Decided to try this new spot. Location: Fairbanks and Fulton Parking: limited but also street parking Staff: Rosa was maravillosa. As we walked in, we were greeted by Rosa and a guy. Both very friendly. As she went on to take our orders, she continued having a smile on her face and answered all our questions. Wait time: none Seating: plenty of both indoor, outdoor and outdoor under a roof area. We opted to sit outside as the wind was blowing and feeling fresh. Price: a bit higher than average Drink:I decided to just drink water Food: went for the aguachile en verde. Definitely full of flavor and not super spicy. Ate them with the chips. Chips and salsa were really good as the salsa tasted as it had beans. Overall place was friendly, clean and welcoming. Will be coming back as the location was very relaxing. read more

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I absolutely love when I randomly find a place to eat and it delivers on quality, taste, and atmosphere and Johnny Rita's did just that. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the space was beautifully designed and decorated. It was also pretty quiet, which was perfect for avoiding the usual busy Houston brunch crowds. The food was the highlight. Everything from the chips and salsa to our entrées was delicious. We started with the Queso Rico classic queso but very tasty. We ordered the fajita quesadilla for my goddaughter, which she really enjoyed. My husband and I shared the fajita omelette and the French toast plate. The fajita omelette was perfectly cooked and well seasoned with peppers and a flavorful gravy-like sauce. The real star, though, was the French toast. It was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar it honestly didn't even need syrup. I'm already looking forward to getting it again. We also ordered the margaritas and again very good classic margarita. 10/10 I would definitely come here again, especially during their happy hour they seemed to have a great drink and bites menu that I'd like to try. read more

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We went to Johnny Rita's Cocina y Cantina on a Friday evening to check out this new spot that opened in early February 2026 in Lindale Park. Located at 5602 Fulton Street, it's the latest project from Houston hospitality veteran Christopher "Chico" Ramirez, named in tribute to his grandparents, Johnny and Rita. The restaurant blends mesquite-fired Tex-Mex with Oaxacan influences, and the interior design draws inspiration from Oaxaca with handcrafted details and warm blue accents. It's cozy with a large outdoor patio and a full bar. Parking can be a little tricky. There is some free street parking and a few spots behind the restaurant, but the back area is narrow and tight, so just be prepared. We opted to sit indoors, though the patio looked great. I brought my wife and toddler, and they had high chairs available, so it's definitely family friendly. [MARGARITAS] +Havana Nights for $15 - Mijenta blanco, lime, mango, serrano peppers, and Tajín. This was one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Perfect balance of refreshing citrus and subtle heat from the serrano. Highly recommended. - 5/5 [FAJITAS AL CARBON] +1/2 lb Combo of Beef and Chicken Fajitas for $28 - The flavor overall is good, and I loved the addition of grilled jalapeño and onion. However, the beef was tough and chewy. I think this is fixable, whether through a different cut or preparation method, but right now it holds the dish back. I also wish shredded cheese, guacamole, and sour cream were included instead of being charged separately. The value is fine, I just prefer it bundled into the fajita price. - 3.5/5 [KIDS MENU] +Kid's Taco for $7 - Choice of chicken or fajita beef, served with fries or Mexican rice and fruit cup. We chose chicken and fruit. My son loved it and ate all the chicken, tortilla, and fruit. He barely touched the fries. I tasted them and they were fine but nothing special. - 4.5/5 Overall, Johnny Rita's has real potential. The margarita alone makes it worth visiting, and the atmosphere and concept feel thoughtfully executed. While the beef needs some refinement, this is a new restaurant and I expect them to dial it in. I'm excited to have another strong Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood and look forward to coming back. read more

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I'll put it this way.....going back tonight! I finally found a place that makes a proper Chicken Mole! Staff, owners all great. Try them, you will go back! read more

What an incredible experience. This restaurant really nails that balance of authentic Mexican flavor with an upscale vibe. Everything we ordered was fantastic. The oysters were super fresh and delicious, and the seafood tostadas were unbelievable -- the octopus was honestly the star of the night. We also had fajitas, enchiladas, and tacos, and every dish came out flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly. The drinks were just as good as the food -- great cocktails and beautifully made. Service was excellent from beginning to end: friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. What really impressed us was the value. For a place that feels this high-end and delivers this level of flavor, the pricing felt very reasonable -- you truly get an upscale dining experience without the over-the-top price tag. You can tell this place takes pride in quality and hospitality. Definitely one of the best upscale Mexican spots we've been to, and we'll absolutely be back. read more

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The food was outstanding! We had fajita tacos, mole, and pulpo tacos. Even though they were super busy, we received amazing service! read more

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Food was delicious. Dessert was delicious . The portions are a good size. Service was great. Atmosphere is chill and the background music was on point. Enjoyed my time and look forward to continued visits! read more

Johnny Ritas - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food was excellent!!! Great frozen margaritas. Fajita combo comes with stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp!

Johnny Rita's was fantastic! The food was absolutely amazing and packed with flavor. The Strawberry Jalapeño drink was outstanding! Refreshing with just the right kick. My kids loved their meals too, which is always a huge plus. The fries were delicious, and the enchiladas and beef tacos were some of the best we've had. Our waiter was awesome, friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Great food, great drinks, and excellent service. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Had a delicious meal here last night. We ordered the night's special-trout with broccolini! Superb! This is a hidden gem in an up and coming neighborhood. The owner, Chico Ramirez, is one of those owners who makes everyone feel welcome. This is a neighborhood place but well worth the effort to make the trip. read more

Very pretty new restaurant in the neighborhood. I think with the few tweaks it could flourish. Me and a couple friends sat in the patio and actually had to leave and take our food to go because it got a little too chilly and there were no warmers. Our sweet waiter was obviously very nervous but was trying his best so we commend him for working hard and his very pleasant service, however, whoever trained him to call a tlayuda a "mexican pizza" should be ashamed of themselves. A tlayuda is a very special staple in Oaxaca and southern México; so for it to be reduced to a Mexican pizza is painful and disrespectful to my culture and it's nuanced culinary Treasures, this just leads to the ongoing gentrification and Erasure of mexican cuisine. You might as well just call your restaurant tex mex. I understand that most of the demographic will be white people around the neighborhood, however management needs to educate staff on how to better honor and describe mexican dishes . The salsa has no spice, the queso is basic tex mex queso and the michelada just tasted like Bloody Mary mix with beer. The fajita tacos were decent and had a good flavor, the rice and beans are your basic tex mex sides but good. I suggest you either really showcase the soul of REAL Oaxacan and teach the neighborhood about the magic of southern mexican cuisine or switch your menu to basic safe Americanized tex mex w a good margarita menu to please your white demographic looking for an after work happy hour drink. Oh and get heaters for those chilly evenings. read more

After seeing an ad for this new restaurant, my family decided to drive north of downtown to try it out. I ordered the chicken mole enchiladas, half order of the chargrilled oysters, and my wife had the nopale tostadas. All dishes were delicious. Will definitely return. read more

From when we entered to when we left everyone was so welcoming. Always checking up on us EVEN the manager came by and said hi. Unfortunately I do not remember the servers name, but they're all amazing. I personally got the Huarache with Barbacoa. At first I thought I probably needed to order another, but then realized it's the perfect portion! The ambiance is so cozy and free. The music was my favorite part. From Grupo Frontera to Vicente Fernandez, how more could I ask for! My mother and I did not want to leave due to how great of a time we had. Overall 10/10 experience. read more

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Went to Johnny Rita's for lunch yesterday. Food was awesome, staff is very friendly, place is very clean and nicely decorated. I tried all three enchiladas (beef, chicken, and cheese). All were amazing, but the beef was my favorite. Chicken and beef both made with fajita meat (not shredded or ground). The flour tortillas feel and taste like someone's abuela is in the kitchen. Planning to take the family back this weekend! read more

My wife and I finally got a night out away from the kids and decided to try Johnny Rita's, and it was absolutely worth it. I started with one of their signature margaritas, the strawberry cucumber, and my wife had the top-shelf frozen margarita. Both were excellent and a great way to start the evening. For an appetizer, we ordered the ceviche, and it was outstanding. The citrus, jalapeño, fresh seafood, avocado, and tomato all came together perfectly. It was fresh, flavorful, and marinated just right. I'm not always great at making menu decisions, so I loved that they had an option that let me enjoy a little bit of everything. My plate came with an enchilada, taco, and tamale, and it was exactly what I wanted. Everything tasted fresh, authentic, and true to their own style, while still reminding you that you are right in the heart of Mexican food country. My wife ordered the tacos al carbon, and they were just as impressive. To top it off, I finished the meal with their pineapple jalapeño margarita, which was the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. Then my wife surprised me by ordering the tres leches cake. If she had not ordered it, and I had missed out on trying it, it might have been one of the great tragedies of the century. It was that good. If you are looking for a great local family-owned restaurant with amazing food, great drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere, Johnny Rita's is well worth the visit. read more

A welcome addition to the north side/Lindale Park neighborhood! I visited on a Sunday afternoon and sat at their very nice bar. Alecia, the bar manager, was very friendly and mixed delicious margaritas. We split a 1/2 pound mixed fajita combo, and it was delicious and plenty of food for 2. The restaurant itself is clean and they did a nice job with the decor. It was a really great experience - especially for a place that just opened a couple of weeks ago - and we'll be back soon. read more

Food was delicious. Service was very friendly. The space is fresh and clean, and they have a great covered patio outdoors!

sunday brunch was great!! the food,drinks and staff were amazing!! we will be back for more!

We went for Sunday brunch and the food was excellent, the service was friendly and attentive and the ambiance was nice.

Johnny Ritas just opened yesterday and crushed it. Went on the first Saturday night open and it had a great vibe, super friendly staff, and everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The margaritas were perfectly balanced and easy to love. Honestly impressive for the second day. We'll definitely be back and work our way through the menu. read more