TXAG 05 said:

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AustinCountyAg said:

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Los Cucos is hard to beat for quality, price, consistency

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Varies by location. Some are great, some are terrible.

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The one near me is consistent and above average.

I really need to start going into the tiny mom and pop shops though.

Aggie Therapist said:

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Las Mañanitas On Mason rd in Katy.

So many amazing memories with my family and friends here. Great food, margaritas and atmosphere

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It's a bit from me, I'll make a note for next time my folks in Katy want to do a Mexican night.

Just curious..... alot of these restaurants listed are in Houston area. Do these places exist elsewhere? I rarely go to Dallas, Austin, or SA. And even if I did, I wouldn't go to them because I live in Houston

Lupe's (I know there's one in CS)
El Tiempo
Pappasitos

I don't recognize any of these places in NorTex, except maybe Pappasito's and Chuy's. Don't really know of any decent chains up here, I usually hit the local places and little taquerias, of which there are many. I go to the Pappasito's in DFW airport quite a bit and get the beef tacos, which are pretty good. Can't say I've ever been to one of their outside restaurants. I should, just haven't noticed where they are.

La Calle Doce is a great place, but there are only two that I know of, in south Dallas area.
There are some Uncle Julio's, but I haven't been in years. Don't recall it being anything out of the ordinary.
On the Border is pretty generic.
Taco Casa is at quite a few gas stations. It's actually pretty decent for fast food. Compared to Taco Bell and Bueno, their big tacos and burritos have a heavy load of meat and stuff. The other chains have very little meat, mostly bean and fillings.

The chains in SA are the same as Houston.

Lupe, Chuys, Papasitos, etc

SA has Las Palapas as a pretty good fast food chain.

All my favorite SA Mexican Restaurants were killed via Covid or burned down: Mexican Manhattan and Jacala

You lost me at chain mex restaurants. Non chain is the way to go.

If I had to go to one, Lupe's chicken tacos that are actually enchiladas are pretty tasty. And Chuys steak burrito is tasty but the rest of the menu is beyond average and they do not even make charro beans anymore.

If Lupe's is Lupe Tortilla, then dfw is starting to get them. There is one in Alllen that I've been to. We also have multiple Pappasitos. Also have Abuelos and Uncle Julio's and Chuy's.

We don't have El Tiempo that I know of.

There an El Tiempo in Arlington

In houston, Goode Co Cantina is a favorite now with several locations, when im not at El Tiempo im there.

Well most definitely non chain is the way to go.

But the purpose of the thread is to uncover the best chains based on their ability to shell out quality food on repeat visits across multiple locations without a drop in standards

TXAG 05 said:

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AustinCountyAg said:

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Los Cucos is hard to beat for quality, price, consistency

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Varies by location. Some are great, some are terrible.

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The one in New Braunfels finally closed. It was awful

I honestly think Chuy's fajitas are hard to beat for the quality and price.

My issue with so many "nice" TexMex places is the price. There's no way a plate of 1/2 lb fajitas should cost $25.

However, if i'm really going after TexMex, i'm going to a hole in the wall. I grew up in Dallas going to Herrara's in Oak Cliff. That will forever be my spot for enchiladas. No one else has ever matched it for me, but that's because I grew up on theirs.

Lathspell said:

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I honestly think Chuy's fajitas are hard to beat for the quality and price.

My issue with so many "nice" TexMex places is the price. There's no way a plate of 1/2 lb fajitas should cost $25.

However, if i'm really going after TexMex, i'm going to a hole in the wall. I grew up in Dallas going to Herrara's in Oak Cliff. That will forever be my spot for enchiladas. No one else has ever matched it for me, but that's because I grew up on theirs.

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Agree on the "nice" Mexican joints. A plate of enchiladas shouldn't be $20. Fajita prices are highway robbery in a lot of places.

At least in Texas, you're getting skirt steak with your fajitas. Try living in the midwest. Most restaurants are using sirloin or some other cheaper cut.

Good luck with that one.

Lathspell said:

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I honestly think Chuy's fajitas are hard to beat for the quality and price.

My issue with so many "nice" TexMex places is the price. There's no way a plate of 1/2 lb fajitas should cost $25.

However, if i'm really going after TexMex, i'm going to a hole in the wall. I grew up in Dallas going to Herrara's in Oak Cliff. That will forever be my spot for enchiladas. No one else has ever matched it for me, but that's because I grew up on theirs.

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I'm in the same boat. The best Mexican is back where I grew up. Leal's being at the top of the list for cheese enchiladas or chile relenos. So much better with an Anaheim Vs a poblano.

torchys!

Sazerac said:

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Steak Lupe / 3 pepper steak is the same meat and a better deal.

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Mmmm 3 pepper … been way too long since Ive had one

Sazerac said:

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Steak Lupe / 3 pepper steak is the same meat and a better deal.

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One of the elite plates of food in the tex-mex world.

Bruce Almighty said:

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At least in Texas, you're getting skirt steak with your fajitas. Try living in the midwest. Most restaurants are using sirloin or some other cheaper cut.

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Sirloin flap meat is the gold standard for fajitas.

small local, family owned, single location, neighborhood joint and slightly nicer than a hole in the wall place: Enchiladas y Mas (ATX) chain, multiple locations, fast casual, homemade, handmade: Taco Palenque (RGV, SA)

Sazerac said:

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Steak Lupe / 3 pepper steak is the same meat and a better deal.

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Literally can't remember the last time I ordered anything other than the 3 pepper there. Far and away my favorite thing on the menu.

It's the standard, but pretty much every entree is extremely solid. All the seafood, each type of enchilada (including one with a nice tangy green sauce)

Not a fan of Lupe Tortilla. It's ok but just meh. Tortillas are tough, steak is nothing but lime and salt, and queso could have come from a jar.

When good uncle Julio's has my favorite fajitas and tortillas. Their Mexican butter is crack. Their queso sucks too however. Pappasitos is obviously almost identical.

Mi Cocina has good enchiladas (on a good day) and my favorite restaurant salsa. Queso is ok. Fajitas suck.

Chuy's has great queso and the hatch chili steak burrito. Those and the creamy jalapeño are the only reason it deserves to exist. Everything else sucks.

Cantina Laredo is descent. Pour their chipotle wine sauce on anything to make it delicious.

Hehe

I prefer Rosa's Cafe

I remember eating at Abuelos in CS and a few other cities and liking it over the years. It had been a while so I tried the newer location in Katy earlier this year. It was the worst Mexican food I've ever had in Texas.

Durango burrito was good before, it was inedible. The cheese sauce didn't taste like anything, and the shredded beef had worse flavor than the meat paste in Jack in the Box tacos. The papas con chile was just mashed potatoes with cheese. The guac had no salt, but at least that could be saved. No one else's was particularly good either.

If it wasn't takeout I wouldn't have paid for it and half the food went in the trash. I can't imagine it was just an off night and being that bad.

If it was free I wouldn't go back.

Agree with a lot of what you stated.

1000% on Chuys.

Try them again. Things seemed to change in the tortilla department there. I normally just get corn anyways but both those and the flour were different last time I went recently.