tomball Parkway, is in a class by itself. When you approach the restaurant, your gaze is drawn to the amazing artwork and décor on the walls. Tostones, seasonal fruit ceviche, and Fideo Seco are all must-order items. Ambriza is the ideal spot to escape the monotony of daily life, thanks to its rich tastes, fresh environment, and fantastic Margaritas.

• Special Diets: Vegan, Vegetarian. and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Latin.

Hugos

600 Westheimer Rd. 713-524-77441600 Westheimer Rd.

Hugos brings the vivid and earthy flavors of Mexico to the United States. The menu features typical Mexican dishes made from scratch in the Mexican way, such as different cheeses, chocolate, and tortillas.

The restaurant is also recognized for its award-winning wine program, cocktail menu, and tequila collection, so a drink, such as Hugos Sangria, is an essential must with your meal. Hugos provides a vast range of well-prepared food, as well as a vibrant and active ambience in an artistic setting, making dining at Hugos an amazing experience.

• Special diets: Vegan, Vegetarian. and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Latin, Contemporary.

Caracol

Post Oak Blvd., 713-622-99962200 Post Oak Blvd.

The interior design instantly draws your attention as soon as you enter Caracol Restaurant. A one-of-a-kind blend of rustic and industrial, contemporary and traditional, all blended with a natural color palette inspired by aquatic life and the stunning beaches of Mexico’s coasts.

The old Mexican cave insignia, which pay respect to Mexico’s rich past, are unlike anything I’ve seen at a restaurant. Each dish has a unique and innovative taste, such as the Ceviche de Caracol and the Ensalada de Pollo. But, you can’t go wrong with any meal.

• Special diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Latin, Seafood.

Ninfas

713-228-1175274 Navigation Blvd.

Ninfas’ quaint location and the flavor of the food, which seem like home-cooked family dinners, make it a must-visit when in Houston.

The combination of Mushroom Quesadillas and Al Pastor Taco creates such an inventive and innovative taste combination that you will be desiring the meals for days. You also can’t go wrong with any of Ninfa’s original Mixtas. Don’t forget to pair your meal with some freshly brewed Aguas Frescas.

• Special Diets: Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free Options.
• Cuisines: Mexican, Southwestern.

Palenque Tacos

+17136411309 3000 Woodridge Dr, Houston, TX 77087

Juan Francisco Ochoa wants to bring his love and enthusiasm for Mexican food to the United States from the streets of Sinaloa, Mexico. Although taking El Pollo Loco to the streets of Laredo was a success, he was looking for a way to expand it to other parts of Texas and beyond. That is why, in 1997, Don Pancho launched the first Palenque restaurants in North Texas. Every establishment serves traditional Mexican food in a warm setting.

Don Panchos has been the top Mexican restaurant in South Jersey since its inception in 2000. This family restaurant, which combines history with modern inventions, depends on quality and customer pleasure to keep customers returning again and again.

Restaurant Caracol

+17136229996 2200 Post Oak Blvd #160 Houston, TX 77056

Caracol, an award-winning restaurant founded by Chef Hugo Ortega and Restaurateur Tracy Vaught, has garnered a reputation as one of Playa del Carmen’s top seafood restaurants. Inspired by the area’s magnificent shoreline and long culture, Chef Hugo Ortega creates a variety of seafood dishes including ceviches.

Hugo Ortega’s newest endeavor is the Caracol, which he co-founded with chef extraordinaire Jose Luis Orozco. Chef Orozco, well recognized as the creative force behind the famed restaurant Hugos, wanted to create something that mirrored his enthusiasm for outstanding cuisine at accessible rates. He want a restaurant that was unique, fresh, and original in both design and food. He envisioned something unique, where cuisine and life would collide in a magical atmosphere.

Polanquito

Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007 +17134854047404

Polanquito is a family-owned restaurant in Houston’s Rice Military neighborhood. Polanquitos’ purpose is to deliver a taste of Mexico to the wonderful people of Houston. If you’ve never traveled to Mexico, Polanquito is a great way to try real Mexican cuisine without leaving Houston. Polanquito will also bring you home if you have gone to Mexico or are a native Mexican.

Polanquito is named after Polanco, a posh area in Mexico City known for its fine dining. Polanquito is a diminutive of Polanco, which meaning “small Polanco” in Spanish. Chef Diego Navarro understands the importance of bringing culture and quality to Houston as a small company owner. Polanquito offers fresh and inventive food crafted from the finest ingredients.

Hugos

Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006 +171352477441600

Genuine Mexican food is a world-class cuisine that has mostly remained unaltered by the outside world. Executive Chef Hugo Ortega describes his home food. The cuisine is as light and fresh as a seafood cocktail produced by fisherman on the shore, as deep and complicated as Oaxacan moles created with an incredible amount of ingredients, and as earthy as the most basic homemade corn tortilla.

The menu includes traditional meals from Mexico’s numerous regions, all created from scratch in the Mexican manner, such as various cheeses, moles, tortillas, and chocolate.

The restaurant is also well-known for its award-winning wine list, cocktail menu, and tequila menu. It is in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District.

Tortilla de Lupe

Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77098 +171352244202414

Lupe tortillas promote Mexican customs and real Hispanic food. The restaurant first began in Houston, but it has since spread to seven other sites around the nation. Lupe tortillas is a Houston staple known for its beef fajitas, tableside guacamole, and margaritas.

Judson and Peter Holt’s parents, Stan and Audrey Holt, started Lupe Tortilla in the Houston region. In 1983, the pair built their first restaurant in the Houston region, quickly expanding to a third location within a year. After that success, they opened a fourth Tex-Mex restaurant. Since then, the pair has built restaurants not just in Texas but also in San Antonio and Austin, as well as one near Dallas Love Field.

Cuchara

+17139420000 214 Fairview St Suite #1, Houston, TX 77006

Cuchara, an original Mexico City cafe, opened its doors on September 15, 2012, with a spectacular Mexican independence celebration. Cuchara, located on the intersection of Fairview and Taft in Houston’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood, serves genuine Mexican street cuisine in a 1940s-style cantina with a small eating room and a welcoming informal feel.

The restaurant was created by Ana Beaven and Charlie McDaniel, and it was designed by Jim Herd and his Collaborative Projects team. Cecilia Beaven’s vibrant paintings show a chaotic but fantasy network of automobiles and highways. Persons of all sizes stare down on the commotion at the bar constructed of cast iron pots and pans. Chris Frankel’s colorful image was inspired by a nighttime Mexican market.

Sombrero de Mi

+17138627244 3401 N Shepherd Dr #4, Houston, TX 77018

My Sombrero Mexican Restaurant offers more than tacos and enchiladas. They also have one of the greatest breakfast buffets in Houston. It is also open all year. Moreover, the restaurant caters to its customers’ needs by providing anything from daycare for your next visit to complimentary soft serve cinnamon-vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Its menu includes traditional Mexican dishes such as Carne Guisada, Tacos al Carbn, Menudo, Carnitas Rancheras, and Queso Flameado. Tacos, tostadas, and enchiladas are served with Spanish rice and refried beans on our Tex-Mex traditional combo platters.

Mr. Carlos

+17139231906 416 76th St, Houston, TX 77012

Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant and Cantina was the original name of the restaurant. In May 1985, the Stathatos family joined Gerry and Christos, who had worked there for many years, as co-owners of the company. The four Stathatos brothers became the sole proprietors of the restaurant by January 1986, when it was renamed Don Carlos Mexican Buffet and Cantina.

For more than 30 years, the Big Star Restaurant at this site has served the local community. Their company was so successful that in 1991, they expanded the dining space by 1,000 square feet, increasing seating capacity to 170, and added 1,500 square feet for a bigger kitchen. To handle the increased business, they also built parking across the street from the restaurant.

Cantina Little Pappasitos

+17135205066 2536 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77098

The Pappas restaurants were developed by the family and are a reflection of their hearts. The welcoming environment and family-oriented mentality present in every Pappas restaurant began even before the Pappas brothers established their first restaurant in 1976. It all started with H.D. Pappas, the renowned grandpa.

H.D. Pappas left Greece in 1897 and traveled to America to pursue his goals. As he launched restaurants in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas, he took with him a passion for service and quality that became the hallmark of his success.

Cantina El Tiempo

+17132226800 2814 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003

El Tiempo Cantina is a small company that specializes in genuine Tex-Mex food and is dedicated to utilizing only the best ingredients and traditional methods. The El Tiempo crew has been cooking Tex Mex for over 30 years and has created all of the recipes. Taste the difference when you eat on El Tiempo meals, from handmade salsa and guacamole to fresh pico de gallo and real chile con queso.

Mama Ninfa Laurenzo’s legacy goes on in all of Houston’s El Tiempo chain restaurants, which are currently owned by her grandson Domenic Laurenzo. El Tiempo restaurants have large, attractive dining rooms that make every meal feel extra memorable. During the previous 55 years, the restaurant has mastered its fajita recipe, but the sizzling comals may come with a lot more than just beef: as add-ons, try the jalapeo sausage, mesquite-grilled quail, bacon-wrapped shrimp, or even a full lobster tail.

Last Thoughts

I hope you liked reading about the greatest Mexican restaurants in Houston. If you ever find yourself in the area, a supper at one of these restaurants will undoubtedly make your stay more delightful and memorable.

Visiting several locations in Texas? Check out these more tasty guides:

• 10 Best Restaurants in The Woodlands, TX | Where to Eat in The Woodlands, Texas
• 8 Must-Try Keller Restaurants | The Best Restaurants in Keller, Texas
• 11 Best Restaurants In Southlake TX | Where To Eat In Southlake, Texas

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Which of these Houston Mexican eateries are you most excited to try? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below!