Houston, a city celebrated for its vibrant and diverse food scene, proudly boasts an exceptional array of Mexican culinary experiences. For Houstonians, indulging in authentic Mexican flavors, accompanied by chips, salsa, and a refreshing margarita, is more than just a meal—it’s a beloved pastime. The city’s gastronomic landscape has evolved remarkably, enriching its Mexican food offerings to an impressive extent. From the iconic Tex-Mex, deeply indebted to culinary pioneers like “Mama Ninfa” Laurenzo, credited with popularizing fajitas at her East End establishment, to a spectrum of regional Mexican cuisines, innovative fusion concepts, charming bakeries, lively brunch spots, and sophisticated fine-dining venues alongside humble yet exceptional taco trucks, Houston’s Mexican food scene is wonderfully diverse. For those seeking the Best Mexican In Houston, this guide unveils the must-visit destinations that promise an unforgettable culinary adventure.
Bakeries
Assortment of Mexican pastries at El Bolillo Bakery, showcasing conchas, tres leches, and pan dulce.
El Bolillo Bakery, originating as a modest bakery in Greater Heights in 1998, has blossomed into a Houston-wide favorite with five locations. Whether you’re craving something sweet or need to impress at a family gathering, El Bolillo Bakery is your go-to destination. Their extensive selection includes delightful tres leches, creamy flan, rich cheesecake, and a variety of pan dulce such as conchas, orejas, panaderos, and carcoles—spiral pastries filled with sweet cream cheese. For savory preferences, they offer kolaches, flavorful tamales, and fresh tortillas, perfect for homemade tacos.
Nestled in the vibrant Tlaquepaque Market strip, Irma Perez’s small bakery quietly crafts some of the best Mexican in Houston, particularly her exquisite conchas. This unassuming spot features display cases brimming with freshly baked pan dulce daily. Arrive early to secure a tray of these treats, and if time allows, savor a plate of comforting comida casera-style cooking before continuing your day.
Breakfast and Brunch
A close-up of a breakfast taco from Brothers Taco House, filled with chorizo, potato, and egg.
For the quintessential breakfast taco experience, Brothers Taco House is a must-visit. A morning trip here is highly recommended for anyone in search of the best Mexican in Houston to start their day. The menu is extensive, but classics like the chorizo, potato, and egg taco, or the bacon and egg taco are consistently excellent choices. Be prepared for lines, especially on weekends, when authentic barbacoa and menudo draw crowds. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture a photo in front of the restaurant’s vibrant, colorful mural.
Victoria Elizondo, James Beard Award semifinalist and owner of Cochinita & Co., showcasing her restaurant's vibrant atmosphere.
Cochinita & Co., brought to Houston by James Beard Award semifinalist Victoria Elizondo, has become a beloved community hub and a top contender for best Mexican in Houston. Weekend brunch is a highlight, featuring standout dishes like chilaquiles (with a vegan option available) and refreshing mimosas. Other notable plates include the flavorful nopalitos scramble and El Desayuno, a hearty platter with eggs, bacon, potatoes, black beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and buttered toast. Before departing, explore Elizondo’s market for unique items.
Pastries and coffee at Ema in the Heights, featuring horchata berlinesa and canela coffee panque.
Ema, evolving from a popular pop-up to a permanent restaurant, has quickly become a Houston favorite for Mexican cuisine. Pastries crafted by 2024 James Beard semifinalist Stephanie Velasquez, such as the horchata berlinesa, canela coffee panque, and conchas, are irresistible. The main menu offers delights like suadero chilaquiles and taco de zanahoria. Complement your meal with Ema’s exceptional coffee program, featuring piloncillo chai and lattes in cafe de olla, horchata, and agave flavors, making it a strong contender for best Mexican in Houston for breakfast and beyond.
Gerardo’s, a taqueria established in 1977, is renowned for its barbacoa, prepared traditionally with beef cheek and tongue. A definitive test of a great Mexican restaurant is its barbacoa taco, and Gerardo’s excels. Note that it’s only open Friday through Sunday, making it a weekend destination for some of the best Mexican in Houston.
La Guadalupana, a neighborhood gem in Montrose for three decades, is a testament to enduring quality. Its popularity often results in crowds extending into the parking lot, all eager for Mexican comfort food. Must-try dishes include chilaquiles, migas, huevos rancheros, and buttermilk pancakes – though truly, everything on the menu is excellent. Conclude your visit with pan dulce from their pastry case, or take some home to enjoy later from this cornerstone of best Mexican in Houston.
La Mexicana's breakfast offerings, including huevos rancheros and chorizo and egg tacos.
La Mexicana, while celebrated for lunch and dinner, truly shines with its all-day breakfast menu, solidifying its place in the conversation about best Mexican in Houston. Portions are generous, and while indulging in complimentary chips, be sure to order at least three tacos. Favorites include chorizo and egg, bacon and egg, and papas a La Mexicana with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños. Huevos rancheros con tocino (bacon), migas, or chilaquiles are also excellent choices.
Laredo Taqueria, a cafeteria-style taqueria, rightfully earns widespread acclaim for authentic and affordable breakfast tacos. Offering potato and egg, chorizo and egg, and larger plate options including weekend menudo, it’s a budget-friendly option for best Mexican in Houston. Arrive early to any of Laredo Taqueria’s four locations to avoid lines.
Villa Arcos, a family-owned establishment in the East End since 1977, experienced a pandemic closure but thankfully reopened in 2023, now managed by a third-generation family member. Order the bacon super—a large taco with bacon, egg, beans, cheese, and potato—or a classic bacon and egg taco. For a plated breakfast or brunch, the migas or ranchero plate are reliable and delicious, representing the enduring appeal of best Mexican in Houston traditions.
Tex-Mex
A vibrant spread from Candente, featuring flautas, tortilla soup, and tacos al carbon.
Candente, from the owners of the acclaimed Pit Room, promises a lively atmosphere and exceptional Tex-Mex cuisine, making it a strong contender for best Mexican in Houston. Menu highlights include smoked chicken flautas, comforting tortilla soup, flavorful tacos al carbon, mesquite-grilled redfish, and black bean enfrijoladas with avocado. Margarita enthusiasts should try the premium margarita, crafted with Don Julio reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, agave, and lime.
El Tiempo, opened by one of Mama Ninfa’s sons in 1998, continues to elevate Tex-Mex in Houston. Starting with shared guacamole or queso flameado sets the stage for mouthwatering main courses like the large, crispy beef picadillo taco. The Las Vegas Tex-Mex plate, featuring a cheese enchilada, crispy beef taco, and fajitas, offers a comprehensive taste. For breakfast tacos, visit El Tiempo’s taqueria on Washington Avenue, experiencing the legacy of best Mexican in Houston Tex-Mex.
Chef Patricia Delgado of Ninfa's Uptown, highlighting the restaurant's culinary heritage.
Ninfa’s Uptown, under the guidance of executive chef Patricia Delgado, upholds Mama Ninfa’s legendary status in Tex-Mex. Ordering the two tacos a La Ninfa plate is essential—fajitas in flour tortillas with pico de gallo, guacamole, and chile con queso, served with complimentary rice and beans upon request. Explore chef specials like costillas de res, crosscut flanken ribs with ensalada nopales, salsa molcajete, and tortillas, celebrating the enduring impact of Ninfa’s on best Mexican in Houston.
Taco Trucks
El Taconazo is a taco truck particularly popular among Houston’s nightlife crowd near White Oak Music Hall. Whether visiting late-night or midday, expect a line that moves quickly. Focus on essentials: fajita tacos con queso Oaxaca, topped with creamy green salsa, accompanied by frijoles and a Mexican Coke for a complete and satisfying meal from one of the best Mexican in Houston’s mobile kitchens. No seating is available, embrace the classic taco truck experience by eating on the sidewalk or your car.
Trompo Tacos, with nearly two decades of service, is a well-established and highly regarded food truck, considered by many as offering the best Mexican in Houston on wheels. Its location across from West Alabama Ice House makes it ideal for enjoying tacos with a drink. Order a couple of trompo tacos and enjoy them with a cold beer at the bar’s picnic tables.
Fine Dining
A margarita at Hugo's, showcasing the restaurant's sophisticated ambiance and drink offerings.
Hugo’s, executive chef Hugo Ortega’s flagship restaurant, offers an upscale experience of authentic Mexican cooking, defining fine dining within the best Mexican in Houston category. Start with aguachile de palmito or ceviche verde. For an entrée, consider the cabrito, roasted goat in salsa de ajo, or arroz a la tumbada, a seafood rice dish. Complement your meal with a margarita to fully appreciate the Hugo’s experience.
Tatemó, led by two-time James Beard nominee Emmanuel Chavez, evolved from farmers market tortillas to a tasting menu experience focused on heirloom corn, showcasing Mexican cuisine beyond tacos and aiming to be recognized as the best Mexican in Houston for innovative dining. The menu changes regularly, featuring dishes like Mexico City-style quesadillas, tostadas, enmoladas, and buñuelo for dessert. Reservations are prepaid and available through Tock, offering an exclusive culinary journey.
Regional
Guanajuato Restaurant, located on Long Point Road, is a gem for regional Mexican cuisine. While offering familiar dishes, explore the Hidalguense section of the menu, specializing in food from Hidalgo. The barbacoa de borrego, chile-marinated lamb cooked in a barbecue pit with maguey leaves, served with consommé and cactus salad, is a must-try and a prime example of best Mexican in Houston’s regional diversity. Upgrade to house-made tortillas for an enhanced experience.
Picos restaurant interior, highlighting its elegant dining space and regional Mexican cuisine.
Picos, a family-owned establishment with four decades of history, showcases the seven culinary regions of Mexico, making it a definitive destination for best Mexican in Houston. Sample aguachile de camarón Sinaloa-style or explore their extensive mole dishes, enchiladas, and seafood specialties, offering a broad taste of Mexico’s diverse flavors.
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, led by Enchilada Queen Sylvia Casares, specializes in enchiladas, offering 11 “north of the border” and eight “south of the border” versions. Try McAllen chicken enchiladas or Hidalgo carnitas enchiladas. The Enchilada Culinary Tour provides a sampler of northern or southern enchiladas, allowing a curated tasting experience of what is arguably the best Mexican in Houston for enchilada variety.
Xalisko, located in the Woodlands Mall, impressively balances high-volume service with high-quality regional Mexican food. Chef Beatriz Martines, a Hugo Ortega alum, explores the cuisine of Jalisco with expertise and bold flavors. Start with the salsa sampler and esquites in bone marrow, followed by ceviche borracho of red snapper and birria tatemada, lamb shank slow-braised in agave leaf adobo. House-made tortillas and tostadas from heirloom corn elevate the dining experience, positioning Xalisko as a standout for best Mexican in Houston regional cuisine outside the city center.
Tlayuda de Res at Xochi, showcasing Oaxacan cuisine.
Xochi, Hugo Ortega’s downtown restaurant, focuses on Oaxacan cuisine, complementing Hugo’s broader Mexican offerings and solidifying Ortega’s influence on the best Mexican in Houston scene. Known for seafood specialties, the grilled octopus with fingerling potatoes, green chorizo, and red tomatillo sauce is exceptional. Inquire about the catch of the day, prepared in a green chileatole, for a taste of Oaxaca’s coastal flavors.
Fusion
Twisted Turban exemplifies Houston’s fusion culinary creativity, blending Mexican and Indian flavors. Their tacos, using paratha instead of tortillas, include Turban Tacos with slow-cooked braised beef, fried onions, and coleslaw and mango slaw. This innovative approach adds a unique dimension to the best Mexican in Houston offerings, showcasing the city’s diverse culinary talent.
