Date Night: The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston

One of our New Year’s resolutions is to spend more time out and about. It’s no secret I am QUEEN of homebodies. I could literally stay in and watch Dateline, ESPN, One Tree Hill or binge watch anything for days on end, but it’s definitely good to get out and explore with people you love.

First up was date night at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston and it did not disappoint (this was Jason’s first time here and he dubbed it “an upscale Mexican restaurant with the best dessert he’s ever had in his entire life”).

Located off Post Oak Boulevard near The Galleria, it’s a bustling and authentic Mexican restaurant perfect for a date night, group dinner or celebrating something (we saw quite a few birthday celebrations and I fully support celebrating with potent margaritas).

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown serves strong and delicious margaritas, which you’d expect in Texas. I always go for the Skinny Margarita ($10), which was perfect and not overpriced like other Houston spots. Next up is either guacamole or queso, which is basically a rite of passage in Texas.

I had my usual for dinner – beef fajitas. I am not lying when I say they are the best in

Fajitas at Ninfa’s Uptown Houston, Photo: Kirsten Gilliam

Houston. One thing to note: here they only come in medium ($29) or large ($42) portions, so they are pricier than most, but well worth it (just talk your dinner partner into sharing and you’ll both be pleased and stuffed!). As for Jason, he went with the pork chop — at a Mexican restaurant, which I found odd, but he was happy to report it was one of the best he’s ever had.

Dessert was where this restaurant really shined, with the Tres Leches ($10), which was delicious and topped with marshmallow and flambeed to order. Jason ordered it and I basically begged him to share it. I would literally go back here just for that – it was that good.

A little about Ninfa’s Uptown:

This is where it all started, where Mama Ninfa first stuffed chargrilled sliced beef into a handmade flour tortilla and launched the national fajita craze. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation…

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation was created by “Mama” Ninfa Laurenzo in 1973 after the death of her husband, John. She started by grilling skirt steak and serving it in tortillas from her family’s struggling tortilla factory. The resulting dish – “Tacos al Carbon” (which later became known as “Fajitas”) was the basis for Mama Ninfa’s legend in Houston and in the history of Tex-Mex cuisine. Mama Ninfa passed away in 2001, and in 2005, Legacy Restaurants purchased The Original Ninfa’s. After more than 40 years in business, The Original Ninfa’s opened up a second location and is more popular than ever. Both locations are still serving “The Best Mexican Food in Texas Since Texas was in Mexico!™”