49 editor-picked tex-mex restaurants across 8 cities.
A guide to tex-mex restaurants worth a trip, by city. We list operators, signature dishes, and the rooms locals book first.
Matt's El Rancho in Austin is the Martinez family's South Lamar Tex-Mex room, opened in 1952 and home of the canonical Bob Armstrong queso dip.
Signature: Bob Armstrong dip, Enchiladas with chili gravy, Frozen margarita
Order: The Bob Armstrong dip and a frozen margarita; the dip was invented here for a state legislator in 1973.
Tip: The patio under the oaks is huge; arrive 6pm or after 9pm to dodge the 7-to-9 wait.
Matt's El Rancho in Austin is the Martinez family's South Lamar Tex-Mex room since 1952, home of the Bob Armstrong queso dip and a citywide birthday-dinner.
Signature: Bob Armstrong dip, Enchiladas with chili gravy, Frozen margarita
Order: Bob Armstrong dip, beef enchiladas with chili gravy, plus a frozen margarita on the side.
Tip: The patio under the oaks holds 200; arrive 5:30pm to dodge the 7-to-9 family wait.
Rojo on Highland Avenue in Highland Park has run a casual Tex-Mex menu since 2002 with the canonical Highland Park patio and a strong frozen margarita pour.
Signature: Fish taco, Carne asada, Frozen margarita
The brisket taco at Mia's costs around $6 individually, making it an affordable way to experience Dallas's most definitive Tex-Mex taco. Located in Uptown.
Order: Two brisket tacos; house margarita (happy hour); rice and beans
Tip: Happy hour runs daily from 4-7pm with discounted margaritas. Two tacos and a drink is the sweet spot for a budget Mia's visit.
Operating since 1981, Mia's serves the brisket tacos that became a Dallas archetype. Located in Uptown. Open mon-sat 11am-9:30pm, sun 11am-9pm.
Order: Brisket tacos, the dish that earned Mia's citywide loyalty. Cheese enchiladas with chili con carne.
Tip: The brisket taco was created by founder Butch Enriquez. The original recipe still runs the kitchen.
A family-owned Lemmon Avenue institution since 1981 whose brisket taco created a Dallas archetype. Located in Uptown. Kitchen leans tex-mex.
Order: Brisket tacos. Cheese enchiladas. Mama's ribeye con hongos.
Tip: Expect a wait on weekend evenings. The brisket taco was created by founder Butch Enriquez in 1981; the recipe is unchanged.
Joe T. Garcia's is a Fort Worth institution at 2201 N Commerce St, famous for its sprawling garden patio and cash-only frozen margaritas since 1935.
Order: Beef fajitas, frozen margaritas, house enchiladas with red sauce.
Tip: Cash only, no credit cards accepted. The menu is set: enchiladas or fajitas. Arrive early on Fridays as the patio fills fast.
Joe T. Garcia's is a Fort Worth institution at 2201 N Commerce St, famous for its sprawling garden patio and cash-only frozen margaritas since 1935.
Order: Beef fajitas, frozen margaritas, house enchiladas with red sauce.
Tip: Cash only, no credit cards accepted. The menu is set: enchiladas or fajitas. Arrive early on Fridays as the patio fills fast.
Joe T. Garcia's on N Commerce St in Fort Worth has operated as a Tex-Mex institution since 1935, famous for its fajita plates and house margaritas.
Order: Fajitas for two with house margaritas served in the sprawling garden patio.
Tip: The restaurant is cash-only at the patio bar; the main building takes cards.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston is Ninfa Laurenzo's 1973 Tex-Mex room, the birthplace of the restaurant fajita, still serving skirt steak tacos.
Signature: Fajitas (tacos al carbon), Ninfaritas
Order: Fajitas (tacos al carbon) for two, a Ninfarita on the rocks, queso and chips.
Tip: Back patio under the strings of lights beats the front room. The bar opens 90 minutes before the dining room.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston is Ninfa Laurenzo's 1973 Tex-Mex room, the birthplace of the restaurant fajita, still serving skirt steak tacos.
Signature: Fajitas (tacos al carbon), Ninfaritas
Order: The fajitas (tacos al carbon) for two. A Ninfarita on the rocks first.
Tip: Sit on the back patio under the strings of lights. The front room is loud and the bar takes 90 minutes to clear at 7pm.
El Tiempo Cantina on Navigation in Houston is Roland Laurenzo's Tex-Mex room (son of Ninfa Laurenzo) next to the Original Ninfa's, with fajitas.
Signature: Fajitas, Beef rib parrillada
Order: Fajitas, the beef rib parrillada, a stacked margarita.
Tip: The Navigation flagship is the original; other locations exist citywide. Patio in cool weather.
Tex Tubb's Taco Palace on Atwood Avenue, Kevin Tubb's Austin-style taqueria since 2006, serves tacos and burritos plus house-made limeade and horchata.
Signature: Austin-style tacos, House-made horchata
Order: An Austin-style taco plate with house-made horchata.
Tip: Happy hour brings Mexican beer specials; weekend dinner is the busiest, weeknight lunch the calmest.
Tex Tubb's Taco Palace on Atwood, Kevin Tubb's Austin-style taqueria since 2006, runs tacos and burritos plus house-made limeade and horchata east side.
Signature: Austin-style tacos, House-made horchata
Order: An Austin-style taco plate with house-made horchata.
Tip: Happy hour runs Mexican beer specials; weekend dinner is the busiest, weeknight lunch the calmest.
Fuzzy's Taco Shop in Oklahoma City's Bricktown serves Tex-Mex tacos, burritos, and margaritas at approachable prices near Paycom Center and Bricktown events.
Order: Baja fish tacos; frozen margarita
Tip: Located steps from Paycom Center, it is a convenient pre-game budget meal option before Thunder games.
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Mi Tierra has run 24 hours at Market Square since the Cortez family opened it in 1941, a Tex-Mex landmark with strolling mariachis and an in-house bakery.
Order: Enchiladas with chili gravy, pan dulce from the panaderia, a margarita with the mariachis.
Tip: The dining room never closes, so a 3am plate of enchiladas after a night downtown is a San Antonio rite. Buy conchas from the front bakery counter to go.
Ray's Drive Inn on the West Side has claimed the original puffy taco since Ray Lopez opened it in 1956, home of the deep-fried puffed-masa shell.
Order: The original puffy taco with picadillo or bean and cheese.
Tip: The puffy taco is the only order that matters here. Eat it fast while the shell is still crisp and hot.
Garcia's Mexican Food has served classic Tex-Mex near Woodlawn Lake since 1962, a small family room known for breakfast tacos and carne guisada.
Order: Breakfast tacos and the carne guisada.
Tip: Cash-friendly and small, with a loyal breakfast crowd. Get the carne guisada taco on a fresh flour tortilla.
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