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Let's talk Mexican restaurant chains

19,258 Views | 191 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by mustang1234
Aggie Therapist
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In reply to D`Funkaladu` • 6:54a, 8/4/24
AG
D`Funkaladu` said:
I remember eating at Abuelos in CS and a few other cities and liking it over the years. It had been a while so I tried the newer location in Katy earlier this year. It was the worst Mexican food I've ever had in Texas.

Durango burrito was good before, it was inedible. The cheese sauce didn't taste like anything, and the shredded beef had worse flavor than the meat paste in Jack in the Box tacos. The papas con chile was just mashed potatoes with cheese. The guac had no salt, but at least that could be saved. No one else's was particularly good either.

If it wasn't takeout I wouldn't have paid for it and half the food went in the trash. I can't imagine it was just an off night and being that bad.

If it was free I wouldn't go back.


Abuelos in College Station sucked so bad. Maybe they went downhill after your time there.

It was the first Mexican restaurant I have been to where I said, I'm never going back
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houag80
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In reply to HTownAg98 • 7:23a, 8/4/24
AG
El Bosque in Montgomery, Conroe, The Woodlands.

Jumbo Don Juan margs. You're welcome.
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FM 949
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In reply to Aggie Therapist • 9:31a, 8/4/24
AG
Our number 1 choice is El Tiempo. We drive into Katy often for it.

I like Lupe's fajitas, but the rest of the menu is meh and someone needs to show them that tortillas don't need to be the size of a pizza pan. The one in Cypress is better than the one in Katy specifically because they blend their salsa instead of serving pico with chips.

We stopped going to Pappasitos when they constantly kept increasing their prices and decreasing their portion size.

Living way out west, I will throw out Los Patrones in Burton, TX. It's a chain because there is another one in Giddings. Good hot sauce, good enchiladas, and stout margaritas. And to make it authentic, the building has a delicate septic system.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to FM 949 • 9:42a, 8/4/24
AG
My in-laws live in Katy/Fulshear area and can't get enough of El Tiempo.

I will probably go there next time I'm in town
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houag80
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In reply to Aggie Therapist • 10:28a, 8/4/24
AG
Used to live near the one off Woodlands Parkway south of Carlton Woods. We went there once a week. Seems to me that they and Pappasitos are competing for the most expensive lb of fajitas in the city.
They are really good but not worth the price imo.
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mustang1234
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In reply to Aggie Therapist • 11:46a, 8/4/24
Aggie Therapist said:
Alright, who has been to Mas Fajitas?

Them restaurants are everywhere now
average. not expensive. big menu
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TXAG 05
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In reply to Aggie Therapist • 1:28p, 8/4/24
AG
Aggie Therapist said:
My in-laws live in Katy/Fulshear area and can't get enough of El Tiempo.

I will probably go there next time I'm in town


Bust out the wallet, it's good, but it's not cheap.
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SjAg
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8:30p, 8/4/24
AG
All the Ninfas are fantastic.
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Sazerac
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In reply to SjAg • 9:07p, 8/4/24
AG
Incorrect. And they got crazy expensive.
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SjAg
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In reply to Sazerac • 9:09p, 8/4/24
AG
Sorry you're poor and lack good food insight.
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jetch17
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9:22p, 8/4/24
AG
Dumb idiot Dallas folk don't like el tiempo

https://www.chron.com/food/article/houston-dallas-el-tiempo-19612943.php
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MichaelJ
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In reply to SjAg • 10:47p, 8/4/24
AG
I thought it was pretty well known the only ninfas worth going to was the OG on Nav - all the other ones are franchise crappiness.

Speaking of franchise crappiness that I for some reason can't get enough of. - Los Cucos.
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SjAg
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In reply to MichaelJ • 1:01a, 8/5/24
AG
Yeah not sure where that sentiment came from. The one on Post Oak and Memorial/Dairy Ashford in Houston are fantastic.
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cypress-ag
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In reply to Garrelli 5000 • 5:33a, 8/5/24
AG
Garrelli 5000 said:
Not a fan of Lupe Tortilla. It's ok but just meh. Tortillas are tough, steak is nothing but lime and salt, and queso could have come from a jar.

When good uncle Julio's has my favorite fajitas and tortillas. Their Mexican butter is crack. Their queso sucks too however. Pappasitos is obviously almost identical.

Mi Cocina has good enchiladas (on a good day) and my favorite restaurant salsa. Queso is ok. Fajitas suck.

Chuy's has great queso and the hatch chili steak burrito. Those and the creamy jalapeño are the only reason it deserves to exist. Everything else sucks.

Cantina Laredo is descent. Pour their chipotle wine sauce on anything to make it delicious.
The guy who started Uncle Julio's was one of the originals Gems at Pappasitos and that's why the fajitas seem similar especially the Mexican butter part that he brought over from Pappasitos.

To all the folks commenting on the cost of fajitas, remember that In November when you vote.
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TXAG 05
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In reply to SjAg • 7:08a, 8/5/24
AG
SjAg said:
Yeah not sure where that sentiment came from. The one on Post Oak and Memorial/Dairy Ashford in Houston are fantastic.


The one on Post Oak is the sister location of the one on Navigation. The memorial one is a separate company.
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SjAg
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 7:24a, 8/5/24
AG
And they are both fantastic.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to jetch17 • 8:17a, 8/5/24
AG
to be fair, I have found that El Tiempo's standards are far lower at the burb locations versus any of them in the loop.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to SjAg • 11:11a, 8/5/24
AG
SjAg said:
Yeah not sure where that sentiment came from. The one on Post Oak and Memorial/Dairy Ashford in Houston are fantastic.


The dairy ashford one is so money
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StinkyPinky
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 4:48p, 8/5/24
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
Lupe is #1. The original Ninfa's is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant, but the other locations aren't nearly as good.
Cane here to say this. Early years of Ninfa's was outstanding. Miss that place! Shame they screwed it up.
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Aggie Therapist
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6:23p, 8/5/24
AG
Apparently she ran multiple restaurants of "a Mexican restaurant company" in Houston. She died in 2010.

Wonder which places she ran? What company.
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I Am A Critic
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In reply to Aggie Therapist • 6:30p, 8/5/24
Ninfa's
Username checks out.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to I Am A Critic • 6:32p, 8/5/24
AG
I figured.

I'll let yall now how this goes.

Queso was a complete let down. Pasty and too thick and bland. Velveeta block vibes.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 9:26p, 8/5/24
AG
the only Lupe that is good is the original on Hwy 6. every other one i have been to is overpriced trash.
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Sazerac
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 9:30p, 8/5/24
AG
Bunker Hill is probably better. Actual salsa and better drinks. But we go to 6 90% of the time.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 7:47a, 8/6/24
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
At least in Texas, you're getting skirt steak with your fajitas. Try living in the midwest. Most restaurants are using sirloin or some other cheaper cut.


I lived in The South and suburbs of Chicago for sometime. Besides the South Side of Chicago, decent Mexican offerings are hard to come by. You just have to embrace other foods they cook well in that region.

Or cook it yourself!
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to Sazerac • 8:03a, 8/6/24
AG
i can't say i have been to them all. but, i've been to enough to know i'm generally not going to Lupe unless we are going to Hwy 6.
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CoachLB
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In reply to VP at Pierce and Pierce • 8:17a, 8/6/24
VP at Pierce and Pierce said:
Lupe beef fajitas are undefeated.
Pappasitos is great
Abuelos is really good when I can find one.
On the Border was good, not sure if it still is. Great chips, those jalapeno firecrackers were good too.
Torchys, Velvet taco, Chuys, and Taco Cabana all suck.
Rosa's cafe is very good.
I forgot about Rosas Cafe! My favorite spot after an A&M night game. It's quick, nice fun atmosphere and the food is good in a consistent way.
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Slicer97
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In reply to HTownAg98 • 12:15p, 8/6/24
AG
HTownAg98 said:
Bruce Almighty said:
At least in Texas, you're getting skirt steak with your fajitas. Try living in the midwest. Most restaurants are using sirloin or some other cheaper cut.

Sirloin flap meat is the gold standard for fajitas.
I know I should just let this go, but I'm not gonna. Sirloin flap ain't fajitas. It's sirloin flap. Doesn't mean it ain't good, just means it ain't fajitas. Skirt steak is fajitas. Freakin white people...

I'd rather have sausage kolaches anyways.
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Bruce Almighty
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12:22p, 8/6/24
AG
Outside skirt > loin flap > inside skirt
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Slicer97
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 12:29p, 8/6/24
AG
Where do you get outside skirt? All I can ever find is inside.
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LB12Diamond
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12:34p, 8/6/24
AG
Here is my Mex chain rest story. Several years ago when my niece was very little. Between 2-3. I was at my sisters in Ft Worth. We went to Uncle Julio's. So we had not been there long but my niece started throwing a fit bc her coke was taken away. Apparently my brother in law had started giving her cola without my sis knowing. And she loved it. Well he orders her a coke, gives it to her and she starts downing it. My sis, is like, say what, and takes it from her. Well she becomes a little upset tornado.

Everyone in the rest is looking at us. So being polite, I asked them if they would like me to take her home so they could enjoy a night out together. Now I was just being nice and hoping they would say no. But before I could get the statement out they both said, "Great idea!"

So I was like, OK, well, I get up start trying to get my niece out of the booster while she's screaming. And I make it worse bc her leg gets trapped in that wooden high cheer. So I kind of get her leg hit hard taking her out of the chair. And that makes her screaming get even louder. So I tuck her in my arms like a running back and start heading out fast.

Now her head was kind of blocking my view a little. So I did not see a great big platter of food that was just set down by a table as I headed out. And I hit that thing full speed. All those plates of food go everywhere. I could even quickly observe the table where that food was going, so happy seeing their food and their looks changing to freight as I demolished it.

I stood there for maybe 2-3 seconds, my niece still screaming in my ear. I looked at the waitress and she was in shock. Did not know what to do, so I just said, "you should have not put it right there in the walkway!" And I bolted out of there.

Not my best moment, but still think about it whenever I see my niece who is now in her upper 20s.
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Bruce Almighty
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In reply to Slicer97 • 12:35p, 8/6/24
AG
Slicer97 said:
Where do you get outside skirt? All I can ever find is inside.


A local butcher
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Slicer97
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 1:13p, 8/6/24
justnobody79
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2:11p, 8/6/24
the Mexicano Grille's in Central Texas are money
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BlueSmoke
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5:06p, 8/6/24
Hacienda Ranch steak fajitas slam hard
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