Los Tios — Restaurant in Houston

Los Tios is a casual, old school Tex-Mex restaurant that is something of a Houston institution. This 47 year old restaurant is the kind of place where workers know your name and orders are done by memory, including Tex-Mex dishes served exactly as they were when the restaurant started four decades ago.

I hadn't visited Los Tios since I was a child in the 1970's. The dishes really haven't changed all that much. All of the old school Tex-Mex options are still on the menu. Gary Adair, who purchased the restaurant from its original owner Rosemary Garnett in 2000, took over Los Tios in 2000 and has since added a few locations. The updated menu is more of an enhancement of the original, adding fajitas, homemade tortillas, and premium margaritas.

The food, ambiance and service remain pretty much the same since those days. Los Tios is perhaps best known for its pralines and queso puffs. The service is consistent, provided by employees who have remained with the restaurant throughout their entire careers.

Los Tios offers what I think of as old folks Tex-Mex; bland and inoffensive, similar to what you would experience from a frozen dinner purchased at your local supermarket. Los Tios is definitely a place to take the kids or the grandparents. The food isn't stellar and you'll find tamales, enchiladas and other items covered in chile gravy and the ample use of seasoned grayish ground beef filling tacos and other items just like they were in 70's.

The clientele generally matches the food; regulars who have been coming to Los Tios for years and don't particularly like change or adventurous eating. Gray hair, golf shirts, cargo shorts and white tube socks paired with sandals or orthopedic shoes abound here.

If you're a vegetarian Los Tios is assuredly not the best choice for you unless you're willing to accept dining options generally involving queso or salads made with iceberg lettuce; hold the seasoned ground beef please.

Various combo meals have gone on and off the menu since my childhood, but these dishes are still available; the staff knows them all and knows how to ring them up much like a "Secret" Menu.

The combination plates on the current official Los Tios menu ostensibly go up to No. 8, though years ago there were as many as 14. I understand that the regulars rebelled against the truncated menu and continued to order these off-the-menu combination plates, and Los Tios -- in humble deference to its patrons -- continued to serve them. But only if you asked.

Today, the most popular "secret," request-only combination plates are the No. 14 and the No. 12 (nachos, puffy queso, cheese enchilada and Mexican rice). Clandestine cooking must taste better because I enjoyed the No. 14 so much that I plan to order the No. 12 next time.

For me the puffy tacos, which have been on the menu since the original Beechnut location opened in 1970 are one of the most interesting menu options. They're not just a San Antonio thing either. For 35 years, one woman, Juanita García, has made them. Apparently not just anyone can do it. Juanita shared that It takes the most tender hand, "like holding a piece of lace."

If you're seeking an advant-garde chef-centered restaurant offering an enlightened take on Tex-Mex Los Tios is definitely not the place for you. However, if you're of a nostalgic bent, seeking comfort food from your childhood or looking for a kid-friendly venue or one bland and inoffensive enough to please your older relatives give this Houston...

10/23/2025: I am always surprised at the consistency of LT across all locations. My home location is the Kirkwood restaurant, but I frequent the Westheimer location from time to time. The decor in the San Felipe location is the prettiest, but I digress. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner last night. They have regular table with chairs seating, booth seating, and bar area seating. The service is always spot on and I love that the waitstaff wears the traditional Latin America guayabera shirts. It sets a tone and feels more authentic. THE STAPLES (i.e. meal #1): We all know Texans base a good Mexican restaurant on the chips, salsa, and margs to start. Anything good after that is just a bones. I love their chips. Thin and crispy, with a small tiny bit of visible grease that adheres the salsa and salt perfectly to the chip. They are always hot when they arrive to the table. I love their salsa. They serve both red (cold) and the creamy green (also cold). I have many times turned down an invite to a Mexican restaurant just based on the chip/salsa quality and options. Many times my response will be, "let do LT instead... they have that good salsa and green sauce". The margs are unbeatable. Always a buzzy feel even if you get the house marg. Right out of the gate, you are off to a great start with those 3 items in check. If you are not a Texan and you are scratching your head reading this, trust us. We are closest to the border and we know our stuff! Don't ever try a Florida Mexican restaurant if you are new to Mexican. You will not understand the love. Sorry, Florida. I love you as my home away from home, but the Mexican food needs some serious help. Y'all stick with the seafood. (although, we know how to do seafood in South Texas too!) THE NEXT PHASE (i.e. meal #2): I usually have my main items I order every time. Either the tacos al carbon (beef) or the cheese enchiladas. This time, I decided to order the beef quesadillas. I added a side of rice since I love LTs' rice. The quesadillas were terrific. They were cut in small pizza shaped wedges all nicely lined up on the plate for a nice presentation. They come with sour cream, guac, and diced tomatoes. I was only able to eat half, so I ended up with leftovers, which is always a win. SERVICE: Always friendly and fast service. I think our meal was out in under 10 minutes for our table of 4. Our drinks were never empty and our waiter consistently bused our table well. I highly recommend LT. Start to finish, I always have a...

When you walk into Los Tios Mexican Restaurant, you might expect to be treated to an authentic Mexican dining experience, but the restaurant leans more towards Tex-Mex. To call it a Mexican restaurant is a misnomer, as none of the items on the menu are traditionally Mexican. Although the ambiance of the restaurant and the decor might have remnants of Mexico, the flavors of the food do not quite match up.

I decided to try the combination lunch plate to taste various dishes. Unfortunately, the puffy taco, which is one of their signature dishes, turned out to be a disappointment. The deep-fried, airy tortilla was covered in yellow nacho cheese. That's it. That's what a puffy queso is. The enchilada could have saved the dish, but it was buried under a mound of lettuce to conceal its faults instead of enhancing its flavor. The only saving grace of the meal was the refried beans, which were well-prepared and flavorful. They were the only highlight in a dish that was otherwise mediocre. Our server did not check on us frequently, and our food arrived at different times but the restrooms were clean.

If you are looking for authentic Mexican cuisine or even a decent Tex-Mex meal, avoid Los Tios. In a city as vast as ours, there are better options available for genuine Mexican cuisine or actually good Tex-Mex food. This establishment barely meets the...