Ninfa's on Navigation

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2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003 (at Canal Street)
Houston, TX 77003

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(713) 228-1175
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Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
Ninfa's on Navigation - Houston, TX
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Reviews
( 27 )
( 7 )
( 7 )
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( 13 )

Best

such great food and atmosphere! all the reviews say it's not what it used to be, but to me its still wonderful! highly recommended!

Worst

Those looking for authentic Mexican dishes need to look elsewhere. Seems almost everything here is drowned in melted cheese. The prices are high and the service is overwhelmed by ...

Editorial review from Citysearch 10/9/2012

Wow. Amazing. Everytime I have out of town friends in from places other than TX, I take them to Ninfa's! Always a memorable place! more
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Beware of the Seafood 9/26/2011

Took friends to Ninfas for dinner and was very disappointed. Ordered the seafood ceviche as an appetizer and beef taco carbon as an entree. I noticed that the seafood ceviche tasted a liitle strange, but I assumed it was just the marinade. I had eaten the tacos carbon before with no issue. Little did I know that I would be in for the worst night ever. I had stomach pains at night and all the next day. My husband had the appetizer as well and had some stomach issues. This was one dinner that I regret. Avoid the seafood and you should be fine. more
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Houston's Worst Mexican Restaurant 4/14/2011

Drove a long way to eat at the original ninfa's mexican restaurant on navigation street only to get the very worst service...not the first time it happens but since I had guest's from out of town that had heard of this FINE DINING MEXICAN RESTUARANT I chose to give them another chance to hopefully impress me. I once again had the same lady take our order and once again was overcharged by $30. Got home tonight and when I looked at the bill I noticed I had been overcharged yet again. It would have been fine if the Beef Fajitas were good ..but they were not. The Beef Fajitas were dry and overcooked and extremely hard to chew, it felt like chewing on plastic! The Tortillas De Harina were not even cooked...one side only and the other side was not...you could still see the lard and flour thru the middle of them. I was so embaressed with my Out of Town guests that are Professionals at eating at a Fine Mexican Restaurant since they live in San Antonio and own a very prestigious Fine Mexican Restaurant. It's a shame that Ninfa's is not the old Ninfa's that once had good food or for that matter even good service. If you do decide to go even after reading this honest review make sure you drink several margaritas so you won't notice the overcharge on the bill and the bad food and service. Good Luck, you will need it! more
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Not Like It Use To Be 3/12/2011

Poor Mama Ninfa is probably turning over in her grave. more
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Love this place! 2/5/2011

such great food and atmosphere! all the reviews say it's not what it used to be, but to me its still wonderful! highly recommended! more
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On the Side Doesn't Pay Off. 2/5/2011

I recently went to the Original Ninfa's on Navigation. I ordered soup. It comes with rice and avocado. I... more
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On the Side Doesn't Pay Off. 2/4/2011

50538 Provided by Partner
I recently went to the Original Ninfa's on Navigation. I ordered soup. It comes with rice and avocado. I asked for the rice on the side instead of... more
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Catering to a different palate... 1/1/2011

In a nutshell, the ""original"" Ninfas of years past is LONG GONE. Over our last few visits (breakfast and dinner) the quality of the food and service leave MUCH to be desired, especially when ""authentic"" mexican or tex-mex is always around the corner. Let's say that: the salsa has lost its kick, the staff is spotty in its service (to say the least), mexican hot chocolate has been replaced with cappuccino, and they'll happily bring out substitutes when ingredients run out the door. Surprisingly, 'gringos' and others love to frequent it. Are they not tex-mex connoisseurs? or are they led there by a somewhat lively atmosphere? or did they come in from the Woodlands for a game and got caught in downtown? more
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Overrated 10/3/2010

Those looking for authentic Mexican dishes need to look elsewhere. Seems almost everything here is drowned in melted cheese. The prices are high and the service is overwhelmed by the large crowds. Unless you are absolutely looking for something in melted cheese , then best go somewhere else. more
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Delicious! 8/5/2010

It is crazy how the original just tastes so much better than the rest! The service is outstanding as well! I will drive 20 minutes out of the way just to get their wave margarita! Such a quality restaurant! more
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Ninfa's Decline in Quality 6/20/2010

I've been going to Ninfa's on Navigation for over 40 years. In the early 80's a friend and I even had a table next to Carol Burnett and a few of her guests in the small dining room one night. Ninfa's used to have the best pork tamales ever. However, they changed the recipe a few years ago and the tamales became just so-so. Tonight, they had changed the recipe again, and all I got was a couple of corn meal rolls with a little melted pork fat and juice for flavor...where's the pork??? I'm very, very disappointed at having driven 25 miles into town for a really bad meal. Pros: No long line to get in Cons: Bad food more
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Great food! 2/20/2010

Great food for a weekend afternoon! A picture of margaritas (just like in mexico!) I want to go now!! Pros: margaritas, fajitas, tortillas Cons: location-hey but its original more
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great margaritas 2/19/2010

great place to get margs and good food Pros: great service more
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Dissappointing 12/29/2009

I used to go to Ninfa's on Navigation every Friday for margaritas and fajitas. I've been a customer of theirs for over 20 years. However, this past year has been dissappointing. Their level of service has dropped off. The quality and consistency of their menu offerings has also suffered. I don't visit them as much anymore. Pros: El Presidente Margarita Cons: Service and food quality has dropped more
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Exellent 12/29/2009

Ninfa specialty fajitas (not on menu) and the margaritas are always a treat! Makes you feel like your in Mexico while you are instead in the middle of the big city! Pros: food/drink Cons: Far Away from the subs, don't get there often more
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I Love It!! 12/14/2009

This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had, at any price. Very unique, authentic flavors. The chef came over and visited our table and asked for our preferences. We had a chicken mole special, some great tamales and a large grilled platter with bacon wrapped shrimp, quail, ribs, fajitas and sausage. Pros: Great Atmosphere more
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Just average, but prices are WAY ABOVE average 8/26/2009

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 more
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good food, good margaritas 8/16/2009

We always go eat at ninfas and eat the special alavery (sp) and awesome margaritas each time before we go to the Astros games. more
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Best Mexican food 7/26/2009

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 more
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Awesome Food, Poor Service !! 7/7/2009

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... Pros: Best Fajitas, Fresh Tortillas and Sauces Cons: A/c Doesn't cool well and Slippery Floors more
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Menu for Ninfa's on Navigation


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The original Ninfa's in Houston Serving Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Owner Message

  • Located on Navigation Boulevard just minutes from the heart of downtown Houston, the Original Ninfa's was all started with Mama Ninfa Laurenzo's creative TexMex recipes. These led to the introduction of fajitas & Mexican cuisine to North America which gained immediate success.

    If you're looking for a Houston Mexican restaurant, Ninfa's on Navigation is not only a local icon, having serviced politicians, celebrities & even visiting royalty, their Mexican food is unbeatable. Chef Alex Padilla uses only top quality ingredients, like Mama Ninfa herself did, & fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood like red snapper, jumbo shrimp & more.

    Voted Best Margaritas, you can enjoy Ninfaritas on the outdoor deck, dine on the best Mexican dishes & fajitas around & truly enjoy the great restaurant experience.

Editorial
Additional information
  • Hours: 5pm to 1am daily
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: South Central, Second Ward, Northwest, Spring Branch East
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