We were celebrating my husband's birthday-- from the host's greeting, to the birthday card at the table and special dessert, Hugo's made the event memorable. Edgardo was outstanding! The quality of the meal was what always brings us back -- all in all, an amazing experience! read more

Hugo's never disappoints! The brunch buffet was amazing as always--fresh, flavorful, and full of variety . The live music added the perfect touch to a relaxed weekend vibe . Service was excellent--friendly, fast, and on point . One of my all-time favorite brunch spots in town. Can't wait to come back! read more

Call ahead and make a reservation! This place gets packed! However, there is walk in bar service but, for a buffet I'd rather sit down at a table. There is valet parking available and the spot is located in a cute part of the town. So this spot won the James Beard Award so my review will be a bit more intense vs a small owned business. The food overall was pretty good. There were certain dishes that stood out to me more than others. We got there 30 minutes before the buffet closed but the food was constantly being refreshed so that was a plus. There is a huge variety of foods to choose from! The Chile Relleno was a bit too chewy for my taste it did have a good flavor but needed to be cooked a bit longer. Next the Chicken Enchiladas we're hands down my favorite of everything. The Chile quilles were too soggy for my taste. However, some people prefer that over crunchy. The desserts were good, the flan and tres leches were my top favorites. Also the gelatin had a great flavor. The Mexican hot chocolate was good but I believe they use water only not milk. Which milk would have made it even better. Lastly, do not order the mimosas. We got a bottle to split between the both of us and we should have just ordered Juice. That was a complete waste of money. The bathrooms, for us ladies this is important. The toilets are super low to the ground. I felt like I was in an elementary school restroom. However, the decor and cleanliness was great! I just want ladies to know you will have to get down low for this one ha ha. Overall, I would recommend this place for the food. Again, skip on the mimosas. Try to get reservations earlier in my experience the food is at the best standard at the start of the day. read more

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Came here for late brunch with my hubby on a Sunday. We didn't really know what to order at first, but then per the waiter's recommendation we decided to go with "Callo de Hacha" and the "Camarones al Mojo de Ajo". Both were splendid plates, not only had they come in a beautiful presentation, but also tasted amazing. The only one missing star goes to the annoying fly flying around that was trying to be friends with us, hopefully you guys will not have to be acquaintances. Definitely recommend it! read more

Definitely had to give Hugo's a try for Houston Restaurant Week! I've always heard so many delightful things about this restaurant. For the first course, I went with the Enmolada! It came with a savory corn tortilla with the most delicious crema fresco. Second course was the Garnachas De Tinga De Pollo. Delicious masa cakes topped with a delightful chicken stew. For the third course, I tried the Costilla De Res. Short rib cooked to perfection! The meat was practically falling off the bone. The ending desert was the highlight of the entire meal. The Tres Leches was one of the best cakes I've ever had. The combination of the three milks made it perfectly moist. An unforgettable experience! Service and food were top notch! The only downside is parking can be difficult at times. You won't regret this choice! read more

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We came here for a last-minute dinner on a Saturday night but were able to get a reservation very easily. The dining room is huge with plenty of seating and a room in that back that looked like it could be used for private events. We were seated immediately upon arrival and were greeted by our server who gave us great recommendations for drinks and food. They were very personable and friendly throughout our dinner! The rose sangria was great! We decided to order a few small plates instead of entrees which, even though they were cold when they arrived, were still delicious. I would recommend this spot for a group dinner! read more

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Haven't been here in years but everything is still amazing! Definitely try anything with their seafood options because it's so delicious! My husband brought me to celebrate my birthday early and everything was 10/10. They have valet and go based off tip which they deserve super hard working & nice! We go inside sit at the bar and Chino the bartender attended us. He was very knowledge about everything , and super attentive. For food I ordered off the HRW menu and my husband ordered off the regular menu. I ordered the HRW Menú nuestro estilo ( because they do have like 2 other different options to choose from.) I would give it an 8/10 it wasn't bad but my husbands order was definitely way more delicious! But, the perk with HRW menu is being able to try about 4 different dishes ( appetizer, entree, desert etc.) My husband on the other hand ordered pulpo al carbon (appetizer) DELICIOUS!!! He also ordered for his main course MARISCOS AL AJILLO, so so so good! Their seafood options are 10/10. Also their salsa habanero was delicious! Thank you to the valet, chino , and the other servers we interacted with. The food, drinks and service is definitely worth what you're paying for. Can't wait to be back!!! read more

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We had a delightful early Sunday dinner on the tiny outdoor patio. The food, drink and service all rate a five star. The missing star is because the intimate little patio needs more plants and a water feature to make it complete. read more

Had a great dinner at Hugo's last night. Two of us had the daily enchiladas which were beef short rib. The meat marinade was flavorful and I appreciated the fact that the amount of sauce didn't overwhelm the plate. The black beans had a perfect texture for the plate. We shared a bottle of rose sangria, and wished we had stuck with margaritas. It was just ok. The service was amazing. Very attentive but not overwhelming. We'll be back! read more

Hugo's - I got double beans instead of beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pleasantly surprised, we chose quite a few dishes and liked them all. *Note: they were all very small portions. Tapas style. Nothing was big enough to share, appetizers included. Appetizers: 1) salsa & guacamole: yummy, guac was chunky & not spicy, which I like. Salsa had some heat. 2) Pulpo Al Carbón, the grilled octopus, quite good. Very small portion, not to share, but pretty scrumptious. Entrees: 1) Barbacoa; he said it was 3 out of five. Not amazing but good. Small portion, not at all enough to be an entree. 2) Mariscos Al Ajillo; 3 out of 5, the seafood and rice were good but highly salted. In fact the quelites (greens) were so saturated in salt they were not very edible. Overall I would order it again, but ask for light salt. Very small portion again; 1 scallop, 1 "lobster" (tiny shrimp size) no octopus, 2 shrimp, the rest were 5-6 various clam/mussels. So wasn't a lot, but I enjoyed what I had. Drink: Spiced Michoacan: not bad, not fantastic, just average. Not too spicy. Dessert: Platanitos Flameados: oooooo boy was this good. It's a banana foster but with a twist. Loved it, insanely sweet, I wouldn't share it, tiny portion of ice cream, and I hog desserts anyways. Get this for sure! Sum up; I'll go again, nice atmosphere, server was very nice, overall good time. read more

Hugo's - MARISCOS AL AJILLO - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Very good and unique. Service was good and atmosphere was very nice. I am glad we went but it has not been a highlight of our trip to Houston. read more

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Best margaritas (Hugo-ritas), best guacamole &chips, great Happy Hour menu, terrific staff and service, all around great time! Much appreciate Hugo's. read more

A bunch of us came here for lunch and we thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant. The food was presented beautifully, it was clearly very fresh and thoughtfully prepared. They also offer a dedicated vegetarian menu which was handy. The service was a little slow but the staff were very friendly, at the end, the host waited around for us and chatted for a while, giving us some context on the restaurant which was a nice touch. read more

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Super overpriced for mediocre food. No queso at a Mexican restaurant? Beyond me. Food isn't terrible but isn't anything special. Also only valet parking lot? I can't read more

The authenticity is beyond words. We had a party of four and went for the breakfast brunch/buffet Sunday morning. I couldn't stop eating the tamales and pozole. The brisket is very good, soft and tender. The elote is the best elote I have ever had in my life. The dessert choices, oh my goodness, tres leches, churros, all flavorful. For being here so many years you think they may loose their touch, no, they are still amazing. Service was great everyone was friendly! read more

Hugo's - All of the drinks are must try! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here for a date night the other weekend because we hadn't been in several years. They have updated the dining space in the past couple of years and it's very clean and nice but the ambiance is kind of "meh". Maybe because the restaurant is so large, but it just wasn't very vibey. Our drinks came quickly after ordering which was great. For dinner we ordered the guacamole, the crispy duck, the slow roasted pork shank and the brussels. The food was fine but honestly kind of bland. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I was pretty surprised because we went to xochi recently and the food there was superb. I was specifically disappointed by the Brussels sprouts because they are listed as "charred" on the menu but they are for sure flash fried. I wish we could just all agree to stop frying Brussels! Overall the experience was fine but I don't think I would come back for a date night. Would give a 3.5 if that was an option. read more

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Loved the food, ambience and service. Hugo has managed to keep his food at the top as he always has!

I've been to Hugo's once before and enjoyed my experience but haven't been to Hugo's again since this years Mothers day celebration. We decided to go the weekend after to avoid the chaos. I made a reservation prior after calling them since I was trying to reserve for 6 people, I wasn't able to make it online. When we arrived we were greeted with drinks and I specifically picked this place because they have a vegan/vegetarian menu. I've been to Caracol before which is the same owner I believe so I knew i would love the food. I ordered the deconstructed enchiladas and my family ordered the normal enchiladas. I found the deconstructed enchilada sauce a bit too smokey and the normal enchilada sauce a bit too sauce however they were both very delicious and unique! Service was great-we explained to our server my mom is gluten free and he helped pick the right dish for her. The Ambiance is super cute, very upscale mexican vibe. Overall- I would love to go back and try their other dishes. Also parking is complimentary valet or street, you might get lucky to find street parking but if not the valet is behind the restaurant. read more

Hugo's - Deconstructed Veggie Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hugo's seem like a very classy place - simple and elegant. I stopped by for brunch with my friend and we ordered chilaquiles, chicken enchilada, and Chile relleno pork, and a small plate of octopus. I was a bit skeptic of the chips in chilaquiles being soggy but when it arrived, the chips were still crisp and tasty. The green salsa was very delicious and the chicken was so tender that it was falling apart if you stick a fork or chip in it. It's served with 2 sunny side eggs and feta which just enhances the whole taste to another level. We got the chicken enchiladas with the mole sauce and it was tasty as well. I really liked the tangy and sweet-ish taste of the mole sauce. My friend who got the octopus was also happy since it's served with 4 small tortillas and salsa, so you can make four small octopus tacos from it. He really liked it and it's one of the dish Hugo's is famous for. Finally he really liked the pork Chile relleno as well, it was huge. Most of the entrees come with a small serving of rice and beans. My recommendation is to make a reservation before visiting. read more

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Review solely based on food. The food was spectacular!!! We tried a number of things from appetizers to desserts and nothing disappointed. The pulpo appetizer is spot on! Favorite out all the ones we ordered, Seasoning, size just delicious!!!!! the duck entree is finger licking good! Second favorite would be the filete oaxaqueno. Child entree we only tried carnitas but they were sooo good! And the desserts we tried two the churro dessert and the cheese flan and loved them both. Order the pretty drinks!!! They are sooo good we loved the greatest margarita, caminos del jardín, mojitos and the watermelon fruit ranch water! Service was ok. Not the best for the price of the restaurant I would think they need to be more attentive. However, it could very well only had been our waiter and the hostess. The valet guys were great and so was our busser. read more

Hugo's is an upscale modern Mexican restaurant. I wasn't too familiar with parking in this area so I decided to go with connivence and used valet services. My mom and I stopped by for an evening meal and we were seated immediately even though it was a full house. I was really impressed by their drink option which had a variety of unique drinks. I ordered the sweet sting and my mom ordered the classic margarita which were both pretty good! I ordered the oxtail soup for my main entree and it was super filling! I loved how tender the oxtail was & was filled with several spices & veggies like onions and corn. For desert I tried the tres leches cake. The cake itself had great flavor, I wasn't a huge fan of the fruit like syrup it underneath it since it had more of a tart taste to it. Overall we had a lovely time at this restaurant. read more

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We've been coming here for years We live a few blocks away. The food is always amazing. The service is always amazing. The ambience is always amazing. I love the new room even though it meant that the gorgeous outdoor seating is no longer there. Great place for a romantic dinner or a for a party. I can't say enough good things about Hugos. Did I say the food is amazing? :-) read more

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Very good service, enchiladas and margarita. Looking forward to returning. Highly recommend

TL; DR: Absolutely remarkable ceviche. Who hasn't been to Hugo's? Restauranteur turned a full-on group, Hugo (I want to say his last name is Ortega) has been elevating the Houston food scene for multiple decades. But I had been here only a couple of times for brunch and even that was almost a decade ago. So we decided to give this oldie but a goodie a try for my birthday. We tend to eat early and had a 5pm reservation through the link on the website. We were happy to find that the Happy Hour menu is extensive. Weekdays until 6pm. Gil was our server and he's such a gentleman. Attentive without being overbearing. We appreciated his measured politeness and kindness. I had chosen Hugo's wanting to try the whole fish but my mom made an awesome grilled barramundi earlier in the day so I decided to switch things up. The cocktails apparently allow no substitutions so I held off, but we got: Happy Hour menu: - Ceviche tradicional - Aguachile de camarones - Fish, pulled pork, and steak tacos Regular menu: - Pulpo al carbon (grilled octopus) - Chile relleno (stuffed pepper) I almost always get the octopus when I see it on a menu, and unlike the one at Oporto (I have yet to see an octopus in Houston beat Oporto's - if you have a challenger, please let me know), this one was a letdown. It came cut, and the pieces (and the whole plate) were itty bitty - the plate itself was smaller than my palm. The flavors were ok. 2/5 The tacos were a bit pricy at $4.50-5 per taco even during Happy Hour, but they were stuffed and filling. I had the fish taco and a bite of the steak taco - the fish was lightly fried and on a pillow of cabbage, and the steak meats were chopped too small for me to actually enjoy its texture but were delightfully chargrilled. 5/5 for the fish and 4.5/5 for the steak. The tacos and the crudo got us full so we didn't try the stuffed pepper and took it to go, but from the bite of refried beans I have had, my guess is that there must've so much pork fat in those beans - it tastes like pork in lard (not necessarily a bad thing). The sauce atop the pepper was a nut purée - judging by the color, pistachio. So onto the crudo. The flavors of the shrimp aguachile were spot on as well but especially after the beautiful ebi aguachile at Mastrantos last week, the shrimp here was severely lacking in both quality and amount. 4 tiny shrimps for $8. I'm glad to have tried it but I wouldn't get it again. 3/5 But the highlight: el ceviche tradicional. This dish alone would have me come back just so that I can have two or three of this dish. It's beautiful to look at and even better to taste. The brightness of the citrus and the salt is perfectly balanced, and the catch of the day happened to be snapper - the perfect fish for its chewy texture, cooked slightly by the lemon. It was perfect. 6/5. All in all, this was an unexpected revisit and find for Hugo's to reign as one of the top happy hour spots in my book. It's a bit loud inside but coupled with great service and comfortable, distanced seating, it's no wonder why it is a rooted establishment in the Houston food scene. Enjoy! read more

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Had dinner with a friend there last night and we had a great experience. The plantain empanadas and grilled octopus were delicious. We did get the grilled fish special with pumpkin seed sauce and it was done so well. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. We paired everything with a Mexican Sparkling wine and we left very satisfied with the food and the service we received from Edgardo. Will definitely return. read more

Sunday brunch is well worth the $42 per person. The brunch buffet looked so nice, the presentation was awesome and the food was super delicious. I would recommend making a reservation or getting there as soon as they open because they do get very busy. The mimosas were good and I tried a blackberry mojito as well and it was super good and strong. I tried the ceviche, house made salsas, breakfast enchiladas, migas, carnitas, birria tacos, and tamales. It was sooo good. Really great flavor and authentic style cooking as well. The dessert table was so pretty and my favorite thing was the tres leches! The churros, mango cheesecake and assorted fruits were really great as well. This is a MUST have brunch on Sunday, at least 5 times a year haha or more. read more

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Great place for a fancy dinner! Food tastes amazing and the presentation is better! Service is fast and professional. Inside is very fancy and lighting is comfortable. Definitely coming back! read more

Hugo's - Tortilla Soup - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

So good! Consistently awesome. I loved both the dinner and the brunch buffet. The cocktails were amazing and I've never had a bad bite.

There were hits and misses but overall it was a disappointing experience. 1) They refused our request to change tables for more privacy in a dining room that was mostly empty. We were seated next to a large group in the middle of the dining room and only wanted a little privacy. 2) The greatest margarita was ridiculously overpriced at $33 for a mediocre Margarita. When I saw the large glass it was served with I assumed the price was due to a larger size but then they only filled it just more than a 1/3 the way full. 3) The PULPO AL CARBÓN was outstanding. 4) The HONGOS EN MOLE were also wonderful. 5) They were out of the CALLO DE HACHA which is why my wife agreed to go there. 6) The TIRADITO DE MEDREGAL had great flavor but also was a small serving. 7) The BISTEC OAXAQUENO was extremely disappointing. The steak was inconsistently cooked, and it was bland. The mole sauce also had no flavor. I briefly thought to myself that I may have Covid because I was eating Mole and tasting nothing. 8) Je carnitas were ok. I actually had better Carnitas the morning before when I stopped for breakfast tacos. read more

I don't know how we went so long without knowing about this place... I ordered a spicy margarita and chips and salsa to start off with. The salsa is some of the best salsa I've ever had! We ordered a bunch of appetizers as our dinner and they were each amazing in their own way . The service was a little slow as they were busy, but overall it was a great dining experience. read more

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Food was subpar and extremely bland or too salty. Overall not the experience we were hoping for. Coffee was served cold and drinks were served in small fluted glasses and charged individually. read more

This review is purely for the wonderful bar staff and the decadent Palomitas de Guyaba mocktail. YUM! We'll be back for dinner sometime. The food looked good, but pricey. read more

We came here for my moms birthday and attended the Sunday Brunch. Wasn't sure what to expect but we really enjoyed it. We tried a little of everything and it was all good! We order a pitcher of Mimosas, my mom and I shared it and I was feeling a little buzzed! So the mimosas are GOOD! The Service was also great! They sang my mom happy birthday. They only host the brunch on Sundays. I like how they host special menu's for different occasions. The esthetics are super cute too! Can't wait to go back! read more

WOW! What an amazing experience this was all the way around. Service: 10/10 - Our waiter was sweet as pie, and totally on the ball. Ambiance: 10/10 - Felt like an upscale steakhouse, only without the pretense. Food: 10/10 - Perfect! Deserves a Michelin Star! Here's a breakdown: - Taquitos de Pollo - Genius - they smoke the tender chicken and fry the shell to perfection. Immersed in a delicious creama and guacamole combo. Could not possibly be any better. - Ceviche Verde - Wonderfully fresh, and served with topopos to give the contrasting crunch that really makes the grade. - Camorro de Puerco - Generous and flavorful beyond words. We loved every single bite and could not finish it all. - Pato en Mole Poblano - Perfection that would make Joël Robuchon blush. Indescribably beautiful contrasts of texture and flavor. Part Thanksgiving dinner, part French technique, and all Mexican perfection. This is the dish to try, hands down. - Churros Rellenos - Can it get any more genuine than this? The Mexican hot chocolate for dipping says no, señor. Pure bliss and freshness in every way. Hugo's was one of the best restaurants we've visited in recent memory, and we go out a lot. No question that we will be suggesting it to friends and family visiting Houston for years to come. read more

Valentine's Day lunch. Red salads, huarache de res, chicken enchilada. No dessert. The food here is impeccable - super tasty, beautiful, just lovely versions of real Mexican dishes. The huarache in particular was rich and perfect dressed beef atop a rich moist masa cake. Spacious and comfortable, attentive service, and at this price really a bargain for an excellent meal. read more

There were five of us and had a great time as we were celebrating a birthday. Our waitress was super. We even tried the grasshoppers! We have never been disappointed with the food and service at Hugo's! read more

I think coming from California my expectations for Mexican food are way too high while visit other states. I do get that Hugo's is a bit more upscale in the restaurant department and that explains why the dishes had different flavor profiles than what I'm use to. Portions were great I'll give them that and the service was great! But the food just...idk i wasn't that impressed. I will say that i definitely recommend the ceviche! It was so fresh and delicious loved it! Other than that... i wouldn't get anything else. read more

The atmosphere is lively being in the middle of Montrose. Parking can be an issue so Lyft it for an easier experience. The food is tasty and expensive. A little bourgeoisie for my taste with our waiter having a bit of a snobby attitude. It was comedic actually, but it did leave a sour taste. I'm not running to return as this was my second visit from when they originally opened years ago. I too had a similar experience then as I did for our holiday dinner this past December 2022. Maybe my third time will be the charm if I do return, but my expectations are low. read more

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We've been going to Hugo's for years. We have always loved the food and service, but our only complaint is the drinks. They taste like juice - no alcohol. I swear they used to be way stronger! Wish they made better drinks. read more

We had a great anniversary lunch at Hugo's. Floor to wall windows that provided lighting and a view of Westheimer. Service was on point. read more

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