5 Best Upscale Mexican Restaurants in Houston

1.) Hugo’s

Website: Hugo’s

Address: 1600 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006

Contact info: 713-524-7744

Operating hours: Monday: Closed

Tuesday, Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM 

Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM- 10:30 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

What we like the most about Hugo’s is that they offer good food and drink options for a relatively affordable price unlike other upscale Mexican restaurants in Houston – think. 2 for $28 lunches and $8 Spirits and Cocktails!

And if you ask us? You get more than what you pay for with their lunch menu. Our recommendation goes out to their Pulpo al Cabron and Lechon – any other items and you’re looking at delicacies like their (surprisingly good) pan-sauteed grasshoppers. 

The Pulpo al Cabron is an octopus dish, by the way – and unlike the ones you see in Korea, this one is cooked well and won’t try to strangle you if you don’t chew them properly so you won’t have to worry about that too much and just savor the flavor.

The $8 Spirits and Cocktails during Hugo’s Happy Hour blew our minds, too! They’re not too strong and is has just the right kick to it as well. Go with their Agave Prescription if you feel like you’re up to the challenge, otherwise the Aperol Spritz will do! 

Be that as it may though, you can’t visit Hugo’s on Mondays because they’re closed. We understand though, since most Mexican restaurants are usually closed on Mondays since they’re usually the slowest business days, but it’s still a shame.

But when they are open, it’s worth giving Hugo’s a visit – especially if you’re vegan/vegetarian! Hugo’s has a nice vegan and vegetarian menu, and we recommend trying out their Enchiladas and Pastel de Chocolate even if you’re not vegan! 

2.) Xochi

Website: Xochi

Address: 1777 Walker St, Suite A, Houston, TX 77010

Contact info: 713-400-3330

Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM

Friday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

As an upscale Mexican restaurant that offers a good twist on the more traditional food items, we appreciate the amount of effort Xochi puts in their food with their good variety of food and dessert options! 

A tip from us? Visit them during their dinner hours and order their Mole Tasting or a platter of their great Moles, along with their Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila. The barbarocca is crunchy and savory, and their homemade gravy brings the flavor together.

Their dessert list is good, too! Everything is made in-house and has the right amount of sweetness. For us, their Affogatos is a good way to finish out your meal, but if you’re in the mood for chocolate then their Cremoso de Chocolate can scratch that itch for you.

Though their food is good, the only thing we don’t appreciate as much about Xochi is the fact that their menu is a bit more expensive compared to other upscale Mexican restaurants in Houston. It’s only a couple of dollars, but it still matters in this economy.

Then again, if you’re in the mood to splurge a little then we recommend giving Xochi a visit – especially if you’re looking for a good place to spend Valentine’s in! They put out beautiful decor and the set dinners are well-made to perfectly wrap up your Valentine’s!

3.) Teotihuacan

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Website: Teotihuacan 

Address: 6579 W Bellfort Ave Houston, TX 77035

Contact info: (713) 726-9858

Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Although Teotihuacan has four branches all over Houston, this review will solely be on their Bellfort branch and our wonderful experience in this beautiful upscale Mexican restaurant!

At first glance, we can understand exactly how Teotihuacan became a hit with the Houstonians – their serving sizes are huge! Yes, their menu costs at least $20 on average – but you’ll no doubt be leaving the place full and satisfied!

But if you’re thinking that the big servings cover up for the lack of flavor, then think again! Try their delicious Carnitas de Puerco from their dinner menu with the Strawberry Daiquiri. There are a lot of drinks to choose from, but that’s a clear standout from the rest!

However, we have to warn you before visiting them to at least have cash or card ready as unlike other upscale Mexican restaurants in Houston, Teotihuacan doesn’t accept cheques. But with their prices, you wouldn’t need to bring a lot of money in the first place.

But if you ask us? It’s worth it – and a tip from us, visit them on weekend mornings for their $12.99 Breakfast Grande, and it has everything you can expect from Teotihuacan! All the eggs are sauteed to your liking and come with lots of extra food with it as well!

4.) El Tiempo Cantina

Website: El Tiempo Cantina

Address: 322 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77006

Contact info: (713) 807-8101

Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM

What we like the most about El Tiempo Cantina, you ask? Well, not only do they offer an amazing variety of drinks, and plenty of delicious food, but they also offer a unique twist to the nachos that we know compared to other upscale Mexican restaurants in Houston! 

You have the regular nachos with ground beef, cheese, and all that jazz – but take a closer look at their menu and you’ll discover El Tiempo Cantina’s Crab and Filet Mignon Nachos! And you should try them .- the savory goes well with their house nachos!

El Tiempo Cantina’s regular menu items are just as impressive, too! They have lots of authentic Mexican and American dishes, but our best pick goes to their Ancho Honey Grilled Quail Carne Asada, and you can pay a bit extra to upgrade it to 3 servings!

We also have to commend El Tiempo Cantina on their brunch options, even if there are only 7 options to choose from, unlike other more upscale Mexican restaurants in Houston. For us, the Migas Tejano is the clear standout from their limited brunch menu.

El Tiempo Cantina makes up for it with the sheer variety of drinks you can have with their Migas Tejano, though! Try out their Xicaru Mezcal Reposado and trust us – you’re well on your way to fun town!

5.) Flora

Website: Flora

Address: 3422 Allen Pkwy Houston, TX 77019

Contact info: (713) 360-6477

Operating hours: Monday – Thursday:11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday:11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Saturday:10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Sunday:10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

A true-blue, upscale Mexican restaurant in Houston, Flora’s one of our top picks if  you want a more gourmet twist on Mexican food! And with a relatively easy online reservation process, you won’t have to worry too much about trying them out!

All you need to do is to set the date and time, and indicate the number of people in your party and you’re good to go! And considering their food’s flavor profile, the convenience is very much appreciated!

You can tell how much effort Flora puts into their food – everything is high-end and posh, and the fact that they put a gourmet spin to Mexican food makes them deserving of all the praise. Their Crispy Chicken Taquitos is a must-try for us!

Then again, their featured menu is just as impressive, too! Their Pork Shank is cooked just right, and pair it with their Etude Pinot Noir and you’re in for a gourmet experience you’d expect from an upscale Mexican restaurant in Houston.

But with the gourmet experience also comes gourmet prices and servings, which is the only part we don’t like as much about Flora. Most of the menu items average at $30 but the price is worth it for us.

Their expansive wine list deserves a shout-out, too! There are whites, reds, and sparkling – and the Pinot Noir we’ve chosen is just the bottom of the barrel. If you want something smoother then the Monte Xanic Grenache is your pick.

FAQs about Upscale Mexican Restaurants

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