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La Cruderia

4.6 (273 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago
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LA CRUDERIA ATMOSPHERE

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Divey
Casual
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Moderate noise

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Agua Fresca de Melón
Lou C.

I was craving for birrias one day and really didn't know where to go. After I found La Cruderia in the middle of Chinatown, I raised suspicion. I drove by dozens of times but didn't realize it was a Mexican restaurant. I was there on a Monday afternoon and there were a few customers. I sad by the big mural. I enjoyed the taste of the birria beef. It was very tender and flavorful. The consomé was perfectly seasoned, not overpowering. I also ordered Agua Fresca de Jamaica (hibiscus tea). It was delicious and just right amount of sweetness. When I looked at the menu, menudo popped up in the soup section. I would definitely try to come back on weekends. So, I came back the following Sunday. The restaurant was packed. tVs were blasting soccer match. People, mostly male customers, filling the tables inside and a few tables on the patio. The only open seats were at the bar. I had a nice view of the TV and wait staff bring food from the kitchen. The menudo was served in a big shallow bowl on a big tray filled with chopped onions, chopped cilantro and oregano flakes. Thank goodness no jalapeños. The flavor was down right, not too thick and not greasy. Temperature was perfect. The freshly made tortillas were great. I also ordered Agua Fresca de Melón. Mmm... so delicious. Service was excellent. Every staff carried a big smile. I completely forgot that I was in Chinatown. I wish every restaurant in Chinatown could be this good.

Kelly P.

Cute, cozy taco spot tucked away in Bellaire. Service was attentive and quick. What we ordered: - Chicharrón con guacamole - Pork belly was a little tough to chew, but still tasty. The guac was the highlight. 7/10 - Esquites - Creamy and flavorful overall, but the corn tasted a bit stale. 7/10 - Cochinita tacos - Slow-roasted pork was tender and juicy, loved the pickled onions. Sauce packs heat, but I liked it on the side. 9/10 Solid spot for a casual taco craving!

Tacos Cochinita Pibil
Wallace A.

Our first visit. We have been looking forward to eating here for a while, but just seem to have forgotten about it. The food was top notch. For apps- Conchita Pibil on black bean stuffed tortillas Lunch- Carne Asado tacos Amazing Service left a little to be desired. Only 2 tables and rarely checked on. Went to bar to get tea refilled. Server was helpful with knowledge of food. We will be back!

Sope
Jando S.

Though it's only been around a handful of years, La Cruderia has made a lot of noise as a bonafide destination in the city, which is no small feat for a restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. A family run affair from siblings Norma and Jorge Laredo, they've managed to showcase regional Mexican cuisine resuilting in small plates, fresh ingredients, and big flavors. The place isn't large, but they've managed to make something out of the space. There are handful of tables surrounding a nice large bar, complete with outdoor seating and no shortage of parking spaces. The staff is friendly, bilingual, and undoubtedly hip. They have a steady stream of regulars, a solid portion of which are from the surrounding area (#1). There are too many Mexican restaurants that end up serving the same thing, but La Cruderia is going coastal with their offerings, along with a good number of Yucatan and eastern Mexican cuisine. I had heard of their legendary ceviche, but the menu was so much more robust with items such as tacos de chapulines (#2), one of my all-time faves in cochinita pibil, aguachiles, and an excellent vegetarian selection. The drinks are also a highlight, from micheladas to an excellent tequila selection, this is definitely a place to enjoy adult beverages with what amounts of a nice food spread. The menu is so vast that it's truly an adventure and one should seize the moment with every visit. I'd recommend bringing other mouths to spread the love and food, but if a solo visit is a must, then let it be during lunch where they have various specials. Things have been on the up and up for the Laredos, who have taken their botanero approach to another location in Spring Branch. I've been impressed with their efforts here and look forward to checking them out again sooner than later. ___________ (#1) When one can win over the local crowd and still attract outside interest, it's a bonafide winner. (#2) They can jump and they can be eaten. Just sayin.

Empanadas de Camaron
Nicolas F.

La Cruderia is a great place to visit. The shrimp empanadas were crispy, fluffy, and a nice twist. Street tacos were fresh and authentic. The enchiladas were good but fell a bit short than the other dishes. I felt the chicken was a bit dry and sauce not as flavorful as I hoped. Overall it had an authentic atmosphere, great lunch specials, and happy hour make this spot a must-visit. Definitely want to come back.

Thuy P.

I was excited to find out they serve taco de chapulin ( grasshopper taco) and it was good. Price range is very reasonable or on the cheap side . Service was nice .

Chilaquiles Verdes
Brandon R.

Amazing ceviche - best in Houston. Cant get enough of this place. Try the mango habanero shrimp and fish (upon request) and you shall not be disappointed. So good that we keep coming back. Also pictured chilaquiles. Tacos are fantastic and a great lunch and happy hour menu too. A+++ I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Great friendly service not a flashy place but high quality food and a fantastic atmosphere nice TV's a friendly bar and small patio. This place is legit.

Tortilla soup best in Houston!!
Suzanne T.

Top of my list for authentic Mexican food!! Their tortilla soup is the absolute best and we love their taco's gobar. I can go on and on! We bring our friends and family here and they love it! Those that are out of town and super impressed with the flavors! Don't skip this one. They are located close to Chinatown in houston. Just off of 59/69 before guessner. Love this place

Taco de Chapulines
Phu L.

Service was top notch. Food was even better. Spicy salsas. My wife loved the aguachile and street tacos. My empanada and burrito were delicioso. The tres leches was tres bien. Come check them out!

Chris H.

Very good food!! Super affordable! Love their happy hour deals! Highly recommend the ceviche here!

Playing his German Polka Banda on blast from his phone. Mohow

Food? Absolutely solid -- fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly affordable. Service and atmosphere? Completely missed the mark. A customer sat a few seats away blasting music from his phone on full volume while the restaurant already had music playing. It was disruptive the entire time and made it hard to enjoy the meal. What made it worse was the staff response. We mentioned it when checking out, and instead of addressing it, we were met with a dismissive smile and nothing was done. That tells me everything I need to know about how this place is managed. Good food can only carry a place so far -- if you're going to dine in, expect a "anything goes" environment. Great flavors, but not a place I'd return to for the experience. ¿La comida? Muy buena -- fresca, con buen sabor y sorprendentemente a buen precio. ¿El servicio y el ambiente? Muy por debajo de lo esperado. Un cliente estaba sentado a unos asientos de distancia con música a todo volumen desde su teléfono, mientras el restaurante ya tenía música puesta. Fue molesto todo el tiempo y arruinó completamente la experiencia. Lo peor fue la reacción del personal. Lo comentamos al pagar y, en lugar de hacer algo al respecto, simplemente lo ignoraron con una sonrisa. Eso dice mucho de cómo manejan el lugar. La buena comida no lo es todo -- si vas a comer ahí, prepárate para un ambiente donde "todo se vale". Buen sabor, pero no regresaría por la experiencia.

Wings
Ellie L.

First time trying this place cause we had no idea where to eat and it was an absolute 10/10. Place was clean and we were immediately attended. Our waiter was so nice I wish I had gotten her name cause she was awesome. As for the food we loved every bit of it even my little ones enjoyed it especially the dessert!!

Enchiladas Suizas
Carlos M.

Good people/service with a relaxed setting. All our food was fresh and great tasting. It's a perfect place for getting together with a smaller group of friends/family for some good Mexican food. The specialty seems to be seafood dishes and micheladas.

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4 months ago

I came for happy hour. The margarita was tiny, but the ceviche was well worth the visit. Fresh food and a lively atmosphere.

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5 months ago

it was okay, the ceviche was delicious. The birra tacos was amazing. The steak taco was pretty blend season wise.

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Best Mexican food in town! Totally recommended! Thumbs up! Micheladas are also awesome!

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The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Steak

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

3.9(2.3k reviews)
12.0 mi•Warehouse District, Second Ward
•$$
Private events
Catering service

First time in Houston, and I kept seeing people online say Ninfa's is overrated. But every local I…read moreasked told me to go, so I went. Glad I did. Service was great. Our server was super friendly and kept things moving. Free chips and salsa to start. The chips came out warm and crunchy, with a red and a green salsa. Easy way to kick off the meal. I got the enchiladas suizas. Packed with chicken and cheese, and the salsa verde on top gave it a nice bit of tang that kept it from feeling heavy. Solid Tex-Mex. Didn't disappoint.

FAJITAS 7. As a native Houstonian, I was 10 when Ninfa's opened (1973). Growing up, we ate there…read moreseveral times each month. We'd rotate with Los Tios or Chinese every Friday or Saturday. As there is not a location near me any longer, we traveled to the original location. It was bustling with an attentive waitstaff and lots of people watching. Complementary valet (of course we tip) is a great benefit as parking is slim. Our waitress was Kady. She's been there for 50 years! Talk about an original. She was attentive to our needs but all business. We started with guacamole and queso. Guac was a huge portion with all the add ins. Queso was delish and served with fried flour tortillas (my fav). The gratis green dip, red sauce, and thick, crisp chips were on par. The fajitas. Just so so. Honestly, it reminded me of Taco Cabana. Very disappointing. Very little flavor and tough. The rice was yucky, the refried beans were the worst! Reminded us of the frito lay bean dip in a can. Even the Borracho beans were bad. HEB's in the can are far better. We received 2 corn and 2 flour tortillas. Fajitas served with pico, guac, sour-sour cream (I didn't even like that). Iced tea was fair. All in all, Fajitas very disappointing. If we had not been on the best fajita quest, I most likely would have ordered the chicken caldo soup. That never disappoints.

Photos
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Decor

Decor

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Combo Fajitas - Large

Combo Fajitas - Large

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Margarita

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Margarita

Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

4.2(296 reviews)
9.5 mi•Midtown, Fourth Ward, Montrose
•$$

We visited Madera's for the first time recently and overall had a great first impression. The…read moreserver was attentive when needed but didn't hover or rush us. For drinks, my husband and our friends tried some of the margaritas from their large and unique margaritas menu, as well as their hibiscus agua fresca. All of the drinks were very pretty and it seemed like everyone enjoyed them, too! We started with their chips and salsa trio, which we all really liked. The chips were on the thicker side, but were crispy and not stale or chewy at all. Each of the salsas were quite different, and two were served warm, which we really liked! For the price, I'd consider getting the chips and salsa as a non-negotiable, honestly. For entrees, we tried the enchilada rojas, chilaquiles verde w/ chicken and beef, birria barbacoa ramen, and huaraches. My husband felt like his ramen could have included more meat, but aside from that everyone really enjoyed what they ordered. The highlight was probably the desserts, though! We got a quatro leches and two ordered of their giant and amazing churros. Both were incredibly tasty and reason enough to return for another visit in the future!

Not my first time at Maderas. That's why I came back because it was excellent and my friends heard…read moreme rave about it and they suggested we come here. Arrived on Sunday evening around 7:30. Was sat immediately. Not my first time here so I knew the menu, my friends did not. So they needed time to see what drinks they wanted because they like cocktails and the menu is not small and they had to choose which ones they wanted because the options are good. When they decided, the cocktails straggled out. Two came out but the other two did not, They just sat at the bar as my friends sat with there with their drinks in front of them waiting on ours so we can toast to a wonderful day with a new member of the group. You would have thought the other staff would step in or at least the bartender would see that the waiter was in the weeds and needed help. That's when I knew we should have not come. The food was all lukw warm. The appetizer of queso was like warm with chunks of cheese floating around and some of the chips were fresh and others stale. A mixed bag you can say. My Flautas where luke warm, so was the side of beans and rice. My friends said their tacos were okay. My friend who got the Caesar Salad, there was no dressing on the salad not was there a side of dressing that came with it. We had to ask for it. I did not have the energy to try to keep wrangling the waiter. If you want to shut the kitchen down early because the day was long I get it. Let the customer know, I get it. I used to wait tables to but I would never give people luke warm food or luke service. The staff seems not to have one anothers back. I did not eat my food, I took my food home to reheat it so I could eat it at the proper temperature. My friend took his salad home because he had more Caesar dressing at home. Left a bad taste in my mouth and very disappointed. The service and food from the last time compared to this visit was night and day. Total miss. $200.00 thrown away. I paid because I could not let my friends waiste there money on someplace I raved about. Maderas is really a small cute spot. It's rare I have bad service when I go out to eat because I am not a difficult customer and I know I am not the only one they are serving. I will wait for good food and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and my friends until it arrives. I would not put pressure on the staff or the kitchen. Also I will not arrive just before closing and make a resteraunt and it's staff stay open late because I am hungry. I rather come when the staff and the restaurant wants to recieve customers.

Photos
Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Right side entry

Right side entry

Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Rice & Beans

Rice & Beans

Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Chicken Enchiladas

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Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose - Brunch tacos

Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose

4.2(692 reviews)
8.6 mi•Montrose, River Oaks
•$$$

The world is full of Mexican restaurants…read more Most are some version of Tex-Mex in a family-friendly, relatively similar environment. Nothing wrong with that. Mexican Sugar breaks that mold completely. This is the most legit, wonderful, bougie, over-the-top Mexican restaurant I have ever been to, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible. This was my second trip to Mexican Sugar. The first was in Grapevine. After this visit to the Montrose location, I have officially decided that when I am in Texas, I will seek these places out. They are that good. First, dress up. I doubt there is an actual dress code, but this is not the place where I am showing up looking like I just finished mowing the yard. Come here to be seen. Come here to show out a little. The place is beautiful and has that kind of vibe. Second, the drinks. Hell yes. Fancy, creative, excellent, and impressive enough for even the person who has seen every ridiculous cocktail presentation imaginable. And then there is the food. My God, the food. The salsa and queso are legit AF. The street corn is heaven in a bowl. Get several orders. I am serious. One is not enough. The carne asada was amazing. Honestly, I could keep going, but at some point this review is just going to become me yelling about how much I love Mexican Sugar. I LOVE MEXICAN SUGAR. OK, YOU GET THE IDEA. WHY AM I YELLING? BACK TO THE REVIEW.... Service was excellent too. The place is huge and was absolutely packed, but our server stayed attentive and the food came out surprisingly quickly. Make a reservation. Park in the nearby garage. Dress nice. Order the drinks. Get the street corn. Then get more street corn. Who is ready for another trip to Houston? I'll book the reservation at Mexican Sugar.

This was my second time at Mexican Sugar and I loved it just as much as the first! Johnny was our…read morewaiter and he was phenomenal, super attentive and even refilled my drink several times without me having to ask. Sonia was also incredibly sweet. My daughter dropped some food and made a bit of a mess, and Sonia was so kind about it and cleaned everything up without making us feel uncomfortable at all. The food was amazing. I highly recommend the steak and eggs and the pancakes, both were delicious. Great food, amazing service, and another wonderful experience. We'll definitely be back!

Photos
Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose - Machete Margarita

Machete Margarita

Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose - Arepas

Arepas

Mexican Sugar Houston Montrose - Mexican Sugar - beautiful lighting

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Mexican Sugar - beautiful lighting

Maximo - Tostada

Maximo

4.6(178 reviews)
6.1 mi•West University
•$$$

Maximo looks like someone invited the desert inside and poured it a drink. The room is colorful,…read morewarm, and genuinely inviting--pots of cactus, cowboy paintings, and Mexican art. At brunch, the papas bravas come as small cubes of fried potato with an airy crunch that gives way to a soft, pillowy center - the kind of deeply satisfying bite that makes conversation briefly irrelevant. Crisp prosciutto adds salt, aioli brings richness, and smoky chile sauce keeps it lively. They're served with cactus-handled toothpicks, which are almost offensively adorable. The chilaquiles divorciados are another hit. The chips are dressed with salsa rather than drowned beneath it, so each one arrives ready for the perfect bite. It's a small distinction, but an important one. Then there are the enfrijoladas: rolled quesadillas in fluffy tortillas, covered in creamy black bean sauce and plated with more care than bean and cheese might seem to warrant. The dish is fundamentally simple, but that's the point. Soft tortilla, savory beans, melted cheese, bright salsa. Familiar ingredients transformed into something deeply comforting--the culinary equivalent of curling up beneath a warm blanket on a cold morning, even if Houston rarely provides one. Dinner shifts into another gear. The crudos are sensational, especially the tuna tiradito - a rolling wave of flavor and texture. The tacos are excellent across the board, but the crispy maitake mushrooms are unmatched. The short ribs arrive juicy and tender on a mole negro that doesn't sit politely in the background. It lands dark, complex, and full of flavor. And then there's the masa cornbread, a masterpiece of unapologetic indulgence. Humble cornbread meets savory-sweet mole, smoky, earthy butter, and caviar. It sounds like too much. It isn't. Every element earns its place. The cocktails deserve their own warning. They're the kind that convince you to keep ordering the same drink all night. By the end, you may have forgotten what was in it. What you'll remember is that it was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and exactly what you needed. Maximo makes ambitious food feel generous rather than fussy. Come hungry.

Honestly I am fairly disappointed in this place as I had been anticipating it for the longest time…read more I was able to snag reservations about 1 month in advance for a Saturday dinner. The restaurant is located in a quiet area in West University with a good amount of street parking. The restaurant itself is decorated with a lot of character and personality and they have seating inside and outside on their covered patio. Don't get me wrong, the service here is amazing. The servers are very attentive, and I appreciate the chefs coming out to explain their dish. However, the dishes themselves were basic and lacked specialty. My boyfriend and I got the Chef's Tasting Menu. I got the drink pairing. As a Chef's tasting menu, I would expect the restaurants' most precious meals. The short rib was dry and the rest of the other dishes were unmemorable. The only dish that truly caught my eye was their Tres Leches, but this was given on the house as it was our anniversary. The drink pairing I got was well worth and all of the drinks were flavorful and paired well. Overall, I'd hope that their chef's tasting menu would improve as they rotate their dishes. I would try to come back to give it another chance.

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Maximo
Maximo - Tres Leches

Tres Leches

Maximo - Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

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Paloma Coconut Punch & a classic Margarita.

Dona Leti's - Mini fajita steak street tacos

Dona Leti's

4.0(685 reviews)
8.0 mi•The Heights
•$$

The food at Doña Leti's was AMAZING! Definitely worth the wait…read more I went around 1 PM and it was BUSY. They honestly have more customers than they have space, which is a great problem for them to have . Parking was also hard to find, and I waited about 30 minutes just to be seated. But once I got my food and tasted it... I was IN LOVE! The food made all of the inconveniences completely worth it. Customer service was cool, the atmosphere was nice, but the FOOD was definitely the star of the show. I would absolutely go back... just be prepared to wait and hunt for parking. Worth it!

Dona Leti's was everything we thought it would be!…read more Upon arriving there was a 30 min wait but thats ok because we were given chips and salsa to hold us over. Once we were seated the waiter we had was super helpful. If we had questions, he had answers and pictures to go with them. The food was phenomenal and huge. We ordered the skillet burrito, surf and turf eggrols, and birria sampler. So much food and so flavorful. Honestly you have to try the alfredo on the eggrolls. That was different but so good. The asada was flavorful on the burrito and eggrolls. The birria was great and then consume hit the spot dipping wise. The burrito was jam.packed with meat and rice. Very good! Its exactly what I want in my burrito. We ordered margaritas for drinks and those were pretty good. The strawberry margarita has to be mixed once brought to the table, but thats ok. Needless to say we had to take leftovers home for sure. Great food and a great time!

Photos
Dona Leti's - Bar

Bar

Dona Leti's - Street Taco

Street Taco

Dona Leti's - Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

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Passion fruit margarita with a shot of Grand Marnier.

La Cruderia - mexican - Updated October 2026

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