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    Tio Trompo

    4.6 (223 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Tio Trompo Takeout or Delivery

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    TIO TROMPO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Tio Trompo

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    Barbacoa Taco Pastor Taco
    Abel Ivan F.

    Really great tacos! There's not many places around Houston I feel serve high quality tacos, especially giving more of a Mexican taco instead of a Texan style taco. This place feels authentic from the food to the salsas to the decorations. The tacos are well served where I think even three tacos would leave me full instead of a usual four tiny tacos at other places. I'd come back for sure and can vouch for this place!

    Super Family Taco Kit - CHICKEN- (1LB)

    Food is good. But for the portion size and the money I think we should have got bigger potion of the sides. They all came in tiny containers and only 10 tortillas.

    Pastor, Gringa, and Fajita tacos
    Jenny S.

    Came in for lunch on Saturday and both the parking lot and dining area was popping. Luckily someone was pulling out as we pulled in. As soon as I stepped out of the car we got a sweet whif of the grilled charred meats and I knew it was going to be a good lunch. The service is good you order at the counter and give your name. There weren't numbers the food runner would call out your name when order was ready and bring it to your table. The ambiance is casual and cosy and it felt nice seeing a full lively dining space. I got the Pastor, Fajita, and Gringa taco this time around. Their tacos plates are a good deal vs ordering tacos a la carte. We waited a bit for our food as they were made to order and several people ahead of us. Totally worth the wait the tacos are really big and you get plenty of protein. I feel their prices are fair and justified. I will be back to try their breakfast tacos and the oriental.

    So many bay leaves left in the Barbacoa
    Vivian N.

    40 minute wait for 6 tacos. The bag was so greasy it leaked through the foil, bag and onto my car. Had so many bay leaves in the Barbacoa taco. Not the greatest salsa I've had. 2 stars for the bay leaves and high price.

    Ericka S.

    Tio Trompo has been on my ever changing list of restaurants to try for quite some time, so it was great to try a taco plate from this business recently. A major aspect of the appeal is the Trompo itself, which has its roots in the migration of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico--with Tacos Árabes being an example of the cultural fusion. For my plate of three tacos with rice and beans, I chose Pastor, Oriental and a Beef Fajita taco. I thought the rice and beans were kind of bland and, frankly, there wasn't enough served with the dish. But the tacos, in my opinion, were all great. I'd say my favorite was actually the Oriental and my second favorite was the Pastor. Loved the salsa verde and the orange-reddish salsa roja, which is more spicy and tastes great. The Horchata Latte was delicious and a nice surprise. Service was really good. I look forward to returning and trying other items on the menu.

    Rex C.

    The owner Paola Martinez is absolutely delight! She is so nice and they are serving authentic amazing tacos! Food: the breakfast tacos are amazing! The fajita is good too. The special taco here is the orientale! Top notch. We will be back asap. All the tacos were amazing! Very fresh and made to order. I forgot to add the red sauce is one of my favorites. Reminds me of this spot I used to go to in NS called La frontera from like 20 years ago. The red and green sauces are top notch. I've had tacos all over Texas, the USA and Mexico and I must say these are some of the best I've ever had. A definite must try! The people that own the place are very nice people. I look forward to coming back asap! This is a must try. I will keep coming back weekly. Hidden gem

    Tio Trompo (inside)
    Justin A.

    I went to Tio Trompo in Houston after specifically looking for a spot that serves trompo tacos, which are cooked on a vertical rotating spit. According to their website, trompo tacos trace their roots back to Middle Eastern immigrants who settled in Puebla, Mexico after World War I, blending shawarma-style marinated pork with Mexican tortillas and salsas to create what many consider one of the most iconic Mexican dishes today. Tio Trompo has both indoor seating and an outdoor patio. I ordered takeout and brought the tacos home. [TACOS] +Taco Al Pastor (Red Pork Trompo Meat) for $4.00 - I ordered three tacos, all on corn tortillas, each served with two tortillas to prevent ripping. They come topped with onions and cilantro, along with lime and two salsas on the side. The meat was already cut from the trompo when ordered, not freshly cut straight into the tortillas. Each taco was individually wrapped in aluminum foil, which kept them warm, but it made them extremely oily and messy. These tacos are good, but I wish the salsa was spicier. I also wished they served pineapple on the side or on the trompo itself. Still, solid al pastor tacos overall. - 4/5 Overall, Tio Trompo delivers a good version of al pastor tacos and clearly understands the trompo tradition, even if it's not the pineapple-topped version I was hoping for. I'd come back, but with the hope of bolder salsa and a cleaner execution next time.

    Fajita Taco Pastor Taco
    Michelle T.

    Definitely up there for sit down taco places - super clean and nice. I'm usually a pastor girl but the fajita here is much better.

    Taco platter: Trompo and breakfast taco (egg potato and chorizo)
    Matthew T.

    Pretty good tacos for to fill up after a Saturday morning run. Nicely sized with great corn tortillas and complimentary sauces to get the day started! Service is quick and hospitable.

    Jason Z.

    Located inside the loop, Tio Trompo offers some solid Mexican street food. Parking is available in front , spaces are limited in a busy area. Service is minimal but good, thank you Mr. Elkins. Got some pastor and barbacoa tacos in corn tortillas; solid taste and portions, with the barbacoa meat being my pick out of the two. We also ordered queso and guac with chips; honestly this was the weakest portion of our meal and was below par. Stick with their tacos, they're solid for the area!

    Nhi T.

    I went on a Saturday afternoon and LOVED it. I got the 3 taco plate that comes with beans and rice. I opted for the pastor taco, the Samuel taco (fajita meat with grilled onions and jalapenos), and the mixeado (mix of both their trompo meats) taco. The pastor taco was tasty and the pork was tender. (6.5/10) The Samuel was definitely my favorite because of the charred flavor on the fajita meat and the onions/jalapenos. (7.5/10) The mixeado was also delicious and I really enjoyed the mix of meats. Both were super juicy. (7/10) They had red and green salsas and pickled onions on the side for toppings which were perfect to cut through the fattiness of the meat. The food came out quick and hot, and all the tacos were stuffed with meat. The service was also spectacular as they constantly checked on us and were quick to clean plates or ask us for water refills. The parking lot is quite small so I would recommend for smaller parties. Will definitely be back for the delicious food!

    Tacos
    Marium M.

    Really good taco place for the area. My only negative is that the Al Pastor could've used more flavor and could've been a little bit softer. Their breakfast tacos are cooked to perfection and their green salsa is amazing. Their fresa latte was really good, it reminded me of a strawberry wafer 10/10. All of the workers are extremely nice and they are very service oriented. It can get a little bit crowded on the weekends and parking can be a little bit tough, but it is still really good and they have outdoor seating as well. Tables were all clean. Overall I'd come again and to try their barbacoa and fajita.

    Briana W.

    Houston we may have found the best chicken tacos here!! Marinated and yummy!! True family owned place!! Treated nicely and menu explained with so much love! The place is rustic and fun with the old school Coca-Cola tables!! Please come in and try for yourself!!

    4 Taco Plate (2 fajita, 2 pastor on corn)

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    4 days ago

    Yummy! Large portions. A little wait time for to go orders but totally worth it. Support small business!

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    2 months ago

    Very delicious authentic Mexican foods my Torta was amazing and crunchy. Do recommend this place if you are Houston TX

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    Business owner information

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    Had the tacos Al pastor and they were amazing! A bit greasy however delicious and flavorful!

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    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation - Steak

    The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

    3.9(2.3k reviews)
    4.0 miWarehouse District, Second Ward
    $$
    Private events
    Catering service

    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

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina

    4.2(288 reviews)
    2.2 miMidtown, 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!

    This place was AWESOME!! I was in Houston visiting...and just found this place on Yelp…read more The service was great, the place beautiful, the flautas great, rice and beans were on point. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this is the place.

    Photos
    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Right side entry

    Right side entry

    Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina - Rice & Beans

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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

    3.9(886 reviews)
    2.8 miThe Heights
    $$

    Guys, you know I dont post a review unless a dish is a straight 10/10…read more The breakfast I just had warrants a 10/10 review at the Airline blvd location. I just had the Machacado con Huevo breakfast dish here and it was so incredibly good-So good! it was one of the best breakfasts Ive ever had. seriously.I will definitely be back for this breakfast. I recommend getting it with red and green sauce on the side and a side of tortillas ro make your own tacos with the eggs, salsa and refried beans. just wow! And that tamale needs its own menu. That tamale was amazing. I would get several orders of that soft white tamale by itself to go. And the service was a 10/10. They kept refilling my red and green sauce and kept checking up on me throughout. Ambience was great as always. Its a life changing dish. Thanks Teotihuacan for the great breakfast and great service! Yall deserve a well-earned review!

    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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    Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe - Queso + Beef

    Queso + Beef

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    Maximo - Tostada

    Maximo

    4.6(152 reviews)
    3.7 miWest University
    $$$

    The staff were genuinely warm and welcoming from start to finish. Our waiter walked us through the…read morebrunch menu and pointed out the vegetarian-friendly options, which I really appreciated. We shared the guacamole, chilaquiles divorciados with mushrooms, and a couple of maxi martinis - everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. They also brought out a tres leches dessert for my sister's birthday that was so good. You can tell there's a lot of care behind both the food and the hospitality here. Definitely looking forward to coming back!

    Believe it. It's true. This tasting menu is seriously the best value in town, and the wine/cocktail…read morepairing is an absolute must. Our culinary journey started with tuna two ways, and this first bite was actually my favorite of the entire meal. The flavors were impossibly punchy with well-balanced savory notes that were perfectly highlighted by the accompanying bubbly pairing. 5 courses in all, and all of it was delicious. Another highlight was the steak course and the heavenly chocolate dessert course, which was expertly paired with their take on an espresso martini. Chef's kiss! The restaurant is actually quite tiny, and I found it to be on the warm/muggy side, and it wasn't even that hot outside. Also, from a decor perspective, they could certainly use a "freshening up" though perhaps a newer larger location would be a better idea. Still, based solely on the food, my foodie friends and I agreed we would absolutely be back. Their Bibendum nod is well-deserved!

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    Ambriza - Street corn.

    Ambriza

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    18.6 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Veteran-owned & operated

    Get the pork belly bites and their cocktails are delicious…read more If you're here on a Sunday for brunch and have a sweet tooth the French toast is unforgettable. No other French toast will come close. Their homemade sauces make more tantalizing. If you like salty spicy, get the jojo sauce. I don't think it's on the menu And to finish, personally I like cocktails but their fresh filled churros are super fun. And can't beat the fresh factor! Brandon is an excellent attentive server. He knows the menu in and out. He'll steer you right. It's a neighborhood gem

    We had a 70th & 60th birthday celebration at Ambriza's Vintage, and we were very impressed and…read moresatisfied with how beautiful and perfect everything turned out. Rodrigo & Araceli were amazing, ensuring everything was going smoothly and according to plan. Our servers Augusto and Christian, were very attentive, kind, and on point with our food and drinks. Food was exquisite and portions were generous, cooked to perfection. The churros with chocolate and the complimentary photos for the birthday girls was the cherry on top. Ambriza's management & staff truly know how to make their guests feel special. They went above and beyond, exceeding all of our expectations. Definitely having more celebrations here in the future! On behalf of me & my family, THANK YOU again for the excellent service and making this a memorable night!! Barbie Artiga

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    Candente - Museum District - Beans and rice

    Candente - Museum District

    4.1(624 reviews)
    2.4 miMuseum District, Montrose
    $$

    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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    Tio Trompo - mexican - Updated May 2026

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