Happy Cinco De Mayo! Met the ladies here to celebrate, & break bread. Thank you Jamila for selecting this original location of the Original Ninfas, to host, (our last supper, before your relocation from Houston to Florida.). A place I grew up in as a little girl in Beaumont but never have I've visit this "original" location. Stepping in to this spot felt like a restaurant in the country of Mexico. I ordered the El Henry. I absolutely loved my dish, only thing I would've chance was the cheese enchilada definitely would've swap for a chicken or beef one, or maybe even a flaunta. I really like the Mexican rice, it had little potatoes and carrots in it. Some of the best Mexican yellow rice I've had. They offer a cinco de mayo drink special. The only thing that seem to make it special was the drinks apparently were limited edition menu items. Nothing was special about the prices. The regular menu drinks were a dollar(s) less. The margarita I ordered first was peach coconut. I didn't taste the coconut at all. I swap for the peach strawberry ($14 or 15) which was great, sweet& strong. One did me just right. You get to select up to two flavors for additional $2 (for both verse each, that's a plus. Not worded on menu). If you select a third flavor an additional $2 would be added ($4 in total) I appreciate separate tickets provided after confirmation and no additional gratuity automatically added, which he got tip equally the same or more. When asked about the "empty" patio that was available, he informed us that the entire deck was reserved. Upon departing I noticed from the parking lot individual tables, of separate parties were occupying only 3 tables. It was 8 of us sitting at 2 tables. Which the table was pushed up against the wall, and one side was inaccessible, which took away spacing. Service was lovely space was really tight. Good thing some of the ladies didn't order full meals. Definitely wouldn't have been able to fit every plate. read more

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Very Overwhelming! Parking: They have a lot, but on a Friday I had to park on the street and walk a ways. I would not go again on a Friday. They do have valet, but it's paid. Ambiance: upon walking in, it was chaos and sooooo many people standing up and sitting down. Walking around with drinks. I felt like I was in a club. A server made her way to me to take my Togo order. While waiting, I grabbed a drink at the bar and just made the happy hour cut off. Service was great as I was able to get my order and it was a large order. Everything was correct. The house margarita was ok, I wish I had gotten the hibiscus flavor. Order; Crab Tostadas Mixed Fajitas Snapper Mole Enchilada Ninfa 2 Tacos Margarita Mix The only thing I would order again is the crab tostadas and the beef fajitas. The chicken had no flavor at all. The charros beans and rice were not anything special. I was not a fan of either. Overall, we are not planning to order from here again. It just wasn't what Mark Weins made it seem like on his review. Also, whoever the driver was practically could not wait for me to turn around. Sorry, I had to take a pic. Very rude. read more

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Amazing fajitas, the steak and shrimp fajitas were fantastic, better than I remembered them. When we arrived at Ninfa's on a busy Friday night, we were greeted in the serving team did their best to get a seated within a few minutes. While waiting for a table to open, we've watched the two women team making and grilling fresh tortillas. With expert precision, they made hundreds of tortillas as we watched. Our server was efficient took our our order and in a few minutes, we had sizzling fajitas at the table....With all of the anticipated queso, chips, salsa, and condiments for our fajitas. The flavor of our steak fajitas was excellent, after dinner Ninfa's offers a free shuttle bus to the baseball park. They drop you off and pick you up after the game. Unfortunately, Houston did not win, but we thoroughly enjoyed the meal before the game. If you're looking for traditional Mexican dinner, do not miss Ninfa's. read more

Come here every year!! Great original Ninfas! Service is good and so are the drinks! Fast paced bar and good food! Love the tacos Al carbon! And the Delicioso was exactly that! The green sauce on the chicken enchiladas suiza was perfect!! That taquito was delicious and the beef taco Al carbon was good twice!! lol! Try the flan! It's a cross between cheesecake and crème brûlée! read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Delicioso! - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ninfas has my heart forever and always. We got the fajitas large to share for two people and it was more than enough with food to take home. Will have to ask for more tortillas next time - flour of course! I had a friend visiting and she got the combo that included a chicken flauta and she was raving about that bite for days. read more

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Had to try the original fajitas! Ordered the beef fajitas tacos a la Ninfa and they came prewraped in the tortilla. All the sides were good, but not out of the ordinary. The beef, however, was cooked to perfection. The portion size is also bigger than it seems. Agua fresca was tasty as well Very friendly service and cute atmosphere. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Two Taco Al Carbon - Beef* - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great food, great margaritas, great history and tradition. I first ate here back in the 70's where it was a small unknown place ( except by the many people that had eaten there), with just a few tables. Always has been the best Ninfa's restaurant location. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Rednecks waiting for Ninfa's famous beef fajitas. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Was recommended this spot by a Houston native and it didn't disappoint! Classic spot that still does the traditional clothes dress up that you know was started for white patrons back in the day - which hey get your money! What's more important is the food, I got the seafood plate that had multiple seafood items - pricey but understandable b/c it's seafood! The crab tostada was yum and so were the shrimps. I'm from LA and know that this is not the same as the Mexican food I have regularly, this is Tex-Mex and taste Tex-Mex, a blend of American and Mexican flavors. Big fan, glad I checked it out. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Plato Costeo - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

welcoming and lively atmosphere and music! Our server gave us great recommendations and the food came out piping hot. Flavors were on point but some of the meats left a bit of an oily feel in the mouth. We were stuffed and in a food coma afterwards!! read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

We were seated very quickly. The restaurant was extremely busy. Our server quickly greeted us and took our drink orders. We ordered queso asada and grilled oysters, both came out very quickly were very hot and fresh. The panela was warm and creamy. The oysters were hot with cheese and bacon. For entrees we both ordered the Tejas Combo. The plates came out hot and very fresh. The plate had beef fajitas, a beef taco, cheese enchilada, beans and rice. A huge amount of food. I would definitely recommend. The service, quality, and prices were great! read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Tejas Combo - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This will be my spot for Tex-Mex if I'm having any cravings! On a Thursday night, this place was packed! Seemed like there was plenty of seating, and a variety of it - suitable for couples, small groups, and large birthday parties. The complimentary chips and salsa was superb, with the tortilla chips thick and with some heft to them. Both salsas were the perfect spicy/mild combo. Chicken Mole Enchiladas 4.5/5 -- so tasty and rich. The chicken was tender and the tortilla soaked up the delicious sauce. I will say the flavor of the mole was light in comparison to other mole sauces I've had. I also wish there was more sauce! The dish came with beans and rice - very standard, but great pairings. Fajita Burger - 4.5/5 - definitely would not think to order a burger at Tex-Mex, but hey, the flavors worked great. The burger meat was seasoned with typical fajita seasonings and the meat itself was smaller cuts of fajita beef. It also came with two large hunks of potato wedges. It was good, but would rather have a different cut of fries with the burger. This burger is definitely worth trying! read more

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Delicious tex-mex. It's fun to dine at the spot that invented fajitas! They weren't life-changing or entirely different from other places that had really good fajitas, in my opinion. I was impressed by how HUGE this place is, and quickly service is here. Nice free chips at the start of the meal... we wolfed those down pretty quick. The enchiladas were tasty as well. read more

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Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Ninfa's. I love Mexican food so I know I had to get fajitas when visiting Houston. A friend in Houston recommended Ninfas and I'm glad I went. The restaurant is pretty large and we sat immediately with a reservation. The guac was really good and fresh with the chips. The table loved it so much, we ordered 2. The biggest issue I had with Ninfas was that their food included ingredients that aren't on the menu. Fajitas are naturally gluten free with corn tortillas, but Ninfas adds a gravy with soy sauce on their fajitas. That's fine, but that's not listed anywhere on the menu, which was disappointing. Once I spotted the gravy, the chef himself came out to discuss the ingredients, which I really appreciated. The corn tortillas were fantastic. Overall, I'd go back and recommend if you're visiting Houston read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Rice and Beans - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Not my fave out of all the millions of options you have here. Everything was kind of flavorless. I got the combo with the taco carbon, brisket flauta, and enchilada. The only thing with real flavor was the brisket. I also got the cheese flamenco and it was good and the tortillas were nice. I got the prickly pear Margarita and it was syrupy and gave me a headache read more

Stopped in with reservations on a Saturday night and had a wonderful evening! We started with a pitcher of the house margaritas. They were pretty good, but nothing special. A friend and I shared the steak fajita plate and added the "berry" topping on the side which was tomatoes, onions, jalapeños and mushrooms in a sauce that was absolutely amazing! The steak was also perfectly cooked. Highly recommend this dish. Friends got the enchiladas suizas, the Tejas combo and tacos mariscos. All of the entrees were pretty tasty. The seafood was slightly fishy though. Service was also great! read more

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This is by far one of my favorite Mexican places I have ever tried. The chips are fantastic. You will eat so many chips before you even get to your entree. Highly recommend the classic two tacos, they are so fantastic. They have a parking lot attached and also valet. Came on a saturday night, wait was about 30 minutes. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Two Taco Al Carbon - Beef* - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Atmosphere: We went on a Thursday night and the place was packed! Almost every table was taken, though it didn't look like anyone was stuck waiting long. Thankfully, we had a reservation. Parking in the lot was tricky, but valet was available. Food: Best fajita meat ever- it honestly tasted like steak! I swear, I would eat that everyday. Am I being dramatic? Maybe. We ordered the marinated and grilled beef skirt steak and it was everything: juicy, tender, perfectly charred with little fatty edges that melted in your mouth. The tortillas, on the other hand, were a bit tough, so we ended up just eating the meat on its own and fully savoring it. We also tried the enchiladas suizas, made with roasted chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, and a tomatillo poblano sauce. They were... okay. The tomatillo sauce was a bit overpowering, and personally I prefer a creamier style of enchilada. Both entrées came with rice and your choice of beans, which made for the perfect portion size. The chips and salsa kept coming the whole night, and the creamy green salsa was absolutely addictive. Service: Our server was incredibly sweet. The only hiccup was that she didn't seem to fully understand us at times. We had to repeat a couple of requests but honestly, no big deal. She was kind and attentive, which made up for it. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Suizas Enchiladas and Beef Fajitas - Medium* - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This was my first time coming here and I can definitely say it did not disappoint! The flavor of the food is amazing it's definitely feels very authentic. The vibe in the restaurant is definitely fun you don't even feel like you are in Houston anymore. The service is quick even on the weekend there was no long wait time for a table a the customer service is amazing the waitress we had was very attentive! read more

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First off, I love, love the original Ninfas! Best service, BEST food. Other locations are not near as good. Not even close! But you cannot go wrong with with the Original on Navagation! Love to sit inside the restaurant, love to sit at bar, and on the patio. I've been 30 times and I cannot remember one problem with service or food! Great Job read more

Ninfa's is our default spot for lunch, dinner... even brunch. My recent go-to is their adobo chicken. This was a childhood favorite dish of mine, but Ninfa's kicks it up a notch with it's carbon-style version. It's served with rice, beans, and an avo-cucumber salad... this dish can easily be shared by two people, considering you'll likely fill up on chips and salsas. While I think Pappasito's has the best chips; and TBD for the best queso (Ninfa's serves yellow, and I prefer the white queso.), they offer a chef-driven menu that goes beyond Tex-Mex. read more

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The chicken fajitas were not cooked and made my husband sick. Overpriced food and drinks. I recommended we meet here with a group of friends and was very embarrassed and disappointed! read more

A coworker took me here for lunch while I was in town. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere with plenty of seating both inside and outside. I was actually surprised by how busy it was for a weekday lunch--it's clearly a popular spot. We were seated right away, and our server brought out chips and salsa to start, which were fresh and tasty. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas, but unfortunately, they just weren't to my liking. The presentation was fine, but the flavor didn't quite hit the mark for me. Overall, the experience was decent--friendly service and a lively vibe--but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order the fajitas again. read more

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Came here Saturday for lunch. Parking was OK glad they had Parking. Service was really good. I ordered the Delicioso plate and everything on the plate was great. We'll definitely come back. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Delicious plate - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The food was excellent, service was fabulous! And the ambiance there was amazing and they even provided a shuttle for us to ride to a Houston Astros Game!! The pancakes were amazing! read more

Let me just tell you that I had NEVER eaten oysters before in my life and they just changed.my.mind!! I'm not even going to rave about the nachos and tacos, with the smoky flavor fresh from a grill. I won't even tell you how amazing their carrajillos are that are made from fresh espresso on the spot. I won't mention the huge portions or the ability to order any bar drink to go. But I will say, make sure you wear stretch pants because they will fill you up and you will leave satisfied like you ate at your Mama's house. Try their fajita burger! The best burger you'll ever try. Now those oysters... So good and full of flavor! Almost like a loaded potato. Lump crab meat, chives, onions, garlic butter. Just no comparison to anything I've ever had from a restaurant. You have to try them, you will not be disappointed. read more

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Had a reservation at The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, and despite the crowd, we were seated fairly quickly -- a good start. The complimentary chips and two types of salsa were a highlight: fresh, crispy, and seriously addictive. I asked the server for a recommendation between the Costillas de Res and the award-winning Ninfa Fajita Burger -- they pointed me toward the Costillas. Flavor-wise, they delivered -- very well-seasoned, rich, and bold. However, texture was hit-or-miss. Some pieces were tender and delicious, but others were extremely tough and took way too much effort to chew through. The sides didn't really impress -- felt like an afterthought. That said, the service was friendly and casual, with a few light jokes from our server, which did make it a bit confusing and awkward when addressed to our race and ethnicity, which I didn't think too much of, but to the wrong person could be taken offensively. The place has a nice atmosphere overall. Prices are on the higher side compared to other Tex-Mex spots in Houston, so it stings a bit more when something isn't perfect. Still, the main dish had potential, and I'd consider coming back to try other menu items. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Costillas de Res (24) (Thin, Cross Cut Beef Short Rib, Ensalada de Nopales, Salsa Molcajete, Tortillas) - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

My favorite Mexican restaurant. This was my first time coming to this location and I was throughly impressed with how quick and attentive they were with how BUSY it was. It was packed!!! But we were seated 5 minutes after we got there. We got the large size of fajitas to share (2 people); it was delicious! The chips & salads were always very good. I will say that finding parking was challenging. We circled around for 10 minutes for parking. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

WOW. I was told this was a great place and I was not lead astray. Probably the best tex mex I've ever had. Love the vibe, and the service was quite attentive. I would not hesitate to return when I'm in the area. read more

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As a life long resident of Houston (Spring Branch) and graduate of the University of Houston, University Park, who moved lock, stock and barrel to Christchurch, New Zealand, in order to start a new job at Lincoln University, a local agricultural college, where students of forestry and agronomy are taught the basics of subjects such as entrepreneurship and tourism. #PureNewZealand. Two and a half years later, my life turned upside down, as I succumbed to the disease Meningoccemia, a blood borne illness that presents as fever, headaches, and purplish spots on arms and legs. Thanks to an effective vaccine that has been proven successful, most family physicians will recommend the Meningitis Vaccine to children who are likely to be infected, as a wise precaution. I loved the greenness of the island nation, and want to return to the scene of the crime some time. Cheers, Mark C. Fearing, Ph.D. read more

food service and ambiance were great. The food was an amazing. Loved the salsa verde crema. Mathew even got us a recipe! AND they had a Nopales salad that was for a big group but when he found out I had been looking for it on this trip he brought me a small bowl of it! Perfection! Thanks again Mathew. wish I had taken pictures before we ate but.... read more

Enjoyed our trip to this side of town. It looks a lot different than it did when I worked near there over 40 years ago. It was our first time at this location. Loved the ambiance (Christmas decor and children's art) and the staff was very attentive! We had Ninfaritas to start, along with their chips and salsa. For my entree I ordered the Snapper Veracruzano - saucy and delicious! Bf ordered El Henry and loved it! I can't wait to go back. Both of us said it was 1 of 2 of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Houston. So worth the trip downtown!! Thank you Ninfa's for staying true to your roots!! read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation isn't just a restaurant--it's a cornerstone of Houston food history. Opened in 1973 by Ninfa Laurenzo, this iconic East End institution helped define what Texans (and eventually the rest of the country) think of as Tex-Mex. Decades later, it still delivers on the promise that made it famous. The fajitas are the headline act, and for good reason. Widely credited with popularizing sizzling fajitas as we know them today, Ninfa's version arrives hot, smoky, and overflowing with flavor. Whether you choose beef or chicken, the meat is deeply marinated, charred just right, and served with fresh tortillas that make every bite feel celebratory. Equally essential is the queso--rich, creamy, and dangerously easy to devour. It strikes that perfect balance between velvety cheese and subtle spice, making it one of those "order-it-every-time" starters that keeps regulars loyal and newcomers instantly converted. Beyond the food, there's a sense of legacy in the room. The atmosphere is lively but warm, filled with the hum of families, longtime patrons, and first-timers all sharing in the same experience. You're not just eating dinner here--you're stepping into a living chapter of Houston's culinary story. In a city packed with great Tex-Mex, The Original Ninfa's on Navigation stands apart. It's classic without feeling dated, famous without feeling touristy, and still very much deserving of its legendary status. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - neon sign exterior - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

I would give this place ALL the stars. It's a must see if you aren't from Houston and a classic for those of us who are. We ordered a chef special barbacoa quesadilla and beef fajita flameado. Barbacoa melts in your mouth, literally closed my eyes and said "mmmmm". The beef fajita was top notch, highly recommend anything with fajita, as it's the most popular thing on the menu ...as it should be. The flameado was prepared table side which is rare these days. Green salsa was great, red which i prefer, was great too. Chips a little thick, but didn't stop me from tearing it up. Michelada had great flavor and spice. Margarita was good, (i don't prefer margaritas so my overall review isn't relevant to it) Inside was decorated authentic and was busy. We were seated immediately on the patio. We could see the area which is a market on the weekends. Very cool area to walk after. It was a warm day, there were fans with mist which helped but beware if you go mid summer. I'd imagine it would be pretty uncomfortable read more

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Went with a friend. Did find a STAPLE!!! in my food that, fortunately, I was able to spit out... I was unable to eat anything after that. Apologies and excuses were the normal basic thing to do. What would have been nicer for the restaurant to do after this huge accident is not to present a bill at all! We are never going back! read more

Absolutely delicious Mexican food! I'm not really a huge fan of Mexican food, but this probably tops my list as the best. My party of four came in a Friday night at 7:45. It was busy, and we made reservations, so we were immediately seated when we arrived. The restaurant is Mexican themed with a beautiful Mexican vibe with bright colors everywhere. To drink, I got the Uptown Spritz. It was delicious. Very light and refreshing for the hot weather that night. We also got complimentary chips and dips at our table. These chips were thick and salty, which are my two favorite things about chips. The server kept those coming, which I also enjoyed. To eat, because it was lent season, I got the snapper veracruzano. I was very weary about ordering fish at a Mexican restaurant, but again, this was probably one of the best fish meals I've ever had. It came with a huge portion of fish, rice, potatoes, and beans, which I didn't get. The rice and potatoes were delicious. I could go back every Friday just for this meal. Service was great, and we didn't wait long for our food. You can valet your car or park it in the back. This was a 10/10 experience. read more

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Located on Navigation Blvd, this location is the OG the Original Ninfa's. We came here for lunch on a weekend after our previous failed attempt (came here after an Astros game and didn't want to wait for an hour). Their private parking lot was spacious and the restaurant was pretty empty. We ordered fajita plate and tejas combo to share for the table. I'm a fan of the thicker chips, and the salsa was great. The tortillas are made freshly in house, and the beef fajita was solid. Overall, I prefer the food here compared to other similar chains like El Tiempo and Lupe Tortillas. read more

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My cousin and her husband from Australia were in town for just a few days and on their last night and just before closing time they wanted authentic Mexican food. Took them to Ninfas on Navigation for some Chips and Queso and of course the sizzling beef and chicken fajitas!!! They loved it!!! Jose Rosales was a great waiter, took awesome care of us, and honestly a perfect meal for a perfect ending to their trip!!!! Can't wait to have them back for more!!! read more

5 Stars PLUS ! I love love TexMex. This place is the absolute best. First let me tell you about the bartenders and servers. This staff love to work here. They are so happy and proud of this establishment. The manager comes by and checks in with me too. The Queso Flameado was so amazing. The waiter asked if I wanted him to mix in the optional veggies. and then he made 4 rolled up of the cheesiest Tacos that I have ever had. Perfection ! I ordered for my main meal, the Tacos Al Carbon - Beef Fajitas. Again, served with the lovely homemade flour totillas! I enjoyed the small bowl of queso and a small bowl of chopped onions/jalapenos for additives. I was in Heavan! The Staff really makes this Place a great restaurant. read more

Hands down the best Mexican restaurant in Houston. Eat in 1973 The service and atmosphere is fantastic. The food is authentic as original as it gets. read more

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Hands down the place for Mexican food. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Service was amazing, we didn't even sat properly and server came right away, we order appetizer and drinks. Chips and cheese was warm and delicious, guacamole avocado was very bland no salt no spice. We ordered famous chicken fajita but unfortunately there was some smell like either pan was not clean properly or meat got mix with other meats which is very dangerous if you used same grill for all the meats. I hope not. I took one bite and decide not to eat Other dish was chicken and beef tacos, since they used same chicken for tacos so I had only few bites of beef taco. Appetizer was good and the service was too good. Am I going back? I Dont know. read more

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