10 of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Texas

Texas knows how to do Mexican food. From old-school Tex-Mex plates piled with enchiladas and rice and beans to regional Mexican cooking featuring mole, handmade tortillas and slow-cooked meats, there is no shortage of places worth trying.

The difficult part is deciding where to start. With so many restaurants across the state, this list focuses on a mix of legendary Texas institutions and standout spots that show just how diverse Mexican food has become across the Lone Star State.

1. The Original Ninfa's on Navigation — Houston

Few restaurants are as closely connected to Houston's food history as The Original Ninfa's on Navigation.

The restaurant dates back to the 1970s and became famous for its fajitas, helping turn the dish into a Tex-Mex staple far beyond Houston. Today, the original Navigation location continues to serve Mexican and Tex-Mex favourites while maintaining its connection to the city's culinary history.

It's the kind of place that works for visitors who want a taste of classic Houston as much as they want a good meal.

2. Mixtli — San Antonio

For something more contemporary, Mixtli in San Antonio takes a very different approach.

Rather than focusing on the typical Tex-Mex combination plate, Mixtli explores Mexican cuisine through regional ingredients, traditions and tasting-menu-style dishes. The restaurant has become one of San Antonio's more notable destinations for diners interested in creative Mexican cooking.

It's a great example of how Mexican food in Texas can be both deeply traditional and highly modern.

3. Suerte — Austin

Austin's Mexican food scene has expanded well beyond breakfast tacos and Tex-Mex, and Suerte is a perfect example.

Located on East Sixth Street, Suerte focuses on contemporary Mexican cooking with an emphasis on masa, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques. It has become one of Austin's standout destinations for diners looking for a more refined take on Mexican cuisine.

Eater's current Austin guide highlights the city's growing range of regional Mexican cooking, including dishes influenced by areas such as Oaxaca, Puebla, Yucatán and Jalisco.

4. Joe T. Garcia's — Fort Worth

If you're looking for old-school Texas Tex-Mex, Joe T. Garcia's is difficult to leave off the list.

The Fort Worth institution has been serving generations of diners and is particularly famous for its large outdoor patio and family-style atmosphere. The menu is much more traditional in its approach than some of the newer restaurants on this list.

It's the sort of restaurant people visit as much for the experience and history as for the food.

5. Fonda San Miguel — Austin

Fonda San Miguel has been an Austin favourite for decades and is one of the city's most established destinations for interior Mexican cuisine.

The restaurant is particularly known for its colourful atmosphere and dishes inspired by different regions of Mexico. Its long-standing reputation helped establish Austin as a serious destination for Mexican dining well before the city's current food boom.

Texas Monthly previously included Fonda San Miguel among its top Mexican restaurants in the state, highlighting the restaurant's distinctive approach to Mexican cooking.

6. Garcia's Mexican Food — San Antonio

Sometimes the best Mexican food isn't about elaborate presentation.

Garcia's Mexican Food in San Antonio is known for classic Tex-Mex comfort food, including enchiladas, tamales, crispy tacos, beans and rice. Eater has highlighted its Deluxe Mexican Dinner as an especially memorable example of the hearty combination plates that have become part of Texas food culture.

For anyone wanting a classic San Antonio Tex-Mex experience rather than a modern tasting menu, Garcia's is worth knowing about.

7. Revolver Taco Lounge — Dallas

Dallas has developed a serious Mexican food scene, and Revolver Taco Lounge is one of the restaurants that helped push it in a more ambitious direction.

The restaurant goes well beyond standard tacos, incorporating regional Mexican ingredients and techniques into a menu that changes the way people think about the humble taco.

Its Purépecha Room takes things even further with a reservation-only tasting experience inspired by the cooking traditions of Michoacán. Eater has described the restaurant as a major force in Dallas' Mexican dining scene.

8. L&J Cafe — El Paso

If you're heading to West Texas, don't overlook El Paso.

L&J Cafe has been a local institution for generations, serving Mexican food in a casual setting just east of downtown. Its menu includes many of the comforting dishes you'd expect from an El Paso favourite, making it a good stop for anyone wanting to experience the region's distinctive borderland food culture.

El Paso's location next to Mexico gives its food scene a character that is distinctly different from what you'll find in Dallas, Austin or Houston.

9. Hugo's — Houston

Houston's enormous diversity is reflected in its Mexican restaurant scene, and Hugo's is one of the city's best-known destinations for regional Mexican cuisine.

Rather than relying exclusively on Tex-Mex favourites, Hugo's explores the food of Mexico through ingredients, dishes and techniques from different regions.

The result is a restaurant that feels distinctly Houston: ambitious, diverse and influenced by cultures from around the world while remaining firmly rooted in Mexican cooking.

10. El Carlos Elegante — Dallas

Dallas has become an increasingly exciting destination for regional Mexican cuisine, and El Carlos Elegante is a great example of that evolution.

The restaurant takes inspiration from traditional Mexican cooking while presenting it through a modern lens. It has earned significant attention in Dallas' dining scene and was recognised by Eater as its 2023 Dallas best new restaurant.

For diners who want something beyond the typical Tex-Mex experience, this is one to put on the list.

Texas Has More Than One Kind of Mexican Food

One of the best things about exploring Mexican restaurants in Texas is discovering that there isn't a single definition of what “Mexican food” means here.

In San Antonio and Fort Worth, you'll find generations-old Tex-Mex institutions serving enchiladas, tamales, tacos and queso. In Austin and Dallas, newer restaurants are increasingly exploring regional Mexican cuisines and traditional techniques.

Houston and El Paso bring their own influences too, shaped by their diverse populations and proximity to Mexico.

That's why a road trip through Texas can give you completely different Mexican food experiences without ever leaving the state.

Which One Should You Try First?

If you're after classic Tex-Mex, start with Joe T. Garcia's or Garcia's Mexican Food.

For regional and contemporary Mexican cuisine, try Mixtli, Suerte or El Carlos Elegante.

And if you're looking for Texas food history, The Original Ninfa's and Fonda San Miguel are hard to beat.

Whatever style you prefer, Mexican food is one of the cuisines that has helped define Texas, and there is a very good chance your next favourite restaurant is somewhere along the next Texas highway.