HOUSTON (Stacker) — Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn’t just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that style of food; it’s delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.
It reflects Mexico’s diverse population—shaped by waves of immigration—and has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has 32 distinct regional styles of cooking, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of “Mexican food.”
According to a Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican food, and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.
These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?
To help you out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Houston using data from Yelp. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered. Data is current as of January 2024.
Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
#30. Taqueria El Nene
– Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
– Address: Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, Burgers
– Read more on Yelp
#29. El Kechu
– Rating: 5.0/5 (24 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 11705 Jones Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
– Read more on Yelp
#28. Taqueria Centenario
– Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 405 One Half Little York Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#27. Master Taco
– Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
– Address: 1802 Richmond Ave. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
– Read more on Yelp
#26. Refresqueria La Gusgueria
– Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
– Address: 14680 Wallisville Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#25. Supermercado Popular
– Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
– Address: 8621 West Airport Blvd. Ste D Houston, Texas
– Categories: Grocery, Meat Shops, Tacos
– Read more on Yelp
#24. Refresqueria Botanera
– Rating: 5.0/5 (12 reviews)
– Address: 6310 South Lake Houston Pkwy Ste B Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Breakfast & Brunch
– Read more on Yelp
#23. El Novillo Restaurant
– Rating: 5.0/5 (13 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 609 Hogan St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#22. TRI Antojitos Mexicanos
– Rating: 5.0/5 (13 reviews)
– Address: 9598 Richmond Ave. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#21. Taqueria Cedral
– Rating: 5.0/5 (17 reviews)
– Address: 3303 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
– Read more on Yelp
#20. Simon Cacheton
– Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
– Address: 10130 Grant Road Ste 204 Houston, Texas
– Categories: Tacos
– Read more on Yelp
#19. El Mesquite
– Rating: 5.0/5 (19 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 424 Broadway St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#18. Birrieria El Compadre
– Rating: 5.0/5 (46 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 11701 South Sam Houston Pkwy East Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#17. Taquerias Mi Jalisco
– Rating: 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: Ella And 249 Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Stands, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#16. Cinco De Mayo Food Truck
– Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 17102 West Little York Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#15. Paradise Snow Cones & Taqueria
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 8075 Fallbrook Drive Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
– Read more on Yelp
#14. Ricos Tacos Mobil
– Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 11512 Harwin Drive Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#13. Fusion Eats Canteen & Cocktails
– Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
– Address: 302 Fairview St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp
#12. Chef Marcela’s Kitchen
– Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
– Address: 2727 Saint St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Salad
– Read more on Yelp
#11. Taqueria El Sabor De Jalisco
– Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
– Address: 5514 South Willow Drive Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#10. Tortilleria La Bendicion
– Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
– Address: 11155 Huffmeister Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Mexican, Barbecue
– Read more on Yelp
#9. Taco Loco Truck
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 8030 Fulton St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#8. Taqueria “EL CUÑAO”
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 225 Aldine Mail Rte Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Tacos
– Read more on Yelp
#7. Taqueria Harina Y Maiz
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 12310 Hempstead Road Houston, Texas
– Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
– Read more on Yelp
#6. Carnitas Cazo & Pala
– Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
– Address: 17802 West Little York Road Ste A Houston, Texas
– Categories: Tacos, Caterers
– Read more on Yelp
#5. Hotchos 45
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 7010 Woodridge Drive Houston, Texas
– Categories: Hot Dogs, Tacos, Burgers
– Read more on Yelp
#4. Soul Y Mex Kitchen
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: Houston, Texas
– Categories: Southern, Mexican, Food Trucks
– Read more on Yelp
#3. Taqueria Matehuala
– Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
– Address: 9007 Irvington Blvd. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#2. Carnitas Huandacareo
– Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
– Address: 17355 Fm 529 Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
#1. Quesadillas Y Mas Las Parados
– Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
– Address: 3930 North Main St. Houston, Texas
– Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
– Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.
