If you're looking for a dumpy, hole-in-the wall, tiny place with delicious food, you need to try Mexicatessen Herrerals at 302 W. Crosstimbers. I don't think they serve fajitas, but their food is very good. I used to eat lunch there all the time. I don't think I'd go there at night. We go to Tia Maria's on Dacoma about once a week. The food is good, their prices are good, they have mariachis, and they all know us by name after going there for 8 years. El Tiempo has better food (but El Tiempo is MUCH more expensive). Chuy's is damn good Tex-Mex at a reasonable price. I, too, used to go to Fajita's near Greenspoint many years ago. They used to have some very good fajitas.
my favorites are Ninfa's on Navigation - best overall food, not as upscale as others Pico's on Bellaire Tia Maria's on Dacoma - good ritas and cheap with a coupon Lupe's fajitas are way too lime tasting for me but the kids do like the sand box Tony's on Ella has good grilled food and killer ritas
My friends and I went there so much in the 90's that I think we paid for their two expansions. That is where I was at during the now infamous game against the Knicks where instead of watching the game we got to watch OJ in a white Ford Bronco. We started chanting OJ, OJ and soon had all of Tia's in on the chant. Good times. Amazing my liver is still functioning from a decade worth of ritas.
We go there at least once a week. The food is okay. But it's got a great combination of good food, good prices, a mom-and-pop atmosphere, mariachis, ... not to fancy.. not too dumpy... Just a really good restaurant.
Haven't been there in a couple years (since I moved to San Diego), but my all time fav Mex food in Houston has long been La Jalisience (sp?) on Montrose near Allen Parkway. ****ing awesome straight ahead Tex-Mex at a reasonable price. Stays open real late too. Perfect place for after clubbing. Great juke box too.
It was in a strip center North of Greenspoint - same strip center as Fuddrucker's. As I recall, it is either vacant or now has a different (non-mex) restaurant there.
I miss Tex-Mex food so much....Not a really big market for that here in New Zealand. Some Americans from Oregon opened up a place that is sort of like that Freebird burrito place on Shepherd, but that's about it. Sigh...
I used to like Lil' Pappasito's on Richmond @ Kirby before Rockets games in Compaq. Still like Chuy's. El Centro downtown is surprisingly good-try a raspberry mojito-like a 7-up. I seldom drink anymore-this was good. The fajitas were very good-beef tender and lean. Cabo downtown is so bad the cooks should go to jail. That manager has no pride at all-terrible. they have little competition and it shows. Even the chips were stale-a disgusting place. There was so much grease on the chicken quesadillas I ordered, that I had to go downstairs to the bar and get cocktail napkins to soak the grease. We were really hungry, and ended up giving up and left. El Tiempo on Westheimer was a disappointment.
Here are a few more I'll add: If you want fairly cheap, the original Casa Ole on Southmore in Pasadena is pretty damn good. Ninfas on Navigation is solid all around. It's true that the food there is a lot better than all of the other Ninfa's locations. It's the only Ninfa's I will go to. Good food, good ritas, good prices. A Houston landmark.
I love that wonderful sewer smell that fills the air while entering the front door!!! I've seen Rudy T there a coulple of times. Pretty darn good food despite the poopy air freshner outside. La Mexicana gets my vote for best overall joint.
Pablano's in Meyer Park is supposedly owned by a former chef from Lupe's. Exact same fajitas. Good stuff.
Teotihuacan on Irvington- best all around for the $$$ La Tapatia on Richmond- best cheap & late night El Tiempo on Richmond - best high-end Tampico on Airline - best seafood 100% Taquito - best tacos Hugo's - best interior Mexican El Pueblito - best patio, excellent happy hour (midnight-2AM happy hour also)
What did you say about high school?!?!?!?! That pastor burrito dinner killed me this morning. I've found that the steak fajita and egg breakfast taco from Chacos (sp?) is amazing.
