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Let's talk Mexican restaurant chains

19,315 Views | 191 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by mustang1234
Aggie Therapist
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11:56a, 7/31/24
AG
Torchy's queso and tacos are so damn good.

I'm judging a chain on their ability to reproduce the same taste and quality across all their restaurants for multiple visits.

ChaChos is up there too! Those King Kong nachos are for all us heathens!

1. Papasitos
2. Torchys
3. ChaChos
4. Las Palapas

Just some of my faves not really a ranking
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HTownAg98
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12:44p, 7/31/24
If Torchy's didn't take forever and a day to sling tacos, I'd eat there more often. I don't think I've ever seen a kitchen that has more people standing around doing little to nothing. I typically don't eat out for Tex-Mex very often, but Lupe Tortillas has been fairly solid for me.
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Bruce Almighty
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1:11p, 7/31/24
AG
Lupe is #1. The original Ninfa's is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant, but the other locations aren't nearly as good.
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CoachLB
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1:51p, 7/31/24
I agree Torchys chips and queso are great! In College Station I guess for me Lupes is the best all around. I have only been to Gringos twice. And had the Tacos Al Carbon. It was pretty good.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 2:39p, 7/31/24
AG
Ninfas on Navigation is so money.

And I have been to the closed down one in College Station that was great and another one in Houston. It slipped my mind but great spots!
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Aggie Therapist
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2:39p, 7/31/24
AG
Who is so petty that they flagged my queso picture?
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TXAG 05
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3:50p, 7/31/24
AG
Not a fan of Torchys since their tortillas aren't any good, at least at the ones I've been to.

Not sure I'd count Ninfas, which is great, but not really a chain since it is currently just the original location on Navigation and the newer one at Post Oak/San Felipe. The other locations are owned by another company and no longer have anything to do with the original.

Taco Cabana used to be great for a chain, but they have gone downhill bad.

I'll throw El Tiempo into the mix.
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MediAg13
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3:51p, 7/31/24
AG
Does chipotle count? Joking… sort of. Love Pappasitos and we've only been once but enjoyed Gringos as well.
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javajaws
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3:56p, 7/31/24
AG
Pappasito's has the best chicken fajitas - and if you are not drowning them in their melted butter you are doing it wrong.

Like Lupe's as well - always seem to get the spicy red enchiladas. Love that sauce. Their beef fajitas aren't bad but not as good as Pappasito's either.

Of course Chuys - I always get the boom boom but can't stand their salsa (which isn't really a salsa).
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Aggie Therapist
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4:15p, 7/31/24
AG
Haven't had Chuys in years or Lupe Tortilla in years.

It's time to do some research. I know we went initially when the Katy one open back in the day and the tortillas were great.
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Sazerac
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4:23p, 7/31/24
AG
In west Houston area we go

Lupe
Los Tios
Pappasitos fajita deal (not as tasty as Lupe's beef)

Original Ninfas probably once a year.
I'll pop into Chuys every couple years for their salsa, hatch sauce, and Mexican martinis.
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AggieOO
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 4:29p, 7/31/24
TXAG 05 said:
Not a fan of Torchys since their tortillas aren't any good, at least at the ones I've been to.
many locations make their own tortillas now. not sure if its all of them now, but a lot of them.
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TXAG 05
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In reply to AggieOO • 4:49p, 7/31/24
AG
AggieOO said:
TXAG 05 said:
Not a fan of Torchys since their tortillas aren't any good, at least at the ones I've been to.
many locations make their own tortillas now. not sure if its all of them now, but a lot of them.


Gotcha, it's been years since I've been to one, I'll give them another shot. They were always like crappy Mission tortillas out of the package.

Doesn't matter what the ingredients are, if the tortilla is bad, the taco is bad.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 5:58p, 7/31/24
AG
I don't want to agree with this but it's so true.

But I've had my fair share of tortillas out MREs with "taco beef filling" in my day.

I guess my standards are low
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FIDO*98*
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6:42p, 7/31/24
AG
Taqueria Guadalajara # _______
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Col. Steve Austin
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8:28p, 7/31/24
AG
Pappasitos
Guadalajara
Gringos
I am not the Six Million Dollar Man, but I might need that surgery. "We have the technology, we can rebuild him!"
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smstork1007
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8:54p, 7/31/24
AG
El Tiempo, Washington Ave is the best imo,, then Pappasitos. Javajaws, I do like me some pappasitos, but not sure on if i could go as far as to say their chicken fajitas are better than el tiempo, but I would rank them a close second.
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Agasaurus Tex
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9:36p, 7/31/24
AG
Pappasito's lost me when I last went about a year ago and the enchiladas were made with flour tortillas. WTF?
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austinag1997
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 4:22a, 8/1/24
AG
TXAG 05 said:
Not a fan of Torchys since their tortillas aren't any good, at least at the ones I've been to.

Not sure I'd count Ninfas, which is great, but not really a chain since it is currently just the original location on Navigation and the newer one at Post Oak/San Felipe. The other locations are owned by another company and no longer have anything to do with the original.

Taco Cabana used to be great for a chain, but they have gone downhill bad.

I'll throw El Tiempo into the mix.


I like El Tiempo.
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AlaskanAg99
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8:40a, 8/1/24
AG
#1 Lupes, however my wife is lactose intolerable and that place tears her up. So I can only go when she's not around. Hwy 6 OG location is my jam.
#2 Los Cucos, due to proximity

I've been to Papas and Gringos and Nav Ninfas but not enough to really rank them.

I burned the El Tiempo down in Katy. They paid me, #insidejob.

Chuys and Torchy's can suck start a shotgun they're so bad.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to AlaskanAg99 • 10:07a, 8/1/24
AG
Chuys and torchys are "good"spots

Chill out bro
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mustang1234
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In reply to AlaskanAg99 • 10:10a, 8/1/24
AlaskanAg99 said:
#1 Lupes, however my wife is lactose intolerable and that place tears her up. So I can only go when she's not around. Hwy 6 OG location is my jam.
#2 Los Cucos, due to proximity

I've been to Papas and Gringos and Nav Ninfas but not enough to really rank them.

I burned the El Tiempo down in Katy. They paid me, #insidejob.

Chuys and Torchy's can suck start a shotgun they're so bad.
yep Torchys is upgraded Taco Bell.
Chuys just sold out to Corporate the other day. Hard to beat a Pappas, Ninfas, or a Lupes. Abuelos is good too if you can find one
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to mustang1234 • 10:17a, 8/1/24
AG
So you can taste the flavor difference from a business transaction that occurred a few days ago? Wild.

"Selling out" is what some people might consider a good business model and a bench mark of success.

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AlaskanAg99
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10:26a, 8/1/24
AG
Last weekend I did eat at Torchys after my wife and I saw Deadpool. I walked out thinking "why did I go there again, i know better."

Chuys we only go to when her sister is in town. I make her drive and I focus on margs. But I don't complain so they can have a good time.
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Marauder Blue 6
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10:30a, 8/1/24
AG
Casa Ole. I grew up in Pasadena and it's always been a staple for me. I know it's not on par with a lot of the chains already listed but it still works the once or twice a year I make it to one.

For modern day, I nominate Taco Palenque in the fast food category.
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Aggie Therapist
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In reply to AlaskanAg99 • 11:16a, 8/1/24
AG
Chuys margs do slap

I miss the nacho bar during happy hour honestly. I haven't been in years
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EclipseAg
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 12:25p, 8/1/24
AG
TXAG 05 said:
Taco Cabana used to be great for a chain, but they have gone downhill bad.
For years, we went to Taco Cabana weekly for Saturday morning breakfast tacos and coffee. Wasn't the best, but it was convenient, easy and inexpensive.

It got to be a joke how bad it became. We would have to clean our own tables and beg the staff to put on more coffee, since the pot was always empty. We learned where they stored utensils and lids and stuff since they never restocked. The sauce bar was always a mess.

Finally we said "no mas."
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TexAgs1992
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12:34p, 8/1/24
1. Goode Co. Cantina
2. Ninfa's on Navigation
3. Pappasito's
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VP at Pierce and Pierce
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2:21p, 8/1/24
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.
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MrPlow2010
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2:46p, 8/1/24
AG
Not sure if it counts but I love Cabo Bob's. I prefer them over Freebirds and Chipotle or any other quick burrito place.
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MichaelJ
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2:57p, 8/1/24
AG
El tiempo or gtfo
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SjAg
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8:28p, 8/1/24
AG
Chuy's is gross.
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AustinCountyAg
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9:20p, 8/1/24
Los Cucos is hard to beat for quality, price, consistency
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TXAG 05
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In reply to AustinCountyAg • 9:27p, 8/1/24
AG
AustinCountyAg said:
Los Cucos is hard to beat for quality, price, consistency


Varies by location. Some are great, some are terrible.
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Aggie Therapist
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9:34p, 8/1/24
AG
Alright, who has been to Mas Fajitas?

Them restaurants are everywhere now
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