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All the United States Texas Houston Molina's Cantina
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Molina's Cantina

Houston’s oldest continuously-operating Tex-Mex restaurant has been a community hub since 1941.

Houston, Texas

Added By
Dan Q. Dao
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The C.W. Special comes with a cheese enchilada and taco al carbon, cheese enchilada, plus rice and beans.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
The C.W. Special comes with a cheese enchilada and taco al carbon, cheese enchilada, plus rice and beans.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
The restaurant has been in business since 1941.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
Former mayor Annise Parker declared July 1 to be be Molinas Cantina Day.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
Chips and salsas are a must.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
Molinas Cantina has the distinction of being the oldest still-operating Tex-Mex joint in town.   Johnny Luu for Gastro Obscura
Tres leches cake and a glass of margarita.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A burrito at the Bellaire location.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Opened in 1941, Molina's Cantina is Houston’s oldest still-operating Tex-Mex restaurant and a venerated institution. The original location at 1919 West Gray was known as Old Monterrey. It was purchased by Raul Molina Sr., who had worked there for a decade, originally as a dishwasher and busboy, and his wife Mary. Today, the business is helmed by the family’s next generation—Raul III, Ricardo, and Roberto. 

Start off your Tex-Mex feast with staples like the original “Jose’s Dip,” which blends queso with taco meat, and the spicy tortilla soup with chunks of avocado. On the entree front, consider the house enchiladas, which have stayed the same since 1941. 

Or, if you want to order like former president George H.W. Bush, who regularly frequented Molina’s while acclimating to Houston, try the fajitas: hand-trimmed skirt steak flame-grilled to order. Other local legends who dined here? Former mayor Annise Parker, who proclaimed July 1 to be Molina’s Cantina Day in 2011. 

Molina’s is renowned not just for its longevity but notably for its commitment to a family-like atmosphere, where many employees have tenures stretching over decades. This familial approach extends to the customers, many of whom have been dining at Molina's for years with their parents and now children. Now with multiple locations across Houston, including on Bellaire and Westheimer, Molina's Cantina remains a cornerstone of the local dining scene. 

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The restaurant’s earliest menu items are designated on the menu with a red “Since 1941” callout. For the true taste of Tex-Mex, try its most essential and time-honored dishes.

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Added By

Dan Q Dao

Edited By

Fred Cherrygarden

  • Fred Cherrygarden

Published

June 27, 2024

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Molina's Cantina
7901 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas, 77063
United States
29.736547, -95.506372
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