Feeling blue? Head for Molina’s, where the friendly, carefree atmosphere is a potent antidote for anything negative in your life. If you’re already feeling good, this upscale cantina will take it to the next level. The Tex-Mex institution was founded in 1941 by Raúl Molina, who moved to Houston from Mexico in the 1920s and worked as a busboy to save enough money with his wife Mary to realize their vision of opening a restaurant. When the weather is nice, dine on the patio, which combines comfy sofas with tall tables and bar chairs. We usually start with the “Original José’s Dip” (chili con queso with spicy ground beef) and then branch out from there to any one of a number of Tex-Mex classics. The food is good, but it’s the upbeat spirit of the place and its triumphant American dream legacy that keeps us coming back.

Molina's also has a location at 7901 Westheimer and plans to replace its Buffalo Speedway restaurant, which was torn down to make way for the new HEB Buffalo Market, with a new restaurant on Westpark (next to Goode Co. Seafood).