Great food!! But don't go with a large group. After confirming our reservation and our request for a quieter area so the 10 of us could talk, they said they would put us on the outside covered patio where there was more space and not as noisy. When we showed, and waited 15 minutes past our reservation for the table, they put us in the middle of the main thoroughfare (the only access through the restaurant). It was so narrow that we were bumped and jostled through the entire meal by everyone walking by, especially their own staff, noisy as could be, and the table was so small, there should have only been eight. The people on the ends had to side sideways. It was absolutely horrible.
We had out of town guests and we wanted them to experience the best Mexican food in town. Our food was fantastic! The Shrimp Diablo and the grilled quail were new dishes for us and they did not disappoint! Castro was very attentive and knowledgeable. We loved our experience at Ninfas!
Daniel
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation never fails to impress. I brought a group from British Airways who was visiting Houston to learn more about our city and equip themselves to recommend it to clients. Ninfa's was a highlight on the itinerary and the entire group is excited to return to the UK and start promoting it.
RicardoA
We had a great meal except for a huge group of more than 15 people that were supposed to be seating at the next table. They kept standing and almost seating on top of our food while their loud conversations drowned everyone else. From starters we loved the Queso Flameado (Mexican White Melting Cheese with House-Made Chorizo which is prepared table-side. For the main meal we tried the Mole Enchiladas (Roasted Chicken, Mole Poblano, Toasted Sesame, Pepitas, Avocado, Radish, Cilantro, Crema, Queso Fresco, Cebollita). We were full and decided against dessert, especially after the obnoxious mob of people took over the room. The food is still amazing!
CAPTAIN
This has been our go-to Tex-Mex for nearly 30 years. It never disappoints. The prices are steep but the quality exceeds the price we pay. Chips are outstanding...salsa is perfect - cool to the touch and perfectly seasoned - I hate warm salsas (like dipping a chip in soup). The fajitas are still the very best in town...and the tortillas are hand-made at the front of the restaurant and taste like they did when I was a kid. You can tell a lot about a Tex-Mex restaurant based on its cheese enchilada. Anybody can throw a bunch of stuff into a tortilla and call it an enchilada...but the simple cheese enchilada covered in a restaurant's own enchilada gravy speaks to the quality of everything else in the restaurant. Ninfa's enchiladas are as good as Matt's El Rancho (Austin) and El Chaparral (Helotes) and some of the best you can get anywhere. Ninfa's on Navigation is such a foundational part of Tex-Mex history, I cannot imagine being a Texan and not eating here whenever possible. If you love Tex-Mex...I mean truly LOVE Tex-Mex, and you have not eaten at Ninfa's on Navigation, you are depriving yourself of a HUGE piece of Tex-Mex history.
Great food and service as always. It was crowded and i couldn't hear anything said at our table because of the reverberation off the walls. So loud! Will sit outside next time!
JamesO
Great queso flameado, excellent home maid tortillas, wonderful beef fajitas. Brisket tamales also a must as well as charro beans. Great chips and salsa. Good service. Highly recommend.
JaneB
What a fun place to go to with a group. It's eclectic and authentic. I highly recommend. I brought some co-workers from England and they loved it. Jose the server was really good - service, and friendliness.
A little disappointed in the fajita meat. It was grizzly and not up to the standard I remember. I used to live in Houston and visited frequently. I now live in Dallas and brought a work-friend to dine while we were in town for business. I rave about Ninfa's to my co-workers, so a little embarrassed the food was not up to the usual standards.
StephanieV
Horrible service. After submitting a brunch order and waiting, we were told brunch was over and had to pick from lunch menu, ordered, Caldo was served cold. Waitress said she was tired after a long shift but she either didn't have all her marbles and/or was high as a kite. Not impressed. Blah.
Our party of six was well attended by waitstaff. Our waitress, Magda, was very kind working with the two small children at our table. She gave good advice on meals we might enjoy, and we ordered the octopus special which was exceptional. The grilled oysters, also exceptional, and my personal favorite, the shrimp Diablo. Although the restaurant was busy, we were in no way rushed. It was a delightful family dinner.
StevenD
Service was fantastic! Don't leave anything of value visible in your car - during the middle of the day, it appeared someone broke the passenger windows of 2 vehicles in the parking lot.
BrandieH
Amazing food and margaritas. The carnitas were absolutely wonderful. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very attentive. This will be one of our favorite restaurants to go to while visiting Houston.
40something
As advertised. The food was delicious, the service was attentive, the place was full but not cramped, just a great dining experience. And we appreciated the portion size wasn't supersized so we didn't feel bloated walking out. I did have trouble restraining myself from the chips and homemade fresh salsa but that's on me. Most people wouldn't put away a whole basket themselves. Hey, I was hungry!
It was extremely hot inside the restaurant where our table was located. I almost got up to walk outside. Mentioned it twice to our waitress who told manager. Next time, I'll request a patio table. Our waitress wasn't as attentive as others I've had.
Great food!! But don't go with a large group. After confirming our reservation and our request for a quieter area so the 10 of us could talk, they said they would put us on the outside covered patio where there was more space and not as noisy. When we showed, and waited 15 minutes past our reservation for the table, they put us in the middle of the main thoroughfare (the only access through the restaurant). It was so narrow that we were bumped and jostled through the entire meal by everyone walking by, especially their own staff, noisy as could be, and the table was so small, there should have only been eight. The people on the ends had to side sideways. It was absolutely horrible.
We had out of town guests and we wanted them to experience the best Mexican food in town. Our food was fantastic! The Shrimp Diablo and the grilled quail were new dishes for us and they did not disappoint! Castro was very attentive and knowledgeable. We loved our experience at Ninfas!
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation never fails to impress. I brought a group from British Airways who was visiting Houston to learn more about our city and equip themselves to recommend it to clients. Ninfa's was a highlight on the itinerary and the entire group is excited to return to the UK and start promoting it.
We had a great meal except for a huge group of more than 15 people that were supposed to be seating at the next table. They kept standing and almost seating on top of our food while their loud conversations drowned everyone else. From starters we loved the Queso Flameado (Mexican White Melting Cheese with House-Made Chorizo which is prepared table-side. For the main meal we tried the Mole Enchiladas (Roasted Chicken, Mole Poblano, Toasted Sesame, Pepitas, Avocado, Radish, Cilantro, Crema, Queso Fresco, Cebollita). We were full and decided against dessert, especially after the obnoxious mob of people took over the room. The food is still amazing!
This has been our go-to Tex-Mex for nearly 30 years. It never disappoints. The prices are steep but the quality exceeds the price we pay. Chips are outstanding...salsa is perfect - cool to the touch and perfectly seasoned - I hate warm salsas (like dipping a chip in soup). The fajitas are still the very best in town...and the tortillas are hand-made at the front of the restaurant and taste like they did when I was a kid. You can tell a lot about a Tex-Mex restaurant based on its cheese enchilada. Anybody can throw a bunch of stuff into a tortilla and call it an enchilada...but the simple cheese enchilada covered in a restaurant's own enchilada gravy speaks to the quality of everything else in the restaurant. Ninfa's enchiladas are as good as Matt's El Rancho (Austin) and El Chaparral (Helotes) and some of the best you can get anywhere. Ninfa's on Navigation is such a foundational part of Tex-Mex history, I cannot imagine being a Texan and not eating here whenever possible. If you love Tex-Mex...I mean truly LOVE Tex-Mex, and you have not eaten at Ninfa's on Navigation, you are depriving yourself of a HUGE piece of Tex-Mex history.
Great food and service as always. It was crowded and i couldn't hear anything said at our table because of the reverberation off the walls. So loud! Will sit outside next time!
Great queso flameado, excellent home maid tortillas, wonderful beef fajitas. Brisket tamales also a must as well as charro beans. Great chips and salsa. Good service. Highly recommend.
What a fun place to go to with a group. It's eclectic and authentic. I highly recommend. I brought some co-workers from England and they loved it. Jose the server was really good - service, and friendliness.
A little disappointed in the fajita meat. It was grizzly and not up to the standard I remember. I used to live in Houston and visited frequently. I now live in Dallas and brought a work-friend to dine while we were in town for business. I rave about Ninfa's to my co-workers, so a little embarrassed the food was not up to the usual standards.
Horrible service. After submitting a brunch order and waiting, we were told brunch was over and had to pick from lunch menu, ordered, Caldo was served cold. Waitress said she was tired after a long shift but she either didn't have all her marbles and/or was high as a kite. Not impressed. Blah.
Restaurantji Recommends
Our party of six was well attended by waitstaff. Our waitress, Magda, was very kind working with the two small children at our table. She gave good advice on meals we might enjoy, and we ordered the octopus special which was exceptional. The grilled oysters, also exceptional, and my personal favorite, the shrimp Diablo. Although the restaurant was busy, we were in no way rushed. It was a delightful family dinner.
Service was fantastic! Don't leave anything of value visible in your car - during the middle of the day, it appeared someone broke the passenger windows of 2 vehicles in the parking lot.
Amazing food and margaritas. The carnitas were absolutely wonderful. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very attentive. This will be one of our favorite restaurants to go to while visiting Houston.
As advertised. The food was delicious, the service was attentive, the place was full but not cramped, just a great dining experience. And we appreciated the portion size wasn't supersized so we didn't feel bloated walking out. I did have trouble restraining myself from the chips and homemade fresh salsa but that's on me. Most people wouldn't put away a whole basket themselves. Hey, I was hungry!
It was extremely hot inside the restaurant where our table was located. I almost got up to walk outside. Mentioned it twice to our waitress who told manager. Next time, I'll request a patio table. Our waitress wasn't as attentive as others I've had.