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    Foodie News

    Tex-Mex tempt: Molina's turns 70 and kicks off a month-long party, 1941 pricesincluded

    Sarah Rufca
    Jul 1, 2011 | 6:15 pm
    • Jose's Dip
    • Molina's
      Photo by Jordan Chan
    • Raul Molina Jr., who was inducted into Texas Restaurant Association's Hall ofHonor in June 2009
      Photo via Molina's Cantina/Facebook
    • Beer selection
      Photo via Molina's Cantina/Facebook
    • Libations
    • Molina's fajitas
      Photo by Kimberly Park
    • Mary Molina, Molina's original "spice girl"
      Photo via Molina's Cantina/Facebook
    • A long-time customer dropped off this nostalgic piece of Molina's history: Apostcard from the original restaurant named "Mexico City Restaurant."
      Photo via Molina's Cantina/Facebook
    • Molina's Cantina
      Photo via Molina's Cantina/Facebook
    • Molina's enchiladas
      Photo by Julio Cortez

    Ninfa's on Navigation is justifiably celebrated for the invention of the fajita. But if you're looking for the oldest family owned and operated Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston, you have to come to Molina's Cantina.

    In 1941 Raul and Mary Molina bought the Old Monterrey Inn, a restaurant where he started as a dishwasher after coming to Houston from Mexico in the 1920s. Seventy years, a couple different locations and two generations later, the restaurants now known as Molina's have because Houston institutions.

    To commemorate the anniversary, Mayor Annise Parker has declared July 1, 2011 "Molina's Cantina Day," but at the restaurants the celebration lasts all month. Not bad for a 70 year old!

    Each day brings its own special, which fans can learn by following Molina's Cantina on Facebook or Twitter. Deals include the cheese enchilada plate and other originals at their 1941 prices (that's an unbelievable 50 cents), signature menu items like the C.W. Special for half price, taco specials on Tuesdays, drink specials and prize giveaways.

    At the restaurants the celebration lasts all month. Not bad for a 70 year old!

    Love the famous Jose's Dip or the Nancy Ames Nachos? There's also a contest to join the half-dozen names on the Molina's menu by submitting your own Tex-Mex recipe (and why you should be picked) via email by July 31. The winner gets his/her creation and his/her name on the menu and a free dinner party for 12.

    Endless bragging rights included as well. Or simply toast Molina's with good wishes on the social media sites throughout the month, and the best toast submission wins a patio party for 25.

    The celebration culminates in an old-fashioned fiesta at the Molina's on Washington on July 31 from 3-6 p.m., with mariachis, free appetizers, drink specials and more.

    Do you have long memories of Molina's? What's your favorite Molina's dish?

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    Perfect Plates

    Only one Houston spot makes OpenTable list of 2025's top 100 restaurants

    Brianna Caleri
    Nov 26, 2025 | 9:30 am
    BCN Taste & Tradition
    BCN Taste & Tradition Facebook
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    Restaurant reservations and reviews platform OpenTable has examined its data to determine the top 100 restaurants in the country for 2025, and only one Houston restaurant made the list — BCN Taste & Tradition, the one star Michelin Spanish fine dining restaurant in Montrose.

    On the other hand, Austin has an enormous slice of the pie with eight representatives. Dallas tied Houston with one restaurant.

    OpenTable emphasizes that professional critics didn't compile this list. Instead, it's based on more than 10 million reviews by verified OpenTable diners along with other metrics. A restaurant had to have a minimum threshold of reviews to be considered — so no matter how great a new restaurant is, it might be too early to count it — and further data included the percentage of five-star reviews, number of alerts set, and more.

    Some, like percentage of reservations made in advance, mean this list awards points for exclusivity rather than casual dining. However, the number of direct searches could be an equalizing factor.

    Most important to readers, the restaurants are not ranked.

    In addition to BCN, four restaurants with Houston locations made the list in their hometowns. They are: Clark's Oyster Bar (Austin), Guard & Grace (Denver), Steak 48 (Phoenix), and Uchi (Austin).

    The list is very similar to the one in 2024, when Steak 48 was Houston's only representative.

    An emphasis on fine or fancy dining isn't necessarily a bad thing. These restaurants live up to their own fanfare, according to reviews, which is no small feat for a restaurant like Uchi. It was named the 60th greatest restaurant in the country this century by luxury lifestyle publication The Robb Report this month. After more than 20 years, adapting to the times and staying fresh is sometimes the greatest thing a restaurant can do.

    Although Austin led the way in Texas, two cities had even more representation. New York City has 10 spots on the list, and Chicago has an unbelievable 16.

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