La Catrina, Houston

At La Catrina Mexican Restaurant, strings of colorful paper flags dangle from the ceiling, and plates of spicy Mexican dishes appear on tables next to frozen margaritas. In the kitchen, cooks heap simmering meat into tacos as others prepare enchiladas and Mexican specialties. Out in the dining room, vibrant murals surround tabletops, where customers can dine on Mexican dishes, sip imported beers, and try Mexican Coca-Cola—which, unlike American Coca-Cola, contains real sugar instead of corn syrup and doesn’t hiss The Battle Hymn of the Republic when you pop it open.