Creative Tacos, Eye-Catching Design, and Lots of Mezcal at Mission Taqueria

1. Do Shots (But Not Like You Did in College)

Sip (don’t shoot) your way through some of the nearly 50 tequila and mezcal selections, available in one-, two-, or three-ounce pours, for an education on the agave-based spirits. Can’t handle it straight? Try a Mezcal Margarita, Mexican Mule, or Paloma cocktail.

2. Definitely Order Some Tacos

The butter-poached lobster claw tacos with roasted corn and crispy potato threads is the one that’s got us (and everyone else) swooning, even with its $6.50 price tag. That said, all the tacos — served on organic corn tortillas, including the chipotle-agave shrimp with sweet pineapple salsa; crispy, beer-battered mahi-mahi; and fried Brussels sprouts with a smear of buttery, pistachio purée and hot-pink pickled onions — are totally worth an order.

3. But Don’t Order Only That

Some of the most interesting, creative bites on the menu aren’t rolled up in tortillas. Try the Yucatan-inspired pumpkin-seed hummus, the trendy tuna poke tostadas, the crispy chicken wings with hazelnut salsa macha, and the grilled skirt steak with ultra-herby chimichurri butter.

4. Sweat the Details

The bar with its blue hexagonal tile backsplash and Día de los Muertos beer taps gets all the attention, but don’t miss the smaller details. Textural blond-wood banquettes, woven pillows, potted cacti, and photos of silvery agave fields being harvested in the hot Mexican sun evoke a (very chic) South of the Border farmhouse.