Ninfa's on Navigation

Although gastronomic archeologists have been working for decades to uncover the true origins of Tex-Mex, most Houstonians will tell you that it was invented by the late Mama Ninfa back in 1973 when the enterprising cook injected some lone star influences into her Mexican family recipes and started serving them up in a funky old building on the north side of downtown. Word spread quickly among food aficionados and this local institution has been packed ever since. Today, our beloved Mama Ninfa’s legacy lives-on thanks to chef Alex Padilla, who has extended the original menu beyond Mama’s groundbreaking tacos al carbon, enchiladas and kick-ass salsas to more sophisticated fare such as snapper in Veracruzana pepper and carrot sauce and the redfish adorned in tomatillo relish. Ninfa’s now has its own garden and freshly picked produce is used in the execution of dishes in a restaurant that remains a part of the city’s folklore.

While there are other Ninfa's around town, the location on Navigation is the original. Much of the waitstaff has been there for years.