Herrera’s Café has been around since 1971 and been in many locations.  There are now a number of similarly named places but this is the original that started on Maple St.  I have eaten there for years but don’t get to this “new” location as often as it’s not real convenient.  They were a staple for a long time because they had a really spicy salsa with warm really corny chips.  They still have that and some of the original family are around too.  At this location there is a fairly good sized parking lot but it naturally leads you to a door that is not the entrance, so go around the building to where it faces Sylvan and you’ll find the proper entrance as well as a large area for outdoor dining.  Inside a wall of press about the place greets you and the desk that takes names as well as check you out when you’re through.  To the right are the bathrooms and kitchen and to the left is a large dining room.  If you go straight ahead you’ll be in another dining room with the bar and a doorway to another smaller dining area.  At lunch it was bustling with people but we didn’t have to wait long for a table to become free.  Service is friendly and efficient.

 

My continual favorite is their #5 dinner but I’ve also enjoyed the Jimmy’s (if you’re really hungry), #4 (bean, cheese and guacamole tostados) or the crazy nachos.  Also when you check out there is a basket of pralines for sale.  Look for the large flat ones that are from Texas Premium Candy, the original RJ Sho-Nuff’s praline.  They are crisp, sweet and amazing and this is the only place I have found  that sells them unless you go to the factory and are willing to buy a quantity.  Herrera’s has been in business this long because they make  quality Tex-Mex food.  At dinner they serve bean soup to all, which doesn’t come at lunch, and it’s great.  Prices are the same all day, but they do have a few lunch specials but pretty much everything on the regular menu is under $15 per person.  If you need a Tex-Mex fix and it’s convenient, stop by.  The chips and salsa hit the table as soon as you’re seated.  The salsa comes in a container with a separate bowl to pour into for dipping.  The chips are hot and crisp and the salsa spicy (depending on the peppers they get it can vary in heat level).

 

The #5 meal is 1 cheese enchilada, 1 soft cheese taco, 1 beef taco, rice and beans.   The cheese enchilada is stuffed with cheese and covered with chili.  The cheese taco is stuffed with cheese and covered with queso.  The cheese taco is soft and mildly flavored but I like the end result of it.  It can be amped up with a little salsa.  The cheese enchilada is tender and good.  The beans are chunky and the rice is okay.  The beef taco is hard to eat, as it’s really crisp and falls apart when you bite it.  I tend to douse it with salso and use the shell as a scoop to hold the insides.

 

The praline is a perfect end for the meal.