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    Tacos La Bala

    3.4 (69 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Tacos La Bala Photos

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    TACOS LA BALA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Horrible experience. El menudo has no taste at all. Taco d tripa is so old and bad I left it all. I only ate the breakfast taco I ordered.

    The food is horribe. I ordered a menudo, un taco de tripa y uno de huevo con jamón. The menudo has no flavor taste like water. The taco the tripa is looks terrible. The ambiance overall looks sad and not clean. Really bad experience.

    Better looking than Bala Swann.
    Fox E.

    I wish I was a Mexican Scholar, Studying La Bala, I wish my favourite waitress was working, I would call her I'd spend my rent money on tacos and gorditas And live in Squalor. I wish I had a couple more dollars, I'd spend them at La Bala, I wish I dated girls that eat here, I would holler, I wish I had a fight every night with a guy from La Bala (I'm a brawler) I wish I owned a sea-bound trawler I'd catch fish for La Bala I wish I had a fisherman's wife back home, I would call her Cause then I'd be bluecollar Like a window installer Or a graffiti scrawler (The guys who paint on the wall... er...) Anyway, I'm not trying to be a troller Or a Yelp-review mauler I just think that all-er Y'all should stroll-er Down to La Bala Eat a bunch of tortas and gorditas and remember when your tummy was smaller. WHAT. Houston's best Mexican food. Right here. Right now. Real f**king cheap. If the waitresses had night jobs as dominatrices then it'd be Tacos La Ballbuster. If Lebron James bought this place, it'd be Tacos La Baller. If it was the setting for an offbeat Australian 90s movie, it'd be Tacos La Strictly Ballroom. And if I go into the place to rob it, but instead of taking money, I just take all their food... then I'll probably wear a Tacos La Balaclava. If you only eat one item from one Mexican restaurant in your life, eat the Cochinita Pibil Torta from this location of Tacos La Bala. It really is that good. Not only the best Torta I've ever had, but also quite possibly the best sandwich of any kind I've ever had. You must also try the tacos here, try a Gordita with Deshebrada, and you must order the heavenly Charro Beans too. What to get: Torta de Cochinita Pibil - anything de Cochinita Pibil - anything de Deshebrada - other good meats: Fajita is delicious - what else to get: any Gordita or Torta or Taco, especially with Coch P or Desh (desh desh desh says MC Mirella) - and always get Charro Beans, theirs are some of the best Avoid: we don't love their barbacoa as much, and I'm not into the legendary Torta De La Barda, authentic Tampico style but just not my thing. I'm a Mexican food fanatic (not Tex Mex, but Mex Mex) and my porn star wife is full blood Mexicana. We eat this lard-filled barrel-tummy-inducing cuisine far too regularly for our own good. So we know. This is the #1. This is real Mexican food, right out of coastal Tampico and steaming hot onto your plate, and not only the best Houston has to offer, but also the best I've ever had. So, whenever I'm in *any* Mexican place that *isn't* this place, I start rapping: I wish I was a little bit taller I wish this was La Bala I wish I knew a girl who worked there, I would call her I wish I had Pibil in a Taco with Salsa Cuz I'm a taco-truck crawler One of the best Gorditas I've ever had, and easily the best Torta I've ever had (the Cochinita Pibil). Cheap and deceptively stuffed despite it's small size, served on a Bolillo instead of a "Telera". As in an oval Mexican roll (absolute heaven). The Cochinita Pibil here is one of the tastiest meats I've ever had. The salsas (light green and red) combine to perfection. Both are very spice, the green is the queen, and the one to apply liberally. As I said, the star item and the reason I keep coming back is the utterly incredible Torta de Cochinita Pibil. It's only five or six dollars which is ridiculous considering it's the best one you'll ever eat. They use a little bolillos. Some of their other tortas come on Telera Bread, which is wonderful too, but not like that little luscious bolillo. Service is lovely and prices are insanely cheap. Every other restaurant is doubling or tripling in price, understandably so. Bala remains a dirt-cheap bargain and the best Mex food in Texas! Barbi Barbieri says: "Anything with pibil is delicious! The torta is super good! The charro beans are so tasty! I love this place so much, I could write them a Balad!" In conclusion: La Bala is simply the very best that there is. I've never had a better Mexican meal in my life. So if you really miss King Of Pop Michael JACKO And if you think that Trump was shady and WACKO And why is weed illegal but not TOBACCO? And why is everyone stoned in COLORADO? And why was Connery hot to Lorraine BRACCO? And why did the Ravens bench Joe FLACCO? And why dya need a shovel when I gave you a BACK HOE? And why live in a Maison when you could live in a CHATEAU? And why get Herbal Jelly when you can get ALOE? And why move to Belfast when you can live in GLASGOW? And why does Trinidad cling on to TOBAGO? And why does Buffalo Sauce taste better than TABASCO? And why the hell is Asda cheaper than TESCO? And why does foreskin not cast a FORESHADOW? And why'd you visit Warsaw but ignore KRAKOW? And why'd you call my porn goddess a CRACK HO? If you ever got with her, I'm sure she'd have a CRAP O Your gf has a lot of those, it's IPSO FACTO This rap has worn me out, I refuse to take a NAP DOE But if you're in Houston, get a LA BALA TACO WHAT

    Barbacoa taco

    Great barbacoa and trompo tacos! I like my tacos in flour so they were great, the corn tortillas were good too. Definitely recommend if you want some quick affordable tacos on the go, especially after shopping at HEB next door

    Don't let the other reviews fool you. I thought it was weird that it got 3.5 stars from yelp, but 4.4 from Google. Something must be off because this place is great! The staff was kind in taking my order, and the food came out hot and delicious. The prices ($1.40 per taco?!) are amazing to boot. The seating area is bare bones but it adds to the authenticity of the place. The only thing that could make it even better is if they had a self serve condiments bar. But even without it, it was great.

    Extremely rude disgusting human being!
    Manuel R.

    HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! My tortillas fell onto the floor and I requested fresh tortillas and the obese cashier was extremely RUDE and arrogant! Never coming here again!!

    Barbacoa tacos
    Gin Y.

    I've tried this spot twice for takeout. During this pandemic, they didn't allow dine in. They have plexiglass to protect employees and customers. The staff wore masks as well. My favorite here was their barbacoa tacos with onions, cilantro, and lime. I always opt for corn tortillas because I find them more fragrant. The barbacoa meat was moist and delicious as well. They have two different sauces that can go with their tacos: green or red. But, I always choose the green avocado sauce because it's creamy and spicy. The heat keeps building as you keep eating it. My family got their fajita tacos with flour tortillas. But, I found their meat more dry and tortillas not as fragrant. They enjoyed the spicy red sauce with their tacos. In addition, we did try their huge burrito. But, it had more fillers in them, like refried beans, veggies, and rice. In my opinion, I'd rather taste more meat. So, I'll just stick with their tacos. Overall, this is a great spot to get affordable and delicious tacos to go. Come and check them out.

    No in door dining, take away only.
    Thomas S.

    Probably the cheapest and tastiest Tex-Mex foods the Mrs and I had in Houston in several years. We had street tacos ( trompo & conchinita pibil ) at $1.45 each, trompo burrito at $4.25, and large shrimp soup at $7.99. Everything were seasoned well and all tasted great. Those prices were ridiculous low for Houston. This shack did not short changed us in proteins to cover the low prices. The interior had seen better days, but it was relatively clean in the dining room. No dine in, just take away for now. Employees were friendly and properly masked. We will return for sure.

    Beef fajita tostada
    Candice R.

    We kept seeing this place when going to HEB, and after checking reviews and posted pics, we decided to give it a try. It was pretty darn good and tastes authentic, no Tex-Mex. We're both full for the cheap!

    Flour and beef fajita.. omg. Out of the world...mmmm

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Great place, excellent food. Fresh like homemade. Ema was great helping me with the food order and amazing customer service

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    4 years ago

    Excellent service. The waters are natural and the food is made in a timely manner with great taste.

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    2 years ago

    la atención muy mala de parte quien te entraga la comida le pregunte que si era un taco o medio taco me contesto que así lo servian

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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2(289 reviews)
    11.3 miMidtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose
    $$

    This place was AWESOME!! I was in Houston visiting...and just found this place on Yelp…read more The service was great, the place beautiful, the flautas great, rice and beans were on point. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this is the place.

    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!

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    Right side entry

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9(887 reviews)
    13.0 miThe Heights
    $$

    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!

    I used to eat here 3X a week. Tonight reminded me why I no longer do.I was with a new friend ,so I…read moreonly took 1 photo. The "queso" w/carne seemed to be out of a can-it was orange & didn't have the consistency of real cheese- wasn't really cheese & was disgusting. It was $9.99. I am including a photo of the overcooked beef fajita. A senior citizen can get the all beef lunch fajita special for virtually the same price as the fajita combo here ALL DAY at Pappasitos. It definitely is enough for 2. The meat melts in your mouth. EVERYTHING is better quality than here. Teo charged $1.50 for perhaps 4 or 5 slices of lime to make the happy hour margaritas made with a gross mix drinkable. That's outrageous. It reminds me that I had stopped going long ago when they charged extra for onions on enchiladas. Come on. You don't charge extra for chopped onions! I have never been to another restaurant that does so. Some even provide carmelized grilled onions gratis. I'm convinced that a $15. YUMMY mango margarita at Pappasitos would have given us the same buzz & tasted better than 8 happy hour margaritas here. I used to love the in house made flour tortillas at Teo. Tonight they were tough & uneventful. We arrived on a week night when they were not busy. Neither of the salsas were as good as they used to be.The water pitcher didn't even have ice when they refilled the water. I have absolutely no desire to return. Why would I?

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    Maximo - Tostada

    Maximo

    4.6(156 reviews)
    7.8 miWest University
    $$$

    An excellent dining experience. We had such a lovely dinner at Maximo on a rainy Friday night…read more Despite the weather, parking was easy with a small lot and plenty of street parking. The restaurant has an intimate indoor space and adjacent covered patio. Both were already full when we arrived which created a lively atmosphere. The inside was so tasteful - small but moody and warm! I'd definitely recommend a reservation for the weekends! We started with the aguachile de camaron as a starter and WOW my husband cannot stop talking about this dish. The perfect blend of textures and flavors - this will be a must for us every visit. We have had our eyes on the 5-course Chef Tasting Menu for $49 + the optional beverage pairing for $30. The experience felt more than fair for the price, especially by Houston standards. Each course felt thoughtful and slightly boundary-pushing, yet really approachable. My partner and I have been on a bit of a mole kick recently, so were very excited for the hanger steak with truffle mole. It absolutely delivered and would love to order this again! We were also heavily drawn to the tuna tartare starter, masa cornbread, and tres leches. The wine and drink parings were perfect and not too fruity. The brut rose was a perfect way to start and I always love a mezcal cocktail. I highly recommend anyone visiting to start with this Tasting Menu and leave the stress in the hands of Chef Adrian Torres! We had the pleasure of chatting with him briefly after our meal and were so impressed with his story and clear excitement he brings. The rest of the staff were equally kind and really added to the evening! Side note: We had the pleasure to attend Maximo's Cinco de Mayo block party and were so impressed by the community involvement bringing in local vendors and live music. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this restaurant for future tasting menus and events.

    Came to Maximo on a weekday around 5:30 and it was pretty quiet at first, but by the time we…read morefinished dinner the place had filled up a lot. It's definitely a smaller, cute neighborhood spot with a really fun vibe. The service was good. Our server was funny, attentive, and made the experience fun. We started with the "corn ribs" appetizer and WOW. Probably one of my favorite corn dishes I've had in a long time. So flavorful and addictive. We also got the "Tiradito de Hamachi" crudo, which was fresh and delicious! For the entree, my friend and I shared the tacos (which comes with your choice of 3). We added an extra taco to make it 4. I was genuinely shocked that the mushroom taco ended up being my favorite because I almost always prefer meat, but it was THAT good. The fried shrimp taco was also amazing. For dessert, we got the tres leches cake. I'm usually not a huge fan of strawberry or fruit toppings on desserts, but the cake itself was really, really good. I ended up just removing the strawberries and eating the cake, which was moist and flavorful. The only downside for me was the drinks. They looked larger than they actually were because of the glassware, and they tasted a little watered down. I had two, and they just weren't very strong or super flavorful. Other than that though, the food and service absolutely made up for it. Definitely a spot I'd come back to!

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    Maximo - Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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    Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

    Ambriza - Street corn.

    Ambriza

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    21.4 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

    We had a 70th & 60th birthday celebration at Ambriza's Vintage, and we were very impressed and…read moresatisfied with how beautiful and perfect everything turned out. Rodrigo & Araceli were amazing, ensuring everything was going smoothly and according to plan. Our servers Augusto and Christian, were very attentive, kind, and on point with our food and drinks. Food was exquisite and portions were generous, cooked to perfection. The churros with chocolate and the complimentary photos for the birthday girls was the cherry on top. Ambriza's management & staff truly know how to make their guests feel special. They went above and beyond, exceeding all of our expectations. Definitely having more celebrations here in the future! On behalf of me & my family, THANK YOU again for the excellent service and making this a memorable night!! Barbie Artiga

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    Ambriza
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    TEQUILA Wall

    Ambriza - Bar area

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    Candente - Museum District - Beans and rice

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1(625 reviews)
    10.5 miMuseum District, Montrose
    $$

    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!

    Glowing red. Burning. Candente…read more Let me start by saying that I'm not into Mexican food unless it's an auntie or grandma making it at their house. I prefer traditional homemade Mexican food but here we are. (Oh I googled and suggested this place lol) Went in for a team lunch on a Friday. Coworker's birthday lunch and she wanted Mexican. Party of 9 and we were seated promptly. They have a lunch menu and a happy hour as well as a full menu and full bar. The interior was nicely decorated. And open. There is bar seating and patio seating as well. Our waitress was Aisha and she was amazing. Friendly, helpful and patient. And able handle our large group and a few more tables with a smile. There were a variety of options. Salads, fajitas, nachos, enchiladas, etc. Also complimentary chips and salsa. My Order: chicken tortilla soup, lunch fajitas combo - chicken and beef. Chicken tortilla soup (3.5/5) - it was a bit salty for me but I am not a salt person so most things are salty to me; everyone else said it was tasty, there were tons of shredded chicken, avocado pieces, tortilla strips Fajitas - combo (4/5) - chicken was seasoned well and the beef (medium rare) was perfection and so tender and juicy, mexican rice was fluffy, and normally I would pass on the beans and get extra rice but my coworker suggested the charro beans and wow, that was a win - the seasoning was great, there were chunks of meat and the texture was nice, the only thing that could have been done better is the flour tortillas - they over-charred them making them too crispy and left them with a burnt taste. A couple of people got the elote salad and raved about it. So that will be a next time try. Def will be back. Everyone enjoyed their meals and some even ordered food to go. Would recommend.

    Photos
    Candente - Museum District - Open Kitchen cooking on wood.

    Open Kitchen cooking on wood.

    Candente - Museum District - When in Rome

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    Candente - Museum District - Skinny margarita (large)

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    Tacos La Bala - mexican - Updated June 2026

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