which place do you guys favor for tex-mex?? im always torn.. love the fajitas at pappasitos but love the salsa and chile relleno at cyclones...

Pappasitos

Cyclone's salsa is the way to go!!! Overall, I think their food is fresher/better but overpriced!!!

Both places are chains & overrated, though.

papasitos seafood enchiladas may be one of my favorite things on this planet. for all else, i choose teo.

[This message has been edited by RK (edited 7/22/2011 9:04a).]

again.. taking an intern for lunch for his last day here... wanted him to have some tex-mex.. just thought i would get some input for you fine ladies and gentlemen

Pappasitos

The only good pappasitos is little pappasitos off kirby.

Otherwise I go Cyclones fo sho.

If you are downtown though you should go to Irmas.

Ninfa's



(the take-away spot in the tunnels. Not the one on Navigation)

pappasitos is probably my favorite beef fajitas in houston

dam... didnt think about Ninfas.. i was leaning towards cyclones just cause their salsa is dam good and i like ALL their disher.. but now that ninfas is in the picture im going to have to reconsider...

I eat at both places WAYYYY too much. You cannot go wrong with either place, but it also depends on which Pappasitos and Cyclones you are talking about.

The one thing I really like about Cyclones is they do not freeze their fish and since I get the fish tacos, that is important. So it is fresher than Pappasitos.





[This message has been edited by Ferris Wheel Allstar (edited 7/22/2011 9:41a).]

If downtown, I'd say go to the original Irma's by the ballpark. I absolutely love their food!

If going for dinner/margaritas, Cyclone's has some good drinks.

NINFAS green salsa is the TITTAYS


That would be a great place to take an intern

Irma's >> El Tiempo >> Cyclone >> Pappasitos

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pappasitos is probably my favorite beef fajitas in houston

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Lupe's just called and said you're stupid.

Lupe's salsa/bean dip deal is a deal breaker for me. I want good salsa when I eat mex and Lupe's is true failure in my book.

Lupes pico dip is solid, and fresh. The bean dip is meh. Their fajitas make up for it.

Pappasitos cheese enchiladas make my pants wiggle.

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Lupe's just called and said you're stupid.

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OMG somebody disagreed with me so I'm gonna call them names. OMG brah no way

El Tiempo is my pick, especially if you're going for lunch. Get the las vegas combo.

Ninfa's is very hit and miss. Last time I had their grilled chicken it tasted like it had not been defrosted.

Cyclone's gives you tiny portions for the price but the lunch menu is a pretty good deal.

[This message has been edited by Diggity (edited 7/22/2011 10:41a).]

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Both places are chains & overrated, though.

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People always throw the Pappas' restaurants into the "chain" category. When I think of chain restaurants, I think of franchises or big corporate-run restaurants with crappy food. All of the Pappas' restaurants are owned by the two Pappas brothers. They started with individual restaurants and added new restaurants as the popularity grew.

A restaurant with multiple locations shouldn't always be thrown into the "chain" category.

Ric Flair has a good point.

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Lupe's just called and said you're stupid.

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Some people don't like their steak to taste like it was grown on a lime tree.

Pappas is far better than cyclone which is better than tiempo which is better than lupes.


I don't understand peoples obsession with overpriced crappy Mexican food

I had the worst service I've ever had at Cyclone's.

I love that bean dip at Lupe's.

There is no way lupe's fajitas are better than pappasitos... pappasitos has hands down best fajitas in houston..

FYI, Guadalajara > All other Tex-Mex

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There is no way lupe's fajitas are better than pappasitos... pappasitos has hands down best fajitas in houston..

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Lupes beef fajitas > anyone else in houston.

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People always throw the Pappas' restaurants into the "chain" category. When I think of chain restaurants, I think of franchises or big corporate-run restaurants with crappy food. All of the Pappas' restaurants are owned by the two Pappas brothers. They started with individual restaurants and added new restaurants as the popularity grew.

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I would tend to agree if the Pappas' brothers didn't also own the Luby's and Fuddrucker's chains.

When Harris Pappas got out of the army he worked for Luby's for a long time. They bought Luby's as a "pet project" for Harris cause he felt that if he didn't work for Luby's and learn there then Pappas wouldn't be where it is today....

As far as Fuddruckers....I got nothing....

I think the point is that dismissing a restaurant just because it is owned/operated by a larger company or corporation is a little silly.

If the food and service are good, who gives a crap?

I like Pappas but Luby's starters sucking after they bought it.

Bash them for being a chain all you want but if somebody claims the fajitas at Pappasitto's aren't any good then their opinion on food matters should carry no weight.

From a truly objective basis it's really hard for anybody to say Pappasitto's is better than Lupe Tortilla or Ninfa's or Irma's or even El Tiempo.

Personally, I think the actual beef at Pappasitto's is best but the other meats on the parilla at El Tiempo make them my favorite. But, now that I love OtL on the Upper East Side Pappasitto's is the most convenient for me. Lupe Tortilla is good and I won't ever complain about going there, same for Ninfa's or Irma's but personally, if I'm at Ninfa's or Irma's I frequently get something besides the fajitas. I don't think I've ever had anything but fajitas at Pappasitto's or Lupe Tortilla.

Pappasito's seems to cook their beef more on the rare side than El Tiempo and some of the others, which I like.

I really like the chicken at El Tiempo but they tend to char the beef a bit.

I think it's tough to beat their half price fajita night, whenever that is.

I've had Lupe a few times and think it is alright. We gave it another shot last week and again, I just don't get it. Their fajitas are alright, but they've got nothing on Papasitos.

Guadalajara is really good as well. At the one in downtown, you can get a beergarita (they just call it the "special" -- 33 oz of beer/margarita goodness! One of them bad boys is always a good way to start the night!