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    La Cocina de TJ

    4.4 (517 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order La Cocina de TJ Takeout or Delivery

    La Cocina de TJ Photos

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    LA COCINA DE TJ ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - La Cocina de TJ

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    Jordan W.

    Came here on an early Sunday afternoon I have never dined in here. I've only had food to go. My sister is a big fan of this place and did say it's changed quite a bit since she's been there and the renovations look nice. I had a Cadillac margarita with tajin on the rim it was really good. You can tell they make their own mix and I must say it was strong. My sister ordered the queso for the appetizer I wouldn't get it again. It was kind of watery. We both ordered birria tacos. She said they' weren't as good as past visits. They were a little dry this time and I've definitely had better but it was still good to me. The service was great and we found out they have a happy hours so we definitely want to come back to see what their happy hour is about.

    Daisy P.

    My family and I love TJ birria tacos! We are returning customers and if it weren't for the distance we would be back more often. Birriadillas and birria ramen are our go to's. Space isn't too big or small, no outdoor seating, fast and good service. You order first then go sit down. Food is on a tray and you out tray up as you finish. Definitely recommend trying if you haven't yet! They have been here for several years and their quality in food is consistent.

    xl quesabirria
    desiree j.

    Birriaquesdillas, tasty!!! First time trying them, very tasty ordered via takeout the consume is good too

    Beef burrito
    Elizabeth S.

    Terrible food quality. 1st plate not pictured because I returned it immediately after finding a hair in my taco. We were regulars since 2023 when it was "TJ Birria". Great for them to expand the space but at what cost? The food and salsa quality went down. Puddles of OIL, overflowing from the plates, quesadillas were left as is. Also in what world are these plates functional??? Burritos are no longer grilled. Salsa containers changed and have no flavor whatsoever. The increased prices were insane. I hope this review reaches the right team. And hope they make improvement, specifically with the use of OIL. I will miss this place.

    El plato de lujo simplemente delicioso
    Abraham L.

    Ampliamente recomendado gran sabor con una variedad extensa de combinaciones que combina con todo lo que me gusta Widely recommended great flavor with an extensive variety of combinations that combines with everything I like

    Birria tacos
    Jennifer B.

    The Birria was good, the items came out pretty quickly since we stopped in for a late lunch and it kept me full for dinner. The restaurant was well kept and the service was good.

    birria quesadilla
    Sherelle L.

    .... so bland. I threw most of it away, and I was shocked because Houston food usually is such a win! This was not. Service was friendly, but that was the only pro in this experience.

    Enchiladas rojas
    Maria B.

    Toda la comida estaba muy deliciosa. Nos trajeron la comida muy rapido. El servicio estuvo excelente. 100% recomendado

    Jennifer V.

    Very nice place to eat delicious birria they made a renovation of the place and now it really has a good atmosphere the food was really good like always, service was friendly and the order was made fast.

    Brunch menu!
    Sandra K.

    They've changed the concept around but they're still serving the same menu and it's flexible. I got the street tacos and I wanted three instead of five and they were able to accommodate. Food took a while to come out so I waited. I was sitting at the bar waiting for my food and it took around 15 minutes to get it out. Food was really good though!

    Agua de Jamaica
    Helen R.

    Stopped by La Cocina de TJ and finally got to try their birria! I had the birria plate while my husband went all in with a little assortment--tostadas, quesabirria, and tacos. The birria itself was good (I wasn't absolutely wild about it, but still solid), but what really stood out for me were the aguas frescas. I had the Jamaica and it was soooo refreshing, and my husband's watermelon agua was straight-up fire. The vibe here is fast-paced, almost like Mexican fast food in the best way possible. You get your food quick, it's flavorful, and the staff is genuinely nice. I really like the concept and honestly wish they had more business--places like this deserve the love for how good, fast, and welcoming they are. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving something quick, flavorful, and casual!

    Ramen Combo
    Cynthia V.

    Finally had a chance to stop by this place - glad they survived the crazy Durham construction. Order at the counter with their friendly staff. I'm a sucker for trendy options, so I ordered this birria ramen combo that I recalled seeing on social media. A hefty portion of beef birria ramen is served alongside two birria tacos, chopped onion, cilantro, and lime. Certainly left full! Felt like it was flavorful (I'm not authenticity expert) and I really enjoyed it. Would go back to try other items on their menu. Parking - small private lot, may be difficult at peak times.

    Jason Z.

    Located on Durham in the Northern Heights, TJ Birria Y Mas comes pretty highly rated. There is parking right in front, which is nice. Service is minimal; you order food at the front and get your food Torchy's style. The ambiance inside is very casual; think Chipotle. Their menu is written on the wall; I got the sampler of sorts featuring birria. Also got an order of chilaquiles for the table. The chilaquiles and chips were a bit underwhelming; the sauces were bland and the chips were slightly stale and the dish was lacking flavor. The birria combo sampler was pretty solid; the meat was well cooked, the quesadilla had quality cheese and the extra onions and cilantro on the side were a nice add. Overall, a pretty solid spot, and I haven't tried most of their menu, including their street tacos. Stick with the main hitters and avoid the appetizers and brunch items.

    Volcano Shrimp

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    5 months ago

    Ramen is the ultimate comfort food, and Norris tacos are . Order through Uber Eats so can't speak to actual restaurant, but food is

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    1 year ago

    Great, delicious and courteous service for lunch! I've done solo and group lunches there.

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    7 months ago

    Maybe this is the first place I tried birria, but I thought it was amazing. The consommé is very flavor and the tacos are very good.

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    Page 1 of 13

    La Cocina de TJ Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    3.9
    (2.3k reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$
    Private events
    Catering service

    Wow. Definitely the best beef and chicken fajitas I have ever tasted. Our server Manuel was…read moreamazing. Ninfas, the magic of food in every bite. A legend of seasoning and flavor.

    Long waits, hard to find parking, yet 5 stars... let me explain…read more.. We came here on a weekend there was some sort of craft market across the street and because of that parking was crazy. I parked and an attendant told me it was supposed to be valet... oops! But he let me stay there and then brought me my car back after we ate. The vibe was cute! Very dated (but in a fun Vintage way) ambiance on the outside and very rustic Tex Mex vibe on the inside. They told us it would be 45 minutes and it was probably closer to an hour and 15 but we checked out the market across the street while we waited. We finally got seated and met our waiter, who I believe was named Jose (I should not have waited this long to do my review!) and he was awesome! Funny, attentive, and super friendly. We ordered the Queso Flameado as a starter. I had never had it nor ever seen anything like it but oh my goodness, it was DELICOUS. I ordered the Antiquas (cheese enchiladas) as my main meal and not only were they so good, but the portion size was huge as well. For $17 I definitely got my money's worth! I left full, happy, and would definitely come back the next time I'm visiting Houston. Well worth the wait!

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    Decor
    Decor
    Cochinita Pibil
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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2
    (294 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    I highly recommend the brunch menu. The birria tacos and had an amazing flavor. The drinks are…read morefabulous too. If you go ask for Mario her is best server. He knows the menu very well and guides you through. His personality is infectious.

    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!

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    Right side entry
    Right side entry
    Rice & Beans
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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9
    (894 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    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
    Queso + Beef
    Queso + Beef
    Fajita Salad

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    Fajita Salad
    Maximo

    Maximo

    4.6
    (170 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$$

    Delicious upscale Mexican food with a thoughtfully curated menu. We sat in the climate controlled…read morepatio out front, and it was lovely. It truly felt like an extension of the restaurant. Service was remarkable and very friendly from the host to the cleaning staff. Food was delicious. I really appreciated the creative flavors that were inspired by authentic Mexican cuisine. Standouts were the guacamole and wagyu carne asada, but everything was fantastic. I loved the Clara cocktail and enjoyed learning about the process to create it. It is clear that there was care and attention behind each menu item. Also, the pace of the food being brought out was evenly paced, which I appreciate, and our server gave us just the right amount of attentiveness. We celebrated my husband's birthday here, and they sent out a tres leches with a candle on it. Very kind and very delicious dessert. Usually not a big fan of tres leches, but this one was not overwhelmingly soaked in condensed milk, and it has a very fresh tasting peach (seasonal) puree drizzled on top. We will most definitely return.

    Went for Sunday brunch with a reservation and were seated almost immediately on the patio. It's…read moretemperature-controlled, which is a huge plus in Houston, and it's still super cute. We ordered the breakfast burrito and the duck carnitas. We added barbacoa to the burrito, and it was honestly the definition of comfort food. It was EXTREMELY greasy though, so I ended up eating it with a fork and knife. If I had been home alone... I probably would've just shoved the whole thing in my mouth. I couldn't not order the duck carnitas. It came on a sope, which is basically my definition of the perfect Mexican brunch. It was really yummy, and I especially loved the salsa that came with it. My only real critique is that the portions felt a little on the smaller side. Either bump them up a bit or add a small side, because I definitely could've eaten a little more.

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    Maximo
    Tres Leches
    Tres Leches
    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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    Dona Leti's

    Dona Leti's

    4.0
    (666 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I just wanna say this $30 burrito BUSS so hard like this was my first time going because the…read morereviews are good and I saw YouTubers and tiktokers say they go brazy one of the most popular spots in Houston....Anywho my burrito had SHRIMP, STEAK, FRIES, RICE, HOT CHEETOS, SOUR CREAM, LETTUCE, TOMATO CHEESE etc...20 out of 10 highly recommend Thanks for great customer service and amazing food CASHIER WAS SUPER NICE @Saucy Santana on the song

    This place was highly recommended and always busy. So i finally got the chance to go. Lets break it…read moredown as to why a low rating. Service: waitress: was sweet and she took our order and checked on us 3 times the entire meal. She did not ask or offer any type of hot sauce or other condiments when my food was delivered to the table. Manager: this is what really cost them, tried to deny me entry because of my service dog. Said he had to call the owner because they didn't allow pets. I told the manager that it was a servive dog who was working. Then after calling the owner, still tried to talk me out of eating there. The manager and owner need to learn the laws that protect people with disabilities that require service animals. Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 12. https://guides.sll.texas.gov/animal-law/service-animals Food: given that this was a "mexican restaurant", it lacked flavor and spice. The bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños were overly greasy and had 0 heat. My birria nachos were decent but still lacked in flavor category. The only thing that saved them from a 1 star was the fun atmosphere. Do better and learn from your mistakes.

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    Bar
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    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

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1
    (638 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    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!

    Visited Candente while in Houston. The atmosphere was lively and bustling, making it easy to see…read morewhy this place is so popular. The service was good throughout the meal. We did have to ask for a bit of cleanup around our table from the previous guests, but considering how busy the restaurant was, it wasn't a major issue and was taken care of promptly. The food was very good and lived up to expectations. My only disappointment was the Bloody Maria, which wasn't seasoned properly and lacked the balance and depth of flavour I was hoping for. Overall, a fun, energetic spot serving very good food, with just a few minor details keeping it from being an exceptional experience. Saluti.

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    Skinny margarita (large)

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    La Cocina de TJ - mexican - Updated August 2026

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