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    El Patio

    3.5 (306 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Patio Photos

    Business Info

    EL PATIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Patio

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    Felix Mexican dinner #1 2 plates 16$!
    Micfly F.

    Awesome TexMex. Get the blue Margahrita Food is awesome, service, awesome. Highly recommend

    Armando Especial Crispy Tacos Pastor!!!
    Goose G.

    Everything is great here for years EXCEPT Ceasar the waiter he's a total jackass. Honestly why hasn't he been fired?

    Chips and salsa (super cold).
    DeWayne R.

    This past Saturday was my first time visiting this restaurant since 2004. Even then it was about having drinks over a meal in the so called, club "No Minors." So, I made certain that I had dinner in the resaturant, so that I could concentrate on the food without the blinding effect of a potent margarita...which may not have been in a good idea. Michelle ordered enchiladas and a margarita. I ordered fajitas and a Pineapple flavored margarita. First off, the drink: The Pineapple Margarita was very, very sweet and took away from the margarita experience. I've had pineapple flavored margaritas from other restaturants and they did not taste like this one. It was not good! Second, food: Michelle had said that the Spanish rice had little or no flavor. It didn't remid her of any Spanish rice that she's made or ever had (she's Mexican-American, buy the way). My fajitas (been and chicken) had little or no flavor - even though they were accompanied by the searing onions and peppers on the skillet that they were served on. The rice was also lacked flavor, too. The one thing that was good about the visit was our waitress, who was very nice and very attentive. If you've never been here, BEWARE that the parking lot is pretty small, with a thrid of it being used by the other stores in the small shopping center and half of that is paid valet for the restaurant, which seems to be less than 20 steps from any parking space. The nostalgia is over and I can't see returning, not even for club No Minors. Sorry.

    Felix tacos with famous Felix chili con queso
    Troy B.

    San Antonio has the best Tex-Mex, but El Patio is the one exception. Always great food and service. They have the best tortillas, cheese enchiladas and Queso, of course nowhere will you get a Felix taco. The fajitas are always amazing. You'll never go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommended!

    This house margarita on the rocks is excellent on a hot day.
    Tom C.

    If I was a teacher, this is how I would grade our meal here: A for chips and salsa and queso. A+ for house margarita on rocks and Texas Tea. A for tortilla. D for rice and beans. The beef in the tacos al carbon gets an F (use better quality beef and season it properly and don't over cook). Their cheese enchilada gets an A-. Now for the infamous blue frozen margarita.... it's ok. Nice and strong, so if you want to get messed up - this is your go to drink. All together, this place is good and bad. They deserve 2 1/2 stars, but I'll round up to 3. If you like bland Tex-Mex, you'll love it here.

    Ciara D.

    Honestly, there was nothing exciting about this restaurant. I felt like the service was good. However, the food was bland. There was no love in the making of the food. The salsa didn't even taste homemade. I ordered enchiladas verdes and the verde sauce was super tangy. I also ordered a margarita which I returned (the swirl) which comes mixed with sangria - and it was salty salty.

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    1 year ago

    The food was incredible and the staff was so delightful. Cesar was very helpful and kind!

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    2 years ago

    The restaurant was so much fun but when my mom walked into club no minor they were so rude to her probably won't be back because of that.

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    Page 1 of 8

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Steak

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    3.9(2.3k reviews)
    9.4 miWarehouse District, Second Ward
    $$
    Private events
    Catering service

    The food was amazing especially the breakfast tacos son deliciosos…read more The service was amazing the waiter was funny with his jokes and very positive The ambience was great families were having a lot of fun and enjoying the experience

    Very Overwhelming! Parking: They have a lot, but on a Friday…read moreI had to park on the street and walk a ways. I would not go again on a Friday. They do have valet, but it's paid. Ambiance: upon walking in, it was chaos and sooooo many people standing up and sitting down. Walking around with drinks. I felt like I was in a club. A server made her way to me to take my Togo order. While waiting, I grabbed a drink at the bar and just made the happy hour cut off. Service was great as I was able to get my order and it was a large order. Everything was correct. The house margarita was ok, I wish I had gotten the hibiscus flavor. Order; Crab Tostadas Mixed Fajitas Snapper Mole Enchilada Ninfa 2 Tacos Margarita Mix The only thing I would order again is the crab tostadas and the beef fajitas. The chicken had no flavor at all. The charros beans and rice were not anything special. I was not a fan of either. Overall, we are not planning to order from here again. It just wasn't what Mark Weins made it seem like on his review. Also, whoever the driver was practically could not wait for me to turn around. Sorry, I had to take a pic. Very rude.

    Photos
    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Inside

    Inside

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Cochinita Pibil

    Cochinita Pibil

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Margarita

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    Margarita

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2(289 reviews)
    6.9 miMidtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose
    $$

    This place was AWESOME!! I was in Houston visiting...and just found this place on Yelp…read more The service was great, the place beautiful, the flautas great, rice and beans were on point. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this is the place.

    We visited Madera's for the first time recently and overall had a great first impression. The…read moreserver was attentive when needed but didn't hover or rush us. For drinks, my husband and our friends tried some of the margaritas from their large and unique margaritas menu, as well as their hibiscus agua fresca. All of the drinks were very pretty and it seemed like everyone enjoyed them, too! We started with their chips and salsa trio, which we all really liked. The chips were on the thicker side, but were crispy and not stale or chewy at all. Each of the salsas were quite different, and two were served warm, which we really liked! For the price, I'd consider getting the chips and salsa as a non-negotiable, honestly. For entrees, we tried the enchilada rojas, chilaquiles verde w/ chicken and beef, birria barbacoa ramen, and huaraches. My husband felt like his ramen could have included more meat, but aside from that everyone really enjoyed what they ordered. The highlight was probably the desserts, though! We got a quatro leches and two ordered of their giant and amazing churros. Both were incredibly tasty and reason enough to return for another visit in the future!

    Photos
    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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    Chicken Enchiladas

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9(887 reviews)
    8.1 miThe Heights
    $$

    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!

    I used to eat here 3X a week. Tonight reminded me why I no longer do.I was with a new friend ,so I…read moreonly took 1 photo. The "queso" w/carne seemed to be out of a can-it was orange & didn't have the consistency of real cheese- wasn't really cheese & was disgusting. It was $9.99. I am including a photo of the overcooked beef fajita. A senior citizen can get the all beef lunch fajita special for virtually the same price as the fajita combo here ALL DAY at Pappasitos. It definitely is enough for 2. The meat melts in your mouth. EVERYTHING is better quality than here. Teo charged $1.50 for perhaps 4 or 5 slices of lime to make the happy hour margaritas made with a gross mix drinkable. That's outrageous. It reminds me that I had stopped going long ago when they charged extra for onions on enchiladas. Come on. You don't charge extra for chopped onions! I have never been to another restaurant that does so. Some even provide carmelized grilled onions gratis. I'm convinced that a $15. YUMMY mango margarita at Pappasitos would have given us the same buzz & tasted better than 8 happy hour margaritas here. I used to love the in house made flour tortillas at Teo. Tonight they were tough & uneventful. We arrived on a week night when they were not busy. Neither of the salsas were as good as they used to be.The water pitcher didn't even have ice when they refilled the water. I have absolutely no desire to return. Why would I?

    Photos
    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(156 reviews)
    4.1 miWest University
    $$$

    An excellent dining experience. We had such a lovely dinner at Maximo on a rainy Friday night…read more Despite the weather, parking was easy with a small lot and plenty of street parking. The restaurant has an intimate indoor space and adjacent covered patio. Both were already full when we arrived which created a lively atmosphere. The inside was so tasteful - small but moody and warm! I'd definitely recommend a reservation for the weekends! We started with the aguachile de camaron as a starter and WOW my husband cannot stop talking about this dish. The perfect blend of textures and flavors - this will be a must for us every visit. We have had our eyes on the 5-course Chef Tasting Menu for $49 + the optional beverage pairing for $30. The experience felt more than fair for the price, especially by Houston standards. Each course felt thoughtful and slightly boundary-pushing, yet really approachable. My partner and I have been on a bit of a mole kick recently, so were very excited for the hanger steak with truffle mole. It absolutely delivered and would love to order this again! We were also heavily drawn to the tuna tartare starter, masa cornbread, and tres leches. The wine and drink parings were perfect and not too fruity. The brut rose was a perfect way to start and I always love a mezcal cocktail. I highly recommend anyone visiting to start with this Tasting Menu and leave the stress in the hands of Chef Adrian Torres! We had the pleasure of chatting with him briefly after our meal and were so impressed with his story and clear excitement he brings. The rest of the staff were equally kind and really added to the evening! Side note: We had the pleasure to attend Maximo's Cinco de Mayo block party and were so impressed by the community involvement bringing in local vendors and live music. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this restaurant for future tasting menus and events.

    Came to Maximo on a weekday around 5:30 and it was pretty quiet at first, but by the time we…read morefinished dinner the place had filled up a lot. It's definitely a smaller, cute neighborhood spot with a really fun vibe. The service was good. Our server was funny, attentive, and made the experience fun. We started with the "corn ribs" appetizer and WOW. Probably one of my favorite corn dishes I've had in a long time. So flavorful and addictive. We also got the "Tiradito de Hamachi" crudo, which was fresh and delicious! For the entree, my friend and I shared the tacos (which comes with your choice of 3). We added an extra taco to make it 4. I was genuinely shocked that the mushroom taco ended up being my favorite because I almost always prefer meat, but it was THAT good. The fried shrimp taco was also amazing. For dessert, we got the tres leches cake. I'm usually not a huge fan of strawberry or fruit toppings on desserts, but the cake itself was really, really good. I ended up just removing the strawberries and eating the cake, which was moist and flavorful. The only downside for me was the drinks. They looked larger than they actually were because of the glassware, and they tasted a little watered down. I had two, and they just weren't very strong or super flavorful. Other than that though, the food and service absolutely made up for it. Definitely a spot I'd come back to!

    Photos
    Maximo
    Maximo - Fish taco

    Fish taco

    Maximo - Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

    Ambriza - Street corn.

    Ambriza

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    18.5 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Veteran-owned & operated

    Get the pork belly bites and their cocktails are delicious…read more If you're here on a Sunday for brunch and have a sweet tooth the French toast is unforgettable. No other French toast will come close. Their homemade sauces make more tantalizing. If you like salty spicy, get the jojo sauce. I don't think it's on the menu And to finish, personally I like cocktails but their fresh filled churros are super fun. And can't beat the fresh factor! Brandon is an excellent attentive server. He knows the menu in and out. He'll steer you right. It's a neighborhood gem

    We had a 70th & 60th birthday celebration at Ambriza's Vintage, and we were very impressed and…read moresatisfied with how beautiful and perfect everything turned out. Rodrigo & Araceli were amazing, ensuring everything was going smoothly and according to plan. Our servers Augusto and Christian, were very attentive, kind, and on point with our food and drinks. Food was exquisite and portions were generous, cooked to perfection. The churros with chocolate and the complimentary photos for the birthday girls was the cherry on top. Ambriza's management & staff truly know how to make their guests feel special. They went above and beyond, exceeding all of our expectations. Definitely having more celebrations here in the future! On behalf of me & my family, THANK YOU again for the excellent service and making this a memorable night!! Barbie Artiga

    Photos
    Ambriza
    Ambriza - TEQUILA Wall

    TEQUILA Wall

    Ambriza - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Candente - Museum District - Beans and rice

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1(624 reviews)
    6.3 miMuseum District, Montrose
    $$

    A Cali girl-lala enjoying some Tex Mex…read more While in HTX I was able to meet up with a friend from college. He mentioned margaritas (not pictured) and food! So we met at Candente. Upon walking in the restaurant was clean it was pretty packed for a Wednesday night but the aroma of the food! OMG! Our server was really nice and patient because my friend and I talked for about 30 minutes before we finally ordered our food. He has the beef enchiladas with rice and black beans. He cleaned his plate...literally not a grain of rice in sight! I had the smoked chicken verde enchiladas and WOW! What an amazing dish. I consider myself a Mexican food connoisseur especially being from California. I have always said Tex Mex?.....eeeeyuck! But Candente has changed my tune! I will definitely be back to visit when I return!

    Glowing red. Burning. Candente…read more Let me start by saying that I'm not into Mexican food unless it's an auntie or grandma making it at their house. I prefer traditional homemade Mexican food but here we are. (Oh I googled and suggested this place lol) Went in for a team lunch on a Friday. Coworker's birthday lunch and she wanted Mexican. Party of 9 and we were seated promptly. They have a lunch menu and a happy hour as well as a full menu and full bar. The interior was nicely decorated. And open. There is bar seating and patio seating as well. Our waitress was Aisha and she was amazing. Friendly, helpful and patient. And able handle our large group and a few more tables with a smile. There were a variety of options. Salads, fajitas, nachos, enchiladas, etc. Also complimentary chips and salsa. My Order: chicken tortilla soup, lunch fajitas combo - chicken and beef. Chicken tortilla soup (3.5/5) - it was a bit salty for me but I am not a salt person so most things are salty to me; everyone else said it was tasty, there were tons of shredded chicken, avocado pieces, tortilla strips Fajitas - combo (4/5) - chicken was seasoned well and the beef (medium rare) was perfection and so tender and juicy, mexican rice was fluffy, and normally I would pass on the beans and get extra rice but my coworker suggested the charro beans and wow, that was a win - the seasoning was great, there were chunks of meat and the texture was nice, the only thing that could have been done better is the flour tortillas - they over-charred them making them too crispy and left them with a burnt taste. A couple of people got the elote salad and raved about it. So that will be a next time try. Def will be back. Everyone enjoyed their meals and some even ordered food to go. Would recommend.

    Photos
    Candente - Museum District - Open Kitchen cooking on wood.

    Open Kitchen cooking on wood.

    Candente - Museum District - When in Rome

    When in Rome

    Candente - Museum District - Skinny margarita (large)

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    Skinny margarita (large)

    El Patio - mexican - Updated June 2026

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