My kids love this place because it has an outdoor sitting area to eat!! The food it's really good almost feels home made. They're very attentive to serving us. Definitely recommend 10/10 read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Ramen noodles soup birria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

You order at the counter for this restaurant, but we sat at the bar to get seated service. The service was okay- as well as the food. It's good if you are in a pinch, however I have had better birria tacos and chips and queso. We also ordered a Michileada and the bartender didn't know how to make it. I would recommend this spot if you are in a pinch and need food quickly. If not, take the time to go spot that has better service and takes more time making food. read more

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Great tacos! Delicious Elote as well. Next I want to try the Birria Ramen....it sounds amazing! Order at the counter with the very friendly staff. They give you a number and deliver to your table. Even when they are busy, the wait is not long. Fun vibe in this place. A little loud, but not in a bad way. Fun Spanish music playing. Colorful and festive decor. Outside dining if you prefer. read more

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Tacos were hot and cooked fast, with great flavor. The counter is self order and then they provide a number to you and you seat yourself and then the food is brought out. So if your looking for service were you want to reorder things you may have to walk back up to the counter. The restaurant was clean and well kept. Frozen margarita machine was available too if you want. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Birria Street Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came to Tacos Dona Lena for Cinco de Mayo + taco Tuesday! I've been wanting to try the spot for a minute and it definitely hit. Got two steak tacos, a grande steak, quesadilla, a side of chips that came with a variety of house sauces, and ended with the churros. To start, the tacos were simple being topped with onions and cilantro, and coming on corn tortillas. The quesadilla was made with a generous filling of steak and cheese. Lastly, one of my favorite parts of the meal was getting to try all the different house salsas that they had. As expected, the restaurant was packed as it was Cinco de Mayo and taco Tuesday. It was a fun, busy environment, every table was filled inside and outside seating. Definitely a great spot to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the heart of the city! read more

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We had a taco lunch from Tacos Dona Lena, and it was delicious! We shared a variety of tacos, and my favorites were the birria street tacos and the barbacoa tacos. The birria street tacos were so tender and flavorful, and the salsas provided (red and green--I liked both!) added a nice kick. I also liked the al pastor tacos, which were very tasty. The only tacos I didn't like were the lingua tacos--someone had recommended the lingua tacos, but it was a bit to fatty for me. One thing--it may be an anomaly, but our tacos took a long time (30+ minutes) to be ready. It's probably a little on me because I totally forgot it was Cinco de Mayo, but just FYI. But still 5 star tacos! read more

I found Tacos Dona Lena on one of those best tacos in each state list, so when we were traveling to Houston recently, I said let's give it a shot. Now I am usually skeptical of those lists. " Who did they pay to get on it?" "I'm sure there's better places". I have those types of questions. Well, if there are better tacos then what I had, I want to go now! This place is great! I ordered the Quesabirria tacos. if you have lived under a rock like I was until 2 years ago, Birria tacos are basically the French Dip of Mexican food. Quesabirria is basically a grilled taco like a quesadilla. You probably figured that out without my mansplaining. Anyway, these were delicious and even better when dipped into the consume (au jus like soup). Once you finish eating the tacos, don't be ashamed to pick up that cup of soup and slurp it down. It's that good!. Tacos Dona Lena brings out 6 sauces with each order, and they range in hotness and flavor. The ladyfriend stayed in the 1st or 2nd sauce range, I liked 4 the best. I would have loved to try other items next time I am in Houston, which now maybe sooner than I planned. read more

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I love coming here. The food is always delicious and the service is always good. I've only been here by myself, but it's a great place to bring friends and family. This time I tried the enchiladas. It was a little different because it wasn't covered in sauce like I'm used to but they were still good. The tacos never disappoint though. And I love all the salsas they have to offer. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Drink menu - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I had never been here. I called & was told that happy hour ritas & Mexican Candy shots were $5 3:00-6:00. I had to look up what a Mexican Candy was. I love tequila, watermelon & spice. It sounded interesting. It began by being charged $8.66. I had to say that I was told that it was $5. Bartender had to go check. She changed the charge. Then she made my drink. She used Malibu rum, not tequila. Right then I should have said,"Never mind. Please credit my card.It was disgusting. HH ritas obviously were made with cheap mix. They weren't frozen. Bartender apologized & said that the machine needed to be cleaned. They were drinkable with extra lime wedges squeezed in. Someone walked to the table a couple of times to ask if we were okay. We still had to order at the register. I didn't get food. I don't plan to return. I prefer making my own ritas with fresh limes & quality tequila. There are better places for HH that serve ritas in glass, not disposable plastic cups, & chips & yummy salsa are gratis. The guy at the adjacent table did say that his birria was good. The 6 bottles of salsa did look interesting. The ladies room smelled like sewer. That's a major no for me. I have no idea what the fix is, but it needs to be addressed. Who wants to eat after that? read more

Tacos Doña Lena - NOT a Mexican Candy! Gross!!! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Went back in person, and I will say it wasn't as pleasant as having it delivered. It took so long to place the order due to the line being out the door. We ordered las tres chismosas again, this time with different meats. The tripas and camoechano were the best ones in my opinion. We also had the mango water-- DO NOT GET IT. Idk what we had but it did not taste like mango water, you're better off getting a soda. read more

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I visited Tacos Dona Lena in Houston with a few friends, and overall we had a pretty good experience. They're known for their quesabirria-style tacos, and those definitely didn't disappoint, super flavorful and worth trying if you haven't been. The ordering setup is simple: you order at the front, grab a number, and they bring the food out to your table. The only downside during our visit was that they forgot my queso as the appetizer. Despite that little hiccup, I'd still come back and try something different off the menu. The food has a lot of potential, and I'm hoping for an even better experience next time! read more

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Doña Lena's never disappoints! From the moment you walk in service is top tier! Staff is friendly & helpful. The food is fantastic, like you're eating at your Abuela's (grandma) house. All the food is cooked fresh and great portions! Great family atmosphere & definitely lots of photo ops for social media - a definite must try! read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Las Tres Chismosas with your choice of meat & rice & beans - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Regarding online order: I ordered caldo de Albondigas on the restaurants website, not through any third party app. I expected my order to be ready when I came to pick it up, however to my surprise it was not available. Instead of waiting to resolve the issue, the waitress disappeared and did not come back to help us resolve this problem. We ended up calling the restaurant for her to return to the front. Then the waitress asked if we wanted another soup, just to find out "soups were seasonal items". We ended up ordering a torta. This one torta took them 30 minutes. In summary, this has been a nightmare to deal with. I'm not sure if I'm getting a refund for my original order. Their customer service is absolutely terrible. There is no such thing as customers first here. Will not recommend. Photo is proof of what their website stated they had in their store. ***update: they never refunded me for my meal and still charged my credit card. The response by the owner tells you what type of establishment this place is. *** read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Went for taco Tuesday with a couple of friends and got the Taco Tuesday deal. 5 mini street tacos for $7. We got the beef and pork and they were both absolutely delicious. We enjoyed the corn in the cup on the side. The meat was so flavorful and although the tacos were small, 3-4 would be enough to get a person full. This spot is more spacious than the spring branch location and has a great parking lot. The decorations are so cute and I love how vibrant everything was. The variety of sauces are always such a great addition to the tacos :) read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Elote corn cup - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Tacos Doña Lena on W 18th in Houston is the big sister to the original Hammerly location and continues the legacy of being a standout spot for birria lovers, offering a flavorful menu that includes birria tacos, ramen, machetes, and gorditas, all complemented by a curated six-salsa tasting experience. The cozy, festive atmosphere and consistently warm service make it a local favorite, though prices are slightly higher. Signature dishes like the birria ramen and Las Tres Chismosas plate earn rave reviews, and while the location can be easy to miss, the quality and authenticity make it well worth the visit. I consider myself a "Day 1," and will continue returning for my cheat days! read more

If you're looking for overstuffed tacos for a great price with flavorful salsa then this is a must to visit! I ordered the 3 tacos plate with barbacoa and it was overflowing with meat. Easily could've taken the extra corn tortillas to turn them into 6 tacos. All orders come with 6 different salsas ranging from mild to very spicy. They will explain them to you if it's a first time visit. I used the spiciest one and it wasn't too spicy but I also have a very high spice tolerance (thank you Asian genes). When you enter you're not seated until you place an order at the counter then you choose your own table with a table number. Service was fast. I went around 1 on a Saturday they were busy but it wasn't overwhelming. I rated a four because the beans and rice lacked flavor a pinch of salt would have fixed it but the tacos made up for it. read more

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Passing through Houston we stopped in. Food is mediocre. My 4 year olds bean taco was full of oil. I got the birria ramen which was flavorless and the egg had a fart flavor. The beef in the soup was fatty which is a first for me. I should have taken a pic. The staff are not friendly. The waiter through down the salsa bottles and one feel and squirted all over me. She just laughed. The 10 dollar spicy margarita comes in a Dixie cup with a splash of alcohol. Honestly thats an embarrassment. The beef and chicken tacos were nasty. The birria tacos my wife got were decent. Not sure how they have good reviews the food sucks. Food for people with no taste buds read more

Tacos Doña Lena - $10 dollar Dixie cup spicy margarita. Good for burning cash pure profit for them. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Khala behind the bar was so amazing. She turned a bad day into a better day with great service, kindness, and a smile. It was my first time here, as I had to stop in unexpectedly for a quick meeting. Their public WiFi wasn't working so she let me use hers! She also recommended drinks and food that was actually SO fire. I'm very picky with street taco Sykes beef but this beef was tender, flavorful, and $3 during happy hour! The regular seven dollar frozen margarita and I have to get out of here was just perfect not too sour not too sweet. I'm actually super impressed with how good this place was. I showed up around 2 PM which is right when their happy hours started and the entire restaurant was packed! They play a good mix between hip-hop and Hispanic music which I thought was fun. Needless to say, I'll definitely be back. read more

The birria tacos and consommé at Tacos Dona Lena were so good. The meat was cooked perfectly and the consommé could be drunk like soup. The rice and beans were equally as good. I ordered a strawberry margarita (frozen) and it was perfect. Not watered down or skimping on the spirits. The tacos de lengua and the tacos de camarones were a little bland for our tastes. The Tinga de pollo was very heavy on the chipotle and a little overly salty. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Taco de lengua, Tinga de pollo, taco de canarones, Side of Avocado. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My absolute favorite place to get tacos and to just eat in general. I've been eating Tacos Dona Lena once a week for the past 4 weeks. Everything is so good. They offer a wide variety of meats and non meat options. And their menu is pretty big, they have a lot of different things. I could never get tired of this place. read more

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A bit pricy for a taco but I get it that there's overhead charges for a brick and mortar restaurant. The wide array of salsas are so tasty, and I love the many options for different taco meats. The quality is top notch. I'm craving those crispy tripe tacos now writing this review...... read more

Stopped in for a Mexican breakfast since my husband loves their menudo. The ramen birria he said was even better than the menudo which he loves it that says anything. It was so fully of everything including so much cheese. The tostadas on the side weren't good which is odd since I love them typically. The spicy pork flour taco has a great spice level. I want to go back just for more of that honestly. The breakfast enchiladas I could do without. The beans were good. The two types of potatoes weren't the most favorable. They were a hassle to order since the cashier tried charging me $1.50 for more cheese when I thought she was just confirming what was on it. She proceeded to have an attitude when we even said thank you delivering our food. Overall the vibrant feel and the decent food will have me coming back. The sauces are good as usual. read more

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Okay, Tacos Doña Lena absolutely ATE. I got the queso birria with consomé and OMG SO. GOOD. Like "don't-talk-to-me-I'm-having-a-moment" good. Plus they have six salsas, from "I fear nothing" spicy to "friendly for humans," and every single one hit the spot. My kids were living their best lives too. One got chicken nuggets, the other ordered quesadillas with a cheese pull so dramatic it could've won an award. She was literally cheering. My son went big with enchiladas and a quesadilla the size of his face ,and he was hyped. We also tried the cucumber drink (piña pepino) and it was amazing! Only thing? I like my drinks ICE COLD like "straight from Antarctica," and this one was more room-temp ,but honestly, still a 10/10 vibe. The place itself is gorgeous inside and out, the music is fun but not "scream over your tacos" loud, and the staff is super sweet and fast. Kid-friendly approved by my picky 3-5 year olds! 5/5. Zero notes. Will be back ASAP. read more

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Margaritas here are strong. Food was ok. The birria ramen was just alright. There was shredded beef but the broth was lacking flavor. The quesabirria tacos tasted ok, consommé was a bit lack luster compared to other places I have had. I liked the decor, there's good amount of parking and the service was good, there's also a patio outside. I like how they have lots of salsas to accompany your meal. I don't know if I would return but it is nice to have a birria taco place nearby. read more

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Such a festive, clean and bright place. Could tell before I walked in I liked the place from the mini botanical garden out front. Friendly helpful service. But most importantly, the food was absolutely delicious and not overpriced at all. Fresh, authentic and big portions. Got 6 different sauces for the tacos, each one better than the rest. Would recommend and come back read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Front - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food here was really good and tasted very authentic. I loved the variety of sauces they bring to the table. The quesabirria was cheesy and delicious, but for me it was missing just a little more flavor to make it perfect. That is the only reason I cannot give it five stars. We also tried the guacamole which was decent. The atmosphere was lively and friendly and overall the experience was very enjoyable. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Beef Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Date night! Pulled up to Doña Lena on 18th St with high expectations since we've been to the other location in Spring Branch. I ordered the burrito de carne asada and a barbacoa taco, The carne asada had decent flavor but the burrito itself just wasn't hittin the right way for me. The way the mix of the burrito with the ingredients just wasn't doing it for me, maybe because I like frijoles in my burrito & I just overall like it California style. I was tryna bite into what I thought would be a fiesta and ended up at a small family gathering. The Barbacoa taco with straight smackin. You can tell it was marinated well. The Pina y Pepino Aqua Fresca was reallly good. All fresh ingredients, as we were waiting for the to-go order I found myself almost drinking the whole thing! Service was friendly. The spot has a nice Mexican homey vibe feels like you're chillin' in abuela's house/k. Also, on a sidenote, my wife's tostada was greasy. Would I slide back through? A big maybe. I like the other location better. The barbacoa is worth coming back for though read more

I went for lunch and had the puerco asado, pastor, and carne ranchera They were all tiny street tacos and the quality was forgettable. Wanted to get another beer, but no waitress came by so they got no tip. The only thing I liked was the large assortment of salsa, but that wasn't enough to get me to ever give this joint another try...ever! read more

The location on W. 18th is spacious and so lively. The decor is not only seen but felt before even walking inside. The tacos are listed as "starters" but they are actually sized right. Such great tasting food. read more

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Great birria tacos, everything else is just alright. Really nice interior, somewhat helpful staff. Counter service, and they bring you a spread of salsas. Good place to go with friends. read more

The food is always good but I'm not sure what happened to the service from when they opened to now but they are unfriendly and makes it uncomfortable to interact with. I am very sad that we will not be returning. read more

My husband and I decided to order to-go for Taco Tuesday. I ordered it online for pick up and it was easy to do from their website and they were on time with our order. I'm glad we ordered it from this place because their tacos were delicious. I ordered the carnitas and pollo tacos in corn tortilla. I had low expectations because we ordered to-go but their meat had really good flavor and the chicken was not dry. Also, the prices were affordable for a taco place in this area. They may not have any deals for Taco Tuesdays but I can't wait for the next time we order from them or dine in with them. Overall, I highly recommend this place. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Carnitas and Pollo in Corn Tortilla - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Authentic tacos and other Mexican street foods are just as delicious here as the original location at Spring Branch! Service is just as friendly too, and the location benefits from a larger space and more updated interior with greater seating. The parking lot is also pretty big. For these reasons, we prefer this location for bigger groups. Our favorites are the barbacoa, carne asada, tripa, lengua, and birria tacos but don't sleep on the sopes, tostadas, and tortas. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

It was OK but I won't be back Very nice service and the vibe is inviting. However for a city full tacos these did not standout. We had the carne ranchera, pastor and barbaqoa tacos as well as refried beans. read more

Tacos Doña Lena - Menu, partial - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

First things first, I'm late to the Dona Lena's party! I went to another Dona restaurant hoping for the same experience, but it didn't compare! While I've still yet to visit the original location, this one is solid! I'm glad we arrived early because while we were enjoying our feast the line piled up! We ordered a handful of items to share between three people + I treated myself to a salsa flight with their 6? salsa options! I cannot visit any location without order my the queso, and I'm very happy I continued that tradition here. Silky smooth, this stuff is addictive. It impressed me almost as much as the birria! That being said, if you choose one item at this spot, choose the birria! read more

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I love the decor and vibe of this place. Everyone is friendly and the food is very authentic. This restaurant started as a way to bring a bit of Mexico back to Houston and it very much feels like that. Definitely coming back! Chips & Queso: 8/10 The chips were really good and not too salty and not too plain. The queso was pretty good although I wished it was a bit less thick and perhaps with some chorizo it would have been really good. Still solid though. El Taquero: 10/10 I loved loved this dish. It was delicious and such a good sized portion. The tortillas were fresh and the flavors of the dish were smoky and well seasoned. Quesabirria: 7/10 These were pretty good. I liked that the meat was tender and the tortilla wasn't oily. The only thing is that the cheese wasn't as soft as I would have liked and the consume sauce didn't have much spice in it. Still pretty yummy though. Parking: decent amount of spots! read more

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The enchiladas verde is so satisfying! The tortillas are just slightly crispy and it really elevates it. But the food overall is simple and fresh. If you like authentic, homemade Mexican food, this is your new spot! And the people are super kind. Fun, colorful atmosphere. read more

Not surprised they have opened a second location. I'm just glad it's on 18th street more close to me! If you're a taco lover like I am, you're aware of their success with their original Hammerly location which has been mentioned numerous times on local publicists' 'best of' lists in regards to tacos/mexican cuisine. With success leads to expansion as they have added a second location on W 18th Street in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove area. This location has a larger dining area with more seating including a bar area, stretched high-top seating, and numerous tables and booths. Much larger than their Hammerly location in terms of capacity with more parking. Food is always delivered timely and piping hot. As for their food, it's still amazing and always hits the sweet taco spot. Can't go wrong with any of their proteins (lengua, tripa, spicy de puerco, and chile con negro carne are my favorites) either in taco, gordita, quesadilla, sope, torta, or burrito form. And they also have Birria which they do quite well. First time I came here, their eats still had the same dynamite flavors/tastes as their original location and it's remained consistent every time I come here for dine-in or take-out. Maybe a third location down the road? With how Dona Lena performs, don't be surprised! read more

This is what I imagine a family owned taco establishment to be like as a hidden gem tucked away from the modern city. The Mango Agua fresca was delicious as was the Quesabirra tacos. Paired with the sauce selection it was outstanding, each sauce bringing a different taste it was fun mixing and matching. I will definitely be coming back to try more of Dona's tacos! read more

Ramen Birra is beyond delicious. Service & staff were fantastic & quick. A definite revisit!