If you have lived in Houston for any length of time, you have likely heard of Alma Fajitas & Ritas, the Heights institution that has been serving Tex-Mex for more than 25 years. It is one of those places that has quietly become a neighborhood fixture, and it is worth knowing exactly what you are walking into before you go.
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The first thing to understand is that Alma is not just a dinner spot. It runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with brunch on the weekends, so it works as well for a Saturday morning family meal as it does for a Thursday night with friends. The menu leans on the Mexican classics you would expect: sizzling fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and handcrafted dishes, paired with signature margaritas and a wide selection of tequilas. It is kid-friendly and good for groups, and it takes reservations, which is helpful if you are bringing a larger party.
One of the things that sets Alma apart from your average Tex-Mex joint is how much room it has to grow. Beyond the main dining area, there are four private spaces you can book for events, each with its own personality. La Terraza is the largest, holding up to 40 people with an outdoor feel; El Jardín sits near the north entrance by the parking area and holds 30, with a TV of its own; The Hideaway is a more intimate room for about 25, good for cocktail hours; and The Western leans into a Texas-inspired vibe for smaller gatherings of around 15. All of them run on the same hours as the main restaurant, so you can book one without worrying about a separate schedule.
That brings up the hours, which are worth a quick check before you head out. Alma is closed on Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday it runs from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday it stays open until 11:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday it opens early at 9:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM and 10:00 PM respectively. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. If you are planning a Monday visit, you will be out of luck, so plan around it.
As for what to order, the reviews point to a few standouts. The street taco trio, the soups, and the fajitas get consistent praise, and the margaritas are frequently described as top-tier. One guest highlighted the Carajillo, an espresso-like cocktail, as a highlight. A few notes from the more critical side are worth keeping in mind: parking can fill up, though the service is generally described as fast, and a couple of reviewers found the mole enchilada and brochette shrimp a bit saltier than they liked. Still, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.4-star rating on MapQuest from 414 reviews and an overall score of 4.3 out of 5 across nearly 1,500 reviews.
Whether you go for a casual weeknight dinner or a weekend brunch, Alma Fajitas & Ritas is a reliable Heights staple that has earned its place over two and a half decades. It is the kind of place that does the basics well and has the space to handle a crowd, which is exactly what you want from a neighborhood Tex-Mex spot.
