The Original Ninfa's Reviews

Loved that we had barely sat down and this was the first question. I honestly think it was the best margarita I've ever had, so zesty and packed a punch! Big menu, I really couldn't decide so on advice went for the fajitas with beef and chicken. They were so tasty. Large portion sizes and sadly couldn't finish it all but gave it my best! Wonderful hospitality. Very genuine. Lovely buzzy atmosphere. This restaurant was recommended to us, I don't think we would have found it or made the effort had it not been so highly recommended by our hotel bar manager but honestly so glad we did. This is the original restaurant in I believe a chain of 4.

Have heard about this restaurant since moving to Houston and finally went for lunch. Sat on the patio area which is very nice. Have plastic up with heater to take chill off and any rain off. The chips are very good as they are not greasy or overly salty. Bring out two dipping sauces as well. The menu has a very good selection of dishes and the choice was hard to make but we settled on the large chicken fajitas. This were very good as the chicken was cooked on a grill and was tender and juicy. Seasoning was excellent. Plenty of grilled onions and peppers along with guacamole, sour cream and chopped tomatoes. The corn tortillas were great as they did not fall apart as some do and were not tough or have a rough texture. Comes with two plates of choice of beans and rice. Enough for three people. Great service and wonderful atmosphere

Great spot, good vibes. Came highly recommended by locals. My server Ernesto was wonderful, as a solo traveller he was very warm and helpful with recommendations on the menu. Great vibe, great service and food was fantastic. This is my second trip to Texas and by far one of the best meals I have had . I ate the Flautas. Stunning!!! The margaritas are to die for! Great terrace, great playlist. You must come here

Just had to have some Tex-mex so went to Ninfa’s. What a treat. They had social distanced the tables and the staff was doing a great job sanitizing the tables after guess left. The food was wonderful and served by a great professional staff. Was my first visit and will go back.

Recommended by the hotel as an authentic Mexican place that originated the fajita (is that authentic?). Ordered a combo and the fajita part was just ok. Maybe if you ordered just fajitas, it would come out sizzling va just a ploy of stuff on your plate. Drinks were good but pricey. In fact, food is pricey too. We enjoyed sitting in the outdoor patio. Service is friendly and efficient. Just ok given the price and distance we traveled, not sure I’d return.

Great Bar - Excellent Bartender - Great meal and cool atmosphere another place to hit up when in Houston for sure!

Went to Mama Ninfas before a recent Astros game and had great food and service! Friends had fajitas and we had ceviche and queso flameado that were great! Took the free shuttle to and from the park and the driver was great!!

memories back to the 70’s of their amazing food were rekindled after a 40 year hiatus (moved from Houston). Husband and I had. 4 hour gap between 2 meetings in Houston and went here in a whim. It was INCREDIBLE. Mexican food is my total favorite and the original Ninfas cannot be topped. I guess it’s a good thing they are not in Brenham TX because I would be eating there every night.

Finally decided to visit the so called birth place of fajitas. Location is what you would expect for an old school TexMex place. Plenty of seats as well as parking including valet if needed. This place is large but it fills up quickly. I ordered the original combo fajitas. It came to my table in 5 minutes. I assume it’s always cooking back there because it’s so popular. Meal comes with typical fajita toppings plus rice and beans. Rice and black beans for me where just average. Pre-meal you get chips and two types of salsas one made from avocado. They were both good not the best I have ever had. The steak fajitas were on point and the chicken very good as well. The star of the fajitas is the homemade tortillas that you see being made daily at the front of the restaurant. Some of the best I have ever had. Overall fajitas were very good but In my top 3 with El Tiempo which is across the street and Pappasitos, I love that garlic butter.

Food is fabulous. Get the steak fajitas. The steak melts in your mouth. Great atmosphere and service. Margaritas are awesome.

Great food Great drinks Large portions Friendly staff Be careful not to order too much This restaurant is busy. Quite a lot of locals This is an authentic Mexican restaurant not a US or intl chain Worth a visit if you are in Houston

A local referred us to Ninfa's. It was a great experience. Order the fajitas for the table. Kids liked making their own fajitas. The bacon wrapped shrimp is awesome.

For years Navigation used to be our go to for Tex-Mex as all other Ninfa's locations closed or went south badly. Last 2 visits-Fajitas and Salsas are still excellent. But Now Chips are thick and overcooked, Flour Tortillas are dry and bland, Refries taste like cinnamon and Flan had no giggle or vanilla. Why change the basics? Service is off with weak communication, never had that before. You'll do better at any Gringos or Lupe's locations.

A lot of hype. Food not that good. Had multiple dishes, each one was under seasoned. There are a whole lot better options around Houston.

Worst ever experience at one of my favorites. We were rushed, it served chips and salsa until we asked 4 times. Those who ordered margaritas got good drink service two of us were designated drivers and ordered lemonade, very late in being delivered and we had to request refills multiple times before receding them. We ordered queso and it came quick but our food order was delivered almost immediately and still no chips and salsa… The waiter tonight was TERRIBLE! I will really have to think before coming again. $200 meals should be fun not stressful, rushed with an incompetent waiter.

We recently dined at The Original Ninfa's during our trip to Houston. We were eager to check out this restaurant since it is where the fajita originated. The restaurant was crowded, but we had a reservation and were promptly seated upon arrival. We highly recommend the Beef Tacos a La Ninfa. The portions were very generous and our meals tasted outstanding! Our waiter provided excellent service and was such a pleasure to speak with. We wish we lived closer to Houston, so we could eat here more often!

After our convention ended, a large group of us (13) decided to trek over to Ninfa's at about 8pm. We called ahead by ten minutes. On a busy Sunday night, there were amazingly able to seat us in about 15 minutes after we arrived. The server (victoria?) was very attentive and friendly. She made sure we had everything we needed. I order the steak and chicken fajitas (medium size) with homemade tortillas (SO GOOD) with a side Brisket Picadillo Stuffed Chile Relleno (AMAZING). Only thing disappointing were the charro beans, but honestly I had so much other amazing food, it didn't matter. Everyone enjoyed their meals that they ordered. Go here (maybe don't walk... take a cab/lyft).

We came to Ninfa’s for our first meal In Houston and it was amazing. The oyster appetizer was perfection. They had some of the best fajitas and tamales we have ever had. Delicious food and we will back.

This is usually not my kind of place -- too much about 'atmosphere' or 'being trendy,' but I enjoyed my meal and the experience. The food was good and the service was good. Good chips and salsa too, and prices were realistic. So I'd probably go back again next time I'm in the area.

It’s been in existence since 1973 when it first opened and a staple for the Houston area. Food was ok but I did not find it excellent. Atmosphere is pleasant. Plenty of parking.

If you’re looking for the best Tex-Mex in Houston, The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation is a must-visit. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you’re sitting down at your family’s dinner table—warm, welcoming, and filled with the aroma of sizzling fajitas and fresh tortillas. This isn’t just any Tex-Mex spot; it’s where it all began. In 1973, “Mama” Ninfa Laurenzo, a widowed mother of five, turned the tortilla factory in her small restaurant into a Houston icon. She introduced her famous “tacos al carbon,” now known as fajitas. Her handmade tortillas, perfectly grilled meats, and legendary hospitality set a standard that others have tried to replicate—but nothing beats the original. Don’t skip the margaritas! They’re well balanced, not too sweet, and pair with any dish. Whether you’re dining inside the cozy, history-filled dining room or on the lively patio, the atmosphere is just as comforting as the food. While there are other Ninfa’s locations, only this one remains true to Mama Ninfa’s original vision, as it is still dedicated to preserving the quality and authenticity that made it famous. If you want to experience the real taste of Houston’s Tex-Mex history, make sure you visit The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation.

Authentic Mexican food. The margaritas and fajitas were outstanding! Followed by dessert…everything was perfect. We had previous tried another Mexican place while in Houston and it didn’t compare to Ninfas. We highly recommend this place.

This was recommended by friends who used to live in Houston so we decided to try. Wow! Everything was off the charts delicious. From the Margaritas to the chips to the tacos to the fajitas - best I’ve ever had. The atmosphere and service was great too. Home run!!

A classic, original Houston restaurant that has stood the test of time. Should not be missed. Awesome food and great service at this jumping place. We had the appetizer of Queso Flameado, simply terrific. And then their famous Tacos Al Carbon. They originated fajitas, and these tacos are made from those ingredients. Awesome. Plus lots of different tequilas and margaritas. A good time was had by all. We will return!

We came here initially because of the shuttle to the game. We'd planned on eating but we short on time so we bought two agua frescas. For anybody reading this because of the shuttle, two things. The first is that nobody actually asked to see the receipt so we really could've just taken the shuttle for free. The second thing is that once you smell the food you're gonna decide to eat there after the game anyway! It was very packed when we went before the game but they gave us a seat immediately when we got back. The service was good and they kept the water coming (we had to walk several blocks and it was 98 degrees at 9 pm). I also liked that people other than our waiter would come by and see we needed something and would help us. My wife got chicken fajitas and I got the suizas (swiss style enchiladas). I typically don't get chicken because it's just chicken and definitely not shredded but I figured I'd live a little bit and the waiter recommended it. Normally I'd be worried that our food came out so fast but it was hot and fresh, definitely not microwaved or anything. I'd say the thing that stuck about my dish and my wife's dish was that they were both really really fresh and my wife's chicken you could tell had been cooked over some type of wood fire. She also said it was better the day after. The sour cream on my suizas was great too. I almost forgot to mention that the salsa verde that come with the chips they brought out was good too. I'd say that it was like a regular Mexican restaurant but the ingredients were really good but you also pay a premium for it. I'm also going to point out that the beans and rice were just beans and rice. I had in my head they would've doctored them up but that's never been the star of the show at a Mexican spot for me anyway. I would love to go to this place again but I also don't know if and when I'd be back in Houston. When I do, I definitely wouldn't be opposed to some beef fajitas or carnitas.

Husband and I came to watch an Astros game at Minute Maid Stadium and decided to eat at Ninfa’s on Navigation St. Had the beef Tacos Al Carbon and they were amazing! The charro beans, guacamole and verde salsa was very, very good! Just wish we didn’t live 400 miles away! Try it! You will not be dissapointed!

I was really impressed with this food! Coming from South West Texas, I've been craving some good Mexican food and haven't really found anything I love...until tonight.

Seen this place on the Nightly news. Lester Holt bragged on this place said it was birth place of the Fajita. My wife is from this area and said it was amazing. On our way to San Antonio we had to stop. Best Fajita I have ever had period. All was house made including tortillas.

My friend and I came in on Saturday for lunch. We are both Houstonians and had never eaten at Ninfas before. There is a parking lot exclusively for guests which I appreciated as parking in that side of town can be difficult to find . Upon waking in, the hostess asked if we could sit outside as the outside severs didn’t have any tables. My friend and I checked it out but it was too hot and humid so we said we preferred to eat inside. We were seated near the hostess stand, and no other customers were around. Table was clean but there were many flies. Our server was very nice and gave us a little bit of history about the restaurant and the food. She recommended the drink Dolores de Colores and it was amazing. Also tried the Guava Mimosa and it was just ok. The chips and salsa were tasty, I especially liked the red salsa the best. I ordered 2 flour tacos , one beef and one chicken with refried beans and rice.( I asked for the beef to be well done) The food came out so quickly- like less than 7 minutes quickly! I was surprised as everything is supposed to be cooked fresh and made to order. I had asked for the beef to be cooked well done and it was not. It was very pink and chewy and honestly had no flavor. The chicken was really good- had a nice smokey flavor . ( tasted like turkey from Rudys BBQ ) Beans and rice left much to be desired for, but the queso was a big hit. My server was accommodating and replaced the beef taco with a chicken taco. The tortillas were just ok- I have definitely eaten better tortillas in other restaurants in Houston. I’m wondering if I visited them on an off day. Highly recommend the hot chocolate and 3 leches cake. Very authentic. Overall, I would go back and would take in consideration additional server recommendations. Mostly coming back for the desserts and the drinks. PS- it began to downpour about 15 minutes into our lunch and it didn’t stop even after we had finished eating. Glad we didn’t sit outside!

Driver was hyping this place up big-time on the way here, and for good reason. Everything here was top-notch, even if somewhat expensive. Especially the fajita burger, an absolute banger that one is. Even the free chips and sauce are incredible, and the service is great - zero complaints whatsoever.

It was so Loud!!! We were a couple that was put in the middle isle between two parties!!! We could not hear our waiter and we could not hear our own conversation!!! The chicken fajitas were ok- chicken was good but sides were nothing special!!!

The original Ninfa's is on several top 10 lists for best fajitas in Houston. I checked because my friend was craving fajitas for her birthday lunch. I'd never been to the original Ninfa's so was looking forward to it. One of my seafood enchiladas was room temperature and one was lukewarm. IMHO, reheating seafood usually makes it overcooked so vs cold, overcooked is worse. On my friend's sizzling fajita platter, she had chicken and onions and a single slice of red pepper. After we left, my friend & I agreed we'd never seen a fajita platter without grilled peppers. My friend & I were both happy with the servers. I don't plan a return visit, based on the food.

Good meal; however, the queso changed and NOT for the better. The management continues to make menu changes that are not for the better. Chips still are too thick.

Having lived in Houston years ago it was fun to see my first intro to Tex Mex was still around and still very tasty. Not a great part of town- FYI Always consistent with friendly greeting and were were seated right away. Tables are small and get crowded quickly as plates are LARGE. If you like guacamole, get an order to eat with your chips and salsa. Super yummy. The Mama Ninfas tacos with steak are TO DIE FOR tender. Super messy, but it's mexican food and you know that is possible. Had the del mar enchilada...small considering this is Texas..but tasty. Our son stuck with nachos. Also small portion considering it's Texas where everything is huge. Everything tasted delish. Server was kind, but not the most attentive. Had to search and search for her to get refills on drinks and a couple of other items. The bill was a surprise as: 2 tacos, 2 enchiladas and nachos plus the guacamole... It was almost $90 plus tip. I remember my entire family of 4 getting out of there for less than $60 years ago...so definitely inflated on the costs. Food good...but I'll bet there are some newer hole in the wall spots that you might get better value. Glad we went. Probably not going back anytime soon.

The service by far is excellent and the food even better! Followed by the drinks this place has great Mexican cuisine and an excellent atmosphere! Dine here during a Houston Astro’s game and get a free shuttle to and from the game!

If you are looking for real Tex-Mex, here it is. I used to go to Ninfa's when I lived in Houston decades ago and I was worried it wouldn't live up to my memory of it, but it was better than I remembered. My family argued over the green and red salsas, but they were both some of the best salsas we've eaten. 4 of us polished off two trays of chips just so we could eat more salsa. We started with Mushroom Quesadillas - normally quesadillas are mostly cheese with a few mushrooms sprinkled in, but these were bursting with mushrooms. All the tortillas were handmade and super fresh. We had steak fajitas, seafood enchiladas with cilantro crema, redfish tacos, and tamales. They are known for their steak fajitas, and we were not disappointed. In fact, all of the food was perfectly seasoned - the flavors of the proteins stood out but were not overpowered by the seasoning. However - I did find the margarita overpowering - really strong - but I am a lightweight so may not be the best judge.

This is NOT your chain Ninfas. This is the original Location where Mama Ninfas honed her recipes to raise her kids The menu is huge and items are much better than most location. Everything was good and portions large. Was a great way to celebrate a special occasion. Note this is authentic not fancy. Sometimes the wait can be long

This place is very busy and if you are a big group, it is recommended to make a reservation. You get chips and salsa whilst you are ordering your drinks. If you ask for hot salsa, you get the real hot one. The margaritas are excellent. The shrimps and fajitas ate amazing. The service is quick and the portions are big. The manager himself comes to check on you, to make sure everything is ok. If you love Mexican food this is really a place not to miss.

Avocado cream sauce was great. The guacamole was good, not the top 3 I’ve had. Tamales were a good surprise. The service was 5 star and the current owner is friendly and helpful. Definitely a spot to check out.

Can’t beat the Mexican food and atmosphere of the original Ninfa’s. Everyone loved their meals and the service was great. Best enchiladas!

We came as a group of work colleagues and, honestly, I really loved it. The best "cochinita pibil" outside of Mexico I've ever eaten. One of my colleagues also tries the "carnita" and really liked it. The tacos are also great, but I'd suggest to go for the "platos fuertes" section.

We tried this place again abs it was even better than last time. We had the queso which was greet as always and a watermelon mojito and some other specialty drink and both were excellent. My wife had the chicken tacos and the chicken was mesquite grilled to perfection. Really some of the best chicken I have ever eaten. I had the Henry combo which was also great. Meal came almost too quickly. I think we were done and out the doot in under an hour. Service was timely. Cost was about 80 bucks pre tip. Highly recommend

ok - This place is always packed for lunch but it is totally worth it. It is tex-mex to the core. A+ The first time I ate here I thought this was a really sketchy part of town but I have grown to love the atmosphere.

I've been to the other Ninfa's locations but can't remember visiting the Original. There was 7 of us and we visited Saturday night. About a 45 minute wait so we decided to wait at the bar ordering chips and Salsa and Queso with the House Margarita. The appetizers were excellent and we enjoyed our Ninfaritas. When you go to the birthplace of fajitas what else are you going to order? We ordered the Steak fajitas-large and medium. Some wanted shrimp so we also ordered the Shrimp Tampico. This ended up being the perfect amount for our party. Steak and shrimp were cooked to perfection. All of the sides (rice, beans, Guacamole, pico, etc.) were also tasty. Our server Daisy took care of us and was awesome! The Original is the best!

I was there with couple of colleagues during my stay in Houston and it was great. The place was recommended to us by a local and we were not disappointed- the food was great, the service was great and the atmosphere was great. A hidden gem...

It has a reputation for introducing the Fajitas to Houston. According to Lonely Planet their holly trinity is Fajitas, Tamales and Diablo Shrimps. Since I am very familiar with the first two dishes, I opted for the Diablo Shrimps. They have to options on the menu; One is tacos and the other one is an entrée. I didn't know that until the waiter asked me to specify what I wanted. I realized that after I left and checked the on-line menu. It turned out I chose the first and cheaper option which I did not regret at all as it was very filling. It surprissed me that there is nothing on Diablo Shrimps on Wikipedia, which seems to be a Tex-Mex specialty from the Houston Area. They are cheese filled and bacon wrapped. It was just an explosion of flavours in my mouth. Everything was very Tex-Mex or Mexican in this restaurant except for the music which was Caribbean. Maybe local customers feel more at ease with Salsa and Merengue. Moreover the staff is fully bilingual as I expected.

I looked this restaurant up via a google search of “Houston’s best Mexican restaurant”. This was cited as a must go to attraction, so I was excited because more or less I came to Houston for amazing food that I can’t cook at home. This was far from it. In fact, possibly the worst Mexican food I have ever had. Pros 1- your restrooms are clean. I’ll judge an establishment by how clean the restrooms are presented. If the restrooms aren’t clean, why should your kitchen be any different? So kudos Cons- There’s so many of them. 1- You guys really served us cold food. To me, that screams amateur/ newbies in your kitchen. The first thing that caught my eye were the teeny boppers in your kitchen in your window. This might be a little judgy, but I don’t expect amazing food when I see such a young kitchen crew. Unfortunately, the signs of a young kitchen staff leading to bad food were pretty spot on. Cause it only got worse. 2- I ordered carne asada Fajitas. Probably one of the most simple dishes you could possibly make in the kitchen. Truly the only hard part to carne asada is the marinade portion, and then bam, you just grill the sucker. What I got though was absolutely the worst carne asada I have ever eaten. No seasoning like at all. Where was the salt? Possibly the cheapest seasoning you could possibly use is missing. Wtf. Did you guys even taste the food while you were cooking it? That’s like cooking 101 homies. On top of that you didn’t grill it thoroughly. The fat on the steak was not rendered completely. In other words, chewy af. Also, the entirety of the steak was drenched in grease. How and why is that possible? Are you guys just drenching your meats in cooking oil at the time of grilling? If I had paid 10-15 bucks for fajitas, I would give some of these mistakes a pass. But you guys literally charged me close to 40 bucks for something that has no business being served like at all. Period. 2- Mole Enchilada- Mole sauce is absolutely one of the hardest things to make in the Mexican culinary world, so I was excited. The sauce was again decent, but Jesus Christ wtf was the rest of the dish? You literally had unseasoned shredded chicken in these enchiladas. Bland. Bland. Bland. No salt. No pepper. No anything. You guys literally just shredded chicken and called it good. Shame on you guys. And some of it was still red and undercooked. You will kill somebody by serving undercooked chicken. It’s probably why I’m still sitting on the stool at this very moment. I’m surprised you haven’t had more food violations tbh. Please address this immediately because you will literally hurt people with your cooking. 3- the rice had me like confused. This is the most plain rice I have ever had in my life. You guys did nothing to transform the rice. Other than add potato and some veggies to it. And you guys are proud to serve this in a restaurant with the average price between 15-40 dollars? 4- refried beans- just like the rice- there is no transformation to ingredients. These are refrained beans you could open from a can from like Sams or Costcos. This is just sad and disappointing. I could have gone to Taco Bell and gotten something relatively better. Come on guys. 5- let’s talk about the grilled onions. Possibly one of the simplest things to grill and master, gets completely screwed. First of all, I don’t want cooked onions with uncooked onions. This is a pretty reasonable expectation, and very easy to catch when you’re cooking. How do you mess that up? 6- And the prices. I completely got screwed. Overall- 0/10. This experience will forever haunt me. I will never look at Mexican food the same. You truly have a high probability of getting sick eating the food here. The chefs are untrained. I cannot recommend this place to anybody with the fear of getting somebody sick. If you’re the owner reading this review, if cooking and restaurant biz isn’t your passion, just call it good. Just cause it might be a family business, does not mean you yourself have to follow in it’s footsteps if it’s not your calling.

Went with the family and the food and service were top notch. There were no kids menu's but they enjoyed the food of the regular menu.

The staff was friendly and the service was good. I’m not 100% sure but I think they make their own tortillas fresh as needed, they tasted like it anyway. I had he Chile Rellanos (not fried but baked/grilled unlike other Mexican restaurants) and my friend had the Carnitas. Both were very good and fresh made to order. Mine was stuffed with beef fajita meat and it was some of the best I’ve ever had! The Salsa was good both the green and roasted, the chips were crispy. The restaurant was busy on a Sunday afternoon but we were still seated in minutes!

Disappointed. Food was pretty good but service was non-existent. Our server, Manuel, never delivered our margaritas, never checked on us, never refilled our water. He took our order and delivered the check... And even that we had to ask for. Someone else brought the food. Restrooms cramped but clean.

As I said, $38 for steak fajitas that are about half as good as you find at your usual Chilis. The beef quality was very good, but there were no peppers of any kind and the homemade tortillas appeared to have been from another era, barely edible. Others in my party were very unimpressed as well, although not as much as I. One person had some kind of fajita hamburger thing that looked and was reported to be good. This was a company dinner, so the laughable prices didn't affect me personally, but, at some point, I just feel stupid for spending so much for so little.

Well, some out-of-town friends were in town for the rodeo, and I told them they couldn't head back home without lunch at the original Ninfa's first. We have been there many times over the years, but it's been a few since we moved further out in to the burbs. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed. Not only was the cost:food ratio way off, but it just wasn't very good anymore. The salsa was sour and watery, the mushroom quesadillas ($17 for two single quesadillas) lacked flavor, and even the chips were bland without any salt on the table to give them a much needed boost. I hated that the only taste of Mexican food my friends had turned out to be a disappointment. Ever after the chain sold off the other locations, this one maintained its original recipes, but it seems they have caved here as well now.

In the realm of Tex-Mex/Mexican cuisine the Original Ninfa's on Navigation is truly a gem. From high quality food, to delicious margaritas, this restaurant not only offers the usual suspects one would expect to find on a Tex-Mex/Mexican restaurant's menu, but there are also some specialty ingredients that are not too common among such restaurants (i.e. rabbit, quail, etc.).

We went to this Mexican restaurant as a suggestion of hotel staff and we loved it! From the homemade tortillas to the awesome margaritas, it was perfection! The pics don’t do it justice! A must go-to in the Houston Hobby airport area! We will lol be back!

As a large party, we trooped out to Ninfa’s together and were treated to a wonderful experience of authentic Mexican flavours tonight. Our waiter was very helpful in guiding us to make excellent selections — we were all very happy with our meal. Many of us tried out different enchiladas, and my husband and I shared a mouthwatering serving of Mexican chocolate cake a la mode to finish. Welcoming ambiance and satisfying portions.

The best steak fajitas! If you are in Houston you do not want to miss eating here. This is the best steak fajitas I have ever eaten. The large will feed two adults.

Joined a friend here for dinner one night and loved the food, drinks, and atmosphere. Can't wait to go back on my next trip to Houston!

I was told by many people to hit this place for authentic Tex-Mex. We arrived at this very crowded place with high expectations. We were let down. The food is bland and over-priced. People seem to want to come to this place because it’s the place to be, not for decent food. The fajitas I got were bland, boring, and $27. Chili’s does a better job. Don’t buy into the hype, go elsewhere.

Went for dinner here after hearing good thing about it online, and they’re all true. From the chips and Guacamole at the start, the Chicken and Steak fajitas were just incredible. I was stuffed after the first 2 but there was no way i was leaving them. They were just too good. The food was out within 5 minutes, the staff were friendly and helpful when choosing what to have. I’ve eaten a lot of Burritos, Tacos and other Mexican food. But this was easily the most memorable

This was my first visit to Ninfa's but not the last. We ordered the Mixta Ninfa and Watermelon Aguas Frescas. The complimentary chips were crispy, crunchy, and tasty. The red salsa had a hint of heat and the green salsa was creamy & good. The beef & chicken fajita meats were juicy, tender, and delicious. The jumbo shrimp were huge, grilled to perfection, and tasty. The tortillas were actually the best I've ever had anywhere in my life; amazing! The guacamole was cool, creamy, and delicious. The refried beans were smooth and delicious. The aguas frescas was just about perfect with a great watermelon flavor. The service was fast, friendly, and attentive. The prices are reasonable for the portion sizes and quality. They have plenty of indoor seating and off street parking. If you want delicious, authentic Mexican food, great service, and a relaxing atmosphere this is the place to go.

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation is one of the Mexican restaurants in Houston that you must not miss. It’s where locals eat. The slogan is: “The best Mexican food in Texas since Texas was in Mexico”. However, beef fajitas are outstanding. This time I selected Diablo Tacos (Jumbo Gulf Shrimp wrapped in Applewood-Smoked Bacon). To die for… Tres Leches was rounding up the excellent food experience.

There is always a crowd waiting to be seated so make reservation (open table) and be seated with no waiting. I have tried Mexican food all over and Ninfa’s is best. Cold Shiner Bach’s and killer margaritas compliment the food!! Sometimes it can get loud but, it’s worth it for the food!! Wait staff are fast and professional! Enjoy!!!

I had Salmon tacos that were excellent. They only give two tortillas by default but they were quick to bring more when asked.

Superb beef fajitas and cheese enchilada with beef chili gravy. I think it's impossible to have a bad meal here. Waitress was very accommodating on making sure my special request were honored. My sister's response was probably the best beef fajitas she ever had.

I realize Ninfa’s is a Houston institution, and at the risk of contradicting those who believe it is the Mecca of Mexican food, I really was not that impressed. I agree the menu offers many dishes that are not found on most restaurants’s menus, and I respect that. I can’t speak on those. However, for the traditional stand-bys, like fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas, these were oily, and dripping grease. Alia Seltzer to the rescue! Service was good. Salsas were excellent. Chips and tortillas fresh and plentiful.. But lots of well respected Mexican restaurants have those.

Ninfa's has been a part of the Houston restaurant landscape for many years. The family has gone on to open numerous other fine restaurants in the Houston area. Unfortunately the ownership of Ninfa's has changed and so has the qualtiy of food and service. We recently met friends for dinner and found the food and service to be good, but not up to the hype. My dish lacked flavor and was not hot. I would return but because it is historic and an institution.

Great experience Amazing environment with excellent service and food. My experience was great with this restaurant. The service was very attentive! I had quail, onions and green peppers. Most amazing meal I have had in a long time. Highly recommend you check this out

I had the chicken taco al carbon with rice and charra beans. Husband had the Henry plate. It was all fabulous. Pitcher of Ninfaritas was wonderful too. We had sopapillas for dessert and they are usually warm when brought to the table...today they were cold but still tasty. Yes, Ninfa's is a little pricey but for an especially great meal...it's worth it.

We were in Houston for two nights, a week apart, and read great reviews about this restaurant so we got an Uber from the airport area. All of our food was outstanding and my hibiscus margarita was beautiful and delicious! Our first dinner there was so great we had to go back the following week during our layover again and it still was amazing food and service!

Busy, vibrant restaurant! Great service and food...ordered Shrimp Diablo and Chicken Fajitas...food was so flavorful and spicy! Glad we stopped here!

We stopped at a restaurant across the street and changed our mind and decided to dine in at Ninfa’s. Best decision we made during our visit! The service was great, but the food....phenomenal! The Cucumber Margarita might just be the best drink I’ve ever had. There were 6 of us and we ordered so much and Nothing disappointed! Red fish, Tacos, Enchiladas, pickled carrots, and the chili toreadors were our high lights! We are visiting from Dover DE...and we will make it a point to come here or try UPtown our next visit! Thank you thank you thank you!!! In another note, there was a beautiful photo of the couple (I assume is Ninfa and her husband) on the wall. I wish I took a photo of it. We were there for my brother and sister in laws anniversary dinner and it was quite romantic photo!

I've been to Houston many times. I've heard of Ninfas, but always avoided it because I thought it was a tourist trap. However, my wife wanted to go, so we went. We were seated quickly and our waitress was very good. Our appetizer was ceviche. It was decent but I have had better. For entrees I had the shrimp diablo and my wife had fajitas. These were VERY good. Desert and drinks were good as well. My decision to avoid Ninfas as a tourist trap was wrong. We will be back.

No wait. Walked right in and was seated. Excellent “Uptown Margarita”. They were out of Beef tamales so I had pork tamales. Excellent service. Great atmosphere.

We enjoyed lunch with our son who lives in Houston and had eaten here before. The restaurant is very Mexican ish decorated. Lots of very Mexican food choices. The Ninfarita was only average.

We really enjoyed our meal here at Ninfa's. The food was delicious! The meat was very flavorful and the flour tortillas were so yummy. Service was very good and atmosphere enjoyable. Would highly recommend.

I ordered a pork dish-- there was enough food in my take home for the next two days. This restaurant is well known and the premium price reflects that.

This place is great! The food is so delicious especially the fajitas. The tortillas are handmade - you watch the girls making them as you walk in, and just flat out good. Solid food, drinks and service. Seriously some of the best Tex-Mex I’ve had.

I ordered a beef fajita for one person The meet did not have any flavor at all The meat was not of very good quality when k would bite into it it felt like a rubber band. The flour tortillas were very hard. Not a good experience too much money I paid $45 dlls for one person. Expensive and the quality of the food is not good.

This place has rave reviews and seems to be a must-visit in Houston... however, I can't say I was blown away and here's why I gave it two stars. The restaurant is cute, has lots of character and indoor and outdoor seating. Service was fantastic. Prices are reasonable. However, I do think the food was a little lacking. The guac was, to be honest, very bland. Could have used more salt, more lemon, more cilantro etc. I got the chicken tamales for my main which came with pesto sauce. The pesto sauce was great, but I was not a fan of the tamales. A mushy mess with no flavour. The refried beans were also pretty bland. I'm a sucker for sangria so got their red wine version... again, very mediocre. Now it could be just the stuff I ordered, so I wouldn't mind going back to try their fajitas (which did look really good) or enchiladas. Definitely not getting the tamales or sangria again. But I can't say this experience left me feeling like there's something about this establishment that makes it stand out from other Mexican eatery's.

“This was our second time here and the food was really good. Meeting up with four friends we had a few different dishes but my beef fajitas were perfection! All washed down with the frozen margaritas, book us in again. Friendly service, good value and most importantly delicious”.

The service if top notch. Our server kept our drinks filled and food was brought out promptly. I ordered the medium steak fajita. I can't imagine what a large would look like because the medium was hiluge. The steak was well cooked and tasted great. A historical restaurant that lives up to the hype.

Best steak fajitas I have ever eaten. I am normally one that orders chicken and decided on mixed at the last minute. Next time here I will get just steak. Wonderful and very authentic. Service was also very attentive and friendly.

Came here with some vendors for dinner after a meeting. Drinks were good. Got queso and chips and salsa. Not sure what the salsa was but it was green and it was super tasty. Then we all shared the fajita platter which was good. Big cuts of meat both chicken and steak. Dessert was good as well!

Had a date night dinner here, what an amazing meal! The carnitas were the best I've ever had. Meal was cheap, service quick, and people friendly. Carnitas were $16, and Suizas was $13.

Really, a must visit. "Inventor" of the fajita. They were perfect. Best, most flavorful fajitas ever. Had some pibil. Tangy, savory, great. One cheese enchilada was yummy. Agua fresca: watermelon...Fantastic. Chips and salsa and queso. All on point. The tamale was ok. Definitely pricey, though. If you don't care about Mexican food, or honestly prefer your whole-in-the-wall local joint, maybe pass. Because the prices here may not convince you of its excellence. Service was ok to borderline meh.

First time at the iconic Houston restaurant. I've seen this place on tv so many times, I finally decided to see if it was worth the hype. OMG! Why did I wait so long. Everything from service, drinks and food was superb. The only regret is that I didn't get dessert but the portions were so huge I literally had no room in my belly. Definitely will be back!

The chips and quest were the only redeeming part of this place. I fell like a fool for not only ordering that and leaving. The food was below average and highly overpriced. They also did not listen when we told them about an avocado allergy and served us Quac anyways. It was $100 for a family of four and for that price you could go almost anywhere but here, which I strongly advise you to do.

When you go here, you know what you’re getting... consistent food, service & drinks. Always a solid Houston place to visit.

I grew up in Southern California so I appreciate really great Mexican food and this is it!! The service was outstanding too. We ordered a number of things and all were excellent. Make sure you go to the original Ninfa's on Navigation and not the other locations.

Great team dinner at Ninfa's. For a Tuesday night, the place was bustling. Don't miss the margarita's and the chips were addictive. I was a bit disappointed in my taco. The chicken was a little dry, but otherwise I would give it another try.

Ninfa’s food is worth 5 stars. I ordered Beef Fajitas which were very good. The portion size was quite large, with enough meat and veggies for a husband and wife to share coupled with an ample quantity of guacamole, sour cream and pico di gallo. The companion plate of beans and rice were excellent, but largely unexplored due to large portions elsewhere. Out of curiosity, I ordered Cheese Chili Rejeno, my standard for guaging Mex/Tex-Mex establishments. My son ordered Enchilados al Carbon, which were massive and well-prepared. The one disappointment was the Chili Rejeno—though large and perfectly-cooked, the pablano pepper was bland, with none of the smoky flavor one finds in a great pablano that has been charred and sweated. I give Ninfa’s only 4 stars, in part due to the inauthentic pablano, but mostly due to high prices. While much lower than the nearby rip-off Papacitos, $80 for lunch for 2 people seems rather excessive.

Went to the original Ninfa's for margarita and fajitas. They have done a good job of updating the original building and the food is still amazing.

I came here because I learned this chain introduced the fajita to the USA. Huge disappointment. They put the rice on the sizzling fajita plate, which burnt the rice. They also do not give enough topping, which are also burning on the plate. The fajita steak was good.

The hostess quoted us a 2 hour wait so we headed to the bar to drink our wait away. The bar was 4 deep to get a drink. Thankfully for whatever reason a waiter approached us and asked us if we needed drinks. We said yes and he said follow him. He sat us at a small table and said we could order food and drinks. Score! The fajitas are all your hopes and dreams are made of, so tender and delicious!

I know you’ve already read rave reviews on Ninfas fajitas, but there’s truly nothing quite like them. They are incredible! Service was fast, friendly, and an overall great experience for our whole family.

First time here, we saw on TV that this was the birthplace of the fajita, so of course we had to check it out!!! The chips and salsa was fantastic!!! The strawberry margarita was super strong on the alcohol content (didn't taste very good... I think it was made by a person that didn't know what they were doing, since I have seen pictures posted, and my margarita came in a regular drinking glass, and they didn't even ad salt around the rim!!!), but that was the ONLY complaint I have. My daughter got the fish tacos, and said they were the BEST fish tacos she has ever ate!! My chicken fajitas were really good, but sadly not the best I ever had. The service was great. The restaurant is really pricey!!!!

I have always liked the food here & have been going there since 1978. The quality has always been good but you will pay Pappasito's-realm prices. For us it was a central location for my Houston spread out family to meet. The freeway exits & stuff kept us driving around a bit to find Navigation, but we do that gong a lot of places- probably it's just us as we don't get inside of the loop much. lol

Arrived in Houston for a late lunch 3pm. Had the place nearly to ourselves since we were between lunch and dinner. Had a couple of Modello’s and a Carnita with a $37 price including tip and tax. Maybe it’s my conservative Midwest sensibility, but I’d expect this type of meal more in the $25-$27 range. Maybe food prices in Houston are high compared to other parts of the country. Other than price, I have no complaints about this place.

Just the ambience is great at this place; you can see the (original) authenticity of the location, how it started. The food and service is really good. Perhaps a bit loud, but people are having a good time. Tables a bit close to each other, but many want to enjoy it. Definitely going back.

My favorite cuisine is Mexican. This restaurant has a great atmosphere and a wide variety of menu choices--food and drinks. The serving sizes are very big and they have great service. Even with the pandemic, everyone wore masks and the outside patio was kept warm. Everyone was spaced out. Great dining experience.

Great Food! I’ve been wanting to go to the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation forever....Well last week we went, I had the Enchiladas Al Carbon — your Choice of Chicken or Beef Fajitas with Cheddar Cheese and Beef Gravy. I had the beef fajitas, and it was AWESOME!! My hubby had the Cabrito (on a special daily menu). Hot corn and flour tortillas were outstanding!! Red and green sauce served with chips! Go check it out!!

Went here on Memorial Day 2023 at 12:30pm. Had about a 10 minuet wait before being seated. Once seated it took 15 minuets before we had to flag down a waiter to take our drink order. The place is a bit pricey for the food in my opinion. We're from San Antonio so we have our standard on TexMex cuisine. I recommend the place, just not on a holiday or maybe rush hour. They do offer a free shuttle service to the Astros games as long you are a paying customer. The shuttle is a 6.5 minuet drive to the stadium. This was our primary reason for being here. WIll definitely be back again to utilize this service.

We dropped in for lunch with 30 of our fellow residents from a Del Webb community 25 miles north following a Houston Ship Channel Tour. We were seated immediately and servers were right there with menus, water, and drink requests. Here’s a SHOUT OUT FOR MIGUEL. It was a busy Thursday lunch hour and he made the two of us like his only responsibilities. He executed fussy customized drink orders immediately and guided us through “what’s better” choices on the vast menu. Then, WOW, we were seated last and served first. Miguel is connected! High praise and a generous tip. And, BTW, excellent Del Mar Enchiladas for my bride and over the top lamb shank and garbanzo bean and lamb soup for me. And Kudos to the unseen bartender for making our custom cocktails exactly as requested. Again, Miquel has credit for an assist on this. Finally, great news Houston: A second location is opening this month on Post Oak, a reasonable commute for us folks in The Woodlands. There’s Tex-Mex, and there’s NINFA’S.

This is a great Houston landmark with delicious food and great prices in Houston’s East End. The beloved late “Mama Ninfa Laurenzo created tacos al carbon, which the whole world would eventually come to know as fajitas, the bedrock of Tex-Mex cuisine.” It’s authentically decorated with a warm atmosphere. Enjoyed a delicious meal with friendly staff. Free parking.

I will be visiting Ninfa's on Navigation again. The food and service is wonderful. My shrimp tampico was served with rice that had bits of potatoes mixed through. I really enjoyed this style of rice. The shrimp was high quality and well prepared. I was told Ninfa's on Navigation is a Houston institution and I can taste why!

I had dinner here with my wife and friends while we were in Houston last month. This is the place for original Tex Mex food, and my wife tells me that this is where fajitas were practically invented (I'm too lazy to Wiki that, so whatever). The place is warm and invited, as were the staff. We were about 8-9 people so had a long table and ordered lots of margaritas and queso dip to start off (if you don't order the queso, you're doing yourself a disservice). Everyone enjoyed their main dishes too, and I ordered the "one beef taco a la ninfa" and that was plenty since it's about 8oz of meat with flour tortillas and all the trimmings. So good! If you want the best Tex Mex, seek out Ninfa's and you'll have the best.

I came expecting unbelievable Mexican food but was very disappointed. I ordered carnitas enchiladas. The chips and salsa they bring out at the start are mediocre. The food itself was average tasting at best. It lacked flavor and was very bland. Like something you would find at a cafeteria. It certainly did not live up to the hype. Additionally, there was a total price mismatch. It was very overpriced for the quality you get. I won't be coming back. I would consider this place a tourist trap.

This was my first experience here even though I have heard it advertised and talked about for years. There was sufficient parking. The front was marked for valet but that did not seem offered when I was there as if restricted due to the coronavirus. This visit was during a coronavirus restriction and they did very well in separating tables and putting up screens between some tables. I did not see any employees without a mask. The silverware was real, not plastic, and brought out rolled in linen napkins instead of paper or saran wrap like some other restaurants. I am satisfied and actually prefer inside the napkin. We ordered Queso Flameado which they put into 4 tortillas right by our table. Then we shared the Parilla Mixta. It says it is for 2 people, but there were 3 of us, and we still took home enough for at least a meal for 1 person. So a family of 4 could order it and have enough food for everybody. In fact, there were 4 of the Tampico shrimp, 4 carnitas, 4 ribs, and about 6 tortillas for the fajitas. Everything was hot, fresh, and delicious. The service in timeliness, frequency of visiting, politeness, and ordering assistance was great. I did not have to wait too long for them to take my order, bring the food, or bring the check. They came several times to replace drinks, check on us, and take away spare plates, such as the one with the appetizer and the dinner plates before they brought out the dessert. The service was not perfect as at one time i had to flag somebody down to get my water refilled and later for the to-go containers. The prices for several things, especially the fajitas seemed high compared to the competition, but the Parilla Mixta that comes with fajitas was a very good deal. I only saw one meatless offering, Portobello Fajitas, and there were several options like pickled carrots and what they call "Berry" - tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and mushrooms.

Went there during a very long flight delay for a late lunch. Wow. It definitely lives up to its reputation. We have a pitcher of Margaritas that was not too sweet and very refreshing. Split enchiladas mole and beef/chicken fajitas. Really excellent smoky flavors on the meets. Toppings were great. Meat was juicy but not greasy. Highly recommend

Tough place to beat. Had some of the best Fajitas or skirt steak I have had in 30 years or so. Simply great flavor. Had a cheese enchilada that was very good. Guac on point and very tasty seasoning. Fresh tortillas. Great refried beans. Large portions for the price. Very attentive service. Parking packed at early lunch but plenty of parking on street around them. Just north of downtown with revitalized streets around them. Beef Taco was huge with great flavor and large portion of ground beef. Freshly fried and delicious. This place has not lost a step in 50 years and just keeps serving great food. A true landmark for Houston.

Do not spend your money here. I had the worst food ever. Very costly for crappy food. I was very very dissatisfied. The drinks were expensive and I never got a buzz. I asked just for one tortilla and he charged be for an order of three. Like they couldn’t give me the One tortilla on the house. By the way the we’re thick under cooked. The deserts were great. They must have bought them from a Outside vendor cause they did not make it based on the crap food our table of 6 had. We all were disappointed. The waiter kept getting lost. We had to keep asking other waiters to ge5our waiter. Ughhhh. People go there for the name. Or they don’t know what real Mexican food is. Never ever will I spend another dollar here!, the tacos trucks cook better food and reasonable prices.

Gentrification has really hit the East Downtown. This is not the 4th and Navigation area of the past. That said, Ninfa's still holds up as an institution in Houston. Our table got separate chicken and beef fajitas, charro and refried beans,

This review is for the uptown restaurant. We had dinner here in a private room for about 30 guests, so the service was a little haphazard. For example, I never received the ice tea I ordered. The appetizer plate was at best average. The main dish, in my case fish on the "half shell", was really quite good. It came with crispy fried potatoes with their skins. Desert, a deep fried dough, was tasty, if a little on the greasy side.

Great Bar - Excellent Bartender - Great meal and cool atmosphere another place to hit up when in Houston for sure! Can’t wait to go back

We always loving visiting. The food and service never disappoints. Nothing was different on our most recent visit. Despite arriving to a super packed restaurant having a two hour wait, our reservation was honored and we were sat in a timely manner. We always highly recommend to friends and family alike.

We had a cousin and her husband visiting Houston from Canada for the first time. A Houston friend suggested the Original Ninfa's on Navigation so that is where we took them. The restaurant seated us in a table where it was easy to visit and not be constantly interrupted by people coming and going. It was a great visit and the food was awesome! My wife and I love fish tacos and the ones at Ninfa's are wonderful! Our Canadian relatives said they don't get Mexican food as good as what they had today! My wife and I live in a small town about an hour SW of downtown Houston. We certainly will be back!

I had a friend suggest Ninfa's and man am I glad he did. I got there around 9:15pm on a Wednesday night and they were fairly busy. I sat at the bar and the bartender greeted me promptly and took my drink order. Another gentleman brought over a basket of chips and salsa right away. The salsas were great and full of flavor. I asked the waiter several questions concerning the menu and he was more than helpful with answering my questions. I finally decided on the combination fajitas and boy am I glad I did. They were flavorful and sizzling. Overall, dinner and the service were impeccable and this will now become a MUST when I'm in Houston !!!

I had the carnitas enchiladas and loved my meal! We had a group of 20 and the service was very good. Great place to go after your Port of Houston Boat Tour.

Four of us friends went to the original Ninfa’s in January 2020. There is free car parking round the back. Service was friendly, with lots of menu choices (and lots of tequilas). The food was typically Tex Mex - nice, but I felt we’d had it many times before. There is some interesting internal art to look at after dinner.

Average food with high prices. There are many restaurants around the Houston area that are much better. Not worth the high price.

Valet lost our keys and ghosted us on paying for the replacement fab which was $400. Didn’t honor their word. Don’t Valet!

A friend from Houston recommended we visit this restaurant during our weekend trip. This was hands down the best meal we had during our time in Houston! The staff were very attentive and there is a fun vibe in the restaurant. We ordered chicken fajitas and fish tacos which was so yummy - the portions are big. The Watermelon Margarita was the best I’ve ever had! Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are visiting Houston!

“I had the ceviche and a seafood platter, and both dishes were exceptional. The ceviche was incredibly fresh, with the delicate shrimp perfectly balanced by the tangy citrus marinade. The addition of sliced radishes, cilantro, and jalapeños added a refreshing kick, while the smooth sauce tied all the flavors together. The seafood platter was equally impressive, featuring grilled shrimp with a smoky spice rub that was rich in flavor but not overwhelming. The seared scallops were cooked to perfection, with a crispy exterior and tender inside. The accompaniments of pickled vegetables provided a great contrast to the richness of the seafood.

Birthplace of the fajita...what else can you say. The food was plentiful and excellent! Had to try several things: the fajitas (of course), tacos, tamales, and enchiladas. Oh and flan for dessert. Don’t really know what else to say other than you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!!!

Excellent food. Very loud and noisy however. We were there for Saturday lunch so our grandson was able to have brunch. The chips and salsa were excellent. You can watch them making tortillas by front door. I had chicken flair as and my husband had carnitas enchiladas. We will be back!

The restaurant is not what is use to be. Someone has decided to tinker with Ninfa's original recipes, and sadly it shows. The tacos al carbon were larger but not as tasty. The queso flamedo was served at room temperature. And the Ninfarita was perdistrian. We will probably never go back.

The service was amazing; waiters, waitresses, hostess, etc. were great. With our seafood fajitas, the presentation was sloppy, and for 22 dollars, I wasn't completely impressed with two regular-sized enchiladas, rice and a side of beans. The shrimp in another dish were completely bland, as though they had not seasoned them. Salsas at the table were also shockingly bland, devoid of any kind of spiciness. The lemonade was unbearably sweet and tasted like it was made from powdered lemonade. But we loved the adobo rabbit tacos and the flan, those were the highlights. Not a terrible experience by any means, but I won't be returning. I make better enchiladas at home.

The restaurant is easy to find and has ample parking, the restaurant itself is very big and has a good atmosphere; the service is very quick! The fajitas were nice and worth a visit.

Be prepared to be stuffed when you leave. The food was delicious and the service was great. To start the chips and salsa were great and the drinks then came dinner oh my goodness we were stuffed.

Our friend recommended we try Ninfa's on Navigation. We are so happy that we followed her recommendation. We did take out and the restaurant was clean, the service was great and the food was delicious. We ordered take out twice, while we were in Houston!

Six of us visited in the middle of the week for dinner. A couple of us arrived early and propped up the bar for an hour. There is a great selection of craft beers on tap, the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. We then sat down for dinner in the original dining room. The food was excellent. What is however the best attraction of this restaurant is the ambience - this is not some super slick chain place - the restaurant has real character and was very buzzy on the evening we attended.

Missed trying Ninfa’s on a previous Houston visit, but had the time before 4/23/2025 Astros/Toronto game. As a solo traveler, it was easy to grab a barstool for myself, skipping the wait for a table - service was courteous, fast and friendly. Without too much thought, I picked the mole enchiladas (“my favorite” according to my server) and a delicious and refreshing Pineapple housemade Aguas Frescas. The dish and sides were terrific and I couldn’t stop eating the light and crispy tortilla chips & salsas. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Atmosphere was lively, with many folks wearing baseball apparel and talking sports (the hometown Rockets also had a big playoff game that night). An easy 15 walk from the Ballpark. Will certainly return!

Been here numerous times and the food is losing some of the flavor from years ago. What consistently goes up are the prices. For this price range, I’d compare it to Hugo’s restaurant, which means this lacks originality and true Mexican food. For Tex-mex, which is what this is, there are too many restaurants close by that deliver comparable or better food with better customer service, Like Dona Maria’s, Brother’s Tacos, Merida’s, or villa Arcos when they re-open. Across the street is El Tiempo, slightly better food.

I highly recommend making reservations as they get busy. We went on an Astros game night as many folks were heading to game. I had reservations and we were immediately seated. We really enjoyed the queso flameado, all three of us enjoyed. We also had fajitas, flour shells were excellent but a little too thick for my liking. Chicken and steak each very tender and great flavor. Portions are a good size. I also had their original margarita of which I enjoyed. It can get loud but is an excellent stop.

Great food - quail, roasted oysters, veggie fajitas, as well as traditional items. Huge menu. Great margaritas. Most important - wonderful wait staff and service. We went on a Sunday at 6pm so I am sure other nights and times may be crazy. We loved it.

The food was not good , really salty and bad seasoned, it was not Mexican food, is really expensive Tex- Mex food, visit a molino for the closest Mexican food experience.

2nd time here (we live in NH) and still fantastic. Good amount of parking and we didn't have to wait on a Saturday night (the place was packed too). Hubby had Conchita Pibil and I had Ala carte beef taco/fajita. Seasonings were great and we left full and satisfied.

I was in Houston on business, and everyone said I had to try Ninfa’s for great Tex-Mex. And they were right! Everything looked great in the menu, but I had chicken enchiladas that were the best I’d ever had! Their margaritas all sounded delicious, so I had the flight and tried three - all outstanding. Highly recommend!

This place is noisy, making conversation very difficult. Heard about this restaurant and visited during our visit to Houston. Service was good. Nothing special about the food to us, which was disappointing. We hoped for a great eating experience. And the cost was too high for the quality.

Excellent Tex-Mex dining. Our whole family had good meals. Nice level of spices in the sauces. Comfortable and pretty setting with excellent service. We were well taken care of.

I'm from Argentina and during a short visit to Houston, some friends took me to Ninfa's for a Texas/Mexican food treat. Great choice!! Margaritas and tacos were great. Tasty food, great and fast service. Portions are huge! This place with a family vibe invited to have a good conversation with my friends. If I am ever back to Houston, would love to have dinner again here :)

30-40 years ago Ninfa's on Navigation was a trendy restaurant in the Mexican barrio for the trendy set as well as Mexican laborers. But that was long ago. Mama Ninfa's is long dead. And now the place is usually empty and just a run down tourist trap. At lunch there were only 4 diners. And the prices that were once reasonable are strictly tourist trap now. Would you pay $16 for guacamole? That is avocado, onion and a splash of lime juice! The food is better at Taco Bell so you know Ninfa's is awful. But across the parking lot on the same side of the street is a better Mexican restaurant. For now it is authentic and more reasonable.This is where President Obama went when he was in town. I think President Clinton and President Bush dined there too. But President Goerge W and Barbara frequently went to Molina's and it is really bad, so the Bush family doesn't know good Mexican food. The Molinia's just welcomed them and made a fuss over them. No, don't waste your time, money or taste buds at Ninfa's, it is just a long dead memory. Surprisingly, good Mexican food is hard to find in Houston, unless you know how to make it at home or have a good Hispanic friend who will make it for you.

The food was ready very quickly, obviously it wasn’t cooked after the order. The prices don’t match the quality of the food. Mixed drinks are overpriced. You are paying for the name of the restaurant, I will not be returning. Overall, I expected better quality of food for the menu prices. Beef fajitas were very greasy and chicken fajitas were dry. The unions were undercooked. The add on shrimp ($4 each) did not have any flavor and were rubbery. I took one bite and couldn’t eat any more.

Great famous texmex rich! A definite not to miss in dtown Houston! Great ambiance great staff Food is top notch authentic tasty family famous recipes dishes plates. Rita’s rock too!

Hi, we visited the restaurant, coming very hungry! We got a table pretty quick, and you start getting chips on some dips. We ordered some drinks, was very good! On the appetizers we got the avocado and main courses we good as well! Prices a little bit high... But still, i recommend a visit, good food!

Went during World Series. Could park and ride shuttle free if you are there so the place cleared out by 6:30 and we had the restaurant to ourselves. Food and atmosphere still great. From chicken fajitas to tacos to salmon we all enjoyed. Fresh chips salsa and queso are the best. Watch them make Homemade corn and flour tortillas.

Whenever we visit Houston we always stop for a meal at Ninfas and it doesn’t disappoint. Total of 8 of us enjoyed pitchers of frozen margaritas with cheese dip and guacamole with chips. Dinner too was all good! And enjoyed the extra lightly toasted tortillas hat were brought to our table. Service was excellent and fast too.

Food and drink were outstanding. Had the cactus flower margarita and the fajita burger. Our waiter was very personable and nice but just very busy so lacked a little of that extra attention. Although the restaurant was very crowded you didn’t notice, I never heard parts of another conversation.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Tex-Mex fare here at The Original Ninfa's in downtown Houston. We went as a fairly large group and so were able to sample a number of their dishes. Not everything we ate was terrific - in fact the quality and taste of the dishes was up and down but the standouts were the ceviche, which was outstanding, and the seafood enchilada. Service as brisk and efficient without being that warm.

Ninfa was everything we were hoping for on our last dinner in Houston. The Mexican dishes at Nina are as authentic as the homemade tortillas. The staff are very efficient and welcoming even when accommodating a wheelchair. This restaurant is a must for anyone visiting the city of Houston and who loves authentic Mexican food. The mole sauce won’t disappoint overa succulent chicken dish. The fajitas are sizzling and delicious, especially,the gulf shrimp fajitas.

The best Mexican food in Texas- I had the combination beef taco, cheese enchilada pro tamale with rice and beans. Classic old school Mexican Food, I loved it so much I went back the next day.

In town for the weekend, and landed here for dinner. It was super! Not too long to get a table; great atmosphere, excellent service, and wonderful food! I hope to return to Houston and eat here again. Highly recommend.

We went after the Astros. Service was horrible from the start. Coke was the color of tea, so it was obvious they dilute more than they should and it tasted like straight tap water. My son says his bottles beer was flat. The restaurant is tiny and we saw some overweight patrons struggle to be comfortable. Our server was dismissive. We also saw several employees walking through the seating area with clear totes of what looked like dirty water. We got up & left. There was no way I was going to pay $25 for enchiladas on top of everything else!

This was the best fajitas I've ever had! The homemade flour tortillas were amazing and the steak used in the fajitas was the best!

Awesome food! The flavors are intoxicating with the light smoked grill they must use along with the homemade tortillas. For lunch they are busy yet the wait is worthwhile. The service is impeccable and the selections are vast. Surely the have something for everyone.

This is our go to and rarely have a bad experience. We always make a reservation because waits here can be lengthy. We live on the complete opposite side of town and we have no problem driving here to get our fix. Highly recommend.

The food here is authentic and absolutely delicious. The guacamole is generous and so tasty. We would come back here in a heartbeat. Great margaritas as well. Highly recommend.

Prior to leaving for Houston, we did our research and came across some TA reviews suggesting the service at Ninfa's was subpar. Thankfully, I didn't let that dissuade us. We made lunch reservations for noon on a Monday. We got there early and it wasn't a problem. Ample parking out back when we got there, jam packed when we left. We were seated at a corner table in the main dining room. They sat us down and, from start to finish, service was attentive, suggestions were good, food was good and we had a great time. We got our drinks first - Ninfa's margarita for me. Then we ordered our app - dozen oysters with crab meat baked on top - excellent. Then we ordered our mains and we went with the redfish tacos, al pastor tacos, and chicken and beef tacos. This was the place that invented fajitas. We asked our waiter if we should do the fajitas and he suggested that if we wanted to try so many things, better to go chicken or fish tacos over fajitas since it was the same stuff anyways. All the food was good and servings were generous. We made it through the oysters, the redfish tacos, the chicken and beef tacos and were left with almost our entire order of the al pastor which we took back to the Aloft Downtown. During our meal, I needed another drink. They asked me if I wanted strong or flavorful. I asked them to surprise me and they got me a hibiscus margarita which was really good. Again, service was really on point - our servers were friendly, really helpful with suggestions, made sure we were good. Including tax and tip, our lunch of a dozen oysters and 3 entrees of tacos and drinks came out to 147 bucks. Don't let the reviews of subpar service dissuade you.

Besides being a Houston ‘institution’, Ninfa’s has always offered a wonderfully varied menu of delicious food…but also great service. We had a huge party last year for our 40th Anniversary, so we decided to go to Ninfa’s last evening for our 41st (where we go engaged). It is a long drive from our home, but it was so worth it! Fernando was our server & he was such a delight! Of course, we had enjoyed a pitcher of Ninfaritas! Fernando’s recommendations were perfect & on top of a great dinner (we had the Queso Flameado, Shrimp Diablo & the Tejas Combo) - they surprised us with a beautiful & delicious dessert! It was fun & filling &&& so glad we went there for dinner!

After seeing it in so many blogs, I decided to try & I don't regret it one bit. Amazing service. The dessert was my favorite & that's saying a lot because the meal was amazing....actually I take that back, the tortillas alone are to die for!!!

My friend chose this lovely restaurant for lunch. Weather in Houston today was cold and wet, but this place offered us a cosy corner to stay. I really enjoyed the food.

The wife and I went for lunch with high expectations. We ordered enchiladas and found them to be OK, but enjoy much better at other places in Houston.

I don’t think I have the words for this place. First I have lived in Houston for 40+ years and never been here before. We came on a Sunday and it was not very full. I actually made reservations on Opentable and when we walked in, we sat down immediately. We ordered Chorizo Flameado and small Guacamole. Those were both awesome. Husband ordered the Chef Special on the Brunch menu - some type of Migas. They were great!! I ordered the carnitas hash and OMG. It was amazing. Along with their freshly made tortillas!! That dish is going to be the type of dish I will crave!! We will definitely be back!!

The best I have had in a long time! The food was fresh, hot, and tasty! The service by Miguel, the bartender, was phenomenal! The place was slammed before the game, but every table was well taken care of. Yes, we will return!

This was our second visit, and it was just as good as the first time. Live in Oklahoma and don’t get here often. If you like seafood, you can’t go wrong with the Plato Costeño with a gulf fish taco, three shrimp a la playa, and mini India blue crab tostada served with salsa tomatillo. My husband and I shared this dish and added two bacon-wrapped shrimp. Delisioso! I could barely finish my half. Oh yeah, the frozen margarita was great too.