North-American Food and Cooking

Tequila y Tamales: Come Judge Them Both With Us In December

Here in Houston, it's not Christmas without tamales. And nothing goes better with tamales on a cold night than a warming shot of tequila. So head out to Xuco Xicana on Thursday, December 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. to share both with us as Eating Our Words presents Tequila & Tamales! Local restaurants su ... More >>

Operation "No Tacos" - A 30 Day Challenge

Portrait of a Taco Enthusiast as A Young Man​That's me up there with my dad, eating a plate full of tacos, the happiest 4-year-old ever. It was there in that one-bedroom duplex in the East End where my love of tacos and all things Mexican originated. Menudo for breakfast? Yes, please. Tamales for ... More >>

The Real World

With expectations sky-high, El Real Tex-Mex Cafe struggles for glory.

El Real Tex-Mex Cafe & Shrine: Revival of the Fittest

Photos by Troy FieldsThe marquee is best appreciated at night, neon lights in full bloom.​Earlier this week, it was reported that Trader Joe's will likely be moving into the old Alabama Theater on West Alabama at Shepherd, thereby saving the old theater from obscurity and possible demolition. ... More >>

Ingredient of the Week: Tortillas

LexnGer​If you live in Texas, the tortilla is a staple in your pantry right next to the loaf of Texas toast. It's such a regular part of our diet, we often don't think twice about its history or endless possibilities. Stop a minute, and give the tortilla the attention it deserves. Here's so ... More >>

Totally Rad

It's almost beside the point that the food at this new restaurant is all-vegan.

Totally Rad: Mexican Food Goes Vegan at Radical Eats

Photos by Troy FieldsFried green tomatoes and fried okra tacos are on the menu right now at Radical Eats.​The Mexican food at Radical Eats is so good, you might not even realize it's vegan. Or gluten-free. And that's the way owner Staci Davis likes it. She doesn't have anything against carniv ... More >>

Fast Times: Fajitas Puebla Tacos At Taco Cabana

Don't gotta tell me twice. ​Oh, Taco C, how I love thee. Maybe it's because I lived off Taco Cabana tortillas and queso in college; every great night at the square or float down the river in San Marcos ended with a trip to TC. Drunk, sober or hungover, it hits the spot. So when I saw an ad f ... More >>

Keep on Truckin': Taqueria El Palomo

Taqueria El Palomo​With food trucks being all the rage these days, one can easily forget that they -- specifically, taco trucks -- have been around for a long time. Back in 2007, Robb Walsh even named his Top 10 Taco Trucks in Houston. These taquerias on wheels don't have fancy fusion food, an ... More >>

First Look at the New BB's in the Heights

Photo by John SuhIt's bigger, but is it better?​In a previous post, a reader scoffed at my pick for Cajun food and suggested I check out BB's Cafe for a taste of the authentic cuisine in Houston. Soon after that post, BB's opened a location near me in the Heights. It was meant to be, so I ve ... More >>

Brunch? Mexican!

Anamaris Cousins PriceMexican breakfast at Hacienda Guanajuato​There are events that mark every generation. "What were you doing when the towers came down?" is a question that will always linger for those of us who witnesed it. On that day, I remember just wanting to be on familiar ground with ... More >>

Chingo Bling Gets New York Times Love - Food Love

Marco TorresChingo Bling, sans tamales in L.A.​Hey, guess what? A Houston musician finally got some love from The New York Times - not the semi-weekly Texas Tribune spread printed special for the paper's Lone Star press run, but the actual Gray Lady herself. Guess what else? It's in the food ... More >>

Take My Breath Away: The Supremo Burrito at Berryhill Baja Grill

Joanna O'LearyChicken Supremo Burrito.​Berryhill Baja Grill is not my go-to burrito joint. When I got takeout there earlier last week, I was more interested in their fish tacos, which had gotten rave reviews from some of my friends as well as one random person I overheard in the cereal aisle a ... More >>

The Enchilada Empress

Sylvia Casares keeps the crowds happy with her Tex-Mex classics.

La Plaza's Huevos Rancheros

Kevin Shalin​Have you really ever eaten bad huevos rancheros? I haven't. It typically comes down either a "very good" or "damn fine" ranking. La Plaza Mexican Restaurant's take on this Tex-Mex classic falls into the latter category. For around $5, you get the picture above--two eggs over ... More >>

Create-Your-Own Combo Plates at Lupe Tortilla

​I've driven by Lupe Tortilla many times while traveling under 59, but I've always been too worried about getting side-swiped by some jackass in an SUV to give the restaurant more than a passing glance. Thus far, I have relied on The Original Ninfa's for great Tex-Mex, Little Pappasito's for v ... More >>

Deer Sausage and Eggs at Goode Co. Taqueria

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttPatio weather demands a bloody mary and a Goode Co. breakfast.​The recent news that Goode Co. Taqueria will start serving its breakfast menu seven days a week starting on May 1 got me very excited. Perhaps too excited, as I dragged my boyfriend over there first thin ... More >>

The Secret to Great Enchiladas Is Patience

Enchiladas rojas.​Making enchiladas is more a test of stamina and endurance than culinary prowess. The ingredients are simple and few, and there's not much fancy footwork required. That said, anyone who regularly makes a South of the Border variety of the dish deserves your utmost respect and ... More >>

Food Fight: Battle Fish Tacos

Zelko.​Fish tacos are another hot-button food topic in our great city. And when you speak, I listen. The Food Fight entry has been criticized in the past for not including enough participants. How does four sound? Four is better than two. Three places are from reader suggestions, and the ... More >>

Gumbo and Gin

MerCheri's is at its best serving up no-nonsense Louisiana soul food.

Takeout Fish and Chicken Tacos at Taco Milagro

​Two years ago I went to Taco Milagro, and I wasn't a fan. I thought it was overpriced and underwhelming. Also, it took forever to get the food, which I guess is a moot point since I didn't like it much anyway. From that point forward, I relied on Chuy's and Ruchi's as my neighborhood takeout ... More >>

At Home at Julio

Monterrey expats flock to Tacos del Julio.

The Gumbo at Gilhooley's

​Forget about chili -- I can't think of a more hotly debated dish (in this part of the world, at least) than gumbo. Restaurant gumbo is totally different from homemade gumbo, and homemade gumbo is totally different all along the Gulf Coast stretch of I-10. Some like okra in their gumbo (who ar ... More >>

A Mean Mexican Breakfast at Tacos del Julio

All this for less than $5. I love you, Tacos del Julio.​Tacos del Julio -- the subject of this week's cafe review -- is near and dear to my heart, and not just because I spent many a happy lunch there back in my old days of working for a Mexican-owned cement company. It's also the spot of many ... More >>

For Richer or Poorer

The po-boys at Zimm's Little Deck come up short.

SPECIAL COMIDA EDITION

Mexican in the Big Apple

Fill 'er Up

Chiles rellenos at the Cadillac Bar

Too Beaucoup

An unassuming bar and grill turns out some damn good Cajun food.

Keep on Trucking

The tacos at this Bellaire Boulevard taquería might remind you of the ones you get from a taco truck.

Gators and Gumbo

Enjoy the Tex-Cajun cooking at Al-T's — just don't ask too many questions about it.

Tex-Cajun Cuisine at BB's Cajun Cafe

This is the new late-night place to be if you like poor boys, grits and gravy, and breakfast in the middle of the night.

Flounder Fanmail for Jimmy Wilson's Seafood & Chop House

Doña Tere Mexican Restaurant

If you're looking for a tamal fix, try this authentic Mexican restaurant on Beechnut

Tony's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

Tony Establishment

Las Fabulosas Taco Trucks...Delicioso!

Our Top Picks

Who Is Sylvia?

A chef who loves Karl's on the Riverbend and Freddie Fender

Poor Boys and Philanthropy

A new Cajun-Asian sandwich shack run by Katrina evacuees

Chicken-Dancing Margs

Let this vintage Memorial-area Mexican restaurant take all the problems off your hands

Cajun Cave

At Roadhouse dance hall, the party starts at 2 p.m. every Saturday

Landmark Fajitas

What you order at Herrera's Mexicatessen depends on how you feel about bacon

Pefect Pair

Tila's Restaurante & Bar

Classic Veg-Mex

El Paraiso Mexican Restaurant

Houston, One Plate at a Time

Cooking show host Rick Bayless

Good Company

Goode Company Texas Seafood

Cajun Choice

Boudreaux's Cajun Kitchen

Creole Country

Cajun, New Orleans Creole and African-French Creole are three distinct cuisines.

The French Connection

Part 5 in the six-part history of Tex-Mex

Moving Up the Food Chain

East End dive no more, Ostioneria Puerto Vallarta is a polychrome palace where seafood and Elvis are king

Hot Plate

La Flor Taqueria

Dish

The Gumbo Shop Drop