Ok, we recently moved back into Houston, and haven't had a chance to try all of our favorite places again, but they better still be around!
Try
Pico's (roughly out Bellaire near Hillcoft -- look for the toucan)
Moderately priced, sit-down place.
Have mole sauces, fish, ceviche (I think), cochinita
pibil (marinated pork), tamarind drinks, charro beans
(as well as refried black beans)...
Taqueria Arandas (on Shepherd south of 11th Street in the Heights)
I don't know how this compares with
south-of-the-border taquerias, but it has a big
Hispanic clientele. They have a wide assortment of
meats, maybe even cabrito. Tamarindos also.
Inexpensive.
Taqueria La Tapatia (on Richmond near Dunlavy)
Variety of meats, Mexican sandwiches as well as
burritos etc., tamarindos. Inexpensive.
--PaulHouston, TX
Why is Tex Mex so boring?
To touch all of the quality bases of Mexican food, please try these... La Hacienda, on Memorial, west of Dairy Ashford... An incredible sauce, with chili powder added for a very different taste and consistency than other places, very similar to Casa Martinez years ago in Town and Country Village. Tia Maria's, 290 at Dacoma. Surprisingly strong in areas where Marco's lacks adventure. Casa Garcia(Katy) was great years ago, when it started originally at I-10 at Beltway, (at the time West Belt). The taste suffered, of course, when they bought and built their own brand new building, in Katy. Bummer. I still hold on to memories of Los Tios' sauce, and El Chico Margaritas, but otherwise, forget it. Los Tios puffed tacos have suffered, and have lost their flakiness. Also, it's hard to find real cheese anymore. At least Felix's grease lets you know that the cheese was real. Jim