We love Armando's restaurant! We walked in without reservations on Sunday. Atmosphere is the best and the wait staff are top notch. We were so hungry after Christmas shopping and enjoyed our dinner choices. Mine was the Lobster with grilled veggies - delicious!! My husband ordered the Lulu plate - another winner. Of course, their frijoles are the best refried frijoles in Houston .... Just like my Momma's. read more

ARMANDOS - My favorite choice! Yum! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Debatably the best Mexican in all of Houston. Margaritas are expensive but strong as hell. Cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Tacos al carbon and the ceviche are some of my favorites. read more

ARMANDOS - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had a a wonderful time with my family for my 21st birthday dinner, I enjoyed the chicken salad read more

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I was excited to see they're doing delivery. I used to do curbside weekly from this place, and I thought I could make it a regular thing again. But the first try was a really bad experience. They should get onto DoorDash properly and not do this nonsense of running deliveries through Toast powered by DoorDash. The way they do it takes longer, is way more expensive for customers, and gives customers limited ways to address problems when they arise (as was the case in my order). Don't get me wrong, I hate DoorDash. But wow this way is so much worse. Not sure when/if I'll try again. Maybe if they take a more sensible approach to delivery. read more

Known for its Thursday nights, Armando's typically serves more than food, but an atmosphere above the rest as the tables part way for a dance floor each Thursday night. This Thursday (4/15/22), however was different. Armando's overbooked it's reservations and was unprepared for the episcopal highschool after party that they helped host. 17 year olds running around with margaritas occupied both the dance floor and adjacent tables to the detriment of the typical Armando's scene. A high schoolers paradise, and to them I say enjoy. Regulars with reservations, however were not seated until 2+ hours after their scheduled reservations and food was not delivered for an hour+ after that. The cherry on top was the unapologetic manager (easy to recognize - short, stocky and bald) that seemed to miss the inconvenience caused by a failure to deliver food to a table that booked an 8:30 reservation until 11:40 pm. Is Armando too strung out? Was the expansion to other mediocre restaurants (lulus next door) too much? How could this manager be in charge of the marquee restaurant? Poor choices seem to be compounding. Will consider a Re-visit, and a re-post, but for now- stay away from Armando's while they figure out their operations. read more

We ordered takeout from here and it was really good! I love that it came with chips, salsa, guacamole, AND queso!!! We got the fish tacos and tacos Al carbon and both were really good. Love the beans! read more

Welp. We came here because we heard good things. Walked in on a Sunday at 6:40 and were seated immediately but no one came to take our drink orders for 15 minutes. Had to ask for food menus, and when they brought our drinks, guy handed me my 'skinny margarita' which we found out was actually my fiancée's drink. Waited 30 minutes to get a waiter to take our food order and decided to cut our losses and pay for the drinks and $5 valet and get some respectable, GREAT QUALITY food for the same price at our staple, Hugo's. Seriously armandos, you're gonna charge $18 for tilapia and shrimp ceviche vs. Hugo's red snapper bomb ceviche for $15. Byyeeee! read more

We went on a Sunday night, restaurant was empty! Food was not the same! We thought maybe the ownership has changed? The beef fajitas was different, no taste at all! unfortunately we had out of town guests and we wanted them to have a good texmex at a nice restaurant! never again! Armando's has changed unfortunately! read more

Went there with a group of friends to have dinner and hang out, it was crowded but managed to get a table. Food and drinks were okay but giving 1 star because restaurant ran 2 transactions on my credit card, check already included 20% gratuity, server decided to add additional tip after I had signed the check and left... which is pretty upsetting. Overall, had an overcharge of $535, on top of the $260 I had agreed to pay. When calling the restaurant and talking to the manager, he gives me an email address to send information. I emailed and provided agree screenshots, 2 weeks later and I have yet to get a response or a refund. read more

Came here on a weekday evening and was able to make an opentable reservation as I was leaving the house. They have both valet and self-park options. The ambiance is beautiful, with mirrors everywhere to enhance the spacious feel of the room. I liked the warm chips and both green and red salsas. Ordered the Malbec off the "Interesting Reds" part of the menu and really enjoyed it as well. For my main, I went with the mini surf and turf. They didn't have crab cakes, so I was ok with just sautéed lumps of crab. The steak was 4oz, but it was plenty for me. It was an unusually cold night for Houston, and the draft from the door made us really cold, so we mentioned it to the host. He was very kind and said he would add a note to my opentable so that during future visits, we would be seated away from the door. Really great experience overall! read more

Food was honestly disappointing. Fajita is a main Tex-Mex dish, and if you don't do it right, that's a problem. We started with guacamole for appetizers; it had no flavor whatsoever. We asked for a lot of lemon and added a lot of salt to get to a flavor. For the main dish, we ordered a mix of beef and chicken fajita, along with beef/ chicken quesadilla. The chicken and beef had absolutely no flavor, and had to ask the waiter to further cook it as well as adding more spices or do something about the flavor. Quesadillas were ok, nothing special either. For that price, I'd go twice or thrice to Chuy's and for sure end up with a better experience. We also tried the TresLeches, very disappointing, and have had much better. Embarrassing, but even HEB's TresLeche tastes better. On the other hand, the restaurant looks nice, and so is the atmosphere. I hope they just had a bad night that day! read more

If you are looking for "good chicken & beef fajitas" you can stop looking. This place them & more! Service is excellent and the staff really go out of their way to take care of you. I attended a private party tonight in the private dining area and the staff was "FABULOUS" I will definitely come back again! read more

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We recently relocated to Houston and since I haven't unpacked our kitchen yet we have eaten out every night for the last week. Every place we have tried has been great and each locale has been better than the last one. My husband started his new job yesterday, it was the first time since Covid that he's had to put on a suit and tie. I decided to put on a dress and take him out to celebrate the new job. I chose Armando's for the name alone. My son's middle name is Armando and my husband's middle name is the German version, Armin. I knew this place had to be special. We were met with a warm welcome at the front door despite not having reservations. Every employee we passed along the way to our table also greeted us, we felt at home. The ambience of the entire restaurant was perfect for our special night. Soft lighting, romantic, and cozy. Perfect. Our server was excellent and very attentive, all of his recommendations were spot on. My husband had the snapper Veracruzano and I had the carne guisaba. I was surprised to see gallo pinto on the menu as that is from Costa Rica ( where my family is from, which made this restaurant even more special)and next time I'll be sure to try it. ( and there will definitely be a next time). We ordered the flan for dessert and we were delighted when he brought it out with a little candle to congratulate my husband on his new job. It was a much appreciated extra touch. Thank you for the memorable evening, we look forward to seeing you soon. read more

ARMANDOS - Flan - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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There are too many texmex in Houston to like Armandos. If you prefer real mex, Caracol or Hugo should be well above on your list and if you really want the texmex fares, I had better food and nicer service at Pappasitos. Texmexmex i would go to Pico's. The starters were actually excellent but the main were utmost disappointing. I had to order an additional serving of onion and cilantro for my main, as they were absent from my dish despite being on the menu. Even with this, it was insipid. The salsa roja was a lame watery tomato onion mix, not a hint of a spice. Armando's was for me what Damian's is to Italian food: the Americanized 80s version of texmex, an Americanized textexmex. Would fit perfectly in a Kansas suburb but not in Houston anymore. read more

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Very elegant resteraunt with valet parking. Atmosphere is great but a much older crowd. Went here on a saturday night and everyone seemed to just be having margaritas and cocktails not a whole lot of people eating. The tacos al carbon were awesome! Overall it's a really nice place might have to dress up a bit but it's worth the food and experience. read more

Food is awful. Armando yelled at my mother in his restaurant full of people. His behavior was embarrassing and totally unprofessional. He's got a chip on his shoulder. read more

Went in at 9:27, young manager who was watching Netflix on laptop at bar told us they couldn't handle servers sitting in lounge. They close at 10pm. Highly unprofessional. Unfortunately for him we are both service industry and would be written up or fired if we refused service to guests coming in 30 MINUTES before closing. I hope this doesn't give Mexicans a bad name.. read more

This restaurant never fails! We frequently eat here and love everything! The steaks and quesadillas are to die for! The atmosphere is romantic! Lights are a little too dim but a great ambience! Staff is great and friendly. read more

For whatever reason, they now try to force you to use valet parking. The "non-valet" spaces are minimal and were all taken. My complaint to the manager fell on deaf ears. I left. I can't imagine what it is going to be like when Armando opens up his new place in the same center. read more

Not sure how you can't give this place 5 stars, it is not greasy Tex-Mex, more like gourmet Tex-Mex. The prices aren't much more than Escalantes which I love or El Tiempo which I used to love but it varies greatly by location (Richmond being one of the best to worst restaurants ever). From the best skinny margarita ever to the incredible red salsa, spinach enchiladas or the Mandito, it is all yummy!!! read more

One of the greats in town when it comes to food that you get and love. Service is usually great. It is one of my top 3 go to's. I just don't think you can go wrong here. A nicer place with good food that is not a mid range or hole in the wall even though I love some of those places as well. read more

Came here after a White Elephant Christmas party with the ladies, who wanted to go out dancing. I had never been, and we had a variety of ages ranging from twenties to forties and someone recommended this place. It was a WEIRD vibe for sure. First thing when you walked in you noticed how crowded it really was. Being in the medical field, my first thought was, does this meet the fire department capacity standards? This can't be safe. We proceeded to the bar where seven ladies waited over thirty minutes to order one drink, we decided to go dance instead because there was no way we were going to ever order. The DJ played music like we were in a techno rave from the nineties... Strange. The crowd was filled with people fresh out of high school to seventy years old. The older adults were all sitting at tables watching the young crowd dance on the dance floor. Strange! read more

I was so excited to go For Dinner there ! I was sooo disappointed with ambiance and food. It was a Thursday night way TOO LOUD. I had blacked tilapia it was so BLAND AND GROSS. IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY. NEVER GOING THERE AGAIN read more

I have been to Armandos 3-4 times now and my general observation is that it is an odd place. The decor is ultra-fancy (think dark wood panelled walls with very ornate furnishings, gilded fixtures and no windows) yet they serve rather ordinary Tex Mex food. And, it is not as expensive as what you might assume given the decor and River Oaks location. I think it is fair to say that Armandos' patrons are generally 50-70 years in age but they all seem quite jovial so it doesn't feel stuffy. The service is prompt and friendly and every time we've been, Armando himself is there in jeans greeting patrons. However, I am not sure that Armandos is "me" and it wouldn't be my first choice if I wanted great Mexican food, but I can certainly understand its appeal to a certain segment of Houstonians. read more

Since I really like this place, I will tell you why I am do not give this 5 stars. First, if you get there at a normal time you are greeted with cones all over sometimes an empty parking lot. so you must use valet. The valet is not complimentary, it is I believe $5 or $7. For those of you who don't understand valet parking companies, if the owner is too cheap to pay for that company to give their service, you get charged. So despite how much they charge for everything inside, they screw you with valet parking too. Then when you walk in, you are greeted with a very large oil painting of Armando (I am assuming it is him, since it is not a black velvet Elvis or a classic Goya or Picasso painting). Let's just say the painting reminds me of someone my parents told me never to get in their white panel van as a child, no matter how much free candy & puppies they promised me. Finally, as I mentioned before, the pricing. They are very proud of their food & drinks, which they should be. The problem is that you pay some pretty ridiculous prices for some Tex-Mex food. I realize that rent in River Oaks/Upper Kirby is not cheap, but this is a little much. I feel the same way about El Tiempo. Mexican food is not fine French cuisine or has components that can only be transported by a yak across the Himalayan Mountains to guarantee its freshness for you... Now why this place should get 5 stars if it were not for what I previously mentioned. The service has always outstanding. Quick with the refills. The queso, chips, & salsa are excellent and fresh. Finally, the food is always fresh, made of high quality, and delicious. If you are a cougar hunter, this place is defnitely for you. If not, enjoy the people watching/hot mess spotting. read more

Food and margaritas are always on point. Elie Germany is the best Valet service in Houston, TX. He is always happy, friendly and prompt, even in busy stressful times. I trust this man with all my cars. read more

Armando's is a see-and-be-seen white tablecloth restaurant that serves good Tex-Mex. Service was excellent--our server was polite, attentive and very helpful. I was impressed with the service. People watching may be one of the most interesting parts about Armandos--it's definitely a River Oaks crowd and was packed to the brim on a Saturday night. The food was very good--perhaps not my favorite Houston Tex-Mex (which would be either El Tiempo or Ninfa's) but good: -The house margaritas were great--flavor, strength and quality were all great. -The complimentary chips and salsa that come out before the meal were delish. -The beef fajitas were good and served with amazing refried beans. The tortillas served with them were obviously homemade, though thinner than most tortillas I've seen. -The ceviche was just OK--not my favorite ceviche, but it was OK. -The queso flameado was ridiculously good--tortillas filled with queso, cheese and chorizo. read more

Attended Armandos during HRW. The only two things I really enjoyed was the margarita and the tres leches. Besides that it was just overpriced Mexican food which wasn't even great. Glad I tried it but wouldn't go back. read more

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Food and drinks are great. Drink menu is very impressive, then you taste them and you are blow away. I had a mule, a cucumber martini, and some other drinks. If the food was not so good, I would come here just for the drinks. The food is great. The beans, I think that is the signature item. Beans as a signature item? Come taste them. Crazy good. Carne guisada was up there with best I have had. First time here, next time I'll try the chile rellenos. But the beans, best I have ever had. Update. We came back for the food and drinks and the atmosphere. Service was incredible tonight. They went out of their way to help. I had the ribeye enchiladas, and they were good. I had the same drinks I had the first time, and they did not disappoint. I have increased my rating to five stars. Love this place. read more

ARMANDOS - Great place. This pic is of the ceiling, I did not want to bother the guests. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Quick tips - Valet parking (although there are plenty of empty spots in the lot next to the restaurant so you could walk the few feet if you don't care for valet). Try to make a reservation as you may have to wait a while on a crowded night. The Armandos Margarita is delicious but lightweights beware as they are potent. The Chili Con Queso, the Spinach Enchiladas, and the Cheese Enchiladas (with the Queso sauce) are excellent veggie friendly choices. I think it is pretty expensive for what you are getting food wise - but it's nice for a formal date. Ambiance - Very classy and chic. Cute decor - it is fun to look at. Dress to impress. VERY FUN people watching. An older crowd, but in their natural habitat you just might see a cougar catching her prey at the bar, like I did (true story). Food - Thick tortilla chips in a cute cone arrive promptly upon being seated. I don't care for thicker authentic chips but my boyfriend loves them. The salsa was nothing extraordinary, but it was unique that one of the cups was heated salsa. The Chili con queso was delicious. I wasn't hungry the first time I went, and my boyfriend and I shared Mandito's (for those of you who want to share with people who eat meat). He raved about the crispy taco, but said the chicken was a bit dry. I loved the cheese enchilada with the queso sauce, not the salsa/ranchero sauce (like I said, the salsa was eh). Service - Great service. They are not too pushy and let you really enjoy your dinner, even when crowded. Our waiter could tell we were on a special date and gave us plenty of time with our margaritas (which one left me a little tipsy by the end of the night!) read more

ARMANDOS - Behind the pillar I believe is Armando. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Joined some friends for a birthday party, the food was fantastic, filet mignon, salmon, grilled chicken, all cooked to perfection, party, decorations, and service was first rate, had a really good time! Also, fantastic high end margaritas. read more

I tried Armando's out and apparently I have been missing out on this hidden gem. We started at the bar for drinks and decided to stay once the DJ started spinning around 9:30pm on a Thursday night! They moved a few tables to make a dance floor and from there on it was honestly fun! The crowd is mature, young and middle aged professionals (perfect)....the crowd mixture was impressive. The service at the bar was phenomenal, they are very attentive and super organized. This place gets packed so I would get there early if you want to check it out on a Thursday. We did valet, it's was $5. Nice place to start at for drinks before going out. I'm definitely returning, DJ played top 40 and old school hits as well. Fun and classy place! read more

I know businesses are doing their best during these hard times and I applaud restaurants that take care of appropriate social distancing for the safety of everyone. They sacrificing seeing less customers for the safety of their customers. Unfortunately Armando's does not do this. We went in at 8 p.m. and the restaurant is a small space and every single table was completely filled with zero social distancing implemented. Because it's a small space it is super easy to spread covid. Do not recommend going to this restaurant during the pandemic. Instead we ended up going to North Italia which did an incredible job of social distancing and spacing out tables. read more

The vibrant Spanish vibe was lovely and we were seated quickly. Upon seating, there was little to no wait for the waiter, the chips, our food, etc. The service was impeccable. I was in the mood for a quiet evening so the noise was a bit much for me, but it didn't matter since the food was incomparable to any other Tex-Mex restaurant. We both had enchiladas and a yummy chocolate molten cake. We were in and out of there within an hour! read more

Went to Armando's for happy hour . What initially struck me is the beauty of the interior of the restaurant. High ceilings with Spanish architecture made me feel like I was in Barcelona. Armando's is upscale Tex-Mex. We started off with a couple drinks. Even though the restaurant was pretty much empty on a Monday night, service was slow. Not terrible by any means, but should have been more efficient given the lack of people around. Once we finally came around to having some food, I went with the steak quesadilla. Instead of four large quesadillas as I'm accustomed to, Armando's offers eight mini quesadillas. Still a lot of food as I was only able to eat half and it was good. Quality meat, melted cheese, couldn't ask for more in a quesadilla. O and I forgot to mention the complimentary chips and salsa (both red salsa and green salsa). Our chips were switched out frequently and the warm tortilla chips were a treat. read more

Joe was amazing! Wow blow me away with his wonderful customer service. He even held my hand while I walk up the stair to the bathroom. He top it off with a nice bright smile. Thank you for making my day. read more

We stopped by Armandos on a Friday for a late dinner. Armandos is an upscale Mexican restaurant and we tried their HRW menu. For my appetizer, I had the queso flameado with chorizo. This was my first time having chorizo. While it sounds like a simple dish, it was really, really good. For my entree, I had the ribeye enchiladas. I thought the ribeye would be inside the enchiladas but I was wrong. They were separated which was great! The ribeye was flavorful and had some nice spices but it was a little fatty. The enchiladas were too cheesy. While anything being too cheesy is tough to accomplish, these enchiladas were cheese enchiladas with cheese on top. A little overpowering. For my dessert, I had the tres leches which was also my first time trying this classic dessert. It definitely won't be the last. Our waiter was great and ambiance was nice too. A downside? The restaurant was full and really loud so it was tough hearing everyone at the table. read more

A great place for a nice dinner. The food is amazing and the service is top notch. I loved the ambiance as well. Parking is not an issue. My girlfriends and I had a wonderful time. read more

ARMANDOS - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Armando, Joel and Alfredo took excellent care of us at the bar, food was great, drinks were great and service was exemplary. Nothing could have been better. read more

ARMANDOS - Enough said - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

A REALLY GOOD TIME. The service was great. It was honestly nice not to use a QR code for the first time in a while. They are distancing tables due to Covid and will sit you in groups next to each other for an event. The music was great and definitely gets louder throughout the evening. We went on a Thursday for a birthday dinner and I didn't want to leave! Would recommend the enchilada/taco combos, ceviche, crab cake & margaritas!!! read more