Molina’s Cantina - Review - Bellaire - Houston - The Infatuation
"With 80 years under its belt, Molina’s Cantina is the oldest continually operating Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston. The Bellaire location is a family restaurant for everyone. The uncles are glued to the flat-screen TVs by the bar, and excitable 8-year-olds cover every inch of the housemade tortilla chips in steaming queso. But every overlapping conversation at dinner tables will be momentarily silenced as sizzling fajita trays parade through the restaurant. Most of what goes on at Molina’s has stayed the same over the years, which is why people come here. Because—like the enchiladas de tejas, which have been on the menu since the ‘40s—it’s nostalgic. photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen Food Rundown photo credit: Quit Nguyen Queso The queso is thin enough to qualify as a liquid but has enough integrity not to drip off the tortilla chips. But if you’re looking for the best bowl of cheese, order Joe’s dip. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Joe’s Dip Is this just the plain queso with meat added to the center? Yes. Does the salted beef take this bowl of hot, melted cheese from good to great? Also, yes. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Enchiladas De Tejas The enchiladas de tejas are a textbook example of sauce-soaked Tex-Mex enchiladas. While the flavor of the beef can be hit-or-miss, we can forgive the inconsistency because the pool of thick red gravy smothers the dish. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Grilled Fajitas The beef fajitas alone are worth a trip to Molina’s. The sound of a tender skirt steak sizzling in the dining room makes our ears perk up like cocker spaniels. Order extra flour tortillas—you’ll need them." - Gianni Greene
