Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen - Vintage

4.8

4.8 (79)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Side

About the restaurant

Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen is an exciting concept kitchen that strives to bring elevated Mexican cuisine to a modern audience. The menu reflects the rich variety of Mexican cuisine, with a plethora of options to suit any craving. Each dish is made to order using fresh, local and sustainable ingredients. The restaurant strives to provide a traditional and modern interpretation of all family recipes. Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen offers special happy hour pricing Monday through Friday with appetizers and drinks. Start with an appetizer. Order the street corn, spicy chicharron, ceviche costeno or the pork belly in salsa verde. For entrees, get the risotto Mexicano, pescado a la veracruzana or the lamb shank. Not feeling that hungry? Guests can order tacos, quesadillas or fajitas a la carte. Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen is good for families, small and large groups or just a night out on the town.

Top review

Tre'Von

Dined 6 days ago

Brought a friend for her first time at Ambriza. She has a great time, and management was very accommodating. The Mexican steak & eggs were FANTASTIC! Kudos to the kitchen!

Xalisko Cocina Mexicana

4.8

4.8 (622)

$31 to $50

Mexican

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

Chef Beatriz Martines
When ideas, hard work and talent meet, there's only one thing to look forward to...
~XALISKO~
A new Mexican gastronomy experience has been created with thought of heritage and the ingredients of your life experience.
Tradition pasted down for generations accompanied by years of cultivating a personal touch to this amazing cuisine. You will see signs of utilizing the most important crops of the Xalisko area: rice, corn, avocados, etc... traditional dessert from the area of Jalisco, Michoacan and Nayarit, and smart seleccion of Mexican, Mexican Spirits and artisanal beer.

Top review

davidVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Ambiance, music, service and authentic Mexican food with a flair was wonderful, surprising and delightful. Highly recommend and will visit soon. Cheers to Xalisko.

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4.8

4.8 (83)

$30 and under

Mexican

W. University / Med Center

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Houston’s West University neighborhood at 6119 Edloe Street, Maximo is a progressive Mexican restaurant from the Local Foods Group team that combines authenticity and adventure. Nearly everything is done in house under Executive Chef Adrian Torres with mentorship from Local Foods Group Creative & Culinary Director Seth Siegel-Gardner. Nixtamalized tortillas are just the start; corn kernels are boiled, soaked and ground into masa, imparting maximum flavor into a dedicated masa section on the menu featuring sopes, tetelas and even cornbread, along with a list of ever-changing taco options. Shareable plates, from crudos and salads to entrees and desserts, entice guests to explore. The restaurant is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m. for dinner service and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. for brunch and dinner service.

Top review

MauriceVIP

Dined 6 days ago

A great experience. The food was excellent. The cocktails were excellent. The service was excellent. We had the Shrimp Queso Fundido, Heart of Palm and Strawberry salad, Redfish, Squash Blossom Tetela, Brisket Suadero Taco, Short Rib, and Bunuelo. Delicious!

Flora

4.8

4.8 (987)

$30 and under

Mexican

Montrose

About the restaurant

While breathtaking park views and 40+ chandeliers are enough to make anyone fall in love with this glass treehouse, this dining destination also offers a top-notch culinary experience that explores the flavors and energy of the small towns of Mexico with a Texas touch. FLORA’s contemporary approach reimagines what Mexican food can be – offering familiar flavors and iconic dishes, newly interpreted. FLORA strips away the formality of dining with a focus on clean, organic, high-quality food made with love, made by hand. The stunning brass and marble bar, teeming with tequila and mezcal, sets the tone for a lively social scene and the unparalleled outdoor terrace is the quintessential Houston outdoor dining experience. For parties of 7+ guests, please submit a private dining request. Out of respect for our chandeliers, we do not allow balloons. We ask that you celebrate your special occasions with our desserts as we do not allow outside cakes. We ask that you leave your pets at home.

Top review

JoniVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Davis, the GM provided great hospitality which was coupled with delicious food and beautiful ambiance. Our server brought the menu to life with explanations of each dish. Such a fun experience!

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4.7

4.7 (638)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

La Fisheria is known for fresh seafood and Mexican soul cuisine with fresh and traditional Mexican flavors. At our bar you will find a variety of exceptional signature cocktails. We also offer a spacious private dining room where we can host events up to 60 people.

Top review

KurtVIP

Dined on Jun 2, 2025

Awesome food and great service! Definitely recommend the tuna tostada and the octopus! The Margaritas were also really nice!

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Experience

Happy Hour

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

4.7

4.7 (3341)

$30 and under

Mexican

East Side

About the restaurant

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

Located on Navigation Boulevard just minutes from the heart of downtown Houston, the Original Ninfa's was all started with Mama Ninfa Laurenzo's creative TexMex recipes. These led to the introduction of fajitas & Mexican cuisine to North America which gained immediate success.

If you're looking for a Houston Mexican restaurant, Ninfa's on Navigation is not only a local icon, having serviced politicians, celebrities & even visiting royalty, their Mexican food is unbeatable. Chef Alex Padilla uses only top quality ingredients, like Mama Ninfa herself did, & fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood like red snapper, jumbo shrimp & more.

Voted Best Margaritas, you can enjoy Ninfaritas on the outdoor deck, dine on the best Mexican dishes & fajitas around and truly enjoy the great restaurant experience.

Top review

stephanieVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food! Fajitas and tacos were delicious. Salsas and guacamole were excellent. And spicy margaritas fantastic. Service was great.

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4.7

4.7 (1117)

$31 to $50

Mexican

River Oaks

About the restaurant

Note for booking reservations: If you do not see available online for the time you are searching, please contact us directly as we may have additional availability.

Since 1978 ARMANDOS has been more than just a restaurant. It is a place for friends and family to celebrate life and their successes, a fully stocked bar with a friendly face, a packed discotheque that welcomes everyone to dance their troubles away, and a quiet corner for a romantic evening.

From guacamole to quesadillas, sumptuous enchiladas to elegant seafood dishes, ARMANDOS is the premier destination for authentic and elevated Tex-Mex cuisine. Our world-class catering service boasts full-service event catering, bulk delivery and the chicest taco trucks in Houston for your special occasions. Year-round events at our restaurant make dining at ARMANDOS a non-stop celebration. There’s no better place to live large.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 7 days ago

We drive in from Freeport, to dine here. The service and food we received last night was impeccable, as usual.

The Original Ninfa's Uptown

4.7

4.7 (801)

$30 and under

Mexican

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

If you're looking for a Houston Tex Mex restaurant, Ninfa's is not only a local icon, having serviced politicians, celebrities & even visiting royalty, their food is unbeatable. Chef Patti Delgado uses only top quality ingredients, like Mama Ninfa herself did, & fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood like red snapper, jumbo shrimp & more.

Voted Best Margaritas, you can enjoy Ninfaritas on our spacious patios, dine on the best Tex Mex dishes & fajitas around and truly enjoy a great restaurant experience.

Top review

Austin

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

We have eaten at this restaurant countless times and have NEVER EVER have a bad experience. I believe our server, Mundo, has waited on us a few times. He does a great job. The food was awesome! We love this location.

Guadalajara Del Centro

4.6

4.6 (125)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

Noted as Houston's go-to destination for Mexican fine food, Guadalajara Del Centro provides visitors with contemporary favorites that include everything from enchiladas or fajitas to campeche. The restaurant offers brunch, lunch and dinner menus and features only finest ingredients for optimal results. A visit to Guadalajara Del Centro is a popular choice with families and groups, and they even have happy hour to make it the perfect after work destination. Portions on popular menu items are adjustable, and the fajitas as a trademark dish. With medium or large portions and such unique add-ons as stuffed quail or portabella mushrooms, the Guadalajara Del Centro is sure to have something for everyone.

Top review

DonVIP

Dined on May 28, 2025

Excellent downtown Mexican restaurant.... Doesn't look fancy, but it was clean and the staff was very attentive. Great food.

Monarca Modern Mexican Cocina

4.5

4.5 (11)

$31 to $50

Mexican

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of The Woodlands, Monarca Modern Mexican Cocina offers a refined yet vibrant take on contemporary Mexican cuisine. Our menu, crafted with premium ingredients and bold flavors, features a variety of expertly grilled meats from our signature Josper oven, fresh seafood, and innovative tacos, alongside house-made salsas and artisanal cocktails.

Guests can indulge in dishes like our 16 oz Ribeye with roasted garlic and rosemary, Tacos Gobernador with grilled shrimp and Poblano peppers, or our Slow-cooked Chamorro Adobado, all while enjoying an inviting ambiance that blends modern elegance with the warmth of traditional Mexican hospitality.

Beyond the dining experience, Monarca also boasts a hidden speakeasy bar, open Thursday through Saturday, offering craft cocktails in an intimate setting. Join us for Happy Hour, private events, or catering services, and discover why Monarca is a must-visit culinary destination.

Top review

ReganVIP

Dined on May 27, 2025

Food and drinks were great, especially the filet! Unfortunately they were not able to serve the fish tacos (as mahi mahi that was delivered was not up to their standards, which i appreciate) but the service was outstanding! The menu changed slightly from when they first opened - they used to have a delicious salad with maybe jicama, pepitas, and kale? I can’t remember exactly but I wish they’d bring that back!!

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