Best Mexican and Tex-Mex Restaurants in Upper Kirby, Houston

The best Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Upper Kirby, Houston, are Goode Co. Taqueria on Kirby Drive, El Tiempo Cantina and Little Pappasito's Cantina on Richmond Avenue, Armandos and Chuy's on Westheimer Road, Lupe Tortilla on the Southwest Freeway, and the Gaspachos Mexican Bites kiosk in Levy Park. All seven sit inside the Upper Kirby district, and each was confirmed open on its own official website in November 2026.

Here is the fun part: this small district holds three of Houston's best-known Tex-Mex family names. The Laurenzo family of Ninfa's fame runs El Tiempo on Richmond, the Pappas family's Little Pappasito's sits a few blocks east of it, and the Goode family's taqueria grills over mesquite on Kirby Drive. You could eat your way through Houston Tex-Mex history without leaving the red street signs.

How we define Upper Kirby in this guide: the Upper Kirby district bounded by Westheimer Road to the north, South Shepherd Drive to the east, Bissonnet Street to the south and Buffalo Speedway to the west. Restaurants with an address on one of those four boundary streets count. For the wider neighborhood, see our Upper Kirby area guide.

The quick list

• For breakfast tacos and migas: Goode Co. Taqueria, open from 7 a.m. on weekdays.
• For Ninfa's family Tex-Mex: El Tiempo Cantina on Richmond Avenue.
• For fajitas that sizzle on the way to the table: Little Pappasito's Cantina or Lupe Tortilla.
• For a dressed-up night out: Armandos on Westheimer.
• For a cheap, cheerful group dinner: Chuy's at Westheimer and Kirby.
• For a mangonada in the park: Gaspachos Mexican Bites in Levy Park.

How we chose

Every pick had to meet three tests: a street address inside our Upper Kirby boundary, a current listing on the restaurant's own website (or official ordering page), and a reason to choose it over the place next door. We favored distinct identities over duplicates, so you get a breakfast taqueria, two family Tex-Mex dynasties, a 1978 institution, an Austin import, a fajita specialist and a park kiosk.

We left out Arnaldo Richards' Picos, the regional Mexican restaurant long associated with Kirby Drive, because its address is 3736 Westheimer Road, west of Buffalo Speedway and outside our boundary. It is still worth the short drive; see our citywide best Mexican restaurants in Houston guide for more regional cooking.

Hours change, especially around holidays. Treat every schedule below as typical and check the official site before you go.

Where can you get breakfast tacos in Upper Kirby?

Goode Co. Taqueria at 4902 Kirby Drive is the Upper Kirby breakfast pick, opening at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on weekends.

Goode Co. Taqueria

4902 Kirby Dr, Upper Kirby · typically Mon–Tue 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m., Wed–Thu 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m. · [goodecompanytaqueria.com](https://goodecompanytaqueria.com/locations/kirby-drive/)

The Goode family opened a small barbecue joint off Kirby Drive in 1977, then a taqueria across the street, according to the company. The taqueria's tagline sums it up: Tex and Mex meeting mesquite. Hand-painted menus, a salsa bar and a courtyard fountain make it feel like a Hill Country roadside stop dropped into the middle of town.

What to order: migas or the Buck Fever (venison sausage and eggs) in the morning; the mesquite burger or a mesquite-grilled dinner (fajita, ribeye or border quail) later on; the Damn Goode Margarita; and a slice of Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie to finish.

I didn't know that: Goode Co. says it was the first restaurant in Houston to grill fajitas over mesquite.

Best for: an early start, a casual lunch, and out-of-town guests who want Houston flavor without a reservation.

Which Upper Kirby Tex-Mex restaurants have family history?

El Tiempo Cantina and Little Pappasito's Cantina, both on Richmond Avenue, come from two of Houston's long-running restaurant families.

El Tiempo Cantina (Richmond)

3130 Richmond Ave, Upper Kirby · typically Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; weekend brunch 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. · [eltiempocantina.com](https://www.eltiempocantina.com/locations/richmond)

El Tiempo is the Laurenzo family's Tex-Mex group. According to the company, Roland Laurenzo, one of the sons of Ninfa's founder Ninfa Laurenzo, opened the first El Tiempo Cantina on Richmond Avenue in 1998 with his oldest son. So when you eat on Richmond, you are eating at the starting line of the second chapter of a Houston family story.

What to order: the chicken and beef fajitas, and look for the Bow Tie Laurenzo, a bow-tie pasta dish that carries the family name.

Best for: weekend brunch, big-table Tex-Mex, and anyone curious about the Ninfa's lineage. For more on the city's founding families, see old-school Tex-Mex in Houston.

Little Pappasito's Cantina

2536 Richmond Ave, Upper Kirby · typically Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–9 p.m. · [pappasitos.com](https://pappasitos.com/location/66)

The Pappas family's company timeline lists Little Pappasito's at Richmond and Kirby as opening in June 1990, the sixth Pappasito's ever. The original Pappasito's at Richmond and Hillcroft is now permanently closed, per the company, which makes this smaller Richmond Avenue cantina the brand's foothold on the street where it started.

What to order: beef fajitas, which Pappas says are made only with outside skirt steak; fresh guacamole; and a margarita made with fresh-squeezed lime juice. The company says its salsa is roasted daily and its tortillas are made in-house.

Best for: a reliable fajita dinner on a weeknight. See our best fajitas in Houston guide for the full skillet rundown.

Where to go for a Tex-Mex night out in Upper Kirby

Armandos on Westheimer is the dressed-up choice, with Wagyu fajitas, lobster enchiladas and late Thursday nights.

Armandos

2630 Westheimer Rd, Upper Kirby · typically opens daily at 4 p.m., closing at 9 p.m. Sun–Wed and later Thu–Sat; Thursday late night 10 p.m.–1 a.m. (23 and up) · [armandosrestaurant.com](https://armandosrestaurant.com/)

Armandos has been on Westheimer since 1978, and the restaurant describes itself as part dinner spot, part packed dance floor. Reservations are encouraged through OpenTable, though the restaurant says it holds tables for walk-ins.

What to order: the Panchita, built on the house's twice-refried beans; Lobster Enchiladas; Texas Prime Wagyu Fajitas made with Akaushi beef; or one of the named combination plates such as Lulu's, Mandito's or Flaco's.

Insider tip: Thursday is the night. Dinner runs into a 23-and-up late session that goes until 1 a.m.

Best for: birthdays, date nights and a Tex-Mex dinner that runs late. Pair it with our date night in Upper Kirby guide.

Casual Tex-Mex for groups and families

Chuy's at Westheimer and Kirby and Lupe Tortilla on the Southwest Freeway are the easy, crowd-pleasing picks for families and big groups.

Chuy's (River Oaks)

2706 Westheimer Rd at Kirby Dr, Upper Kirby · check hours on the [Chuy's River Oaks ordering page](https://order.chuys.com/menu/chuys-river-oaks) before you go · [chuys.com](https://www.chuys.com/our-story)

Chuy's calls this location River Oaks, but its address sits on Upper Kirby's Westheimer edge. The chain opened in Austin in 1982, and its motto is that if you've seen one Chuy's, you've seen one Chuy's: each location gets its own decor, with hubcaps over the booths and carved wooden fish hanging from the ceiling.

What to order: the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom Enchiladas, roasted chicken and cheese under the house Boom-Boom sauce, with a side of Creamy Jalapeño for your chips.

Best for: groups who want big plates and no fuss.

Lupe Tortilla

2414 Southwest Fwy, Upper Kirby · typically Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; brunch Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; happy hour Mon–Fri 3–6:30 p.m. · [tex-mex.com](https://tex-mex.com/west-university-downtown/)

Lupe Tortilla lists this restaurant as its West University / Downtown location, but the address is on the Southwest Freeway feeder near Morningside Drive, between Kirby and Shepherd, inside Upper Kirby. The house specialty is fajitas, marinated in lime and pepper and served with hand-pressed flour tortillas.

What to order: the sizzling fajitas, The Original Chicken Lupe, puffy tacos, and the Ice Cream Taco for dessert.

Best for: families, weekend brunch and a weekday happy hour that starts at 3 p.m.

Mexican street snacks in Levy Park

Gaspachos Mexican Bites is the kiosk inside Levy Park, serving fruit, mangonadas and street snacks from late morning into the evening.

Gaspachos Mexican Bites

Park kiosk at Levy Park, 3709 Eastside St, Upper Kirby · typically open from late morning until 10 or 11 p.m.; Gaspachos and Levy Park list slightly different hours, so check before you go · [gaspachoshtx.com](https://gaspachoshtx.com/)

Gaspachos started in 2015 as a trailer and now runs the concession kiosk at Levy Park, according to its website. It is the most fun way to eat Mexican food in Upper Kirby: you order at a window, then sit by the playground or the lawn.

What to order: the namesake gaspacho fruit cup, a mangonada, tostilocos or street elotes. For a full taco crawl, see our best tacos in Upper Kirby guide. Levy Park lists frozen margaritas, micheladas and aguas frescas at the kiosk, too.

I didn't know that: Levy Park says the kiosk keeps treats for dogs, so your four-legged friend gets a snack too. Plan the visit with our Levy Park guide.

Best for: families, dog walkers and a cheap afternoon treat.

Save this: an Upper Kirby Tex-Mex day

Save this route for a full day of Mexican food without leaving Upper Kirby.

1. 8 a.m.: migas and coffee at Goode Co. Taqueria on Kirby Drive (opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays).
2. Noon: a fajita lunch at El Tiempo or Little Pappasito's on Richmond Avenue.
3. 3 p.m.: a mangonada at Gaspachos in Levy Park, with a lap around the park.
4. 4 p.m.: happy hour at Lupe Tortilla (weekdays, 3–6:30 p.m.).
5. 7 p.m.: dinner at Armandos on Westheimer, and on Thursdays, stay for the 23-and-up late night.

More to do between meals: things to do in Upper Kirby. For non-Mexican dinners nearby, see the best restaurants in Upper Kirby, and for the citywide Tex-Mex picture, read best Tex-Mex in Houston.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Upper Kirby, Houston?

Our picks are Goode Co. Taqueria (4902 Kirby Dr), El Tiempo Cantina (3130 Richmond Ave), Little Pappasito's Cantina (2536 Richmond Ave), Armandos (2630 Westheimer Rd), Chuy's (2706 Westheimer Rd), Lupe Tortilla (2414 Southwest Fwy) and Gaspachos Mexican Bites in Levy Park. Each was confirmed open on its official website in November 2026.

What are the boundaries of Upper Kirby?

Upper Kirby is the district bounded by Westheimer Road to the north, South Shepherd Drive to the east, Bissonnet Street to the south and Buffalo Speedway to the west. This guide counts restaurants with addresses on those boundary streets.

Where can I get breakfast tacos in Upper Kirby?

Goode Co. Taqueria at 4902 Kirby Drive typically opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Its breakfast menu includes migas and Buck Fever, a venison sausage and eggs plate.

Which Upper Kirby Tex-Mex restaurant is connected to Ninfa's?

El Tiempo Cantina at 3130 Richmond Avenue is run by the Laurenzo family. According to El Tiempo, Roland Laurenzo, one of Ninfa Laurenzo's sons, opened the first El Tiempo on Richmond Avenue in 1998.

Is Picos in Upper Kirby?

No. Arnaldo Richards' Picos lists its address as 3736 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77027, outside the Upper Kirby boundary used in this guide. It is a short drive west of the district.

Which Upper Kirby Mexican restaurant is open late?

Armandos at 2630 Westheimer Road typically runs a 23-and-up late night on Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Most other Upper Kirby Tex-Mex restaurants typically close by 9 or 10 p.m.