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    Tia Maria's

    3.6 (398 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Tia Maria's Photos

    Business Info

    TIA MARIA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Queso and inedible salsa

    My wife and I went to Tia Marias a few weeks ago. We had recently returned to going there after a long break going to other Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. We even had our small office party there in December. But the salsa was not fine the other day. It was so hot we could not eat it. It was nothing like their normal salsa. We called our waiter over and he already knew the salsa was too hot. We tried to eat again.....too hot!! We had the manager come to the table, and I think he could not have cared less. He argued that the salsa was different everyday depending on the peppers. I don't think that was a good answer. I have never had it like that before. I have made fresh salsas before. You can prepare the jalapeno blend and add it gradually, but not all at once with no care about the end product. He brought a "new" cup of salsa that tasted like and looked like tomato sauce. We always look forward to chips and salsa before a Mexican meal. Our experience was ruined that night. We will not be going back for a long while. We are going to Don Joses tonight. As we were leaving, I noticed all of the tables I walked by had not touched their salsas either.

    Elizabeth K.

    The service is friendly and the portions are generous; however, it's portions of just okay food. They are generous with the chips and salsa, and the chips are warm, which I appreciate. Their queso is very boring and their salsa is not flavorful. I got a special that includes a taco, enchiladas, a cheese puff, and a fried stuffed poblano. It was all just alright. The thing is that the place is comfy and folks are very happy to be there. It's a sprawling location with a ton of seating, so it's fun to see all the different folks dining here around the holidays. I'll probably come back because the price is right, the food is hot, and the portions are generous, but I'll likely try out other dishes until I find a hit. Unfortunately, I fear I won't.

    Soft serve
    Maria S.

    When I'm in the area, I have to make it a point to stop for lunch at Tía Maria's. The salsa is served warm and it's plentiful. I had to stop myself from eating too many chips. I ordered spinach enchiladas. They come with rice and beans. But they don't have vegetarian beans, so I ordered double the rice. I ordered the enchiladas easy on the cheese. And I did overhear the waiter tell the kitchen that. But when my plate came, I don't think there was little cheese on my enchiladas. The tomatillo sauce is tasty. They have free soft serve ice cream. It's delicious. While I'm disappointed about the pork in beans, I really like Tía Maria's.

    Aranzazu C.

    Amazing time, delicious food and Margaritas sooo good. Love their bakery and their customer service!! The ambiance was perfect and the mariachis so nice!

    Rice, guacamole and Pico De Gallo
    Anne B.

    One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Houston!! You get plenty of delicious food and great service! Beef fajita meat was tender and very good and we love the grilled onions. Their tortillas are the best, they taste like homemade and cooked perfectly! The tortilla chips are great and the salsa is served warm, just alittle spicy, but perfect! The borrocho beans have bacon and chunks of tomato, the absolute best! I think the food here is much better than Pappasito's and about half the price. Everybody I bring here agrees! Why pay so much money and get fair food, when you can get great food here?! Try it and see! They are very busy at peak hours. Big restaurant with 3 dining rooms. Large parking area.

    ice cream & handsomeness

    We just love our neighborhood spot being Tia Maria's because the food is delish and the staff is incredible. All around a great experience every time we go. This is a local spot that always feels like home. And complimentary soft serve on the way out is always the best!

    Bikes safe inside

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    6 days ago

    Margaritas are so good. Best tasting Margaritas in town. Music is nice, not too loud. Food is very good.

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    3 months ago

    Wonderful old school Tex Mex. Great service, food, margaritas and vibe. Servers were very accommodating for our 10 person group. Love it!

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    1 month ago

    Great texmex food and great price. Margaritas are fantastic! Staff service was awesome!

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    4 months ago

    It was very nice and warm the food ! I would do it again ! I would go in person with family !

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    5 months ago

    I miss at 3 o'clock. Cut off by three minutes and got charged $4.00 more, everyone has become so greedy, really?

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Im totally hooked on this place their food is delicious!! The price is very reasonable! Service is great!

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    11 months ago

    Manager is very rude, did not enjoy the food had to take most of it in a Togo box and trash it.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Tia Maria's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tia Maria's

    Hi does anybody know of any restaurant in Houston that serves the Happy Plate dish? I would really appreciate anyone's feed back

    What is a Happy Plate?

    What's the parking situations?

    There is parking right putside the restaurant, then across the street there is more parking at the stadium (an entrance to the stadium is right across the street)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    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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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

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    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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    Ambriza - Street corn.

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    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.

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    Tia Maria's - mexican - Updated June 2026

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