El Hidalguense

I came to this place because it was highly recommended, and I’m Mexican so I was very excited about trying it out. The place was PACKED! They have a live hidalguense band, which gave it a cool ambiance. The michelada was very yummy, however the chilaquiles I ordered were not so tasty, neither was the queso with chorizo. Service was slow as well. My cousin ordered the chicken enchiladas and she wasn’t happy either. My boyfriend got the barbacoa de borrego and he loved it. I think that the specialty is probably their barbacoas.

I came to this place with high expectations and they didnt disappoint. The ambiance was awesome with the live band. I ordered the mixiote (barbacoa de borrego) and it was awesome! I would definitely come back!

Great atmosphere! Live music and delicious Borrego, and fresh homemade tortillas!

Sunday afternoon I decided to try out this restaurant because we had seen the commercials on TV and my husband loves authentic Mexican food. So we get there and there’s a line wait. After that the music was so loud and they sat us in a tiny small table for two which looked like they had just dragged it there. The waiter got there and we ordered because we were so hungry. We got a large pozole and two tacos. One flour tortilla and one corn. Well they brought the tacos 15 mins later which they were both corn no flour. it took me so long to waive the waiter down and ask her for a flour taco. So I called another waiter and told her I wanted a flour tortilla taco. Then 15 mins later they bring me a another flour taco and I asked where is our food, our Pozole and she said its coming and I kept seeing other people get their food. So then another 15 mins passed and still no food!!! I went up to the owner or manager and told her my waiter dissapears until 15 mins later every time. I ask her for my soup and still not ready! We canceled our order after like 40 mins waiting! And I asked for another waiter. They gave me another waiter and finally told her we want food! So we got the barbacoa de borrego which was good only with the corn tortillas hand made. Don’t get the flour its horrible all store bought not hand made! I will not be going there ever again!!!

You know what they say about a hole in the wall, right? Well this place is just that! You want authentic birria, borrego and goat? Come here! The goat is pricey but the servings and taste does not disappoint! Don’t let the bad reviews fool you

The food was very good, but I was disappointed by the service – essentially, they double charged us for an item, but told us tough luck when we pointed it out to the server.
The chorizo and egg breakfast tacos were delicious – very flavorful, and you could see them making the tortillas in the open kitchen. The tortillas maybe weren’t quite as good as Ninfa’s or El Tiempo’s, but they were obviously fresh and still very good. The lamb barbacoa tacos were great as well; very lean and tender.
The only problem I had was that we ordered ½ pound of lamb barbacoa, but they (apparently) brought us a whole pound and charged us for a whole pound. When we pointed this out, they shrugged and told us that’s what we had to pay for, as that’s what we ate (don’t worry, though, we’re not pigs and didn’t eat nearly the whole pound). Maybe it was an honest mistake, but it would have been easy to fix and also seemed like a fairly easy way for them to make more money off of us.

pésimo lugar… caro y mal atendido… la gerente pesima y mal educada… para el lugar …
nunca mas en mi vida vuelvo a este lugar…

Todo el tiempo boy acomer barbacoa xq megusta y ami familia también y me sieto mal xq hablé para aser un pedido de medio borrego para el dia de acción de gracias y la persona nunca mequiso aser mi pedido y no me quiso pasar al encargado y también medijo q lla mero cerraban

Great barbacoa

Okay, I do not often give a place 5 stars, but I don’t often come to a place like this! If you’re looking for opulent décor and servers with bow ties and white gloves, then this place is not for you. BUT, if you’re looking for great authentic Mexican regional food, in a family-​friendly atmosphere at low prices and be entertained by live Mexican music — then you’ll agree that this place is difficult to beat.
PS — expect a wait to get inside and do be careful of parking. The other restaurant in the strip where they are located is jealous of the crowds that flock here. There is a parking lot attendant and can help you.

One of the few authentic Mexican restaurants in Houston!
Summary: Delicious Lamb barbacoa and Cabrito but the rest is mediocre.
The restaurant is located in a run down strip center next to a great Thai food restaurant (yay to diversity!).
I’ve only been here on Sunday’s and it is very packed. There are no reservations so you see packs of people waiting outside. But you don’t wait very long, it takes around 20 minutes to get a table, and while you wait you get offered aguas frescas.
Once inside of you get live music from trios Hisalguenses, a little to loud to be honest but people enjoy it and it is entertaining. The tables are very tight and if you streth back a little you’ll be hitting the person behind you. Instead of being brought chips and salsa, as most people are normally accustomed to, you get small barbacoa flautas with «salsa rallada» made purely from dry smoked jalapeños and oil. Salsa rallada is the signature sauce in Hidalgo, Mexico, by the way. Their menu is extensive but they specialize in Cabrito and lamb barbacoa. we have tried the Cabrito and loved it! Very tender and flavorful. The chicken and fajitas are okay nothing special. My family and I go there specifically for the barbacoa. It’s tastes as good as the barbacoa I’ve had in Mexico. Accompanied with fresh corn tortillas and salsa rallada makes for the best tacos. They have different family packs that come with a variety of different options. My family of four gets two pounds of meat that come with four bowls of consome (the broth/​drippings of the barbacoa with chickpeas and rice), cactus salad and for a small extra charge handmade corn tortillas. I have never had a bad experience with the food, the service is very good and intent even though they are very rushed.
I wish they could improve the restrooms and update its décor. But the quality of food trumps the shadiness of the place!

Under rated. Unpretentious. Under priced. Great food. Cold beer.
Cannot say enough good things about this place. Great tacos, the staff are always extremely friendly and the food is fresh. There’s no fancy décor here but the basics are done right.
Amazing food, great atmosphere, love it, 5 stars!!!

The food flavor it’s OK. when we receive it on the table it was cold, the service was not good, they never say their names, they never came back to check if you were okay or not. the music is really extra loud and you cannot even hear the conversation from the person next to you.

After reading some other friends reviews of this place I went for dinner one night recently. This is a low rent dining room in a run down strip center. However we all know that good food can be found in places like this. Inside there were only 3 – 4 other diners and a lot of empty tables. I snagged one and looked at the menu. I tried to ask a couple of questions to my waiter but he didn’t speaka da english very well so he went and got a lady who works there who spoke a little English. I was tempted to order the cabrito but at $ 28 I didn’t feel like taking the chance since I had never eaten here before so I went with the beef and chicken fajitas with flour tortillas and charro beans. Since this is a Mexican restaurant there were no chips and salsa :(
The meal was good. Both meats were good along with the charro beans. I really had no complaints. It was a solid 3 meal. I would come back if I was in the area. When presented with the bill I noticed I was charged for the flour tortillas and have no idea why. It wasn’t much (something like .65 cents)…but why? I would have asked but communication wasn’t easy with my very limited Spanish. If I returned I might try the cabrito to see if it was worth it. I might if I ever come back.

Excellent traditional Mexican cuisine. Everything is homemade. Yes you pay a bit extra for the fresh tortillas but who cares? Amazing.
2 beers, queso con chorizo (no Velveeta here!!), tortillas, mole poblano, and lamb barbacoa for less than $ 40. The portions were plenty big and we left wishing we could have tried something else. After the closing of Otilia’s, this is our new –and dare I say, better? — authentic Mexican go-​to restaurant.
Location on Long Point is not trendy. the space is bright on the inside with TVs playing, and old Formica booths. I love that it is unpretentious and just so delicious!

I remember coming here once As a Kid and hating the smell lol. Now older I can appreciate the hand made tortillas and the bad ass cabrito enchilado :) it’s a spring branch hidden gem.

Hidden little gem in SB. Nothing fancy but their lamb and sauces make up for the look of the place.

dive type of place, but that doesn’t bother me. i liked that they make their own tortillas and my breakfast tacos were not bad, i would come back for those. they also have a live band play which i thought was cool. my only 2 complaints were that my coffee was burnt and the lamb my dad got had more meat than bones. other than that this place is ok. the service was fine and it has a neighborhood type of feel. the food is or can be good. i totally understand that sometimes mistakes are made i would give this place 2.5−3. its ok, ive experienced better but its not bad. if i was closer i would come here again.

Try the mole poblano. This ain’t tex mex! You have been warned.
The Cabrito is also pretty great.

Not TexMex, hole in the wall with good food. Had a bowl of menudo. Good taste. They bring out a red paste hot sauce with a round fried corn tortilla for starters. Cabrito on a spit cooking over coals looked delicious. Fresh corn tortillas being made by register where you pay. This is a come back must to try barbacoa lamb. and cabrito al pastor.

Really good Mole Poblano, nutty, a bit sweet, and with a soft taste of chile. Very delicious. The cabrito enchilado was very moist and comes in a skillet. The Pollo a la parilla was also very moist and well seasoned. The only thing I didn’t like as much was the Frijoles Charros which seemed to be canned.
It appears to be a very simple, hole in the wall sort of place. It’s a hidden treasure in disguise. Delicious food and friendly staff.

Let’s start by setting the scene.
There’s nothing Tex Mex about this place… nothing. There’s also nothing fancy about this place. There’s bars on the windows/​door, and the décor is simple, if not a little uninviting. I went during lunch and was the only Gringo in the place. Telenovelas were playing on the two televisions.
Bottom line: Who cares as long as the food is on point, amirite?
I knew going in that I wanted to try the barbacoa de borrego (lamb barbacoa); however, being the overzealous Gringo I am, I ordered the version that comes out like fajitas, accompanied by consommé soup rather than beans and rice.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I would’ve preferred beans and rice over the soup. Alas, my fault. Moving on.
The soup was pretty flavorful, especially after I squirted a lime in it for some extra zest (a trick I learned with Taqueria Arandas seafood soup). I really liked the vermicelli/​rice (?), but didn’t care for the garbanzo beans in the soup at all.
I forgot to mention, prior to the meal coming out, I did receive a dish of salsa (pretty good) and a flauta (meh, cold) rather than the chips/​queso combo you’d ordinarily receive at a mexican restaurant.
Finally, this is what you’ve been waiting for…
… in fact, if you’re still reading you might be confused by the 4 stars.
And maybe this place deserved 3 stars and is getting the benefit of no expectations and me being hungry, BUT I thought the barbacoa de borrego was fantastic. You have to pick around a few bones, but the meat has a robust flavor and is moist (you love that word, don’t you?) and tender like a good brisket.
On a recommendation, I opted for the corn tortillas, which were as good as I’ve had. Beware: they do cost extra, which I didn’t know until they rung me up after the meal.
Deliciousness = Corn tortilla + lamb barbacoa + salsa + pico — nopales (cactus just doesn’t do much for me).
I probably wouldn’t bring me wife here on a date, but I’ll probably be back for lunch at some point.

la comida es buena excelente sabor pero el lugar esta muy sucio las sillas y mesas de verdad en un estado deplorable de suciedad el piso tambien con marcas de oxido la cortina de la cocina es por demas asquerosa y el servicio de meseras nada amable como sin ganas de trabajar las cartas del menu gracientas habia un sinumero de moscas pero queriamos probar la comida y asi lo hicimos deberia el dueno poner mas atencion en la limpieza y afuera el anuncio esta descompuesto y mal pintado si estan invirtiendo tanto en anuncion por telelevision que se nos son muy economicos y te invitan a visitarlos p[or favor atiendan bien a los clientes gaste en dos comidas 70.00 dlls que no es nada economico x ese servicio de nuevo el sabor de la comida un 10 excelentes cocineros