Best Mexican Food in Houston
Houston has a diverse food scene with a wide variety of cuisine to explore. In this blog post, we dive into the best Mexican food around the city. Using our list below of the top 13 Mexican restaurants throughout the city you can experience some of the best Mexican food in Houston.
The 13 Best Mexican Food Restaurants in Houston
- Hugo’s
- Xochi
- Cascabel
- Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
- Chivos
- Caracol
- Flora
- Cuchara
- Lopez Mexican Restaurant
- Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen
- The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
- Candente
- El Tiempo Cantina
1. Hugo’s
Address: 1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
At Hugo’s they serve up authentic Mexican cuisine. According to their website, their menu features traditional dishes from the many regions of Mexico. When dining at Hugo’s you can enjoy dishes such as barbacoa and carne asada a la tampiqueña.
Open Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 3:00pm – 9:00pm, Thursday: 11:30am – 9:00pm, Friday: 11:30 am – 10:30pm, Saturday: 11:00am – 10:30pm, Sunday 10:00am – 9:00pm
2. Xochi
Address: 1777 Walker St, Houston, TX 77010
Xochi is located in the heart of downtown Houston at the Marriott Marquis Houston hotel. The menu at Xochi is heavily inspired by Oaxaca, Mexico. Along with their Oaxacan-inspired dishes, their bar also has an extensive offering of mezcals, tequilas, and Mexican craft beers.
Open Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday-Thursday: 11:30am – 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 11:30am-10:00pm, Sunday 10:00am – 3:00pm
3. Cascabel
Address: 1415 Murray Bay St, Houston, TX 77080
Cascabel is Houston’s first full-service Mexican 100% vegan restaurant with a full bar. During our time at Cascabel we enjoyed their margaritas, vegan birria tacos, vegan bistec tacos, vegan poblano quesadilla, and vegan flan. Their delicious cooking proves that some of the best Mexican food in Houston can also be vegan.
Open Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00am – 10:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm, Sunday: 10:00am – 3:00pm
4. Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
Address: 1511 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009
Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe serves up delicious Mexican food at four different locations throughout Houston. They are known for their homemade tortillas, flavorful fajitas, unique caliente shrimp, and original Teotihuacan Parrillada.
Open Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 8:00am – 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 8am – 12am
5. Chivos
Address: 222 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
Chivos serves Mexican American cuisine with the influence of many cultures. Their menu features unique dishes such as Amashito-Viet wings and more traditional Mexican dishes like carne asada.
Open Hours: Closed on Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am – 3:00pm
6. Caracol
Address: 2200 Post Oak Blvd #160, Houston, TX 77056
At Caracol their specialty is seafood. Being a Mexican coastal kitchen, Caracol’s menu “is a culinary tour along the Mexican coasts” according to their website.
Open Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30am – 9:00pm, Friday: 11:30am – 10:30pm, Saturday 11:00am – 10:30pm, Sunday: 10:00am – 3:00pm
7. Flora
Address: 3422 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019
Flora offers a luxurious dining experience with their interior featuring 40+ chandeliers. While their interior may be stunning, their food is also delicious. They prioritize organic and high quality ingredients in their cooking. A few highlights from their menu are mole enchiladas and street tacos al pastor.
Open Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 11:00am – 11:00pm, Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
8. Cuchara
Address: 214 Fairview St Suite #1, Houston, TX 77006
Cuchara is an authentic Mexico City bistro. Along with delicious food, their restaurant also features murals by Mexico City artist Cecilia Beaven. The combination of authentic food and artwork makes Cuchara a dining experience you don’t want to miss!
Open Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00am- 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 11:00am – 11:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00am – 10:00pm
9. Lopez Mexican Restaurant
Address: 11606 S Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77099
Lopez Mexican Restaurant has been serving H-Town since 1978. They serve up tasty Tex-Mex favorites such as chimichangas and chalupas. Their classic margarita is a recipe they have been using for 40 years!
Open Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm, Closed on Sunday
10. Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen
Address: 6320 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009
This vibrantly decorated cafe provides a fun atmosphere to enjoy your favorite Mexican dishes. They have a breakfast offering with classic favorites such as chilaquiles and migas.
Open Hours: Monday – Saturday 8:00am – 3:00pm, closed on Sunday
11. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
Address: 2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003
At Ninfa’s they are known for their fajitas where they attribute the original creation to Mama Ninfa’s Tacos al Carbon. This iconic restaurant has been serving Houston since 1973.
Open Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 10:00pm, Friday: 11:00am-11:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am – 11:00 pm, Sunday 10:00am – 10:00pm
12. Candente
Address: 4306 Yoakum Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
Candente focuses on “Tex-Mex Done Right”. Some highlights from their menu include their brisket enchiladas and the tacos birria de res. They also offer a wide selection of margaritas.
Open Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:00am – 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 11:00am – 10:00pm
13. El Tiempo Cantina
Address: 2814 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003
At El Tiempo Cantina they pride themselves in using generations-old family recipes. According to their website they have dedicated the past 65 years to perfecting what Houstonians now know as authentic Tex-Mex cuisine.
Open Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 11:00am – 9:00pm, Thursday & Friday: 11:00am – 10:00pm, Saturday 9:00am – 10:00pm, Sunday: 9:00am – 9:00pm
Conclusion
Whether you are craving Tex-Mex, vegan, or authentic Mexican food, this list has you covered. We believe all of these restaurants offer quality Mexican food that you don’t want to miss out on. Have fun enjoying the best Mexican food in Houston using this guide! If you’d like to give cooking Mexican cuisine a spin yourself, check out our Mexican chicken and Rice recipe here.