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    Pappasitos Cantina - Downtown

    3.4 (585 reviews)
    ModerateTex-Mex, Seafood
    Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    PAPPASITOS CANTINA - DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    cheese enchiladas
    Stephanie B.

    Came in and was told that there was a 45 minute wait but they might get us in sooner. Not ideal, but we had enough time so we decided to wait. After having concerns after at the 45 minute wait mark that I saw several parties come in after us and get seated before us, I asked at the front counter and was told that we were 5th in line. Another 20 mins come and go, and I watch another party get seated much faster than us. I also watched countless parties walking in and just going to seat themselves in the bar area which I had asked about numerous times and was told no, that it was not self seating so we had to wait. Also watched many parties say they were a party of four and then have 8+ people and need a second table and it was accommodated. A big wow, I'm irritated moment was when a group of our own friends got seated before us and I had texted them 10 minutes after we got here telling them it was only a 45 minute line and then they had to walk here, putting them here at least 30 minutes after we were and they got seated long before us. At this point, I talked to the general manager about it and he told me he would go find out what was happening, but also told me that most of the tables in the restaurant we were set for large parties so because we were a small party we had to wait. He also admitted that many parties had joined together and had not notified the staff until being seated so that was pushing us back. I asked him how that was fair and shouldn't they be moved to the back of the line or denied the second table since people had been waiting literal hours for those tables? He told me he would be right back after he checked and of course he never came back. This conversation really made me watch even more that And I saw that tables that had already gotten their food were calling over friends from the cheer competition that they knew and then asking the they could grab the empty small tables near them and they were being told yes. So in essence, the manager was correct.... the big tables were unavailable to us because we are only a party of three and the small tables were also unavailable to us because they were allowing big parties to grab the small tables and bump all of us down. I heard it countless servers complained that people had just gotten in our station and were told just to serve them anyways. After waiting an hour and 45 minutes, we asked again and even though it had been a full hour since I last asked and were told that we were fifth in line they said there were four people in front of us... so it essentially meant that we hadn't moved up at all in placement . I finally spoke to another man who seated us within 10 minutes and told us that we would be able to order fast so we could be in and out of here in less than an hour.... Yet we saw another 20 minutes before anyone even came by our table. The food was decent at best. Lack of flavor was a big issue. Not worth the wait at all. Our waiter was nice which was good since everyone else was incredibly rude. One member of our party got something else rather than what she ordered and we did not have time to correct it however were shocked when we saw the price was over double than what she had actually ordered. The cheese enchiladas have meat in the sauce which defeats the purpose and when I had asked about vegetarian options when I got there, the cheese enchiladas were recommended and the vegetarian in our party ended up not being able to eat after waiting over 2 hours. Our fault for not waiting for menus since we were going to be VERY late, but why a staff member recommended it as vegetarian is beyond me... staff should either be familiar with the menu or say they do not know as allergies and things like being a vegetarian are non negotiable when it comes to food. Prices were super high for what we got. Got WAY more food for less at Ninfas and their food was a billion times better.

    Chips and salsa
    Karen B.

    CON -We had a party of 3 and were told that there was a 45 minute wait. We watched people that came in after us be seated. When asked about it got blown off. Talked to a manager and was told that it is because they didnt seat small parties at the bigger tables. Originally told 5 parties were ahead of us. Now when checked told there is 4 parties in front of us - even though saw people come in after us th get a seat. Told they probably had reservations- only thing is we knew one of the parties and they didnt have reservations. Manager finally got a table for us after 1 1/2 hrs. PRO - chips and salsa give it a top rating. Our server Brandon was great. Knew we were in a time crunch and put our order in fast and gave us our bill early so that when we were done eating didn't have to wait for a bill. The fajita steak tacos were delicious.

    Guacamole dip
    Hazel B.

    Great food and service. Marcos did a great job waiting on our party of 8. The large chicken and steak fajita was big enough for 3 people and we still had left overs. Everything was delicious.

    Peach Sangria.
    Jazz B.

    This one is going to be a hard pass for me. We checked out the one on Lamar, and I can say it's probably some of the worst Tex-Mex I've ever had. The food just wasn't good. I think the best thing we had was the grilled veggies. I don't know if it's just me, but I expect to have a little flavor and spice when it comes to any type of Mexican food, even Tex-Mex. This was just blah, straight salt only. I had the lunch fajita, big miss. I just think it needs a little more flavor. What can I say, I'm a Louisiana guy. I really can't judge the service on this one. I went in a group of 20, and I know what can be a little tricky. I will say the bar tenders were nice and friendly, but the table service- not so much. The restaurant was nice and clean, so that's a plus. I just wish I could say more for the food and service.

    Combination Enchiladas (chicken & beef)
    Areeba Z.

    We were looking for some Tex mex near the convention center after a full conference day. The convenience of this location is unmatched. Ample space to accommodate any size party. We were seated right away and our hostess went over the menu. We got a round of drinks and went straight to the mains. The chips and salsa on the house were super fresh. The salsa had a spicy kick to it and probably one of the best charred tomato salsa I have had! My coworker got chicken fajitas and I got the combo enchiladas. My god, there was enough food to feed 4 people! But im not complaining! The enchiladas were cooked to perfection. The rice and beans were well seasoned. We did find that this place was a little overpriced, but given it's connected to Hilton, the prices made sense. Will be back for some enchiladas and salsa!

    Chicken Fajita Flautas (2)
    Pla C.

    This is a must try.... Great food and atmosphere. Waitress suggested these items and they were 10/10. Great flavor in the beans, shrimps... everything. Fresh salsa and chips. Everything was great.

    Braised Beef Enchiladas
    John C.

    The food was excellent! Bar service was very slow. Especially since the was hardly any patrons at the bar. The bartenders were hanging out. But the food was worth all the wait. The braised beef enchiladas were on point! Absolutely worth going back for.

    El Sombrero

    Mid food and mid service with a premium price tag. Staff are standing around tables and talking. My flatware was dirty when I took it out of the napkin. $50+ fajitas come with a veggie plate that covers half the tray and three tortillas. My one of my enchiladas had no sauce on it. Absolute waste of money.

    Rex C.

    This is the first time I visit this location and I'll definitely give them four stars. I will say the parking here is quite the headache. You have to park at a parking garage then walk a few blocks. You must remember to get your parking validated and then walk back. In all honesty, I'd rather just go to your standard Pappasitos where I can pull up Park and walk in. That was quite the hassle. I will not lie. I will admit, though if you're coming to the Rockets game, it's probably a good deal. Service was OK. Took a little while to get seated. They were short service. No problem, I understand. The food was great. You cannot go wrong with Pappasito's food. The fajita nachos were top notch. No matter which location you go to. You can always expect great food. Their food is definitely five star rating. The only reason why I gave it four stars because the parking situation. Back to the food. The tortilla soup was also great as well. Once again, I'll definitely come back before Rockets game or maybe even come back and deal with the parking garage but nonetheless, this is great Houston, Texas food like always amazing nachos.

    Taco dinner (chicken)
    Courtney S.

    This restaurant is attached to the Hilton, which is attached to the convention center. It was very busy at lunchtime, and service was very quick, especially at the bar. All wait staff were attentive, and moving quickly to get drinks and orders out of the kitchen. The menu is more geared towards dinner with the prices and sizes, although it was fair overall. The taco dinner was absolutely delicious, and the chips and salsa were fresh and hot. While it may be more commercialized than a mom and pop shop, the food was definitely worth it!

    Brian Q.

    Came after checking out of the Hilton and waiting for appropriate time to go to the airport. Being next to a convention center, it was packed! So make reservations! Had reservations so was seated immediately and was given chips and salsa. Always a plus! Taxi had said fajita nachos were good so opted for that and that was filling for 2 people. Lots of flavor and filled with toppings. Also got the Birria taco which was flavorful and spicy and the meat was very tender. All in all good food for the price!

    Maya is awesome
    Mecede A.

    Very large portions! The server Maya was very friendly and provided great service!The steak fajita was very tender. The drinks were amazing! Overall had lots of fun eating with colleagues there.

    Tacos Al carbon
    Anisya N.

    The atmosphere is so fun and brightly lit! The six of us got seated quickly, and our server was friendly! Can't complain about free chips and salsa but the salsa is pretty watery and not my fave. Food came fast within fifteen minutes. I got their tacos al carbon with fajita chicken. Good portion size but I'd recommend getting their fajitas instead since it's basically the same dish with a little more money and extra food. Chicken is juicy and cooked well, while their guac paired well with it. Not a fan of how the chicken was rolled up in the tortillas which made it harder to eat. Nonetheless though pretty decent, good spot for Mexican food!

    Seafood Combination is superb!!

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    Page 1 of 15

    Pappasitos Cantina - Downtown Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pappasitos Cantina - Downtown

    Does Pappasitos serve Tex Mex or Mexican food?

    Tex Mex

    Good for large groups? Any vegan options?

    Yes and Yes

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Steak

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    3.9(2.3k reviews)
    1.1 mi•Warehouse District, Second Ward
    •$$
    Private events
    Catering service

    Fast seating even when full. Enough time to walk to the bar order margaritas then be seatedread more

    FAJITAS 7. As a native Houstonian, I was 10 when Ninfa's opened (1973). Growing up, we ate there…read moreseveral times each month. We'd rotate with Los Tios or Chinese every Friday or Saturday. As there is not a location near me any longer, we traveled to the original location. It was bustling with an attentive waitstaff and lots of people watching. Complementary valet (of course we tip) is a great benefit as parking is slim. Our waitress was Kady. She's been there for 50 years! Talk about an original. She was attentive to our needs but all business. We started with guacamole and queso. Guac was a huge portion with all the add ins. Queso was delish and served with fried flour tortillas (my fav). The gratis green dip, red sauce, and thick, crisp chips were on par. The fajitas. Just so so. Honestly, it reminded me of Taco Cabana. Very disappointing. Very little flavor and tough. The rice was yucky, the refried beans were the worst! Reminded us of the frito lay bean dip in a can. Even the Borracho beans were bad. HEB's in the can are far better. We received 2 corn and 2 flour tortillas. Fajitas served with pico, guac, sour-sour cream (I didn't even like that). Iced tea was fair. All in all, Fajitas very disappointing. If we had not been on the best fajita quest, I most likely would have ordered the chicken caldo soup. That never disappoints.

    Photos
    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Decor

    Decor

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Combo Fajitas - Large

    Combo Fajitas - Large

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Margarita

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    Margarita

    El Tiempo Cantina - Strawberry margarita

    El Tiempo Cantina

    3.8(969 reviews)
    4.1 mi•Upper Kirby
    •$$

    A friend was visiting Houston and wanted to try some local TexMex, so, we decided on El Tiempo…read more El Tiempo is definitely a vibe. There's so many interesting decorations and the atmosphere is always pretty lively. You can sit on the patio (covered), or at the bar inside, or at any of the other interior seating options I will say that the parking isn't necessarily ideal. There is valet parking, but the self parking lot is in the back and there's not much space (both to drive and spots available). Also, if you enter from the parking lot and go through the patio you will have to wind yourself throughout the busy restaurant to the front to get seated. Also, the lighting is a little interesting in that there's a colorful glow around the restaurant while still being somewhat intimate lighting The menu offers all your main TexMex staples like fajitas, chips and queso, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, margarita's etc etc etc etc. the portions are always hearty and everything is played relatively nice. Ordered a couple dishes to share and catch up. Everything tasted great Our service was pretty good. The food came out in a timely manner and our drinks were refilled. We had our plates cleared and they even wiped down the table for us so we were sitting in any mess. The strange thing (to me), was while clearing plates they never asked is we were interested in dessert, anything else, or the check. Then we were awkwardly waiting and trying to get the attention of our server for a while thereafter Some tips: If you live in the area you might want to either uber or valet to avoid the hassle of parking there. Definitely if you want to enjoy their wonderful cocktails and other libations I would consider a ride share Definitely order a starter like the queso. Also, you will get complementary bottomless chips and salsa. The struggle is always trying to not fill up on those prior to the meal coming out, but don't worry, they're fairly quick in terms of brining your order out so you won't be sitting idly too long The menu offers so many wonderful dishes, but it can be a little overwhelming. I would probably consider taking a peak online prior to heading that way Cheers!!

    Fajitas: 4.3/5. Amazing beef fajitas. Incredibly juicy and…read moretender. Service: 3.5/5. Nice attentive wait staff.

    Photos
    El Tiempo Cantina
    El Tiempo Cantina - Chicken Fajita Enchiladas Ground Beef Enchiladas

    Chicken Fajita Enchiladas Ground Beef Enchiladas

    El Tiempo Cantina - Mango margaritas

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    Mango margaritas

    Maria Rita's Tex-Mex - Inside of the "fajita enchiladas"

    Maria Rita's Tex-Mex

    4.4(199 reviews)
    7.9 mi
    •$$

    I was in a facility getting a minor procedure and I had to be lightly sedated which did not allow…read moreme to drive myself to and from my appointment, so my wife drove me there and hung out while I was getting the procedure done. Neither one of us had eaten and we were both starving. We had decided that when I was released we would just go to the restaurant that was in the same parking lot as the facility. I had been to the restaurant before, had fajitas and they were served bloody raw and was just disgusting so I Never went back. We mentioned where we were planning to go to some of the staff members and they said do not go there and that it was too expensive for the type of Mexican food that they serve you. Then they all suggested Maria Rita's. My wife and I had never heard of it before so we asked where it was and it was located 2min down the street. When we got there it was packed, but we decided to thug it out and wait for a table, this also gave us time to troll the parking lot and land a killer parking spot as people left. We finally got the notice that our table was ready. The inside was clean, awesome and had a savory aroma mixed with a Smokey grill Oder that just made us even more hungry than we already were. We both ordered this dish that came with fajitas and bacon wrapped shrimp with a cheese sauce that was Truly Amazing! When I finally was able to take a bite of one of the four gigantic shrimp after I completely destroyed my fajitas, I thought that I was going to pass out from the ecstasy that the flavor profile from that shrimp that overwhelmed my senses! We both enjoyed our meal,(obviously) and I can't end this review without mentioning how attentive, nice and unexpected table side manor that the staff had displayed despite being overwhelmed with a full house crowd. A truly epic experience. Please dig deep for a tip, they deserve it. Enjoy!!

    For the area, a decent Tex-Mex restaurant. Service is fast and friendly. I would have preferred a…read morebit more authentic seasoning on my fajitas.

    Photos
    Maria Rita's Tex-Mex
    Maria Rita's Tex-Mex
    Maria Rita's Tex-Mex - Hibiscus margarita

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    Hibiscus margarita

    Hugo's - Bistec oaxaqueno

    Hugo's

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    2.4 mi•Montrose
    •$$$

    It was one of the great experience . Service was top notch , servers were well dressed and very…read moreattentive. Ambiance was great and well maintained . There is option of valet parking . We were five and half of them were vegetarian. Pan fried potatoes Tacos was very tasty . My son got two more . Presentation was awesome. Enchiladas was best . Fish was fresh and tasty . Churros was best I have ever had Cocktails were well thought .

    Mildly frustrating. However I had patience. The server JESUS acted like he didn't like his job…read more We went in for my cousins birthday on Saturday , reservations at 630. I didn't want to order off the restaurant week menu so I ordered off the regular. My cousin and his friend ordered off the restaurant week menu. I was last to order and then Jesus goes "you don't want a salad or anything?" I said no thank you. Then he goes "but every body else is going to be eating and you're not." I said I understand and he chuckles and says "ok"Like mf I know what I'm ordering smh ‍. Then he says at the end of the meal that he cannot bring out the dessert for my cousins birthday because he already ordered off the restaurant week menu. Then he says "you know what I'm going to bring you all a dessert." Then Jesus bring us A Spec of a piece of flan. as if it was a joke to him. Please get a server that has light inside of them and that actually wants to make the experience memorable for their guests. Jesus needs work. God bless him tho. I can only hope management brings this up to his attention. I tip well too btw

    Photos
    Hugo's
    Hugo's - Lechon

    Lechon

    Hugo's - Special margarita

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    Special margarita

    Superica - Delicious flautas!

    Superica

    4.1(562 reviews)
    4.6 mi•The Heights
    •$$

    Superica didn't impress me on a first dinner visit, but since then I've been back multiple times…read morefor weekend brunch, and each time has been consistently good. Parking can be challenging on weekends, but there is complimentary valet and a few extra spots in a lot across the street. There's interior and exterior seating, with cozy booths and tables. Service is friendly. Chips and salsa: Superica has some of my favorite chips, crispy and thin and perfectly fried. The avocado crema salsa and warm serrano pepper salsas are delicious with a mild kick. The bottled red salsa is fresh and green salsa packs a nice punch. Migas: Scrambled eggs with tortilla chips and cheese, choice of chicken versus chorizo on top, finished with fresh avocado. I really enjoyed this combination and the generous portion for the price. The eggs are well scrambled without being dry, and the pairing with cheese is proportional. The chicken was a touch dry, but some salsa solved that well. I enjoyed stuffing each component into a fresh tortilla and devouring it as a breakfast taco. Refried beans and rice: Really delicious. The refried beans are of the smoother variety without as much chunkiness, which I prefer, and topped with creamy cheese. I could have used a touch more tomato in the rice, but overall enjoyed the texture and flavor. Patatas with salsa roja, topped with egg: I enjoyed the flavors in this dish, but there was sooo much salsa. The potatoes were thus a little soggy, though still cooked well. The over medium egg was cooked nicely and complemented the potatoes with creamy yolk. Bacon: Really generous portion for $7 as a side, and cooked well. Crispy potatoes: I enjoy that these are fingerling potatoes smashed and roasted, but they could be crispier. They seem to be on the blander side on purpose to allow seasoning to taste, and I really like pairing them with the red bottled salsa provided at each table (probably due to their association with ketchup). Hotcakes: The literal star of every brunch, these hotcakes are consistently delicious. They're massive yet somehow cooked perfectly through so that they're fluffy and soft on the inside and just with a slight crunch on the outside. The pairing of the creamy warm (!!!) maple syrup is heavenly. Because of how huge these are, usually one is enough to share between two people, although they also come in stacks of two and three. For reference, we finished 3/4 of three between four healthy and hungry people and it wasn't for lack of trying. Whenever I crave weekend brunch, Superica is always a top option.

    Came here for an early lunch. This place was very busy, but didn't have to wait too long to get a…read moretable. My issue with this place is it seems like the entire lot was used for valet. So if you don't want to pay for valet you would have to park a little further out behind the building. We started off with their Chile con Queso. Anytime I visit Houston, ordering fajitas is a must. We did just that, ordered half steak half chicken. Most places however sell it by the pound, here it seemed you only got one option and it came with one side of rice and beans. Everywhere else I've ordered these, they serve it family style. Usually everyone at your table gets their own rice and beans. No here though. Here the fajitas are offered as an individual entree. The food was very delicious though. Both the chicken and the beef were seasoned snd cooked perfectly. The chicken was very tender and the beef had a nice char to it. The grilled onions were also very tasty. Overall we were really satisfied. It is a bit on the pricey side compared to other Tex Mex, and the unnecessary use of valet utilizing the parking lot through me off a bit. Not sure I'd return on my next visit, especially when I've already enjoyed other experiences a little more. At the least the food here is delicious and ultimately will always be the most important thing.

    Photos
    Superica
    Superica
    Superica - Amazing Sauces! The salsa was my favorite! Flavorful with a nice kick!

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    Amazing Sauces! The salsa was my favorite! Flavorful with a nice kick!

    Pappasitos Cantina - Downtown - tex-mex - Updated September 2026

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