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    La Cocina de TJ

    4.4 (512 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order La Cocina de TJ Takeout or Delivery

    La Cocina de TJ Photos

    Business Info

    LA COCINA DE TJ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - La Cocina de TJ

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    Birria tacos
    Jennifer B.

    The Birria was good, the items came out pretty quickly since we stopped in for a late lunch and it kept me full for dinner. The restaurant was well kept and the service was good.

    birria quesadilla
    Sherelle L.

    .... so bland. I threw most of it away, and I was shocked because Houston food usually is such a win! This was not. Service was friendly, but that was the only pro in this experience.

    Enchiladas rojas
    Maria B.

    Toda la comida estaba muy deliciosa. Nos trajeron la comida muy rapido. El servicio estuvo excelente. 100% recomendado

    Jennifer V.

    Very nice place to eat delicious birria they made a renovation of the place and now it really has a good atmosphere the food was really good like always, service was friendly and the order was made fast.

    Brunch menu!
    Sandra K.

    They've changed the concept around but they're still serving the same menu and it's flexible. I got the street tacos and I wanted three instead of five and they were able to accommodate. Food took a while to come out so I waited. I was sitting at the bar waiting for my food and it took around 15 minutes to get it out. Food was really good though!

    Agua de Jamaica
    Helen R.

    Stopped by La Cocina de TJ and finally got to try their birria! I had the birria plate while my husband went all in with a little assortment--tostadas, quesabirria, and tacos. The birria itself was good (I wasn't absolutely wild about it, but still solid), but what really stood out for me were the aguas frescas. I had the Jamaica and it was soooo refreshing, and my husband's watermelon agua was straight-up fire. The vibe here is fast-paced, almost like Mexican fast food in the best way possible. You get your food quick, it's flavorful, and the staff is genuinely nice. I really like the concept and honestly wish they had more business--places like this deserve the love for how good, fast, and welcoming they are. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving something quick, flavorful, and casual!

    Taco de huevo con tocino

    I was a little skeptical about ordering but said, let's give them a try! I gotta say, I was impressed! The taco was loaded and hand made tortilla de harina was a plus!

    Ramen Combo
    Cynthia V.

    Finally had a chance to stop by this place - glad they survived the crazy Durham construction. Order at the counter with their friendly staff. I'm a sucker for trendy options, so I ordered this birria ramen combo that I recalled seeing on social media. A hefty portion of beef birria ramen is served alongside two birria tacos, chopped onion, cilantro, and lime. Certainly left full! Felt like it was flavorful (I'm not authenticity expert) and I really enjoyed it. Would go back to try other items on their menu. Parking - small private lot, may be difficult at peak times.

    Volcano Shrimp

    Service, food, and drinks 100/10 I ordered two old-fashioned and the volcano shrimp tacos. The staff and the environment are so welcoming, I love the aesthetic.

    Jason Z.

    Located on Durham in the Northern Heights, TJ Birria Y Mas comes pretty highly rated. There is parking right in front, which is nice. Service is minimal; you order food at the front and get your food Torchy's style. The ambiance inside is very casual; think Chipotle. Their menu is written on the wall; I got the sampler of sorts featuring birria. Also got an order of chilaquiles for the table. The chilaquiles and chips were a bit underwhelming; the sauces were bland and the chips were slightly stale and the dish was lacking flavor. The birria combo sampler was pretty solid; the meat was well cooked, the quesadilla had quality cheese and the extra onions and cilantro on the side were a nice add. Overall, a pretty solid spot, and I haven't tried most of their menu, including their street tacos. Stick with the main hitters and avoid the appetizers and brunch items.

    Heather L.

    Respectable birria but, my NYE goal was to find the best - which means competition has been tough! I would definitely go again if in the area but, would not drive out of my way for them. I wished for more flavorful meat and a bit more cheese. Solid overall but, have had tastier examples over the course of the year.

    Birriadillas Con Consome
    Angela W.

    Very welcoming staff, good service and quality food! It had been three years since my last visit! The restaurant has expanded, but you still get the warm neighborhood type vibe. There are also a couple of small tables outside for two. Try the chicken burrito which was a 10/10 and the birriadillas con consome was a 8/10. The only reason I rated the birriadillas a 8 is because the consome wasn't as flavorful as I remembered it to be.

    Beef quesadilla
    Rachel S.

    I came here craving the birriadillas after a long week. It was a night for staying in so I got my food takeout. Although I came close to closing, they seemed eager to serve me. The cashier even made some fun conversation as she was taking my order. The wait was short, only about ten minutes, and the food smelled sooo good. The birriadillas are chock full of flavorful birria and oodles of cheese. I will say that the tortilla was a bit soggy by the time I got home but that was probably unavoidable. The consommé was delicious, so flavorful and yummy. Of course the cilantro and chopped onion added a great flavor to the birriadillas. I will be back again especially considering how reasonable the price is, 12 dollars for a whole meal of birria. I also got a beef quesadilla which came with lettuce and tomato and my bf loved it.

    Birria

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    2 months ago

    Ramen is the ultimate comfort food, and Norris tacos are . Order through Uber Eats so can't speak to actual restaurant, but food is

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    5 months ago

    Maybe this is the first place I tried birria, but I thought it was amazing. The consommé is very flavor and the tacos are very good.

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    11 months ago

    Great, delicious and courteous service for lunch! I've done solo and group lunches there.

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    7 months ago

    Delicious food, large portions, and great service. I'm disappointed it took me this long to check this spot out. I'll for sure be back.

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    Page 1 of 13

    La Cocina de TJ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - La Cocina de TJ

    Dot Coffee Shop

    Dot Coffee Shop

    3.9(838 reviews)
    10.1 miPecan Park, Gulfgate/Pine Valley
    $$

    Love the service, our waiter angel was literally the best waiter I could've ever had! Literally any…read moreissue that I had he was right to the rescue! Coffee was amazing. Food was amazing. The place was really clean. Restroom were clean as well. Definitely recommend this place for brunch, dinner, or literally anytime of the day ! Thanks to the manager Daniela (sorry if I spelled her name wrong) she made sure everything was perfect and everything was!

    Dot holds a bit of a nostalgic throwback to the diners of the 50's & 60's…read more With plenty of parking located behind the building arrived at about 10AM and place was buzzing. Thankfully, Mark was there and initially was told a 35 minute wait but seemed intent by quicker. Ambiance: 4/5 It was breakfast time so of course it was a busy time. For my visit, it was crowded but not to where you couldn't hear your table. Dress is casual, good for friends, solo, or pit stop. Service: 5/5 Our waitress was very knowledgeable and friendly. Since it was our first visit there, she gave us some background that it was a Pappa's owned restaurant and food is made from scratch. Food: 3/5 They offer mimosas and I was tempted to order, but was driving and it was 9AM so forewent that option. There are food options for every tastebud. Mark ordered the fried cheese sticks, they were one of the items that I found worthwhile to return for. I opted for the Waffle feast. It included a waffle, that I added pecans on top to, two strips of bacon, eggs your way and hash browns. To say that I needed to add salt and pepper to the eggs and hash browns because they tasted bland and flavorless was unfortunate. It also was served at room temperature, because it was made from scratch, would think it be warmer to hot. The waffle was savory and had good mix and topped with the pecans made it even better. If you're on this side of town and want a change up from the "other breakfast diners" DOT would be where I stop. Fast, friendly service. Depending the food you get, it gets the job done for some sustenance to hold you over when you're not sure when your next meal is because you'll be in Galveston for 7 hours riding a float in the Mardi Gras parade.

    Photos
    Dot Coffee Shop
    Dot Coffee Shop
    Dot Coffee Shop

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    Nate's Diner - Toast

    Nate's Diner

    4.6(138 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    We attended wreath laying day at the Veterans Cemetary and were starved for something tasty. I did…read morea quick Google search along our route and saw Nate's Diner pop up. I'll admit that when we got there, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a different feel. We were greeted and told we could sit where we like. We picked a table and a menu was promptly brought over with a warm welcome. I ordered the strawberry lemonade and the taco salad with beef. All very good! If you're in the area, give this place a try!

    My never ending quest for the perfect hashbrowns lead me to Nate's, which was further motivated…read moreafter realizing it was on my list for years. What I eventually found both surprised and delighted me, and Nate's gets a thumbs up overall. Pictures are deceiving as I thought the place would be larger but it's a tight fit for bigger groups. There are only a handful of tables but plenty of character. It's also a bit grimey, unsightly and even a tinge dodgey, which may be a deal breaker for others but is an immediate appeal to me. Two things immediately standout when it comes to the food: the portions and the prices are outstanding. The offerings are as no frills as the rest of the establishment. The other surprise was how much influence there was from Mexican cuisine. Hash browns were the goal, but chorizo and chilaquiles were the bonus. Another surprise? The hash browns weren't as crispy as I would have wanted. It's entirely plausible that I came on an off day, which happens. However everything else was on point as my chorizo skillet was absolutely dynamite, pancakes were fluffy and indulgent, breakfast tacos were outstanding, and my eggs were perfectly softly scrambled. Even the bacon and sausage patties were delicious, which is a tall order considering it's not likely made in house. Lastly, as someone who drinks cold water like it's a hobby (#1), I'm especially grateful for the massive 32 oz cup of water, which is perfect for someone who drinks like a camel. The staff is not the quickest but they are friendly. Spanish may go further with most and they're not the quickest when it comes to greeting folks or cleaning tables. The food is the star and consider paying in cash. ____________ (#1) I'm thirsty.

    Photos
    Nate's Diner - Inside

    Inside

    Nate's Diner - Breakfast Taco

    Breakfast Taco

    Nate's Diner - Breakfast Tacos

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    Breakfast Tacos

    Hot Biscuit - Country fried steak, mashed potatoes with corn

    Hot Biscuit

    3.4(230 reviews)
    10.6 miIAH Airport Area
    $$

    I was staying at a hotel nearby for an early flight the next morning. On the way to the hotel I…read moresaw the sign "Hot Biscuit" and since biscuits are one of my favorite foods, I decided to walk over and have dinner there. I wanted to start with one biscuit, but the biscuits come in pairs. The waitress said I could order just one anyway, but the order ended up being two. I meant to save the second one for breakfast, but that was not to be. It did not survive long enough to make it out the door. My actual meal was a bacon swiss and mushroom burger, which was excellent. Between the biscuits and the burger, I am forced to acknowledge that it was entirely too much food. Sadly, that did not prevent me from eating all of it anyway. Delicious! The restaurant, which is a diner with very basic decor, is on an approach road to IAH, and is open 24/7. When I arrived in the evening, the place was empty. By the time I left, there were a whole bunch of customers. I noticed in other reviews that people were saying they did not receive checks for their meal and felt they were over-charged at the register. I did not receive a check either, but the amount I was charged at the register seemed accurate -- and I was paying attention because I had read the other reviews first.

    if I could give this disgusting excuse for restaurant a one star, I would. If you enjoy mediocre…read moresloppy wait staff, dirty table & floors, and the most disgusting food you've ever tasted plus incompetency between the day and night staff and an unprofessional manager that will yell at you when you have a problem. DONT EAT HERE unless you want diarrhea and to be verbally disrespected.

    Photos
    Hot Biscuit - Why is he so special?  I met him.  He is a Vietnam Veteran.  So respect to him.

    Why is he so special? I met him. He is a Vietnam Veteran. So respect to him.

    Hot Biscuit - Great Breakfast - Just Enough :-)

    Great Breakfast - Just Enough :-)

    Hot Biscuit

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    Clementine's Restaurant

    Clementine's Restaurant

    3.8(154 reviews)
    13.6 mi
    $$

    This place is in a somewhat empty shopping center, and I am saddened that more people weren't at…read morethis place on a Saturday night. They had live music on, and from the looks of it if you want to be a part of the show you can as they also have karaoke it looks like. The gentleman that greeted us was so nice and made us feel so welcomed! It wasn't one of those "oh I have to be nice to these guests because I'm getting paid" type people, you could really tell his niceness was genuine. I felt like I was at a fine dining restaurant. Our server was also very nice, and super helpful as I asked for a wine suggestion and she hit the nail with her suggestion. She brought a small sample for me to try before serving it. The food itself was delicious! We got the onion rings appetizer, and you could tell they were made to order. They were super fresh and also crispy. The chicken parmigiana was good, and they were not stingy with their portions at all. The picture I took doesn't do the dish justice. I will definitely go back to this place, as their food, service and overall experience is a great one when you dine in.

    OK, so this turned out to be a surprisingly good meal and much better than we had expected. We…read moredrove into the mostly defunct strip mall, found the restaurant down on the corner, walked in and sat down and then perused the menu in depth. We shared a bowl of the potato soup where we had no expectations and I thought it tasted pretty decent. But the real test was the entrees. Mr. Picky ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp while I opted for Veal Parmigiana, and we each stole a bite from the other's plate. We reached consensus immediately that both dishes were well-seasoned and quite delicious, meaning we would return for more good food in the future. Seriously, we hadn't expected much when walking in and looking around, but were pleasantly surprised at the kitchen's efforts. We finished lunch with an order of homemade bread pudding and tiramisu, the latter of which in 2012 won a chamber of commerce epicurean competition 1st place ribbon. I wasn't there to judge that competition and have had better, but sincerely appreciated the moistness of the bread pudding. While the majority of diners were older and a more mature crowd, there's a lot to be said for value, and we thought the menu price was better than reasonable and I think a lot of people will discover this as a value destination, something we all appreciate.

    Photos
    Clementine's Restaurant - Crab cake Benedict.  It was perfectly cooked and delish!

    Crab cake Benedict. It was perfectly cooked and delish!

    Clementine's Restaurant - This is going to be good!!!

    This is going to be good!!!

    Clementine's Restaurant

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    La Cocina de TJ - mexican - Updated May 2026

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