Superica

"Superica in The Heights has just enough flair, like one lone longhorn taxidermy and a few serapes, to let you know this is a Tex-Mex restaurant. Even though this place doesn’t embody the standard cheese-drenched Tex-Mex Houstonians know and love, the food still tastes good. Like, somewhere between giant-chain and Ninfa’s-On-Navigation good. We appreciate that the cheese enchiladas arrive smothered in a mole ranchera sauce instead of chile con carne. And that the shrimp tacos come with fresh tortillas and a smoky morita chile-spiked mayo. Even the queso gets an added dash of heat, giving you the option to make it “compuesto style” with spiced picadillo and guacamole. There’s no fajita sizzle plate showboating here, but it’s worth a visit if you’re really into Tex-Mex and a primary color scheme. Food Rundown Margaritas Like everything else at Superica, the cocktails are simple but refined. The house margarita is made with tequila, triple sec, and lime on the rocks. And yeah, the frozens come with swirls or habanero. We appreciate that Superica can keep it classic. photo credit: Liz Silva Queso This queso has an elevated spice level compared to others in town, so it’s not an all-around crowd-pleaser. It’s also a little thin. It’s great if you want some heat, but it’s not a must-order if you aren’t a queso-a-holic like us. Cheese Enchiladas The mole-based (described as “chili gravy”) sauce is full of warm spices. If you’re used to cheese-drenched enchiladas, these will surprise you. Tacos Al Carbon Superica adds a little extra zhuzh to the tacos al carbon by smoking both the chicken and the onions. And thanks to a seasoned brine, the chicken is moist and melts into the soft flour tortillas." - Chelsea Thomas

"Ford Fry’s Tex-Mex concept Superica in the Heights offers an especially popular during brunch, offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Breakfast plates include tamales with eggs; huevos Mexicanos, made with scrambled eggs, jalapeños, and beans; and migas. Craving something comforting? Start with a bowl of tortilla soup or hotcakes with whipped butter and buttermilk syrup." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Tex-Mex import Superica is a haven for brunch aficionados with traditional breakfast plates featuring eggs, crispy tortilla strips, chorizo, potatoes, and steak served in a variety of ways. The huevos Mexicanos, made with fluffy scrambled eggs, jalapenos, and frijoles, and the wood-grilled skirt steak and eggs are standout items on the menu — with fulfilling sides like applewood smoked bacon, fresh tortillas, hotcakes with whipped butter, and refried beans — all served on weekends, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m." - Minh Truong, Brittany Britto Garley

"Houston native Ford Fry’s Heights restaurant Superica is perfect for folks who like to customize their queso. Keep it classic, or add proteins like chicken and chorizo. There’s also the “compuesto” option, which adds picadillo beef, guacamole, and sour cream to the mix, and a couple of customizable queso fundidos that are served with warm tortillas." - Amy McCarthy

"In addition to Tex-Mex staples like steak nachos and tacos al carbon, Superica serves Gulf red snapper on the bone. The picture-perfect fish offers meaty bites and pops of color thanks to fresh avocado and tangy tomatillo salsa." - Megha McSwain