Pappasito's Cantina

Pappasito’s is touch and go. The servers work so hard and I have never had a bad experience with service. But they get backed up with food and drinks. Again, not the fault of servers or bartenders. The drinks are food are amazing! Big issue with the atmosphere is the closeness of the tables. Barely any elbow room. No one should sit at a restaurant and be so close to another table that they hear conversations around them. Pappasito’s - please change this. I love your food so much! But I digress - get the queso! Get the Reserva Margarita! And I think it’s Wednesday nights for fajitas!

Dillion was our server, and he was excellent!!! Everything was really good. Needed some seasoning, but other than that,no complaints drinks, apps, food, desserts, all in a timely manner, and very attentive.

I ordered Birria Beef. The beef was so tender. The salsa for the nachos were not spicy and i liked it. The place was neat and clean. I like the varieties of lighting in the restaurant - colorful and relaxing. The servers were fast and accomodating.

Food: Our group ordered Caesar Salad, Enchiladas, Lamb, Tacos and a couple of other dishes. Everyone was beyond please with their meals and most of us went home with leftovers. To top off our dinner, we had yummy birthday sopapillas 😋 Service: Our server Oscar was professional and provided us with courteous and excellent customer service. Atmosphere: Enjoyed the vibes of this clean and friendly environment.

My husband and I visited Pappasito’s Cantina for the first time and sat at the bar. It was a moderately busy evening but not packed, but active. We ordered the Sizzling Beef Fajitas, which unfortunately didn’t live up to the name. The steak was overly salty, and the overall flavor was underwhelming. To make matters worse, our corn tortillas didn’t arrive until we were nearly finished eating. Service was inconsistent. We had to wave multiple times to get someone’s attention while sitting at the bar for drinks, which felt awkward and a bit frustrating. It wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t polished. That said, the manager was nice and understanding. After hearing our concerns, she kindly removed the dish from our bill, which we truly appreciated. That gesture alone elevated our experience and is the reason we’re giving 3 stars instead of 1. We may give it another try in the future, but we hope for a smoother experience next time.

Pappasito’s Cantina is a must-visit! I decided to switch things up and have dessert for dinner, and I’m so glad I did. The dessert options here are absolutely incredible — rich, indulgent, and the perfect way to end a meal. I had the Sopapillas (fried dough with honey and cinnamon), and they were the perfect balance of warm, crispy, and sweet. It was the best dessert I’ve had in a long time! My husband went for the fajitas, and he couldn’t stop talking about how amazing they were. The meat was perfectly seasoned, tender, and grilled to perfection. The fajita platter came with all the right sides, making it a complete, satisfying meal. The atmosphere at Pappasito’s is always lively and welcoming, and the service was top-notch. The staff made us feel right at home and ensured everything was to our liking. Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet like me or craving a savory classic, Pappasito’s has you covered. We’ll definitely be back again soon — can’t wait to try more of their delicious menu!

I’m so full right now that I can hardly type this review! Good service and great food. Oversized portions and a price-point to match! I love their refried beans and I could drink their salsa. I’m a fan of the beef fajitas (they serve it medium rare) but I also like the chicken fajitas and the mantequilla sauce (melted butter) that accompanies the sizzling platter. Plates are huge … even the lunch size. I brought half of my lunch home and I’m about to devour what’s left!

A recommendation for the area if you are in need of a giant plate of delicious food and a unique and delicious margarita. I had the queso fundido with the steak and it blew me away as I never had anything quite as tasty as that when it comes to queso. My meal which included the bacon wrapped shrimp, cheese enchilada and gigantic taco were excellent, filling, and left me satisfied. I would come back here just for those bacon wrapped shrimp anytime.

We came here before a Texans game. I was surprised they allowed us to make a reservation a few hours before kickoff. The place was packed, yet they still managed to the reservations perfectly. Their service was great as well. Very friendly, attentive and fast. They start you off with chips & salsa, and we ordered some frozen margaritas and Queso as well. Off to a nice start. The queso was really good and the margaritas were tasty. We also ordered their large Beef & Chicken Fajitas. These were also very good and very filling. The fajitas came with a side of rice, beans, tortillas, guacamole and pico de gallo. They also asked us if we wanted, cheese and sour cream, but we declined. We didn't care for it at our last place so didn't need it here. Everything was so delicious. Both meats were very juicy, tender and flavorful. You definitely get plenty of food and it's more than enough for a family of four. Overall very satisfied and wouldn't hesitate returning for another Texans pregame meal.

We came for a friend's birthday. While the location is great, there were many issues with our service; 1. My friend ordered an espresso martini which had no flavor or taste of alcohol. She then ordered an iced coffee with a shot of Kahlua. The coffee was dark, yet the waitress claimed that the shot was already added, and that it's not a milky color because it's Kahlua, not Bailey's. My friend then had to order another shot of Kahlua. Surprise surprise- her drink turned from dark to milky brown 2. I ordered the chipotle shrimp. My order came with missing beans. I made this clear to the waitress who seemed in disbelief, even though it was obvious that there were no beans on my plate. By the time I finally got the beans, most of my meal was gone (it took FOREVER). - I also ordered a FlaMango Mango which didn't taste of any alcohol either. Overall, the only good thing about this spot was the company I was with. We were a large group, and it was quite disappointing to have such an experience. The prices of the items are too much to have such poor service.

Out here in Houston helping people after the hurricane restoring the power lines. Working 16 hour days. Took a shower and ran (literally) over to grab a bite to eat. I arrived at 9:05. They were still putting in orders. I explained the situation and they still wouldn't serve one more person. It's a hell of a way to support your community

Lupe at the bar went above and beyond. She made a (VERY) minor mistake and IMMEDIATELY made it right. She actually went well past any expectations. Jonathan also stepped up as one of the managers. Just wow! Food is one thing at a restaurant, but the character of the employees is a whole other realm. Pappasito's, you have a couple of gems in Lupe and Jonathan. Keep it up!

Walked in, was immediately greeted by a host stand full of smiling faces. It looked super busy outside, so I was a little nervous when I walked inside, but thank goodness it looks like the bar was clearing out. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by the bartender, John, he was super laid-back and didn't make me feel pressured to order right away. A few minutes went by, I hadn't decided what I wanted to drink, so I walked over to the bathroom, when I came back, I ordered my meal with bartenderJared, I got the lamb chops meal and a side of beef fajita to make tacos. And then I got the watermelon frozen margarita. John made my drink, Jared took my food order. Thank you guys for a great experience, also, the guy Elijah at the end of the bar, he was fabulous as well. Also Kennedy checked on me while I was enjoying my meal, and she was just the sweetest. Thank you to all of you. I use to be a fasttracker manager for sitos for like 1.5 years so I know the standard, and they blew past it :)

Most of us have our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, and Pappasito's is one of my favorites. It seems like every time I place an order to go is a Lovely smile at the register name Alicia. She is very very nice and really seem to enjoy her job. What really stands out about her is that she will keep you updated on your order and make sure that you are comfortable while waiting on your order. My food is always good. I really love the tamales made from scratch, corn tortilla and flour tortillas. Grilled shrimp, sticky ribs and lamb chops are just a few to try. also, their signature drinks from the bar and the famous fajitas that you smell soon as you open the door. Oh Mamacita.!!!

Large inside, more of a factory type atmosphere- yet very nice a congenial. Tortillas are made on premise. Interesting salsa, served warm. Servers are attentive.

Imma keep this one short and sweet....we came here after the Texans game Saturday because the wait was too long at Pappadeaux. Food was actually really good, goat chops looked amazing and the empanadas were awesome. I ordered the sopapillas that were small, chewy, hard.... and greasy. Food good, dessert trash....take heed and enjoy

We recently made a reservation at Pappasito's for a large group, requesting a private, quiet room to accommodate both a meeting and dinner. We called twice--once to make the reservation and again to confirm the room would be available. However, upon arrival, we were informed by the hostess that our request might not be fulfilled, which was concerning given our prior confirmations. We were seated in a room with another large party, a birthday celebration, which resulted in a very noisy environment. Despite requesting to move or at least close the curtains for some sound separation, the management was unwilling to make any adjustments. If accommodating our request wasn't possible, it would have been helpful to know this ahead of time, rather than after arriving. In addition to the seating issue, the service left much to be desired. Our server placed the checks on a table behind us, leaving our group to distribute them ourselves. While this may seem minor, it reflected a lack of attention to detail and customer service, which was disappointing for an evening that was meant to be seamless. While we've had positive experiences in the past, unfortunately, this visit did not meet expectations. Better communication and service would have made a significant difference.

First of all. Elohim is the best server I've had in a long time. Request him. Great manners. Very accommodating. Great recommendations. Loved him. I would come back to Texas just for him The chips and salsa was so good. I got a slushee drink it came a little melted but so good. Me and my friends ate our food in complete silence that's how good it was. It was so hard. Perfect flavor. I should give this place 4 stars because they put beans in my friend food when she asked for them not to and my other two friends had to ask for their pico, sour cream, and cheese. But it's just soooooooo good it makes up for it. Special mention to the fact that we came here on our way to the Beyonce concert and they had all the Beyonce hits playing. It was an amazing experience.

Really nice place to stop close to the med center. They are always busy but the place is quite large so there is rarely a wait. The bar is excellent and their margaritas are delicious. You can also get half or full gallons to go. The service is good and ambience is casual. It's on the expensive side, but worth the price.

There was the birthday choice of dinner favorites....Mexican, Chinese or Seafood...and she chose Mexican! We searched restaurants nearest to our hotel, first and then by the menu and Pappasito's Cantina had the best menu, images and food combinations. We ordered a family platter that had shrimp, lamb, chicken and grilled beef. It came with Charro beans, Rice, guacamole and pico de gallo. And everything was absolutely delicious. We were able to take two to go bags of food. The birthday girl was celebrated and was she was very pleased with her tres leches cake. We all walked out very happy. We'll definitely be back when we're in Houston again.

Excellent service from Ty! We had a group of 7 and everyone enjoyed their cocktails, apps and dinner!

My initial Tex-Mex experience took place at this restaurant chain, and it surpassed my expectations. The free salsa and chips were flavorful, and the adult drinks were also enjoyable. Our server was courteous and efficient, and the atmosphere was welcoming. The Watermelon Margarita was a highlight of the meal.

If you're craving good Mexican, this is the spot. Their fajita meat is outstanding. Great flavor and very tender, served up with melted butter. I also recommend the salad as well. Very refreshing! Great cocktails and margaritas too!

The ground beef that they put in the tacos is mixed with a high amoun of fat and other fillers. It's not pure beef. You can taste the difference

Celiac review *** The kitchen manager Kenny was OUTSTANDING! He came up to me asking if I had celiac after I told our server I had a severe gluten allergy. He told me what foods were safe and what to stay away from. He told me he would look out for my order and have the cooks change their gloves and my corn tortillas would be cooked on a separate surface. I was blown away by the care and knowledge and felt so safe. The food was soooo good I didn't feel like I was missing out. Only on the amazing table chips that are not celiac safe because they do not have a dedicated fryer

The food was good, but service lacked. Pulled up and was told the wait was 20 minutes. It only took 10. Upon getting to our table we asked to sit at a booth, but our guide was too scared to ask if we could sit in it. I'm not sure why he was scared, but we preferred the booth seat. After being seated, our waiter took approximately 16 minutes to ever even address us and when she did she stated she would be back, then took another 10 minutes. I tried to order a kids meal because I don't eat much, but they would not allow it because I'm an adult, and I normally order it Togo and get it. Waiter said she'd charge me the lunch special only to find out she couldn't and had her manager come over to explain. I didn't ask her to do that and it was awkward when her manager even came over like I asked in the first place. After getting our complimentary chips and salsa, the chips were so little you could barely pick them up or dip in salsa as seen in my images. It's like they gave us the bottom of the barrel. When the food came, it didn't come like I ordered it. Instead of getting double rice, I got beans and rice. I didn't receive my melted butter or cheese and of course I had to wait an additional 10 minutes for my waiter to acknowledge that as my food was getting cold. Grande Margarita was $20 and I didn't even get tipsy. As we were leaving she only brought us one salsa to go when there were clearly 2 of us. I guess she expected us to share. They skimp and are stingy on the product here like they don't have inventory in the kitchen. It's disappointing. I've been to better locations.

Place has great shrimp tacos and good ambiance. Perfect for spot to catch up with friends or colleagues. Service was fast and on point. They had an endless amount of chips and salsa. Felt like every time, it was always full. Will come back here for sure if ever in the mood for some Tex Mex

Visiting from out of state. Came for drinks and appetizers while waiting for our hotel room to get ready nearby. The staff is friendly. Great service. Fun, lively atmosphere, but not too loud. Super yummy margarita and appetizer. Looking forward to coming for entrees.

Good food, nice atmosphere!! Crowed but not a long wait. Waitress very nice and professional

fajita Wednesday-1 lb Beef & Chicken Fajita Serves 2-3 $48.95. we ordered a watermelon margarita pitcher but sure we were served strawberry- way too sweet. recommend doing reservations online to avoid wait time. plenty parking - big lot. salsa not spicy at all - more tomato sauce.

Just had a wonderful meal at this location.. oh my so good! Such amazing service also! Tried the Blood Orange Mezcalita.. such a great smoky orange flavor Had the Bacon wrapped shrimp.. with the Mexican butter dripping So tasty!! If possible, ask for Mikel... he is the best!!

Horrible customer service...reservation for 5:30 on a Saturday night...we left at 6:30 without manager Intervention.

WOW! I know that this place is a chain but I was very impressed! They have the best warm tortilla chips that I have ever had and the salsa was also great! The service was great and the chips were never empty and they kept coming without having to ask. I was in between the fish tacos and the Pappasito's Grill and I was so happy I did! I got the lunch portion and it was amazing and more than enough food. The skewer was cooked perfectly and it was the best steak I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant. The veggies were amazing and the shrimp was cooked perfect! This chicken was tender and had great flavor! This place has a cool inside and a good feel. I highly recommend this place for a big and filling lunch!

This My 1st time lamb chops here they were OK definite could've been better , the rest of our meal was great our waiter mr. Evan was good polite but a little slow on the drinks, I'm sure that wasn't his fault. Pappasito's always has a lovely ambience to me .

Tre was our waiter he was very polite and professional and the food was great the last time I ate @ a papa restaurant I was robbed but think this location has great management thanks Tre for being great

I've been to Pappas restaurants all over Texas and I've been to this one multiple times - consistently worst service in the company.... Always disappointed. If I wasn't staying around the corner from here, I'd be a Lupe Tortillas.... Sat at the bar tonight for dinner and the only person to check on me was the manager when he went behind the bar. And all this, when they were slow.... Customers around me were equally disenchanted.

Not a big fan of Tex-mex, came here w/ several friends, and we all agreed you can't mess up a margarita, but they did and it took forever to the point where management got involved. It's a chain restaurant, do not expect too much.

The Houston-born Pappas brothers have created quite an empire and have dipped their toes into all manner of culinary genres from BBQ to burgers to Cajun seafood to steak. Pappasito's is their Tex-Mex line with 13 locations in the broader Houston area. We pulled to the expansive South Loop West location dangerously close to closing time on a Sunday night. The service was great, I would even say phenomenal, given how the staff had to balance service with cleaning up for the week. The chips were thin but sturdy, and I quite enjoyed the complimentary warm salsa that channeled a decent peppery heat. I kept it simple and healthy with a Pappasito's Salad with Shrimp, expecting it to be sort of a mundane filler meal. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was light, yes, but flavorful and interesting as well. Creamy avocado co-mingled with crunchy tortilla chips, zesty charred shrimp, funky cotija cheese, and a tasty lime vinaigrette. Salads are best when the kitchen sticks to basics and maximizes taste and texture. My wife enjoyed her sizzling chicken fajitas as well. Obviously not the most authentic Tex-Mex around, but your tongue and stomach won't find much to complain about if you dine at Pappasito's.

What a wonderful place to stop for dinner after a long day at the hospital with a family member. From the front greeters that sat us down to our delightful waitress ALLISON every thing was perfect. It was both relaxing and a lively atmosphere! Allison answered every question, told our order back to us to make sure she had everything! The food was cooked exactly how we liked it. Allison made sure our teas were always full. Thank You for being such a wonderful place to unwind after a long day at the hospital!

Food , and Service horrible ,horrible . Took a while to get food ,received food before drinks , even water . Chips tasted bad , kept asking whoever walked by to get us tortillas , plates , salsa , and asked to get our waitress she would never show up , to ask if we needed anything . Ordered queso flameado , and never got it, got tired, was done with food about to ask for check , and they finally brought me the margarita. Waitress never showed up , and managers or whoever they were , were just standing there talking . Never going back to that place again , very very bad experience.

I like pappasitos which is why we chose this place to take our mothers for Mother's Day. We ordered way too much food though. Service was cool. It was Mother's Day so expect to wait for certain things and for waiters to be a little overwhelmed which is to be expected going out on a busy day like that. I believe everyone enjoyed their meal. I love their fresh flour tortillas. I also like their burrito too. On a different visit (besides Mother's Day) the waiter we had started out great but ended poorly. I will say mediocre to poor service will make any place not worth going, regardless of how good the food is. I recommend coming here on weekdays versus weekends, but if you're here from out of town & here on a weekend then just be prepared to wait. The bar gets backed up a hit but the drinks are usually good.

Came in to have lunch with my cousins and we couldn't have chosen a better spot . This location had the top notch customer service I've encountered in a while . I've worked in the food industry and Jenni is a prime example to ensure her staff is recommending the best dishes . Jenni and Ariel ensured that we had a excellent experience and definitely enjoyed our time there ! I commend these ladies for providing AMAZIIIIIING SERVICE .

Really good Mexican Food! We came in hungry before a long day of travel and left super satisfied. The service was amazing and all the food we ordered was delicious. Huge portions and the chips and salsa fill you up real good. Highly recommend the cheese enchiladas and chicken fajita quesadilla! Both were perfect to share.

It was terrible I ordered the oxtail enchiladas Question for you, why not just call them GROUND BEEF enchiladas... Shame on me, if someone is going to name the beef oxtail, I'm assuming shredded beef that's tender Imagine my surprise after the first bite, it was ok‍ but definitely not worth trying ever again The decor made me feel like I was at Applebee's or chi chi's is there really a difference? The food I think was better at chi chi's (yeah the company out of business) I've had much better Mexican...

Firstly I will like to say yes we had a party of 9 so I understand things may take time. We have waited for 6 tickets for 40 minutes and that is just unacceptable. He (Carlos our server) has brought us one ticket at a time and checked on us once. He gets busy with another table and forgets we are even here. I get the circumstances of having a big party but don't neglect tickets from the biggest party while trying to manage your other tables. I've been understanding this whole time but what prompted me to leave my review was getting one ticket at a time. This was a first time experience on my behalf and I don't recommend it at all.

We shared an order of medium rare beef fajitas with a link of jalapeno cheese sausage and a ground beef enchilada, and a large bowl of chicken tortilla soup, all of which was the best we'd ever had. The flour tortillas were just as good as the fixings I put in them. We got the 'fitas with grilled onions and grilled jalapeno slices and some fresh slices too. The large bowl of charro beans complimented everything very well. One of the managers noticed we had to wait a little bit and comped us a piece of tres leches cake....excellent service and cake. We'd ordered a side of guacamole and didn't get it, our waitress Johnisha promptly had it removed and kept our teas and one soda replenished.

Ate dinner here the food was Great and the service was friendly. I had the family fajita and it fed 4 adults that can eat well.

I fell in love with this place after 15 years of passing by. My girlfriend chose this place for her birthday present. So I decided it was her day and accompanied her. (I'm a refried beans and rice person). I ordered after much prodding a Quesadilla. I was shocked and more shocked! It was the best Hispanic food I ever tasted! It was the Chicken and Shrimp "pizza", that's what I call it now because it reminds me of pizza. I love this location. Thank you so much.

Dinner was not good and the waitperson we had was scatterbrained and so very irritating. The place is THE only Papa's restaurant I have EVER gone to which was less than stellar. A shadow if it's former self with a limited menu.

When you're in Texas, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this place! Pappasito's is personally my favorite place to eat Tex Mex. There's a couple of Pappasito's throughout Texas but this location specifically have efficient service, food is always on point and very good drinks. You get a large portion as well, so it's definitely worth the price. My favorite is definitely the chicken flautas, seafood enchiladas and the steak nachos. I overall recommend visiting this place. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Drinks were delicious! Food was really good. On the pricier side but the portions are large. Highly recommend the guacamole and the bacon wrapped shrimp.

Great service and food was tasty. The appetizer of grilled quail had stuffed jalapeños and was a delight. The server recommended lunch menu and the portion for fajita was just right. The beef was tender and flavorful.

The worst Tex Mex spot I have ever been to. Food was cold when it arrived. Salmon and chicken felt like it was frozen and reheated on a grill, but, somehow, still cold. The hostess literally played on her phone while standing right in front of us. Service was not welcoming nor inviting. The couple sitting next to us walked out just like we did. I wasn't ID'd when I ordered a drink. My underaged brother should have ordered a drink in that case. Spare yourself and just go somewhere else.

Had a great time at Pappasitos, food was very tasty especially the grilled shrimp dipped in butter sauce. I liked our servers and they were professional with a large party. Only complaint if the party can only consist of 10 people don't change the rules for other guests and the bring in a party if 24. I know next time at any of the restaurants, just show up don't call ahead and plan because you will be denied.

This review is specifically only for fajita by the pound. The minimum amount you can order is 1lb, and they do not sell in half increments. For a beef fajita 1lb w/ taxes included it will run you just shy of $30. For reference, the medium order of beef fajitas on the menu is 5-6 oz (less than 1/2 lb). Also of note, the fajitas come with tortillas so it's not completely without any additions. Fajitas A Go Go on Kirby sells by the pound as well but they're significantly saltier and they don't give tortillas. I've been coming here for at least 5 years - my go to Pappasito's location. Parking is ample, but on busy nights you'll have to park in the back (further away from the highway). There are several to-go parking spots near the entrance in case you're just craving something to take home. Once you enter, on the right is the podium where you wait to be seated, on the left is a table with matches and peppermints. I have used so many of their matches over the years I never even have to buy lighter fluid anymore - most convenient favor a restaurant ever gave. Further to the left is their outdoor patio area - rarely sit here since Houston is ever so hot all the time, but it is covered. Directly ahead and to the right is the bar. When it's busy I recommend just sitting here - drinks come faster, you can sit as long as you see seats, and the fajitas come out suuuuper quick to the bar since it's so near the kitchen. If you come at lunch or on wednesdays, fajitas are cheaper. I don't recommend the chicken as it's just not as tender. There's also an add-on called the diablo shrimp which are spicy shrimp slathered in butter. Those are a definite must have. If you're looking for a little fun in your evening, order the table-side guacamole. They bring a little cart out and make the guac in front of you, and you can add some input into fine tuning it to your taste. Margaritas are HUGE, strong, and delicious here. The frozen mango one is especially good. Happy hour is great for margs and a side of quesadilla. I have to go now because I'm making myself hungry. Great tex-mex staple in Houston, don't be deterred by it being a chain. If you're interested, I was looking for fajitas by the pound to help with meal prep. I made about 7 servings out of the meat to go on top of taco salads. Much better than anything I can make at home and so much more tender as well. With the tortillas I made amazing breakfast tacos - wildly more delicious than any tortillas you can buy in the store.

I've visited all of their locations for many years. You cannot go wrong with Pappasito's. This is one of my faves for fajitas! The beef fajitas are legendary. I do fee like they are about overpriced for what you are getting. I guess you are paying for the papas name and the papas but come on management 3.25 for a soda is a bit excessive! Abuse lol. The food however is pretty tasty. Go the lunch cheese enchiladas that had some chili con carne poured over them. Very tasty. The beans and rice were good. Not sure why they don't bring your green sauce out anymore. You have to ask for it. I asked for it today and it was a bit watered down. Other than that the service was great as always. Food was great as well. We even tried the smaller version of the tres leches. Amazing! I think they did switch it up tho. Back in the day it was serviced with a price of white chocolate on top.

Delicious food! We really enjoyed the burrito and the queso!!! Hopefully we'll be back soon to try more!