This is one of those places that became a favorite of Austinites for its overall winning experience: it’s very cute and cramped, with a mix of quirky and traditional art on the baby-pink walls. The food alone is not quite enough to warrant the following; not in this neighborhood of superior Mexican eats. Execution can be a little spotty, but most of our meals here have been safely above average.

In addition to a few Tex-Mex standards like nachos and enchiladas with jack cheese, there’s pretty solid charcoal-grilled fare in generous, smoky portions. The respectable vegetarian menu is refreshing, for so old-school a Mexican joint. Sauces are homemade, spicy, and clearly fresh. The salsa is bright, if strongly cuminy. Cabrito is properly fatty, stringy, and lightly goaty, with little adornment to mask it (although ranchero sauce and lovely stewed charro beans add life to the plate). That ranchero is poured over nearly everything here, however, and not always to good effect; crispy corn flautas filled with cabrito are a rare treat and not too oily, but get soggy under the sauce.

Between the warm service, the spicy salsas, and the rather racy depictions of Aztec legends that line those crazy walls—so what if the margaritas aren’t great? Get drunk on the heat.