Driving up to El Hidalguense’s and seeing its quiet parking lot, I thought the Spring Branch restaurant was some kind of old relic. Only a handful of customers were inside its large dining room. That was surprising, especially when the New York Times recently named it one of the best restaurants in America.
Inside, faux sunflowers lined its dining room over photo-topped tables of Latin American landscapes. The gentle hum of regional music makes you feel like you’re not in Houston but somewhere in Mexico. And when a plate of flavor-packed, affordable food hit the table, I quickly understood why this restaurant at 6917 Long Point Rd. caught national attention.
El Hidalguense has been dishing out classic Mexican cuisine since 1994. According to its website, many of the recipes have been in the family-owned restaurant for generations. Each member has added their own unique twists over the years.
Both locally and nationally, the restaurant has been touted for its tender cabrito dishes—whole goat roasted and chopped every day. But its menu also offers an abundance of large and small plates including bocadillos, tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas, almost all of which ring in at under $20. (That’s how I ended up with a feast that probably could’ve fed a family of four on my solo date.)
In an ever-evolving food scene like Houston’s, one full of authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex chains, food trucks, and eateries, El Hidalguense has stood the test of time as one of city’s oldest restaurants. Whether it’s the rich flavors or the affordable price point in an inflated economy, there are multiple reasons why it’s remained after all these years.
Though I stumbled upon it at a time with an eerily quiet parking lot and near-empty dining room, I walked away with plenty of leftovers and the reminder that sometimes the best dining spots are often the ones hiding in plain sight.
Dining and Cooking