Licha’s Cantina

About

The patio at Licha's Cantina on East 6th is one of those spots that feels like you're at someone's backyard party, if that someone happened to be an excellent cook with strong opinions about cocktails. Named after the owner's mother, the place carries a personal touch that bigger Mexican restaurants can't replicate.

Tuesday through Friday, 4 to 6 PM, happy hour keeps it simple: $6 cocktails and $5 to $6 bites. The cocktails lean toward agave spirits and fresh ingredients, and at $6 they're well below what you'd pay at most places on this stretch. The bites menu rotates but stays rooted in real Mexican cooking, not Tex-Mex autopilot.

Licha's Cantina happy hour on East 6th pulls a crowd that knows the difference between a margarita made from scratch and one from a machine. The neighborhood has changed a lot, but this spot maintains its identity. The cochinita pibil is the kind of dish that keeps people coming back on its own. Grab a table on the patio, order a couple of $6 cocktails, and let the afternoon go where it goes.