Maximo

"After a brief closure in December, Maximo in West University is back with a new Mexican menu. The previously Tex-Mex spot now offers masa-fueled dishes like crispy fish with avocado pea pureé and cornbread with mole soubise. The hamachi crudo with pear ponzu and ice cream-topped banana pudding buñelo will also join the mainstay slow-cooked suadero and tacos." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Somehow, Maximo in West University just got better. After landing on the 2024 Best New Restaurants guide, this previously Tex-Mex spot took a break to rebrand with a new Mexican menu. The dining room is still recognizable—think velvet banquettes and tasteful uses of cacti—and you’ll still see the suadero tacos on the menu. But new iterations, like the masa-fueled small plates, are now the most exciting dishes at Maximo. Especially the cornbread that comes with a dollop of caviar and the right amount of crunch from chicatana butter. And when you’re grabbing forkfuls of smoked pork from the sope and a banana pudding-flavored buñelo, you’ll be reminded that change is good." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"A Mexican restaurant in West University with a new menu focused on showcasing Mexican ingredients, featuring dishes like masa- and salt-crusted halibut and banana pudding buñuelos." - Brittany Britto Garley

"A progressive Mexican restaurant that emphasizes traditional yet creative dishes with unique Mexican ingredients and a robust menu." - Brittany Britto Garley

"When you find yourself in West U and need sit-down tacos and margaritas, go to Maximo. The neighborhood Tex-Mex and American restaurant rides the sweet spot of being charming but chill, like Matthew McConaughey if he were a surf instructor. It’s the kind of place where people duck in between hospital rounds and client meetings, coax toddlers with spoonfuls of mashed lentils, or peer through the cactus surrounding the patio at their kids playing little league across the street. photo credit: Julie Soefer Most Texans will find the menu fairly commonplace, but it’s all well-executed with updated twists and a zhuzh of greens. Think tacos on handmade tortillas, crisp salads with juicy watermelon, and an excellent caramelized onion-slathered burger. Maximo also has smoky queso and soft serve in a nostalgic miniature plastic baseball helmet for dessert. So the next time you need a reliably good, casual dinner in what feels like a maximalist's retro living room, a combination that's worked at Maximo's sister restaurants, Local Foods and Lee’s Den, this is your spot. photo credit: Julie Soefer photo credit: Julie Soefer photo credit: Julie Soefer photo credit: Julie Soefer Food Rundown photo credit: Julie Soefer Cocktails Most of the cocktails are agave-based, like frozen margaritas with a long list of flavors to add in, a gin and tonic called Hoja Verde with root beer-like hoja santa herb, and Vampiro made with tequila blanco and “truck sauce.” We like every single one. Queso With Chips Considering queso is to Texans as fondue is to the Swiss, any neighborhood place should have a solid version. And Maximo does. It tastes slightly smoky but stays light with fresno chilis. photo credit: Julie Soefer Watermelon & Cotija This watermelon and cotija should be at the center of every meal. The tang from the champagne vinaigrette and the nutty crunch from an amaranth crumble taste refreshing between bites of everything else. photo credit: Julie Soefer Tempura Mushroom Taco Besides the airy crisp of fried mushrooms, the best thing about this taco are the tiny pickled beech mushroom caps that pop with acidity. We want an entire jar of these on the side, along with a dozen of the house-made masa tortillas. photo credit: Julie Soefer Big Max Burger The first time we bit into this burger we uttered an expletive so loud that we half expected a neighboring toddler to collect a donation for their swear jar. A play on a golden arches burger of a similar name, the Big Max Burger features a thick layer of rich caramelized onions under two smashed patties and a thick smear of horseradish-spiced remoulade. Soft Serve Twist Maximo pulls its soft serve into a miniature baseball helmet—like the nostalgic childhood joy you experience at Minute Maid Park. Perhaps it’s a nod to the little league fields across the street in West U’s town square or because it’s simply fun. Whatever the reason, the twist with the extra crunch from the rice crispy bits is a great way to end a meal here." - Chelsea Thomas