Mention the word "enchilada" in Houston, and people think "Sylvia." Sylvia Casares, often referred to as the "Queen of Enchiladas," has produced a video and cookbook, and she's been named one of the best chefs in Houston, as well as one of the top ten Latino chefs in the U.S. And now, she has decided to branch out to a second location of Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen (6401 Woodway, 713- 334-7295).
Now you can get her homegrown, South Texas, Tex-Mex cuisine a little closer to town. "After a long time at the Westheimer location," she says, "I realized that it is a destination restaurant. And I wanted to be closer in, to capture more people and to expose them to my food." The menu is similar at the new place. "We're using the same recipes as those at my other place, except that here, the meat is grilled over mesquite. We're also adding snapper Veracruzana to the menu as lighter fare, as well as quail." The patio is popular, says Casares. "It's completely covered and lined with magnolias and it faces east, so it doesn't get full sun."
Casares seems to be spending all her time at her new place, maybe because the other place runs itself. "I'm spending all my time here working 14 shifts a week," she says. Like any newborn, the new location requires the attention of the caregiver 24/7.
Sylvia's has a comfortable decor reminiscent of a country home in South Texas. And the food is every bit as appetizing and delicious here as at her first location. We tried a plate of spinach enchiladas mixed with chicken enchiladas, and were not disappointed.