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    Where to drink margaritas

    Houston, you've earned these cool specials on National Margarita Day

    Eric Sandler
    Feb 19, 2021 | 3:25 pm
    Picos shaker margarita
    Picos serves an extensive selection of margaritas.
    Courtesy of Picos

    Generally, we ignore made-up national food holidays around these parts. First of all, the timing seems completely arbitrary — why is National Oyster Day in August when summer is the worst time of year to eat them raw?

    More importantly, people should eat or drink what they want when they want to. The heart wants what it wants. Make every day National Cheeseburger Day.

    However, we make an exception for National Margarita Day, which happens to be this Monday, February 22. Houstonians have embraced the cocktail as a civic favorite. We drink them on the rocks, frozen, and straight up. Even better, the signature blend of tequila, orange, lime, and sweetener lends to endless variations — try one made with mezcal and Green Chartreuse (trust us).

    That citywide affection prompts bars and restaurants across Greater Houston to run margarita day specials. After all, the only thing better than a good margarita is a good margarita at a discount. Besides, after a week of power outages and busted pipes, every adult that wants one could use a drink (or two).

    Here’s a quick list of a few of our favorite margarita day specials around town. Enjoy them responsibly.

    Calle Onze
    The restaurant is usually closed on Monday, but it will sell margarita kits to-go from 12-6 pm. Get a Classic Margarita (El Jimador tequila or 400 Conejos mezcal, lime juice, orange liqueur, and organic agave nectar, $15) or the Signature Tamarindo Margarita (Xicaru mezcal, tamarindo syrup, lime juice, topped with ginger beer, and garnished with Mexican candy straw, $20).

    Eight Row Flint
    The Heights patio bar may officially be devoted to “whiskey, beer, and tacos,” but the overwhelming popularity of its signature take on the Ranchwater demonstrates its agave affection. Get all day happy hour pricing on rock or frozen margs, which means they cost $7 instead of $12.50.

    El Big Bad
    Monday will be a busy night at this downtown spot. Not only will house margaritas get discounted to $4.95, but Monday is also steak night — complete with live music. Also, February 22 is also “Dirt Day” in tribute to Dirt Bar’s original address (222 Yale), the rock and roll dive bar where EBB owners/brothers Steve and Shaun Sharma first began entertaining Houstonians.

    El Patio
    The restaurant’s “infamous” frozen blue margaritas are $6 all night.

    Hopdoddy Burger Bar
    All of the Austin-based burger joint’s Houston outposts will celebrate margarita day with $5 single-serving margaritas. To-go customers may purchase a 32-ounce bottle of the Doble Fina Margarita or a half gallon bag of frozen margaritas for just $20 (regularly $29.95).

    Monkey’s Tail
    The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Bar of the Year winner will feature a few cocktails on margarita day. Get one on the rocks with Sauza Blanco, orange cordial, broiled lime, and agave or select one of two frozens: regular or Fanta Orange. They’re $6 during happy hour (4-7 pm) or $8 the rest of the night.

    Picos
    The Upper Kirby restaurant known for its signature shaker margarita has a number of tempting margarita day options, including the El Jefe mixed with Patrón Roca Silver Tequila, Patrón Citronge Orange Liqueur, and fresh lime juice ($14); La Elegance made with Don Julio 1942, Cointreau Noir, and fresh lime juice ($28); and the Ilegal Rita made with Ilegal Mezcal joven, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, lime, orange, and agave with a tajin rim ($13).

    Pistoleros
    The Montrose taco and tequila joint will offer $6 Milagro margaritas on Monday.

    The Taco Stand
    The newly opened restaurant offers canned and frozen margaritas alongside its extensive taco selection. On Monday, get frozens for $9.99, single cans for $7.99, and double cans for $9.99. And yes, they’re available for both dine-in and via drive-thru — just don’t open the cans until arriving at home.

    cocktailswhere-drink
    news/restaurants-bars

    truffle masters recap

    Street corn shines at Houston's truffle-powered chef competition

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 12, 2026 | 5:32 pm
    Truffle Masters 2026
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Marcus Benedict, Daniella Johner, and chef Luis Roger of MAD and BCN.

    One of Houston’s top Mexican restaurants took the top prize at this year’s Truffle Masters competition. Victoria Elizondo, chef-owner of Cochinita & Co., bested 24 other Houston chefs with Elotitos, corn brushed with chiltepin aioli, dusted with seven chile spice, and finished with shaved truffles and Parmesan.

    “The team killed it last night,” Elizondo wrote on Instagram. “We won 1st place at @thetrufflemasters all while having fun and cooking with love! Food doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be made with corazón!”

    The attention couldn’t have come at a better time. As CultureMap reported last month, Cochinita & Co. is currently in the process of opening a second location in Lindale Park. Customers can invest in the project via the NuMarket platform in exchange for credits at the restaurant.

    Second prize went to Camaraderie in the Heights for its black sesame and black truffle gelato, while Cocody, a French restaurant in River Oaks, took third place for its truffle-shaped Lollys Persillade Escargot Cromesquis, essentially an escargot lollypop with with black truffle and quail egg in the middle.

    Montrose sushi restaurant Soto won People’s Choice with its Engawa fin muscle with truffle balsamic unagi sauce, kizami, and chocolate black truffle masago arare. Aniket Bhingare, a bartender at Michelin-starred restaurant Musaafer, won the cocktail competition with his Pour Me a Slice, made with truffle and herb-infused and a clarified mix of roma tomatoes, fresh basil, oregano, basil, and truffle oil.

    Other standout dishes included a Yukon Gold potato with truffle brown butter from Michelin-recognized sushi restaurant Hidden Omakase, truffle s’mores from Israeli-inspired steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, beef tartare and truffle ice cream from fine dining sushi restaurant Katami, and Credence’s truffle duck sausage with plums and truffles. Maximo, a Mexican restaurant in West U., maximized (sorry) its truffle usage with a Cachetada de Barbacoa Taco, made with nixtamalized truffle tortilla, truffle-braised barbacoa, and sottocenere al tartufo cheese with black garlic-habanero salsa

    More than 350 attended the sold-out affair, which took place at the Astorian events space in Sawyer Yards. The judging panel include both media members (such as this author) and hospitality pros. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the KNOWAutism Foundation.

    Truffle Masters 2026

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Marcus Benedict, Daniella Johner, and chef Luis Roger of MAD and BCN.

    news/restaurants-bars
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