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  • Patricio Swayze
    Patricio Swayze

    I brought up Gerardo’s (on Patton) in the Unpopular Food Opinion thread, figured I would mention it here (disregarding Tex mex vs traditional or maybe borderland Mex).    The barbacoa is absolu

  • Patricio Swayze
    Patricio Swayze

    Gerardo’s is still kicking ass. Especially barbacoa. I like their carnitas but not my favorite in town.

  • tx 3 putt
    tx 3 putt

    Juarez on Gessner, delicious $14.99 lunch. Habanero salsa is a must   

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On 11/8/2021 at 1:50 PM, Mack Tripper said:

I think all the El Tiempos have that deal. 

The Kingwood El Tiempo has this deal on Mondays and Tuesdays. Pretty sure you get two margaritas included at that price on Mondays. 

  • Author

Stopped in Htown for a few days hit up Goode comp on the way from the airport. Damn goode ritas and tres hombres hit the spot.

Living out of state I'm finding I miss texmex more then bbqbaabf7698cddfcb6295e05d82e29b1d1.jpg

ive been to that goode several times, it's always been a very good meal 

Goode Company Cantina is probably my favorite spot in Houston. 
 

I think your favorite texmex place slowly evolves into the best place near your house. Ninfa’s on Navigation is probably better, but it’s a 20 minute drive both ways. 
 

El T has been very solid lately.
 

I like Los Tios, but it’s not destination texmex. Good happy hour and lunch specials, good drinks, but not the kind of place where I’d throw down $40 for fajitas. 
 

I’ve had some bad luck with cheap texmex places lately and my wife thinks anything cheaper than Los Cucos is dog food, so they’ll probably get phased out. 

I mean, you don’t have to compromise on what is your favorite for what is convenient. My favorites, Lopez and Teotihuacan, are not convenient anymore (well Lopez never was). But still by far my favorite spots. Tia Maria is not too bad a drive and solid.

Los Cucos I don’t think I would feed to my dogs.

Yeah, Los Cucos is awful.

12 minutes ago, Hate said:

Yeah, Los Cucos is awful.

 

garbage but if you regular their $1 margarita night, sooner or later you'll bang a waitress. so ive heard 

Los Cucos is good. I don’t care. Flame me. I will acknowledge they’ve slipped some and closed a lot of locations. Their ritas have never been good. 
 

Tia Maria’s is probably the gold standard of really cheap texmex. I think their lunch specials were about $6 pre covid. It’s solid, but I wouldn’t venture very far from tacos and enchiladas. 

hmmm, never been to Los Tios. ill have to try it one day 

 

take that back, ive been to los tios on memorial many times for lunch. good spot but el tiempo is easily next level 

Edited by tx 3 putt

4 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

I still never understood all the love for El Tiempo. Certainly overpriced.

 

1. i can walk there

2. everything on that menu is delicious

3. 100% agree, it's expensive but damn that place is good 

4. great tortillas  

10 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

I still never understood all the love for El Tiempo. Certainly overpriced.

This. Ill still contend its the most overrated place/chain in the city

I’ve never had a bad meal at El T. I’ll agree on the pricing, but if you go on Wednesday during happy hour, it’s not bad.
 

The Washington location pulled some cute shot during covid. I believe it was a $15 surcharge on take out. I haven’t been back, and don’t intend to. 

I’m not saying El Tiempo is bad, but I just don’t go there because there are better and cheaper places. Just one assholes opinion.

12 hours ago, GreenspointTexas said:

This. Ill still contend its the most overrated place/chain in the city

Bro, not even close. Barnaby Cafe or BB’s 

Barnaby’s makes a very good cheap steak. Why would you single them out? 
 

BB’s with the exception of the White Oak location, does in fact suck. 

  • 2 weeks later...
On 11/10/2021 at 8:31 AM, tx 3 putt said:

La Fiesta has good enchiladas 

Everything but their fajitas is usually good.  My daughter loves their crispy tacos in the bowl shells.  Before the pandemic, they used to have a weekly special that was some kind of beef soup that was awesome.

  • 1 month later...
On 12/14/2021 at 9:28 AM, Patricio Swayze said:

I’m not saying El Tiempo is bad, but I just don’t go there because there are better and cheaper places. Just one assholes opinion.

Please share these better and cheaper places.

On 2/28/2022 at 12:02 AM, tx 3 putt said:

https://houston.eater.com/maps/houston-best-tex-mex-mexican-restaurants

 

pretty good list, lot of new places to try out

It was a good list until referenced the Mediterranean Tex Max place and Gringo’s. 
 

Solid list otherwise, but it does slant pretty gringo. A Mexican American food critic living in Houston could probably come up with a better list. 

On 12/14/2021 at 8:19 PM, tx 3 putt said:

Bro, not even close. Barnaby Cafe or BB’s 

 

On 12/15/2021 at 11:06 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

Barnaby’s makes a very good cheap steak. Why would you single them out? 
 

BB’s with the exception of the White Oak location, does in fact suck. 

BB's is ass and it's frustrating because it should be a lot better - it's a great concept.

You’re clinically insane if you think Teotihuacan is on par with papasitos / el tiempo / Ninfas / Alma Latina 

 

Just left teo, it was avg as best 

You’re clinically insane if you think Teotihuacan is on par with papasitos / el tiempo / Ninfas / Alma Latina 
 
Just left teo, it was avg as best 

Wrong.gif
2 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:


Wrong.gif

I told my dad - I have a buddy, makes everyone call him Swazye. 
 

my dad - he don’t sound right

me - correct, but he’s a good guy. He swears up and down that Teo is the best Mexican food ever made. 
 

my dad - he’s crazy 😂😂

Yeah Alma Latina ain’t great. Not sure what I’m missing here. It might not even make my top 5 on Shepherd/Durham. 

Edited by billfromlaketravis

1 minute ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Yeah Alma Latina ain’t great. Not sure what I’m missing here. It might not even make my top 5 on Shepherd/Durham. 


its on the same level as TEO

I told my dad - I have a buddy, makes everyone call him Swazye. 
 
my dad - he don’t sound right
me - correct, but he’s a good guy. He swears up and down that Teo is the best Mexican food ever made. 
 
my dad - he’s crazy [emoji23][emoji23]

So your pops wants to fight? Roundhouse to the face? Tell him to meet me in Barrio Denver Harbor next to the tortilleria at 3pm. I don’t know if it’s the best ever, but better than that overrated and overpriced bullshit at el Tiempo that gringo yuppies love. The enchiladas Rojas and tacos al carbon are on point.
Just now, tx 3 putt said:


its on the same level as TEO

A lot of Tex Mex places in Houston are pretty similar. So I separate them into margarita or beer joints. A good margarita is simple, but expensive. Four ingredients: 

- 100% blue agave tequila 

- Orange liqueur 

- lime juice 

- salt


Many, many places with good food get cute with their margaritas and make it some sugary bullshit to save money. Unfortunately you need to go to a high end Tex Mex place for a good rita
 

Good food, beer only :

- Tia Maria 

- Los Cucos

- Teo (sad but true)

- Chula’s 


Somewhat good food, good ritas: 

- Cyclone

- Escanlante’s 

- Lupe Tortilla (the original is an exception)

- Los Tios 

 

Good food, good ritas:

- Sylvia’s (borderline, but it’s good)

- El T 

- Little Pappasito’s 

- Ninfa’s (Navigation only) 

- Goode Co Cantina

 

 

Mandatory RIP Red Onion post. Best Cuban place in Houston history. 
 

There are ways to do “cheaper” El T runs, but it ain’t happening on a Friday or Saturday night. I grew up in the suburbs. Los Cucos and Pappasito’s for homecoming is the best we had. When I moved inside the loop after college, El T hit different. Say what you want about them, but I’ve never had a bad meal there. 

Bill, I respect your methodology, but Tex Mex should be measured by their food. For me, that is enchiladas, chips and salsa and price. After all, Tex Mex is the food of the people, not yuppie fucktards. So if it has cheese, I am siding with Teo and Lopez (but at Lopez I almost always order the carnitas). For real deal you gotta speak decent Spanish and want awesome tacos, I go to Gerardo’s (dos tacos de barbacoa y uno de carnitas, todos de harina con cilantro y cebolla).

But you do you and go to El Tiempo with Brant that’s cool, because it still pays the wages of Mexicanos in the kitchen and I won’t hate on that. Just don’t go eat there then vote on building a border wall.

Mandatory RIP Red Onion post. Best Cuban place in Houston history. 
 
There are ways to do “cheaper” El T runs, but it ain’t happening on a Friday or Saturday night. I grew up in the suburbs. Los Cucos and Pappasito’s for homecoming is the best we had. When I moved inside the loop after college, El T hit different. Say what you want about them, but I’ve never had a bad meal there. 

I think the first and last time I ate at the red onion was in 2001. I was unimpressed. Full disclosure, 4 of my primos are hondureños. I had some amazing meals the month I spent in Honduras when I was 14. I understand my standards might be high. That summer introduced me to the power and deliciousness of pickled red onions.

Red Onion was the place on Eldridge just south of Memorial, right?

Drowned in Harvey?

If so, I ate there once or twice but don’t remember much about it. 

1 hour ago, DoobieWah said:

Red Onion was the place on Eldridge just south of Memorial, right?

Drowned in Harvey?

If so, I ate there once or twice but don’t remember much about it. 

The only location I can remember is the one on 290. 

On 12/14/2021 at 7:52 AM, GreenspointTexas said:

This. Ill still contend its the most overrated place/chain in the city

Goode Co bbq says hello

I've tried hard to love Teo.  Sometimes, love doesn't take.  I like Teo.  I really like it.  

But Goode co cantina, pappasitos, and el tiempo all more expensive and all beat it.  

Is red onion same thing as cafe red onion on Kirby and 59?  That and America's were my date spots in late 90s.  Loved cafe red onion

2 minutes ago, Hornbeliever said:

I've tried hard to love Teo.  Sometimes, love doesn't take.  I like Teo.  I really like it.  

But Goode co cantina, pappasitos, and el tiempo all more expensive and all beat it.  

Is red onion same thing as cafe red onion on Kirby and 59?  That and America's were my date spots in late 90s.  Loved cafe red onion

I Love You Latino GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon


- Sylvia’s (borderline, but it’s good)

 
 


Setting aside numerous other issues I had with your post, really?

It’s not close to good. It’s not even close to average. I’ve never understood the like of of the place. It’s been borderline inedible every time someone dragged me there.
On 3/6/2022 at 9:25 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

- Lupe Tortilla (the original is an exception)

exception which way?

and which teo?  heard rumblings the new one isn't that great.

 

rip dos amigos

exception which way?
and which teo?  heard rumblings the new one isn't that great.
 
rip dos amigos

I always thought the one on Irvington and Cavalcade was the best, but when we lived in the heights we mostly went to the one on airline as it was just a few blocks from our place.

I worded that poorly. The original Lupe Tortilla location on Highway 6 is the best one. Lime marinated carne asada or get out.

Sylvias on Woodway is good to better than good and they know how make a margarita. Fight me. 

Edited by billfromlaketravis

8 year old me was always impressed by the lupe tortilla world headquarters sign painted on the fence.  and the men's room through the kitchen. 

I’ve had mixed experiences with the teo on airline, but the one on Irvington has never disappointed. Lupe and Goode Co Cantina are probably my favorites, but I’m starting to come around to El T. Chavez is my go to for the “cheap” tex mex. We’re also pretty close to Valencia’s so we end up going there occasionally. I think it’s the same people that run Cyclone… not bad. For tacos, La Lupita on Pinemont never disappoints. 

Speaking of the new Teo, I drove passed it just a minute ago and the parking lot was packed. 
My stomach however was packed full of barbacoa and carnitas tacos from Gerardo’s. 
 

image.thumb.jpeg.2a05d216d88e6877e910c9b128e8649a.jpeg

I definitely want to check out Lopez. It’s pretty close to Whiskey Cake in Stafford. So win-win. 

My family has been going there for a long time. When they were in the strip center next to where they are now. Their service is impeccable and food is excellent.

Lopez is one of those places that should never ever change

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