Molina's Cantina

A GuestLife Houston
Great Restaurant

Among the tastier morsels of history made in 1941 is the chapter that the Molina family cooked up in opening its first Mexican restaurant in Houston. Today, entering its seventh decade, Molina's third generation of restauranteurs continues to warm smiles and palates with flavors that are truly historic.

"Some of our most popular dishes are made from exactly the same recipes my grandfather brought from Mexico and started using in his first restaurant here in 1941," says Roberto Molina II. "They always have been."

He is among the generations of Houstonians and visitors alike whom his grandfather's flavorful, straightforward specialties have delighted from childhood. Now, as so many of those early aficionados have grown up without outgrowing their love of Molina’s spicy creations, the Molina family has matured without ever outgrowing its love of providing them.

In fact, where once there was one Molina's, now there are three. Molina's Cantina on Buffalo Speedway is just south of the Southwest Freeway and especially convenient to the Greenway Plaza-Reliant Park area. Molina's Cantina on Westheimer splashes the vivid colors of its own casita perhaps a mile west of the Galleria. Molina's Cantina includes alfresco dining options on a patio shaded by huge trees along Texas Highway 6 South.

All three are identical in serving the consistently delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes with which Molina’s and Houston have nourished each other for six full decades.

These dishes are among those that Molina's has helped establish as those that, almost by reflex, flash to mind at the mere mention of the phrase "Mexican food."

This is the home of the original queso-and-taco-meat dip, famously known as Jose's Dip and copied everywhere. There are luscious beef tacos al carbon, prepared with real outside skirt steak — authentic fajitas — enfolded in warm flour tortillas. Then there are handmade tamales that burst with flavor from their corn husk wrappers. Enchiladas of beef, chicken and cheese are drenched in sauces made from scratch daily, just like they were 60 years ago in the family's original kitchen. And, of course, there are the unmistakable Molina's Margaritas, distinctive for their fresh-squeezed flavor.

Yet, there are sophisticated offerings such as shrimp, Pollo Asado and poblano pepper stuffed with beef or cheese as chile relleno. These are but a sampling of the delectables that Molina's prepares, rich with the flavors of Mexico, of Texas, of history.

Menu Highlights

Starters

Jose's Dip
Chili con queso blended with spicy taco meat

Nancy Ames Special Nachos
Spicy beef, beans, guacamole, cheese, diced tomatoes and jalapeños

Entrées

Grilled Fish Specials

Tender, Sizzling Beef and Chicken Fajitas
Served with fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, choice of beans, Mexican rice and tortillas

Cancun Shrimp Platter
Five jumbo shrimp stuffed with fresh jalapeños and Chihuahua cheese, bacon wrapped and grilled to perfection

William's Special
Carne asada, two cheese enchiladas topped with William’s special sauce and Chihuahua cheese, guacamole, rice and grilled onions

Desserts

Sopapillas

Très Leches Cake

Mixed Drinks

Molina's Famous Margaritas
Frozen or on the rocks

Full Service Bar
We have a full selectiona of premium tequilas to enjoy “up” or in your favorite margarita.

pictured above: C.W. Special, Swirl, Molina's Famous Margarita, Frijoles a la Charra, Rosita's Poblano Chicken, Raulito's Shrimp Special, Flan, Jose's Dip and Sizzling Fajitas

Molina's Cantina:
7901 Westheimer,
Houston, Texas 77063,
(713) 782-0861;
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5227 Buffalo Speedway,
Houston, Texas,
(713) 432-1626;
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3601 Highway 6 South,
Houston, Texas,
(281) 497-1800.
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Coming Soon: 4720 Washington Ave. at Shepherd.