El Tiempo Cantina

Tex-Mex restaurant · Langwood

El Tiempo Cantina

Tex-Mex restaurant · Langwood

1

12440 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77092

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El Tiempo Cantina by null
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El Tiempo Cantina by null
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El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null
El Tiempo Cantina by null

Highlights

Hearty Tex-Mex dishes, strong margaritas & festive decor  

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12440 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77092 Get directions

eltiempocantina.com

$20–30 · Menu

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12440 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77092 Get directions

+1 713 821 9027
eltiempocantina.com

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 13, 2025

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@infatuation

Where to eat at Minute Maid Park while watching the Astros

"Location: Section 156 The frozen margarita from El Tiempo Margarita Bar seems pretty standard: a lime-green citrusy drink that has more slush than not. But after a few sips, it’s clear this cocktail is stronger than the maraschino cherry on top would lead you to believe. Every drop tastes equally sweet and boozy. It’s pleasantly icy and will keep you cool through every inning, though you’ll probably have to babysit this drink throughout the game." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

https://www.theinfatuation.com/houston/guides/best-food-minute-maid-park
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J.R.

Google
This place did not disappoint. We were amazed at the quality of service and food. The inside was beautifully designed. Greeted warmly as soon as we walked in and approached at least 3 associates to make sure we were taking care of. We purchased the filet mignon fajitas, and it was some of the best fajitas I've had and worth every penny. This place came to us as a recommendation, and we are happy we listened. Also the restrooms and restaurant were clean and well maintained.

Modi K

Google
We recently visited El Tiempo Cantina 290, and while the food and drinks were on point, the customer service could use some improvement. The chicken and beef fajitas were delicious--perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. And the margaritas? They were flavorful and refreshing, just the right balance. The vibrant colors and festive decor set a lively mood and make it a fun spot for dinner. However, our experience was somewhat overshadowed by the service. Our server seemed a bit disengaged, and we felt rushed throughout our meal. It felt like they were more focused on turning tables than making us feel welcome. It was disappointing, as we were looking forward to a more relaxed dining experience. Overall, we'd come back for the food and drinks, but we hope for a more attentive and welcoming service next time! I also realize there are other locations with Houston and so we will try other locations. I sure do miss the one in the Montrose area in the past.

Stacey Esmer

Google
Delicious food, cute atmosphere, amazing staff. Our waiter was friendly and service was insanely fast. The tortillas blew me away. Great Tex Mex experience all around. Also I loved the colors and atmosphere inside.

Khang Tran

Google
As prices continue to rise everywhere, I think El Tiempo will stand the test of time. It’s a nice place with good food and good chips and salsa. It’s a great place for groups of people and they’ve got good service. I give it 4 stars because of the prices. Pretty average food for above average prices.

Jason Brooks

Google
I'm not much of a Tex Mex lover myself however this restaurant is one of my favorites. Delicious food and great atmosphere. I have never had a bad experience here. Come hungry and leave full and happy!

Hanan F. Del Rio

Google
We went for a work lunch and it was a great, atmosphere. Great service and the food was delicious. I ordered the salmon fajitas and I think that was probably one of the best salmon dishes I’ve had in a really really long time. Highly recommend.

Diana Mercado

Google
We had an amazing experience at El Tiempo Cantina! Our server, Liliana, was absolutely wonderful—friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. She truly made our night special!

Saurabh Goel

Google
Ambience was fantastic, margarita on hot day was nice, food was warm, fresh and delicious, with generous quantity in given price. they upfront asked for vegetarian option a rare experience in American Mexican restaurant. Will definately visit with friends.
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Medina K.

Yelp
We recently visited El Tiempo Cantina 290, and while the food and drinks were on point, the customer service could use some improvement. The chicken and beef fajitas were delicious--perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. And the margaritas? They were flavorful and refreshing, just the right balance. The vibrant colors and festive decor set a lively mood and make it a fun spot for dinner. However, our experience was somewhat overshadowed by the service. Our server seemed a bit disengaged, and we felt rushed throughout our meal. It felt like they were more focused on turning tables than making us feel welcome. It was disappointing, as we were looking forward to a more relaxed dining experience. Overall, we'd come back for the food and drinks, but we hope for a more attentive and welcoming service next time! I also realize there are other locations with Houston and so we will try other locations. I sure do miss the one in the Montrose area in the past.
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Jose C.

Yelp
I've been to Texas so many times and I have never tried fajitas. Usually it's bbq food or just queso and some other entree like enchiladas, is what I'll get in Texas but never fajitas. I've never been a big fan of fajitas. The beef or chicken with bell peppers and onions. You get more veggies than actual meat. Let me tell you these aren't that type of fajitas. When I say I've been missing out, I mean I've been missing out. Texas knows how to do fajitas. We came without any reservation and was able to get seated right away. The interior is very spacious and beautifully decorated, the customer service was top notch. Very friendly and fast. Our server had such a great attitude. We ordered a couple of frozen margaritas, and some queso to start off our night. We also ordered their 1lb Large Chicken & Beef Fajitas. That was plenty of food for our party of four. The margaritas were of course really good. The chips and queso came with fried flour chips instead of traditional corn chips. They were tasty as well. The fajitas were amazing. Both the beef and the chicken were perfectly cooked and seasoned. They were very tender and flavorful. I just wish they would have had a bit more a mesquite flavor to them. They were served on top of grilled onions. They came out very hot and served with rice, frijoles charros, tortillas (corn or flour), cheese, sour cream and pico de gallo on the side. I tried a taco with a flour tortilla, cheese and sour cream and was not a big fan. The way to go is with a corn tortilla, rice, beans and salsa only. This is the way to go. They tasted better that way. What stole the show was those wonderful grilled onions underneath all the meat. They were so good I had to find a replica recipe online to make them. Overall, I had such an amazing experience. Perhaps this isn't the best Houston has to offer, but as long as my tummy is happy I'm happy and will definitely consider returning. Will have to try a few others before, but I will never forget my first fajitas.
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Jennifer J.

Yelp
We did an early weeknight dinner and loved the food! We did the beef steak fajitas and they were so good. The quality of the meat was fantastic and they were delicious. We really enjoyed the green rice and charro beans as well. The flour tortillas were fresh and made in house. Our service was great. They did a team approach to service and everyone was very kind and attentive. The ambiance is nice and definitely channels the Tex-Mex vibe very well. We'll be back! :)
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Jaime F.

Yelp
I drove 30 minutes to eat here and it was worth it. I came here for one thing alone ....the lamb quesabirrias. And they damn it boy! did not disappoint! The consume (soup Broth for the nonspanish speaking) was so freaking delicious this is how it's done! Mmmm god bless it this was good. Anyone who says different... let me say you don't know what you're talking about and you have insulted my culture.
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Jason Z.

Yelp
I honestly didn't know there was a store here; this area next to 290 isn't great; it's right off of 290 next to a few other chain restaurants. Upon entering their parking lot; a security vehicle was parked up front; to mitigate car theft incidents and such. Upon entering in; it was probably the most empty El Tiempo that I've been to (compared to the one on Washington, the Montrose spot, and the EaDo location). It was also about 60* and freezing inside so we sat on the patio. Service was average, think it might have to do with how out of the way our table was. The food was consistent with El Tiempo; we ordered 2lbs of beef fajitas ($73/lb), some queso, and some margaritas. Honestly fajita prices have been insane since before Covid and it's no different here. The beef was cooked well so no complaints there. I do prefer the tortillas and beef from Lupe better but these are still decent. It looks like they took guac out of the fajita combos, which is a bummer. I'm not too big a fan of their semi plasticky queso but it seems like the others enjoyed it. Overall it's a solid spot for Tex mex but just not near the top of any of my lists when we go out by ourselves. The area also isn't great so park carefully especially at night.
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Alexis C.

Yelp
Let me start out with I LOVE EL TIEMPO. I've been a fan and advocate for the establishment for 15 years. The reason this location is 3 stars v. 5 is the food doesn't taste quite as good or as fresh than the Taft, Richmond, or Washington locations. This location is definitely more family friendly than the Washington location, but that's about the only upside. So if you're needing a fix for proximity this will work (and I think there's a special day where kids eat free). Otherwise I would recommend going a bit further to one of the more central locations.
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Ye J.

Yelp
Came here on a week day during dinner time, this is probably the emptiest El Tiempo I've ever been at. The inside was freezing cold (instant goosebumps and feel like I can almost see my breathe) so we opted to sit on the outdoor patio. We ordered 2lbs of fajitas, sausage, queso and couple margaritas. Quality of fajitas and margaritas are on par with other El Tiempo locations, but this chain as a whole is overpriced at $73/lb for fajitas in my opinion. The queso was mid, got cold and turned solid very quickly. I'm also disappointed they didn't provide guac with the fajita combo. Given the restaurant was pretty empty during the time, service was pretty slow (although may due to us being outside and tucked away). If you are looking for the usual noisy, lively Tex-Mex experience, this is probably not the place or location for you.
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Kathryn G.

Yelp
The brisket quesadillas used the be the best item on the menu, but unfortunately, the brisket recipe changed. The manager confirmed that all locations have changed the brisket. I'm hoping they change it back! Other than the food, the service was great!
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Warren J.

Yelp
One of the worst chile rellenos I've ever had. Pastor and cheese. Pastor was dry, cheese was darn near nonexistent. Poblano was raw. Breading was gummy and barely fried. Very sad example. Service was great.

Racine R.

Yelp
The service is horrible! I began to place more order for 3 of us and I was substituting some veggies on the veggie fajitas and proceeded to say I wanted black refried which the waiter didn't even ask, and as he walked off he said real loudly "my gosh" lmao like wtf...I got up n left n told the managers up front and they said they would speak w him. That old geezer probably tell them what to do
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Gaby D.

Yelp
Came here for a work lunch, and honestly it was extremely disappointing. First the waiter gave us regular menus and we had to ask a few times to get a lunch specials menu with slightly better prices that were still outrageous for what the food is. At least we got them and I ordered the chicken fajita with soup combo. I'll share a photo of the "chicken fajita" Literally a small tortilla with cubes of chicken that look like they were simply defrosted. Nothing else. No cheese, no veggies, no sour cream, or topping of any sort. It looked like a joke. And that little cup of chicken cubes and celery with my chicken chunks plain taco cost me $22.
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Maria V.

Yelp
I originally came to El Tiempo Cantina back in 2021. One of the supervisors at my job gave me a gift card to celebrate my wedding my husband and I enjoyed it so much we took my in-laws about a month later. The food was delicious, our fajitas came out hot & there was plenty of food that we even had left overs. Since it's a little out of the way for us we have a usual Mexican restaurant but that one burned down. We were craving some Mexican food and decided to come back to El Tiempo. Don't let the bad reviews keep you away! Our server was super nice and attentive. The restaurant was clean and as we sat there it was starting to get packed. Our food came out quick and we forgot to take pics because it was just as good as two years ago!
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Chrissy P.

Yelp
I'm from California where we claim to have the best Mexican food. I've been to Texas dozens of times and can now admit that El Tiempo has officially changed my opinion! The tenderness and flavor of the brisket (enchiladas and burrito) was out of this world. The creamy avocado salsa - I could drink through a straw. The beans and rice perfect. The delicious meal was finished off with their amazingly delicious Tres Leches cake! The food quality and the service were impeccable. I cannot wait to go back on my next visit to Houston.
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Sara C.

Yelp
This is the secret El Tiempo that never has a wait. We love it. We are probably here once at least once a month for their killer Wednesday special, which is a pound of beef, chicken, or combo fajitas, queso, and all the fixins for like $45, which is a steal compared to their normally prices. Service can sometimes be slow, but the servers and staff are kind and friendly and the margs are always good. Regarding the other reviews, I have never felt unsafe here and it is really common for a lot of Houston restaurants to hire security guards for their parking lots. This location also has ample parking and a bonus of no valet. Highly recommend this location, but don't tell your friends so it doesn't become as busy as the others lol.
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Elaine S.

Yelp
Wow! This place has homemade tortillas and I must add that their fajitas are on point. It is pricy but worth every penny. This is a must go place and I must add that it is always full of folks and that should tell you something.
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Lee N.

Yelp
If in Houston, visit El Tiempo Cantina off 290. It was the most amazing dinner we had while in town. We were greeted by manager Juan Morales when we walked in the door and developed a friendship. He and his staff went above and beyond taking care of two Canadian "foodies". The experience was higher than we even anticipated when the restaurant came highly recommended. The food was so fresh and juicy and we didn't wait long. The cheesecake filled churros were outstanding and finished the meal off perfectly. The entire staff treated us like family and took very good care of us. We're going back before we leave.
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Tim J.

Yelp
Yall know the food here aint cheap, and the service is supposedly to be great. We got decent service, food came out cold. Pretty disappointed that they could not reheat carne guisada correctly.
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Ana B.

Yelp
Tried this place out on Father's Day, to our surprise it wasn't that packed. We thought maybe we got lucky. Waiter took our drink order and then didn't see him again for about 20 mins and that's only because we informed another waiter that we still had been waiting. Food was pretty pricey. We paid more than $150. We got one of the parrilladas plus and it was a big disappointment. They crammed all that meat into one of those little heating trays, you'd think they'd have different sizes. The menu listed it having so many different meats with it but when we asked the waiter he said it was for only certain parrillas which was confusing. Service could definitely be better for that price. Glad we tried this place but we for sure won't be trying it again. There are a lot of other Tex Mexs with better food and service and for a lot less.
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Charles H.

Yelp
Enjoyed our usual Friday happy hour at El Tiempo. Top notch service and the food and drinks hit the spot!
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Jacinda G.

Yelp
This place is awesome!! Food is always delicious. Usually little or no wait. Friendly and attentive staff.
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Angie M.

Yelp
TOP NOTCH! ALWAYS! You can smell the roasted tomatoes for the fresh salsa! We're back for more. Authentic, fresh, always delicious and always great service! Alejandro is always our server and takes thee best care of us! Truly, all we needed was the roasted tomato salsa and chips, and the MANGO MARGARITA !!! Food-wise, we ordered: Beef Fajita Enchiladas, Las Vegas, Brisket Burrito, Rachero Chicken enchiladas, and the shrimp and crab enchiladas. ALL...delicious.

Rasheed M.

Yelp
Like other said this place is always empty . Which can be nice if you want to get in and sit down. Ate at the bar, service was great and the chicken rancheros was delicious
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Ronnie B.

Yelp
Had lunch at this location Jan. 18, 2024; good service, standard chips/salsa. Found the chicken fajitas to be bland, and the biggest complaint was one of our group ordered two cheese enchiladas ala carte and with a separate dinner while another diner had a two cheese enchilada dinner. The dinner billed at $16.95E while each ala carte enchilada was billed as separate line items at $10.00/E even while being served on a single platter with no sides. Always check your bill!

Tim B.

Yelp
We ordered food for delivery via GrubHub. The food took a long time to arrive, and we only received half of what we ordered, and what we did receive was cold. This could have been an issue with GrubHub, or El Tiempo, or both.
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Colby L.

Yelp
We love el tiempo. This location is quick and has some great deals. Been coming here for years and I would put it above most locations in the city.

Gabriel G.

Yelp
Food is good, no complaints there. Watch out for a server named Joe, an older hispanic man. He is a thief. He will help himself to a generous tip if you use a credit card to pay for a meal. He altered the signed merchant copy of the reciept where I wrote in a "0" tip, as I left him a 20% cash tip. Later, I discovered the alteration to the copy of the reciept left at the restaurant and that he has done this many times with other customers. I returned to the restaurant and the manager apologized for the employees theft, gave me a $25 coupon and assured me there would be consequences. Joe still works there as a server. I know 2 former employees who worked at this restaurant that worked with Joe, and they say he is allowed to get away with this time and time again with no consequences because he is a member of the owners family. The owners should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this thief to continue to work there.

Yajaira A.

Yelp
The breakfast/brunch is not worth it! The eggs have no flavor. The pancakes are thinner than the tortillas. The bacon was all in a ball not even in strips. The potatoes look like they were from yesterday! I DO NOT RECOMMEND. Just save yourself money and go to first watch or anything else other than this brunch. NO SE GASTE EL TIEMPO
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Lisbet A.

Yelp
Tres leches cakes is a must try, moist and sweet. . Service is always great and always clean.
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Anthony K.

Yelp
Hey, they expanded their Happy Hour to 7pm, a big plus. Service always is notably top notch. The food cones out hot, no complain there. I knocked them down a star because their prices are higher than competitors in the area. Hey, this isn't River Oaks, Highland Village, or Rice Village, this is off of 290 in a quasi-depressing area.
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Vicki G.

Yelp
My parents, husband and I ate dinner here on Christmas Eve. It was, thankfully, not crowded and relatively quiet. Perhaps everyone else knew what we did not? I realize that the Ninfa's restaurants are acclaimed for their grilled meats, and admittedly, my parents and I are NOT grilled meat people. However, one would expect such an innocuous item as cheese enchiladas to be good. My mother and I ordered a combination plate (Los Dos?), with chili con carne sauce on the enchilada. My father ordered another combination plate (La Reata?), while my husband ordered the Enchiladas Suizas. Though we were warned about the "hot plate," there was no need for that. The ends of the enchiladas were so tough that it was difficult to cut them with a serrated knife. I'm guessing they were made ahead and not kept covered with sauce. The chili con carne did not make for an appetizing plate-- dark, thick and lumpy. The minuscule dab of guacamole might have been good -- it was hard to get a take on such a small sampling. Taco was bland. Rice was tasty with salsa on it. The beans were very very runny -- better as a dip than a dish. My father said he couldn't tell where the enchilada stopped and the tamale began. My husband said the chicken in his Suizas was diced instead of shredded, which made it inauthentic and harder to eat. Service was adequate. All in all, an unpleasant meal we won't repeat.
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Damien G.

Yelp
Let's just keep it realistic. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. Great customer service and the bartender is A1 like the steak sauce.
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Mike M.

Yelp
This newest outpost of El Tiempo recently opened and is in an area I frequent so I came by for dinner. They have their own parking lot which offers free and valet parking and there was a security guard standing outside. Inside the restaurant is nicely decorated in true El Tiempo style with large wagon wheel light fixtures above and large pictures of people on the walls with Latin music playing in the background. After being seated, I ordered the 1/4lb. chicken fajitas with charro beans and homemade corn tortillas (they also have homemade flour ones too). The chips and red and green salsas appeared and were all very good. Crunchy chips, red salsa with a little bit of kick and the light green guacamole salsa was cool and smooth on the tongue. The meal arrived in less than 10 minutes. This meal was of high quality. The chicken meat was very tender with nice carmelzed onions on the platter. The charro beans had a lot of content and flavor. The 3 corn tortillas were fresh and that small container of clarified butter that they put on the platter really adds to the flavor enhancement of the meal. Table service was attentive and professional. El Tiempo is a quality restaurant that uses high grade ingredients to make great tasting food. Yes, you will pay more here for it but you will also get enjoyment in return. When I came to this new location I expected the same experience that I have received at other El Tiempos' and I got it.
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Meagan S.

Yelp
You know the food was good and all but the prices are a little high for my liking. Service was good, I've only been 2x. It's clean inside and well maintained but it's not anything fancy. I asked for a side of avocado slices and there was maybe 4 slices and it was $6-7 just for that alone... might just go for the margaritas at this point bc they were pretty good and strong
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Beth B.

Yelp
I eat out quite a bit. I have lived in Houston for 45 years (lived in San Antonio 11 years before that). I know Tex Mex and Mexican food and love them both. I have eaten at 3 of the El Tiempo restaurants once each. I just can't feel good about eating here more. Very good quality of food but prices can be ridiculous. I asked how much it would be to ADD one cheese enchilada to my order ( no rice and beans with it) and was told it would be $11.21 ! I just can not add this restaurant to my long list of favorites. I spend a lot of money eating out and have no problem paying good money for good food. I just have a problem feeling robbed on something like an enchilada. El Tiempo, you owe it to your customers to be honest about the value of your food and your prices.
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Doug R.

Yelp
No social distancing at bar. Bartender had mask off as in down under his chin. Manager went and told him that our table raised the concern. He and his co-worker looked at us and were acting very angry. He told ppl at the bar that it was our table who complained. Very unprofessional and awkward. Other people walking around with masks down below their nose. Completely unsafe in the middle of a pandemiand manager completely unprofessional. They are doing a great job keeping customers safe after re-opening after the Covid-19 shutdown. Their effort for taking precautions is much appreciated and noted. The food is just wonderful here. The fajitas, quesadillas and everything else are amazing. I only wish they would offer some specials from time to time. On several occasions, we went somewhere else due to unbelievable specials, discounts, etc. It wouldn't hurt to offer a free appetizer or dessert from time to time. Also - just down the street they have 1/2 price fajita night which is a huge savings from El Tiempo. Prices seem very high here - but if you have the money and are willing to pay, food is GREA
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Ema P.

Yelp
Horrible. Just horrible. the waiters here are not accommodating and they just look at you when you walk in and feel like they're forced to come and ask you if you actually need help. the food, as always, in any of these chains is really good... But I'm so turned off with the service here I would never visit this location again
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Jeremy K.

Yelp
I consider myself an El Tiempo officianado. This is my 7th location to try and it did not disappoint! I normally go to the Washington location, but after seeing the Daily Specials, I had to give the 290 location a try. I went on a Saturday, so we ordered the $70 Parillada Mixta for 4 and it was awesome! It came with beef and chicken fajitas, Carnitas, ribs, bacon wrapped shrimp, and regular shrimp. All of it was really good. And it was a lot of food! We had four people and had lots of leftovers. One tip- ask for the Carnitas Old School style. The chips and salsa were on point as always. We also ordered guacamole which was okay and overpriced. It was the kind where you mix up the avocado and veggies yourself, so it could have used some seasoning. And I love their frozen margaritas.

mariah c.

Yelp
I just went with my family to eat and Jose was our waiter and I can honestly say he is one of the best waiters I've ever had. He constantly checked up on us and made sure our drinks were never empty and made us laugh and conversated with us also the food was great. I honestly think he deserves a raise
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Art D.

Yelp
Overall not bad but had better. Parking was not an issue given so many restaurants in the area. I visited for dinner around 5 and there was no wait. Service was excellent and the decor is very authentic. The chips and salsa was also very good. I had beef fajita enchiladas and they were very good but just lacked flavor. I was expecting a very rich authentic flavor and it was missing. However, they were not bad at all. I do recommend and would visit again.
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Lauren S.

Yelp
I'm not a person that typically leaves reviews, but this restaurant is just so good! I cannot believe they don't have 5 stars and 500 reviews. I live just outside of Los Angeles. We've got great food, but not Mexican food like this place. I was in Houston for a conference and staying at a hotel near by. My friend and I thought we'd check it out. Let me start out by saying, the service is top notch. We first got seated near the kitchen and mentioned to one another it may be best to change seats. A waiter overheard us and immediately took us to a different location. Chips and salsa+dip were offered for free. Our service was outstanding throughout especially considering how busy it was. They've got Happy Hour specials from 3-7 Monday-Friday. There are $20 fajitas for two on Wednesday. Additionally they have margarita specials Tuesday-Thursday for $5. We didn't make it in time for Happy Hour, but we did come for the Wednesday special and the margaritas. The margaritas were outstanding and I literally cannot say enough about their fajitas. The tortillas are freshly made and then chargrilled, the chicken and steak were cooked and seasoned perfectly, the onions were amazing, and the beans were the best I've ever tasted. This place is simply pure happiness and a must try!

Teranee W.

Yelp
ZERO STARS!!!!! My friend and I went for lunch yesterday and order a small queso priced at 9.99. This place is extremely expensive giving the food quality and service. We decided to leave a $5 tip. Total came out to $15.81. The waiter took an additional $5 tip. Per my bank statement the amount said 20.81. I went straight to the restaurant the next day and the manager on duty preceded to say I can get my $5 back if we wait 3-5 business days because it has to go to corporate. This is stealing and they labeled it as an accident. I demanded to speak to a supervisor. The manager then went and spoke to a supervisor and refunded me the whole amount.

Melissa F.

Yelp
Always perfect! We usually go to Washington or the Vintage location. Today we met in between at the 290 location and sat outside. It was a lovely day and my two grandchildren could wander with distracting diners inside. The waiter was very responsive and the food was delicious as expected.

Tiffany C.

Yelp
Great food and service the smell alone makes you want the food and and taste like it smells delicious
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Mitchell M.

Yelp
---Dearest Reader, The rumors are true, I've witnessed for myself, El T of 290 is no longer that of tall tales. I've waited many a moons for this opening. As a frequent of the Gessner, Washington, Richmond, Montrose (Rest in Peace) and Westheimer locations; I was pleasantly surprised. Service was top notch, better than expected. The interior was immaculate. I suspect they'll be installing multiple TV's, but it might be a little too soon too tell. I've heard whispers of an awe-inspiring patio, which I'm sure won't disappoint. Food wise, all the staples remain the same: -Queso Cortadillo (hidden gem) -Margaritas (amazing, if you like them) -Fajitas (on par with every other location) Give the new spot a try. Until then, ----Mitchell
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Sunland C.

Yelp
This place was pretty busy, but seated us quickly. The waiter was friendly and engaging. The menu is pretty extensive and I so wanted to try those hundred dollar grills, but we decided to try out the fajitas to see if I liked the flavor first because I'm super picky about Mexican food. 2 sodas, large Chile con queso, 1lb filet fajita, 1/2lb of jalapeno sausage came out to about $90. The green sauce was so good! The red sauce was warm and spicy. The cheese dip came with like large puffy chips that I really enjoyed...and I couldn't really enjoy the regular tortilla chips after that! The food came out super fast. I wasn't a huge fan of the sausage. The fajitas were not very flavorful on top, but the bottom, where all the meat juice was, tasted great. The rice was greenish and I liked it, but vegetarians beware, there seemed to be chunks of dry meat in it. My only complaint was that there wasn't enough tortillas (6) for 1.5lb of meat and I wish I had more rice to take home for the leftover meat. There was a guy kinda lurking around the corner and was always ready to refill waters and drinks. He was really efficient. I spent an inordinate amount of time watching him lol. Our main server was also really great and checked in in us periodically. I do appreciate when servers don't forget your existence after dropping off food. A few managerial/owner looking people came by too. I kinda like that they cared about their quality of service. Overall, a great new addition to the 290 area. Bit pricey, but I doubt you'll be disappointed.
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Kel S.

Yelp
Service was great and have to admit the fajitas were the best I've had.. tortillas were perfect. Never tried before and wasn't disappointed.. Nice choice if you are looking for good food with nice atmosphere..
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Kevin Y.

Yelp
This location has been a long anticipated opening! We were very excited to hear that it finally opened (soft opening only advertised on FB and emails to regular customers. The restaurant still has the new look and smell when we arrived. The concept is more open and easier to walk through some some of the others. They plan to open a large patio at some point (guessing in the Spring). We made it in on their third night and were very well taken care of by Demaris! She exemplified the excellent service we've always received at the other locations. All of our favorite menu items were available and our entire dinner was delicious! Looking forward to our next trip to Houston, will definitely visit again!
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Sammie G.

Yelp
This is the most delicious mex food I've tasted in awhile. It's definitely worth the money although my husband and I were able to share a large brisket nacho plate for 25 bucks. My daughters enchilada plate was big enough for us to eat off of because she could only finish a portion lol The service was great too. I'm here on a Friday and it's not so packed. I'm definitely coming back.
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Xavi A.

Yelp
Best food and service ever!!! Fajitas y langosta is my favorita, 1/2 pound fajitas, one whole lobster,rice,beans,pico,guac,sour cream,tortillas,chips,salsa,garlic butter,grilled onions,chile toreado , all this for only $35 ??? God bless El Tiempo Cantina!!