Gas Station Gourmet: Gordo Ninos Serves Up a Taste of "Hou-Mex" in Houston

Photo via diningout.com

Some of the best food in Houston is hiding in the most unexpected place: inside the Motu Convenience Store in the Clear Lake area, where Chef Machete — Trinidad "Machete" Gonzalez — runs Gordo Ninos, a Hou-Mex counter serving tacos that have built a genuine cult following.

Chef Machete: From $1 Tacos to a Cult Following

His nickname nods to his sharp precision in the kitchen — and the action movie series. A self-taught cook born and raised in Galveston, he learned to cook from both sides of the family kitchen: his mother cooked inside, his father outside. After working in California restaurants and spending eight years cooking aboard maritime vessels, he came home to put family first and started his own venture the humblest way possible: selling tacos for one dollar in front of his father's mechanic shop. That $1 taco stand grew into Gordo Ninos, now operating out of a Clear Lake convenience store at 1419 East NASA Parkway — and don't let the gas station location fool you.

What is 'Hou-Mex' Style Food?

Hou-Mex is Chef Machete's signature style: classic Mexican food filtered through Houston's bold, bigger-everything attitude. The menu leans into over-the-top creations alongside beloved staples. The undisputed star is the viral Purple Lean Sauce, a signature sauce that regulars rave about and that has become the restaurant's calling card.

What to Order

Fan favorites include the Pastor taco and the carne asada killa-dilla — both drenched in that famous purple lean sauce — along with Spliff Tacos, which one reviewer called their new obsession, rolled tacos, the Wabo (a loaded wet burrito), and the Double Cup Elote. Reviewers consistently praise the food as hot, fresh, and packed with flavor, with several calling it the best taco spot they've tried after sampling ten or more places around town. Tamales, burritos, and a secret menu of over-the-top specials round things out, and the spot does cheap takeout and delivery for a quick lunch or dinner.

Chef Machete Takes Hou-Mex From Clear Lake to National TV

Chef Machete's Houston hustle has gone national: he appeared as a contestant on Next Level Chef, bringing his bold Hou-Mex flavors to television audiences. The City of Houston has even issued a proclamation in his honor. With a second location in Kemah and a growing following, Gordo Ninos is proof that great food doesn't need a fancy dining room — sometimes all it needs is a gas station, a chef with something to prove, and a sauce people can't stop talking about.

Gordo Ninos is located at 1419 East NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058, inside the Motu Convenience Store in Clear Lake. Hours are Monday through Friday 11 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM. Takeout and delivery are available, including through DoorDash, as of October 2026.