Chapultepec Lupita — Restaurant in Houston

I was in the area and tried to go to another Tex Mex/Mexican restaurant that ended up being closed. I remembered a colleague telling me about this place and it was close by, so I decided to check it out.

For some reason, walking in was a bit awkward. Maybe it was the lack of any music ( which I don’t think I consciously registered at the time), or the lack of greeting. It was so quiet in there. It was like a movie, when the new guy in town walks in a room and all heads turn and look but no one talks. I felt like Marty McFly walking into the saloon in 1885 for the first time. In the words of Tupac..”All Eyez On Me.”

After the awkward entrance and silence, I made my way to a seat. At this point, I’m just astounded at how quiet it is in this place. It was a Sunday but even church is louder than this. I couldn’t decide if the outdated look of the place was by design or just ambivalence. Either way, what I’m really here is for good food, so judging by the looks, I am expecting some abuela level cuisine here. Growing up in a West Texas Mexican household, I have high expectations when it comes to “authentic Tex Mex/Mexican food” (don’t get me started on this loaded phrase/label and debate). I’m not sure people in the USA, even Texas, understand how many regions and influences there are in Mexican food, Texas Mexican food being one of them. I digress, though, so let me step off my soapbox.

The first time I’m coming to a new Texas Mexican restaurant I’m looking for a few things to standout. The salsa that comes with the chips. I’ll give some leeway on the chips themselves although they can’t be totally generic, but way less leeway on the salsa. This salsa was really good! This is the heat level that seems to be lacking in a lot of restaurants I’ve gone to in the area. When the salsa brings a tear to my eye, these are tears of happiness!

Okay, salsas good. Let’s check a few other things. Do they have Carne Guisada? Check! I’ll order that. And let’s see what those tortillas do. The waitress was very polite and gave us time to peruse the menu.

On a side note, there is a dish called Chapulines on the menu, which means grasshopper in Mexican Spanish ( influenced by Nahuatl, a native Mexican language), and is a thing in Mexican, especially Oaxacan cuisine (again regional). I haven’t found them outside of Hugo’s (let me know Yelpers) in Houston. So I saw this and was excited as heck until I realized, it’s just a chicken or beef burrito. Huh? New one to me. Never heard of burritos referred by that name before.

Anyway, the Carne Guisada comes out. It looks a little different than what my mom and abuela cooked and almost every restaurant in west Texas. I’m used to a lot more gravy with my meat. Half of the fun is trying to soak up all the gravy with tortillas. This had very little. The meat was good. It had a good flavor and was tender and the serving size was good. The beans and rice were solid but not outstanding. The tortillas were a little meh to me. Just not as soft and pliable as I like. If you’ve ever had homemade abuela or mom tortillas, you know what I mean.

Everything was ok and I’d like to try some other things out sometime but I’m not rushing back at the moment. I was going to give 2 stars but then I remembered the salsa, which I ordered a container to go. It was that good. I’d go back just for that. The waitress was very good. Attentive and polite. I’m still mystified about the quiet in there though. Play some music, please. Anything, Tejano, Norteño, Banda, Corridos. Even 80’s or Country music. It’s just weird listening to the table two booths away from me talk about how much they hate El Paso for 30 minutes. I’ll give it a three for now. I hope to return in the future and have a...

I enjoy how lowkey this place is & the fact that it's still around after all the years & through all the terrible changes the Montrose has gone through but I'm just wishing they would step up their game more.

I know the food is at fair prices for the most part but it seems like it's gone downhill, for instance, the salsa - it's decent but they used to warm it up & it definitely seemed yummier that way, not sure if they changed the recipe when they stopped giving the warm salsa since its not as good as i remember. And the cheese is obviously the cheap kind too , the tostado salad was my fave thing to get here & the cheese they put on changed then before i can finish it the bottom of my tostada is all watered down from the cheese, its weird & unappetizing.

And last time we visited it had a very unpleasant smell. Moreso in the front room (I call it the party room) but the stench was very apparent throughout the whole restaurant that definitely doesnt make eating there very appealing.

I really hope Chapultepec steps up their game, being an after hours hangout spot will only take them so far,having decent food *even if they have to raise the prices more would go a long way. I would seriously hate to see them close.

Edit: gave it another try since my friends love to come here.. the smell was a bit fainter this time, salsa was a lot better (they definitely stepped up with the salsa) BUT the ground meat in the tostada salad was barely cooked, literal ball of rare meat in the middle of the salad.. I avoided eating that part but was a little grossed out, I had to convince myself that people eat very rare hamburgers so I shouldn't get sick from it. The salad didnt get too watered down this time so there's that, I think the cheese was the thing that watered it down before, the queso was definitely less watery.

So I'll say aside from those things it's gotten 50% better. I believe in giving places a chance, especially places that are a great part of the community. I'll probably try...

I recently dined at Chapultepec Lupita, and while it is a decent place overall, I found that the food did not quite meet my expectations, especially considering the price point.

Chapultepec Lupita offers a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, with its vibrant decor and lively ambiance. The restaurant has a warm and welcoming feel, making it a pleasant spot to enjoy a meal with friends or family.

However, when it comes to the food itself, I was left somewhat disappointed. While the menu offers a variety of Mexican dishes, ranging from tacos to enchiladas, the flavors and execution fell short of what I anticipated. The dishes lacked the vibrant and authentic taste I had hoped for, leaving them rather mediocre.

Furthermore, considering the price charged for the food, I expected a higher level of quality. Unfortunately, the flavors and presentation did not justify the cost, making it feel like an overpriced dining experience. I believe that for the price paid, diners should be able to enjoy a more satisfying and flavorful meal.

The service at Chapultepec Lupita was adequate, with the staff being polite and attentive. They promptly took our orders and ensured our needs were met throughout the meal. However, the lackluster food overshadowed the otherwise acceptable service.

In conclusion, while Chapultepec Lupita offers a pleasant atmosphere and satisfactory service, I found the food to be mediocre, especially considering the price point. The lack of vibrant flavors and underwhelming execution left me disappointed. There is definitely room for improvement in the quality and value offered. If you decide to dine at Chapultepec Lupita, it might be best to temper your expectations regarding the food and be prepared for a dining experience that may not live up to...