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Sylvia Casares is the chef owner of Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen.: Melissa Phillip : 29-95
In our closest reader poll to date, Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen has earned bragging rights as Houston’s Best Tex-Mex/Mexican Restaurant.
Run by chef/owner Sylvia Casares, Sylvia’s earned 23 percent of the nearly 5,000 votes cast. In a close second-place finish was Teotihuacan. Third place was the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation.
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, which ranked No. 44 in critic Alison Cook’s Top 100 Restaurants project, has two locations. The original is at 12637 Westheimer in far west Houston, the other at 6401 Woodway. You also can sample Casares’ food via the No Borders food truck. Find details at sylviasenchiladakitchen.com.
The winner of the $100 gift card for “best Tex-Mex/Mexican review” goes to Pam Butler, aka Tastebuds. Butler wrote of Teotihuacan: “When I think of Mexican food, I think about Teotihuacan. Why, you ask? Cuz it feels like there is a Mexican mom at the stove just waiting to make me the best of her dishes served with a big hug.”
There are many mom-and-pop restaurants that put Sylvia's and these others to shame
Totally agree, but they don't spend the money marketing like Sylvia does, nor do they advertise in the Houston Chronicle like Sylvia does. Funny how they only put a limited few on the ballot, as a Native Houstonian for over 60 years, I would say I've eaten at probably 80% of the Mexican (TexMex) Restaurants in Houston, and the overwhelming majority of those making the ballot are "trendy" and not necessarily the top of the pack. "Voters Choice"..."People's Choice".... NOT! It's the best of those given an opportunity to be on the ballot. Houston Chronicle and 29.95 have missed the mark once again.... It's become the norm. Just saying...
Funny, when the poll was taking place, Sylvia's was close to the bottom the entire time. Still think its a little better then dogfood but not by much.
I watched from start to finish...Sylvia's never less than 3rd. Suggest you try reading scripture...food that will satisfy your angry soul.
There truly is better tex-mex in Houston. I have tried both locations more than once and have always been disappointed in the food and the service.
Same bunch of readers chose McDonald's as best burger
I was thinking the exact same thing!! Sylvia's I went to only once, but it was enough to know I would not go back.
Nasty and over priced does not even begin to cover it! I would rather eat a frozen burrito.
Unfortuantely, I was unable to vote for my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Tejas restaurant. It not only serves good Tex-Mex food, but some of the best seafood in Houston. The crab enchilladas are to die for, and it's filled with real blue crab meat. The owner is a big fisherman and often serves freash fish he's recently cost. He once went out on a two-day fishing trip to the deep gulf waters and brought back a load of Tuna. It was the best Tuna I ever ate. Tejas is located on Alief Clodine, in the old Alief area.
My coworkers rave about Tejas but I can't go in there because of the smell. It is stuck in the 1950s and all I smell is bleach. No way
Tejas restaurant opened 25 years ago, not in the 50's. It's decor is funky, but I like it.
Sylvia's isn't even close to being the best Tex-Mex restaurant.. What about Lopez off of Wilcrest? Lopez should of been number 1.. I wonder if Allison has even been there? Probably not, if she has then it would of definitely been on the list.
I've been to Lopez and was underwhelmed. Never had the desire to go back. If I did return, what are your favorite dishes there?
Chicken fajita taco salad. I travel 30 miles once a month to eat there.Service is A+
Chicken fajita taco salad. I travel 30 miles once a month to eat there.Service is A+
I always get the Ocampo (best cheese enchiladas in the city imo), or the fajitas. Do you remember what you tried there when you went? I respect your opinion but am surprised you were underwhelmed!
I had a combo plate of some sort in an attempt to sample a variety of items. I didn't think it was bad, but I didn't think it was particularly good, either. Yet I know Lopez has ardent fans, and I have wondered whether I ought to give it another chance. Guess I will!
I'm not gonna lie – I've been eating Lopez since I was a fetus. Their salsa, cheese enchiladas, carnitas, beans, and rice rank up with my mom's own cooking.
Heck, I once drove from school at North Texas all the way own to Wilcrest an 59 JUST for Lopez. I took two Ocampos and a gallon of salsa back home with me.
Lopez is not the best, but it has some good classic TexMex comfort food, try the Hidalgo plate, never lets me down!
Alison, the carnitas are excellent at Lopez, best in town and also the best price at $7.95. I mean no other place I've been to comes even close to this tender, flavorful, juicy shredded pork. The tacos Rancheros made with succulent beef rib meat and grilled onions and tomatoes are truly and consistently amazing. The guacamole is fresh and bright. The salsa is my favorite in town also for its heat and consistency. The chili gravy is superb and I order the shredded chicken enchiladas with the chili gravy added. Cheese enchiladas are likewise good with the gooey yellow cheese old timers like. The tortilla soup is delicious with a clear chicken broth and lots of great avocado, cheese and chicken. The nachos are made individually with beans, cheddar cheese, meat of your choice with guac, pico and jalapenos on the side. What I avoid here are the fajitas, particularly the chicken and so I also avoid the taco salad for the same reason. I find they are dry typically. If it isn't your cup of Tex-Mex, that's okay, it doesn't hurt my feelings. But for us, it is usually a weekly fix. And has been for many years. Never go on a Friday. Service is rushed at the business lunch hour and at night it is complete mayhem. There is always a wait for this large restaurant on Fridays, and at peak hours other days. We like to go for Saturday lunch or an early or late dinner and drive 15 miles to get to it, which in Houston is nothing as you know.
thanks for the recommendations. I'll go back with a group and give the menu a workout.
I've been going to Lopez since they first opened - back in 1978. I simply CRAVE their shrimp enchiladas. They're not on the menu - you just have to ask. There's something about that red sauce that keeps me coming back. The O'Campo is a great combo plate and yes - the carnitas are great. The tacos rancheros are also good. They also have a spicy habanero margarita that's REALLY tasty. One thing that also endears me to the place is that they're closed on Sunday. The sign out front says "Sunday - The Lord's Day - Closed". You just have to respect that.
I've always swore by Lopez ... but on a recent (few months back, I live in Kuwait) visit I too was underwhelmed ... but a dish that might serve you well is the Fajita Enchiladas ... enjoy!
Lopez all the way!
I grew up on Lopez and always thought they were underrated. Now I have to travel 1500 miles to get my Lopwz fix...worth every mile! Alison, I think you need to give them another try!
Really?? I can't imagine who votes for Sylvia's....must have been a bunch of yankees.
Go figure...I've been there several times (I hardly get outside of the loop, but will for a good restaurant), and it's pretty good, but in line with Hugo's???? I'm sorry, but no way.
Hugo's is traditional Mexican food, not TexMex so it would not even be in the race....
Congratulations!!!!
well when the Little Bitty Burger Barn won best burger of houston they did'nt get a spread like this, wow! and they took 26% of the vote, and they were just on fox news this monday morning! mmmmmm political????
Sure this isn't like golf--the higher score the worst you are.
What a joke. Sylvia's is, to put it mildy, terrible. And overpriced to boot!
It is amazing how much influence Sylvia has on the food media in Houston. Her enchiladas are a pitiful example of Tex-Mex food and deserve to rank below most other Mexican restaurants in town.
Where would *you* find a good example of Tex-Mex food? I've found Sylvia's to be one of the top 5 in the city. Given the wide variety of selections she's had, I've never thought anything wanting in the flavor.
OK...time for my fellow readers to give their opinion. I have a relative visiting Texas for the first time. She requested tex-mex during her stay. Where is the best place to satisfy the enchilada urge? Any and all help will be appreciated!
Of the restaurants on the ballot, I had been to about 3/4 of them. Although there are probably more than a hundred really good Tex/Mex and/or Mexican food establishments in the Houston area, I've got to say that the top three chosen are great choices and I wouldn't turn down a lunch or an evening meal at any one of them. Sylvia's would not be my first choice,but I think it is still worthy of top consideration. "De gustibus non est disputandum.
Rigged is all I can say!!! No way that place was Numero Uno.
Lopez on Wilcrest near Southwest Freeway is my favorite Tex-Mex in Houston. It comes closest to "Austin-style" Tex-Mex. Fresh hot chips with spicy cilantro-free salsa -- a rare find these days. I like the basics: beef tacos and enchiladas..and the ones at Lopez are hard to beat. It's a clean, friendly family-run restaurant. Congratulations to Slyvia's, but for me, Lopez is the winner.
Yeah...I don't put any stock in these reader polls. Sylvia's is OK, I'm not here to bash anyone, but people are voting on restaurants without having visited most of the other restaurants in the poll. That doesn't make something the "best."
If these were write-in format polls, I think I'd be more apt to take them seriously. But even then, people are going to vote for their usual spot without having really bothered going out and trying new restaurants. Because, honestly, who has the time for that or the money to risk trying something different that may not fit their standards? I am by no means saying there is anything wrong with finding a place you like and sticking with it!
This is why I greatly appreciate what our food critics have to offer us. They DO have the time and money for that, because it's their job.
I have been to Sylvia's and been very disappointed as the food was not well seasoned and very tastless.
I was surprised when Sylvia's was in the top 100 restaurants in Houston when there are so many better Mexican restaurants here.
Sylvia has always proven to be very adept at promoting her restaurant. It always gets a lot of good press - the food, however, is average at best.
Why does Los Tios get no respect in any of these Tex-Mex best of lists in the Chronicle or other blogs/publications. It went downhill for awhile but the past couple of years has been back to the greatness of old.
I've never been! Would absolutely be willing to try. Any recommendations for what to order?
The original Nachos Los Tios, (usually prefer Nachos w/ fajita meat but not here), the beans and meat mixed with the queso and each nacho topped with guacamole really makes it. I also think their cheese enchiladas are some of the best around. I compare the enchiladas to a place like Larry's Original Mexican in Richmond.
When did the turnaround start?? I used to like Los Tios, but it when downhill and off a cliff. I tried it again two years ago and it was awful.
Sylvia's should never be on any list of best Mexican food in Houston. Someone just stuffed the ballot box.
The cheese enchiladas at El Tiempo Cantina in Montrose are TO DIE FOR!
My vote was for Ninfa's on Nav. I've never been disappointed.
But, i'll admit, I frequent 1/2 price fajitas for 2 Wednesdays at Pappasito's. Try not to judge me too hard....
Well....this shows how much credibility this survey has..LOL...Sylvias is not very good. Lopez is even worse.
Most over-rated in Houston...
1. Irma's
2. Sylvia's
Most Under-Rated
1. Los Tios
2. El Rancho
The best....Ninfa's on Navigation...and its not even close
Oh, by the way, went to teouchican (or however you spell it)...Horrific!
What about Cyclone Anayas, on Augusta@ Woodway? Great food!!!
My friends and I frequent Teotihuacan only for our ritual Sunday breakfast. The menu, with its neo-Japenese photographs of combo plates, sets up the experience nicely, portions are Mama-inspired, and service is good. But I haven't been back for lunch or dinner since I was served undercooked spinach enchiladas, the egg mixture still runny. When I reported the problem, the waiter shrugged and brought a new entree. Easy for him to shrug but harder for me, considering how sick I got afterward.
Sylivia's food is not as good as it use to be but I still go to her restaurant on Westheimer at Dairy Ashford. Tried the other place recently and was not impressed with it at all. Nice decor but did not have menudo and what I got instead was mediocre at best.
terrible just terrible
The one time I had enchiladas from her food truck, they were absolutely terrible. I threw them away.
I think Alison should retire his buds.
Wretched food. the only thing worse is the city jail
After reading this story, I stopped by Sylvia's for lunch on Thurs, 7/12. The food was incredibly weak, amongst the worst TexMex I have had in Houston. I put a lot of stock in salsa, queso and fajita beef. If you can nail these, I will come back and try other items. The salsa was marginal, the queso tasted like velveeta and rotel and the fajita beef was tasteless. No bueno! I will not be back to Sylvia's. I'm floored Molina's wasn't an option!?
The second place option may be worthy (I've never been), but Sylvia's is terrible food. Ignore the Mexican vs. Tex-Mex debate in this poll, because the food at Sylvia's wouldn't win in a taste test in either category.
What a joke!!!!! Syliva's is the winner of the best marketed TexMex restaurant in Houston. If some of my little neighborhood gems spend the money on marketing and schmoozed the press like Syliva does, they'd be light years ahead of this mediocre, over-price, under-served, joke of a restaurant. Try Casa de Leon, Otilia's, Tostada Regia, Los Gallitos Mexican Cafe, etc. if you want the PEOPLE'S CHOICE.
When I drive into Houston for an evening out, I usually stop first at Azteca's on Richmond for a $4.95 lunch special that is worth every penny -- try the build-your-own combo plate or the caldo de pollo que es puro mexicano. No, I don't like overpriced Mexican food.
From the comments above, its obvious you are not going to get a bunch of people to agree on the best Mexican Restaurant in Houston. My favorite there is the Enchiladas Verdes. I eat these at every Mexican restaurant I have been to in Houston, Pasadena, Clear Lake and Albuquerque, and hers is the best by a large margin. I've never tasted any that equaled hers, much less tasted better, and I've sampled a bunch. It's subjective, I know, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Anybody mention Bocados? That little house in Montrose in cozy... and the fajitas are on of the best around and super tender... plus their Seafood Ench are absolutely incredible... I know Bocados is a hidden secret, but sometimes it's important not to keep a secret if it means helping the owners that put their hear/soul into the restaurant!