Molina's Cantina

Raul Molina arrived in Houston from his hometown of Laredo, Mexico in the late 1920s. Like many of his contemporaries, he was searching for a better life and found work in a local restaurant as a busboy, dishwasher and counterman. In 1941, Raul and wife Mary opened their first Mexican restaurant, the Old Monterrey, located in Houston at 1919 W. Gray. At the time there were only four or five Mexican restaurants in the City of Houston. Today, Raul Molina is considered a pioneer in Tex-Mex cuisine and is best known as the patriarch of a food family. Now, more than seven decades later, Molina’s Cantina is recognized as the oldest and one of the best locally owned and operated Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston. The Molina family has played a significant role in shaping Houston’s culinary landscape and continues to enjoy the privilege of growing with Houston. Whether you are a third-generation customer or a first-time visitor, we welcome you to the Molina familia.