Given its location in Sunset Station, near the Alamodome and the Convention Center, this particular Aldaco’s could easily be a tourist mill complete with cheery Mexican murals and punched tin lights. But no; there are some serious attempts at real food here.

The menu leans more toward the traditional than the Stone Oak outpost, but even so, terms such as “zesty,” “tangy,” and “spicy!” appear frequently, and chiles rellenos can take very non-trad forms, despite starting from the classic toasted and… [More]

We might as well just publish the walls at Cascabel; covered as they are with culinary comments such as “The food is great here. There’s no other place like it.” and “Ésta es comida mexicana!” Said walls have only become denser with opinion and attitude over the years that this singular Southtown place has been open.

And every main dish was $7.50 at press time. (Breakfast, served all day, is less expensive.) Tlacoyos, huaraches, birria … these are not… [More]