Cafe Red Onion

Elite '08

29

52

Katie S.

Houston, TX

Cafe Red Onion is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Houston.  It actually started off as a hole-in-the-wall place in the strip center across the road where they now have Cafe Red Onion Seafood y Mas.  This is great Latin American food with a concentration on Honduran food.  When they were in the old location you could get my favorite Chicken Belize for under $8.  The prices are higher now but the restaurant is beautiful and the food is just as good.  The owners are so nice and so is the staff, this is truly food made with love.  It is definitely a case where I am glad they finally got their come-up'ins as we say in the South.  

Now they have the headquarters next door with a gift shop.  I have not been to the gift shop but our waiter says that the owner/chef is building a teaching kitchen in the headquarters so he can teach classes!  I cannot wait.  Other than Chicken Belize I love the fish tacos and anything with plantains or yucca.  I just ate there for lunch and I already want to go back!

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0

26

A C.

Sacramento, CA

Red Onion on 290 was a very pleasant and tasty experience.  We went Saturday afternoon between Christmas and the New Year, and only a few tables were occupied so there were no service issues.  We were in no hurry, and were able to savor our meals.  One of their specialties is the salad with papaya, which was excellent.  Our other choice was a "Latin Steak" that was mildly spiced so that the beef flavor was not lost.  The chips were baked (I am pretty sure) and the different salsas were excellent.  The owner is Mr. Galindo who runs several other good eateries in Houston, and his wife runs a gift shop next door to this location, where they also host cooking classes.  I am looking forward to trying out their other locations.

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Elite '08

232

403

Lisa A.

Houston, TX

The spinach and goat cheese enchiladas I ordered were inedible. They were served in an oval baker, smothered in a shell of cheese, and the dish had the look of a lasagna. The *entree* was described as "two enchiladas wrapped in corn tortillas with onions, colby jack cheese and covered with our own enchilada sauce. Garnished with pico de gallo."

Their "own enchilada sauce"  is a tomato sauce similar to a marinara. You couldn't tell that there were two enchiladas or even tortillas in the dish. The pico de gallo was a corn relish with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I literally think they used parmesan cheese instead of goat cheese in the dish. Imagine eating a large spoon full of grated (not shredded) parmesan cheese with a dabble of pureed spinach and a sprinkle of salt on top. Two of my dining companions tried it  too ("This milk is rotten, smell it") and agreed completely.

Moral of the story: do not order the spinach and goat cheese enchiladas at Cafe Red Onion.

I tried the pupusas and they were edible but nothing like the pupusas I got living in L.A. The pineapple puree they serve as salsa didn't do anything for me. Our waiter was there but not interested in us at all. The food is overpriced.The meal was a bust and I will not be going back to Cafe Red Onion!

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Elite '08

261

352

Nathalie L.

Houston, TX

Whenever I come back home to Houston, my friends and I always attempt to try a new place (otherwise we'd end up at Fridays or something similar). The only problem is that we're incredibly indecisive. Anyway, I still can't remember how we all managed to agree on Cafe Red Onion but I'm glad we did.

The signature salsa with pineapple and papaya was great and a nice contrast to the plantains we ordered. Our entrees were equally tasty. Even though I had never had "latin fusion" before, I thought they could have stood to be a little more adventurous with the menu. All in all, a nice change of pace from the usual BBQ and American casual restaurants that are plentiful in Houston.

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1

3

marc b.

Houston, TX

Great place in an unexpected location.
The food is great and different, and the presentation is fun. No surprise this was zagat's rated.

Try the seafood enchiladas. MMMMMMmmm.

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