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Let's talk Mexican restaurant chains

18,605 Views | 191 Replies | Last: 16 days ago by mustang1234
mavsfan4ever
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lol this is great.
TXAGBQ76
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The Ninfas on Navigation? That place was good and mama would greet the customers.
HtownAg92
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I grew up on Los Tios and have been a regular for a good 40+ years. Always have lived by one -- early on Kirkwood / Memorial, Meyerland for 20+ years, even had one nearby when we were outcasts in Sugar Land after Harvey. Some of our regular waiters were outcasts there too until they rebuilt Meyerland.

Menu hasn't really changed in all that time. Same numbered specials, same combo plates.

Salsa has always been consistent and good. Chile gravy always been outstanding.

I left Houston and won't miss much about it, but will miss Los Tios.
dustin999
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My favorite Mexican chain is probably Maudie's. Mostly based in Austin I believe.

Great house margs on the rocks, and their cheese enchiladas are top notch, especially for a chain.

Queso is good too.

I can't speak to anything else other than these 3 things because they're so good I've never ventured anywhere else on the menu.

The Maudie's on 360 is the best one IMO, great people watching and location. We typically go to the one in Bee Cave though.
Tailgate88
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TXAGBQ76 said:

The Ninfas on Navigation? That place was good and mama would greet the customers.


Still damn good, we are there a couple months back. Can't wait until next time.
jetch17
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TXAGBQ76 said:

The Ninfas on Navigation? That place was good and mama would greet the customers.


Plus they have cannabis margs now
zooguy96
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Anything in Texas > Anything in Tennessee. East Tennessee at least. We have a Chuy's (mediocre in TX), and it's way better than any other local place. The places here think stewed tomatoes from a can and one or two bits of onion and cilantro is salsa.
Aggie Therapist
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Mamma Betty's in North Austin
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AggieOO
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is that a chain? never heard of it.

just looked it up. not sure i'd consider two-austin locations a chain.
Aggie Therapist
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Momma Betty was the head manager of a bunch of Ninfa Restaurants in Houston I believe.

Her sons opened these places up in her honor.

I don't think the food is quite as good but I haven't been to Ninfa's in years
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HTownAg98
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I'm going to have to try that. My wife isn't a huge Tex-Mex fan, but there's enough other stuff on the menu for her to try. I'll be judging their guacamole against Santa Catarina's.
MichaelJ
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HTownAg98 said:

I'm going to have to try that. My wife isn't a huge Tex-Mex fan, but there's enough other stuff on the menu for her to try. I'll be judging their guacamole against Santa Catarina's.


HTownAg98
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She's good at other things besides her disdain for Tex-Mex.
BigN--00
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Taco Palenque is worth trying if you go to San Antonio or Corpus.
schmellba99
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RIP Panchos Mexican Buffet
Aggie Therapist
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The Taco of the month from Torchy's

The Tailgate
Teslag
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schmellba99 said:

RIP Panchos Mexican Buffet



There are still 3 in the DFW area
AggieOO
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BigN--00 said:

Taco Palenque is worth trying if you go to San Antonio or Corpus.
they are in the austin area too.
MichaelJ
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Aggie Therapist said:

The Taco of the month from Torchy's

The Tailgate



There is a vast difference between what you're showing and the picture on their website - not surprising - but they look totally different. I only recognize the blue cheese.
DiskoTroop
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schmellba99 said:

RIP Panchos Mexican Buffet


Come to Humble
DiskoTroop
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Torchy's is single handedly the most overrated taco in the country.
RangerRick9211
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Without fail: Tochy's, Pappasito's and Tony's every time I'm back in Houston. Only one of those really counts as "Mexican" food, though.

But my all-time GOAT multi-location MX food is Arturo's in the valley. We eat with grandma at the Weslaco one now. But grew up eating lunch on Sunday's at the one in Nuevo Progreso.
Next Year is the Year
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When I was a kid growing up my grandparents lived outside of Harlingen and occasionally we would venture over to Nuevo Progreso and would always eat at Arturo's. I remember it being good but for some reason strangely remember eating fried frog legs there. Probably the only place I've ever had that. I've driven past the one in Weslaco in the last few years but have never been
HTownAg98
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MichaelJ said:

Aggie Therapist said:

The Taco of the month from Torchy's

The Tailgate



There is a vast difference between what you're showing and the picture on their website - not surprising - but they look totally different. I only recognize the blue cheese.

The person that came up with that must have been smoking the good **** that day. That doesn't look appetizing, at all.
jetch17
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that looks and probably tastes like hurl.
Aggie Therapist
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It was not good
TXAG 05
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Aggie Therapist said:

It was not good


Well it was from Torchys so not surprising.
Aggie Therapist
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Torchys has good tacos when you are craving that sort of taco.

It's obviously not authentic. But that Queso is spot on.

It's like getting Jack in the Box tacos....you have to be in the mood for it.
MAROON
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They have good barbacoa and the trailer park trashy is also good. Queso might be the best in town

Some of their stuff is too far gone for me to try - I'm not eating a taco with blue cheese on it.
DiskoTroop
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Aggie Therapist said:

Torchys has good tacos when you are craving that sort of taco.

It's obviously not authentic. But that Queso is spot on.

It's like getting Jack in the Box tacos....you have to be in the mood for it.
I can respect this perspective.
AggieOO
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Aggie Therapist said:

Torchys has good tacos when you are craving that sort of taco.

It's obviously not authentic. But that Queso is spot on.

It's like getting Jack in the Box tacos....you have to be in the mood for it.
exactly. torchy's is hipster tacos. i love torchy's, but its not tex mex/mexican.

and yes, there are a number of tacos on their menu that i wouldn't touch.
zooguy96
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Alsup's burritos FTMFW! Those things will clean you out fast!

Damn, I miss those on long trips out to West Texas looking for snakes for work.
rononeill
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Another for Los Tios. Mexican food is the quintessential demonstration of the law of diminishing returns. I'd say Chuy's has the best flavor/experience per dollar - the center of the plot. El Tiempo at 2x the price is probably 30% premium. I'd put Los Tios at 1.2x and 10% better. I've spent some time thinking about this.
RangerRick9211
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Next Year is the Year said:

When I was a kid growing up my grandparents lived outside of Harlingen and occasionally we would venture over to Nuevo Progreso and would always eat at Arturo's. I remember it being good but for some reason strangely remember eating fried frog legs there. Probably the only place I've ever had that. I've driven past the one in Weslaco in the last few years but have never been


I remember it being a dream meal as a kid. Nachos were massive.

My last two Arturo's visits where when my dad died, and then my Papaw. Both times, nachos. Come at me.
IslanderAg04
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Taco Deli > Torchy's. Although i can drench anything in Diablo sauce.

Sarrano's, Lupe, chuy's for the chicka boomboom, Trudy's, Maudi's, Abuelos when in west texas, one taco, velvet taco, Tons of others but they're not chains.

Driving to west texas i also pretty much always grab an allsups chimi in brownwood for a gut bomb.

I eat alot of Tex Mex.
 
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