Houston - known for Barbecue or Tex Mex?

[teejaymoore]

Heading to Houston and have one night. I've been here several times and looking for ideas. I agree with most posts that Goode & Company isn't great (if it's the one I'm thinking of with the large overhang with bench tables outside). I've eaten at Pappasitos as well and thought it was pretty good, but not sure if there's better food out there. Also, the abundance of Pappasito's worries me.

I'm staying at the Sheraton Houston West so likely interested in staying reasonably close (being 20 min or less travel) to there.

Leaning slightly towards Tex Mex, but very willing to be persuaded as I just ate at an all time favorite (Mia's Tex Mex) in Dallas yesterday.

[texasredtop]

I had the crab quesadillas at El Tiempo yesterday and they were really good. We had the queso Joey with bbq brisket in it and that was good. Husband had the shrimp quesadillas and they were really good also. Have a container left over equal to about one order (we each ate about half of what we were served). The service was a little off, good for the first half of the meal and the second half it was hard to find our servers. They were packed though. The kids had crab enchiladas and brought home half of each of their plates or more. It was expensive but very good.

[Lambowner]

I'm just not loving El Tiempo, only went there once, at early lunch, and the prices put us off. Maybe it's cause I don't like quesadillas, and maybe it's cause I think they are sucker punching people with their outrageous prices. I think it's a tourist trap/night time margaritaville. Which is fine for those looking for that.

[HTownChowDown]

By Texas standards, Houston isn't a truly strong BBQ town. We have some good places, but none that I consider among the very best in the state.

We do have some great places for Mexican food. Pappasito's is certainly OK, but it's not the best to be found.

My favorite spot for Mexican food is Pico's on Bellaire; they specialize in more traditional Mexican dishes as opposed to Tex-Mex. Hugo's in Montrose is a more upscale version, and an outstanding restaurant that's building a national reputation.

But if you're focused on Tex-Mex, consider Lupe Tortilla if you love fajitas, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen (for enchiladas, of course) and Tampico if you're in the mood for Mexican seafood.

-----
Lupe Tortilla's Restaurants
318 Stafford St, Houston, TX 77079

Pico's Restaurant
5941 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77081

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen
6401 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX 77057

[Lambowner]

Where did you eat and how did you like it? Just curious.

[Jaymes]

Don't know where you're coming from, but some things that Houston does spectacularly well are Asian (Vietnamese in particular) and authentic interior Mexican.

Next time down this way, you might give those two a try.

Also, there well may be not one single "ethnic" cuisine on the planet that isn't at least represented here. So if there's something you want to try that you don't have available where you are, you could sample some in Houston - Middle Eastern, Ethiopian, Polish, Ecuadorian, Philippine - you name it.

We're a veritable U.N cornucopia of foods.

And that's really fun.

[brucesw]

I'm interested Jaymes - where do you find Ecuadorian? I never knew we had any.

[rrrich7]

Hi teejay. What's your budget?

[teejaymoore]

Already departed but thanks for the replies. I'll keep El Tiempo in mind for my next trip. No real budget rrrich7 but have done a lot of the high end so tend to favor more casual, local spots.

[texasredtop]

El Tiempo - the Washington location. Have the crab quesadillas, or the beef filet fajitas! Yum. Forget bbq in Houston. There are some good places but nothing outstanding.

-----
El Tiempo Cantina
5602 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007