Dona Chela

I was very disappointed with service and food. I was mislead by other reviews. My plate was # 22 and it came with a burrito and a side of lettuce and a tomato. Food was bland and for it to be empty I should’ve known better. Waitress did not know what was all included with my plate. Rice and beams came later after mistake was pointed out. All good reviews must be family or coworker. The is a sign on door that says welcome Unilocalers. Didnt feel welcomed. I speak perfect spanish and yet waitress was confused! They kept sweeping around table where me and my family sat down yet we was pnly ones there. At that point CHECK PLEASE!

I had the Caldo de pollo! Very good great taste and lots is vegetables! Husband had mole and it was very Good also! We will be back

The best authentic tasting Mexican food we’ve found in Houston to date. Handmade Tortillas & fresh guacamole, best seasoned chicken breast & grilled veggies ever.

They’re chicken vegetable soup aka caldo de pollo is the absolute best I’ve ever had in a restaurant. It gives my mom’s some serious competition. For under $ 10 you’ll get a huge bowl with large portions of chicken & lots of veggies in the soup. Highly recommended.

Menudo here is the best I’ve tasted in a long time! They have a chicken salad that rocks big time as well. Have not had anything from here that I did not enjoy. Greet lunch specials during the week from 11 – 3 I believe. Give this place a try you’ll love it!

will not go out of my way to eat here.

This place is okay. I’m always curious when places get all raving reviews. It leads me to think they don’t know good food or they have a personal connection to the owners. Anyhow, this place was mediocre. Its in a filthy shopping center (I had to step over trash accumulated coming in). I went with the other reviewers and got the Enchilada Suizas. They were pretty tasty. The tangy tomatillo sauce with the cream is always a good mix. This place got an extra point for tasting home cooked. Kinda like eating at someone’s house. The queso is watery and the guac is bland. I asked for a «preparada» mineral water and they used plastic squeeze lime. Yuck! I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Latin America. This did not taste like any regional food I’ve encountered. It’s just plain Houston-​Mex.

A real find. Homemade tortillas corn or flour… as a northern gringo that was different !
Really cheap, nice folks, better than average food. The Unilocal friend who said it was just like Mexico was dead on. It helps to understand Spanish here if you want your order just right, an error will not cost you a lot and you may discover a new dish.
This is one of two locations. It is right off the Gulf Freeway, so it is easy to find and get to. Delish! :D :-|

After spending much too long looking for a place to eat dinner my boyfriend and I stumbled upon Dona Chela and decided to give it a try. The outcome was even better than we expected! I ordered the Chicken Fajita Burrito and it was amazing. It was hard not to devour the whole burrito which says a lot when you see the portion size! The prices were great-​you got more than enough food for the reasonable price. This is my first time in Houston but if I make it back I will be sure to stop by Dona Chela again!

I must have missed something that other reviewers experienced. Granted, this review was based on one visit. Essentially, in a city of good Mexican restaurants, this was a good Mexican restaurant.
I had the enchiladas verdes plate with an order of flour tortillas. The enchiladas were good – but standard fare. Everything was executed well. My waitress was great and on the ball.
One stand-​out item was the tortillas. Not enough to warrant an extra star, though.

I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to have authentic Mexican before so when I saw the reviews about this restaurant I had to try it. Glad we did. We had some delicious (and reasonably priced) guacamole to start. My enchilada was good and the quail was mixed — the legs were unbelievably good, but the breast were definitely chewed and not so full of flavor. The best thing was the «super» burrito.
Fantastic blend of flavors — not something you get in just any Mexican restaurant. The place itself is nothing fancy and the waitress did not speak English very well but she was very sweet. All in all a great meal.

Eating at Dona Chela felt like I was back in Mexico for lunch. So far it’s been the only place I’ve been in Houston where I didn’t hear a single English word spoken! The food tasted more authentic than most places and was served very quickly.
If I find myself on that side of town again I am likely to visit. If you want to speak/​hear Spanish while eating good/​cheap Mexican food this is the place for you.

Best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to since I came from Mexico 10 years ago. Definitely try the Quail. I swear to God there is crack on there. It’s just too good to be true. Chilaquiles. OMG! Beyond delicious. Orchata is okay, i’d give it around 3 stars. But the main thing you should know about this place, is that it is authentic. As you can tell by my profile, I am a true mexican, and when a mexican tells you a mexican restaurant in the US is good, its because it is.

My husband and I decided to try Dona Chela restaurant for the first time after reading the positive reviews. And we are so glad we did.
My husband had the Super Burrito Juarez w/​fajita and he loved them! He is very hard to please when it comes to food… So for him to love this burrito you know it gots to be good!
I tried the Enchiladas Suizas (chicken enchiladas w/​green sauce). They were so good!
This is definitely our new spot. The food was very good and very authentic.
I posted pics of the burrito and enchiladas, check them out!

This place is like eating in your grandmother’s kitchen — homemade, delicious, and warm service. Great food! Chicken enchiladas verdes are excellent. I want to try something else, but they are so good.

Very tasty authentic Mexican cuisine here. You just can’t go wrong with homemade tortillas. they definitely know how it’s done here. Highly recommended.

For anyone who has never had an authentic home cooked mexican meal, please visit Dona Chela.
Super affordable, great quantity, great quality. Even the salsa has a great home feel.

I found a short-​cut to Mexico. No seriously, I did. Take 45 to Broadway, exit Broadway, navigate your way through a few back roads, and park yourself in front of the strip with the giant sign that reads Dona Chela. If Dona Chela isn’t there to greet you (she is most of the time), then one of her lovely waitresses are. If your lucky, her husband (Mr. Roman) will be the cook for the night. If your not lucky, you’ll still walk out satisfied. Taking a bite of anything from that place takes me back to that small ranch north of Monterrey where my great aunt treats us to some of that authentic Mexican food that every Mexican talks about but no Mexican can actually duplicate (except of course for the Roman family).
There is something for everyone there. If your starving, get their super burrito. It beats Chipotle in size and flavor. If your looking for something low carb and healthy, get their chicken and vegetables. The chicken is thin, soft, and tender. The vegetables are light and crispy, and have a zing to them that I just cant describe. Want something from back home? Try their green enchiladas with rice and beans, or their caldo de rez, or their caldo de pollo, or anything else for that matter. Their food is awesome, their service is great, and the owners make you feel like a regular (even if your not).