"With the perfect ratio of chili con carne to cheese to corn tortillas, a single bite of the cheese enchiladas at Tia Maria’s will make you feel like a kid again. Just like the enchiladas, this classic Tex-Mex spot on the border of Spring Branch and Garden Oaks has gone unchanged for decades. A thick blanket of vinyl and plastic covers every table, the queso is more liquid than solid, and the warm salsa arrives in a little plastic molcajete. So bask in the glow of the neon chili lights as you sip a mind-erasing margarita alone at Happy Hour, or with 20 or more friends. And don’t forget to load up at the free soft serve machine on the way out. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas