El Tiempo Cantina has more than a dozen locations serving Houston. (Image credit: El Tiempo Cantina Facebok)
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El Tiempo Cantina has been a Houston staple since the 90s. The brand recently abruptly closed its Webster location. Well, according to the Houston Business Journal, El Tiempo Cantina in Webster at 20237 Gulf Freeway will reopen under the direct ownership of the founding Laurenzo family.
“🌟 WEBSTER, WE’RE COMING BACK,” the El Tiempo Cantina website reads upon opening.
“El Tiempo Cantina Webster is REOPENING SOON, now proudly under Laurenzo family ownership! 🌮🔥 A beloved name is returning with the family spirit, Tex-Mex flavors, and the warm hospitality that makes every visit feel like coming home. The Laurenzo family is excited to bring El Tiempo back to Webster and create even more unforgettable memories around the table.”
What Now Houston reached out to co-owner Blanca Laurenzo to find out more about the brand and the Webster reopening. Unfortunately, we did not hear back by the time of this publication.
“El Tiempo Cantina defines the extraordinary flavors and culture of Tex-Mex cuisine. Years ago, our family made fajitas popular in the United States. For the past 75 years, we have dedicated ourselves to perfecting what Houstonians know today as authentic Tex Mex cuisine,” the brand’s website reads.
“Our ultimate dedication is to you – our customer. You’ll become part of our family as we care for you during your dining experience.”
El Tiempo Cantina is known for its house-made margaritas. (Image Credit: El Tiempo Cantina Facebook)
El Tiempo Cantina was founded in Houston in April 1998 by Roland Laurenzo and his son Domenic Laurenzo as a revival of their family’s legendary Tex-Mex legacy. The family’s culinary history traces back to 1969, when Maria Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo (“Mama Ninfa”) and her husband opened a family tortilleria in Houston, later expanding into a restaurant. In 1973, Mama Ninfa popularized tacos al carbón—what the world now knows as sizzling fajitas—turning her small tortilla factory into a multi-million-dollar restaurant empire.
Rapid expansion led to severe financial troubles, and the family lost control of the original Ninfa’s empire following a corporate bankruptcy in the late 1990s. Determined to keep their culinary heritage alive, Roland and Domenic Laurenzo launched the first El Tiempo Cantina on Richmond Avenue in Houston in 1998. The concept focused on upscale, from-scratch Tex-Mex, signature house margaritas, and interactive mesquite-wood grilling.
“At each El Tiempo location, we have vested much diligence and effort into developing our recipes and training our staff,” the El Tiempo Cantina website reads.
“We have set the standard high for our staff to take great care of our guests. Whether you’re craving fresh chicken breast fajitas with onions, or margaritas with fresh-squeezed lime juice, we’ll give you the best Tex Mex dining experience you’ll ever have!”
The family-run group expanded to over a dozen locations across the Houston area, opened concessions inside Minute Maid Park, and debuted outside of Houston with a location inside Choctaw Stadium in Arlington. There are now 18 El Tiempo Cantina locations, primarily across the Houston area.
El Tiempo Cantina is anticipated to reopen in Webster at 20237 Gulf Freeway this fall.
(This is a developing story. As more information is made available, we will update this article. Stay tuned!)
El Tiempo Cantina offers authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. (Image Credit: El Tiempo Cantina Facebook)
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Candese Charles first fell in love with journalism in the second grade, when she started the Charles Gazette. Since then, her career as a journalist has taken her to TV screens in New Orleans, the Bay Area, and Las Vegas. She believes that a good story has the power to change the world or at least change the way you think about food. Food is a love language for her, as both her father and brother are chefs. Originally from Los Angeles, after a trek across the country for her career as a TV news reporter, she's happy to call North Las Vegas home. When she's not writing about the hottest and newest restaurants, she's spending time with her family, catching concerts and music festivals, or brunching with her besties. She's excited to bring you a delicious bite of the next big restaurant.
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