If Mexican food isn't your first choice in Budapest, no one will blame you for it. But if the craving for tacos and margaritas strikes, Tereza is unlikely to disappoint as long as you remain mindful that Mexico (and California and Texas) is half a world away. Tereza — whose moniker is a playful latinization of Terézváros, the name of its neighborhood — is run by the owners of Mazel Tov, a comparably hip and chic restaurant just blocks away. Although there's a below-ground indoor section, Tereza comes into its own in the al fresco season when the open-air courtyard transforms into a lively night-time hangout lit by lanterns and the occasional tongues of flame leaping from the grill station.

The food is hit-or-miss. The tacos — carnitas, al pastor, and pollo — come on disappointingly flavorless wheat tortillas, and no more exciting is the cheese quesadilla. But I enjoyed the fajitas, which, unlike the original Tex-Mex version made with skirt steak, arrived with pork. Tereza isn’t cheap and many people stick to just drinks here: Apart from the dozens of tequila and mezcal options, there are classic and also flavored frozen margaritas, the latter also available by the pitcher.

To remain unbiased, I visit all places incognito and pay for my own meals and drinks. If you're enjoying this article, please consider supporting me by making a one-time payment (PayPal, Venmo).