The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

I've been a Ninfa's on Navigation customer since the 70's, and I've seen the food, the service, and attitudes go down hill over the past 10 years. The food is average TexMex at best, the prices are very high relative to similar dishes in other TexMex restaurants. The wait staff is HORRIBLE; slow, poor, inattentive, and arrogant. They always push the "high dollar" margaritas so you'd better make sure you tell them exactly what you want. The place is DIRTY, the floors are always greasy and slick. Restrooms are deplorable, stay out of them. We've been in small groups most of the time (a friend always picks Ninfa's) and they stick us with "gratuity" added to our bill because we're a party of 6 or 8. The service is NEVER to the level of the gratuity. I suggest you go to many of the other TexMex restaurants available in Houston for 25-30% less. Bring back Mama Ninfa!!!!

Pros: Parking, flour tortillas, Sauces

Cons: Prices, Cleanliness, Service

Posted 08/25/09

We always go eat at ninfas and eat the special alavery (sp) and awesome margaritas each time before we go to the Astros games.

Posted 08/15/09

Aside from my abuela's cooking, this is my favorite place in Houston for Mexican food. I love, love, love it!

Pros: Excellent food and service

Cons: Neighborhood not the safest

Posted 07/25/09

A very kind hotel driver recomended this place to us as one of the kind restaurant, so it seemed like a good idea until we met Jose L. our waiter who I think he knew we were from out of town, well long story short , when we place our order for individual drinks (original margaritas) he in fact got us 2 pitchers with some sweet syrup shoots, we just said oh well, but suddenly unrequested appetizers arrived to our table at that point when we ordered with him our main meal things only got worst specially because we follow his recommendations and got food for 12 people when in fact we were only 5, which at the end got 20% grattuity added,service overall was ok, I noticed that you only get water if you ask for it, go figured that one...
I will be having second thoughts about coming back there again unless I get the guy on the video to wait on me.

Pros: Best Fajitas, Fresh Tortillas and Sauces

Cons: A/c Doesn't cool well and Slippery Floors

Posted 07/06/09

If you end up with "Ernesto" for your waiter, turn around and leave immediately. My family went out for a nice meal and ended up with probably the worst restaurant experience ever. We didn't even see our waiter until he showed up with another table's food. We sat their waiting for him to notice the NINE new people in his section for about 20 minutes before my husband finally flagged him down and told him we were ready to order. He NEVER asked about beverages, forcing us to beg him twice to bring us glaaes of WATER!!!! Thank goodness the food arrived quicly, though he never even asked what kind of dressing I wanted for my salad, so I had to use the green salsa. Once the food arrived we literally never saw him again. IF GRATUITY IS GOING TO BE MANDATORY FOR PARTIES OVER 6, THE WAITER CAN'T BE INCOMPETENT!!!!!

Cons: Terrible service, mediocre food

Posted 06/24/09

I've been a few times over the years (usually not by my choice), and with each visit it seemed to go a little downhill . Last time we were in a group of eight, which I knew would be a mistake, but I figured my family members from the suburbs knew of the place and wouldn't be scared to eat there. The dining room was so cramped, we could hardly get up to use the bathroom...which would probably be a good thing since the bathroom was so disgusting I felt like I was at an old truck stop. The floor of the dining room was so slippery with grease that I nearly fell. Service was not good. Food was average....I mean...it's just tex-mex. The prices last time I went were WAY more than what most Mexican food places in that area charge. The prices would be expensive even if it were a fancy place in the 'burbs! It's pretty obvious why. The parking lot was filled with high-end SUV's and I didn't actually see any Mexicans eating there. This place is purely a "ghetto-chic" trandy place for out-of-towners to get the Tex-Mex food they know from the suburbs. If you're wanting to impress your friends by taking them to a Mexican place in a neighborhood where they wouldn't normally go to, try any of the countless other places in the area. Don't be scared...just pick any one of them and simply stop in...most of them have more authentic food, and WAY better prices. I mean, really, $18 for some beef rolled up in a tortilla and some refried beans and rice?

Pros: Food is not bad.

Cons: Dirty and cramped.

Posted 05/03/09

The flour tortillas are hand made at the restaurant which is a nice plus. The perfect margaritas are the best in town in my opinion. I love getting the taco al carbon plate- just so that I can have one beef fajita taco and not eat too much. We live by the warehouse district, so it's really close by our location. They added an outdoor patio, which is nice- although the arrangement of the furniture isn't optimum. The cost adds up, especially with the drinks- but that's anywhere you go.

Pros: Wonderful fajitas and margaritas

Cons: a little pricey

Posted 04/13/09

Quality and Quantity down, prices up. I guess the customer is paying for the outdoor addition, which is not a great place to sit with the flys and stray dogs.

Posted 02/15/09

This restaurant really was terrific. You can tell that they care about all of the details. It was SOOOO much better than the other tex mex places in town. Everything we had at our table was exceptional, including the service. Great tacos, a really good seafood enchilada, the best Caesar salad I have ever had, and a carne steak that melted in your mouth. If anything, the margaritas were too strong. Omar was our waiter, I would highly recommend asking for him when you go in. (He gave us his card, but I lost it)

It's good to know that there are Mexican restaurants that really care about the guest experience.

Pros: Strong Tasty Margaritas

Cons: Strong Tasty Margaritas

Posted 01/29/09

Personally, I think it's hard to find "bad" mexican food in Houston. I go to Ninfa's when in the following situation a) The weather is nice and I want eat mexican food outdoors b) I'm in the area and want margaritas and want to sit outside c) a native Houstonian wants to relive the glory days of Ninfas and I tag along. The food really is nothing to write home about. I thought the refried beans were horrific the last time I had them- tasted like too much lard- with a hint of bacon greese. There is a better family run mexican restaurant across the street that seems to use much more fresh ingredients, but the atmosphere is more family oriented and not as "fun" if you're out with a young group.

Pros: Patio/History

Cons: Not the best part of town/average food/not worth the wait on the weekends

Posted 01/13/09

It'll never be the same after Ninfa left, but its "OK." Nothing to brag about any more.... The new owners have cleaned the place up a bit and the parking is greatly improved, but the food just isn't the same. The prices reflect the changes and are a bit pricy relative to comparable restaurants. Service was very slow the last time we were there. I guess I'm just lost in time. Having been a Ninfa's on Navigation customer since the 70's it makes me sad to see the changes, but that's the way it goes. Other Ninfa locations have better food and more reasonable prices, but just isn't the same. Oh well..

Pros: Some old building, Parking

Cons: Changes, Food Quality, Prices

Posted 12/21/08

Oh my god,,, I can't believe how great this restaurant is, and how different from the other Tex Mex places in town. We had 8 people last night and couldn't stop passing around plates because it was all so good. They have great tacos and enchiladas, but the cool things were bacon wrapped quail, redfish with a great green sauce (think it was tomatillos), crabcakes, and my dad even had a lamb shank with mole sauce. We all loved it. Service was A+... Can't wait to go back.

Pros: Really authentic food - great service

Cons: Little far from my house

Posted 12/19/08

The food isn't nearly as good as it used to be and the service is worse. Our waiter was rude, never even looked at us! He got our order wrong twice and I never did receive my queso appetizer. He charged me for it and at the end when it was on the bill, I had to remind him I never got it. He said I should have said something and it was too late to remove it. I told him he brought the meal to us and at that point I wouldn't have wanted it anyway (that's the point of an "appetizer"!) When we asked to speak to a manager, he came back instead with a new bill, queso removed. We gave him a 15% which I shouldn't have done but it didn't matter because he padded his tip to over 20%.

Cons: terrible service, waiters change the tip amount,

Posted 11/16/08

Ninfa's ruined my birthday. Not only did we have to wait 1 1/2 hours for a table, they ended up giving our 1st table away to another party. They offered us "free" drinks for waiting so long but then put them on the bill and refused to comp them. This downtown gal will never go back.

Posted 11/07/08

During our lunch break, we waited 15 minutes to get just our water. The waitress "Ericka" was too busy waiting on a table of 8 people to take care of us. By time we got there and left, it took us an hour and a half to get our meal, without waitress service, and leave. The bill for four people was placed on one bill, in which we told her in the beginning, we needed separate checks. Some of us were paying cash, others with credit card. She told us she couldn't do that during lunch. We would have to wait longer to get separate checks. Needless to say, I paid for one meal, and others were charged to the card. We agreed, we will NEVER go there again. Poor service! And a terrible waitress!! She would not even give us the time of day!

Pros: Good food

Cons: Poor service

Posted 09/23/08

Can we talk? The prices are skyhigh, the tables are crowded together, the lighting so dim I had to ask for matches to read the menu, drinks TERRIBLY expensive ... I'm exhausted, and I've just started.
Let's talk about the bathooms. PLEASE gut them & start over. Floor tiles missing, such a tight squeeze in the stalls, best to leave your purse at the table, et cetera.

Pros: Houston landmark

Cons: Price, price, price -- restroom pigsty

Posted 08/23/08

I've heard that the food and service changed with the new owners. I recently went there on a busy Friday night and the same staff since I was a kid was there. The restaurant was packed, and the food was better than ever. What a dinner, the queso, fajitas, and ritas was great. In fact Omar, our waiter mentioned that they new have weekend brunch, so my family and I came back Saturday morning to try it out ---- WOW! The new owners might have had some kinks in the beginning to work out and some expectations to meet, but The Original Ninfa's was and still is my favorite TexMex in town! Definately will continue to come back

Pros: everything is great as always

Posted 08/15/08

I have been going to Ninfa's for over 15 years the waiters and hostess know me by name but i have to tell you it's just not the same. The restautrant recently changed owners and I dont belive it will ever be the same. Tonight it took fifteen minutes before someone took my drink order then another ten minutes before I got it. Another waiter one that I've had for years took my order after he noticed that my waiter never brought me chips or took my order. The food when I finally got it was cold portions are much smaller than they ever were and my drink was watered down. This is the third time that this has happend in the last month. Its just not the same probley never will be sorry to say that after fifteen plus years I wont be going back.

Pros: Free Valet

Cons: Terrible Service and Food

Posted 06/19/08

The food is great and it is reflected in their prices. Their prices are high for any mexican food, especially in Houston where there are mexican resturants everywhere. The service is great and it's close to downtown.

Pros: Great Food and Margaritas!

Cons: Pricy

Posted 01/09/08

Went to the Original Ninfa's last week for some Rita's & Fajita's. Rita's were good, however the fajita's were less to be desired. I found a complete thigh ( chicken ) mixed in the fajitas. When I brought this up to my waiter's attention, I was told that sometimes mistakes happen and that if I found it to be enedible, then just put it aside from the rest of the food. I asked to speak with a manager I was told that he was out but that I was welcome to call the restaurant first thing in the morning. We paid our bill and left. We were deeply disappointed in the way the situation was handled. This used to be a pleasant experience, guaranteed !! It was a bitter first time experience for 2 of my friends who came in from Chicago because of the rave reviews they heard or read.

Cons: Poor Service from hostess, waiter, food. Non friendly staff, no acknowledgments

Posted 12/10/07

If you want Tex-Mex the way God intended, this is the place to get it. You haven't had good fajitas until you've had these fajitas. All the other "Ninfa's" franchise locations try to live up to this one . . . and ALWAYS fall WAY SHORT. ENJOY!

Posted 10/14/07

This place is the best! Every time I come here it gets better and better. They just enclosed their back patio and cooled it. The new menu items are awesome. Great quail, whole red snapper, ribs and ceviche were all enjoyed by our table tonight. Service is fabulous.

Pros: Food,

Posted 09/14/07

the original ninfa's was excellent. the food was great and the service was quick. queso is awesome! same with fajitas. if you love great tex mex, this place is one of the best

Pros: Service, Fajitas, Queso

Posted 06/20/07

There is something about the food that just makes it *better* than any other Mexican place we have tried. Fresh, tasty with great service by servers with over 20 yrs service. Ask for Jose Cruz!

Fajitas are some of the best you will ever have, grilled quail are sublime.

Far too many good things to mention!

Pros: Great Food, Service, Tradition

Cons: Parking, bathrooms

Posted 04/23/07

Food.... Great.

Service... Great.

What more can you say? This place has the best enchiladas in town. The Ninfaritas never disappoint and the service is wonderful.

Pros: Service, Food and Atmosphere

Cons: None

Posted 03/12/07

ive been going to Ninfas since i was 12 years old, and im now 22 and i still go as often as i can. mostly every weekend. the food is great and service is just as good. at times there may be a long wait but trust me please.. trust me the food is worth it. standing in line conversating as the sizzling fajitas, cheesy enchiladas, or tasty tamlaes pass by just adds to the suspense of sitting down and finally getting your meal. and the sceanery is great nothing fancy this restraunt is as authentic as is food! and its nothing like the other Ninfas's you see around town. Ninfas on navigation rd. is the real deal and if you dont know spanish its alright the wait staff is "user friendly". So if your in town or live in town stop by you wont be disappointed. oh yea if you see a waiter by the name of Jose Cruz tell him the Aguilar Brothers said HELLO!!!!

Pros: Service, friendly wait staff, Food, Appeitizers, Ambience Jose Cruz!!

Cons: small parking but free and under patrol

Posted 01/27/07

I must admit, I had eaten at several Ninfa's in Houston prior to eating at the original Ninfa's and I wasn't too impressed. I was kind of skeptical about going to the orginal Ninfa's on Navigation because I assummed that I'd get the same average tasting Mexican food from all the other Ninfa's.......WAS I WRONG!! This might be THE best Mexican food I've ever tasted in my life. The service was great, the food came out fast, it was piping hot, and tasted exquisite. I'm a hard judge when it comes to Tex-Mex and Ninfa's in hands down the best place I've ever been to for Mexican food. The sopapillas i had to cap off the meal were better than......let me just say they were reeeally good.

Pros: Service , Promptness , Taste

Cons: lack of parking

Posted 03/04/06

Great fajitas,great queso. Wonderful tortillas and great atmosphere. A must try

***** 5 stars

Posted 01/29/06

This is the original and the only location still owned and controled by Ninfa's family. And what a difference! The food is great (queso flamiado and flan) and the setting is what makes it a real adventure. Be prepared to wait a while on the weekends, but it is worth it.

Pros: great food

Cons: can be crowded, parking

Posted 10/02/03

Good restaurant - maintains authenticity the food is consistently good but a bit pricey.
I always look forward to going. It's a treat

Pros: parking

Cons: expensive

Posted 03/01/03

the food was good....very small portions though for the price...i paid eight dollars and something for one beef taco (ground meat), one cheese enchilada, and rice and beans...several other places have much more food for the price

Pros: good green sauce

Cons: price, value, parking

Posted 02/09/03

Ninfa's has always been the most over rated and over priced Mexican food restaurant in Houston. This original on Navigation is OK, but the other Ninfa locations caused the reputation of the original to go down. They also caused the company to nearly go out of business. Again, OVER PRICED AND OVER RATED!

Pros: ambience, good salsa

Cons: costs too much, small servings, expensive margaritas

Posted 01/01/03

I am so happy to be back in my native Texas after 10 years away. How marvelous to know I am back in the cradle of Ninfa's Mexican food. This is absoultely the best mexican food outside of Mexico City. The carnita's are the best. The Taco's Al Carbon just as good. You name it and it is well worth the trip the the original restaurant on Navigation.

Pros: variety, authenticity, flavor

Posted 12/28/02

I have been eating at Ninfa's for years and years. When I moved to Chicago, Ninfa's was the one thing about Houston I really missed. I have been searching for something comparable up here, but to no avail. Now the only time I get to go to Ninfa's is when I visit Houston, and that's not nearly often enough.

Pros: Good food, Good drinks, Great service

Cons: Iffy area of town, Not in Chicago, Relatively cheap!

Posted 12/24/02

Having eaten at the original Ninfa's on Navigation once a week for the last ten years, I feel somewhat qualified to unreservedly recommend this location as the best Mexican restaurant in town. The menu provides great variety--tacos a la ninfa, enchiladas, combination plates, appetizers, and grilled items. An absolute sleeper item is the Pescado--grilled fish (usually tilapia) topped with a chipotle sauce with grilled veggies. Add waiters who have been there for decades and you've got the best spot in town. On weekend nights, expect a wait, but you won't be disappointed. (Please note that these words of praise apply ONLY to the Ninfa's on Navigation).

Posted 12/10/02

Maybe "back in the day" this was a nice place with good food but let's face it - today, Ninfa's on Navigation is old, over-priced, and with nothing special going for it other than it was the original restaurant of a now unsuccessful chain of mexican\american food restaurants. The Ninfa's chain has failed because the food quality doesn't match the (high) price. The service doesn't stack up either. For a real value, great prices, service and the BEST margarita's - checkout Cinco de Mayo in Conroe. Most newer mexican food restaurants far exceed Ninfa's in terms of quality and price. Ninfa's on Navigation should not be in the top 10.

Pros: Landmark

Cons: Prices, parking, Food Quality, Service

Posted 11/26/02

As a hispanic with Mexican heritage raised in Texas, there couldn't be better, more authentic Tex-Mex than Ninfa's on Navigation! There are few Ninfa's in Houston that meet the same standards as the original. It's a great blend of my momma's cooking, with great Texas taste! And the margaritas! WHOO! They are the best!

Posted 11/24/02

Bad news
Review of The Original Ninfa's on Navigation by LarryBrown
October 05, 2002

I've been to Ninfa's various times over 20 years, I've never liked it much. Tex-Mex is my fave food tho. Around 2000 we went to Ninfa's in the Galleria and it was great. Later we went there and it was awful. I heard all the fuss about Navigation, so we tried that in 2001 and it was no good. Why bother? We have scads of excellent Tex-Mex that never miss.

2009 addition: We just enjoyed an event that was catered by Ninfa's. My wife (very particular about food) said that the beef fajita's were the best she ever had. Tender, delicious, with no fat, cartilege, or tendon. When Ninfa's is good, it's great and that's why it's famous. Unfortunately they've never been able to even it out and make it good every time, that's always been they're reputation.

* Pros:Lots of hype, houston institution, bird logo
* Cons:lousy food, inconsistent at best, remote location

Pros: Lots of hype, houston institution, bird logo

Cons: lousy food, inconsistent at best, remote location

Posted 10/04/02

This place provides great food and adequate service. Even the beer seems better here.

Pros: Great food

Cons: Out of the way, Parking

Posted 09/13/02

This is the only place to eat TexMex in this city. The other resturants in this chain don't hold up unfortunately. I can't believe Adobes is rated so high on this list. Thats place is about as original as Taco Bell.

Posted 08/26/02

I enjoyed this experience more than anywhere i have been in the last year! They are wonderful there, they make you feel like family and the food is to die for, so fresh and so the taste everyone is looking for in Mexican Food.

Posted 08/15/02

Went to Ninfa's on Navigation with some family members, 4 and a high chair. Asked for non-smoking and all they wanted to do was seat us in a crowded corner or smoking. No one was waiting and there were empty tables that could accomodate a high chair, but everyone of them just happened to be reserved. This was at 6:00 in the evening. Left and went to another restaurant, probably won't go back, not very accomodating, guess we didn't look like the kind of folks that would have had lots of margaritas. Too bad, so sad.

Cons: Not friendly to famil

Posted 08/07/02

Ninfa's like I always remember it - great tortillas, great green sause and great queso. It is a fun place and good for groups. thanks.

Posted 08/04/02

The waitstaff have been working there for years and have always been extremely friendly. The food can not be beat through do not consider this a cheap mexican restaurant. Margaritas are great. Always an intresting crowd esp. on Sat. evening. For GREAT mexican food you cant beat it!!!! I give this rating ONLY to the Navigation location.

Pros: best mexican food, great service, great margaritas

Cons: bad neighborhood

Posted 07/23/02

I live in Atlanta, GA and was coaxed in to trying this mexican restraunt in downtown Houston. Ninfa's on Navigation is a true treat. The food is fantastic for those of you that enjoy the ultimate "Tex-Mex". I would reccomend ordering the fajiatas because they are out of this world. I have eaten Mexican food all over the U.S. and in Mexico and this place tops the rest. By the way, ask for Kady as a server. Not only is she a great waitress, but she can give you the history of the resteraunt and she has a dynamite voice. It was a pleasure speaking with you Kady and keep up the fantastic customer service.

Posted 07/04/02