Ninfa's on Navigation...still there and still the best!

Last Friday night the Sudduth Family made a trek to one of the oldest Mexican Restaurants in Houston, the Original Ninfa's on Navigation.  If you're an old Houstonian like me, you've been there many times but perhaps haven't been a frequent guest of late.  We try to go several times a year.  So we called our good friends Ish and Todd and made our way to the "other" side of downtown for some Tex Mex Chow.

Now for those of you that don't know anything about this place I'll give you a bit of history.  Mama Ninfa Laurenzo started this little eatery to support her family back in 1973.  Her specialty was fajita meat wrapped in a warm home made flour tortilla, which later became known as Taco al Carbon.  I'll bet you didn't know that Taco al Carbon was invented right here in Houston!  The little place got a nice following and later flourished into several restaurants with multiple concepts run by Ninfa's children.  The children, who were not restaurateurs, failed miserably and threw the company into bankruptcy.  Long story short, the family now owns none of the restaurants but has managed to have some success with other concepts.  The Original restaurant is now owned by Legacy Restaurants and is operated by Chef Alex Padilla, who have done a wonderful job of enhancing the dining experience with new menu items and additional seating on a new deck.  But they've left most of the "old" in place, which I truly appreciate.  Sometimes you don't need to fix what ain't broke!

Circa 1973

When I was a young boy, when my Dad wanted Mexican Food, Ninfa's on Navigation was where we went.  It was a big deal!  The location, on the East side of Downtown Houston on the other side of Hwy 59, was a little dangerous and certainly not easy to find.  When you arrived, you knew you were there when you spotted the sign out front and noticed that the cars on the street had suddenly become Mercedes and BMW's.  Dad would always get a plate of Augus, which was braised beef short ribs.  He loved them!  I'm sure many of you Houston Natives have much the same story.

My Childhood Memory

Today...deck is on right

There is something special about this restaurant.  It's still a little cramped building with the same old tile floor and a hallway to the bathrooms far to skinny to pass any of today's building codes, but its history is busting at the seems.  The smell of the place that greets you as soon as you enter through the front door is Heavenly!  The waitstaff has been there forever and remembers you from your last visit...or they act like they do anyway.  The margarita's are cold and sweet and the food has a taste like no other.  My friends and I all say it's the build up of grease on the grill for the past 40 years that gives it that unmistakable flavor.  The other Ninfa's restaurants are good, but nothing holds a candle to the Original!

So if you want some great Mexican food and want to experience a little Houston history, make the drive to East Downtown Houston and either walk down memory lane or create some new memories of your own.  Of course, the tricky part is finding the place!  From the North side of Downtown, take Franklin St. East.  Go under Hwy 59 and follow the street under the Railroad Bridge.  Take a right on Navigation and go about 4 blocks.  The restaurant will be on the right.  Go ahead and park in back.  They have a nice man in a golf cart to give you a ride back up to the front door.  Enjoy!