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    Tia Maria's

    3.6 (396 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Tia Maria's Photos

    Business Info

    TIA MARIA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Queso and inedible salsa

    My wife and I went to Tia Marias a few weeks ago. We had recently returned to going there after a long break going to other Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. We even had our small office party there in December. But the salsa was not fine the other day. It was so hot we could not eat it. It was nothing like their normal salsa. We called our waiter over and he already knew the salsa was too hot. We tried to eat again.....too hot!! We had the manager come to the table, and I think he could not have cared less. He argued that the salsa was different everyday depending on the peppers. I don't think that was a good answer. I have never had it like that before. I have made fresh salsas before. You can prepare the jalapeno blend and add it gradually, but not all at once with no care about the end product. He brought a "new" cup of salsa that tasted like and looked like tomato sauce. We always look forward to chips and salsa before a Mexican meal. Our experience was ruined that night. We will not be going back for a long while. We are going to Don Joses tonight. As we were leaving, I noticed all of the tables I walked by had not touched their salsas either.

    Elizabeth K.

    The service is friendly and the portions are generous; however, it's portions of just okay food. They are generous with the chips and salsa, and the chips are warm, which I appreciate. Their queso is very boring and their salsa is not flavorful. I got a special that includes a taco, enchiladas, a cheese puff, and a fried stuffed poblano. It was all just alright. The thing is that the place is comfy and folks are very happy to be there. It's a sprawling location with a ton of seating, so it's fun to see all the different folks dining here around the holidays. I'll probably come back because the price is right, the food is hot, and the portions are generous, but I'll likely try out other dishes until I find a hit. Unfortunately, I fear I won't.

    Soft serve
    Maria S.

    When I'm in the area, I have to make it a point to stop for lunch at Tía Maria's. The salsa is served warm and it's plentiful. I had to stop myself from eating too many chips. I ordered spinach enchiladas. They come with rice and beans. But they don't have vegetarian beans, so I ordered double the rice. I ordered the enchiladas easy on the cheese. And I did overhear the waiter tell the kitchen that. But when my plate came, I don't think there was little cheese on my enchiladas. The tomatillo sauce is tasty. They have free soft serve ice cream. It's delicious. While I'm disappointed about the pork in beans, I really like Tía Maria's.

    Aranzazu C.

    Amazing time, delicious food and Margaritas sooo good. Love their bakery and their customer service!! The ambiance was perfect and the mariachis so nice!

    Rice, guacamole and Pico De Gallo
    Anne B.

    One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Houston!! You get plenty of delicious food and great service! Beef fajita meat was tender and very good and we love the grilled onions. Their tortillas are the best, they taste like homemade and cooked perfectly! The tortilla chips are great and the salsa is served warm, just alittle spicy, but perfect! The borrocho beans have bacon and chunks of tomato, the absolute best! I think the food here is much better than Pappasito's and about half the price. Everybody I bring here agrees! Why pay so much money and get fair food, when you can get great food here?! Try it and see! They are very busy at peak hours. Big restaurant with 3 dining rooms. Large parking area.

    ice cream & handsomeness

    We just love our neighborhood spot being Tia Maria's because the food is delish and the staff is incredible. All around a great experience every time we go. This is a local spot that always feels like home. And complimentary soft serve on the way out is always the best!

    Bikes safe inside
    Lawrence V.

    We were out riding bicycles with a group of 15, hungry so we called Tia Maria's 30 mins before closing to ask if they could accommodate. Not only did they welcome us , but they let us park our bicycles inside. Their service was fast and food was delicious. We would definitely return .

    Dinner Menu

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    23 days ago

    Great texmex food and great price. Margaritas are fantastic! Staff service was awesome!

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    4 months ago

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    Crystal A.

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    2 months ago

    Wonderful old school Tex Mex. Great service, food, margaritas and vibe. Servers were very accommodating for our 10 person group. Love it!

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    It was very nice and warm the food ! I would do it again ! I would go in person with family !

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    4 months ago

    I miss at 3 o'clock. Cut off by three minutes and got charged $4.00 more, everyone has become so greedy, really?

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    3 years ago

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Im totally hooked on this place their food is delicious!! The price is very reasonable! Service is great!

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Manager is very rude, did not enjoy the food had to take most of it in a Togo box and trash it.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Tia Maria's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tia Maria's

    Hi does anybody know of any restaurant in Houston that serves the Happy Plate dish? I would really appreciate anyone's feed back

    What is a Happy Plate?

    What's the parking situations?

    There is parking right putside the restaurant, then across the street there is more parking at the stadium (an entrance to the stadium is right across the street)

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    3.9(2.3k reviews)
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    Happy Cinco De Mayo! Met the ladies here to celebrate, & break bread…read more 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.

    Amazing fajitas, the steak and shrimp fajitas were fantastic, better than I remembered them. When…read morewe 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.

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    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Barbacoa and Carnita Taco

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

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    I used to eat here 3X a week. Tonight reminded me why I no longer do.I was with a new friend ,so I…read moreonly took 1 photo. The "queso" w/carne seemed to be out of a can-it was orange & didn't have the consistency of real cheese- wasn't really cheese & was disgusting. It was $9.99. I am including a photo of the overcooked beef fajita. A senior citizen can get the all beef lunch fajita special for virtually the same price as the fajita combo here ALL DAY at Pappasitos. It definitely is enough for 2. The meat melts in your mouth. EVERYTHING is better quality than here. Teo charged $1.50 for perhaps 4 or 5 slices of lime to make the happy hour margaritas made with a gross mix drinkable. That's outrageous. It reminds me that I had stopped going long ago when they charged extra for onions on enchiladas. Come on. You don't charge extra for chopped onions! I have never been to another restaurant that does so. Some even provide carmelized grilled onions gratis. I'm convinced that a $15. YUMMY mango margarita at Pappasitos would have given us the same buzz & tasted better than 8 happy hour margaritas here. I used to love the in house made flour tortillas at Teo. Tonight they were tough & uneventful. We arrived on a week night when they were not busy. Neither of the salsas were as good as they used to be.The water pitcher didn't even have ice when they refilled the water. I have absolutely no desire to return. Why would I?

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    Candente - Museum District - Beans and rice

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    4.1(623 reviews)
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    A Cali girl-lala enjoying some Tex Mex…read more While in HTX I was able to meet up with a friend from college. He mentioned margaritas (not pictured) and food! So we met at Candente. Upon walking in the restaurant was clean it was pretty packed for a Wednesday night but the aroma of the food! OMG! Our server was really nice and patient because my friend and I talked for about 30 minutes before we finally ordered our food. He has the beef enchiladas with rice and black beans. He cleaned his plate...literally not a grain of rice in sight! I had the smoked chicken verde enchiladas and WOW! What an amazing dish. I consider myself a Mexican food connoisseur especially being from California. I have always said Tex Mex?.....eeeeyuck! But Candente has changed my tune! I will definitely be back to visit when I return!

    Glowing red. Burning. Candente…read more Let me start by saying that I'm not into Mexican food unless it's an auntie or grandma making it at their house. I prefer traditional homemade Mexican food but here we are. (Oh I googled and suggested this place lol) Went in for a team lunch on a Friday. Coworker's birthday lunch and she wanted Mexican. Party of 9 and we were seated promptly. They have a lunch menu and a happy hour as well as a full menu and full bar. The interior was nicely decorated. And open. There is bar seating and patio seating as well. Our waitress was Aisha and she was amazing. Friendly, helpful and patient. And able handle our large group and a few more tables with a smile. There were a variety of options. Salads, fajitas, nachos, enchiladas, etc. Also complimentary chips and salsa. My Order: chicken tortilla soup, lunch fajitas combo - chicken and beef. Chicken tortilla soup (3.5/5) - it was a bit salty for me but I am not a salt person so most things are salty to me; everyone else said it was tasty, there were tons of shredded chicken, avocado pieces, tortilla strips Fajitas - combo (4/5) - chicken was seasoned well and the beef (medium rare) was perfection and so tender and juicy, mexican rice was fluffy, and normally I would pass on the beans and get extra rice but my coworker suggested the charro beans and wow, that was a win - the seasoning was great, there were chunks of meat and the texture was nice, the only thing that could have been done better is the flour tortillas - they over-charred them making them too crispy and left them with a burnt taste. A couple of people got the elote salad and raved about it. So that will be a next time try. Def will be back. Everyone enjoyed their meals and some even ordered food to go. Would recommend.

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    Tia Maria's - mexican - Updated May 2026

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