Houston, a vibrant and diverse metropolis, boasts a food scene as dynamic as its population. When it comes to culinary cravings, ask any Houstonian, and they’ll likely point you towards their favorite Mexican restaurant. The city’s love affair with Mexican cuisine is deeply rooted, evolving from classic Tex-Mex to a rich tapestry of regional specialties, innovative fusions, and comforting classics. From the legendary fajitas, popularized by Mama Ninfa Laurenzo, to hidden gem taco trucks and elegant fine dining experiences, Houston offers a Mexican food adventure for every palate. If you’re on the hunt for the Best Mexican Restaurant In Houston, look no further. This guide will navigate you through the city’s must-visit Mexican culinary destinations, ensuring you experience the true flavors of Mexico right here in Houston.
Bakeries: Sweet and Savory Delights
Image: Serving Houston since 1998, El Bolillo Bakery offers a wide selection of authentic Mexican pastries and baked goods across its five locations.
El Bolillo Bakery, a Houston institution, began as a humble bakery in the Greater Heights in 1998 and has since expanded to five locations throughout the Houston area. This beloved bakery is the perfect destination whether you’re craving something sweet or need to bring a crowd-pleasing treat to a gathering. El Bolillo’s showcases an impressive array of traditional pan dulce, from the iconic conchas and delicate orejas to the comforting panaderos and spiral carcoles filled with sweet cream cheese. For those who prefer savory options, their kolaches, hearty tamales, and fresh tortillas – ideal for crafting homemade tacos – are equally enticing.
Nestled within the colorful Tlaquepaque Market strip, you’ll find Irma Perez’s unassuming bakery, a local secret for some of the best Mexican sweet bread in Houston, particularly her exceptional conchas. This small, authentic joint features display cases brimming with freshly baked pan dulce daily. Arrive early to secure the best selection and fill a tray with your favorites. If you have time to linger, savor a plate of comida casera-style cooking for a truly authentic Mexican culinary experience before continuing your day.
Breakfast and Brunch: Starting the Day the Mexican Way
Image: A classic chorizo, potato, and egg breakfast taco from Brothers Taco House, a Houston favorite for authentic Mexican breakfast.
For the quintessential Houston Mexican breakfast, head to Brothers Taco House. This local favorite is renowned for its breakfast tacos, a staple in Houston’s food scene. With a vast selection of fillings, you can’t go wrong with the classic chorizo, potato, and egg taco or the equally satisfying bacon and egg option. Be prepared for a line, especially on weekends when they serve authentic barbacoa and menudo – a testament to their popularity. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture a photo in front of the restaurant’s vibrant, colorful mural, a Houston Instagram hotspot.
Image: Victoria Elizondo, James Beard Award semifinalist, has created Cochinita & Co. as a premier Mexican brunch and community gathering spot in Houston’s East End.
Cochinita & Co., the creation of James Beard Award semifinalist Victoria Elizondo, has cultivated a reputation as the ultimate community gathering spot and a top contender for the best Mexican brunch in Houston. If you’re visiting for weekend brunch, the chilaquiles, available even in a vegan version, are a must-try. Pair them with a refreshing mimosa for the complete brunch experience. Other standout dishes include the flavorful nopalitos scramble and El Desayuno, a hearty plate featuring two eggs, bacon, potatoes, black beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and buttered toast. Before leaving, explore Elizondo’s market for unique culinary finds.
Image: Enjoy specialty coffee and exquisite Mexican pastries at Ema in the Heights, a top destination for Mexican breakfast and brunch in Houston.
Ema, evolving from a popular pop-up to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, has quickly become a Houston go-to for exceptional Mexican food, particularly for breakfast and brunch. Pastries crafted by 2024 James Beard semifinalist Stephanie Velasquez, such as the horchata berlinesa, canela coffee panque, and classic conchas, are irresistible. For savory options, indulge in the suadero chilaquiles or the unique taco de zanahoria from their main menu. Complement your meal with Ema’s specialty coffee program, featuring unique drinks like piloncillo chai and lattes in flavors like cafe de olla, horchata, and agave.
Gerardo’s, a taqueria operating since 1977, has earned local adoration, especially for its barbacoa, prepared traditionally with beef cheek and tongue. For many, a restaurant’s barbacoa taco is the ultimate test of its Mexican food authenticity, and Gerardo’s consistently passes with flying colors, solidifying its place among the best Mexican restaurants in Houston. Note that Gerardo’s is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, making it a sought-after weekend treat.
La Guadalupana, a beloved neighborhood staple in Montrose for 30 years, is so popular that its crowd often spills into the parking lot, all waiting for a taste of their comforting Mexican food. Must-try dishes include their chilaquiles, migas, huevos rancheros, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes – though truthfully, everything on the menu is consistently excellent. Complete your visit with pan dulce from their pastry case, or take some home to enjoy later.
Image: La Mexicana’s all-day breakfast menu, featuring huevos rancheros and chorizo & egg tacos, makes it a top choice for Mexican breakfast in Houston.
La Mexicana, while also celebrated for lunch and dinner, truly shines with its all-day breakfast menu, making it a strong contender for the best Mexican breakfast in Houston. Portions are generous – and it’s easy to indulge in too many chips while waiting – but ordering at least three tacos is a must. Favorites include the chorizo and egg, bacon and egg, and papas a La Mexicana, featuring tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños. You also can’t go wrong with the huevos rancheros con tocino (bacon), migas, or chilaquiles.
Laredo Taqueria, a cafeteria-style taqueria, rightfully deserves all the accolades it receives for its authentic and affordable breakfast tacos. All breakfast tacos are made in the traditional style and are incredibly budget-friendly, offering exceptional value. Opt for a potato and egg or chorizo and egg taco, or choose from a variety of larger plate options, including menudo on weekends. If visiting one of Laredo Taqueria’s four locations, arriving early is recommended to avoid the lines, a testament to its popularity as a top Mexican restaurant in Houston.
Villa Arcos, a family-owned establishment serving the East End since 1977, experienced a hiatus during the pandemic but thankfully reopened in 2023, now operated by a third-generation family member. Visit for the bacon super – a generously sized taco filled with bacon, egg, beans, cheese, and potato – or a classic bacon and egg taco for a simpler choice. For a plate option, the migas or ranchero plate are consistently solid choices, making Villa Arcos a cherished spot for Mexican breakfast and brunch in Houston.
Tex-Mex: Houston’s Beloved Culinary Heritage
Image: Candente, from the owners of Pit Room, offers a vibrant Tex-Mex experience and is a must-try for Tex-Mex enthusiasts in Houston.
Candente, from the same owners as the acclaimed Pit Room, consistently delivers a great time with exceptional Tex-Mex cuisine, making it a strong contender for the best Tex-Mex in Houston. Menu favorites include the crispy smoked chicken flautas, comforting tortilla soup, flavorful tacos al carbon, perfectly grilled mesquite-grilled redfish, and rich black bean enfrijoladas with creamy avocado. If margaritas are your preference, the premium margarita, crafted with Don Julio reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, agave, and lime, is a must-try.
El Tiempo, opened by one of Mama Ninfa’s sons, has been serving Houstonians delicious Tex-Mex since 1998, and many argue it only improves with time, solidifying its place as a top Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston. Begin your meal by sharing some freshly made guacamole or one of their signature quesos flameados, then indulge in one of their famous big crispy tacos – the beef picadillo is a standout. For a comprehensive Tex-Mex experience, order a combination plate like the Las Vegas, featuring a cheese enchilada, crispy beef taco, and sizzling fajitas. For excellent breakfast tacos, visit El Tiempo’s taqueria on Washington Avenue.
Image: Executive chef Patricia Delgado at Ninfa’s Uptown continues Mama Ninfa’s legacy, offering classic and innovative Tex-Mex dishes in Houston.
Ninfa’s, the restaurant credited with popularizing tacos al carbon, is a legendary name in Houston Tex-Mex. Ordering the two tacos a La Ninfa plate is a must-do pilgrimage for any Tex-Mex lover. This iconic dish features fajitas served in warm flour tortillas with fresh pico de gallo, creamy guacamole, and chile con queso. Complimentary rice and beans are available upon request. Explore chef specials crafted by Patricia Delgado, the executive chef at the Uptown location, including the costillas de res, crosscut flanken ribs served with ensalada nopales, salsa molcajete, and warm tortillas, showcasing the evolution of Tex-Mex in Houston.
Taco Trucks: Authentic Flavors on Wheels
El Taconazo, a taco truck particularly popular with the late-night crowd, is a testament to the vibrant Houston taco truck scene. Whether you visit after a show at White Oak Music Hall or during the day, expect a line – but rest assured, it moves quickly. El Taconazo focuses on taco truck essentials: order the fajita tacos con queso Oaxaca, topped with a fiery, creamy green salsa. Complete your meal with a side of frijoles and a refreshing Mexican Coke. With no seating available, embrace the true taco truck experience and enjoy your meal standing on the sidewalk or perched on the hood of your car, a quintessential Houston Mexican food experience.
Trompo Tacos & Snacks, with nearly 20 years of service, has become one of the most recognized food trucks in Houston, cementing its place among the best taco trucks in Houston. Its location across from West Alabama Ice House is ideal for enjoying tacos with a drink. Order a couple of trompo tacos and savor them with a cold beer at one of the bar’s picnic tables, perfectly blending the Houston bar and Mexican food scenes.
Fine Dining: Elevated Mexican Cuisine
Image: Hugo’s, a fine dining Mexican restaurant in Houston, is renowned for its authentic cuisine and exceptional margaritas, offering a complete upscale experience.
Hugo’s, Executive chef Hugo Ortega’s flagship restaurant, has become synonymous with authentic and refined Mexican fine dining in Houston over the past two decades. For dinner, begin with the aguachile de palmito, made with hearts of palm, mushrooms, avocado, red onion, cucumber, lime, cilantro, and serrano, or the ceviche verde, featuring the fresh catch of the day, avocado, cucumber, jalapeño, olive, cilantro, and lime. For the main course, the cabrito, roasted goat pulled from the bone in salsa de ajo, served with nopales salad, refritos, guacamole, and salsa habanero, is a signature dish. Seafood lovers will appreciate the arroz a la tumbada, a flavorful rice dish with chicken, chorizo, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams. And to complete the fine dining experience, indulge in one of Hugo’s celebrated margaritas.
XUN, helmed by two-time James Beard nominee Emmanuel Chavez, began as a farmers market tortilla operation, evolving into a sophisticated tasting menu experience. XUN focuses on heirloom corn and aims to showcase the vast diversity of Mexican cuisine beyond the taco, offering a unique fine dining Mexican experience in Houston. The regularly changing menu features dishes like Mexico City-style quesadillas, tostadas, enmoladas, and buñuelos for dessert. Reservations are prepaid ($125) through Tock, reflecting its exclusive and sought-after dining experience.
Regional Mexican Cuisine: Exploring Mexico’s Diverse Flavors
El Hidalguense Restaurant, located on Long Point Road, is a hidden gem for authentic regional Mexican cuisine in Houston. While offering familiar Mexican dishes, explore the Hidalguense section of the menu, which features specialties from the state of Hidalgo. The barbacoa de borrego, fall-off-the-bone chile-marinated lamb cooked with maguey leaves in a barbecue pit, served with consommé and cactus salad, is a must-try. While packaged tortillas are included, upgrading to the house-made tortillas is highly recommended to enhance your experience of this authentic regional Mexican restaurant in Houston.
Image: Picos, a family-owned Houston institution for 40 years, takes diners on a culinary tour of Mexico’s seven distinct regions.
Picos, a family-owned establishment with four decades of experience, is renowned for serving some of Houston’s best regional Mexican food, showcasing dishes from seven distinct regions of Mexico. Experience the aguachile de camarón, Sinaloa-style marinated shrimp in fresh lime juice, cucumber, habanero pepper, and cilantro, or explore their extensive selection of mole dishes, enchiladas, and seafood specialties. Picos provides a comprehensive culinary journey through Mexico without leaving Houston.
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, led by Enchilada Queen Sylvia Casares, deserves recognition for its meticulously curated selection of enchiladas. The menu features 11 “north of the border” and eight “south of the border” variations. Try the McAllen (north) chicken enchiladas with chili gravy or the Hidalgo (south) carnitas enchiladas. For the indecisive, the Enchilada Culinary Tour, a sampler of either four northern or four southern enchiladas, offers a perfect introduction to the diverse world of Mexican enchiladas in Houston.
Xalisko, relatively new but highly impressive, manages to balance being located in the Woodlands Mall with serving high-quality regional Mexican cuisine. Chef Beatriz Martines, a Hugo Ortega alum, explores the cuisine of her home state of Jalisco with refined technique and bold flavors. Start with the salsa sampler and esquites in bone marrow. The ceviche borracho of red snapper in tequila-citrus juice with smoked pineapple is a refreshing palate cleanser before indulging in the birria tatemada, lamb shank slow-braised in agave leaf with adobo. All tortillas and tostadas are made in-house with various heirloom corn varieties, highlighting the authentic regional Mexican flavors of Houston.
Image: Tlayuda de Res at Xochi, Hugo Ortega’s downtown restaurant specializing in Oaxacan cuisine, a unique regional Mexican offering in Houston.
Xochi, Hugo Ortega’s downtown restaurant, complements Hugo’s by focusing on a narrower, yet equally rich, culinary tradition: the cuisine of Oaxaca. While Hugo’s showcases Mexico’s greatest hits, Xochi celebrates the unique flavors of Oaxaca, particularly known for its seafood specialties, making it a standout regional Mexican restaurant in Houston. The grilled octopus with fingerling potatoes, green chorizo, confit tomato, and red tomatillo sauce is a highlight. Alternatively, ask your server for the catch of the day, prepared in a vibrant green chileatole.
Fusion: Mexican Cuisine Meets Global Flavors
Twisted Turban exemplifies Houston’s innovative fusion cuisine scene, creatively blending Mexican flavors with Indian culinary traditions. Their tacos are uniquely wrapped in paratha instead of tortillas. Try the signature Turban Tacos with slow-cooked braised beef, fried onions, and a refreshing combination of coleslaw and mango slaw, showcasing the exciting possibilities of Mexican fusion cuisine in Houston.
Houston’s Mexican restaurant scene is a vibrant and diverse tapestry, offering everything from comforting Tex-Mex classics to refined regional dishes and innovative fusions. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, exploring these culinary gems is essential to experiencing the full flavor of Houston. From bakeries to taquerias, fine dining to food trucks, the best Mexican restaurant in Houston is waiting to be discovered – and this guide is your perfect starting point.
