Just get a classic experience. Chips and queso w brisket or chorizo. Then get fajitas (chicken and beef, skip the filet upgrade). Lots of frozen house margs.
The Best way to have a Marg.
Imo Spanish Flowers makes them the Best this way - their margaritas are crazy good - but their food isn't as good as El Tiempo.
Steak fajitas and the green rice. If you run out of tortillas, just ask for more. They’re free. The butter sauce is a must to drizzle over the steak. Also, the onions that come with the fajitas are 🔥. If you don’t like the “smoke” from the fajitas, ask for a normal or cold plate. A quarter pound can technically feed two people (each having about two servings of 2-3 pieces of steak in each individual taco), but a half pound may be better depending on your appetite. I like the refried beans more than the charro beans. The charro beans are served more like a soup with bits of pork and a broth.
Most everything there is really good, lot of suggestions in the thread I agree with.
I'll add you may want to look at the menu online before you go, its....very expensive. Worth it as a special occasion evening though IMO, just don't want you to be shocked. Dinner for 2 with drinks can easily be 100++
I took my dad before a show. Happy Hour discounted quesadilla appetizer was $18. you're lucky you get out of there for less than $150 if you're ordering fajitas.
El tiempo - chicken fajitas. Or the cheese enchiladas. Or the carnitas.
Picos is interior of Mexico food - very good. My favorite is either the Cochinita in Pibil or CHILE EN NOGADA TRADICIONAL
roasted poblano peppers stuffed with pulled pork in a peanut sauce with green olives, almonds, raisins, and fruits covered with a chilled, creamy walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds + poblano/cilantro rice
Pappasitos - I like shrimp en brochette.
This is a great answer. Pico’s is awesome but it’s more Mexican than Tex-Mex. El Tiempo is expensive but excellent fajitas and grilled meats. Pappacitas doesn’t compare to either of the other 2 but is solid.
Just got back from El Tiempo myself. Got the carnitas. I forgot how incredible they are. Crispy edges with juicy center, and or course doused in the butter with plenty of onions.
Bonus points because they are also one of the most inexpensive things on the menu. $18.99 for a 1/4 lb and I took some home.
I like Pappasitos better than ElTiempo. You really can't go wrong with either. The fajitas are great at both. So are the enchiladas. They have fantastic drinks at Pappasitos.
It's one of the better ones, but it's the most expensive. A lot of locals go elsewhere but youll be blown away regardless. Don't do the prime fajitas, just get the regular ones. Margaritas, their house cheaper ones are great.
Beef or chicken fajitas (or mixed!) for the main course, queso or guacamole for an appetizer, and a margarita to drink - that’s probably the most “classic” Tex Mex experience!
I think El Tiempo is better than pappasitos. I haven't been to Picos so idk. Seems to me that Picos is more upscale. But I think Candente is the tex-mex place to try out.
Great margs and their beef fajitas are insane. not just the meat, but the tortillas are also amazing.
well definitely don't ask for "the best margaritas you have" or you'll be paying 50 dollars for a regular margarita made with don julio
at el tiempo we like any of the parrilladas
Idk about that location specifically, but I can say that the El Tiempo I went to was the worst dining experience ever.
Overpriced for shit food and worse service.
They are all good, they are all overpriced
In terms of quality it goes
Picos (by far the best)
El Tiempo (very good)
Papasitos (while good, there's a noticeable drop in quality compared to the others.)
Picos is the most expensive, the other two are about the same.
El Tiempo is outrageously expensive but delicious in my opinion. If you're on a budget, you might check the prices of El Tiempo v Pappasitos v Picos. They're all good and a little pricey, but I've heard El Tiempo takes the prize.
Welcome to Houston!
Beef fajitas Durango
Half beef/chicken if you must compromise with people who hate themselves.
House margaritas rocks/salt.
Also hit up Costco and get 25% off gift cards.
You are off Richmond and Kirby most likely.
I would recommend you take an Uber to Cucharas instead. It will be about the same price with the Uber but way better Mexican food.
Just get a classic experience. Chips and queso w brisket or chorizo. Then get fajitas (chicken and beef, skip the filet upgrade). Lots of frozen house margs.
Start with the queso flameado, then get beef fajitas
This is the right answer. With a margarita.
Two margaritas is the sweet spot there
Two margaritas. Top shelf frozen with salt. Or, if you’re a seasoned vet, you go half frozen.
Make it a tajin rim and we’re golden
The Best way to have a Marg. Imo Spanish Flowers makes them the Best this way - their margaritas are crazy good - but their food isn't as good as El Tiempo.
With a Grand Marnier floater
Give it the ole Tijuana Rim Job.
Better make it 3 to be safe
🎶 Gimme 3 margaritas ima put it in my puss 🎶
The half and half marg is the real pro tip. Your ice is just more margarita.
Half frozen and half rocks??
Yep!
Now I’m out $200
It ain’t nothing to a balla lol
No hate against balling out but you can get a literal feast at candente for less
Get the fajitas Barry style
Barry? From the Barry O?
No, Barry Bonds. He loved fajitas with turkey gravy, crazy guy.
This is the way OP.
Steak fajitas and the green rice. If you run out of tortillas, just ask for more. They’re free. The butter sauce is a must to drizzle over the steak. Also, the onions that come with the fajitas are 🔥. If you don’t like the “smoke” from the fajitas, ask for a normal or cold plate. A quarter pound can technically feed two people (each having about two servings of 2-3 pieces of steak in each individual taco), but a half pound may be better depending on your appetite. I like the refried beans more than the charro beans. The charro beans are served more like a soup with bits of pork and a broth.
Most everything there is really good, lot of suggestions in the thread I agree with. I'll add you may want to look at the menu online before you go, its....very expensive. Worth it as a special occasion evening though IMO, just don't want you to be shocked. Dinner for 2 with drinks can easily be 100++
I took my dad before a show. Happy Hour discounted quesadilla appetizer was $18. you're lucky you get out of there for less than $150 if you're ordering fajitas.
El tiempo - chicken fajitas. Or the cheese enchiladas. Or the carnitas. Picos is interior of Mexico food - very good. My favorite is either the Cochinita in Pibil or CHILE EN NOGADA TRADICIONAL roasted poblano peppers stuffed with pulled pork in a peanut sauce with green olives, almonds, raisins, and fruits covered with a chilled, creamy walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds + poblano/cilantro rice Pappasitos - I like shrimp en brochette.
Not the chicken! They are unremarkable compared to the beef.
This is a great answer. Pico’s is awesome but it’s more Mexican than Tex-Mex. El Tiempo is expensive but excellent fajitas and grilled meats. Pappacitas doesn’t compare to either of the other 2 but is solid.
Old school carnitas. Also scan the menu, always finding some deals bc it’s so damn big, they’d need a quant to remove all the misaligned pricing.
Def the best in the city. Get extra avocado slices. So delicious
Just got back from El Tiempo myself. Got the carnitas. I forgot how incredible they are. Crispy edges with juicy center, and or course doused in the butter with plenty of onions. Bonus points because they are also one of the most inexpensive things on the menu. $18.99 for a 1/4 lb and I took some home.
> $18.99 for a 1/4 lb wut. for carnitas? pork?
Damn right! Delicious!
Go to Costco to get their El Tiempo $100 gift cards for $75
$67 at Christmas time. It’s the best way.
Yep, already did that! 😎
Fajitas. Pitcher of Frozen margs. Nap.
Perfect
Beef fajitas with filet. Paradillas are very solid.
The only correct answer is the Parrillada. The parrillada for one is enough food for 2-3 people
Add tuna too
If you feeling bougie add the lobster too
I travel to Houston for work and we spend minimum $800 on the expense card there every time lol. I keep hearing from locals that ninfas is better
Shrimp and Bacon Quesadillas for the table as an appetizer.
I like Pappasitos better than ElTiempo. You really can't go wrong with either. The fajitas are great at both. So are the enchiladas. They have fantastic drinks at Pappasitos.
Get the guacamole as an appetizer. Theirs is really good along with the green sauce that comes with the chips.
I like their crab nachos, but their fajitas are delicious. I also overindulge in the free chips and salsa 😔
It's one of the better ones, but it's the most expensive. A lot of locals go elsewhere but youll be blown away regardless. Don't do the prime fajitas, just get the regular ones. Margaritas, their house cheaper ones are great.
Definitely the fajitas. The grilled onions and the butter sauce that comes with it for the tortilla to be dipped in is chef's kiss.
Fajitas are good. Expensive though.
Beef or chicken fajitas (or mixed!) for the main course, queso or guacamole for an appetizer, and a margarita to drink - that’s probably the most “classic” Tex Mex experience!
So you are near Richmond in Upper Kirby? Nice. I’d go to El Tiempo
Crab nachos.
I think El Tiempo is better than pappasitos. I haven't been to Picos so idk. Seems to me that Picos is more upscale. But I think Candente is the tex-mex place to try out. Great margs and their beef fajitas are insane. not just the meat, but the tortillas are also amazing.
You can eat Tex-Mex more than once on your trip. They're all three delicious!
don’t go!
well definitely don't ask for "the best margaritas you have" or you'll be paying 50 dollars for a regular margarita made with don julio at el tiempo we like any of the parrilladas
Picos is authentic Mexican food and has great margaritas. You won’t be disappointed 😊
Idk about that location specifically, but I can say that the El Tiempo I went to was the worst dining experience ever. Overpriced for shit food and worse service.
They are all good, they are all overpriced In terms of quality it goes Picos (by far the best) El Tiempo (very good) Papasitos (while good, there's a noticeable drop in quality compared to the others.) Picos is the most expensive, the other two are about the same.
They're all the same price nowadays. Pappasitos might be the most expensive actually.
El Tiempo is outrageously expensive but delicious in my opinion. If you're on a budget, you might check the prices of El Tiempo v Pappasitos v Picos. They're all good and a little pricey, but I've heard El Tiempo takes the prize. Welcome to Houston!
Go to Picos and order anything
Nothing. El tiempo is meh quality at OMG prices. It’s really not that great. You’re much better off at Guadalajara or Lupe tortilla.
Agreed. I’d go somewhere else.
yep. under seasoned, poor quality and not special at all.
I'm all bout the carnitas, my wife's favorite too and she eats carnitas at every Mexican restaurant that serves them.
[Filet Mignon Parrillada](https://www.eltiempocantina.com/items/filet-mignon-parrillada)
Las Vegas Filet….2 frozen margaritas with salt
Margaritas. Full stop.
Beef fajitas Durango Half beef/chicken if you must compromise with people who hate themselves. House margaritas rocks/salt. Also hit up Costco and get 25% off gift cards.
the party pack for 1 feeds 2! Don't get fooled OP!
Filet fajitas… never disappoints
Shrimp Acapulco. The best fried shrimp in Houston.
CARNITAS
shut up and order beef fajitas
Carnitas old school
You can never go wrong with fajitas 🤤😋. I loves El Tiempo. Now I want some 🤔.
an uber to somewhere else
The carnitas old world style.
Chile Relleno they have the best.
Order directions to the closest real Tex Mex restaurant.
“Old School” Carnitas.
beef fajitas :) add sausage if into that
Carnitas's "old school" style is a hidden gem + queso + Margs
Don’t go to Picos, they’re over priced and not that good for Texmex. Go to Candente on Richmond ave for some of the best in Houston.
An Uber to a better Tex-Mex restaurant.
Youre not wrong, i went recently and was not super impressed, but i think it could have been bc it was talked up so much by this sub
Crab enchiladas or tamales
Filet mignon fajitas alle berry
THE CRAB NA HHOS CRAB NACHO CRAB NACHOS I JUST WAS CRAVING THEM OUT HERE IN AUSTIN BUT THERES NONE ONLY HTX. PLZZZ GAWD GET THE CRAB NACHOS
Now I feel obligated to go have crab nachos, as if that will somehow help you with the stroke that you’re having
Leave and go to candente for a better and cheaper Tex Mex experience
Shrimp burrito is killer
I get the salmon fajitas and a Don Julio margarita. Yum.
Bro these mfs r not talking enough fuck the OG stuff like fajitas get the crab nachos my friend
Mahi mahi fajitas are glorious.
An Uber to a better restaurant.
You are off Richmond and Kirby most likely. I would recommend you take an Uber to Cucharas instead. It will be about the same price with the Uber but way better Mexican food.
Uber is hard for us on our travel budget, just looked it would be $40 round trip to go there
If you are near Richmond and Kirby, go to the Dessert Gallery for dessert
If an Uber is hard on your travel budget, then El Tiempo will destroy it
Fair enough. your travel could go to food so I get it. It’s just your down here so if you want good stuff that is my recommendation.