Top Mexican Restaurants in Houston

The Greater Houston Area has a serious food culture, and that includes a deep love of Mexican cuisine. Whether you're a true Tex-Mex fan, a lover of a good margarita, or have a penchant for the more traditional fare, there's a spot for you here. Mexican Restaurant Houston

Authenticity and Comfort

With an emphasis on family and tradition, this North Houston taqueria delivers all the comforts of home with authentic guacamole and a menu that features huaraches (tortillas filled with beans and cheese) as well as tacos and enchiladas. There's also an extensive list of tequila and mezcal.

Locals make this a regular stop, especially for the tlacoyo (masa filled with cheese and beans) and its colossal Mexican burritos stuffed with asada or lengua, topped with refried beans and shredded lettuce. You'll also want to hit up the menudo — abuela-style smothered chicken or beef — and a super wallet-friendly selection of tacos and enchiladas, which can be slathered in chili-lime butter and served with tortilla chips.

A Tex-Mex twist on classic Mexican dishes

This Southwest-side taqueria has been bringing the old school Mexican flavors for over three decades, and it's shown no signs of slowing down. Head to the family-run, full-service, Taqueria Del Sol for an abuela-style menudo recipe passed down for generations, smothered chicken enchiladas, and colossal Mexican burritos.

Unlike other Tex-Mex spots, this restaurant doesn't focus solely on beef and chicken but offers a wide variety of seafood options to satisfy the more adventurous eater. You can even get an entire fish plate of fried shrimp, scallops, crawfish, and more.

It's a great place to bring the kids, too. The family-friendly restaurant has a menu full of kid-friendly choices such as fajitas, quesadillas, and gorditas.

The kitchen is helmed by a team of chefs with culinary backgrounds from all over Mexico, including a former executive chef at the original "Teo" Mexican Cafe in Leon. The team specializes in traditional recipes, such as the Caliente Shrimp and original Teotihuacan Parrillada, as well as creative takes on classic Mexican fare, like the squash soup with duck tostadas.

You'll be tempted to fill up on the menu's plethora of huaraches, but you'll also want to try the fall-apart barbacoa and the slow-simmered chicharron tacos. This is where you'll find the most recognizable and memorable Mexican dishes in Houston.

Upscale, but still accessible

Located in the former Carmelo's Cucina Italiana building on Westheimer, Maize serves up traditional Mexican cuisine in an atmosphere that straddles the line between casual and upscale. Owner Fabian Saldana has incorporated the centuries-old technique of nixtamalization, which blends lime with corn, into many of the menu items. The flautas de Puerco, for example, are garnished with raw verde salsa and feature a finesse that Saldana credits to his Mexican heritage.

Top off a meal with an authentic cocktail, such as the Xocolatl Tamal that's infused with cajeta and marshmallows, or the Xocolatl Mojito. Or opt for a sweet and tart frozen Margarita, available in a variety of original, blood orange, strawberry, and mango flavors.