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    Molina's Cantina

    3.4 (244 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MOLINA'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    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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    9 months ago

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    2 months 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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    1 year ago

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

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    3 years ago

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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

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    3.9
    (2.3k reviews)
    6.7 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!

    Photos
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    Decor
    Cochinita Pibil
    Cochinita Pibil
    Margarita

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    Margarita
    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2
    (294 reviews)
    4.3 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!

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

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9
    (894 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
    (170 reviews)
    0.8 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.

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

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.
    Dona Leti's

    Dona Leti's

    4.0
    (666 reviews)
    5.1 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.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Street Taco
    Street Taco
    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)
    3.3 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.

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

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    Skinny margarita (large)

    Molina's Cantina - mexican - Updated August 2026

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