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The 5 Best Mexican Restaurants in Galleria, Houston Area

The 5 Best Mexican Restaurants in Galleria, Houston Area

Our Criteria:

Authenticity – When looking for Mexican food, most people want to taste the real deal. Hence, we searched for the top restaurants in Houston Galleria that serve Mexican dishes cooked traditionally. 
Ambiance – These Mexican restaurants should have a great dining atmosphere to help their patrons relax and enjoy their tacos after their shopping sessions.
Ingredients – We picked restaurants that use fresh vegetables and tender meat in their dishes. This is to make sure that the food is prepared properly and with attention to quality.
Sauces – One of the hallmarks of Mexican cuisine is their delicious condiments like chipotle, guacamole, ranchero, and salsa. So, we chose those establishments with killer sauces to complement their dishes.

    1. Blanco Cocina + Cantina

    Blanco Cocina + Cantina Homepage

    Available Food Choices: Starters, The Tucson Chimichanga, Tacos, Fajitas, Burritos, Cocktails, Tequila

    Website: https://www.blancococinacantina.com/ 

    Address: 5115 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056

    Contact Details: (346) 250-1900

    Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

    Friday to Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

    Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

    Google Reviews Score4.2/5
    Yelp Reviews Score4/5
    Facebook Reviews Score4.2/5
    Total Reviews5/5
    Score Consistency4.5/5
    Authenticity4.5/5
    Ambiance5/5
    Ingredients5/5
    Sauces4/5

    Pros

    • Crunchy and mouthwatering corn tortillas
    • Wide selection of tequila-based drinks

    Cons

    • Slow service during weekends
    • Tomato salsa taste bland

    Blanco Cocina + Cantina is a lovely spot if you’re craving dishes wrapped in crispy corn tortillas like tacos and enchiladas.

    We love the trendy, hipster vibe of the place, especially their use of natural light to liven up the place. Since we wanted to enjoy some morning air, we sat outside to eat some tacos and sip some tequila cocktails.

    While we were in this restaurant, we sampled their carnitas taco, bean tostadas, and margarita pitcher.

    Since we ate here on a Saturday, our food took about an hour before it arrived. Other tables told us that this restaurant is slow in serving dishes on busy weekends.

    The tortillas are very crunchy, even when left soaking in all the savory meat juices. We also adore the smooth texture of the tortilla, complementing the zesty carnitas of the taco and the creamy pinto beans of the tostadas.

    However, we don’t like the basic, store-bought taste of their tomato salsa. The tomatoes taste too sweet with a little acidity to them.

    The margaritas of Blanco Cocina + Cantina, on the other hand, are the perfect drink to close the meal. The orange liqueur they use mixes well with the earthy flavor of the tequila.

    The restaurant also has some interesting margarita mixes like the jalapeño pineapple and the mango-chamoy blend. We’ll make sure to sample these when we return here in the future.

    2. La Tapatia

    La Tapatia Homepage

    Available Food Choices: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour

    Website: http://latapatia.com/ 

    Address: 5591 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77056

    Contact Details: (713) 787-9680

    Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 A.M.

    Friday to Saturday: 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M.

    Sunday: 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 A.M.

    Google Reviews Score4.1/5
    Yelp Reviews Score3/5
    Facebook Reviews Score3.8/5
    Total Reviews5/5
    Score Consistency4/5
    Authenticity4.5/5
    Ambiance4.5/5
    Ingredients5/5
    Sauces5/5

    Pros

    • Scrumptious grilled Mexican dishes
    • Big serving sizes
    • Long opening hours

    Cons

    • Plain interior
    • Expensive meal prices
    • Slow in answering reservation calls

    What we love here in La Tapatia is their smoky, delicious grilled options.

    The place looks like a no-frills establishment with minimal designs and a muted interior design. It’s certainly a far cry from most Mexican places with bright warm colors on their walls and loud motif.

    When we called for a table earlier, it took us at least 45 minutes before someone answered the phone. We were a little annoyed by this slow service, considering that we were already hungry at that time.

    After we arrived, we ordered the restaurant’s parillada puebla served with grilled pieces of beef, chicken fajitas, shrimp, and tilapia. The meal is big enough to be enjoyed by 2 people, with heavy side dishes like rice, charra beans, and tortillas.

    This order is a bit more expensive than other restaurants, costing almost $52.

    However, we think the price here in La Tapatia is worth it because of its portions and the yummy flavor of the grilled meat.

    Despite our team sharing the parillada puebla meal, we still struggled to finish all of it. In terms of taste, the meat is tender and seasoned generously with chili flakes, garlic, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

    It’s also wonderful that this restaurant has long opening hours. We’ll take that in mind if we’re ever in need of a late-night dining spot.

    3. Guadalajara Mexican Grille

    Guadalajara Mexican Grille Homepage

    Available Food Choices: Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour

    Website: https://guad.com/ 

    Address: 2925 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77098

    Contact Details: (713) 942-0772

    Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

    Friday to Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

    Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

    Google Reviews Score4.1/5
    Yelp Reviews Score4/5
    Facebook Reviews Score4/5
    Total Reviews5/5
    Score Consistency4.5/5
    Authenticity4.5/5
    Ambiance5/5
    Ingredients4.5/5
    Sauces4.55/5

    Pros

    • Flavorful and tender beef fajitas
    • Creamy, decadent queso

    Cons

    • Waitstaff are sometimes inattentive
    • Runny salsa

    Guadalajara Mexican Grille is famous for their tasty and melt-to-the-mouth fajitas.

    In our opinion, this place has the quaint aura of antique establishments, with colorful tiles and textured stonework adding to its beautiful appeal. 

    We sat in the outside area with the skylight so we could sip some sangria while chatting. Even if our seating area is bathed with sunlight, we never felt sweaty because of the strong ceiling fans in the area.

    While ordering the food, we noticed that the waitstaff didn’t give us appropriate attention. Water refills were scarce and they were slow in bringing out utensils and napkins.

    Anyways, we tried the restaurant’s famous beef fajitas, blanco queso, and a pitcher of their sangria.

    After tasting their signature meal, we get why regular patrons are raving about the fajitas. The meat is so tender that it feels like we’re eating filet mignon pieces. 

    In terms of taste, the meat tastes heavily of herbs, particularly oregano, paprika, and lime juice. Even if the flavor is strong, it’s not overpowering, especially when eaten with guacamole.

    Although, we made the wrong move when we put the salsa rojo in the meat. The salsa is a bit runny and has a metallic tang that dulls the flavor of the meat. 

    On the other hand, the queso is very creamy with just the right blend of saltiness and a hint of spice. The sangria tastes okay and surprisingly strong enough to make our heads spin.

    4. Urbe

    Urbe Homepage

    Available Food Choices: Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Dessert, Happy Hour, Bulk-To-Go

    Website: https://www.urbehouston.com/ 

    Address: 1101 Uptown Park Blvd Suite 12, Houston, TX 77056

    Contact Details: (713) 726-8273

    Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

    Friday to Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

    Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

    Google Reviews Score4.4/5
    Yelp Reviews Score4/5
    Facebook Reviews Score4.4/5
    Total Reviews5/5
    Score Consistency4.5/5
    Authenticity4.5/5
    Ambiance5/5
    Ingredients5/5
    Sauces4/5

    Pros

    • Crispy and light chicharrón 
    • Soft papas bravas
    • Delectable birria

    Cons

    • Elotes aren’t grilled
    • Some portions are tiny
    • Flavorless guacamole

    Urbe is a famous Mexican food crawl for those who want street food that’s light on the tummy but still a heavyweight in the flavor department.

    In terms of aesthetics, we especially adored the heavy use of mosaics and patterns in their interior. The life-size Dia de Los Muertos skull in front of their place was certainly a head-turner.

    We ordered some elotes and papas bravas as starters. Then, we selected their chicharrón, as well as the birria tacos.

    Overall, our dining experience here is mostly smooth with small bumps along the way.

    The food is delicious but some portions are a bit small for our taste like their elotes.

    It’s also a little unfortunate that the corn used in the elotes isn’t charred on the grill. We think that if grilled,  the corn’s smoky flavor could have complemented the cotija cheese and tajin seasoning wonderfully.

    Meanwhile, the papas bravas has beautiful toasted skin and a soft inside made creamier by the chipotle aioli. 

    We were also awestruck by the chicharrón when it arrived. 

    The fried pork rind is almost as long as a human head and twice as wide, with a crispy texture that’s not too greasy. Although, the guacamole served with this is bland and not as flavorful as it looks.

    Lastly, the birria tacos are an explosion of savory flavors in the mouth. We even asked for extra sauce because we can’t get enough of it.

    5. Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen

    Puebla's Mexican Kitchen Homepage

    Available Food Choices: Tacos Y Mas, Platillos, Platos De Desayunos, Bebidas

    Website: https://www.instagram.com/pueblasmexicankitchen/

    Address: 6320 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009

    Contact Details: (713) 426-9062

    Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

    Saturday: 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

    Sunday: Closed

    Google Reviews Score4.6/5
    Yelp Reviews Score4.5/5
    Total Reviews5/5
    Score Consistency5/5
    Authenticity5/5
    Ambiance4.5/5
    Ingredients5/5
    Sauces5/5

    Pros

    • Serves Mexican breakfast specials 
    • Available for deliveries

    Cons

    • Tiny place 
    • Difficult to find parking at certain times
    • Only open until 3 P.M.

    Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican kitchen known for their breakfast meals.

    The place itself is small, with only enough tables to host less than 30 people. We also struggled a bit to find a parking spot at that time because of its popularity as a breakfast hangout place.

    We’d like to note though that we were blown away by the atmosphere inside. Everything here is colorful, from the chairs and tables to the little plates they use to serve their meals.

    With this, the spot is certainly worthy to be posted on your Instagram feeds. Just check Puebla’s profile and you’ll see what we mean!

    During our stay, we ordered their breakfast burrito and gorditas, and some bottles of Mexican coke.

    The portions of our meals were the perfect size for breakfast. It had enough servings to fill us with energy but not too much that we felt bloated after the meal.

    Both the breakfast meals we ordered are customizable. While ordering, you can choose from different kinds of proteins like egg, chorizo, bacon, machacado, and others.

    Moving on, when we bit into the gorditas, we felt the crisp goodness of the fried corn masa blending well with the egg and meat. The tortilla in the burrito is tender and we love the fresh flavor of their rice.

    When we asked about their dinner options, they mentioned that they’re only open until the afternoon. Note that whenever you’re planning to visit.

    Going back, we cleansed our palates with sips of the Mexican coke we ordered. The sweetness of the drink is smooth and you could taste the more natural sweetness of the cane sugar used to sweeten it.

    FAQs About Mexican Restaurants in the Galleria

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