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    Cyclone Anaya's - Memorial City

    3.4 (1k reviews)
    ModerateTex-Mex, Mexican
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    CYCLONE ANAYA'S - MEMORIAL CITY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Del Rio
    Leena C.

    Fun fact: Cyclone Anaya was the ring name of Jesus Becerra Valencia, owner. Cons: City Center - lots of people esp on a Friday at 6 pm and parking Pros: tons of restaurants and shops and a nice lawn area for kiddos Met high school girlfriends for reunion meet up # 2. I'm not much into Tex-Mex style restaurants but it was the birthday girl's choice so there we were. The restaurant was steady busy and fully staffed. We were seated quickly inside and they also have a bar area at the front and patio seating. They had ceiling fans on and they were far too high making things quite windy (inside). Chips and salsa were ok. The chips were tasty and crunchy while the salsa was mid. My order was the DEL RIO - Crispy carne molida taco, pork tamale, carne molida enchilada, guacamole, with rice and charro beans Del rio (3/5) - the beef in the crispy taco was the most flavorful, the carne molida enchilada was good and the tamale was too salty for me - rice was slightly bland but with the salsa, it came to life and the charro beans were a slight disappointment. Clearly everyone's taste is different and I'm more of a fan of authentic Mexican food from preferably someone's abuela's house or a taqueria. Overall, we enjoyed it more for the company than the food, sorry. Our waiter was great at the beginning almost stalker level but as the meal progressed, he somewhat disappeared and it wasn't because he was super busy. We saw him stand around a bit and watch the futbol match (FIFA). We weren't bothered by it because we were chatting but we didn't even get a water refill, we had to stop a passing hostess. Still topped him 25% because he was friendly and helpful and maybe he stayed clear to give us girl time? The price was affordable. Three entrees were about $50 total without tip. I'll be back (next week we have our work team lunch @ the Rice Village location )

    Tacos Al Carbon
    Jenny N.

    Ordered the tacos here and didn't process in my mind that they weren't like street tacos lol (I think I got the tacos al carbon). I thought they were kinda dry and not super flavorful or anything. The brussel sprouts and beans were yummy tho. We went during cinco de mayo, so the vibes were fun, but the service was a little slower, but that's understandable.

    Brisket Tacos
    Adrienne C.

    A friend and I went to this resturaunt on a Friday evening and made reservations. We sat in the front towards the bar during the FIFA World Cup game. I love how attentive our waitress was, even during my indecisiveness. I ordered a regular margarita and the brisket tacos on corn with charro beans. My friend also ordered beef enchiladas and the food did not disappoint. The brisket was very tender and it was a nice contrast with the slaw on top. I ended up putting some of the salsa on top as well! Overall, the service and quality of food was great, so if you are in the area looking for a good Tex Mex resturaunt with strong drinks, I would def recommend!

    Del Rio Dinner
    Brittany H.

    Visit here on a Wednesday night for a dinner GM. Mr. Ike was very accommodating. He was polite. He offer to set up a booth table that was turned for cleaning and he has made special accommodations for me and my guests. Mr. Ike also was very polite to remove the southwest eggrolls off the check due to me finding Hair inside of one. He even offered to remake them, but I decline. Ike was extremely thoughtful and considerate. Ike offered to make them when I return, he'll make them himself without the hair. I love his energy. I'll return for Ike. The Del Rio was great! Best beef taco in town! II love the sw eggrolls, I didn't like when the young female claim that the hair I found was cheese. I did feel seen and cared for when IKE agreed that it was hair and removed it from the bill. Thank you sir for caring. I had no idea he was the GM, I thought he was either a busser or waiter. This is when you know the leader who leads by example. I will definitely be returning here!

    Pollo Jalisco! With rice and refried beans.
    LeAnn T.

    Keeping it short and sweet here! Do you want great Tex-Mex food, with some of the best guac you've ever had (made fresh at your table)? Then no need to look any further, Cyclone Anaya's is it! This location is one of my favorites, nestled in the City Center it is lively and spirited. Parking can be found on the street (pay at meter), or in a nearby parking garage. Seating is plentiful inside and out. The staff is always professional, a special shout out to Tina who took great care of our table and made the BEST guac I've had in a while. Tina, you put love in our guac, I could taste it! It needs to be bottled and sold in stores! Just magic. I love their cerviche, which is another of my faves - served with plantain chips. And I can't get enough of the Pollo Jalisco - so freaking good! Cyclones has great happy hour specials that are worth checking out too, just get there before 7! This place is fabulous by yourself, on a date, with friends or family - no matter what, you'll be eating good and be well taken care of. Enjoy!

    Marcelo S.

    Went to the City Centre location July 4th for their happy hour signature margaritas. Service was excellent since no fireworks this year at City Centre and so no crowds. Food was tasty from their happy hour menu with marinated chicken breast skewers with Jalisco cream sauce. Street tacos with beef fajita onions and cilantro served with corn tortillas were equally delicious . This is our 2nd time trying a weekday happy hour and the bar area was quiet enough to talk and lively enough to people watch.

    Beef fajita. Picture does not represent how good it was.
    Wilson D.

    Food was great, from the appetizer to the main course. We started with nachos, quesos and other stuff recommended by Server Alberto, a very kind, nice, attentive and fast. Place is well decorated with lots of picture of "El Cyclon", owner who was a wrestler. As a main I orderede beef fajita, medium portion was big enough for me, with a broken heart I left the rice and beans untouched. I really recommended a stop if you are in Houston.

    Ceviche

    Such a great experience! My ceviche and margarita were amazing and our server Tina was very attentive and kind.

    Crispy Taco
    Adam H.

    This place is OK and nothing more. At least not on my visit. First, the atmosphere is pretty awesome. It's clean and dark -- but airy. It would totally be fun with a group on a Saturday night ... just as long as today's server wasn't working the table. She was not only slow but also forgetful. It took 20 minutes to get a salt shaker, and I never received my own bowl of salsa. Speaking of the salsa here, it is served cold, and that's a good thing. But it has nary a hint of anything other than tomatoes and garlic ... very much like the jarred Albert's Hot Sauce available in NE Texas. Additionally, it needed salt, but I'd almost finished it by the time I alerted our server that she'd forgotten our salt shaker. (I'm not sure why a restaurant wouldn't just keep salt and pepper on the table, but I digress.) -- The queso here tastes extremely of onion. Mix a little of the bland house salsa in it, and it's better. We ordered a combo meal during our visit only to learn that this place was out of tamales. I understand that it's December in Texas and that tamales are a hot commodity. Still, this is a successful restaurant chain with a purchasing agent. It's like pulling into McDonald's and being told that they are out of fries. Unacceptable. Because our combo meal included the non-existent tamale, they switched it to a "Summer" special, which was supposed to include a chicken chalupa. Instead, there was a meat enchilada, cheese enchilada and a crispy taco. The ground beef here is exceptional. The cheese enchilada is filled with real cheese, which is rare. Overall though, I feel like the restaurant hedged its bet on the red-colored tortillas and not fresh, melty food. The refried beans were meh. Rice was fine, but nothing special. Bottom line: This place is ... OK. Would I return? Probably not. Especially with the mega pricepoint for average food and subpar service.

    Chantel C.

    I'm no stranger to this restaurant and everytime I go I have an amazing time. Came with some friends for a girls night. I ordered the mardi gras margarita with prosecco. My twist on the green goblin drink they use to have with dos xx. For food I got the carmine's. It was flavorful yet the shrimp and bacon felt slightly overcooked so without butter they were dry. The service was impeccable. We had a large party abd Robert and Andy did amazing at accommodatioing us.

    Angela Q.

    I was excited to go to Cyclone Anaya with my group. We had two big tables. Our wait team was very attentive and got our food out quickly. The food: I didn't enjoy it at all. I asked for the enchiladas with shrimp and crab. The waiter brought chicken enchiladas. Once I started eating and realized it was wrong, they corrected it and brought me the right one. The enchiladas were just alright. I ate leftovers the next day and same feeling. It was just not good to me. I asked for fresh jalapeno and that was the only saving grace. Also, the chips and salsa are usually devoured by me. The salsa was very tomato-y and I didn't enjoy that either. Finally, the tea, we ordered mango strawberry sweet tea but it was not sweet or flavored. My sister took hers off the bill but I kept mine and tried to make it work. It was 7.00 so I should have returned it. We were able to use our 10.00 loyalty towards the purchase. Next time I will try something else.

    Moquita Q.

    This is my first time at this location! It's actually more upscale than the others! The margaritas are much smoother. Same menu but they certainly don't use the house tequila in everything, I'm almost certain they use the tequila that is stated on the menu as they should. I've sampled all of the tequilas once when I went to a tequila tasting festival last year! So I'm positive they legit did it right!! I would recommend their Marti Gras Margarita! It's strong but super smooth so it will certainly sneak up on you. I got it in a jumbo which was a mistake because I ended up getting tipsy. Had to wait about an hour before I drove home just to be in the safe side. It was sooo good those! They use real mashed blackberries and agave mixed!!! Like literally tasted amazing l. I also ordered their bomb shrimp, I think that's what it's called. It comes with 2 side and the shrimp is coated in a house made aioli! Enough for two serving so I have lunch for the next day!! So cool!!! Sasame seeds sprinkled on top give this dish an Asian flare!! The seasoned vegetables are coated in a super fine season all spice which made it perfect for both grilling and retaining flavor! It's comes with a side of a super rich, hearty and soy sauce with a special kind of seasoning it in, kinda like the taste of all spice mixed with the soy sauce!!! It was rich!!! Wow!!!!!!! Parking can suck if you aren't a local to the area and don't know where to park for free. Because I 100% believe in gatekeeping, you'll just have to figure that out on your own by visiting this area often and parroting the local small businesses. Service was amazing! My waiter was so sweet!!!

    My plate with breakfast tacos
    Elsa C.

    Drove out to Cyclone Anaya's City Centre on Saturday after the looking for a nice meal after the storm. We were greeted at the door by a nice host who asked about our week and told us about his. All started well till our server arrived. Look I get it we are all tired it was a long exhausting week thanks to Beryl but really. Our server was below average. We had to ask for water, ask for clean silverware. We got our food which was good but nothing special. Our server was not around till she bought the check. But what was really BAD was the way the managers and all the servers just stood around near our table talking loud and laughing while the tables around us were dirty.

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    1 year ago

    Great customer service and excellent margaritas. Joined some friends for margaritas after bunch and everyone was super nice and helpful.

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    4 months ago

    Amazing service from Wilian he gave us full attention, had the happiest attitude, and made the whole experience even better.

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    Wilian is an amazing Server. Brings the energy and vibes to table. 10/10 experience!!!

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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2(296 reviews)
    11.0 miMidtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose
    $$

    Food was great, drinks were so good, vibes were so chill and service was great, definitely…read morereturning for brunch!!

    Not my first time at Maderas. That's why I came back because it was excellent and my friends heard…read moreme rave about it and they suggested we come here. Arrived on Sunday evening around 7:30. Was sat immediately. Not my first time here so I knew the menu, my friends did not. So they needed time to see what drinks they wanted because they like cocktails and the menu is not small and they had to choose which ones they wanted because the options are good. When they decided, the cocktails straggled out. Two came out but the other two did not, They just sat at the bar as my friends sat with there with their drinks in front of them waiting on ours so we can toast to a wonderful day with a new member of the group. You would have thought the other staff would step in or at least the bartender would see that the waiter was in the weeds and needed help. That's when I knew we should have not come. The food was all lukw warm. The appetizer of queso was like warm with chunks of cheese floating around and some of the chips were fresh and others stale. A mixed bag you can say. My Flautas where luke warm, so was the side of beans and rice. My friends said their tacos were okay. My friend who got the Caesar Salad, there was no dressing on the salad not was there a side of dressing that came with it. We had to ask for it. I did not have the energy to try to keep wrangling the waiter. If you want to shut the kitchen down early because the day was long I get it. Let the customer know, I get it. I used to wait tables to but I would never give people luke warm food or luke service. The staff seems not to have one anothers back. I did not eat my food, I took my food home to reheat it so I could eat it at the proper temperature. My friend took his salad home because he had more Caesar dressing at home. Left a bad taste in my mouth and very disappointed. The service and food from the last time compared to this visit was night and day. Total miss. $200.00 thrown away. I paid because I could not let my friends waiste there money on someplace I raved about. Maderas is really a small cute spot. It's rare I have bad service when I go out to eat because I am not a difficult customer and I know I am not the only one they are serving. I will wait for good food and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and my friends until it arrives. I would not put pressure on the staff or the kitchen. Also I will not arrive just before closing and make a resteraunt and it's staff stay open late because I am hungry. I rather come when the staff and the restaurant wants to recieve customers.

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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Right side entry

    Right side entry

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Rice & Beans

    Rice & Beans

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Chicken Enchiladas

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9(896 reviews)
    10.8 miThe Heights
    $$

    When they say "everything is bigger in Texas," they weren't kidding. The size of the margarita was…read morebigger than my hand. If you want leftovers, this is your place to go. It was my first time trying out Tex mex style. It was so busy on a Saturday evening. The chips that were given to each table was incredibly warm and the sauces paired so well. I ordered the el manarco which is this giant piece of steak that was well charred, included this avacado and seafood grit sauce, rice + soup + gauconole/salsa. They gave me 4 giant house made tortillas which was also fresh and warm. This meal can be finished by two people. Definitely come here on an empty stomach and the portions are absolutely massive.

    Guys, you know I dont post a review unless a dish is a straight 10/10…read more The breakfast I just had warrants a 10/10 review at the Airline blvd location. I just had the Machacado con Huevo breakfast dish here and it was so incredibly good-So good! it was one of the best breakfasts Ive ever had. seriously.I will definitely be back for this breakfast. I recommend getting it with red and green sauce on the side and a side of tortillas ro make your own tacos with the eggs, salsa and refried beans. just wow! And that tamale needs its own menu. That tamale was amazing. I would get several orders of that soft white tamale by itself to go. And the service was a 10/10. They kept refilling my red and green sauce and kept checking up on me throughout. Ambience was great as always. Its a life changing dish. Thanks Teotihuacan for the great breakfast and great service! Yall deserve a well-earned review!

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Queso + Beef

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Fajita Salad

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    Fajita Salad

    Maximo - Tostada

    Maximo

    4.6(174 reviews)
    8.8 miWest University
    $$$

    Maximo looks like someone invited the desert inside and poured it a drink. The room is colorful,…read morewarm, and genuinely inviting--pots of cactus, cowboy paintings, and Mexican art. At brunch, the papas bravas come as small cubes of fried potato with an airy crunch that gives way to a soft, pillowy center - the kind of deeply satisfying bite that makes conversation briefly irrelevant. Crisp prosciutto adds salt, aioli brings richness, and smoky chile sauce keeps it lively. They're served with cactus-handled toothpicks, which are almost offensively adorable. The chilaquiles divorciados are another hit. The chips are dressed with salsa rather than drowned beneath it, so each one arrives ready for the perfect bite. It's a small distinction, but an important one. Then there are the enfrijoladas: rolled quesadillas in fluffy tortillas, covered in creamy black bean sauce and plated with more care than bean and cheese might seem to warrant. The dish is fundamentally simple, but that's the point. Soft tortilla, savory beans, melted cheese, bright salsa. Familiar ingredients transformed into something deeply comforting--the culinary equivalent of curling up beneath a warm blanket on a cold morning, even if Houston rarely provides one. Dinner shifts into another gear. The crudos are sensational, especially the tuna tiradito - a rolling wave of flavor and texture. The tacos are excellent across the board, but the crispy maitake mushrooms are unmatched. The short ribs arrive juicy and tender on a mole negro that doesn't sit politely in the background. It lands dark, complex, and full of flavor. And then there's the masa cornbread, a masterpiece of unapologetic indulgence. Humble cornbread meets savory-sweet mole, smoky, earthy butter, and caviar. It sounds like too much. It isn't. Every element earns its place. The cocktails deserve their own warning. They're the kind that convince you to keep ordering the same drink all night. By the end, you may have forgotten what was in it. What you'll remember is that it was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and exactly what you needed. Maximo makes ambitious food feel generous rather than fussy. Come hungry.

    I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday, and I'm so happy I finally got to try this…read moreestablishment! I would definitely recommend making a reservation, as it can get pretty busy, especially during Saturday lunch. There is also plenty of parking available across the street. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful and felt so authentic to Mexican culture. Our server, Kylah, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and so kind throughout our entire dining experience. Now onto the food; everything was absolutely delicious. The Avocado Mollete and Chilaquiles Divorciados were both packed with so much flavor. Every bite was amazing. I had heard that the pancakes were the star of the show, and they definitely lived up to the hype. I have never had pancakes this crispy before, and they were so good! Our server also brought out a birthday surprise, the Chocolate Cremoso, and it was delicious! It was such a sweet touch to the celebration. Honestly, everything my party ordered was so flavorful and delicious. We had such a great experience, and I genuinely cannot wait to come back!

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    Maximo
    Maximo - Tres Leches

    Tres Leches

    Maximo - Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

    Dona Leti's - Mini fajita steak street tacos

    Dona Leti's

    4.0(676 reviews)
    7.8 miThe Heights
    $$

    Dona Leti's is truly one of Houston's absolute gems, and it will ALWAYS be my go-to! From the owner…read moreto every single member of the staff, the hospitality is unmatched. You are not simply served here--you are welcomed, appreciated, and treated like family. Three weeks ago, I was actually headed here wanting to celebrate, but life changed in an instant with the passing of my dad. Today, I finally made it back, and what a beautiful full-circle moment it was. One of the greatest gifts was being able to see Julio, the owner, celebrating his own special day. That made the experience even more meaningful. The food is consistently AMAZING, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service goes above and beyond every single time. You can feel the love, pride, and genuine care that has been poured into this establishment. I love EVERYTHING about Dona Leti's--the food, the people, the energy, the hospitality, and the way they make every visit feel special. Five stars simply aren't enough. If you're looking for incredible food and an experience that feels like home, Dona Leti's is the place. Forever a customer and forever recommending this Houston favorite!

    I had an extremely disappointing experience here yesterday--unfortunately, we never even made it to…read moredinner. The experience started poorly with the valet attendants, whom we found to be rude, dismissive, and very unprofessional. It was such an unpleasant first impression that my wife and I mentioned it to the hostess when we went inside. Unfortunately, things did not improve. The hostess seemed completely unconcerned about our experience and simply informed us that the wait for a table was approximately two hours. While deciding whether our party should wait or go elsewhere, I went to the bar to order a drink. After ordering, the bartender told me that if I was only having a drink, I needed to move. Apparently, sitting at the bar required ordering a meal. At that point, we had experienced enough. Between the unpleasant valet experience, the indifferent response at the hostess stand, the two-hour wait, and then being told I couldn't sit at the bar simply to have a drink while we decided what to do, the overall message was clear: we did not feel welcome here. My wife, the rest of our party, and I decided to leave and have dinner elsewhere. A busy restaurant is understandable. A long wait is understandable. What is much harder to understand is making prospective customers feel unwelcome at nearly every point of contact. Needless to say, this was an exceptionally disappointing experience, and we will not be returning.

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    Dona Leti's - Bar

    Bar

    Dona Leti's - Street Taco

    Street Taco

    Dona Leti's - Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

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    Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

    Candente - Museum District - Beans and rice

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1(643 reviews)
    10.5 miMuseum District, Montrose
    $$

    What better way to kick off a Texas trip than getting some highly-regarded tex-mex! Some coworkers…read morerecommended this spot to me so I had to try! It's in the Museum District/Montrose area, so pretty accessible and with plenty of parking. We got seated immediately, and there was a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating, the latter of which was great even on a humid day. The menu was pretty extensive with your Tex-Mex classics like fajitas and enchiladas, with a special for every day of the week. This time was a free upgrade to a large fajita, so I went with the chicken fajitas! It came out after about 20 minutes with all of the fixings and this very yummy buttery sauce. I haven't had too many fajitas, but I'm pretty confident this is a top spot!

    More like Can't Dente…read more Not a fan. The food actually isn't bad, by any means, it's just not my thing. I'm not into Tex-Mex. Houston has some of the greatest Mexican food in the world, and for me Tex-Mex never compares. But of course it is beloved by some Houstonians, plenty of Texans and lots of tourists, and as far as Tex Mex goes, Candente (where I've only eaten 3 times) is around average. A little higher priced and higher end than some of the busier and more well known local chains, but similar in quality and bland taste. The Fajitas are my fave thing on the menu, but nothing to write home about. The reason I took off a star (was going to give 3) is because of some personal issues I have with them. When picking up an order here, you get a notification to say, come to the store. That happens to me when I pick up take out in a lot of places, these days, and when I do, it is either ready, or it takes 5 more min or 10 more min (because they mark it ready when it is not. Generally I'm okay with it, if it's less than 10 min. Candente? 20 min or 30 min. Even when it's not busy. They'll mark orders as ready (to make themselves look efficient I imagine) even when they are completely dead, and then will not actually start cooking the order until you get there to pick it up (I know, because I see people come in at the same time I'm there to pick up, order a similar thing, and 20-30 min theirs and mine comes out at a similar time). So just frustrating, is all. The owner is a Texan guy from Kingwood, he also owns the Pit Room BBQ nearby, which is similarly very fancy and successful. Don't let my bad experiences here put you off from trying it. If you want a list of real Mexican gems (and mostly dirt cheap), ask me, but you won't find any Tex Mex on there at all, to be honest. Just not my thing, in the same way that I think American Chinese take away has nothing on Chinese Chinese, such as Sichuan or Xi'an or Hunan cooking.

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    Candente - Museum District
    Candente - Museum District - When in Rome

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    Candente - Museum District - Skinny margarita (large)

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    Skinny margarita (large)

    Cyclone Anaya's - Memorial City - tex-mex - Updated September 2026

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