Tacos El Gato

Private events

Catering service

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

The spot where the fajitas was made famous. Where Texmex became a cultural phenomenon…read more Very good vibes here, the restaurant keeps expanding to accommodate more guests. Service was amazing, quick sharp, and making sure we are comfortable and content. I took a dear friend from Pittsburgh here. Gave her alil education. We couldn't stop eating the chips and salsa. Ordered the beef fajitas and it blew her mind away. We each had a house Margarita to wash it all down.

6.7 mi•Midtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose

Decor

Cochinita Pibil

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Margarita

Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

4.2(296 reviews)

Food was great, drinks were so good, vibes were so chill and service was great, definitely…read morereturning for brunch!!

Not my first time at Maderas. That's why I came back because it was excellent and my friends heard…read moreme rave about it and they suggested we come here. Arrived on Sunday evening around 7:30. Was sat immediately. Not my first time here so I knew the menu, my friends did not. So they needed time to see what drinks they wanted because they like cocktails and the menu is not small and they had to choose which ones they wanted because the options are good. When they decided, the cocktails straggled out. Two came out but the other two did not, They just sat at the bar as my friends sat with there with their drinks in front of them waiting on ours so we can toast to a wonderful day with a new member of the group. You would have thought the other staff would step in or at least the bartender would see that the waiter was in the weeds and needed help. That's when I knew we should have not come. The food was all lukw warm. The appetizer of queso was like warm with chunks of cheese floating around and some of the chips were fresh and others stale. A mixed bag you can say. My Flautas where luke warm, so was the side of beans and rice. My friends said their tacos were okay. My friend who got the Caesar Salad, there was no dressing on the salad not was there a side of dressing that came with it. We had to ask for it. I did not have the energy to try to keep wrangling the waiter. If you want to shut the kitchen down early because the day was long I get it. Let the customer know, I get it. I used to wait tables to but I would never give people luke warm food or luke service. The staff seems not to have one anothers back. I did not eat my food, I took my food home to reheat it so I could eat it at the proper temperature. My friend took his salad home because he had more Caesar dressing at home. Left a bad taste in my mouth and very disappointed. The service and food from the last time compared to this visit was night and day. Total miss. $200.00 thrown away. I paid because I could not let my friends waiste there money on someplace I raved about. Maderas is really a small cute spot. It's rare I have bad service when I go out to eat because I am not a difficult customer and I know I am not the only one they are serving. I will wait for good food and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and my friends until it arrives. I would not put pressure on the staff or the kitchen. Also I will not arrive just before closing and make a resteraunt and it's staff stay open late because I am hungry. I rather come when the staff and the restaurant wants to recieve customers.

Right side entry

Rice & Beans

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Chicken Enchiladas

Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

3.9(898 reviews)

7.9 mi•The Heights

Ay dios mío. La comida aquí es perfecto. Gracias Perla!…read more I met friends here for a late dinner and was blown away by the drinks and the food. Even with a party of five our food was brought out less than twenty minutes after ordering. In addition to the fajitas for one that were so good that my mom ate my leftovers, my cucumber spice margarita was superb. I would come back for that and the shrimp alone.

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.

4.2 mi•Upper Kirby, West University

Queso + Beef

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Fajita Salad

Guadalajara Mexican Grille

4.0(593 reviews)

We were greeted and welcomed warmly and received excellent service. Our glasses were never empty. I…read morehad the amazing Mixed Green Salad with Cilantro Lime dressing and Grilled Salmon - the salmon was seasoned and grilled to perfection, easily one of the best grilled salmon fillets that I have ever tasted. Hubby thoroughly enjoyed the Beef Enchilada and Chicken Taco Al Carbon with rice and charro beans. I had to photograph our friend's Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes with Shrimp and Lump Crab because it was so beautiful. She assured me that it tasted as good as it looked.

Guadalajara's is one of our favorite restaurants. We have picked up a few to-go orders as well as…read moredined in and normally always have great experiences. I will say, if you are within happy hour, sit in the bar area. We typically don't so we sat in the main dining area our last visit and ironically ordered everything that was on the happy hour menu and spent double what we would have. Our loss though and learned our lesson. Otherwise the food always seems like good quality, fresh, flavorful and delicious. Margaritas are great and service is usually good. We visit multiple Guadalajara's because we think they are one of the best Tex-Mex in Houston.

5.6 mi•Montrose, River Oaks

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Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose

4.2(690 reviews)

•$$$

Visited for Houston restaurant week…read more It was our first time trying this place out. After being seated, it took 20 minutes for the server to come to our table and take our drink order. It took another 20 minutes to get the restaurant week menu we had asked for. The food and drinks were good and the ambience was nice, however, the service really tainted the whole experience.

Had a great time with the family! The place is beautiful and the food is exquisite ask for Monica…read moreif you want a good dining experience!

Machete Margarita

Arepas

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Mexican Sugar - beautiful lighting

Maximo

4.6(174 reviews)

3.9 mi•West University

•$$$

Maximo looks like someone invited the desert inside and poured it a drink. The room is colorful,…read morewarm, and genuinely inviting--pots of cactus, cowboy paintings, and Mexican art. At brunch, the papas bravas come as small cubes of fried potato with an airy crunch that gives way to a soft, pillowy center - the kind of deeply satisfying bite that makes conversation briefly irrelevant. Crisp prosciutto adds salt, aioli brings richness, and smoky chile sauce keeps it lively. They're served with cactus-handled toothpicks, which are almost offensively adorable. The chilaquiles divorciados are another hit. The chips are dressed with salsa rather than drowned beneath it, so each one arrives ready for the perfect bite. It's a small distinction, but an important one. Then there are the enfrijoladas: rolled quesadillas in fluffy tortillas, covered in creamy black bean sauce and plated with more care than bean and cheese might seem to warrant. The dish is fundamentally simple, but that's the point. Soft tortilla, savory beans, melted cheese, bright salsa. Familiar ingredients transformed into something deeply comforting--the culinary equivalent of curling up beneath a warm blanket on a cold morning, even if Houston rarely provides one. Dinner shifts into another gear. The crudos are sensational, especially the tuna tiradito - a rolling wave of flavor and texture. The tacos are excellent across the board, but the crispy maitake mushrooms are unmatched. The short ribs arrive juicy and tender on a mole negro that doesn't sit politely in the background. It lands dark, complex, and full of flavor. And then there's the masa cornbread, a masterpiece of unapologetic indulgence. Humble cornbread meets savory-sweet mole, smoky, earthy butter, and caviar. It sounds like too much. It isn't. Every element earns its place. The cocktails deserve their own warning. They're the kind that convince you to keep ordering the same drink all night. By the end, you may have forgotten what was in it. What you'll remember is that it was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and exactly what you needed. Maximo makes ambitious food feel generous rather than fussy. Come hungry.

I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday, and I'm so happy I finally got to try this…read moreestablishment! I would definitely recommend making a reservation, as it can get pretty busy, especially during Saturday lunch. There is also plenty of parking available across the street. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful and felt so authentic to Mexican culture. Our server, Kylah, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and so kind throughout our entire dining experience. Now onto the food; everything was absolutely delicious. The Avocado Mollete and Chilaquiles Divorciados were both packed with so much flavor. Every bite was amazing. I had heard that the pancakes were the star of the show, and they definitely lived up to the hype. I have never had pancakes this crispy before, and they were so good! Our server also brought out a birthday surprise, the Chocolate Cremoso, and it was delicious! It was such a sweet touch to the celebration. Honestly, everything my party ordered was so flavorful and delicious. We had such a great experience, and I genuinely cannot wait to come back!

Tres Leches

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Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

Dona Leti's

4.0(679 reviews)

4.8 mi•The Heights

Dona Leti's is truly one of Houston's absolute gems, and it will ALWAYS be my go-to! From the owner…read moreto every single member of the staff, the hospitality is unmatched. You are not simply served here--you are welcomed, appreciated, and treated like family. Three weeks ago, I was actually headed here wanting to celebrate, but life changed in an instant with the passing of my dad. Today, I finally made it back, and what a beautiful full-circle moment it was. One of the greatest gifts was being able to see Julio, the owner, celebrating his own special day. That made the experience even more meaningful. The food is consistently AMAZING, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service goes above and beyond every single time. You can feel the love, pride, and genuine care that has been poured into this establishment. I love EVERYTHING about Dona Leti's--the food, the people, the energy, the hospitality, and the way they make every visit feel special. Five stars simply aren't enough. If you're looking for incredible food and an experience that feels like home, Dona Leti's is the place. Forever a customer and forever recommending this Houston favorite!

I had an extremely disappointing experience here yesterday--unfortunately, we never even made it to…read moredinner. The experience started poorly with the valet attendants, whom we found to be rude, dismissive, and very unprofessional. It was such an unpleasant first impression that my wife and I mentioned it to the hostess when we went inside. Unfortunately, things did not improve. The hostess seemed completely unconcerned about our experience and simply informed us that the wait for a table was approximately two hours. While deciding whether our party should wait or go elsewhere, I went to the bar to order a drink. After ordering, the bartender told me that if I was only having a drink, I needed to move. Apparently, sitting at the bar required ordering a meal. At that point, we had experienced enough. Between the unpleasant valet experience, the indifferent response at the hostess stand, the two-hour wait, and then being told I couldn't sit at the bar simply to have a drink while we decided what to do, the overall message was clear: we did not feel welcome here. My wife, the rest of our party, and I decided to leave and have dinner elsewhere. A busy restaurant is understandable. A long wait is understandable. What is much harder to understand is making prospective customers feel unwelcome at nearly every point of contact. Needless to say, this was an exceptionally disappointing experience, and we will not be returning.

Bar

Street Taco

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Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

Ambriza

4.5(1.8k reviews)

18.6 mi

Family-owned & operated

Veteran-owned & operated

Get the pork belly bites and their cocktails are delicious…read more If you're here on a Sunday for brunch and have a sweet tooth the French toast is unforgettable. No other French toast will come close. Their homemade sauces make more tantalizing. If you like salty spicy, get the jojo sauce. I don't think it's on the menu And to finish, personally I like cocktails but their fresh filled churros are super fun. And can't beat the fresh factor! Brandon is an excellent attentive server. He knows the menu in and out. He'll steer you right. It's a neighborhood gem

Visited Ambriza for the first time and it honestly impressed me. The ambiance is really nice --…read morewarm, lively, and just a cool place to sit and enjoy a meal. Service was top‑notch, especially from Maritza, who took great care of us the entire time. Since it was our first visit, they surprised us with complimentary street corn, and it was fantastic. We ordered the veggie and the Pastel Azteca. Everything tasted fresh, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I didn't love the Pastel Azteca, but I've never had it before, so that's more about my taste than the dish itself. Overall, great service, great vibe, and really good food. I'd definitely come back.

6.0 mi•Museum District, Montrose

Veggie enchiladas

TEQUILA Wall

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Street corn

Candente - Museum District

4.1(644 reviews)

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!

This restaurant is located in the museum district. It's right by the Chips came out first and came…read morewith salsa and ranch. Both sauces were surprising spicy, especially the salsa. Love it. We came for lunch which is MON-FRI 11AM-3PM. I got the PICK TWO $19 - crispy beef taco & jalapeño cheese tamale. It also comes with rice, refried beans, and guacamole salad. We also ordered the chili con queso w chicken and smoked chicken enchiladas.

6.9 mi•Fourth Ward, Montrose

When in Rome

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Skinny margarita (large)

Toca Madera

4.0(667 reviews)

•$$$

Free WiFi

Live music

Fabulous queso, Fresh tortillas. Salsa awesome, I had filet my girlfriend steak tacos also awesome…read more It's her new favorite place and she's a native Houstonian.

10 out of 10 From the warm friendly welcome... aesthetically pleasing atmosphere...phenomenal food…read moreand superb service of Mohi and Ashley.

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

David W.

12 years ago

Fajita tacos are the bomb. Family has their favorite and every one agrees to stop by for a quick bite. They get busy, but don't let that fool you. Their quick on their order. For 1dollar tacos and a glass bottle coke it's something you can't pass by. read more

Raymond R.

1 year ago

I tried Tacos El Gato the for the first time last week. The food was good, and the price was right. I didn't LOVE it, though. Regardless, it was good tacos. Nice team. read more

Omar R.

4 years ago

los mejores machetes de houston tx los esperamos de lunes a domingo..y muy pronto hamburguesas tambien

Jalaan S.

281

7 years ago

Their times are very inaccurate. Came all the way here for them to tell me they are closed!

Conrad H.

2 years ago

2025 and they don't take any kind of card payments?! Dumbest sh!t ever. Make it make sense

Ashley S.

3 years ago

The absolute best taco truck I've had!Street Tacos was my go to and they are phenomenal!

Jazm C.

2 years ago

Never again I will go I ask and do too onion cilantro on the SIDE I WILL BOT CIME BAVK

Jesus J.

3 years ago

estan bien ricos !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tacos El Gato - mexican - Updated September 2026

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I came here because I was mesmerized by the reviews raving this place but left pretty disappointed…read more Didn't know barbacoa tacos were more than $1 and the lady didn't mention it. Two of us got 6 barbacoa tacos, 3 chorizo tacos, 3 fajita tacos, 1 elote cup. Total was $26, which I chalked up to taxes and meat surcharge, but for a place advertising $1 tacos I was a little surprised. I knew coming in these were street tacos, I love myself a street taco, but the meat (though flavorful) really had no seasoning and there wasn't much meat on each taco. Elote also didn't have much flavor. For $26 in this economy I really wanted to be full after, but even after having 6 tacos and half an elote cup I wasn't. Maybe you'll have better luck on your trip when you give them a visit, but I don't think I'll be back

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Hold on, they sellling DAT , they giving GOOD. Why they gotta serve with that LOOk. I guess it…read moredon't matter when it's that DELICIOUS.

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Must try if you're in Houston. Great customer service and prices. Highly authentic and great…read morevariety.

We stopped by this food truck on a Friday afternoon as a family to grab some quick tacos. The food…read moretruck was parked in a lot, and since it was pretty quiet when we went, we got our food super fast. The service was really nice, making it an easy pick-up spot overall. The barbacoa was by far my favorite! It was flavorful and tender! I also thought their al pastor was really good, which says a lot because I feel like most places struggle to get that flavor right. I wasn't as much of a fan of the fajita meat (it came as little steak bites, which was different), though my husband actually liked it. Just a heads up for anyone visiting: make sure you bring cash!

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Went to my "go to" taco truck, Taco Fuego, for some last minute bites. This truck is in the…read moreGalleria Food Truck Park, at the crossroads of Chimney Rock and Richmond. Went for the mini fajita tacos and flautas. Solid choice in the tacos, but the flautas are best left behind as the cheese overwhelms the small pieces of chicken. The flautas are more like fried, rollup cheesy torts, which ain't my bag! I easily could have pounded another three mini tacos! The price is right, the service was quick, and the food was tasty. Next time in the area, I will expand and try the "Double Wagyu Smash Burger" at Fuego's Hot Chicken or some of the other wagyu treats at Juicy Joint!

Around 11:30pm on June 28th, my boyfriend became violently ill, sweating profusely, collapsed, then…read morevomited in the Goodyear parking lot about 40 minutes AFTER eating the 3 chicken tacos he ordered. Clearly the food is contaminated and/or the cooks don't know how to cook chicken because he clearly is experiencing food poisoning. He's still very sick! This chain of businesses has no working phone or email to contact any of the locations on their website. The one number I found no answer and no response from them when I sent message on IG which is extra sketchy so I'm definitely reporting this particular location to the department of health! DO NOT EAT HERE!!!!

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Bad service from the owner. I sent the worker to pick up the order and heard the way she was…read moretalking to him in a really mean way. She wasn't giving us anything for free plus it was a big order. Next time I will come with a pair of meta glasses and record the way she acts towards some people. It's not the first time or second and won't be the last if there's no proof.

Hands down these are the best Tacos in Houston. I've tried plenty of food trucks and none compare…read moreto this one, tortillas are hand made and all meat is top quality. I do recommend placing order in advance will save you lots of time especially during lunch time, usually 15-20 min in advance is perfect.

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CASH ONLY!! Best…read moreTacos in Houston. Taconazo is the pride and staple of Northside. Always a long line but it so worth it. Barbacoa and pastor is easily the best I've ever had. Horchata is not too shabby either. Doesn't taste grainy. Speedy service. Reasonable price. Keep in mind the "Platos/ Plato Regular, etc." are plates of carne. Ideal for taking home.

Alert: Cash Only…read more I've passed this taco truck countless times and almost always seen a line stretching from the window. There's even a security guard on site, which only adds to the impression that this place is fire. So when I happened to drive by on a 100-degree afternoon and found no line, I took it as a sign to finally give it a try. The small parking lot adjacent to the truck was nearly empty, except for a few other patrons who probably had the same idea. Ordering was simple and to the point. The menu keeps things straightforward: a selection of meats served as tacos or plates with a handful of sides. I ordered two barbacoa tacos with salsa verde. Less than two minutes after placing my order, they were in my hands. Fast service on a scorching day is always appreciated. With no seating available, I retreated to the comfort of my car to eat. Based on the amount of grease packed into these tacos, I would recommend doing the same. Eating them while standing could end with your shirt becoming an unintended side dish. One thing to note: don't count on a generous napkin supply. I realized after returning to my car that none were included. Consider keeping a few emergency fast-food napkins in your glove compartment. Those leftover Taco Bell napkins may finally fulfill their destiny. The barbacoa was flavorful, the salsa verde complemented it well, and overall, the tacos were overall tasty. That said, I left somewhat underwhelmed considering the crowds I routinely see gathered here during lunch and dinner hours. Perhaps I'm missing the standout item that keeps customers lining up daily. Even so, if you happen to have cash in your pocket and find yourself craving authentic tacos, this truck is certainly worth a stop.

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