IslanderAg04 said:

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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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Taco Deli is not nearly as good as it used to be. I obviously don't live in Texas, but when I lived in Austin from 2011 to 2014 compared to a couple of years ago, it's really gone downhill. They changed a lot of their menu, and the tacos aren't nearly as tasty in my opinion.

They serve mashed potatoes in their "papas tacos"

It was a what in the actual **** moment for me

I got it thinking it was diced potatoes and eggs and it was literally whipped potatoes in the taco

Aggie Therapist said:

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They serve mashed potatoes in their "papas tacos"

It was a what in the actual **** moment for me

I got it thinking it was diced potatoes and eggs and it was literally whipped potatoes in the taco

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Yeah, good quality has gone way down. Every time I go there, it gets worse.

i like occasional Taco Deli. Love the dona sauce (which you can get at HEB now, btw). I skip potatoes, because mashed potatoes on a taco makes no sense to me. Their queso isn't that great though, that's for sure.

Gonna mention 2 chains NOT to go: MasFajitas and Rosa's. Its like they decided to make texmex for white people. Then made it even worse than that.

I wish we had a restaurant the quality of Rosa's here in East Tennessee. We don't even have white-people Mexican food. We have taco-bell level Mexican food. Restaurants here think that cut up stewed tomatoes from a can with a couple of onions is "salsa".

Rosa's is what it is. its fast food. I don't think its terrible, but we rarely go there.

zooguy96 said:

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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.

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grew up on those bad boys. 2 chimis and a topo Chico. Just now getting to the point that some food effect my stomach. Still the best taco sauce ever.

javajaws said:

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Gonna mention 2 chains NOT to go: MasFajitas and Rosa's. It's like they decided to make texmex for white people. Then made it even worse than that.

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Lolz, ok. Rosa's is great for what it is. Better than most sit down tex mex places east of Abilene and north of San Antonio.

What specifically was bad abut your experience? I am genuinely curious as I have never met anyone who didnt really enjoy the place.

VP at Pierce and Pierce said:

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javajaws said:

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Gonna mention 2 chains NOT to go: MasFajitas and Rosa's. It's like they decided to make texmex for white people. Then made it even worse than that.

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Lolz, ok. Rosa's is great for what it is. Better than most sit down tex mex places ... north of San Antonio.

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i'm not hating on Rosa's, but that statement is pretty ludicrous.

AggieOO said:

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VP at Pierce and Pierce said:

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javajaws said:

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Gonna mention 2 chains NOT to go: MasFajitas and Rosa's. It's like they decided to make texmex for white people. Then made it even worse than that.

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Lolz, ok. Rosa's is great for what it is. Better than most sit down tex mex places ... north of San Antonio.

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i'm not hating on Rosa's, but that statement is pretty ludicrous.

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It is a bit hyperbolic, I like Rosas what can I say? And as I have gotten older I have discovered that so many Tex Mex places are average and seem to cater to white people that are there to drink and eat non spicy food. Why pay that much when I can go to rosas for the same quality?

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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Another vote for Los Tios. It was our go-to growing up, mostly to the Meyerland location. Last time I remember going was with my GF to the Sugar Land location right after I graduated from A&M, now more than 30 years ago. I thought they had closed down years ago, but based on this thread, maybe not?

Edit - yep, still open. Still have the puffy queso that I loved so much as a kid.

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Still going strong. They built a fancy one in the Galleria area about 5 years ago or so.

TXAG 05 said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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Another vote for Los Tios. It was our go-to growing up, mostly to the Meyerland location. Last time I remember going was with my GF to the Sugar Land location right after I graduated from A&M, now more than 30 years ago. I thought they had closed down years ago, but based on this thread, maybe not?

Edit - yep, still open. Still have the puffy queso that I loved so much as a kid.

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Still going strong. They built a fancy one in the Galleria area about 5 years ago or so.

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That location is very very good.

You passing through Brownwood on the way to west Texas?

Mose Schrute said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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Another vote for Los Tios. It was our go-to growing up, mostly to the Meyerland location. Last time I remember going was with my GF to the Sugar Land location right after I graduated from A&M, now more than 30 years ago. I thought they had closed down years ago, but based on this thread, maybe not?

Edit - yep, still open. Still have the puffy queso that I loved so much as a kid.

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Still going strong. They built a fancy one in the Galleria area about 5 years ago or so.

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That location is very very good.

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they also built a nice location in West U on Buff Spdwy. Has severely impacted Molina's business in that area.

Molinas needs to go - but i think the high functioning divorced alcoholics in the no minors bar area makes the place a cash cow.

jja79 said:

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You passing through Brownwood on the way to west Texas?

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Very common if you're starting in DFW. Take 377 all the way to Brady and then 190.

Yep. Still the only place in that location I'll eat. Give me a bar seat and a rita and I'm fine. Food is just ok though. Was so much better way back in the day when it was on Buff Spdwy.

Not many on here will know about "El Pato" in the RGV. From the mid 70's through the mid 90's that was by far the best Mexican, TexMex, chain I can think of. But it was a fast food type place with most things "a la carte", no booze and they charged for hot sauce. With that being said in the late 80's two of us could eat, and eat well, for under $4.00; An order of "Patos", and 3 extra homemade torts and split the filling.

There were "El Pato's" from Mission to Browntown.

The lady who owned it, Mrs. Gonzalez, was approached extensively about selling it and or franchising it, but for whatever reason she never had an interest in doing so. She had health problems and sold it to a local prominent gringo family who has somewhat expanded and modernized it. Food isn't quite as good, gotten much more expensive, and the feel of a dive place to eat is gone. Such is life. But for 20+ years "El Pato" just rocked, best fast food TexMex place I have ever known.

Mose Schrute said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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Another vote for Los Tios. It was our go-to growing up, mostly to the Meyerland location. Last time I remember going was with my GF to the Sugar Land location right after I graduated from A&M, now more than 30 years ago. I thought they had closed down years ago, but based on this thread, maybe not?

Edit - yep, still open. Still have the puffy queso that I loved so much as a kid.

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Still going strong. They built a fancy one in the Galleria area about 5 years ago or so.

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That location is very very good.

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I miss Los Tios and Tex-Mex in general. Moved to Central Arkansas a couple of months ago. The Mexican here is different, more Southwestern than Tex. I've always loved Chile Colorado and most places here have it.

Tex-Mex is one of the few things I miss about Texas. HEB and proximity to the coast are others. Also almost impossible to find a brisket in stores.

That's still pretty far from west Texas.

jja79 said:

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That's still pretty far from west Texas.

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No one said Brownwood is in West Texas. You even said yourself that it's on the way. It must be difficult to live with such a small
perspective.

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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Another vote for Los Tios. It was our go-to growing up, mostly to the Meyerland location. Last time I remember going was with my GF to the Sugar Land location right after I graduated from A&M, now more than 30 years ago. I thought they had closed down years ago, but based on this thread, maybe not?

Edit - yep, still open. Still have the puffy queso that I loved so much as a kid.

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That Sugar Land Los Tios opened in 1982 or 83, I believe. It was likely the first restaurant in First Colony.

Bruce Almighty said:

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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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The Tacos a la Ninfa with beef fajita is my favorite dish of any Mexican restaurant I've been to. It's just so good.

For Houston, i could narrow it down to only Los Tios if i had to. I used to eat at Taqueria Arandas more often as well. Tried Chuy's again recently and didn't enjoy it. Maybe it was just the Bunker Hill/(Hell) location.

El Fenix was a favorite whenever I visited DFW.

Growing up in East TX, the options can be limited, but Posados was a good one. Jucy's Tacos is a good fast food option if you're in the area.

cc10106 said:

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For Houston, i could narrow it down to only Los Tios if i had to. I used to eat at Taqueria Arandas more often as well. Tried Chuy's again recently and didn't enjoy it. Maybe it was just the Bunker Hill/(Hell) location.

El Fenix was a favorite whenever I visited DFW.

Growing up in East TX, the options can be limited, but Posados was a good one. Jucy's Tacos is a good fast food option if you're in the area.

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You ever eat at Carlitos in Longview TX? Very good. Owner operated. He shut it down a few years ago when he retired.

The Mexican food in East Texas is head and shoulders better than anything in Houston imo.

My favorite in Houston is Guadalajara followed by El Tiempo.

Relax. I thought someone considered Brownwood west Texas.

Relax

If you're in Kingwood or Livingston, check out Hacienda Palomas. Excellent service, good food and drinks at moderate prices.

http://haciendapalomasmexicanrestaurant.com/

Logos Stick said:

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cc10106 said:

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For Houston, i could narrow it down to only Los Tios if i had to. I used to eat at Taqueria Arandas more often as well. Tried Chuy's again recently and didn't enjoy it. Maybe it was just the Bunker Hill/(Hell) location.

El Fenix was a favorite whenever I visited DFW.

Growing up in East TX, the options can be limited, but Posados was a good one. Jucy's Tacos is a good fast food option if you're in the area.

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You ever eat at Carlitos in Longview TX? Very good. Owner operated. He shut it down a few years ago when he retired.

The Mexican food in East Texas is head and shoulders better than anything in Houston imo.

My favorite in Houston is Guadalajara followed by El Tiempo.

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I dunno, I've seen some strange Mexican food in East Texas. Houston is full of great Mexican food especially if you like something besides Tex-Mex.

Never had Carlito's. El Charro in Tyler was my favorite in the area.

javajaws said:

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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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Lupe is just right below papasitos in regards to their beef fajitas. I love all of Lupe's seafood options

Went to Pappasito's last week, and I was underwhelmed. The beef fajita taco was good, but the enchilada, rice, beans, and salsa were all bland. Everything needed a hefty dash of salt.

I get fajitas and margaritas there