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    Molina's Cantina

    3.4 (244 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MOLINA'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Molina's Cantina

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    Shveta A.

    A great location. This is a go-to spot for taking family and friends for a nice dinner out! This restaurant is spacious and well-equipped for large dining parties. I enjoyed the private table we were given and the service is always great. The interior is well-decorated and with a bit of a darker lighting, which adds to the comfy mood. There are so many wonderful items to choose from, all flavorful and delicious! For seafood lovers, the Raulitos's shrimp special or the shrimp diablo are excellent options. MOLINA'S GRILLED QUAIL & SHRIMP COMBO, was a pleasant surprise. The quail meat was very tasty with a unique texture and flavor profile. I also love the enchiladas! The fillings, tortillas, sauce and cheese are well balanced. Whether you're feeling more adventurous or wanting something more known, Molina's has a great selection.

    Chips
    Brandon D.

    Went to Molina's Cantina for my friend's birthday lunch after class. I went to their second location in West U. They give complimentary chips and dip, including 3 different kinds of salsa and pickled carrots. My end of the table went through like 5 rounds of chips I got a grilled fish taco which included lettuce and grilled corn pico de gallo. I really liked the corn and the sauce it came with. The taco was also really big. It came in aluminum foil to keep it warm. The fish was grilled really well, but I felt like it was bland and lacking in flavor. The complimentary chips and dip make it worth it though

    Nancy Ames Special Nachos
    Kyla F.

    Okay actually loved this place! It's a no frills Mexican place, but the food is fresh and good, loved the salsa, good happy hour prices, and there was no wait! We had a great time here with some friends. I got 'Nancy's nachos' and they were really unique with the salsa, guac, and meat on each Individual chip, almost like mini tostadas. Really good! And the happy hour margs were 9.50, which I thought was good too! Great spot for casual Mexican food!

    Kacy M.

    It was my first time coming here and my cousin recommended the crispy tacos. The shell was very crispy and thick so it wouldn't break when eating, so that impressed me. The meat and veggies inside the taco were just ok (ground beef and an insane amount of shredded lettuce). The booth still had chip crumbs in it that I brushed aside. The chips were hard and not salty enough but the three salsa sections were good. The parking lot here is big but very cramped and busy. Houston has great Tex-Mex and Molina's was lackluster compared to others.

    Jose's dip
    Harry B.

    From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with not only a friendly staff and a great atmosphere but an aroma that will make you twice as hungry as you thought you were. I have been eating with this family restaurant for at least 55 years, it is the first restaurant I ever remember going to for the exception of their beans because I don't eat them, so I just don't know and can't judge them, everything else I've ever had was amazing but my go to is the William special which is a piece of Carne Asada on top of cheese enchiladas and of course Jose's dip which is their chili con queso with meat is always exceptional. I love coming here because I'm never disappointed, and even if there's a hiccup, it's always taken care of quickly. Houston has a lot of text mix and this happens to be one of my top three, keep an eye out for my reviews of other favorite Tex Mex

    Dinner with friends
    Helene S.

    Nice place to meet friends for an early Saturday night Tex-Mex dinner. Easy to get a booth without a reservation at 6 PM. The tortilla soup was full of chicken in a warm broth with tortilla chips. Add rice, pico and fresh avocado on the side. The chips are crisp and light. Both the green and red salsas were good. The chicken enchiladas covered with a spicy salsa verde sauce and a side of black beans were okay. The chicken fajitas were a hit. No room for dessert, but nice to end the meal with a pralines. Parking is so easy in the strip center parking lot. Dinner was $60 for 4.

    Grilled Fish Tacos Lunch
    Helen R.

    I came here for a work lunch with some colleagues and it was actually pretty busy, not incredibly to where we had to wait to be seated. I would recommend for people to have lunch here. We ordered off of the lunch menu and I have to say if these fish tacos were from the lunch menu I can't imagine the portions for dinner! These tacos were MASSIVE. The taste of the tacos were GOOOOOOOOD! What I wasn't to crazy about was the rice and beans. Something else I found a bit strange was that at the beginning when we get the chips and salsa it comes with like 4-5 different salsas. It was a bit overwhelming and kind of strange. I didn't really enjoy the tastes for the salsas either.

    Chicken Flautas

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    5 months ago

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    1 day ago

    Family owned, good service and tasty Tex-Mex selections. Best seating is in the back room where all the locals sit.

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    10 months ago

    I absolutely love this restaurant. Excellent food and fantastic margaritas and the wait staff is the absolute best

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    1 year ago

    Obsessed with their salsa variations and pickled veggies! Their tortilla soup and micheladas is my go to order everytime

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Molina's Cantina

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

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

    We're in Houston for the World Cup and were recommended Original Ninfa's by both a coworker and our…read moreLyft driver. We visited around 5:00 PM on a Sunday and were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately for a party of two without a reservation. The restaurant is huge, and despite being very busy, the service was efficient. We were seated in one of the back dining rooms and greeted with complimentary chips and salsa, both of which were delicious. The atmosphere was fantastic--packed with World Cup fans, with what felt like everyone wearing a soccer jersey. As fellow futebol fans, we loved the energy. Being from California, we're fortunate to have access to some excellent Mexican food, so we were a little hesitant about trying Tex-Mex. I ordered the chicken fajitas with flour tortillas and a passion fruit margarita. The chicken had a smoky flavor and a sauce that gave the dish a distinctly Texas-style twist. The flour tortillas were outstanding, and the refried beans and rice were just as enjoyable. The passion fruit margarita was also a standout and something I'd definitely order again. Overall, this was a great dining experience and a place I'd recommend for the atmosphere alone. The restaurant appears well-equipped to accommodate large groups, making it a great option for gatherings. Next time, I'd love to return with a bigger group and take advantage of one of their margarita pitchers!

    When things are very hyped up I tend to ignore it but maybe that's the hipster in me. This place is…read moreso hyped up so I was nervous to try it and it was decent but I believe it to be overhyped to me because I have had better. Chips and salsa 5/5- This was a great start to the meal. The green sauce was fantastic and the chips came out hot. Margarita 4/5- Good and strong very limey and nice tajin rim Charro beans 3/5- Pretty mid flavor like just basic. And they came out lukewarm warm teetering on cold. I've had way better. Fajitas 3/5- I really wanted to love these. They look great and the cook was perfection but the flavor was super plain. I felt the need to add salt.... My partner agreed too. Not good. I won't be back but I appreciate it for what it is!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Cochinita Pibil
    Cochinita Pibil
    Margarita

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    Margarita
    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2
    (292 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    Great food, nice ambience. We caught the happy hour special and sat outside. Generous and delicious…read moreportions. We got the flautas and the molcajete parrillada. We noticed most of the crowd was on the younger side 20s - 30s on the day we went and not many families.

    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
    Right side entry
    Right side entry
    Rice & Beans
    Rice & Beans
    Chicken Enchiladas

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    Chicken Enchiladas
    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9
    (888 reviews)
    7.3 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!

    Photos
    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
    Queso + Beef
    Queso + Beef
    Fajita Salad

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    Fajita Salad
    Maximo

    Maximo

    4.6
    (161 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    We went on a date with my wifey and decided to try this place. Shoutout to Rene the manager he…read morerecommended the tiradito de hamachi and it was delicious! Everything tasted really good! Is a nice place to go on a date or just go with friends and try real Mexican cuisine. P.S. if you want to try it, I'd highly recommended to make reservations.

    Unfortunately, our experience fell well below expectations. Upon arrival, the hostess was…read moreunfriendly and dismissive. We were simply told to "sit on the bench and wait" with no effort made to make us feel welcome or comfortable while waiting for our table. When making the reservation, we specifically requested either a quiet table or seating at the bar. Despite this, we were seated at a small table between two particularly noisy groups. On one side was a family with three young children playing a loud game involving frequent shouting and slapping on the table. There was intermittent drumming which the parents were oblivious to. On the other side was a large group facing us engaged in very loud ongoing conversation. The result was an atmosphere that made it difficult to enjoy the meal. Service was also inconsistent. Our server offered chips to accompany the Tiradito but she never brought them. Overall, the evening was disappointing. Between the unwelcoming reception from the dour hostess, noisy seating arrangement and lapses in service, the experience was far from enjoyable. Could not wait to leave.

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

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.
    Candente - Museum District

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1
    (628 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Great Tex Mex spot, been around for more than 10 years and they now have a Michelin star. Candente…read morehas a wonderful manager Nancy who is such a people person, great personality, and is always hosting events to make candente fun. There is Loteria nights and they announce this on their social media. All the staff are super friendly and attentive. If you need help anyone will help you. Restaurant is spacious indoor and also has a huge outdoor covered patio with fans and also an open patio. For their events I have been to Loteria nights and they give out prizes, it's fun while you grab a bite or a drink. They also have events where they bring in tequila brands and you can do free tastings of tequila! You meet the tequila brands ambassadors and learn about their brand. A great fun time during the week. A perfect spot for weekend drinks and Tex Mex food. My family and I love this spot and if you haven't been definitely stop by.

    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!

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    Candente - Museum District
    When in Rome
    When in Rome
    Skinny margarita (large)

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    Skinny margarita (large)

    Molina's Cantina - mexican - Updated June 2026

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